BirdBrain Designs

Search Results for: art tote

finishing and starting

by 5 Comments

I made it back to the shoes after several weeks and finished the background. It’s always a happy event when I go to my wool baskets and find the perfect skeins for whipping. The top one I bought years ago on Queen Street in that pricey wool store and the bottom one is Alpaca (should I really use this beauty for whipping??) given to me by a very dear friend. It is from a local farm. As I pull the wool through my fingers, the city and rural images will play through my mind. I should be able to finish this soon and hang it in my studio.  It says everything I want to say.el nats finished 2

You know, I don’t put anything here that I don’t think is top-notch. But there are some items that for one reason or another have that edge. I had a recycled cobalt skirt two years ago and some special people got pouches (you know who you are). I love to see them pull that cobalt from their bigger bags. I was in my favourite recycling shop twice within the last 6 months and each time I found another cobalt skirt! So–I made a small pouch yesterday and today, taking advantage of the V on the front of one of the skirts, I made a bigger pouch. And I think it is great. I love the slightly bigger size, the playful lining and the wristlet.

Check the on-line store for this one. cobalt pouch 1

cobalt pouch 3

cobalt tote int

And for the starting–I am at the earliest stages of my next rug. It will be 5′ x 7′, or as close as I can come to that.  It will have text at either end. Wendie helped with with the font in the Primitive Course–and I got as far as having the words on tissue during the class time.
The Annie Dillard quotation was in a building window on W85th street in New York City. It may still be. But for the five years my sister lived on W85th I passed these words each visit and thought about their implications. Recently I saw them again on Brainpickings and was able to read the full quotation. It was then that I knew it would be on my next rug. I think all rugs are autobiographical and symbolic, but this one will be even more so.
days rug 1

 

blue basque tote

by 1 Comment

When I was in Chartres I bought the bright stripes that you have seen in the aprons and the tote. But I also bought this lovely blue toile enduite.  This is cotton which has had a special treatment of acrylic layers to make it waterproof. I had enough fabric for two aprons and this tote.  It is 18x13x5″ lined in canvas, with a zipper closure, leather bottom and straps, a big double pocket on the outside and another double one inside, screen-printed with birdbrain graphics.  At bottom is one of the aprons, all ready for the kitchen!


new gaspé tote

by 3 Comments

I began a new style of tote today. It is a heavy-duty shopper. I have been looking at this beautiful cherry leather remnant for a while. It was just enough for a tote, 13 x 14 x 4″ so I combined it with mahogany leather straps . It is only partially finished, but well enough along for me to tell that I will like it. Inside it has two leather pockets — a 7 inch zippered one, and one just for your phone. And it has a zipper closing. But is unlined, au naturel. I seem to be on a run of unlined ‘rough’ bags–but when the leather is lovely and durable, it works! A great straight-forward, hard-working beautiful bag. I hope to post pictures next week of this and this one finished.

Yesterday we were in Picton where I saw this joyous tribute to fibre and flair in a small park. I looked to see who had left these ‘sculptures’ but there was no hint. But thought I had to share it with you. It is a fitting way to say cherish the weekend — for those of us in Canada, our Thanksgiving weekend. And most important, cherish all those you love.

 

and now a rough tote

by 1 Comment

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.

 

new blog look and sketching local brick houses

by Leave a Comment

First off I want to say thank you to my son Owen for updating the blog and giving it its new crisp appearance. The menu is now accessible from all devices, so you can link to the online shop, my instagram or either of the galleries from your phone or tablet.  And speaking of the on-line store, the green Keller bag featured to the right is available in the store and two more leather art totes like this will be there shortly.  I am finding mine terrific for toting around my sketching supplies and other essentials. 

