Bird Brain Designs

The NEW Bunny Bunch pattern is ready

2012-01-31T09:20:00.001-08:00

I finished the photography for the Bunny Bunch RedWork and we are now ready to go. Valentine’s Day is soon but no time like the present to begin thinking of hopping on to Easter!

These 5 floppy eared critters will brighten you home decorating all through Spring right up to Easter.
RedWork is a cheerful and relaxing type of needlework with just a single color to think about. In fact, you could choose your favorite spring color to embroidery your Bunch of Bunnies. Happy Easter.

Working on NEW Designs

2012-01-28T15:17:00.001-08:00

Today I gathered together lots of little goodies from around the house to take a photo of our new RedWork Easter, Spring and just because they are Bunnies design.

The instructions are at the printer so the photography is the last thing for our new pattern. Watch for it next week!

Back to working and having a great time playing around with a new Wool Applique pin cushion set….fun.

Kudos to Road to California

2012-01-25T09:11:00.001-08:00

The show was wonderful thanks to all of you who had a great time shopping and the staff for getting it ready! Tina and I enjoyed seeing all of you “old” friends and meeting all the “new” friends too.

There wasn’t much room in the booth but we were a cozy group having a great time.

Mark your calendars for next year and come and see us.
January 24 – 27, 2013

Packing Up For Road to California

2012-01-13T11:13:00.001-08:00

There are piles of goodies all over the place here in the studio getting ready for Road to California. Models, wool, pin cushions and plenty of other things too….quite the mess!

Here is a big pile of 8” squares of our wonderful wool ready to bag up and take out to Lucy, the motor home. The wool rack is ready to roll too. We do love our wool!

The models are gathering together on top of their suitcase and will be stuffed inside. A new season of the year so we don’t want to forget any one!

Craziness around here – how normal. See you folks next week at the show.

We LOVE Our Pets

2012-01-06T11:30:00.001-08:00

Here are a pair of foster dogs at Robin’s daughter’s house in Baltimore. What a couple of ham’s in front of the camera! Pretty cute Max and Zeke!

These guys are waiting for their forever home and can be adopted from www.MidAtlanticBullyBuddies.org

This week if you buy one of our Dog and Cat patterns we are sending money to a shelter so a furry friend has a better life in 2012. Enjoy life and adopt a pet!
www.PetShelterProject.org

Christmas Lunch

2011-12-24T12:00:00.001-08:00

Friday we had a delicious lunch created by Brenda, the champion cook. So wonderful to have someone make all that fabulous food! A huge lasagna, salad and homemade (still warm!) bread….a feast.

We ate to being stuffed and enjoyed every bite. Dessert was a gorgeous fruit tart. A lovely way to celebrate our last day of work before Christmas. We had to get in practice for stuffing ourselves at the holiday table!

My dining table doesn’t get enough use so our little party was fun to decorate for.

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

More “Photo Shoot” from the house

2011-12-21T11:20:00.001-08:00

I was getting carried away yesterday snapping photos of stuff! Here is a lovely fimo clay Santa doll perched on a sweet mini kids chair. This guy has a vintage quilt suit with old buttons plus old sewing goodies in his arms.

I don’t want to count how man little ironing boards are in my bunch of collectibles. Here is one plus another one painted in red folded up behind it. I have a “thing” for little chairs too!

Enough of my photography for today. Hope all of you are enjoying getting ready for Christmas and are not too stressed! Try for some treasured stitching time – you deserve it.

Robin

Christmas Around the Studio

2011-12-20T14:24:00.001-08:00

I was walking around my house today getting into the Christmas spirit and snapped some photos of some of my favorite goodies. I love collecting Santa stuff and have a few around my house. All the Santa’s are out to enjoy all year – such happy guys.

This soft Santa with a velvet suit has been around since Jeffrey, our smart Bird Brain Design tech support and website designer, sat in the chair! No one is counting though. This cabinet is one of the end tables next to my couch.

This rag doll Santa with a vintage wool and velvet crazy quilt outfit sits in our father’s rocking chair. Dad would be 111 year’s old this year! The rocker is a wonderful treasure for me and Santa, too.

Another passion for me to collect are thread cabinets from old time mercantile stores. Both of these are from Richardson Silk Company. I use them as the end tables next to my couch. The beautiful display case is now filled with all kinds of collected stitching goodies. The rag doll Santa cabinet has a circular thread holder in the glass case that the customer turned to select their thread color. Fun!

