While She Naps

baby birds in a nest

Three baby birds peeking curiously from their nest.

I made this last night.  It was a good way to use up all those torn strips of fabric leftover from making wings and it was fun to imagine the lives of these little fabric nestlings. It is now up in my shop. 

The chickens had to be picked up (by Charlie) and deposited in the enclosed portion of their roost last night at dusk because they didn't seem to know where to go.  Now they've figured it out and go in and out on their own. 

Roxanne drew a this picture in her chicken journal of the delivery. I love the comb and wattle.

And back to the make-along, Charlie pointed out to me that in the book Eric Carle's Animals Animals there is an illustration of an Emily Dickinson poem about a bee.  I thought I'd show it here in case it might inspire you as you work on your own project.

arrivals

This truck pulled up at 7 pm

And a very nice guy from the farm unloaded two beautiful chickens and a homemade coop.  Roxanne inspected them in her nightgown.

We got some instructions on how to feed them and make them comfortable and then we just celebrated the arrival of our guests.  They'll be with us for two weeks here in our suburban backyard. 

The kids are keeping chicken journals and taking photos with their own cameras.  And we got a big armload of chicken books from the library. This is going to be a very fun chicken adventure.

art for the vending machine

Today I made six 4"x3"x.75" bird assemblages.  I used old rolodex folders, some mesh origami paper, thread, wire, cotton fabrics, wool stuffing and embroidery floss. 

I made these in response to Kim's call for teeny tiny artwork.  Kim own Three Graces Gallery in Portsmouth, NH.  She recently found an old vending machine that she is refurbishing and she has put a call out to artists to create teeny tiny artwork that will sell from the machine for either $5 or $10,  depending on the dimensions.  Sound interesting?  Anyone can apply.  See Kim's call for artists here.

chicken camp

First, a new Springtime bird is up in the shop today.

And also it looks like we will be borrowing two chickens from Land's Sake, our CSA farm, for two weeks.  They will arrive on Monday evening in their own coop and they will live in our backyard.  I called our neighbor this morning to be sure that it was okay with her and she said it was like the chickens were going to camp.  Chicken camp.  I'm totally excited.  Fresh eggs every morning.  Lots of clucking and feathers.  Hooray!

a new owl today

Talons.

Wings.

A wise face.

A new owl today. I used the fabric left over from making the bumble bee.  I love making owls. They are the largest of the birds I am making right now and have just the right amount of detail to sink my teeth into.  This new guy is in the shop now.

The make-along Flickr pool is starting to grow.  How are you doing with your project?

 

making along

 
This was a really good challenge. I've never made an insect before - the closest I've come was the Maryland crab.  There were several iterations of this bee before this final one.

The flower, on the other hand, came together right away. I am going to make more of these. They are so fun.  This is why I love challenges like the make-along. I push myself to try something new.  And now I have fabric flowers in my head and that is really good.

So this is my submission to our make-along.  The bee and the flower are my illustrations in fabric of this poem by Emily Dickinson:

#1755

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.

Come and  join us.  Give it a try.  And if you do you just might win a big package of vintage fabric.  First, join our Flickr pool. Then, interpret the poem any way you'd like, as long as it is in fiber. Take a picture so we can see what you came up with and post it to the pool.  On July 13 I will draw a name from everyone who has entered and yummy fabric will arrive at the winner's doorstep.  I hope you'll give it a try.  You can do this, I promise!

In other news, we are phasing out Stella's nap this weekend and we are moving onto a really good summer schedule. The kids will have day camp in the morning, until 1:00, and we will spend the afternoons together playing and biking and swimming at the pond.  A really good balance for everyone I think.

making progress on the make-along

I am working today on my project for the make-along.  It is always an interesting process designing something totally new.  Lots of little problems to solve and lots of stitches to tear out and sew again a different way. I did buy some new fabrics to play with (I started a make-along!  I get to buy fabric now!). 

I hope some inspiration is striking you, too.  And while we are working I think I'll post some photos and pictures of handmade fiber projects that seem to go well with the poem we've chosen. These pieces were not done specifically for this project, but they could have been and they certainly give me good ideas.  A brooch - that would be an excellent project for this make-along!  Anyway, I hope you are having a great day today.

