• 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 May 2019

the beauty of reusing leather, part one

May 13, 2019 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

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.

Filed Under: bags and purses

Gallery 121 preview

May 8, 2019 by Birdbrain 7 Comments

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.

 

Filed Under: bags and purses, Hooking, textiles

a not-so-plain black bag

May 6, 2019 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: bags and purses

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