More photos another day…..Merry Christmas
Robin

A Hint of Spring!

2011-12-16T11:38:00.001-08:00

Brenda brought all of us a little surprise this week – a “breath of spring”. She forced several little jars of Paper Whites and shared.

My pretty blossoms add a spark of Spring in my kitchen among all the Christmas stuff going on these days.

Nice to look forward to something new coming up – soon!

FREE Snow People Hangings

2011-12-14T06:11:00.001-08:00

Another FUN finish for your pair of FREE Snow People in RedWork.

Last weekend I had an urge to stitch these 2 cuties again and make a couple of mini hangings for my living room. I Used our little hangers with clips to hang the designs. The finishing was super simple adding Red Star Fabric around the RedWork. I backed the RedWork top with thin batting and machine sewed on a matching star back. The 2 are nice hanging from a toy wicker sleigh.

Instead or in addition to tea towels, stitch up a pair of Snow People to decorate your home – even to hang on your Christmas tree!

Cookies For Santa

2011-12-08T09:49:00.001-08:00

Lucky Santa, he gets all those yummy cookies all over the world! Our Brenda made a batch today and I am sorry for Santa, but those cookies will be gone very soon.

Before all the cookies were enjoyed by us, I took a picture of them with our Santa Portrait Trio picture plus the Here Comes Santa RedWork quilt. Both are great designs featuring the favorite jolly old guy.

Embroider a Santa design for your home. RedWork is fun and relaxing and, happily, Christmas comes every year so there is NO RUSH to get it done this month. Enjoy the holiday spirit while you stitch and get a head start on home decorating next Christmas.

FREE Shipping on All Order All December

2011-12-06T07:46:00.001-08:00

Just a reminder that FREE Shipping will go all through December on All orders.

I didn’t put the dates on the last newsletter!

Merry Christmas Shopping!

FREE Shipping on ALL Orders!

2011-12-04T05:49:00.001-08:00

FREE Shipping on ALL orders
Our Merry Christmas Shopping Gift now until Christmas.

Have a wonderful time on the website picking out all the needlework gifts for friends, family and you too.

Save money while you play Santa - we will pick up the shipping charges and get everything off to you pronto.

(Sorry this does not apply to International Sales.)

2 NEW FREE Designs for Christmas

2011-12-03T05:34:00.001-08:00

Decorate your kitchen with a pair of cheerful Snow People in RedWork on red striped tea towels.
Our newest FREEBIE His & Hers designs are ready to print out and embroider for Christmas decorating.

Invite the “man of the house” to have some fun helping with the holiday dinner cleanup with his very own drying towel. I am sure he will appreciate the kind gesture!

Get your RedWork ready to embroider quickly & easily by printing your Snow People on Sticky Fabri-Solvy film.
Finger press the printed Sticky Fabri-Solvy on the tea towels and begin stitching in just a minute or two…so accurate and nice.

Enjoy getting ready for the busy holidays with a FREE design to print out and stitch. We have all the materials needed to make towels like we did on our website
www.BirdBrainDesigns.net

Pre-Printed Sticky Fabri-Solvy

2011-11-15T09:33:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I showed you how great it is to embroider your designs using Sticky Fabri-Solvy. It makes getting ready to get started so easy without the time spent tracing your designs onto fabric with your light box.

Because many of our design illustrations are printed on 11” x 17” paper in your pattern, we have special Sticky Fabri-Solvy in this oversized sheet size. It needs to be printed on a copier that accommodates the larger size.

To save a trip to the copy store we have Pre-Printed the large size for you. We have the sheets printed as an addition to your pattern to get you stitching right away.

We have had customers ask why they might need a pattern for a design if they buy the Pre-Printed sheets. The pattern for the design will give you instructions of color and stitch placement. Plus you will get all the instructions to complete your design.

Enjoy the speed and accuracy of your embroidery using Sticky Fabric-Solvy!!

Disolving Sticky Fabri-Solvy

2011-11-14T10:33:00.001-08:00

We just stitched our very popular Bless Our Home BlackWork design a second time using our very wonderful Sticky Fabri-Solvy. The printed film made getting our embroidery ready to stitch a snap and adding all those Lazy Daisy leaves easy to do.

