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).
mr. and mrs. on their way.
Say good morning.
And
I’ve just added a new couple to the shop – violet and duffy.
I just got a great box of old fabric, it’s very old- 1900-1910 but most of it is unused. The pieces are cut in pattern shapes so I’m guessing it originally came from a tailor’s or dressmaker’s estate. My estate has a lot of birds in it. Anyway, it found it’s way to me and I love the little prints, especially the black and whites. The one on the lower right makes me think of Lena Corwin’s blog ( as always,you can click the image for a better view).
And something else: little bird couples all dressed up and waiting to have their official portrait taken.
Thanks to everybody who showed up at the bird sale on Tuesday – more little birds coming soon. Here are a few in cozy nests getting ready to travel.
And one of the new bride and groom sets I’m working on. They will be in my shop tomorrow at 2PM EST with at least one other set.
Bride, groom, attendants and honored guests, all part of one large order finished today.
The daily bird for tuesday – ruth.
And a custom cake topper
and bride and groom set
who recently went off to serve in their official capacity.
