red riding hood: selected scenes

packing and shipping and a contest!

I spent the larger part of the day packing and shipping things – that will occupy about half of tomorrow too. I secretly enjoy it.

cake topper birds

Today was mostly birds and tomorrow larger things – ships.  Later this week I’ll post my very inexpensive but effective method for shipping large -ish fragile things – so check back if that’s of interest.

packing and shipping

And just for fun – a caption contest! A while back  Lisa of  a thread from the edge suggessted a caption contest. I think it’s a brilliant suggestion and if you check out the comments to this post you can see some of  her caption ideas – so funny and perfect. And a prize! A winner will be chosen by a yet to be determined method  - either a vote or a panel of expert judges and the best caption gets their very own bundled up  bird!

eliza

Everyone  is welcome to participate – just create a caption for this photo and leave it in the comment section:

caption contest

(you can click the image for a larger version if that helps you with your captioning)

A winner will be chosen next Wednesday 12/14.

a wedding party in prospect park

park wedding
A wedding party in prospect park. Little birds all made from turn of the century dress maker’s scraps, bits of fabric that were never used and well stored for years and years so the wonderful little prints are bright and fresh and crisp.

park wedding

I haven’t gone to the park to take pictures in a long time and it was lovely – today was a perfect day – sunny breezy and 80 degrees.

park wedding procession
After the ceremony everyone walked down to the picnic house for blueberries, sunflower seeds and lemonade.

(I’ve just added this group of birds in  the shop)

song bird

fortuny song bird

Something new. I’ve been working on this shape for a very long time. More on this bird and answers to your questions ( it’s about time) and some new things in the shop next week.  Have a lovely weekend.

the current state of affairs

overgrown

Besides this blog, lots of things around here have been  neglected and are in need of attention ( including email – if you’re waiting to here back form me hang in there – I’ll be catching up this weekend). My little victorian fishbowl terrarium ( a truly inspired gift from my sister becky) has slipped into  chaos and disarray. Maybe I have a little too – we are definitely both a little extra dishevelled.  I’ve collected some moss and tiny plants and will  correct the terrarium situation this weekend.  Next week I’ll be back with some new boats and owls and spiders and other stuff in progress.  For now here are a couple recently finished things pictured with the gowns they are made from and inspired by:

queenie and french

queenie and french

And constance and o.

constanceollie

And be sure to checkout BHLDN’s new decor line – it’s beautiful and  I’m flattered to be included.

busy in the bird department

ladies

I have been pretty occupied  lately with this group of birds.  They’ve  been finished, packed and shipped off  and later this spring,  for the first time ever,  sweetheart birds will be available  someplace other than my shop.

birds from behind

grooms

I’ll let you know  where you can find these limited edition  birds  very soon .

new shape

new shape

This is one of the new things I’m working on  for 2011 – a small  bird with a more realistic shape. I’m planning a little flock all made from  this antique bodice ( hoping to get an owl out of it too).

blackbodice

The fabric is really interesting, it has a tiny  geometric print of metallic gold specs over a silky cotton with little squares woven in.

antique bodice detail

red riding hood – selected scenes

sneaky wolf

This summer,  at Echo Lake,  a  troupe of birds attempted  a theatrical  presentation:  the cautionary  tale of a little bird in a red cloak  and a bad wolf. Selected scenes in the slide show here or hopefully below.

And a look behind the scenes.

behind the scenes

owl work

owl work I’m working on several new owls including one made from mrs. browns skirt ( on the left above), a large black owl made from this jacket and a little grey owl  with green velvet horns and shoe button eyes.
owl work

I’m still  going through my little scraps and making one of a kind birds, I’ve just added the first two bundled up birds of the season to  the the shop and will be adding more regularly.

bundled birdsThere is another photo of the little plaid bird visiting an apple farm here.

I had a conversation with Suzie Monday ( thanks very much Suzie) over the summer and you can find the resulting article in the September October issue of Cloth Paper Scissors.

cloth paper scissors

new birds in the shop

And  progress on a grey fellow.

grey fellow

I’ve just added some corsage girls, pirates, and  a new sweetheart set to the shop.

corsage girls

chums

chums!

scraps

I’ve been making some birds from my littlest scraps, stuff I’m at the end of or favorite little pieces I’ve been saving forever.
scraps 9/14

I’ve just added these two to the shop and will continue to add one or two little birds everyday.

scrap birds

There will be a larger update (birds and sweethearts) later in the week and if you’d like to be notified when the new things are available please join the mailing list.

And something new in progress.

 paper  mache ship

I’m working on new ships,  bats, boats, ballerinas, owls and  lots of other things  – more  photos tomorrow.

new owls in the shop

ezichiel

And birds and spiders too.

scouts

bustled

*This week will be the last opportunity to order sweethearts for a while – I won’t be able to take new orders for the next few weeks (I will still be adding ready made sweethearts occasionally).  I will stop taking sweetheart orders on August  20th.

tiny theater

 stage

You are walking in the forest and come upon a tiny theater……..

To be continued.

barnabas – shop update

barnabas

I’ve just put Barnabas in the shop and there are also some new  spiders -

pink bustled spider

and new pirates, campers and corsage girls.

polka dot bird

miss bird says hello

preparing for departure

departing

Just before they depart, they line up for inspection, equipment and name tags.

ambassador of good will - ready to depart

an owl, a ship and a ballerina

owlinship

ivoryballerina

new birds

springwedding_3

I’ve added some new little birds and sweetheart sets to the shop and I’m working towards the next update which will include boats, bats, spiders, ballerinas and owls, they will be in the shop within a couple weeks. Please join my mailing list if you would like to be notified when  new things are available.

ballerina

ballerina4