From Plastic Tubes to Spring Nests

Nests. They are deeply symbolic, beautiful and functional. They speak of Spring, birth, nature and renewal. They speak of hearth, home, nurturing, and comfort. Yet they also whisper of growth, flight and taking leave.

Spring is in full bloom here. With Earth Day and Mother's Day around the corner it seems fitting to celebrate with a creative series of Nests. This "tube nest" is a miniature study of the interaction of our own "Nests" and Nature. In our own homes, plastic is everywhere, so I've transformed a plastic tube into a Nest.

Using permanent inks and embossing powders in conjunction with a variety rubber stamps,  I chose a mixture of free flowing images juxtaposed with chicken wire for the back of the tube.

You can see how the white embossing powders raise up on the plastic. To achieve this, you must be careful with the heat gun!

Gold thread embellishes the top of the tube, as well as the opening of the hollow on the front of the tube. Found feathers emphasize the soft, organic, nurturing quality of the natural world.

The front of the tube provides an intimate peek inside the hollow that holds the nest. 

I stamped an image of a nest onto photo paper and colored it with photo pens. A little chocolate egg nestles down in the tube as well.

The hollows that Nature creates are so much more stunning...

...which then makes me pause to consider what we decide to create.

R3 with Love

Next Nest in Series:

Vase

Party Bowl

See what else Nature inspired me to make!

{I host a weekly linky party. Come find out more here! I'm sharing my Nest with Monday:  Craftomaniac, Making The World Cuter, Marvelously Messy, Project Queen, The Girl Creative, The Gunny Sack, Alderberry Hill, A Round Tuit, Skip to My Lou, Cherished Bliss, Northern Cottage, Our Delightful Home;Tuesday:  Not Just a Housewife, Sew Crafty, Tip Junkie, Today's Creative Blog, Uncommon, Oopsey Daisy, Gingersnap Crafts; Wednesday:  The 36th Avenue, Blue Cricket Design, It's Overflowing, Nest of Posies, Savvy Southern Style, Someday Crafts, The Trendy Treehouse, Very Merry Vintage Style, What We Wore & Made; Thursday:  Shabby Nest; Friday:  Finding Fabulous, My Simple Home Life, Romantic Home, Tatertots and Jello, The Shady Porch, Thirty Handmade Days, Faith Trust & Pixie Dust, Naptime Crafters, Too Much Time on my Hands, Classy Clutter, Stuff & Nonsense, Craft Junkie Too; Saturday:  Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, French Country Cottage,  Sisters of the Wild West, Sew Country Chick; Sunday: Nifty Thrifty Things, Under The Table and Dreaming, My 1929 Charmer, Sew Darned Crafty}