Archives for August 2013

hooking and thinking

August 23, 2013 by Birdbrain 5 Comments

I am still working out so much about the blog world. I spent the week making bags, photographing them and posting them. Thank you to those who have followed me through the process and purchased. I was overwhelmed with the speed of your response! Since I am a one-person operation and the sewing times are sporadic, there is no set time for new work and no way, other than the blog, to show you. Sometimes, people write to me and ask me how they go about buying a bag. I don’t do shows and I don’t advertise. Once a year I open my house for a Christmas sale. But really, the best way is to check in here once in a while and see what is available in the on-line store–or email me with a request. All the bags posted this week are in the mail and off to new owners. 🙂

I haven’t been working too much on the rug, but will have more time in the next few days. Learning lots about hooking text. Although I traced the font, I find the actual hooking is more like handwriting. Each letter, although related to its cohorts, is slightly different. And then there is the world of meaning behind the quotation. Time to think about that as I hook. The templates you see scattered there will form the design of the middle of the rug. Right now I am thinking they will be in a spiral–but that will develop as I hook the text at either end.

Thank you for your support and have a great weekend, all of you. The weather here in southern Ontario is spectacular–even though there is that bittersweet touch of fall in the air.

and the last bag of the week

August 22, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

Made from the same great mocha leather, this bag is a ittle bigger than yesterday’s– 14.5″ wide, 13.5 tall and 5″ deep–so it is ready for all your gear. It has all the features of a Luna bag including an extra leather piece riveted in the bottom for strength. It has two large pockets on the front, two leather pockets inside, an adjustable strap and is lined with a great wax print which I bought in a market in Kenya. This bag will be in the on-line shop by tomorrow.

some new things in the birdbrain shop

August 21, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

This is the Mocha Luna. It is the same great leather that is in this bag. This wasn’t a big piece of leather, but I have enough to make a second mocha bag (actually it is well on its way and could be ready for tomorrow) and maybe a smaller one. Anyway this one, with three external pockets and one inside is 13″x12″x5.5″. It has an adjustable strap so you can wear the bag across body or shorten the strap for times you want to carry it close under your arm for more security. The zippers are high quality metal and the strap attaches to the bag with metal clips. The accent colour on the zipper tabs and peeking from inside the side tabs is to coordinate with the burst of colour of the great Kenyan cotton inside. The bag is fully double stitched, has a second leather bottom for strength and brass rivets on the bottom.

And a new Jan Bag:

I’ve made many Jan bags–little shoulder bags originally designed by my friend Jan who is the teller at my local branch. Jan decided that she wanted one in TD green–so here is the prototype. The main bag is made from a recycled skirt and the strap is from the great leather that made the first Delta. I have enough of both leathers to make at least one more Jan and perhaps a clutch. This is a great colour for fall.

Also in the shop will be these two great Triads. The red one is a copy of the one I made for myself. I find its size so useful–it is big enough to hold all of my sketching suppies and more. And I get many comments on the colours. The orange and turquoise are fabulous with the red. The second bag is my favourite. Turquoise nubuck. If it doesn’t fly out of the shop, I might just keep it! All of these bags will be in the shop tonight by 6:00 pm.

some things I’ve been working on…

August 20, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

Triads #4 and #5 are finished. I think that will be it for a while for triads. This is the fourth red one and the last of that great red leather and the turquoise is the one and only. I’ll have more pictures and details tomorrow when they go in the shop.

I guess it was that beautiful orange moon last night that influenced my making of a Luna Bag today. I hadn’t planned on it, but somehow this scrunchy mocha leather and the East African print, a gift from the principal of the school in Matangwe, ended up on the studio table. I have changed the design a bit. The front has a zipper and slip pocket on the outside, a combination that I think really works. I like exterior pockets on bags–they are so useful. I’ve put a little one on the back of this bag too! But more pictures tomorrow.

turquoise triad (#4)

August 19, 2013 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

The latest triad is turquoise nubuck with accents of red-orange and lime. I have never worked with nubuck before–but am taken with its velvety texture, rich colour and slouchy stance. This triad is made from a remnant piece I have been saving for some time–and there was just enough leather for one tote. Paired with the two bright colours, this triad tote makes a strong statement and is set to carry all you need. I am doing a series of triads totes this week. Check here tomorrow for #5 from the last of the red and orange leather…

colour therapy pouches in the shop

August 18, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

There are three colour therapy pouches left in the shop. Also some new triads coming later this week.

colour therapy pouches revisited and more…

August 8, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

Here are some new Colour Therapy pouches made out of my scraps of recycled leather. I love combining the various pieces of skirts and jackets and coloured zippers to make a statement. Some of these are lined with fine black cotton and some with cotton batik. Each pouch will be listed separately in the on-line store, I hope by tomorrow.

