This Month's Crafter's Story is from Tracey from Little Red Bird. Like Tracey, my mother always told me that it was my Grandfather also I don't know if it is a Northern Ireland thing, but people love this story about the Robin and many have been brought up like Tracey and myself with same story about being visited by someone who had passed and were there to watch over you
I hope you enjoy this little tale.
I hope you enjoy this little tale.
Little Red Bird
When I was a little girl, my Granny used to tell me that anytime I saw a wee red robin in our back garden, that it was my Granda come to say hello. She loved that little bird and in turn, so did I. I was raised by my Granny and she taught me to appreciate everything and everyone in life, to always say 'please' and “thank you' and to remember that good manners are always easy carried. She taught me to be kind to everyone I meet, as I wouldn't know what battles they were fighting, to always believe in myself and I think that all my best qualities, I derived from her. So, what has this to do with “Little Red Bird” you may ask, well, before she passed away, Granny told me the same thing that she used to say about Granda...that any time I would see a wee robin, that it would be her, checking in on me and letting me know that she was right there by my side. So, when I decided to start my own business, it was only natural that the name should be something that means everything to me....so ”Little Red Bird' was born.
In the Summer of 2016, after living in California for over a decade, I moved back home to Ireland along with my American husband, Mark. Initially I travelled over first while he tied up loose ends and in that three month window of needing to fill my time, I was looking for an outlet for my creative yearning. I have always loved the arts, I have written poetry and short stories ever since I can remember but I wanted to make something that was more tangible or tactile and something where I needed to actually use my hands to create .
My soon to be daughter in law told me about art she had seen, made from simple wee pebbles and on an outing one day, I saw a little robin that had been made. I think that was a sign to me right there, I instantly thought about Granny and it sparked a fire in me to get to making and crafting.
Over the next couple of months, I gathered pebbles and stones and twigs from my garden and started to construct little images and scenes....and the more I created, the more my imagination ran wild, until my head was simply bursting with ideas. Initially, I think I must have made over a dozen little pieces, made purely for my own pleasure. I found everything about making them to be so therapeutic and whimsical, not to mention peaceful...I just loved creating them.
After showing them to my daughter and then the rest of my family, I was encouraged by their reactions, although a wee bit dubious, as I thought they may be just being very biased because I am “Mum” after all.
But then the strangest thing started to happen, I had some friends ask if I could make a frame for them and from that moment on, I didn't look back. I started working at The Old Mill in Dundonald and before long, my lovely colleagues there, were asking me if I could make a frame for a Birthday, an Anniversary, a Wedding....it was like magic, here I was, doing something I absolutely loved and then it was being given as a gift to another person.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that you have made another person happy, created a smile from a thought in your head, a feeling in your heart and with your own two hands.
My soon to be daughter in law told me about art she had seen, made from simple wee pebbles and on an outing one day, I saw a little robin that had been made. I think that was a sign to me right there, I instantly thought about Granny and it sparked a fire in me to get to making and crafting.
Over the next couple of months, I gathered pebbles and stones and twigs from my garden and started to construct little images and scenes....and the more I created, the more my imagination ran wild, until my head was simply bursting with ideas. Initially, I think I must have made over a dozen little pieces, made purely for my own pleasure. I found everything about making them to be so therapeutic and whimsical, not to mention peaceful...I just loved creating them.
After showing them to my daughter and then the rest of my family, I was encouraged by their reactions, although a wee bit dubious, as I thought they may be just being very biased because I am “Mum” after all.
But then the strangest thing started to happen, I had some friends ask if I could make a frame for them and from that moment on, I didn't look back. I started working at The Old Mill in Dundonald and before long, my lovely colleagues there, were asking me if I could make a frame for a Birthday, an Anniversary, a Wedding....it was like magic, here I was, doing something I absolutely loved and then it was being given as a gift to another person.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing that you have made another person happy, created a smile from a thought in your head, a feeling in your heart and with your own two hands.
I attended my first Craft Fair on Christmas 2016 and the excitement, the late hours and the anticipation of it was crazy...I literally couldn't sleep the two nights beforehand and I kept thinking, “what if nobody likes anything” or doesn't think it is worth buying, what would I do. I sold over half of what I had made that night and took four orders...my mind was blown.
From there, I feel like Granny came in to take the wheel because before I knew it, I had been asked by my Boss, Carolyn at the Mill if I would like to stock the Gift shop downstairs with Little Red Bird frames.
