A DAY FOR A WREN

Supplies are gathered.  No paintbrushes.  No pens.  Today is a day for a wren!

A favorite textile artist, Abby Glassenberg, has made available some patterns for her own version of the beautiful little wren.  So, today, a friend and I will be doing our own version of this bird using vintage handkerchiefs - just in time for Valentine's Day.

Abby Glassenberg Design

 It's only January, but I'm looking forward to spring and the return of birds to our frozen state.  

There are so many great children's books and poems written about birds.  I think maybe the wren could be great inspiration for a children's story . . .

Just one little sampling of good, old-fashioned children's poetry involving birds:

There was an Old Man with a Beard

BY EDWARD LEAR

There was an Old Man with a beard,

Who said, "It is just as I feared!—

Two Owls and a Hen, four Larks and a Wren,

Have all built their nests in my beard.

I would love to see some children's illustrations for this one!

Thanks for looking today!

Nan

CHALK PAINT AND SOME FANTASTIC BIRDS

I haven't posted for a few days and it's because I've been working on these two pieces of furniture.  

I got the blue "hutch" painted using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - Old White and I love it.  

Then.  

The chair.  

The upholstery is off the base (it was very creepy under there).  The cushion has been dismantled, and, thinking I had enough paint left I started painting the frame with Old White.  I thought wrong . . . I ran out of paint.  

Shoot.

That's expensive paint and I really didn't want to order any more.  Then, at just the right time, along came a wonderful blog visitor (Thank you, Elizabeth!) who was thoughtful enough to tell me about making your own chalk paint . . . she thought I might be interested!  She thought right - and I'm passing that information on to you, just in case you're interested too!  You can read about it here.  

So, that's what I've been up to instead of blogging for the last 2 days.  

Meanwhile, I have a great book to tell you about.  This is a book I've looked at off and on since it was published last January, and I finally ordered a copy for myself.   The author gives complete instructions and patterns for making all of these birds and more.  They look like challenging, patience-testing projects, but I think the finished products are well worth it.  

This woman makes some fabulous, quirky, stuffed birds.  They are realistic in many ways - for example, their size, shape, and poses.  But the quirkiness comes in with the fabrics they're made of.  I think they're wonderful and I'm looking forward to the day my book arrives in the mail and I can think about making one myself.   

I saved the best for last.  The owls are my all time favorites.   Aren't they awesome?  

This one is made entirely from a cloth flour sack - what a conversation piece!  With one of these in the room, you'd never feel alone!

Abigail Patner Glassenberg also has a great blog if you're interested in seeing more of her work.  

Now, back to that chair . . .