Winter Birds and Kittinspiration

So originally I had wanted to use a picture of my bird instillation to enter in the Toronto Star emerging artists contest that had a winter in Toronto theme, unluckily the day I installed happened mostly sunny, sometimes overcast, definitely freezing, but most of all snow free. I was hoping for snow soon so I could go back and take pictures. It was only three days later that the first substantial snow appeared.


I was expecting for some birds to be gone, and was fully prepared for all the ones in reach to get stolen eventually. I had to talk my roommate Nicki, who helped me install, out of stealing some before I even had my critique. I was completely surprised to see about half the birds gone in such a short time.


I think its really lovely though that people from all around Toronto will have my little birds in their hands and houses. I would love to know anyone who has them, but for now I can just fantasize about where they are now. In the end I didn't submit my image to the contest, I couldn't decide if I should submit the half empty tree with snow on the ground or the full tree without the wintry surroundings. To be honest the submit date just slipped my mind and I had a moment of panic when I realized it, but also glad that I didn't have to resolve that issue.


By the time I went to take down the empty ribbons this Wednesday only the birds that were fully out of reach were left, i even had trouble getting down some of the ribbons with my ten foot ladder. There were only eighteen left and I accidentally cut a few down in the confusion of all the other tangled ribbons.


I left eleven up and all the extra ribbons are gone. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with them. Eventually I will have to take them down so they don't harm the tree, but if anyone is feeling adventurous or is equipped with a large ladder please feel free and do the job for me.


Also, just for fun, here's some silly pictures I took of some silly cats. I'm calling it Kittinspiration, and yes, I am coining that phrase.

One Hundred Birds

So here's my final project for my fourth year printmaking class. I worked on this all semester long so I put a lot of work into it. I started by drawing twenty five birds. I then silk screened those birds onto four different colours of fabric. Then I mentally prepared to get carpel tunnel from sewing 100 birds.


Here's a picture of my make-shift light table a piece of white paper taped to my lamp. Using tailors chalks I traced the birds.


Then I pinned all the white ribbons to each and every bird and sewed them!


Here is where my beautiful and lovely roommate Nicki helped me by turning all the birds inside out and stuffing them! After I sewed all the bottoms closed by hand, which took way more time than I anticipated! I wasn't sure if my fingertips would ever feel the same. Nicki is also an awesome artist! Check out her blog if you're smart.


Then I ventured to school to find my beautiful tree, which I had already picked out before hand.


Thanks again Nicki, who took most of these pictures! My gratitude and love is undying for all your help!


And this is my tree! I really loved the way it turned out! Although I wish it had been snowing on the day of install, because that's how I pictured it. I came back after the weekend on the first substantial snow and almost half of the birds were already gone. They flew away into people hands I think. Which I don't mind at all, its kind of beautiful that people wanted them so much. My christmas gift to the patrons of Grange Park. Happy holidays everyone!