BirdBrain Designs

sitting and hooking

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Thank you for the comments about my sprained ankle. Things are improving on that score, and I have enjoyed extended reading and hooking time, and lots of sympathy.

We had our wedding rug consultation and all are in favour of the style of chair seat #2 with cartoon birds dotting around the rug on roof tops and chimneys. We thought if would be fun if the birds were identifiable. OB bird would definitely be in motion! We also plan on a border, so I experimented with the ground in this chairseat to try out a circle border–and I think I like it. It ties in the various colours of the rug–and I love the interplay of dark tweeds and plaids. I’ll be dyeing more of these, so will share the process. One more chair seat to go to work out the last ideas.

And I heard from Elizabeth–her blogiversary prize bag arrived and she took some photos. Check them out here.

weekend update

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And, for a moment, a return to Fireworks. I thought it might be helpful to show the mitred corner before whipping. You can see that I have tucked in the edges and basted the corner. This makes for a neat right angle at each corner of your rug.

And below is my progress on the second chair seat. These sample pieces are definitely informing the planning on the wedding rug. Since the rug will go on the floor, I think the background colour needs to two or three values darker. And I am wondering if blue might not the answer. But the recipients of the rug are coming this afternoon for a consultation, so I will know more later. Border or not? Main colours? Cartoon birds? Squiggly pathways? But at least we have a couple of examples to base choices on, and that after all is the purpose of samples.

 

silver lining?

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I sprained my ankle on Wednesday — yes Mary Anne, the third of three calamities  — I hope! So sitting with my foot propped up is the order of the day. I’ve been whipping on Fireworks  and working on my second chair seat. Thought I would post my progress on both projects. And make a public promise that I will slow down and pay more attention to where I am going!

I left the four corners of Fireworks until I was finished whipping the four sides. Mitring corners is not easy, and since I don’t do it very often, I find with each rug that I learn the process all over again. It seems the corners are more consistent and neater if I leave them to the end and do one right after the other. Above is the first one complete and below the reverse side. I roll the linen forward when I whip which makes a clean finish on the back and eliminates the need for tape (and all that extra sewing). Since I am required to stay still with foot up, I imagine Fireworks will be all done very soon and ready for steaming. So I guess that is the silver lining on this glorious sunny day!

and another chair seat

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I am about to begin hooking my second chair seat. Inspiration comes from so many places–we build on our own work, in my case a love of circles and squares in the background, and are influenced both consciously and unconsciously by work around us. As I have said, I am working out design kinks with these chair seats–so #2 is a fanciful version of our house, with a bird on the garage roof. I drew the design in my sketch book, not to scale, but just to get a sense of the proportions. And then drew it again on the linen freehand, using the tape measure to make sure things were roughly uniform. All the while I had a computer version of a Hundertwasser painting at hand for inspiration. I love what he does with buildings–and as I look at it more closely, I may want to try move away from circles and do what he does with the sky–it almost looks like quilting.

The pile of wool is what I think I will use in this piece for outlines and main motifs. I always make sure I have dark, medium and light values as well as warm and cool colours.  Our house is gray, with a red/brown chimney up the front–I’ll try that first but fantasy is sure to take over. I will post my progress.

new fuchsia luna bag

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Although I have been whipping Fireworks, (have three sides done, so well set to make my deadline), I have also been working in the studio. Over the last couple of days I have used some of my favourite leather and lining  to make a new luna bag. I tried to incorporate all the features I like–zipper closure, cross body strap, double bottom, two outside pockets and lots of interior pockets. This is a good-sized bag–Height 13″x Width 14″x Depth 5″–so set to carry lots of gear. Not sure if this is bound for the shop or my shoulder!!

end of march update

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The first chair seat in the series is all but done and I am very happy with the results. The next one will reverse the colours so it will have a dark background and also will be more fanciful. I am working up to designing the wedding rug with its three houses and winding paths, and of course birds.

I have begun to update the shop and have added the fuchsia bag, the first one I have made this year. It’s a nice one–check out by clicking the shop button on the top left. I was thrilled with the results of the draw and sale–the few bags that were left have gone to good homes.

The blogisversary draw was won by Elizabeth. kittycafe.typepad.com, and she chose the small black shoulder bag featured in this post. It will be in the mail to her shortly. Thanks again to everyone for your participation.

I’ve given myself a deadline for whipping Fireworks–two weeks today. There I said it! It is so much more fun to hook on a new project, but I need to get it off my list and on the floor!  So hold me to my promise!

Happy Blogiversary Birdbrain!

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Thank you all for writing to me to help me celebrate my blog anniversary. You exceeded all my expectations! And I loved reading all your comments. I usually get one or two comments–but this time there were 45 lovely notes to read.

My husband chose the winning number–and it is Elizabeth!  Now, I don’t know Elizabeth, but I have been reading her blog this morning since her name was chosen and I like it very much and look forward to talking to her. I will share the blog and let you know what she chooses once I have been in touch.

Enjoy this lovely day. I’ll be back tomorrow with more information and an update on my chair seat.

xine

the series

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I decided to make a few chairs seats to work out the ideas for my next rug. The rug is to celebrate my younger son, Owen’s marriage to Carissa. I would like the rug to centre on three houses, fantasy versions of her former home, our home and their new home together, with paths connecting them. So this is the first chair seat–photographing it helps to point out the weaknesses and errors–the door needs to come to the bottom of the sill for example. I am experimenting with the colours for the border–it’s a small surface to have such pronounced colours–so I think I will hook some more background before I decide.

The whipping on Fireworks has been at a standstill for a bit. At this point the two short sides are almost done. But I have a couple of hooking dates this week, so that too should more forward. I’ll post a little later this week with an update on both projects.  And, the anniversary draw is on Wednesday!! There is still time to add your comment to the March 15th post.

away a few days

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I’ve been away for a few days. I can’t help but enjoy this summer-like weather, while remaining deeply disturbed by climate change. Such a schizophrenic response–basking in the sun and yet knowing it’s all wrong. This photo was taken at the Detour Cafe in Dundas Ontario, one of my favourite spots to have a latté and draw the world outside.

Thank you all for your lovely comments on the anniversary posts. I love to hear from you. It is hard to believe I have been here for a year–this blog has opened so many new windows and doors. We will see what another year brings!  Remember, the draw will take place on March 28.

I will be working on the on-line store on the weekend. So please check back next week to see what I have come up with.  In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend.

xine

still time…the sale and draw continue

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A BIG thank you to  everyone for your wonderful comments! We have broken all previous records for visits to the site. This is so exciting–and you have until March 28 to comment–either to this post or to the March 15th post. All names will go into the draw.

Owen, my great advisor and supporter, is working on an on-line shop and a sprucing up the blog. So be on the look-out for that. In the meantime, here are a few other pieces for purchase or choice for the draw.  If you are interested in any of these bags or pouches, please contact me at xine@birdbraindesigns.ca and I will be happy to give you all the details.