Bird, wee friend and workshops

When Mr. Gingo and his pink headed girlfriend were done, I felt like taking a rest. It is difficult to describe how much energy the making of my sock dolls (with all their details) can sometimes consume.
I felt completely exhausted, so the next morning I spent some time doing nothing; just staring at my computer screen and reading stupid news.At noon, I went to take something from the studio, and then this bird reminded me that I had promised that as soon as the sock couple would be done, I would take care of her.

When she was done, she asked for company.

So she has a wee friend as well.

Now I would like to invite those of you who happen to live in this part of the world to my upcoming workshops:

The first one is for my wrapping technique, and will take place on Friday, March 5, 2010.

The second one is the Sock Dolls workshop, on Friday, March 12, 2010, and Friday, March 19, 2010.

*Just a reminder that if you would like to get updates about my workshops, you are welcome to join my mailing list.

תזכורת - לגבי רשימת התפוצה של הסדנאות, אם אתם מעוניינים לקבל עדכונים לגבי סדנאות, שלחו לי מייל.

Summer bird

My new summer bird

White bird with young Red bird

Mother bird and her little red fledgling spent wonderful time together.

The young bird wished they could play like that all day long.

But mother bird had other plans,

They had to go back home.

Crocheting of new sister

The red&white birds were busy today...

More about the birds

As I promised I am back to tell more about the birds and show some more details.
The process of making them (which I showed here already) was longer then I accepted, with some breaks. My initial idea about those birds was changed during the process of creating and they ended up to be much more sad then I meant, I am not sure about the reasons, but wanted to share some thoughts about it.
At first I had some idea to create group of birds with flowers, it was spring in the air...
The idea to use this combination came after I customized wedding shoes in these colors; I liked it so much and felt that I must create more with these colors.
The red and white together create very clean and fancy combination, but there is also something dramatic about these contrasts between the brightness of the white and the strength of the red. I like the quietness of the white with all the expressiveness and sadness of the red.
When spring is coming it always seems like it is going to bring new waves with it, better ones. But for me, most of the times it ends up in the opposite way, and make me feel gloomy. It is almost every year that I experience this disappointment. I can't point the problem exactly or saying this is wrong or this is the reason, it is more of a feeling.
Maybe it is this period of the year that is so busy with holidays, that I never really feel like I want to celebrate.
When spring is coming we have Passover, the holiday of spring, blossom and freedom, which means family gathering and so called fancy meals.
I don't know why, but every year going through the busy traffics, full of dressed up families pressed together in cars, make me feel lonely, even though surrounded with supporting and loving people, it doesn't matter, the loneliness is always in the air at the holidays time.
Besides that, there is also all the meanings of Passover and telling the story of the people of Israel running away from slavery. It always seems so ironic when the victims are in the other side for years.

Birds with Flowers

The birds are finally done, but just before introducing them I have an announcement to make: My dolls who for long time felt that my etsy store is too crowded for them with all the slippers shoes finally changed accommodation and got space of their own over here.

Now it's birds time:

Let me introduce the young bird

and the Lady bird

The lady bird comes with a rose

and the young bird comes with its own flower.

I am too tired now but will be back soon to tell more about them.

Birds details

The birds are almost done, just few stitches left me to do this night, but just before the work is completed, let me show you some details.

The wing,

The bird's skirt

and a rose...

Eyelids crocheting

My birds got wings, head and beak, only eyes were missing.

By a small ball of stitched piece of socks I created the eyeballs and sew it to the crocheted head.

The small bird got a crocheted eye lids.

For the bigger bird it was more complicated, as this bird ordered a made to measure pair of eyelids with eyelashes.

I crocheted both in one piece

and attached it to the head, same as I did with the eyeballs.

It was a very gentle operation, I had to keep it very accurately right on its place, taking care of not causing any damage to the bird's eyesight.

Here it is the bird with its new eyelids-eyelashes.

Red and white, from shoes to birds

I was deeply inspired by the bridal shoes I was asked to customize in red and white.

For a long time I had this idea of creating new birds, it was so long since I made the last ones. Some of them already flow away and spring time felt so perfect for new ones.
After the red and white shoes was done yesterday, it was clear what colors the new birds are going to have.

The flock

The flock of birds grew up, I was so busy making each of them (and some other slippers and shoes, Christmas Etsy orders and so) so I got to take a look at all of them together only few days ago. I was so surprised to see that there are so many of them already, like a real flock

LOL.

I gathered all of them for the reason that two of the birds were about flying away.

The bookish bird wanted to quote some journey blessings from his book.

They all were fascinated by it.

Crafting birds

New birds are going to join the flock soon.

They are multiplying on the coffee table.

The arctic birds were so curious about this phenomenon.

Arctic Birds

Yesterday these two arctic birds just knocked on my door and asked to join my birds flock.

I guess that there where some whisper, spread out among the arctic birds about the sunny winter we got here this year. I guess they was told that they would never feel cold at my place, even though it is not real winter yet, the heater is always on over here, I am always cold, as I already told you.

I assume they will have to take off their scarfs and hoods soon, but meanwhile they are yet getting used to middle east winter.

They are both listed at my etsy store so you can check them out here or here.

Birds jewelry

Inspired by the birds I was creating lately, I made these two new brooches.
The Handkerchief Brooch and the bird in the bag Brooch.
They are both made by the same techniques I used for the birds dolls - a piece of old socks added with embroidery and crochet details.
I got the idea for this one when I was creating the winter bird.
I found out that the handkerchief in bird's pocket looks so stylish and thought why shouldn't human get this piece of birds style.
Besides that this kind of embroidery handkerchiefs remind me my grandmother who liked this kind of stuff so much.

The idea for this little bird came after the mother bird and her little nestling whom she carries in her bag.

I thought that the little nestling may be lost if it wouldn't be attached to the bag but I also liked the idea of playful jewelry,which one can change its look and make the decision every day how to place the bird in the bag.

The solution as you can see was attaching it with a crochet thread so now it wouldn't get lost but and remain playful.


For each brooch I sew a cloth envelope to protect them, they are so tiny.

I haven't made any piece of jewelry for long time and I really enjoyed it. So I'm off to make some more!

Meanwhile, you can check these two out at my etsy store .