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

BirdBrain Designs

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

Birdbrain

a day away

May 5, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

I was in this city for a day and a half.  I’ll post later what I bought!  Even though it was cold (people were still wearing warm hats and mitts) I walked everywhere I could.  Maybe next time I will bike.  Yesterday was the opening day for the Bixi in Toronto.  Surely a pedal in the right direction!

I hope that the empty stand means that people are renting and riding!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

a new handbag from a crystal palace

May 1, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

On Friday we went to the Picton Antique show in the Crystal Palace.  I could not leave this charming handbag. (I made it as far as the car and then went back for it!)   It has a long chain tucked inside to convert it to a shoulder bag.  I hope it inspires me to make some great small bags myself.  I certainly am buying enough thrift store leather!

Below are photos of the Crystal Palace.  It has been lovingly restored, including the grand stand where citizens listened to Sir John A.  Well-done Picton!

Filed Under: bags and purses

two new books from favourite blogs

April 29, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

I have always loved drawings of birds but it wasn’t until I read Jenna’s post on Tuesday that I discovered Charlie Harper.  I had to order his book right away!  It is a charming reprint by Todd Oldham of a 1972 book of Harper’s silk-screened images created for the Ford Times. You may recognize his cardinal and bluebird.

I also ordered a book I’ve been wanting for a while.  I’ve followed Heidi Swanson’s incredible blog 101 Cookbooks for some time.  Now I have her beautiful book, Super Natural Cooking as well.  This may be my gift of choice for some up-coming occasions I have!


Filed Under: Uncategorized

a new bag and an old friend

April 27, 2011 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

This is a new bag made with my screen-printed canvas and a recycled leather jacket.  I have drawn four birds which I am using for various projects.  This is the spiky bird, a bird with attitude.

The bag has a leather bottom and screen-printed turquoise lining.

And here is my rug Fireworks, begun last year in Jule-Marie Smith’s class at Green Mountain.  I am back at it after many months and will soon be designing the border.  The finished rug will be 53″x72″ and I am about 2/3 done the middle section.  I think the border will be a long project!

Filed Under: bags and purses, Hooking, silk screening

new bag with silk ribbon

April 24, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

Last weekend at the workshop, I bought a skein of beautiful silk ribbon from Jennifer.  It is fair trade and created by women’s cooperatives in India and Tibet using mill remnants.  I have been using it as an accent in a new bag that I am making.  I love the way it glows.

This bag is made of the smoothest teal leather with hooked panels front and back.

Filed Under: Hooking

dyeing to whip

April 23, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

Good Friday tulips in my grandmother’s crystal vase–a tradition.  In the background Bookhou’s wonderful alphabet.

I dyed the Briggs and Little two ply that I will use to whip Peruvian images–yes it is hooked.  I used Prochem 1 tsp 818, 1/4 tsp 440 and 1/4 tsp 728, loosely laid the skein in a wide frying pan and simmered until the water was clear.  Then I washed the skein on the gentle cycle and hung it to dry.  Now to turn it into balls and begin to whip.

Filed Under: Dyeing, Hooking Tagged With: dyeing

ottawa day two

April 20, 2011 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

We always make a visit to the Famous Five, those outstanding women who changed the Canadian political landscape at the start of the last century.  And here are some women following in those footsteps.  Bravo!

Filed Under: Updates

ottawa day one

April 19, 2011 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

A very cold and gray day in Ottawa.  No tulips, but lots of other glories on the landscape.


Filed Under: Uncategorized

a perfect rainy weekend

April 18, 2011 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

There was lots of laughter as we worked our way through the steps of creating a coin purse.  Jennifer was full of patience and humour as she nudged all 14 of us along.  Her goal is ‘the best outcome for everyone’, a goal she definitely achieved!!

Head-down industry for most of us!  I’m no doubt waiting for another lesson on the ladder stitch!

Here are a few of the purses waiting until the glue dries.  The variety of style and colour is inspiring.

At this stage Joan does not have her clasp on yet, but you can tell it will be a show-stopper!

Filed Under: Hooking

very excited

April 14, 2011 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

My coin purse is hooked and ready to go.  Jennifer Manuell is giving her coin purse workshop for our group this Saturday and Sunday.  More squares–I will have to step out of the box soon.

Filed Under: Hooking

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 86
  • Page 87
  • Page 88
  • Page 89
  • Go to Next Page »

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