BirdBrain Designs

2020

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I’m starting off 2020 with a post, and hoping to continue with regularity. As you probably know, you can catch up with me on Instagram (button in menu at the top of the page). But the blog is the place for longer pieces, exploring ideas and making connections. I’ve been away so long, that there is a new format to learn. Fingers crossed I can still do this!

I’m heading off to my textile retreat in under two weeks and one of the tasks is to share three highlights of the year. I’ve covered my first highlight, the Gallery 121 show in May here. A second highlight was having my work featured in two different publications. I was thrilled to have both my sketches and rug hooking in Karen Miller’s Eyes Open to the World, a wonderful collection of hooked pieces inspired by travelling. In this past issue of A Needle Pulling Thread, my ‘self-portrait’ Red Shoes, was featured in the Artist Review section. Thank you to the editors of both publications for noticing my work and wanting to share it.

from A Needle Pulling Thread, Issue 51

my return

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It has been months since I have done a post. If you are reading this, thank you for staying with me. I’ve had time to think about the blog and what I want to do with it. For a time I thought it was done. Instagram is such  quick alternative and I’ve been keeping up there–so you can always use the button in the menu above to see what I’ve been up to. But the blog is for more extended writing and also a place where you can see what I’ve made and purchase if you want to. We’ve revamped the shop — but more on that in a few weeks. I’ll send out notification, so let me know if you want to be on the list.

I’ve also been sewing more of my own clothes and I want to share the wonderful indie patterns I’ve found and some of the things I’ve been making. More of that to come in September.

Right now I want to show you the new travel tote I made for my upcoming trip to Scandinavia. I was given a marvellous trove of designer leather in the spring and this is the first I have used any of it. This is not recycled leather, but surplus and I am delighted to ‘repurpose’. There will be some gorgeous colours and textures coming later. This is mocha waxed canvas and brown leather with a great Japanese cotton lining–lots of pockets and a wide crossbody strap. I look forward to slinging it over my shoulder, filled with all my travel essentials. 

And on the sketching front…we spent most of the summer at the lake where I was working on sketches of trees and water. Not easy. We did make a couple of trips to the nearby town of Bancroft where I had  chance to do some sketches of the old buildings. Here are two.

I’ll write again when I’m home from the trip–with some thoughts on the area I’ve wanted to visit forever, some sketches and some photos. Thanks again for sticking with me.

the beauty of reusing leather, part one

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I made this bag in the fall of 2015.  It has been used every day since and these photos show what it looks like today. Pretty good! The bag is made from a man’s coat, so it was in its second iteration. The owner has decided she wants a new bag so she returned this one so I could pass it along or use it for parts. There is still too much life in it to take it apart. It’s just getting worn in! So it’s on its way to a new owner.

A good leather jacket or pair of pants usually have lots of life left in them. I enjoy both the ethic and the process of making something out of an existing piece. The jacket or pair of pants have already made their mark on the environment so giving it another life is a plus all round. And working within a framework of limited resources has given rise to new ideas and new designs.

Gallery 121 preview

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Here are some photos from the setup of the show at Gallery 121. The official opening is this Saturday May 11, 2:00 to 4:00. Pictured here are my hooked runner, a few hooked pillows inspired by Ton Schulten, two of my bags and a couple of pairs of Bombazine oven mitts. Much more at the show. I would love to see you there.

 

a not-so-plain black bag

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At the last sale of the Textile Museum of Canada I got two pieces of black leather. That leather turned out to be top quality and I’ve used it in several projects. This bag has the very last of it on the top half. The bottom is yet another remnant which I’ve had for a while. Together they make a dynamite bag. There is a zipper pocket on the outside and another inside as well as two slip pockets. (The lining is also from the TMC sale–fits with my use-it-up/repurpose philosophy.) Great hardware attaches an adjustable strap. And, as you can see from the third photo, the tabs are made of smile-making starry leather. Compact and versatile, this is a great day bag. In the Gallery 121 sale.

new traveller in brick

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Most of the bags I am making now are for the upcoming show at Gallery 121. But I have also been filling some orders. This has been wonderful leather to work with–the colour is uplifting especially on these drab days. It is upholstery grade and a fabulous colour of brick. This is a cross-body traveller like this one with an outside zippered pocket and inside another zippered pocket and two large slip pockets. 14x14x4 inches it is designed to be a great travel bag but not too big to carry every day.

two new bags

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I’ve been making bags for the upcoming show at a local gallery. Please let me know if you are in the vicinity and would like to attend.

These bags are designed to hold all you want to carry, including your tablet. The first is made of beautiful soft butterscotch leather and has an adjustable cross-body strap, a large outside pocket as well as a zippered pocket inside and three slip pockets. The simple lines let the beautiful leather shine.

The second is a bucket bag with a magnetic closure and a cross-body strap attached with metal clips. A shorter shoulder strap could be substituted or this strap can be shortened to make a double shoulder strap. This is a generous bag which has room for your laptop and all other travel needs. It has a zippered pocket inside as well as three slip pockets and a clip for your keys.

 

waxed canvas bags

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Here are two new totes for the Gallery 121 sale in early May. More details on the sale soon. 

The first tote is made of waxed canvas from England, the second with waxed canvas from the USA. Both fabrics are water-resistant and durable. They bags have cross-body straps, are trimmed in leather and have lots of pockets inside and out.  Great for travel or for everyday use. Drop me a note in the comment section if you have any questions.

2 new cross-body bags from used leather

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Here are two new cross-body bags, the first made from a leather vest, the second from a leather jacket. So much depends on the weight of the leather and the number of seams in the garment and these two pieces scored well in both areas. The vest was long and the back had only one seam. I still have enough of this great leather to be part of a second bag. The black leather jacket had more seams, but there was still enough clear leather to make a smaller bag with an exterior pocket. The red bag is 12″x9″x2″ and the black is 10″x8.5×3″. Both bags are lined with a zipper pocket inside. 

I enjoy giving a second life to cast-off garments. And I try to use every inch. I have plans to make pouches and small cases from the remaining pieces still left on the cutting table. 

and now a bag made from a leather sofa

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Working with recycled leather is always a surprise. Before Christmas my friend, Margaret, offered me a leather sofa that her family no longer needed. I’ve used new upholstery remnants for bags before so I was eager to see this used upholstery. They kindly stripped the leather from its frame and Margaret delivered two large bags absolutely brimming with leather pieces. The sofa was a deep chocolate brown, but the back side of the leather was red. Where the leather was worn the red had come through giving the leather a beautiful burnished patina. 

Below you can see the first Sofa Bag. It is a day bag 11″ x 8.5″ x 3″ with an adjustable leather strap. Inside it is lined with red denim from the Textile Museum sale with a zippered pocket–there is the last of that great striped upholstery sample–and a leather slip pocket. The zipper is durable metal and the low-key hardware matches. This is a unique bag, making ethical use of recycled leather and making a fashion statement at the same time.