BirdBrain Designs

I’ve been reorganizing my palette and sorting out all the yellows that I have collected and doing a little experimenting. The pears were really fun, but the paper in my Fabriano Sketchbook was not happy with the soluble pen and the layers of paint–it bled right through to the back. It was ok with the light touch of the flowers above, but anything wetter causes it to bleed through. I’ve ordered a couple of watercolour moleskines for upcoming travels which handle multiple washes, but meanwhile I’ll persevere with this one. It’s a good size and fits easily in my carry bag.

Yesterday I was walking home following my favourite route through the old section of the city. Our city grew up around the harbour and the river and as you walk away from its core, you are always walking up hill. My route west up Catherine Street is no exception–it is quite a steep grade. I always measure my cycling by whether I can pedal easily up this hill. But yesterday I was walking and I had my sketchbook and an extra half hour. Across the road from this house is a low stone wall, the perfect perching spot. I drew the outline of the house from my perch on the wall and then added the colour later at home. I’ve walked and pedalled by this house many times–it is one of my favourites with its peaks, turret and gingerbread– but it wasn’t til I sat down to sketch it and hence really look at it that I realized what a charmer it is.

I have been doing Stretching at Sketchbook Skool and the teacher this week, France Belleville-Van Stone, asked us to draw something with wheels. She is well known for her wonderful car drawings. She loves Volvos as I do–and I have promised myself that I will draw my 10 year old Volvo soon. Meanwhile, I have been drawing my bike. What I really love about Sketchbook Skool is the great variety of styles we are exposed to and the unremitting encouragement to accept and hone your own style.

And from the studio, here are a some more pictures of the second Nairobi waxed canvas bag. I have also been working on a messenger bag in moss waxed canvas and leather; you can see some in progress shots below. I screen printed some canoe canvas with birdbrain graphics for the lining. Canoe canvas is a good weight and gives a bag real strength. This bag is in the development stages and I am trying out various ideas. It closes with a zipper but also has an envelope style flap. It has a zippered pocket on the back and a small slip pocket under the flap. I still have to insert the lining and add a shoulder strap. More pictures next week.

I have been trying to sketch everyday, finding the time where I can. Sometimes these are pretty fast like the one above painted in my car while I drank a take-out coffee. On Thursday I was at the dentist and had 40 minutes between procedures. So I parked strategically and sketched the house across the way.

Then yesterday I was in Toronto for the day, with the full morning at the Distillery District. There were lots of intriguing old buildings and I sat both inside and out to sketch them. Today I sketched yesterday’s purchases. I’ve mentioned before that I purchase clothes either second hand or handmade. There were two great stores in the DD with the designers on hand. Susan Harris had designed the linen dress I bought–and when I said that I would have loved pockets, she gave me the extra material and drew the pocket pattern for me. Now where can you find that kind of interested support at a fast-fashion or even a high-end clothing outlet? It’s like buying a book from a small bookstore where the owner has actually read the book you are looking for.

In today’s Globe and Mail there is an article on slow goods, “high quality, handmade, everyday goods, sufficiently well built…traditional materials. Time-honoured techniques are prized, sweatshops shunned.” This certainly describes the work of the two makers I purchased from yesterday…and come to think of it…the work done right here at Birdbrain designs. On the cutting table here, another cognac waxed canvas and leather bag. Check back soon to see…or contact me at the blog.

Not doing much outside sketching or even inside sewing these days. What I am doing is drinking lots of lemon, ginger and clove tea, made from scratch. And sketching it. Hope to feel better soon as spring is finally here and it’s time to get the bicycle out and get into the garden.