Slow Stitch Brooches

 

Just listed on the shop are a range of little gifts I would normally make for shows. I cannot attend shows at the moment but I do like making the brooches, keyrings and coming little mice etc. I find the projects soothing and enjoy the end results.
So there is a selection of Blossom Brooches in spring colours, each one in boxed so it will post well and each one is in a tiny 4cm hoop. There is also a tiny collection of Alium Brooches, more of them on the way and keyrings.
As the season progresses and I have more time to sit and slow stitch there will be mice and hanging birds with other ideas worked out.
We are having a garden day today, so like us, enjoy this amazing sunshine and have a great weekend xx

Sketchbook work and a new goldfinch

 

I thought I would share Bea, a little goldfinch doll with one of her pages from my sketch book.
When creating a new bird I find watching the bird is always the best way to know the bird but drawing the bird also helps you to know plumage, My bird dolls are obviously very styalised, but my drawing are pretty literal.
The bird dolls I make are always taken from birds in my garden and in the woods behind our bungalow. I feel I know them and can render them accurately. I also collect bird greeting cards for inspiration. There I look for highly styalised rendition to give me a glimpse of how others see the bird and yet you can still see it is a goldfinch or a chaffinch. Some of my favourites are Jane Crick's work and Isobel and Frank prints.

Rae, A Tiny Bullfinch

 

Rae is now complete and listed on my Folksy Shop. She is a gentle girl with a warm spirit. I love her fabric choices, they sit so well with her colours, so rich.
To her heart she has rose quartz and rosemary in her stuffing. She carries a little cross stitch bullfinch cab and has the new birdier feet in a cool grey. She is finished with burgundy organza ribbon and tiny buttons. Beneath her dress is a little bullfinch tail and her wings are also heavily embroidered.
I am truly enjoying making these little birds. To sit and watch them visit our garden while I slow stitch the plumage is such a joy. You feel a real connection.
We have two of the most beautiful days here in Lancashire and we are off to the ducks at Martin Mere today. If you have it, enjoy the sunshine and the coming spring in the air xx

 

Looking at Stitching

 

Looking closely at the embroidery of this little bullfinch. She is surrounded by the parts that make the doll whole. With her cab, wings and tail sitting on the fabric that will make her dress. She has the new bird feet too!
The feather like stitch is an adapted fly stitch that I run to look like a feather pattern. Her that is in both black and grey. The pink stitching is random cross stitch in three shades layered to give such a rich look. The colours are chosen to sit somewhere between the make and female colouring to give a wholesome bullfinch feel.
I particularly like the pinks, greys and black with this Acufactum fabric called Blossom Splendour with rich dahlias and nasturtiums in deep pink and orange.
Each bird has a crystal to her heart and herbs in her stuffing to give a gentle scent. This little girl has rosemary and a piece of rose quartz for love xx

Thoughts on the Bullfinch

 

My bullfinch dolls are one of my favourite dolls to stitch. I love the colours, the pinks and greys. We have two pairs of bullfinches that visit and I am always excited to see them,
The colour is so intense even on the paler females and they are around for such a small window as they are eating the buds off my apple and pear trees.
Recently I have significantly reduced the size of all my birds and the photo show that difference effectively. This latest iteration are even smaller and with the new spiky feet are even birdier I feel.
There is a calm joy in slow stitching the plumage. Listening to music and simply enjoying the gentle movements. The blackthorn is out, they cherries are in bud with the fruit coming a little later. I will hopefully see these colourful characters in the upcoming month, fingers crossed xx

Tia A Blue Tit Doll

 

Tia is one of the new birdier bird dolls. With tiny spiky bird legs she is dressed in a beautiful fabric called Titmouse Time by Acufactum. If you look closely there is a tiny blue tit on the bodice of her dress!
Beneath her skirt are two layers of underskirts in cotton and tulle. If you look under her skirt she has a tiny embroidered tail and her wings are also heavily embroidered. All the embroidery delineates her plumage and I use not paint just embroidery.
These little birds are tiny, sitting just on your hand and as you look closely there are lots of tiny details. From the embroidered plumage to the tiny buttons and cross stitch hoop.
Each has a brass ring to hang with citrine to their hearts and rosemary in their stuffing. None are more than 20cm tall.
I have loved making them and I am excited to share them xx

A Work in Progress Wednesday

 

This is my latest innovation in the bird dolls' design. I always felt that the legs were too clunky and heavy. Bird legs are fine and spikey but I did not know how to approach this.
Reuban, my fabulously talented son, started to experiment with spun cotton techniques. Building an armature for stability and then having created a starch solution using cotton wool and thread to create different types of feet and paws for his Imps.
Seeing the potential to make my birds more bird he gave me a tutorial and here I am. The bird dolls now have styalised yet realistic legs and feet and I am really happy with how they look.
So a huge thank you Reuban.
Having now seen what you can do with this technique I am making a series of bird dolls in Acufactum fabric all with the new feet. Hopefully in the future I will move on to first owls and then maybe even raptors. I have seen a male sparrowhawk in regency dress with killer talons!