Search Results for: art tote

back again

May 12, 2014 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

My friend MB and I are going on a cycling trip in June, so we thought we better get going on our regime. This past Wednesday we cycled along Lake Ontario from one small town to the next and back again. Spring has finally arrived in Eastern Ontario and it was a perfect day for a ride. Now it was into the wind–but we really were not pushing ourselves too hard– stopped half way to sit on a patio and visit an art gallery where I was lucky enough to find a Kolinsky sable pocket brush which my cousin, John, recommended. Before the ride, I started this sketch of one of my favourite houses there, (the porch lights are really bright pink) and then added paint with my new brush when I got home.

The new tote made of black antique wax canvas and toffee leather is close to finished. It has a large double pocket on the front and a slip pocket pictured here on the back, a leather bottom and adjustable shoulder strap. It is just awaiting its canoe canvas lining which will have lots of compartments for computer, passport etc–and should show up in the shop by the end of the week.

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.

spring changes

April 1, 2014 by Birdbrain 4 Comments

HAPPY APRIL 1st! Here in Ontario we have sun and double digit temperatures, finally. The sap in the maple trees is pouring and it’s time to get out the bikes. HURRAH!

We made a spring change on the blog too. We put a new button on the right side of the page under Navigation: Rug Hooking Gallery. A selection of my rugs was on the blog at some point, but in one of the updates that page was replaced and somehow the gap slipped by. So I have reposted some of them on this special page accessed from the sidebar button. Check them out when you have a minute. I haven’t been working on my latest rug, How We Spend out Days, for some time but I will get back at that this summer.

I’m also back in the studio and inspired–finally! I decided to ‘test drive’ one of my totes, a good thing to do for quality control, to see what it is like to live with and use a design. So I packed up this one and took it to Seattle as a carry-on. I’ve been using it every day since. It’s made from deep brown upholstery remnants and it is both roomy and tough. I can stuff it with all my sketching gear, gym shoes, macbook and other paraphernalia and it handles it well.

So…I had some equally good black upholstery remnants and upcycled men’s leather jacket pieces, not enough for a tote, but enough for a shoulder bag. You can see the start here on the cutting table. I’m considering adding a flash of red to this one, maybe under a pocket flap, or inside the strap tabs.

And to finish off with some colour. This pile of cashmere was on the table–glorious colours. I bought them at a thrift store sale deep in the winter and there they were, through the freezer and washing stages and ready to inspire.

return

March 7, 2014 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

It seems to be taking me a long time to return after my stay in Kenya. My friend and fellow traveller, Ruth, tells me that it takes one day for every hour you lose on the flights. Even counting the 8 hours from Kenya, and I did have a four day stay in Amsterdam where I should have made up two of those hours, I should be back in good order. But this time it is a slow return as I process all I saw and learned.

I haven’t been anywhere near the studio, so the shop is not open yet. I feel far away from making things. Instead, I’ve been doing things like cleaning cupboards (!), sending bags of extraneous things to the Salvation Army and sketching. Sketching every day, everywhere. I got a new small metal palette in Amsterdam at Van Beek’s (more on that in another post) and I tote it everywhere. And…I have been sketching these tulips every day. And drawing my way out of the molasses.

And yes, I am taking off again next week for a four day rug hooking course in Puget Sound with Donna Hrkman and a couple of extra days in Seattle. I have been wondering what to hook in the class because I can’t take my normal equipment or supplies on the plane. And then this week I discovered Sandra Brownlee who has just been awarded a Governor General’s award in visual arts. She is a weaver, but uses stitching in much the same way as I use sketching–to work towards understanding what it is she is thinking. Her tactile notebooks are an inspiration.

So for next week’s class, I’ve decided to pack a big bag of woollen strips, all colours and widths and textures, and a piece of linen and to hook whatever words come to me. I’ve always found hooking to be meditative, that wonderful repeated action of pulling the wool and making the loops, and I’m hoping for four days of slow time to reconnect with the narrative.

Below is a link to a wonderful video where Sandra talks about her process.

So Donna Hrkman, Sandra Brownlee–I am in good company for a return. Stay tuned.

test driving in Montreal

December 10, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

We were in Montreal for four days and I was able to give my new tote a thorough test drive. We loaded it up with all our purchases each day and it didn’t flinch. It is wide and deep, lined with durable canoe canvas with straps riveted and sewn–so it stood up to all the tests–even transporting une tarte aux bluets without incident!

