Search Results for: waxed canvas

pages from my sketchbook and thoughts on handmade

May 3, 2015 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

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.

getting ready for Sunday’s show

December 4, 2014 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

Four Sherbrooke shoulder bags in various colours. Below the latest, Sparrow, (also top left) lined in Kenyan cotton with 3 interior leather pockets.

A black waxed canvas tote with leather base, pocket and straps. Inside an ipad pocket and generous orange waxed canvas divided pocket.

the leather case

October 11, 2014 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

I’ve been making small cases with some leftover pieces. Normally I like lots of colour but I have fallen for these small neutral cases because of their understated elegance. They are the perfect size for throwing in a larger bag, but would easily take phone, keys, cards and more if you wanted to rely on them alone. Perfect for travel too. Each one is a slightly different leather, but all are lined with moss waxed canvas and have interior pockets for credit cards and licences. High quality metal zipper adds the perfect touch.

Large case: 8.5″ x 6″. Medium case: 7.5″ x 5″.

a new silver pebble bag

May 21, 2014 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

The most recent tote is all packaged up and on its way. The new owner tells me it is a birthday present to herself! What a great idea. I’ll be making more of these totes in the coming weeks. I like the combination of waxed canvas and leather with the heavy canoe canvas inside. Next maybe khaki and burgundy.

And here is a new Missouri Silver Pebble bag–this one a little wider and taller than the original. I really like this leather. It has a great heft to it and a lovely sheen. And it is a neutral bag without being drab. This one is a special order and there is one more of the same dimensions in the studio, soon to be in the shop. And then there is enough leather left for a Friday pouch. The exterior pocket fastens with a magnetic closure and there is a leather pocket for your phone inside. The cobalt, green and brown wax cotton lining is a nice surprise inside.

a new tote and a repair

May 17, 2014 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

I made a couple of totes in leather and waxed canvas last year and they flew out of the shop. Recently, I was able to get some black antique waxed canvas (with the Eddie Bauer designation still on the bolt), so I wanted to make a few more of these durable totes. This one is trimmed in caramel leather, has a caramel leather adjustable shoulder strap and is lined in rugged canoe cotton. It is large, 15.5″x14″x6″, has three outer pockets and four inside. Pictured above is the ipad pocket and a leather pocket tucked in behind. This is a great working or travel tote, or even diaper bag, large enough to carry all you need.

You can see this tote in the shop by hitting the on-line store button in the sidebar on the right hand side of the post.

Below is Carissa’s well-loved and well-used tote/diaper bag. This bag has been in constant use for a year and a half, crammed full of all the things a baby needs. Finally, one of the straps gave away and the bag came in for repair. Pictured below is the repaired strap, ready to be back in full use tomorrow. I’m including this, just to remind everyone, that all bags made in the birdbrain shop are guaranteed.

evolution

May 5, 2014 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

The first birdbrain post was on March 28 2011. I had begun making hooked bags and screen-printed canvas pouches and wanted a way to share what I was doing. In the three plus years since then, I have written 486 posts. This link takes you to those early days and my hooked bags and the very first leather bags–bags which evolved naturally when I was searching for a lighter option to the hooked bag. These two leather bags, the Grape and Espresso photographed in this post, are still in use and still look great. (So are the three hooked bags!) It makes me happy to see people using the things I have made and even happier to see the products standing up to the wear and tear of living. Over the three years I have had a few pieces back for repair–and I encourage this. I want the things I make to have a long life.

But today, I’ve been thinking about the blog and where we have been together. Travel to France, Italy, Germany, and of course Kenya–rug hooking, leather bags, screen printing and sketching. My early description of the blog which is still on the top right said it was a place where I muse about my creative life. And I guess I am still musing. And still creating.

On that note I’ve been designing some new bags. A little while ago I found some super black waxed canvas which still had the Eddie Bauer tag on the bolt. And I still have some great moss green waxed canvas in my store room. I want to combine both of these durable, waterproof fabrics with leather to make some shoulder bags and a totes. I like bags with exterior pockets and lots of options for storage inside. These bags will also have an ipad sleeve inside. I like to line them with canoe canvas because it is so durable. Here is the start of the designs. I’ll post them again as they take shape. And by the way, if you have any ideas about a bag or case you would like, please send me your ideas and request.One final note about what’s coming up. I got this wonderful pattern in the post last week from Donna Hrkman. I saw it when I was in Donna’s class in Seattle in March. I do not usually hook patterns from other designers, but I fell in love with this one. Donna added a baby bird to the design, making it a perfect gift for some of my favourite Birds. I’ve already started laying out colours. It will be good to get back to hooking. I’m a bit stymied by my large rug at the moment, and I think this Partridges and Pears runner is just the thing to get me back at the hooking frame.

a new leather bag

April 10, 2014 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

This is my first bag of 2014 and made of one of the nicest pieces of leather I have ever used. Actually there are a few pieces of leather in this bag, upholstery remnants and pieces of men’s jackets–that’s where the challenge comes in–but they are all of the same top quality. It is a handsome durable bag which will work hard for many years.

It has two outside pockets, both secure. One has a zipper and the other a magnetic closure. Inside it is big on personality. Lined with the Amsterdam squares, it has a pair of fuchsia leather pockets which will hold your phone, passport or other valuables as well as an orange waxed canvas slip pocket large enough for an ipad.

This bag would be great for travel. It can be worn cross-body or the strap can be shortened so you can tuck the bag under your arm. It is large enough to hold all your essentials, including tablet as I said, but a good size to carry easily.

Dimensions: W: 13″ H: 11,”D: 5″ Strap extends to 47″

Will be in the shop by the end of the week.