I’ve also made another cobalt clutch with detachable wrist strap, great batik lining and a magenta leather interior pocket. This is a rich colour and super leather–you may remember my finding not one, but two cobalt leather skirts. So I should be able to make a couple more of these. This one is a great size–9.5″ wide, 7.5″ tall and 3″ deep–will carry all your essentials. The interior slip pocket is great for subway tokens, credit cards or theatre tickets. And the clip-on wrist strap is for easy carrying — or attaching inside your tote or travel bag. Check the shop tomorrow morning for this too.

USK Montreal part 2…this workshop has it all…

August 6, 2013 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

I spent day two of the USK Montreal learning from Shari Blaukopf, beginning at the bottom of Place Jacques Cartier looking toward Nelson’s column. Below are the stages of Shari’s excellent demo from value sketch to the final product.

In the afternoon we went to a quiet spot with a great view of the 1847 Marché Bonsecours. The skies were changing swiftly, there was lots of wind and a little rain. So much wind, in fact, that my hat blew away. But as I said, this workshop has it ALL. On Sunday Shari arrived with a hat for me! Below is my sketch and two others I managed to photograph before the rain drops. The final picture is from Sunday in Carré St. Louis with me sporting my new hat.

This was a top-of-the -line workshop. Marc and Shari had done intense preparation both in setting up the sights and in preparing the demos. They anticipated all our needs, and best of all, made it such a great pleasure to learn. A big thanks to both!

USK Montreal part one

August 4, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

This is a note from the train after our final day of our Urban Sketching workshop in Montreal. It was a rich and intense three days with Shari Blaukopf and Marc Holmes–two exceptional teachers. The weather was definitely changeable, but we were so lucky–some wind, a few rain drops, but on the whole great for sketching. There were 30 people in the course from all over North America. We broke into two smaller groups and spent a day with each instructor in two locations and then this morning all together in the beautiful Carré St. Louis. Montreal is so great for sketching. Below are the towers of Marie Reine du Monde basking in Friday’s blue sky and great shadows. Not all our skies were like this–in fact there was lots of opportunity to learn how to paint turbulence.

I spent day one with Marc. Here are some glimpses of his techniques for pencil sketching and then layering on the paint–first at Place d’Armes and then Marie Reine du Monde. Lots to absorb! The last picture is my first attempt at the paint layers with no ink outline.

That’s it for now. Still a couple of hours to go–so I am going to curl up with my music and enjoy the big skies flashing by. More on my day with Shari tomorrow.

Triad III

August 1, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

I made a new triad earlier in the week and before I had even put it in the on-line store, I had an email from Missouri wanting to purchase it. It’s always delightful when something like this happens.

I knew I had enough of the red leather for two more totes. As I was packing the Missouri tote, I was thinking what a great bag it would be for my art supplies–it’s strong enough and big enough to hold the sketch book, the palette, the pencil case, the small water bottle and my wallet, lunch and phone. The triple pocket on the inside is perfect for separating out the small things so I can grab them quickly. So I set about making another triad for myself. This orangeade leather is some of my very favourite and I have used it sparingly in many bags. Here is a bag from August 2011 with an orange panel. I had just enough of this beautiful orangeade left for straps and pocket. Inside the triple pocket is made from a teal suede skirt.

It is unusual for me to treat myself with one of my bags. It’s like the old story of the shoemaker’s children who have no shoes. I always seem to be carrying a reject, one I don’t think is worth selling with smudged graphics or a feature that did not quite work. But this new Triad seems really great and I think I will enjoy using it. I will let you know at the end of the weekend.

We went to Kington last night for a special visit and I tossed my new Triad over my shoulder just to try it out. You see I am a fan of the cross-body strap and I wanted to see how these shoulder straps would work with the tote full of all my gear. Would the weight distribution be ok? I am happy to report that Triad III is a big success. The extra piece of heavy leather riveted in the bottom gives it balance and stability. This tote is even a little bigger: 15.5″ wide, 14.5″ long and 5.5″ deep. If you click on the instagram button on the side of the page you will see a photo taken this morning of the Triad packed full of my sketching things. I hope to post later to show you where I am going–this post comes to you from the train.