I’ve also been out sketching. Below are a couple of local brick houses which I’ve sketched from the car. It’s once again bitterly cold in southern Ontario, but the sun is bright and it’s hard to resist those shadows. The first house is in Belleville, the second a short drive away in Picton. I managed to get the sketches done in the car–but have to admit I added the paint back at home in the warmth of the house.

textile adventures

by 1 Comment

Finally spring is here and I’ve been out for some textile adventures. Last week I was in Toronto for the TMC sale. Traffic was difficult and I didn’t get there for the lineup–but still managed to find some good pieces which I will use to line leather bags. It is a huge sale, four rooms jammed with fabric and notions. You can be sure that next year I’ll be in the lineup!

I did manage to get to the Marimekko shop while in the city. Those of you who read the blog know that Marimekko is my favourite textile design company. I’ve loved their designs since the sixties. I bought a metre of each of their iconic patterns to make summer totes…and for the first time bought a piece of clothing! This t-shirt dress will be great for my travels.

Last week I was in Kingston at my favourite place on the shores of Lake Ontario, The Tett Centre. You can see my sketch from another visit here. Inside the door is this wonderful portrait of Tett by J. David Brown.

Even the bathrooms in this place are wonderful!

The Kingston Fibre Artists had a wonderful show and sale in the Community Gallery. I fell in love with this depiction of buildings, Metropolis, by Sylvia Naylor. Free motion embroidery on hand-dyed and painted cotton. Inspiring!

It was a week of colour and texture. So now it’s time to settle in to make a few things. Right now I’m working on two messenger bags which I hope to show you soon. 

Collioure sunshine bags in the online store

by Leave a Comment

I love to search for local fabric when I travel. So from Scotland, Harris Tweed, and from the south of France? Toiles-du-Soleil! We were lucky to spend a beautiful day in Collioure. It is an inspiring place with picture frames mounted about the town showing you the exact view painted by Matisse, Derain and others. We sketched and took the little train through the vineyards to the top of the hills but I also had time to search out a store I remembered which sold Toiles-du-Soleil. This bright striped fabric perfectly captures the atmosphere of Collioure. I bought enough for half a dozen bags and a couple of pouches. This colourway is called Collioure Rouge–perfect. So here are the first of the bags of this gorgeous fabric, trimmed in red leather.

The first is a cross-body bag, the perfect summer carrier. It is lined with moss birdbrain fabric, and has an interior leather pocket, an adjustable shoulder strap, red durable metal zipper closure and a leather bottom. It’s bright and cheery and will carry all your summer essentials.  10″ wide x 12″ high x 4″ base.

And then there is the tote. It has an exterior red leather pocket and leather base and woven cotton handles. Inside it is lined with moss green waxed canvas with a large birdbrain pocket. It closes with a durable metal zipper in red. This is a great summer carrier. 16″ wide x 13″ high x 5″ base

update

by 1 Comment

Here is my progress on the Fiona mat. You can see I am still developing the design. And of course, I don’t yet know the date. I’m thinking of a row of dancing hearts across the bottom and the date along the right hand border. Around the very outside will be a couple of rows of dark to echo the colour of the text. I like hooking anytime, but I find it the best activity when I am trying to process a big trip and return to my life here. Calming, meditative, productive. 

And here is a burst of bright colour from my trip. This is Catalan fabric which is woven in the south of France. When I was last in Collioure in 2011 I bought some of this fabric and made some small pouches. I was delighted to find the store still in the same place still selling their famous stripes. I bought enough to make several totes and will pair the fabric with leather  bottoms and straps. A great combination. The fabric is durable as it is woven for deck chairs and the colour is unbeatable. Stay tuned for these gorgeous totes.

 

new colour therapy pouches

by Leave a Comment

I have lots of fun making these little rectangular pouches from my favourite leather remnants and colourful zippers. They are great for your sunglasses or pens. The bright colours ensure that you will find them in a crowded tote. These will be available at the Gallery 121 show, but if you can’t make it and would like one, just write to me with your colour preferences. They make great affordable gifts!glasses-1

glasses3

glasses-group