Put a Bird on It!

When I visit Portland, I often think that it's sort of like Charlottesville's big sister. So, when I saw this video about a new show called Portlandia, I could imagine what was coming.

"Do you remember the 90s, when people were talking about getting piercings and tribal tattoos; people were singing about saving the planet and forming bands? There's a place where that still exists as a reality and I've been there."

"Remember when people were content to be unambitious, sleep til 11, just hang out with their friends, and they had no occupations whatsoever, maybe working a couple hours a week at a coffee shop?

Okay, just as this doesn't describe everyone in Portland, it doesn't describe everyone in Charlottesville. But...there's a little truth in it.

Then came the video "Put a Bird on It" which I first saw on Design Sponge, but have watched a few times since.

When I walked into O'Suzannah, a gift shop in downtown Charlottesville, on Saturday, I couldn't help but snap just a couple pictures to show how "Put a Bird on It" is alive and well in Charlottesville.

I shop in this store all the time and have always loved how many cute animals you can find there. I bought my Jonathan Adler squirrel sculpture there. I buy cute presents for my nephews there. Everything is so cute!

Only after watching "Put a Bird on It" did I notice how ubiquitous the bird has gotten on accessories.

Which has me wondering what things are looking like at the New York International Gift Fair this week. The gift show is where buyers for stores go to see what's new and interesting in decorative accessories and stationary. Charlottesville jewelry designer Lolly Smith is there showing her line called Laurel Denise (by the way, check out these pictures of her booth from last year...isn't that amazing?). I can't wait to read the recaps from the bloggers who are at the fair.

What do you think? Are the birds here to stay or are they on the way out?