BirdBrain Designs

Birdbrain

update: latest hooked piece and two books that arrived this week

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It clearly has not been a summer for posting on the blog. I have been posting the occasional photo on Instagram but that’s it. We have been at the cottage a lot during this very hot summer–a beautiful spot with some connectivity, but not to do more than send a text or make a call. Definitely enough, and I like it that way, but the blog which takes a solid connection for a length of time, has been neglected. 

Is it time to give up the blog? I don’t think I am ready to do that. I like the record it provides for one thing. The first post was over 7 years ago! And I like the space to expand on ideas and show my work. Even if my readership has diminished. Even if I am not regular about it. Even if it’s just a place to record my thoughts. This is the latest village finished. I have put it in a woollen frame and plan to make it into a pillow. 

A closeup showing the frame…

And two books which arrived in the mail this week.  The small one is Canadian quilter Judith Martin’s poem/photos of her stitched piece called Not to Know But To Go On. The second is an artist new to me, Jean Claude Roy, whose dramatic paintings of Newfoundland are deeply moving and inspirational.The title of the book, Fluctuat Nec Mergitur, which means She Is Tossed By the Waves but Doesn’t  Sink, is a gorgeous phrase, one that would also suit Judith Martin’s lovely work. I encourage you to seek out both books.

july 2018

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Since I got home from France on July 2, I have been at our cottage. I still have much more to post about my almost two weeks in France and I will do that. But right now I want to talk about July and the lake. The cottage, a 1950’s former hunting cabin, is on a small island in Canadian shield  country. When the whole family is there it is crowded, chaotic, laughter-filled. But most of the time it’s quiet with room for thinking, rug hooking and painting.

I have had my kayak for 35 years and it was not new when I took it over. It’s faded red and white with a maple leaf insignia. It feels like an extension of me. I aim to take it out every day, on the big part of the lake when I want a challenge, but mostly in the back bays and inlets. A time of contemplation. Some of these trees have worked their way into my hooked pieces.

A glimpse of a perfect summer afternoon with cousins…

And while there I’ve been working on a study loosely based on the village in Provence where I was in June. What I like best about hooking at the cottage is that my materials are scarce. I have only my bag of ends and some additional 2″ pieces. I need to make ‘do’ with what I have and I love the problems that creates and the solutions that emerge. This is almost finished and the larger piece will begin. I’m taking a landscape course at the end of the summer so I need to be ready with the bigger work for that.

Two great fibre exhibits on my holiday

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I was in London when the Fashion Textile Museum had its exhibit of the work of Orla Kiely.  I’ve long been a fan of her work and it was so interesting to see her process up close–pages from her sketchbook and samples of her clothing and bags.

Here is my sketchbook page from the day. 

Then, totally unexpectedly, I stumbled into an amazing textile sculpture show in Isle de la Sorge in Provence. Next to our sketching site was La Fondation Villa Datris and inside and outside were amazing fibre sculptures. From Sonia Delaunay and Sheila Hicks to others I had not been introduced to, this was a thrilling exhibit. The museum staff were incredibly welcoming and I wandered happily taking photos both in the gallery and in the amazing garden. 

I was particularly interested in the work of El Anatsui who “has managed to turn salvaged materials into a mainspring of the creative process. His work questions global commercial exchanges, the destruction and the transformation of materials, symbols of events that spread across the African continent.” (quotation from museum notes)

And in the garden the sculptures of Odile de Frayssinet who winds polypropylene rope on wire frames and then uses fire to give her pieces “skin with a half-animal, half-plant appearance.” (museum notes)

Next stop London, day one and two

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We stayed in Kensington where the sketching opportunities were limitless. The charming mews in the area beckoned and the Victoria & Albert and Hyde Park were just a few blocks away. I loved the Frida Kahlo floral sculpture in the V&G garden.

In Hyde Park, we saw the Diana fountain which is unexpectedly beautiful, running like a brook over changing terrain. You could not help but feel her spirit there as the children played in the water and people sat sunning. And right there as well on the Serpentine was Christo’s latest installation, 7000 oil barrels forming a kind of pyramid. We didn’t realize what it was until I read about it in the Guardian. And finally we saw the Peter Pan statue and nearby birds and squirrels everywhere feeding out of people’s hands. I felt that Mary Poppins would appear around the next corner. It is a magic place!

And then there was the Canada Fountain in the park just behind the Canada Gate across from Buckingham Palace. I’m including a photo of the plaque so you can read the description of this moving sculpture and the sacrifice of so many Canadian lives. It was a moment to contemplate what it means to be a Canadian.

June travelling: first stop Glasgow

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I started my trip in Glasgow and spent several days walking around this magnificent city. Glasgow was my first European city which I visited when I was seventeen. It has a special place in my heart. This visit coincided exactly with the tragic fire at the Glasgow School of Art so it wasn’t just the cloudy skies that made the city subdued. 

