BirdBrain Designs

Archives for October 2012

new gaspé tote

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I began a new style of tote today. It is a heavy-duty shopper. I have been looking at this beautiful cherry leather remnant for a while. It was just enough for a tote, 13 x 14 x 4″ so I combined it with mahogany leather straps . It is only partially finished, but well enough along for me to tell that I will like it. Inside it has two leather pockets — a 7 inch zippered one, and one just for your phone. And it has a zipper closing. But is unlined, au naturel. I seem to be on a run of unlined ‘rough’ bags–but when the leather is lovely and durable, it works! A great straight-forward, hard-working beautiful bag. I hope to post pictures next week of this and this one finished.

Yesterday we were in Picton where I saw this joyous tribute to fibre and flair in a small park. I looked to see who had left these ‘sculptures’ but there was no hint. But thought I had to share it with you. It is a fitting way to say cherish the weekend — for those of us in Canada, our Thanksgiving weekend. And most important, cherish all those you love.

 

turning the corner on the wedding rug

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Today was my day to volunteer at a local independent art gallery. I love this space — open, bright and full of wonderful pieces of art. I like to take my hooking because people are always interested — and it is a good chance for me to make some progress on the wedding rug. This morning I ‘turned the corner’ — actually the third corner, the corner with the wedding date.

I have loved working on this rug. Any one who saw it today commented that I am more than a year behind with my wedding gift. The fact is that I did not even begin this rug until last June — so yes I am late, but I am not taking forever. It will be done by 12 12 12, that magic date, or before.

I had planned to have Owen and Carissa’s names on the side of the rug, but I see now that there is not enough room. Once I get the row of bubbles and the border the area will be full. This side needs to balance roughly with the left side. A rug like this is organic, and as I have said before, you develop a relationship, rug and rug hooker, and all decisions are shared. There have been times at this stage in a rug where the rug and I were merely tolerating one another until the project was over. But my relationship with this rug has been a happy one, and one full of discovery. I have learned more about background, about colour and about design. And I will be even happier to see it on Owen and Carissa’s floor. They tell me that they have the spot waiting — so I’d better get back to the frame! I’ll post my progress after the weekend.

more rough pouches

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The rough pouches have been getting a very good response so I decided to dig into my box of upholstery leather and see what I could come up with.  Each pouch is one-of -a-kind with a zipper closing and an interior leather pocket large enough to hold your cards. The small pouches are ideal for carrying your phone and other essentials, fit easily into a larger bag or work well on their own. The larger pouches can hold a passport and boarding pass. Today’s colours espresso, walnut, mocha and teal.