Collection: Owl Postage Stamps

{images via, from the top: a. 1959 Switzerland, design by Celestino Piatti. b. 1 June 1960, Switzerland, ‘Symbols of Occupations’, design: H. Kumpel, engrave: H. Heusser. b. 27 January 1970, Canada, Centennial of the Northwest Territories, design: Norman E. Hallendy & Sharon Van Raalte based on a stone-cut print by Kenojuak Ashevak, c. 1989 Sweden, d. 27 January 1970, Canada, Centennial of the Northwest Territories, design: Norman E. Hallendy & Sharon Van Raalte based on a stone-cut print by Kenojuak Ashevak, e. 1986 Czechoslovakia, Tawny Owl & Eurasian Eagle-owl, illustration: H. Čápová engrave: J Herčík, f. Owl & the Pussycat, 6 September 1988 United Kingdom, design: M. Swatridge and S. Dew g. Black Eyes, 18 January 2000 UK, Millennium 2000/1 Third Millennium/Muncaster}

I don't collect stamps myself but my aunt used to collect when I was a little girl. What's it that so fascinating about it? Is it the art? Or, their ability to reveal significant history and culture about other places? Do you collect? 

Have a great weekend. I'll see you on Monday! 

P.S. - Don't forget to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate.

Sawako Hayakawa: Alleluja

Sawako Hayakawa is a ceramist who lives in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan. She has a beautiful online store called Alleluja where she offers hand crafted kawaii porcelain characters and felt pincushions. 

"I started to do the needle felt in my own style a few years later. In after years, I combined them with my work as the pincushion. I think it is the natural flow, because I like the wool as much as the clay. Now, I make the ceramics in my spare time. I formed porcelain soil in my home and do the glazing and the firing in the ceramic workshop.”

I love these tiny and the most adorable owls! Visit her photo gallery on Flickr to view more of her work.

Meg Hunt

LOVE the work of Meg Hunt.

Yvonne Ellen: Ceramics

Yvonne Ellen is a ceramic artist currently living in London,UK. She hand crafts unique pieces of homeware combining charming vintage items with contemporary hand drawn illustrations. Her pieces are often adorned with fun illustrations like DJing owls, animals in top hats and knitting squirrels.

The artists shares about her process of making the lovely ceramics.  She says - I attend "as many car boots as I can track down I also scour the local charity shops and vintage fairs for unique pieces to transform into my hand illustrated ceramic designs. Once I have a good collection I set to work creating decorative designs with a sense of charm and intrigue. I love to draw wild animals surrounded by beautiful and intricate pattern, often doing or wearing quite ‘human’ like things to add a little charisma."

Pinterest Picks

{Owl art made with maps - via, Asos - owl belt, Owl Nail Art - via, Urban Outfitters - Owl hook, Abigail Edwards - Owl Wallpaper, Freshy Fig - Gold Owls Pendant Necklace, Owl Keepsake Box - via}

Lately, I am gravitated towards the metallic gold and keep seeing so many wonderful owls being added on Pinterest. So today I thought I'd put together a post using some of the pins to share with you. Come join the "gold rush" by adding your pin to any of these owl boards. I hope these owls perk up your day too!

Miranda Skoczek

Miranda Skoczek is an Australian artist who creates these beautiful paintings that would just grab your attention immediately because of the perfect combination of geometric shapes, pastel colors and the gorgeous neon acrylic frames.

Wassupbrothers

Olga Wassupbrothers is a creator and the owner of an online store Wassupbrothers that's filled with handmade owls and other soft creatures. She makes the most amazing soft toys with repurposed fabric, vintage buttons, sweaters or old dresses. It shows that she pays attention to detail to make her adorable creatures one-of-a-kind, she says "If I am not satisfied with the fabric tinge, I dye it with natural dyes like tea, coffee,cinnamon and others". I picked out few of my favorites to share here, you can stop by her store now and pick up an owl, a sheep, pig, lion or pigeon for yourself.

Owlsome Deal: Cross Stitch Kit 26% Off

Regular price: $32.50

Owlsome deal price: $24

The Stitching Shed is a company based just outside the historic city of Lancaster that offers offers a huge range of contemporary cross stitch and needlepoint kits.  Jayne Schofieldis is the creative mastermind who designs all the colorful and fun kits for The Stitching Shed. I am excited to share with you that Jayne has offered "Owls of a Feather" cross stitch and felt applique kit at over 26% off to My Owl Barn readers for a limited time. Get one for yourself, for your owl-lover friend or as a gift for a new mom at a special price by clicking 'Add to Cart' button below! 

Click the Add to Cart button below to buy:

This deal is only available till 06/04/2012 7:15AM MST 

The deal can end earlier, if the product gets sold out.

Details:
Kit design size - 10.5in x 12in.
 It's contains-
14ct white aida
presorted anchor threads
needle
precut felt pieces
button
ribbon
black and white chart
full instructions

Not so fine print: 

- Once you click on the checkout button in cart, you will be directed to the PayPal payment page to make the payment to the seller. You can pay with your PayPal account, or with your credit/debit card.

- You will also be asked to provide your shipping address on the PayPal payment page.

- If you are seeing "This product is out of stock" message after clicking the "Add to Cart" button, that means that the deal has ended due to deadline being reached or the item being sold out.

- This Owlsome Deal is available to all the international readers. 

- If you have any pre-purchase enquiries or questions about your purchase. Please email at  info@thestitchingshed.co.uk.
- Returns will only be accepted if the product is faulty.

Don't miss any Owlsome Deal,  sign up now to get them delivered in your mail box.

Do you have a product that you would like to offer to the "Owlsome Deal"? Read more.

Giveaway: Cutting Edge Stencils

I am thrilled to announce today's giveaway by Cutting Edge Stencils. They have graciously offered one of My Owl Barn's readers a chance to win a wall stencil of their choice up to a $50 value. They have a wide variety of stencils for any room in your house. The stencils are fast and easy to use. If you are a first time user then don't be afraid because there are how-to-videos and tips to help you get the best results. I was glad to find this "Wise Owl" (shown above)  stencil which is perfect to decorate a nursery or even your own bedroom!

To enter the giveaway:

- Visit Cutting Edge Stencils website and pick out your favorite stencil. Come back and leave a separate comment telling me which one do you like. 

- You must be a follower of My Owl Barn (click here to follow My Owl Barn). Leave a comment letting me know that you are a follower.

For Extra Entries:

- Like Cutting Edge Stencils on Facebook

- Follow Cutting Edge Stencils on Pinterest

- Follow Cutting Edge Stencils on Twitter

I'll announce the winner sometime on June 5th!


Update: Our winner is Nette. Congratulations! Thank you all for participating.