What could master carpenter Shane be building? I can give you few more hints (if the headline didn’t completely blow it.)

The only thing I will take credit for around here are some of the initial concepts. After Christmas, I was telling Shane how nice it would be to have some wood cubbie boxes for Josie to store her toys in. I didn’t know anything about what sizes, materials (some kind of wood, of course) or really if they should be painted. I just sort of envisioned them being stacked up near our family room window with Josie’s new play rug.

As soon as Shane started cranking them out — and it took him about a day to do eight — I started getting ideas about decals or stencils on the sides. Pictures or numbers. Something simple, to keep them industrial and raw. I don’t like spaces or art that is that overdone. I’m the same way with my eggs.

Doing this was not as easy as it first sounded when I began tossing around the idea. It never is, is it? It went down like this: Shane cut from 3/8ths plywood and sanded the corners and tops nice and smooth. Then, I printed out stencils (and they had to be blown up from the original size). Shane did the stencil cutting with an Exacto knife. I selected the color and layout scheme, and painted. What do you think? Do you have any additional stenciling ideas?

Can you guess why?

I can only fit a maximum of five letters on the houses. Otherwise, it starts to look all cramped and stuff. I felt, at first, that the idea was kinda biased. Sorry all you Alexanders. And Elizabeths. Gilberts and Harrisons, you are out too.

But I did it, and it sure looks cute. Thanks, Esty inquirer.

Posted here is a Lilly, in honor of Lilly the Goat (who was so rudely asked to leave the lot by the Animal Control for not having proper license and registration. But that’s neither here nor there). And I’ve got a Josie, too, of course (see below). It is my little girl’s first Christmas. Did you know Lil’ Jo worked all weekend alongside her mamma and papa at Cousins’ Christmas Tree Lot? Was it ever crazy busy! If you were there right about 4pm on Saturday, the holiday spirit could be felt. No gimmick here, no selling points. It was there. Sandwiched between the Novato High Glee Club and a Noble Fir. Right near Frank McGovern, legendary Tree Man, as he swung a six-footer over his shoulder like it was a bag of feathers. And hovering around the Cousins’ themselves, Deann and PeeBee, as they happily helped local family after family. It was there in the pink sunset, mixed in with the smell of burning wood and northern California.

Almost too darling for words.

If you are a new mommy, know one, or have hopes and dreams to become one, this ornament will charm your heart. It’s understated, simple and rustic.

And if you come to Cousin’s Christmas Tree Lot this weekend, I can make one for you. I can do names, I suppose, but they cannot be longer than five letters. I think other words will work, too. Hope. Peace. His. Hers. Bride. Groom.

I’m getting carried away.

We are really enjoying the art of perfecting our birdhouse stand.

Many of you said you’d pick out your purchases after the crowds  had first pick. If this is you … your money is just as green as anyone else. I say come by this weekend. We’ll be there both Saturday and Sunday from 11-3pm. And Shane will make you the one you want, too, right there at the stand …

Actually … the picture of the dirty hands: Those are PeeBees’s hands. If you haul and load Christmas trees, seven days a week, twelve hours a day for a month, this is what will happen. See you this upcoming weekend at the ‘Lot!

But it gets cuter still. I just ordered a precious, tiny stamp of a bird. Very understated, very rustic; something you’d see from a nursery around the turn of the century or something. I’m planning on stamping the front of some houses with the bird. I also bought these vintage letter stamps in typewriter font. I’m thinking of spelling “baby” next to the birds. Oh golly.

We are burning the midnight oil over here at Shane’s Birdhouses. The ornaments are starting to stack up in the craft room, so I need to get busy and do my part, which is carefully screwing in the tiny eye and hook. And then bagging them in our special bag. That has our stamp. These are precious. Have to go, but not before I peek into Santa’s workshop …

We have to make a lot of birdhouse ornaments. I mean a lot. It felt like all we did last year was make these things. Correction — I think that’s how Shane, my husband felt. I don’t actually make them. I suppose I do have an important part because I’m the one that carefully screws in the itsy-bitsy hook and then weave a wire hanger through the eye.

