BirdBrain Designs

Archives for January 2012

one more sleep

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I am all packed and ready to go. I get to Amsterdam Saturday morning, Nairobi Saturday night and Matangwe some time on Sunday. A wonderful new book that I had pre-ordered some time ago arrived yesterday, just in time to take with me. I have promised myself that I will record all the new sights in my sketchbook. This new book by Gabriel Campanario is an excellent resource with loads of sketches from people around the world. Some of my faves are there.

Speaking of art and faves…a local grade 6 class has been helping me with my Kenya plans. They each wrote letters to the students there, they made an amazing 12 minute video to illustrate their lives and they gathered well over 50 pounds of art and sport supplies for the students in Matangwe. I will be so proud to share the efforts of these students with the students in Kenya. My large red duffle bag is jammed to the seams with pencils, pens, erasers, paints and soccer balls. Thanks so much Grade 6’s!

And finally here is Fireworks, three sides of the border done. Working at it each day I was able to complete side three in just over a week. I figure the whole thing will be done by the end of April, with any luck, but for now we are giving each other a much-needed break.

new thoughts, new rug 2

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I love the work of Hundertwasser–his paintings and his tapestries. I think his work has much to tell us and much to inspire us for rug hooking (just look at this background). He loves houses–so I am enjoying his versions as I plan my next rug. You won’t be disappointed if you follow the link to his official website. Friends of mine are lucky enough to have an original–it has so much wonderful colour and fanciful detail. 

fish in line

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This is an early piece where I was learning about colour and values. It is now at my sister’s cottage, adding vibrant shots of colour. This is a purchased pattern, but I am sorry to say that I do not know whose.

new thoughts, new rug

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These days I am hooking on Fireworks, reading websites about travelling to Kenya, packing, and dreaming about my next rug. Last year when we were in the National Gallery I took this photo of a new book about Vienna in 1900. I am thinking of ordering it here, a wonderful site which has no minimum for free shipping.  I know many others have found Klimt an inspiration for rug hooking–and I see his influence in my own work, even something like this chair seat which was done several years ago in a class with Sharon Townsend at the  Green Mountain Rug Hooking Guild’s wonderful November classes and show. (I have just sent off my application for November 2012!)

I am planning a new rug for Owen and Carissa–it will have houses in it, both their family homes and the new house they have together. Somehow there will be winding roads in it–and birds. For me, backgrounds are as important as major images–and much more intriguing. I am playing with the idea of tessellated birds in various colours of the sky. Just playing for now.

bit by bit

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Bit by bit, the third border is getting done. Although I am busy getting ready for Kenya, (prescriptions, supplies, last visits etc.) I also have time to sit and hook, time to think about what is coming and try to mentally prepare for it. One week tomorrow I leave!

Jennifer, my good friend and fellow rug hooker, and I have a friendly competition to see who will reach her goal and finish her big rug first. Of course Jennifer’s Jumbo is huge–much much bigger than Fireworks whose final dimensions will be approximately 57″ x 80″.  And should I mention that she has a full time job? So it’s not really a competition, but just a way to encourage each other to stick with it.

 

 

 

 

parcels, parcels

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 A parcel was waiting for me when I got home yesterday. Who doesn’t love a parcel even if you arranged for it yourself? I had ordered some Noodler’s ink and a new Flex Nib Piston Fill Resin Fountain Pen, (colour–Cardinal Darkness!!) from the lovely people at the Goulet Pen Company. It came promptly from the USA, no problems, and is everything I hoped for. I’ve been having fun in my journal this morning, just trying it out–and the ink does not smudge when I put water colour over it–how great is that? I first heard about the Noodler’s ink and flex pens from one of my favourite drawing blogs.

And speaking of parcels, these stickers and business cards arrive recently from Moo. The stickers are made from my drawings and hookings. You can use any image you like, and if you have enough images, each sticker in the book can be different. The business cards are half-size and a durable card stock. This is a website that is a delight to use–to my mind they have the dynamics worked out perfectly and a great fun product.

outside/inside

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Yesterday was ice; today snow. Winter is back in Ontario. It is an excuse for reading by the fire and hooking by the window as the snow blows around in looping circles. Since this is an inside day, I thought it was a good time to share three articles I have lately loved–for outside and inside living.

1. Annie Liebovitz on How to Sustain the Creative Process: (full article here)

“Talent is something anyone can have. It can go away. It needs to be nurtured, taken care of. The best thing about getting older is that you kind of know what you are doing — if you stick with something. It doesn’t get easier. But you get stronger. Pilgrimage is an exercise in taking care of what I do. My books are my way of being able to express myself completely.”

2. Beauty and Wisdom from Steinbeck’s Letter to his son Thom (full article here)

First — if you are in love — that’s a good thing — that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

Second — There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

3. Cold Weather Food from Ruth Reichl (delicious link here)

 

deb’s first hooking

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I was delighted to receive a photo of Deb’s completed project from the rug hooking class in the fall.  I love the pop of the colours as well as the inventive choice for the ground. And I must say the loops look very regular and even for a first hooking. I think we have a committed rug hooker here! Thank you, Deb! On to the next project.

And I must say, if you have your version of this little mat complete, please send it along. I love to see the variety and each individual ‘signature’.

hockney inspiration

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I have loved David Hockney’s work since I saw an exhibition of his huge canvases in Boston in 1998. This is a painting from that exhibition–I have the poster on my wall. His use of colour and line influences my hooking. Lately, I have been fascinated by his work using the ipad. He has had several of these on the cover of the New Yorker, but this is my favourite (indulging my passion for shoes).

Talk about embracing the new. He is an inpiration!