In spite of this sadness, the loss of the wonderful interior of the historic building, just lovingly restored after an earlier fire, the Glaswegian sense of irreverence and fun is everywhere. Across from my hotel was the Museum of Modern Art with its statue of Wellington on horseback. On his head were two traffic cones.

The city was going to raise the plinth on which Wellington and horse stand to prevent such adornments, but there was such an outcry that officials reneged, and Wellington remains with cones. 

The taxis in the city also add to the frivolity–a welcome flash of colour in an often dreary climate.

I did some sketches, sometimes dodging the showers in a café…

and sitting on available steps…

Visited the marvellous Kelvingrove for a Charles Rennie Mackintosh exhibit…

and found the Hatrack, a delightful Art Nouveau beauty wedged into the street. This article describes the building as “Gaudi-esque”… I thought Mackintosh had designed this, but the article says it was designed by his associate , James Salmon. Either way, it is a delight!

After a marvellous visit with family, I took the train for a short stop in  Edinburgh…

with a timely reminder from Sir Walter Scott in the Waverley Train Station…

my new travel bag

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I’m travelling to Glasgow, London and Avignon this month. The trip involves lots of train travel, some of it solo, so I decided I needed a new travel bag to accompany my backpack and rolling suitcase. There was no question that I wanted a cross-body bag with a wide adjustable strap, large enough to carry all travel essentials, including a sketchbook and paints. I also wanted an outside zipper pocket and lots of pocket options inside. 

It is 14.5″ wide, 14″ tall with a 4.5″ base. Inside there is a zipper pocket and two slip pockets. It’s lined with the last piece of the fabric from last year’s sale at the TMC  and the pockets are from another TMC remnant. I love to make each bag different inside and durable upholstery fabric works very well. Low profile metal hardware. I’ll let you know how it performs on its first test run and then I’ll make a few for sale.

second time

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I’ve mentioned before that I try to wear second hand clothing or clothing designed and made by local designers. Since I have an amazing store, City Revival, in my neighbourhood, finding the right gently-used clothing is pretty easy. Shopping this way is definitely better for the environment and it’s far more economical…and as I don’t much enjoy shopping anymore, it means I can find what I need in one stop: shoes, coats, dresses etc. 

And sometimes there is a bonus. I was delighted to find a very large pair of men’s leather pants on a recent visit to CR. These are made in Canada out of fabulous leather. You can see one leg laid out flat and the other rolled in two pieces. Definitely a bag or two here! Check back in a month or so. There should be a new bag out of my Doc’s leather pants. 🙂

another messenger in black canvas and brown leather

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Here is the second in a series of messenger bags using the last of my waxed canvas from Kenya and leather. This one is for a smaller computer. It measures 16.5″ x 13″ x 3″. It is also lined in waxed canvas (this time from Eddie Bauer) and has three internal pockets as well as the two outside. The strap is adjustable and made from 2″ black cotton webbing. I like to use repurposed materials when I can and the flap of this bag is lined with second-life black leather. Durable metal hardware.

a new messenger bag, leather and waxed canvas

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This is a large messenger bag, able to carry a 17″ computer. The body is made of waxed canvas (which I bought in Kenya and sadly is almost gone) and cognac leather. It has a wide cotton webbing strap with a shoulder pad, a leather grab-handle and durable metal hardware. Under the flap there is a slip pocket and inside a large double pocket. It is lined with durable canvas, has a double bottom for strength and a vintage leather tab closure. Overall, a great bag to take you back and forth to work. 19.5″ x 13.5″ x 3.5″

textile adventures

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Finally spring is here and I’ve been out for some textile adventures. Last week I was in Toronto for the TMC sale. Traffic was difficult and I didn’t get there for the lineup–but still managed to find some good pieces which I will use to line leather bags. It is a huge sale, four rooms jammed with fabric and notions. You can be sure that next year I’ll be in the lineup!

I did manage to get to the Marimekko shop while in the city. Those of you who read the blog know that Marimekko is my favourite textile design company. I’ve loved their designs since the sixties. I bought a metre of each of their iconic patterns to make summer totes…and for the first time bought a piece of clothing! This t-shirt dress will be great for my travels.

Last week I was in Kingston at my favourite place on the shores of Lake Ontario, The Tett Centre. You can see my sketch from another visit here. Inside the door is this wonderful portrait of Tett by J. David Brown.

Even the bathrooms in this place are wonderful!

The Kingston Fibre Artists had a wonderful show and sale in the Community Gallery. I fell in love with this depiction of buildings, Metropolis, by Sylvia Naylor. Free motion embroidery on hand-dyed and painted cotton. Inspiring!

It was a week of colour and texture. So now it’s time to settle in to make a few things. Right now I’m working on two messenger bags which I hope to show you soon.