1. Bumble Bee, 2. Charmingly Chubby, 3. New Leaves Brooch, 4. busy bee, 5. Buzzzzzz, 6. Crazy Green Flower Hat, 7. luck, 8. Alchemy Request, 9. Bumble

artist profile in Cloth Paper Scissors

I'm very excited today because I just got my July/August issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and I am featured as the Artist Profile this month! 

See the little reference on the front?  There is a five page spread inside. This is the first page.

The author of the article, Cate Prato, was great to talk to and she totally got me right away. I shared with her a bit about my artistic process and how I balance my sewing with being a mom. I think she wrote a really nice piece. I am really pleased with how they designed the layout, too. There are also some fun homework assignments on the last page of the issue, including one from me on how to break things down into basic shapes.  I hope you'll check out this issue of the magazine!

Come make-a-long with me!

Hooray!  I'm so excited to begin this make-a-long with you.  Thank you to Melissa Crowe for suggesting this wonderfully evocative Emily Dickinson poem that I think is perfect for this project.

#1755

To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee,
One clover, and a bee.
And revery.
The revery alone will do,
If bees are few.

Here is how I envision this make-a-long.  Think about the poem, maybe do some sketching, some sifting through your art materials, some readying to create.  Then, interpret the poem in fiber. Any sort of fiber art is great - crochet, knit, felt, soft sculpture, plush toy, quilt, applique, embroidery, cross stitch - whatever it is that you are enjoying right now. Make something useful like an apron, a bag, a quilt square or a pillow, or make something decorative. Keep it, sell it or give it away, but before you do, take a picture of it to post to our Flickr group.

Posting will be open any time from Monday, June 15 through Monday, July 13, 2009.  Just to sweeten the deal, on Monday, July 13, I will draw a name at random from all the Flickr users who entered and if you win I'll send you this selection of vintage fabric.  There is a lot of fabric here, collected over many years, and I think you'll find something you'll like.

 

Some come and play with me! If you have any questions or feedback for me, please email or comment here.  I can't wait to see what we make.

birds and fresh eggs and a question for you

We went to Natick Organic Farm yesterday afternoon to visit the animals.  I love this farm.  It is five minutes from Wellesley center and so low key and easy to enjoy.  The goats came right up to the fence as we parked the car so the girls ran out to pick dandelion greens from the grass to feed them.  And the goats ate from their hands.  We observed their full udders and watched them lock horns with each other. 

Then we walked through the big barn and saw the dozens of baby turkeys squaking under the warm lights.  The girls remember last fall when the farm was full of big turkeys right before Thanksgiving. 

And then we visited the rabbits, including six tiny white rabbits with red eyes.  The farmers were just collecting eggs from the hen house and I bought a dozen eggs right then to take home with us. We had great omelets this morning.

Then we watched the goats being milked, and being stubborn about returning to their pen.  Stella sang, "Baa baa black sheep" to a black sheep she was patting.  Overall, a wonderful way for the three of us to spend a cloudy and cool June afternoon.

A new Springtime bird in yellow and gold is now up in my shop.  I'm looking forward to a weekend of sunnier weather.

And now, for the question. I am considering doing a make-a-long here on my blog.  My idea is that I would select a short poem that would inspire illustration.  Anyone who wants to join in would make a soft toy or soft sculpture or other fiber-related craft (quilting, needle felting, knitting or crocheting or whatever it is that you enjoy) to interpret the poem in some way.  I think a month or so would be long enough to get our ideas flowing and finish something.  Then, you can post it to Flickr in group that I will create for the purpose and you can see what everyone has made.  How neat it will be to look at all of the interpretations of a single poem! Just to sweeten the deal, after the final date to post has passed I will draw a name from those who have posted and send you a nice big package of vintage fabric.

So, would you like to play?  I hope so.  Now, to select a poem. I am searching through my old college poetry books this morning, but  really welcome your ideas. If you have a thought, feel free to comment here or  email me.  I hope you are as excited as I am about this little make-a-long!