I put a generous amount of warm water in my kitchen sink and added each of the embroidered pieces separately. The flowing water was dissolving as I watched – so fun and amazing to see!

I rinsed off each fabric piece under the flowing water and laid them flat to dry. Next I’ll steam iron with the embroidery upside down on a bath towel adding a little spray starch to crisp up our lovely finished piece.
QUICK & EASY!!

Sticky Fabri-Solvy is so easy to use and your embroidery design is accurate – sometimes not the case with hand tracing onto the fabric using your light box. Give it a try with your next embroidery project.

New Animal Friends in Texas

2011-11-13T10:51:00.001-08:00

On our trip to Quilt Festival in Houston we met quite a few interesting dogs and other critters along the way.

Homer, the pot bellied pig, and Abigail share popcorn in the garden of the antiques shop. Homer was quite happy to visit us when we had our hands full of yummy popcorn. Abigail was interested too. Lots of
Guinea hens were strutting just out of camera range too.

A portrait of Homer. He was too was rescued by his new friends at the antiques shop. Quite an array of happy animals with another rescued pooch in the house. A great place we will visit again next year.

Home From Houston’s Festival

2011-11-12T05:54:00.001-08:00

We had a super trip to Houston shopping on the way and a little on the way home, too. We want to do “our part” to improve the country’s economy! We visited a number of our favorite antique and junque shops to enjoy browsing and sometimes making a great “find” for our collections.

Unpacking some of the goodies found along the way. Check out Hecho, Tina’s new pet horse, found in a beautiful antique shop in Texas. Hecho is going to live outside the growing garden at the chicken house at her Twisted Wire Ranch.

Heading home to the ranch in the back of the truck. We will keep you posted as Hecho gets comfortable in his new digs. He is a thoroughbred metal steed ‘Hecho en Mexico’…love the hooves and tail.

Snow is Already Flying!

2011-10-26T05:49:00.001-07:00

Just watched the news and they say it is snowing like gang busters in Colorado….they may even get a couple of feet of snow so early in parts of the state.

Time to head inside by the fire and embroider. Our NEW Snow Happens BlueWork table runner is just perfect for this early storm. Get your pattern and muslin and enjoy yourself and watch those snow flakes come down – real or just feel for those in the weather.

We are still waiting for one of the nifty blue fabrics to arrive….the company sent red the first time. As soon as that roll arrives we can offer the finishing fabric packet for you make your table runner and be ready for winter.

Two NEW Wool Applique Pillows

2011-10-24T07:07:00.001-07:00

We have 2 new Wool Applique pillows coming along for holiday decorating.

Today I should be able to finish the fringed edges and put the back on. Instructions are at the printer and I need to complete these 2 cuties and take their pictures.

Watch for them soon in your Newsletter and at the show in Houston!

Happy Winter and Christmas coming….Robin

Happy Birthday, Tina, 10% OFF Sale

2011-10-19T06:39:00.001-07:00

A present for everyone on Tina’s birthday.

Take 10% off EVERYTHING on our website and celebrate with Tina.

Visit our website and select all the things you have been wanting and save 10% on EVERYTHING.

Have some fun shopping.

PIQF was BUSY!

2011-10-18T18:11:00.001-07:00

We ran out of a number of patterns because they turned out to be the popular choices at this show…we never know what designs will be favorites!

Silly me forgot to pack this fun little Autumn Scarecrow in his wheelbarrow pattern so, of course, lots of you gals were in the mood to embroider a new design for fall decorating. This guy with his 3 crow friends is in stock here at the studio. We also have the very convenient pre-printed Sticky Fabri-Solvy to use instead of tracing him with your light box…a wonderful time saver and your design will be perfectly accurate on the fabric.

The hotel finally found the patterns for our new Winter Partners Pillows after we returned home. Never a dull moment. We now them them ready to mail out too!

The studio is on high speed getting things ready to take to Houston International Quilt Festival November 3 – 6. We checked the show floor map and Bird Brain Designs is right up front as you come in the door – WOW!
Booth spaces 1802 – 1806. Come visit.

Robin

Special Quilt In Portland

2011-10-09T15:52:00.001-07:00

When we were in Portland at the Northwest Quilt Expo our friend Brenda helped us in our busy booth. Brenda also had 2 quilts displayed at the show….both great!

Proud Brenda is shows off her Sewing theme applique quilt. The applique and added embroidery was wonderful. Brenda searched out specialty fabrics that she used where the print was perfect…congratulations!
I really love the pieced sampler border too.