Because I don’t have to use power tools, I probably feel a little more generous toward giving them away. I must have given away dozens because as I started to take inventory this afternoon, I realize we (Shane) needs to get to work. Oh, I hope my husband doesn’t read this blog. Don’t send him the link. On second thought; do. He never reads his email.

A word on Cousins’ Christmas Trees. First of all, the owners are real cousins. And I’ve known them since, oh, about forever. Because their family has been in Novato forever. These cousins are like third-generation cousins. And they are funny. And brilliant. And just about the most genuine people you will ever meet, and want to establish a Christmas Tree lot that reminds families of how a community X-Lot should be run: With humor, love, tradition, and good value. They are getting their consultation from the king of all holidays trees, Mr. McGovern himself!

So Shane’s Birdhouses have partnered with these partners. Our birdhouse and birdhouse ornaments just go with their simple theme. They are going to have so many different activities for the kids (like a petting zoo, and art projects from Northbay ArtWorks) that you have to just drive by and check them out. And then get your tree from them. These are high-quality, freshly cut trees because they get them straight from an Oregon farm. And they have done their research and are marketing these trees at a competitive price.

We’ll keep you posted on what’s happening next in Santa’s — I mean Shane’s — Little Workshop. And with the Cousins’ Christmas Tree Lot. I think what I look forward to most are the stories the Cousins’ and I will retell that haven’t even happened yet on the Lot.

See birdhouse prices here. Shane has been busy in the backyard workshop making more just for this occasion. We have all three sizes available. These really are the best last-minute gifts you can find. They are a great accompaniment to a beautiful garden if your mom (or grandma) is into that sort of thing. Let us know in advance if you want us to reserve a couple!

And if we know you’re coming, we just might make some Pagan Pickles too …

This is her with her Easter Bunny hat on.

I took a lot of pictures of her bedroom, which of course has a bird theme.

She is so darn cute. We recently took her to the Petaluma Butter & Egg Day to see if it would be a good future venue for Shane’s Birdhouses. Although there were tens of thousands of people in attendance, we decided it was more of a place for food vendors than art vendors. Our next event to check out? Sausalito’s Caledomia Street Spring Fair. What do you think?

Held this Saturday, February 6th from 5:30-8:30pm at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Novato, there is a western theme going on, so make sure you dress up in your best pair of cowboy boots and Wranglers!

Tickets are $30 and only available in advance for Rotary members. You can contact 415-883-2100 for more information. You can also visit the website at Novatorotary.org.

Aren’t they just adorable? I tell you, the guy is brilliant. It’s so important to be able to have creative time because you come up with the best ideas. He also came up with Birdhouse Kits that craft or kid clubs could put together as a fun afternoon project!

My natural reaction at times like this is to go “Aww …” for about 2 seconds before for my marketing brain kicks in and dollar signs appear. We need to have accompanying packets filled with tiny craft notions to personalize each Birdhouse Ornament. For example, you would choose a bag filled with a little bird and nest and toothpick for a perch (with tiny holes drilled in the house of course). Or maybe a miniature “weathering” kit.

Retail value: $6 each. Or two for $10. Can anyone tell me a great craft fair to sign this guy up at in the Marin-Sonoma County area? Even something held at Novato’s Margaret Todd Center would do.  Although I don’t see a senior citizen forking over their hard-earned money for this …

Then he held up this next item for me. It was sort of an instant buzz kill, but I had to keep it cool and keep that grin plastered to my face. Despite the fact I burned a couple of nose hairs because the thing reeked of shellac. I’m just glad I wasn’t holding a match.

When I kindly asked him what it was, he said he didn’t know. He said, Something to hang in the yard.

We have about 9,000 things that already don’t need to be hanging in the yard. My response?

“Well, not all prototypes make it to full production.” Keep churning out them ornaments, Shane-o!