Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

If You Need More Glass Beads…Babe in Oakland, CA

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Glasscapes by Mingo and Asho

Glasscapes by Mingo and Asho

Glasscapes by Mingo and Asho is one of the many exhibitors at Babe – Bay Area Bead Extravaganza. They make blown beads among other glass goodies but this is what they’re most known for. And on a side note, I love these guys. Super people as well as talented glass artists! And that’s what Babe is filled with. Glass isn’t the only type of bead you can find here but some of the best bead makers come out to this show. It’s held in Oakland, November 14-15, 2009 and if you’re in the Bay Area part of California I think you should go. Think of the holidays! You can do all your Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanza shopping in one place. Also you can take classes. How fun is that?

Leah Fairbanks

Leah Fairbanks

Some of the other fabulous glass bead artists that will be attending are…JC Herrell, Leah Fairbanks (a goddess by the way!), Lisa Kan, Karen Nan Designs (fused glass), Jujee Beads…and so many more. Check out the exhibitor list!

JC Herrell

JC Herrell

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Tropical Bird Crafts and Learning Activities

I don’t know why tropical animals feel like something you should learn about in the summer, because these tropical bird crafts and activities are great to do any time of year. Let’s take a look. 

Homeschool Giveaways has a printable tropical birds copywork book kids can use to practice cursive or print writing. They also have links to more fun printable activities, mostly about parrots, toucans and cockatoos.

Homeschool Share has a printable lapbook all about parrots. This one is a lot of fun because it includes things like the pros and cons of owning a pet parrot and some parrot jokes alongside information about where parrots live, why they have hooked beaks and their lifespan, among other things. 

Use colorful bird puzzles to reinforce number order with this free printable puzzle collection from Craft Play Learn. It includes five different bird puzzles that are each eight pieces. 

And if you want to look at toucans in particular, check out this toucan study guide aimed at elementary students from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus. This isn’t a free resource but it’s 31 pages all about toucans, their life cycle, anatomy, what they eat, role in the rainforest ecosystem, activities and more well worth the cost. 

How about some tropical bird crafts? This 3D macaw parrot from The Craft Train is a great one, also not free but super cute and easy to make with the printables. 

I Heart Crafty Things has a super cute parrot made with cardboard and card stock. If you hang it from the ceiling it will even spin.

Or try the cute cardboard tube parrots from Kids Craft Room, which kids will love to decorate (you could even use feathers if you have some). You can also make a parrot (or whatever other tropical bird you like) from a paper plate with these instructions from Crafts on Sea.