The fantastic outdoors.

From a desk full of xacto blades and paper scraps:

I love rain. It’s strange, yes, especially considering that I spent restless days of my childhood waiting out El Nino when I seemed like it would never stop (I, of course, opened the blinds on my bedroom window, listened to the falling water, turned on a Beach Boys tape that my dad bought me and drew… a lot.) So, I welcome this season that has officially descended upon California.

In keeping with the theme of the year (Adventure!), which I am focusing on in life, as well as art, I have decided to get outside more (rain or shine, grey or blue.) Therefore, today I took a break from working on new designs and took advantage of my current proximity to beautiful Big Sur. In the company of a friend, I walked through forest floors blanketed with yellow and brown leaves and purplish-grey meadows. The sky was beautiful; it was cold, but wind was unseasonably warm… I highly recommend dropping everything and getting outside just before the rain begins on the central California coast. It was, as one of my best friends would say, “Magical!”

And the best part about going outside in less than ideal weather… getting home, curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea and cutting a giant grizzly bear out of a single sheet of paper (or maybe that’s just me. ::grins::)

Update ::: We’ll be at Urban Air Market (Formerly known as Capsule Design Festival), Sunday May 6th, SF, more info at http://www.urbanairmarket.com/

More show dates coming soon!

hello 2012!

Hello, indeed!

After a bit of internet-silence from us, we’re back (with a new years resolution to make weekly blog posts! )  I’m excitedly putting together a new season of designs coming to etsy March 1, as well as adding a couple new items for the bird mafia lovin’ home. What, you may ask, is the theme behind our designs for 2012? So glad you asked! For the bird mafia, 2012 is a year for : Adventure!

We’d also like to say a special thanks to those of you who came out to support during this past holiday show season.

If you don’t already, follow us on facebook and/or twitter to keep up with new additions to the etsy shop, new shadow box art and show dates!

Fall . 2011

We’ll be adding fun new items regularly over the next month, but we do have a lot of new items up on birdmafia.etsy.com. Whether you’re looking for something to add to your home or give as a gift, we’ve got it! Here are a few of my favorites pieces so far:

songbird stuffie

It was crucial to create an epic bird stuffie this season, after all… we are the bird mafia! I drew/cut this little song sparrow and instantly knew he was the bird for the job. He’s constructed with organic cotton, filled with nature-fil and hand-printed in four color choices!

clouds bunting

An awesome way to display cut paper clouds. These bold clouds are printed in black and finished with a teal backing and goldenrod line. Not your color scheme? We’re open and excited to customize the colors to fit your space!

leaves pillow

Simple, yet intricate. Leaves are one of my favorite things to cut (which is why half my vacation photos are always of plants!) Can you believe this entire design was once a single sheet of paper? Like all of our pillows, this is constructed with organic cotton.

whale stuffie + wave pillow

I am finally expanding to the sea. I have always been the biggest fan of forests and the sky, but the sea has a beauty entirely it’s own. The creatures, textures and movement are almost magical. And what better way to start with this whale stuffie? He’s constructed with organic cotton and hand-printed in four color choices.

trees tea towel

I have recently been cutting these trees for shadow boxes that I will unveil in September and I couldn’t resist printing them! Like all of our tea towels, these are made of organic cotton.

I could go on forever, but I have to get back to cutting paper. This isn’t it though, check out birdmafia.etsy.com for more new items and designs.

-emily

The process of “cut paper design”

A lot of people ask, “What do you mean cut paper design?” or “What do you mean it’s from ‘cut paper’?” I have described the process in words, but I thought that a little photo essay would be a fun way to show what really goes into “cut paper design.”

New cut paper designs coming to birdmafia.etsy.com tomorrow (August19!)

summer : an update in photos

Hello there! It’s been a LONG 10 week summer.Traveling.

Hanging out with some cool birds.

Making fun party decorations for my sister’s wedding shower (and wedding for that matter!)

Enjoying some sun.

And of course…

Cutting paper…

And screen-printing!

We’re looking forward to sharing new designs at the end of this week and loads of new cut paper shadow boxes this fall.

x emily

new, new, new…

We’re getting super excited about presenting some new goods and fresh art! Keep your eye on birdmafia.etsy.com and come visit us this Sunday at Indie Mart by the Parkside in San Francisco.

(I have been working in three themes that were unconsciously being developed in the 1.5 years of bird mafia. “Ever green”, “In the sky” and “Of the sea” (new!) represent the images I explore through cut paper and design. Our goal is to weave the images together within each theme to portray an enchanting world that you can bring into your home.)

 

 

Wait… it’s July already?

Well, that’s exciting for us! We have been hiding out making new art pieces and just waiting for this month to begin! “Why so excited?” you might be asking? Well, there are a few reasons:

. Nightlife at the Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, July 14th.

. Indie Mart in San Francisco, Sunday July 24th.

. and when this month has ended… August 15th, bird mafia fall designs release! That’s right… new stuffies, new items, new textiles.

Back in May at Maker Faire we had an epic response to Emily’s cut paper shadow boxes. Bird mafia designs are entirely based on cut paper art and we’re so excited to show you more originals.

"where the sea meets the sky"

We’re working on adding more shows for September and, of course, Emily can’t wait to get on the road for the holiday shows.

Happy summer!

For your Easter basket!

I have just added two new stuffies to the bird mafia etsy, including this awesome little bunny. Order quickly and get them in time for Easter!

In other news, I am getting ready for Maker Faire, May 21 + 22. Hope to see you there!!!

And we’re off…

We’ll be hanging out with Bazaar Bizarre at Maker Faire 2011 in San Mateo, Ca.  Bazaar Bizarre always puts together some great artists/crafters for your indie shopping pleasure and Maker Faire is an awesome weekend event; robots, contraptions, cupcake cars, music, food and tons of fun!

Check it out! May 21 + 22, San Mateo Event Center. Tickets are on sale at a discounted rate until May 12th!

Have you checked out the bird mafia etsy lately? We loaded a lot of new items! Including some cut paper art.

In fact, we’re really focusing on the art this year and will be debuting some awesome pieces at Bazaar Bizarre in Maker Faire along with the hand-printed crafts inspired by them.

Here comes the sun…

I am really excited to release bird mafia’s 2011 spring line! Over the next 24 hours I will be uploading etsy with fun new items.

Tomorrow is our first event of 2011. We will be at knit.one.one in Berkeley for their March Saturday Sale. The owner of this awesome little space puts on craft sales year round and brings together a collection of amazing indie crafters and artists from the bay area. Come out tomorrow March 5th, 2011, 10-4.