ann wood

A group of little birds attended Camp Wapameo on the shores of beautiful Echo Lake in Rhode Island (thanks bettyann) over the July 4th holiday. The weather was disappointing and I suffered unimaginable insults from insects ( and vice versa I suppose), got poison ivy, accidentally rolled in goose shit repeatedly and had a fabulous time. You can see some of the highlights below (click the pictures for a larger view) or if you prefer to view your birds at summer camp photos in slide show format you can do that here.

The campers are ( from left to right):

rex, finn, minter, liney, ashley, jane, betsy, flora, and georgie.

They’re having a camping adventure and it’s been ridiculously well documented - more pictures when we get back.

My sister becky puts things up and she surprised me with a box of her homemade preserves this week. Besides the strawberry and rhubarb orange in the photo there is also a lime raisin chutney that I already put too big a dent in to photograph. They are all unimaginably delicious. Enjoy the holiday, there will be new little birds available shortly after and I’m thinking about maybe bringing back the daily bird for a little while. You can join the mailing list for updates or just check back here.

I thought they looked pretty this morning.

My mural is finished and installed at a soon to be open restaurant called Home (20 Cornelia St. between Bleecker and West 4th). If you’re in the West Village you can go say hello to the peaceful goats and have a glass of wine. Here it is being installed.

And the previous day being inspected by the willet before getting packed up to go.

I’m painting a landscape mural this week working from pictures I took last week upstate at Olana and Clermont. I recomend visiting both, even though it was hot as balls I had a fabulous time. Here is some of the scarey looking underpainting.

This is the first 3 feet or so. The entire painting will be about 8 feet long and 30 inches high. When it’s done and installed I’ll let you know where. Here is the same section with the first of many color layers and a few details begun including some peaceful goats sketched in.

I haven’t painted anything in a long time and I’m way, out of practice and slow. Starting anything, especially large-ish projects and most especially painting, always makes me unreasonably anxious. This one gave me hives. I’m very happy in the middle of things but don’t care so much for the beginning or end.

Annette.

She is a springtime jolly and she went to Cog and Pearl here in Brooklyn yesterday with some other little birds.

On an excursion in Prospect Park.

Sails for a new boat and a couple merry wobblers.

( You can click the image for the full photo.)

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.

A scoundrel of the first water.

He storms off.

Good riddance.

Some new sailboats in progress ( there will be a pattern soon).

And my paintbox today.

From the Park Slope flea market, bits of old glass, fished out of the ocean by the same fella I got these from this time last year.

I’ve been extremely busy making all sorts of things; too busy, uncomfortably busy, but with things I love to do which makes me very lucky. I had lots of fun this past weekend building a cardboard castle for an ad job.

And finished 2 new ships - pictures coming soon.

A tattered antique dress for making things. You can click the image for a better look at the dress - it is ideal for making little wedding gowns for birds.

And a pirate - mick and his friend jenny. They will be in my etsy shop at 3 (new york time).

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).

An owl trivet

and fancy glasses.