BirdBrain Designs

Birdbrain

and now a rough tote

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I have been working on a tote made from two leather jackets, both wonderful leather–rugged brown and pebbly black. I have always liked the black, brown combination and it seems to really work here. This tote is a bit oversized, 16″ wide, 13″ high and a 7″ bottom, so it will hold lots of stuff including an ipad, or laptop.

This is just a peek because I haven’t worked it all out. But I think I am really going to like it. Next step, design sturdy straps and think about the lining–lots of pockets for sure.

 

cobalt clutch SOLD

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This clutch is made of the softest recycled cobalt leather. It is 6 x 8.5 x 1.5 with a zippered closing and a detachable leather wrist strap. Inside it is lined with yellow cotton and has a small leather pocket for cards and coins. A great pouch to carry on a night out, or to fit inside a larger bag.

$45.00 plus shipping

another cobalt clutch

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This leather originated in a bomber jacket, circa 1982. I am calling it cobalt, but it is a bit more on the purple side than earlier clutches. Beautiful. I have been saving this leather which is soft and smooth for some time, but this week decided to make a clutch. This is a very useful size  (6 x 8.5 x 1.5″) as it holds all your essentials, so can stand on its own, or can be stowed in a larger bag. 

Inside is a small pocket which is a good size for your cards and a lining of sunshine yellow cotton print. The wristlet has a detachable clip for those days when you want to use it inside a bigger bag. You can find this pouch in the shop.

tomatoes and 2 more rough pouches

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I love September. Last week I bought yet another half-bushel of tomatoes. They are in a big pile in the kitchen challenging me. So, yesterday I made 12 jars of Tomato Marmalade. I had never heard of it before, never mind made it. My version, found here, had tomatoes, oranges, lemons, sugar and ginger. That’s it. I doubled the recipe–and then read that reaching the gel stage is difficult, especially if you double the amounts. Well…no worries…in an hour and a bit I had a wonderful gooey tomato concoction which is very delicious! I’m imagining it with roast pork. I like the sound of this recipe too–and may try it next.

I also found my way to the sewing machines for a couple more rough pouches. Each one is its own colour match–based on what is in the remnant bin and the zipper drawer. 

I really like this design. It is useful, durable and a wonderful punch of colour.  Below are the three sizes I have made so far. I am working up to making a computer bag and large tote in this style. Stay tuned…

small rough pouches in colour!

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I have long had a romance with turquoise and magenta. I remember a hot mat I wove in Brownies on a box loom my father made for me. It was–turquoise and magenta–and I thought it was beautiful. At a recent workshop we talked a lot about emotional connection to colour–Deanne talked about her mother’s turquoise fridge and the memories it evoked. I think these rich colours evoke the excitement I felt as a little girl when the brown paper packages arrived from my Scottish grandmother containing hand-knitted sweaters in the most beautiful hues. Those packages spoke love to me.

I had a number of small zippers and some small pieces of my favourite leathers. I decided to make some small rough pouches–no lining but a little pocket for subway tokens or other small treasures. And I have fallen for them–the little ones for change and the larger ones to pop in your tote with phone, cash, cards etc. A perfect injection of colour!

preparing for some new things

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I was in Toronto yesterday to make some new screens and get some materials. I love the light in Arounna’s shop and I love her quiet encouragement even more. I don’t make new screens very often and I certainly needed lots of prodding on the process yesterday. Here is a glimpse of what is to come. I am thinking small pouches, larger canvas totes and lining for leather bags.

 

wedding rug nearing the end

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Carissa’s birthday is 12 12 12 this year–a special day–and I would like to have this rug done! I set a goal for the weekend’s hooking and I managed to get there. It helped that I was beside a window with a great view, listening to good music and good radio. Each of the circles in the wandering border is like its own little colour study. I would chose three primaries, or three shades or analgous colours or complementaries etc., a little challenge for myself. I guess I like to set challenges and play games as I am hooking; it keeps things interesting.

Still some decisions to make on the right-hand side of the rug, but mostly just more of the same. I am going to set a hooking schedule. It gets harder now, as I start to work with leather and sweaters. Am making some small colour therapy pouches, working my way up to some new bags. Need to get back into the groove. And mittens will be appearing soon too. I love the fall!

Meanwhile, tomorrow I will be making new screens for printing some of the new designs. Will be at Bookhou, one of my favourite places! I will try to take some pictures to show you.

 

the rug, the lake and me

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I have been out of touch for a few days. The wedding rug and I were at the lake and it seems to be one of the few places left around here with no connection to the outside world. The cottage is four miles from the marina by boat–a distance which enhances the sense of isolation. Yes, there is a landline and a radio–but no cell coverage and no internet. It is blissful. This weekend, the fall colours were just beginning and the lake was at its most intense blue.

I spent some time in the kayak, read, but mostly I hooked and listened to the CBC. Michael Enright, my Sunday staple, had a great interview with David Carr which I recommend. I’ll post a picture of the developments in the rug soon–but meanwhile I just want to share the glories of Canada’s shield country.

 

and more colours…a visit to London-Wul

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The stunning New Brunswick landscape is echoed in Heidi Wulfraat’s marvellous studio. It was a pouring wet day when I visited, but inside the colours were vibrant and Heidi a total delight, so  welcoming and engaging. The CBC was playing, there were irresistible piles of wool and fleece everywhere you looked and inspiring large hooked and felted pieces on the walls.  Be sure to visit Heidi’s site or her FB page — I particularly loved her sketch book.

This is one of my favourites. 

And I have to show you the socks I got! These are recycled cotton ‘mismatched with care in Vermont”–great gifts.

ahh the colours…deanne fitzpatrick class part 2

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At the end of the course, the class created our Colour Manifesto:

  • colour is a personal language
  • colour is both an art and a science
  • value is crucial, but relative
  • trust and build your instincts
  • absorb the colour around you
  • there is no such thing as a bad colour

As you can see from the trees I began in the class, the interior and exterior landscapes were playing on my mind. The full pink moon, the sparkling trees and water, the fields of wild flowers and the wonderfully open and accepting atmosphere. I was reminded of Keri Smith’s manifesto in her new book How to Be an Explorer of the World.  And what great reminders!