NoisyBirdStudio

Poppies Silhouette Pendant

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:46:00 +0000

This simple yet beautiful handmade pendant has a base of a one inch square piece of fiberboard and is but one of the hundreds of choices available from NoisyBirdStudio, a husband and wife team from New Hampshire. The husband cuts out the fiberboard tiles, and the wife does the rest.

Once she creates her tiny pieces of art and prints them “using high-quality laser print and paper,” she sands and seals the edges and applies a “non-toxic glass-like resin” to the top. The resin on my pendant seems very sturdy and resistant to cracks and chips. I was able to make small dents in it with fingernail and teeth while putting it through rigorous product testing, but there were no problems from normal wear around my neck. The pendant did come with a tiny note specifying that the top finish is water-resistant, but not waterproof, and recommending removal before showering, swimming, and other wet activities.

The pendants are sold alone, without any chain or cord, allowing for individual choice. NoisyBirdStudio does sell both 2.4mm silver plated ball chain and 2mm, 18-inch long black leather pendant cord with a sterling silver spring clasp. Another option would be to hang it from a matching or contrasting length of ribbon, yarn, or braided embroidery floss. My poppies hang from an old, dull ball chain, which makes the overall look a little tougher, a little less dainty.

The pendants can also be used as zipper pulls. A three-inch, silver-plated ball chain with clasp can be added to any pendant, making it a fun addition to backpack, purse, coat, jacket, or any item carried or worn by someone who doesn’t wear necklaces. For folks who can’t find the perfect words or image among the multitude of offerings, NoisyBirdStudio takes on custom orders, even creating designs from scratch. They can turn a photo or other work of art into a truly one-of-a-kind creation.

The affordability of the lovely pieces from NoisyBirdStudio, coupled with the abundance of designs, makes it easy to pick out a special piece for every friend and family member. I think I can make all my winter holiday purchases in this one little Etsy shop.

As for my poppies, I enjoy the unusual pairing of brown and pink, their subtle beauty dangling at my throat.

Written by: Chantel C. Guidry, November 16th 2009

Wildflower Burst Silhouette Pendant

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:41:00 +0000

By NoisyBirdStudio

Before I moved to India, I sold everything I owned save for one giant suitcase full of necessary odds and ends, eight boxes of books, four over-stuffed CD holders, and a couple crates of records. All but the suitcase and its contents are stored with friends who were kind enough to lend a corner of their already crowded New York City apartments for the duration of my two-plus year excursion across the world. When one rids oneself of nearly all of one’s material possessions, the items one keeps give a pretty accurate description of what that person deems important. One item I just couldn’t part with was the board game Scrabble.

Scrabble is a game of words and strategy that can be played individually or with a partner. When playing solo against my partner, I tend to get bored and frustrated. The most readily available opponent in Kolkata, the time he takes when planning out his method of potential success wears on my patience. Each turn is an excruciating ordeal whereby I tap my fingers on the table and sigh loudly while my partner hems-and-haws for several minutes over the next painstaking move that will leave as little room as possible for me to maneuver my creatively conjured five- to seven-tile words. My own wordplay begins to express my emotions: hungry, annoyed, vexing.

Eventually one of us wins, and as I put the game back into its box we quibble about our differing styles and expectations. He plays games to win while I play simply to play. Ultimately, when it’s just the two of us, neither of us has much fun. So, we keep the tiles on the shelf until our annoyance at our difference has been sufficiently forgotten, and my desire to play my favorite game is renewed—or we invite friends to join who can add a little variety to this subdued recreation.

NoisyBirdStudio’s Wildflower Burst Silhouette Pendant necklace reminds me of Scrabble because the one-by-one inch square teal pendant is made from a similar semi-woody material. There is a foggy spot smack dab in the center of the white daisy that makes me think of my propensity to obscure the memory of my partner’s and my doomed game playing in favor of seeing the beauty in the intended design. Perhaps it’s India that gave this misty edge to an otherwise cutesy piece. It wouldn’t be the first time the country has added its unique flavor to a piece of my jewelry. Some might be disappointed and see the cloud as a flaw, but I think it adds a bit of realism... in a literary kind of way.

Written by: Mandy Van Deven, November 1st 2009

Wise Owl Pendant

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:43:00 +0000

By NoisyBirdStudio

The Wise Owl Pendant is just the kind of jewelry I love. First of all, it’s unique. The pendant was obviously made with an artist’s eye for arresting images. While owls have become popular figure in hipster iconography, there’s nothing cliché about NoisyBirdStudio’s representation of the popular bird. Somewhere on the line between charm and intelligence, this owl is a conversation piece. NoisyBirdStudio’s etsy site also offers a version of the owl pedant called the “cutie owl,” which may be the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen. I’m tempted to own both owls and wear them according to my daily mood!

NoisyBirdStudio is a husband and wife team out of New Hampshire who have a spectacular variety of pendants on their Etsy shop. Their jewelry is retro-inspired, but has a simplicity that seems modern. There’s also a fair selection of themed pendants for kids of both genders that would make a great present for the child who has everything.

One of my favourite things about NoisyBirdStudio is how the pendant arrived. Wrapped gently in a velvet bag, these pendants are all set to go as gifts. Extra touches like that make you feel like you’ve bought something that’s a labour of love. This is one of the best things about buying products from an Etsy shop. In a consumerist market that encourages a large gap between creators of a product and their customers, Etsy gives artists a chance to connect with their clients, who in turn directly support those who put creative work into the belongings we love.

Written by: Jennifer Burgess, September 30th 2009