• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

BirdBrain Designs

  • Home
  • contact
  • online store
  • Instagram
  • Leather Gallery
  • hooked rugs gallery

Archives for November 2013

for the love of textiles

November 8, 2013 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

ffI’ve been in a marathon of slicing, piecing and sewing strips of recycled sweaters. I have bins and bins of my favourite bits which I have saved over the years. I’ve always made mittens from the larger pieces, but decided this year that I would use combinations of my favourites in some finger-free gloves. Such a pleasure, both remembering the piece and combining it with others to make a funky fashion statement.

And all the while I have been thinking of my father. He made me my first loom when I was eight years old, and I chose turquoise and magenta wool from my mother’s knitting basket to weave a hot mat. And ever since, I have been in a deep romance with woollens. But I think my father did more than make the first loom. I think he passed on his own love of fibre. His paternal grandparents owned a woollen textile mill in Glasgow, (before, so I understand,  some family member drank the profits). In my teenage years he loved to accompany us to the mills in Hespeler or the much closer fabric stores on Ottawa Street in Hamilton. I remember him in his red plaid woollen pants, his harris tweed jackets and his jaunty wool hat with the feather. He was always finding a bolt hidden under some others that he thought was the best quality and pulling it out for our perusal. And he was a great critic as the creations were coming to life, even known to help pin a hem.

I think of him these days as I am alone with the sewing machines. My trusty industrial is named after him. It’s always a good thing to let your memory wander to visit those you have loved and  to say a quiet thank you.

Filed Under: inspiration, recycled wool

november and the on-line store

November 6, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

These days I am sewing madly for my annual sale.  Of course this is when inspiration hits and I don’t have time to make all the things that I’m dreaming up. But there will be some new bags and a new design for finger-free gloves and mittens in the coming days–and, I am hoping, cashmere leg warmers if they work out!! But all this means that I won’t be putting anything in the on-line store until after November 25. If you see something that you want, please just email me and we can talk. There will still be time for Christmas even if the present is for yourself!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

friday pouches in two sizes

November 6, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

These handy pouches are made entirely from recycled leather. Here the purple and the black were formerly leather pants and the red a skirt. Outside lovely soft leather and inside bright wipeable fabric. Great on their own or in a larger bag. Large 9.5″ x 7.5″. Medium 7.5″ x 6.5″.pfri
bfri

rfri

Filed Under: bags and purses

two new keller bags

November 4, 2013 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

These are everyday bags in rich colours and top quality leather. They have metal hardware and zippers, three pockets and adjustable shoulder straps as well as double leather bottoms with rivets. Inside they are lined with cotton. 13″ wide x 12″ tall x 4″ deep.pk

tk1

Diptic-1

tk3

pk 1

Filed Under: bags and purses

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2

Primary Sidebar

Available in Store


melon pouch 1

Archives

  • October 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • January 2020
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro & The Genesis Framework