The day that my frames were put on the shelves, I remember coming down the stairs and seeing the full display and I just froze on the spot...I couldn't believe what I was seeing...there sitting, were creations I had made, in an actual shop and I promptly burst into tears, this was so beyond special.
I kept thinking, “ Granny, can you see this??” which of course she could. Also, at that time, fate had it that a fellow crafter and former neighbour of mine, Pauline from “The Gem Blossom”, was also at a craft fair I was attending and from talking to her, she put me in touch with the infamous Jim, at Midtown Makers.
I was so nervous about meeting him but instantly when you meet Jim, you are put at your ease and within minutes I felt as if I had known him for years.
Before I knew it, I had my own special wee spot in the shop and after walking around and looking at all the fellow crafters amazing work,
I felt so incredibly humbled to be allowed in the same environment as them.
From there, I feel like Granny came in to take the wheel because before I knew it, I had been asked by my Boss, Carolyn at the Mill if I would like to stock the Gift shop downstairs with Little Red Bird frames.
The day that my frames were put on the shelves, I remember coming down the stairs and seeing the full display and I just froze on the spot...I couldn't believe what I was seeing...there sitting, were creations I had made, in an actual shop and I promptly burst into tears, this was so beyond special.
I kept thinking, “ Granny, can you see this??” which of course she could. Also, at that time, fate had it that a fellow crafter and former neighbour of mine, Pauline from “The Gem Blossom”, was also at a craft fair I was attending and from talking to her, she put me in touch with the infamous Jim, at Midtown Makers.
I was so nervous about meeting him but instantly when you meet Jim, you are put at your ease and within minutes I felt as if I had known him for years.
Before I knew it, I had my own special wee spot in the shop and after walking around and looking at all the fellow crafters amazing work,
I felt so incredibly humbled to be allowed in the same environment as them.
Flash forward over three years and I have met so many wonderful people and had the privilege of being asked to create special pieces for special moments that have gone on to become special memories.
This is the part of Little Red Bird that I absolutely love. I get to hear every story behind every piece I make, happy stories of Weddings and Engagements and new babies being born, of Birthdays, Families (including the pet fur baby) and special Anniversaries and friendships and new homes and beginnings.
I also get the funny ones, like being asked to make a family of cows for a “Farming” house. I have made motorbikes, tractors, caravans, and even been asked to add a pet tortoise and a bunny named Humphrey.
I love a challenge and I am so tickled when it comes together and the customer loves it too. I also hear the sad stories of lost loved ones, who want to be always remembered and never forgotten.
My favourite wee frames are of course, my little red birds. The amount of times I have heard lovely folks tell me that when they also see that wee robin, that they know it is their loved one popping by to say hello and check in on them....well, I cant tell you how much that absolutely warms my heart.
This is the part of Little Red Bird that I absolutely love. I get to hear every story behind every piece I make, happy stories of Weddings and Engagements and new babies being born, of Birthdays, Families (including the pet fur baby) and special Anniversaries and friendships and new homes and beginnings.
I also get the funny ones, like being asked to make a family of cows for a “Farming” house. I have made motorbikes, tractors, caravans, and even been asked to add a pet tortoise and a bunny named Humphrey.
I love a challenge and I am so tickled when it comes together and the customer loves it too. I also hear the sad stories of lost loved ones, who want to be always remembered and never forgotten.
My favourite wee frames are of course, my little red birds. The amount of times I have heard lovely folks tell me that when they also see that wee robin, that they know it is their loved one popping by to say hello and check in on them....well, I cant tell you how much that absolutely warms my heart.
All in all, I believe that Little Red Bird is ultimately ME. Every frame I make, I put all my thought, care, time and love into and a little piece of my heart flies off with every single one.
I am so lucky that I get to do this...make people happy and I know that my Granny is watching down with a great big smile on her face too. Sure what better thing can you do in life, than that.
I hope that this gives you a little bit of insight into the working of my wee business and who is behind it. So if you ever want anything made or created, please never hesitate to get in touch with me and together, we can come up with something beautiful and meaningful.
I am so lucky that I get to do this...make people happy and I know that my Granny is watching down with a great big smile on her face too. Sure what better thing can you do in life, than that.
I hope that this gives you a little bit of insight into the working of my wee business and who is behind it. So if you ever want anything made or created, please never hesitate to get in touch with me and together, we can come up with something beautiful and meaningful.
