Alas!  I’m one of those annoying bloggers that has 4 years between posts.  I just stopped in to announce that I’m leaving Colorado for a new job in Madison, WI!  It’s exciting and I’m returning to a state where the official bird is the Robin.  I did find some excellent birds in Colorado and feel bad that I disparaged the selection here – it was more so that the neighborhood I lived in had no trees.  I moved to a new location and it was more birdy.  And my office location within my building at work changed too, so more birds.  Fat Robins!  Titmice!  Goldfinches!  And Starlings (boo!)

I have become quite enamored with quilting, and with the move to the more birdy neighborhood, my birdpants production has been displaced by quilts.  I am hoping my new digs in Wisconsin allow for more ornithological fashion mischief!

I also got a bird dog. His name is Sammy and he loves birds so much but not to put pants on them.  He did get one in his mouth about a month ago during a hike – a baby woodcock or killdeer I believe (the story was recounted by my husband) and he held it in his mouth softly while the mom bird freaked out and Mike got Sammy to drop the baby bird.  It seemed no worse for the wear – a little nonplussed but okay.

I will report back from Wisconsin.

Well, hello!  Long time no see, eh?  I closed up shop for a while so I could make a cross-country move to Colorado, where I got a new job.  I love it here, but miss my old avian pals from the backyard of birding dreams.  There are a ton of new bird species out here, and they surely need pants, but my back yard is sparse and only has a fresh new tree.  My HOA only allows “one bird or squirrel feeder” which is disappointing, but then again, I just need to go out to one of the millions of trails nearby and do some birding.  And while the HOA is a bit of a bummer, I can’t say I don’t hate the tidiness of the whole place, and their “no wind chimes” rule makes me pretty happy, too.  I sound like a curmudgeon, but it gets damn windy out here (they call ’em “chinooks”) so windchimes might be an issue.

Meeting people has been somewhat slow, so I checked out some “meetup” groups, and am intrigued by “birding and beers” which is a group that goes birdwatching, then, unsurprisingly, goes to drink beer!  I haven’t dived in yet, but will let you know how it goes. Things otherwise are great, Friendly people, lots of sunshine, and an impending puppy.  I promised my fella a puppy since he was moving so far from home to let me pursue a great job.  He was pretty happy about the move, I suppose, but now that there’s a puppy in it for him, he’s sold.

Bird news:

There are several kinds of jays here, including a Gray Jay, which is referred to as a “camp robber” for its boldness.  Stellar’s jays are also beautiful.  There are yellow-headed blackbirds and black-billed magpies.  There are even pelicans!!  I couldn’t believe that, but it’s true.  All shall have pants soon.  I imagine a pelican carrying a bindle for some reason.

Black-Billed Magpie

Stellar’s Jay

We still have our tiny place near Good Hart, MI, and we’ve finally identified a bird that we hear at dusk.  It has the most beautiful song, and it turns out to be a Hermit Thrush.  If you’ve ever seen the Hunger Games, the bird they imitate (Mockingjay) is a Hermit Thrush.  They have a crazy range and some weird singing ability that most other birds don’t.  Here is what Cornell Lab of Ornithology says about them:

The Hermit Thrush’s beautiful, haunting song begins with a sustained whistle and ends with softer, echo-like tones, described asoh, holy holy, ah, purity purity eeh, sweetly sweetly. It pauses between each phrase, and the song is about 1.5 seconds long. Hermit Thrushes also deliver an extremely faint “whisper song” in spring.

He’s quite elusive – we can hear him but not see him, so pants will be an issue.  But I’ll try. Stay tuned for more riveting news from Colorado!  I have my etsy shop up and running again, with a few items listed as I unpack them. Yay!

Previously, I posted pictures of the making of a squirrel suit.  I am happy to report that the intended recipient was quite pleased with the results!  Hurrah!

As I was putting away some fabric recently… some shiny, slippery, green fabric…  I envisioned a frog suit.  The hours melted away as I tinkered and toiled with the amphibious inseams.

The hours melted so far that the sun came up!  Egads!  Time flies when you’re having fun.  Or obsessed with mastering a suit for a frog.  Or both!  I couldn’t stop.

It even has a lily pad.

Well, it seems the denizen of land and sea are upping the ante when it comes to stylish attire.

A short while ago, a birdpants fan contacted me to ask me about “something for a squirrel”.  Her pal had a birthday coming up and apparently really liked squirrels.  Being the ambitious seamstress, reading my email in the car (I was not driving!) on the way to the show in Columbus, I replied to the request with a few options – squirrel pajamas, squirrel parka, squirrel suit.  There was a short turnaround time (just over a week) and I was a little nervous about creating a whole new prototype of a suit, but that’s what I did and I’m so glad!  Some of my best work comes from special requests.  I try to do some sketching but it ends up being a lot of trial and error.  I’ve learned that I need to make patterns as I go, and take plenty of notes.  Even though I’m winging it, I want to make sure I can try to recreate it.  The following weekend I was heading up north so I dug through my fabric and selected some options.  Purple satin with swirls.  Tweed.  Houndstooth.  Rust-colored satin.  Black satin. Faux leather embossed with a snakeskin pattern.  I snatched up some tiny buttons, my travel scissors and my notions and headed north!

  (I’d wear it!)

It was a chilly weekend and I enjoyed hunkering down inside.  It was a bit weird not having my wealth of fabric and tools, but it was also a bit liberating – having fewer options made me more crafty.  And the piles of acorns were certainly inspiring!

half a suit coat!

forming the pantleg

All dressed in white!  Guess what?  Bird Weddings.  That’s right…  first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby bird in a bird nest carriage! 

Dearly Beloved, Bird and Groom pants happened.  And I’m quite proud!

With little handmade felt flowers in a bouquet, and festive silver clothespins.

Perhaps I can offer the option of putting the date of the wedding – what a clever gift for the bride who has everything!

Tuxedo Trousers with tails!

And a wedding veil strewn upon the branches.

The future is bright for Bird and Groom pants.  Now that Grigg and I are making the frames, we can make them any width to accommodate the groomsbirds and birdsmaids.  Even birdsmaids have to wear a frock not of their own choosing.  Which means maybe they’ll give up a couple of inches of fabric for me to use in the project! 

So I think I cracked the code on the turtlepants.  I was able to get that little turtle-knee-curve that felt so necessary.  All it took was a little magic and some davey board (a/k/a bookboard) and voila – turtle-knee-curve!  And then I couldn’t resist calling them “Turtle Trousers”.

Something I’ve been thinking about for a while… Turtle Pants.  I’ve tried a few prototypes and just can’t seem to capture their short-but-wide leggedness.  I’m determined to make it work, and I think adding the shiny vinyl turtle shell is a start.  I may have to bring in some Red-Necked Sliders as models.  Google Image searching for “turtle butt” is getting me nowhere.  

Last week, I had the extreme pleasure of visiting the new location of The Eyrie – a Michigan artisan market in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town.  It’s next to The Sidetrack and it is chock full of great things.  Usually when I’m at a craft show/sale, I don’t have as much time as I’d like to go peruse my fellow artist/crafters’ wares.  Well – it turns out that many of my favorites are represented at the Eyrie!  They have stuff from tons of great people – I went in to deliver some birdpants and was almost too distracted to remember why I was there.  

The owner/proprietress, Janette, is lovely.  I have met her a couple of times at recent shows and it was nice to chat with her for a bit.  She selected some birdpants (and bird socks!) and they are now being sold at The Eyrie!  So exciting.