I love Montreal and we were able to take in several design shows as well as enjoy the cuisine and the landscape. I put more pictures on instagram–the button is under Navigation on the right. Below is a shot from Dog&Pony’s amazing hobby horses made from recycled fabric. We saw these at the Smart Design Show and there are many more photos of great things at this link.

another prudence b

September 25, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

The prudence b is a design collaboration. We wanted a big generous tote that would carry all gear, but that could fold down to a smaller size when needed. We wanted it to hang easily from the shoulder or to fit comfortably across body. And we wanted pockets outside and in. The first pb worked out well, so when I was looking at the pieces of leather in my recently acquired remnant pile, (fast dwindling!) I thought I would try the design again. This one is made from a beautiful mahogany coloured leather with a lovely sheen. It has the standard features: a double leather bottom with rivets, an adjustable strap, an outside pocket and two inside, one for phone and one larger, and double stitching throughout. And this pb is lined with a great Kenyan wax print. 15″ wide, 16″ tall and 5″ deep. In the on-line shop now.

I spent the afternoon sketching. I sat on a bench outside the Carnegie Library in Picton and sketched the buildings across the road and the library entrance right in front of me. I have always loved this building–so many of Ontario’s small towns have these lovely old Carnegie libraries. This one was built in 1907 when the town received a grant of $12 500 from the Carnegie Foundation. You can find a listing of all of Ontario’s Carnegie libraries here.

The sun was warm and the sky clear. A perfect afternoon for this. Several people stopped to chat and offer comments, including a local artist in residence, but all were kind and generous. For me it’s not really about the product, but rather about recording the moment — and while I am concentrating on the angles and the shadows, my brain sorts through design ideas and I come home refreshed and ready to tackle the sewing machines again. I’ve just started on some new red leather.

Triad III

August 1, 2013 by Birdbrain 2 Comments

I made a new triad earlier in the week and before I had even put it in the on-line store, I had an email from Missouri wanting to purchase it. It’s always delightful when something like this happens.

I knew I had enough of the red leather for two more totes. As I was packing the Missouri tote, I was thinking what a great bag it would be for my art supplies–it’s strong enough and big enough to hold the sketch book, the palette, the pencil case, the small water bottle and my wallet, lunch and phone. The triple pocket on the inside is perfect for separating out the small things so I can grab them quickly. So I set about making another triad for myself. This orangeade leather is some of my very favourite and I have used it sparingly in many bags. Here is a bag from August 2011 with an orange panel. I had just enough of this beautiful orangeade left for straps and pocket. Inside the triple pocket is made from a teal suede skirt.

It is unusual for me to treat myself with one of my bags. It’s like the old story of the shoemaker’s children who have no shoes. I always seem to be carrying a reject, one I don’t think is worth selling with smudged graphics or a feature that did not quite work. But this new Triad seems really great and I think I will enjoy using it. I will let you know at the end of the weekend.

We went to Kington last night for a special visit and I tossed my new Triad over my shoulder just to try it out. You see I am a fan of the cross-body strap and I wanted to see how these shoulder straps would work with the tote full of all my gear. Would the weight distribution be ok? I am happy to report that Triad III is a big success. The extra piece of heavy leather riveted in the bottom gives it balance and stability. This tote is even a little bigger: 15.5″ wide, 14.5″ long and 5.5″ deep. If you click on the instagram button on the side of the page you will see a photo taken this morning of the Triad packed full of my sketching things. I hope to post later to show you where I am going–this post comes to you from the train.

another Triad

July 30, 2013 by Birdbrain Leave a Comment

I will be making a small series of these bags so if you are interested, please let me know or keep your eye on the shop. I think that they are a fabulous tote. This one is lime/orange/red. The next one will have teal in the mix. This tote is unlined, but is completely doubled stitched and has an additional piece of leather fastened inside the base with dome-shaped rivets for extra durability. There are two large pockets on the outside and three on the inside and the whole thing closes with a metal zipper. The shoulder straps have an 11.5 inch drop for easy carrying. The bag itself measures 13″ tall, 14″ wide and 6″ deep.

looking ahead

June 4, 2013 by Birdbrain 1 Comment

Recycled leather, new designs. Just a visual hint about what is coming. I’m revisiting my recycled bins to make some new totes. I have also decided to start a new hooked piece and make it entirely out of my leftovers from previous rugs, baskets of them. Currently I am inspired by the Brazilian design team of Humberto and Fernando Campana and the circles in their Sushi Chair made of recycled carpet ends.

wax prints and the new red Delta

May 19, 2013 by Birdbrain 3 Comments

A new red Delta tote is under construction. I like the wax print from Nigeria that I am using for lining. I’ve been doing some research on these wax prints and they have a complicated heritage, beginning in Indonesia. You can read about their connection with Africa and their emergence in modern fashion here and here. I bought this particular wax print–they come in three yard pieces–last year at the market in Kisumu. The bold graphics are so appealing and the colours work well inside the red Delta. This fabric is printed on both sides–an indication of its quality. Some of the imitations are printed on only one side.

Here are some other glimpses of the new tote. It has the ‘delta’ features but is also unique–this one has brass fittings. It should be finished by the end of the week.