I spent the larger part of the day packing and shipping things – that will occupy about half of tomorrow too. I secretly enjoy it.
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.
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!
Everyone is welcome to participate – just create a caption for this photo and leave it in the comment section:
(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.
This antique gown arrived a while ago. I think it’s Edwardian but it was definitely reworked at some point - it has fasteners and hardware and repairs that were added later. I guess it has had many lives.
The peach silk is almost all shattered, it’s torn, stained and many of the seams have let go but the gauze, sheer silk lining and lace are still strong. First I’m making a bird.
Two really – one from each lace and tulle sleeve. And maybe later today a little boat with gauzy sails and little peach silk flags.
*update:
Finished! snowflake and ashton
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.
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.
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)
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
And constance and o.
And be sure to checkout BHLDN’s new decor line – it’s beautiful and I’m flattered to be included.
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.
I’ll let you know where you can find these limited edition birds very soon .
This edwardian ballgown arrived recently – it’s incredibly fragile and delicate – much of it disintegrates when I touch it but there is still tons of usable and inspiring stuff. I spent the better part of a day photographing and examining it and then taking it apart. I found a label in the sleeve that says B. Altman & Co. NEW YORK; it is one of my all time favorite garments and reminds me of the very first antique gown, or really pieces of a gown, that inspired my very first birds. I didn’t photograph the gown, I so wish I had, but I still have two of the birds and I’ll show them to you soon.
I’m making a havisham spider from it today, if I finish it before the light goes I’ll post another picture.
I’m working on lots of things for the shop including a small collection of sweetheart birds, one of a kind things, detailed and intricate, elaborate and self indulgent – couture girls, la belle epoch. I’ll post progress photos here and if you’d like to be notified when they are ready you can join the shop mailing list.
I was working on this girl last night and she reminded me of a story I read as a kid. I must have been about nine when I first read it and I still have the book, a collection of stories, “The Doll That Was Rich” was read so frequently that the book falls open to the exact page I was thinking of: ” On the table in front of them were two dolls, one dressed and one partially dressed. Beside them was an open parcel, full of bits of bright colored silk; and beside that again was a work basket.” I still love the idea of a basket of fancy scraps and somebody to dress up.
More shop news: Just for fun, I’m adding a new section of found things, very small collections of very small things, flea market treasures, stuff I love- like this mini iron and trivet.
The first collection will be up within the next couple weeks – just six little things .
How to make a tiny tophat (in excruciating detail).
What you will need: top hat pattern (click to download pdf), black poster board, scissors, manicure scissors ( for trimming the little curved bits), elmer’s glue, floral tape, large paper clips, a light color pencil, a dowel or something for curling the poster board and black glitter.
Trace the 3 pattern pieces onto the black poster board and cut them out. I use a large paintbrush handle to curl all the pieces a little as shown below. I feel this step is key to your success as a tiny tophat maker. Next, overlap the edges of the cylinder about a 1/4″, glue, and clamp with a paperclip.
When the cylinder is dry trim off any extra bits you might have so the bottom and top edges are pretty smooth, apply glue liberally to the top and bottom edges and place the brim and top. I use floral tape to hold it all together while it dries.
When the glue has dried trim off any excess on the top and brim and shape and smooth the brim with your fingers. Use the exacto knife to poke a hole in the bottom and then insert the little scissors to cut the opening.
Paint it quickly and completely with elmer’s glue, give it a roll or shake in the glitter, leave it to dry and brush off the excess glitter with a stiff paint brush or old toothbrush. Finished!
Hello tiny tophat!
Tiny top hats, corsages and boutonnières.
And a little blind lamb.
I’ve been working on some new things for spring and they are available now in my shop.
*update – sold out but more coming soon.
There is also a new one of a kind set – claude and gus. I’ll have something similar available to order soon.
I’ve just added a few new cake toppers to my shop - more coming soon.
*sorry- sold out but lots more coming soon*
Right on.
(you can click for the full image )
I’m working on lots of things, including several new cake toppers and they will be available beginning next week. There will also be some little birds, a camp wapameo postcard set and at least one woebegone.
If you would like notice of shop updates please join my mailing list or check back here.
* If you’ve been trying to order for spring and summer 2009 thanks for your patience and there is news coming soon.*
Stephen Szczepanek of Sri Threads came for a visit a little while ago and brought me a fabulous present.
Beautiful bits of Japanese indigo and bright floral dust rags. I love them. You can find more about Stephen and these amazing things at his website. I think I’m going to make a bat out one of the dust cloths.
These little birds are on their way to London today for a garden wedding.
I like this photo – I think they look very earnest or maybe sincere. Note on wedding birds/ cake toppers: I’m still making them but not taking orders right now so I can focus on current orders, tackling my massive backlog of email and doing a little restructuring to make everything more manageable for all concerned. If I were to continue without making some adjustments and changes I would certainly lose the rest of my marbles. If you would like updates please join the mailing list or check back here.
This lace and fabric is for some brides and grooms I’m beginning today.
My favorite parts of the bird making process are picking out the fabric and taking the photo when they’re finished. I like the middle parts too – just not as much.
There will be new little birds available Friday, April 11th, at 3PM (EST) at my etsy shop ( you need to have and account at etsy to purchase – it’s quick and easy – just a user name and password).
I have also added a couple new cake toppers to my shop.
Above are eve and thurston and below are darla and monty ( the bird at the top is little frannie).
