The Artful Bird: Feathered Friends to Make + Sew
Create your own aviary of charming, beautifully detailed, one-of-a-kind fabric bird sculptures with basic machine- and hand sewing, embroidery, and mixed-media craft techniques.
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Create your very own aviary of charming, beautifully detailed, one-of-a-kind fabric sculptures with basic machine- and hand sewing, embroidery, and mixed-media craft techniques. Artist Abigail Patner Glassenberg, celebrated for her charming, quirky, personality-filled birds, presents 16 incredibly creative projects, as well as a gallery of birds from other noted fabric bird makers. In The Artful Bird, learn how to make dignified owls, friendly wrens, an elegant flamingo or a swooping crane in flight from the set of step-by-step basic birdmaking techniques and tips. Abigail also offers an array of creative ideas to give each bird individual character and personality and an amazingly lifelike, yet handcrafted appearance. Careful instructions and how-to photographs for the entire process with help beginners and more advanced crafters build successful, appealing birds. Contents
Introduction
Tools & Materials
Basic Birdmaking Techniques
-Patternmaking
-Fabric Selection
-Stitching Methods
-Turning & Stuffing
-Wire Legs and Feet
-Beaks & Eyes
-Wings and Tails
Resources
Index
Projects
Bird Ornament
Bird in a Nest
Mini Assemblage
Wren
Lark
Crow
Quail
Chick
Swan
Woodpecker
Penguin
Owl
Owlet
Raptor
Wading Bird
Flamingo
Gull
Hen with Eggs
Peacock
Profiles and Gallery
Birds by Abigail Brown, Tamar Mogendorff, Jennifer Muskopf, Ann Wood
Abigail Patner Glassenberg has been making award-winning soft toys and soft sculptures since 2005. She has made more than 100 birds of every variety, selling them in galleries, boutiques, craft shows, and online. Her work has also been featured in magazines including Cloth Paper Scissors and in sewing, craft, and soft sculpture books. She lives in Welleseley, Massachusetts.
Item #: 10QM04
ISBN: 9781596682382
160 Pages
Dimensions: 8 1/2 x 9 Inches
“The Artful Bird” Book Review and Giveaway
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I've always been fascinated with Ann Wood’s amazing birds. Every time I get a newsletter from her blog I immediately go to check out what she is doing and making from her vintage fabrics. When I saw “The Artful Bird” on Amazon available for pre-order, I immediately put it in my basket. The author Abigail Patner Glassenberg interviews four of her favorite fabric bird makers (Ann Wood, Abigail Brown, Tamar Mogendorff, and Jennifer Muskopf) and a gallery featuring their birds. I had never really followed any of these artists other than Ann but now I find all their work fascinating. Each has their own unique style of creating delightful and unique birds. In this book Abigail not only lays out the patterns but also gives us a lesson in the anatomy of a bird. Before you start any of the projects in this book she suggests that you read all the information in the general instruction area of the book. The patterns are printed in the book and she tells you how much you should enlarge the patterns to achieve the look she is presenting in the book. I found this book to be charmingly illustrated the pictures are outstanding and you will want to create all of her feathered friends. Abigail shows you exactly how to assemble the birds and you will want to pay close attention to her instructions. There are 144 pages of bird sewing goodness, including 19 projects to make everything from a flamingo to a woodpecker, a swan to a wren. Step-by-step photos to show you exactly how to make a wire armature, all different options for sewing feathers and tricks for turning and stuffing successfully. I want to suggest that anyone that has ever been interested in creating stunning and fun birds should definitely get this book. Today I'm excited to tell you that interweave Press sent me a copy to review and giveaway to one of my readers. Look through the book and see some of the projects. It is one of those books you want to come back to over and over again. Giveaway: http://felting.craftgossip.com/giveaway/%e2%80%9cthe-artful-bird%e2%80%9d-book-review-and-giveaway/
Oddly meditative, heartbreaking and rewarding
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I was given this book as a late Christmas present from my mum (thanks mum!). I received it just over 2 weeks ago and I have made 3 birds and started 4 more.
I don't know what it is about birds that captures our imaginations so strongly but the second I had this in my hands I felt an urgency to start making them. I have made a wren and two chicks - I have linked the flickr album below.
There were a few things I have learned so far that I would want to share about the instructions.
You are better off cutting a much larger seam allowance than required and then trim them back. This gives you more fabric to hold on to when stitching around the curves. In fact it is probably worthwhile blowing up the pattern on a photocopier and making your first bird or two a little larger. Rather than using freezer paper to cut the patterns, trace them directly onto iron-on interfacing, for the pieces that need interfacing - the three step process allows too much room to make errors. And be creative about the feet and beaks. You might find that the wire legs aren't for you (I'm going to keep experimenting!).
I love this book and I will keep making more birds. Wonderful!
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