About ten years ago, I decided to get 27 baby chicks at the feed store and raise some free range chickens. It was a real learning curve for me. Although I grew up in the country, I didn't know much about building a coop, feeding the chickens, etc. I was amazed at how each of the 27 chickens had a different personality. Although they were all the same breed - barred Plymouth rock - and they all had the same black and white markings, I could recognize each one as an individual animal. I gave them all different names. I was also surprised at how well they took care of themselves in their free range chicken world. I called their free range habitat "Chicken Jungle". I planned to build a chicken "jungle gym" and other structures for them to climb and run around on.

The only time they were vulnerable was when they were sleeping in their coop at night. As I said, it was a real learning curve, and eventually a bloodthirsty varmint found a way to get into the roof of the coop where they slept at night. I hadn't made the roof sturdy enough. Over a two year period, I eventually lost all the chickens. Next time I know to make the roof better. I still call my garden Chicken Jungle.

I haven't yet had the time or energy to start raising chickens again...but it inspired me to start sewing fabric chickens. I found a pattern at a store, and made one, and then decided to start a shop here on Etsy in February 2013.

I also love doing things with the plants that grow in my jungle, such as making grapevine wreaths and dried flower arrangements, and dyeing fabrics with plant dyes. I love making unusual succulent plant pots and macrame plant hangers, and planting them with cacti and succulents from my garden. So I also sell these in my Etsy shop.

Macrame also has a special place in my heart because my dad taught me how to do it long ago....he taught me how to make plant hangers using the same knots he used while he was in the Navy in the South Pacific in World War II. I enjoy carrying on that legacy from him. I experiment with various natural fibers, and I like to combining macrame it with beads or shells to make unusual plant hangers and hanging macrame lanterns for my Etsy shop. They combine well with the plants from my garden.