Monday, 31 August 2009

The C word

It's been months since I first fell in love with the work of Australian Clare Carter, in particular her gorgeous bird mobiles. I thought of them again when I received a circular last week featuring more lovely hanging birds by Spool Sewing, this time including a simple pattern.


Of course I had to have a little try...


I'd been thinking about making some hanging robins as Christmas decorations - so sorry to mention it already, but when you're a full-time mum and part-time craftsperson, you have to start early (I have already sent off an order of cards and it's still August!)

Anyway, I adjusted the pattern to create more of a robin shape and finished off by sitting the birds on a cinnamon stick...


For these prototypes I have used synthetic stuffing, but would really like to use some kind of Christmas spice - anybody got any suggestions? They need a little tweaking but I like to keep my creations a bit primitive and not too perfect!
All I need now is a bit of snow, so that I can take some festive photos of them! Alright, I'm only joking!

12 comments:

  1. GENIUS!!!!!
    I am totally impressed and have been meaning to make some birds for a while. hope you don't mind if I have a go too. x And stop mentioning the s word, although it does mean that I am a bit closer to getting my lovely boots out.

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  2. I absolutely love your robins. Seriously I would love to order 5/6 of them for Christmas. Will you be selling them?
    Becky

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  3. Thank you so much! Yep, I'll be selling them on Folksy in the not too distant future!

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  4. Love the robins, and the cinnamon stick is the perfect finishing touch. I am having same problem with christmas 'stuffing', I have made robins and blackbirds, I was thinking of grinding down Christmas potpourii, with added extra's (cinamon, cloves, things that keep ok) to spice it up some more. Beth

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  5. Hi
    Just clicked through to NOTHS via your link here on your BLOG and it seems to be going through to your preview page (hence all the coloured buttons). As a NOTHS partner myself, I thought I'd let you know. You may not have noticed. I couldn't find an email address to get in touch, so sorry it's in your comment box! Remove if you wish!
    Becky

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  6. Hi my sister, these are so sweet. Have a feeling my house will soon be filled with all sorts of stuffed smelly animal creations. LOVE x

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  7. KIrsty - these are beautiful. I'll definitely be buying some. You're going to be busy!

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  8. those are gorgeous, I'd totally love to buy some too :) maybe if you filled them with beans (like bean bag beans/lentils) and add some cloves into the mix that would give the smell you want?

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  9. Oh Kirsty a really gorgeous idea!!To keep them light as they will be hanging I would experiment with adding christmas spice to the wadding itself.I don't think it would dissolve and it might just keep its smell.I really love the cinnamon stick !! Clare

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  10. Kirsty these are amazing! so clever to alter them for christmas as well! thank you so much for your lovely comments on my blog, i really appreciate it :) x

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  11. yey i recognise that polka dot fabric!!! gorgeous jo and I have been going birdie mad too - just reminded me to post some pics!!

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