Northwest Quilt Expo Photos

2011-10-08T10:32:00.001-07:00

It has already been a couple of weeks since we returned from Portland and the Northwest Quilt Expo. All of us – customers and vendors alike – had a great time. The weather was so beautiful and the show fun.

We also headed out to dinner a couple of evenings after the show instead of making some “gourmet" meal in Lucy, our motor home. Dinner in a beer vat at CJ’s in Portland. Yummy dinner in a fun place.

Getting ready to leave in just a few days for Santa Clara and the Pacific International Quilt Festival. I don’t know of any Brew Pubs and Restaurants we can visit there.

NEW Fall FREEBIE Design for You

2011-09-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

We have just added a FREE design for you on our website. Our NEW fall tea towel design features a nice plump Pumpkin ‘n twisty Bittersweet Vines.

Just print out your pattern and have a nice time relaxing while you embroider your new fall tea towel. The design will also look beautiful on muslin and framed for fall decorating.

I printed the pumpkin on Sticky Fabri-Solvy to stitch. So quick and easy….I talk about this all the time…give it a try and see how nice it makes getting ready. MUCH quicker than tracing the design on the towel using your light box!

Enjoy your new FREEBIE design. We have the Terra Cotta Tea Towel and all the DMC #8 Perle Cotton in the studio ready and waiting for you.

Bright Fall Fun

2011-09-10T09:16:00.001-07:00

Something NEW to brighten the evenings from Fall into Winter.

Lighted Willow Branches!

Clever tiny lights attached to Willow Branches.

Tuck the willow branch stem into a tall bobbin like our Elegant Silk Bobbin or other handy container.

Enjoy the soft lights in your home – especially your sewing area.

Both Tina and I are enjoying ours. The cord is quite long so you can place your perky lights where ever you want. Sort of like a unique night light in your home!

Come to the Bay Area Quilt Festival

2011-09-09T16:44:00.001-07:00

On Wednesday we set up our Bird Brain Booth at the Bay Area Quilt, Craft & Sew Festival
in San Mateo, California.
Show is September 15 – 17.

The show is FREE this year!
All you have to do is visit www.RustyBarn.com
and print our your FREE coupon.

Bring the coupon and visit us.
We are right up front so you won’t miss us.

See you soon everyone.

Stock Up on Beautiful Wool Roving

2011-09-08T06:46:00.001-07:00

Stock up on our fabulous 100% Wool Roving and SAVE 25% for all your needle felting projects.

Our 100% wool roving is blended shades of wool fibers giving you a fabulous result when needle felted. Each fleece color is dyed-in-the-wool to maximize brightness and color fastness. Then two, three, or sometimes four colors are blended together to create the beautiful heather mixes in the roving. The wool used is the finest imported Merino Cross wools from New Zealand with a short staple that is perfect for needle felting.

Visit our Wool Roving Category and choose all the colors you love. Build your stash with 25% off every color! Have fun.

Clearance Sale of Roving & Needle Felting

2011-09-07T06:16:00.001-07:00

Tina’s designing and creating of cute Needle Felted animals and other things with Wool Roving is taking a new turn. She will still be having fun creating but will be making one-of-a-kind designs to be purchased.

SAVE 25%

on ALL wool roving and needle felting supplies, patterns and materials packets for the designs. Cash in and have some fun!

Here is the charming Ghoulish Girl needle felted on wool. Instead of a 3 dimensional design, she is felted with wool roving as if you were coloring with crayons. A fun and kind of “addicting” thing – feeling like you just want to add just a little more before going to bed! Give it a try and save 25% on all the supplies.

New Winter Embroidery In The Works

2011-09-04T12:12:00.001-07:00

It is just the beginning of September but winter and the holidays are coming quickly for me! Time to get very busy designing and stitching so Bird Brain Designs can offer you some goodies to stitch for your home.

I’m just finishing a NEW BlueWork Embroidered table runner for winter and your holiday table. Now the search for cottons begins so I can finish the model and get it quilted! Keep watch in your Newsletter for when this design is ready for you to stitch!

Back Home After Tacoma, Washington

2011-09-03T07:17:00.001-07:00

We had a great drive up and back from the Pacific West Quilt show in Tacoma. The weather couldn’t have been nicer….sunny and warm everyday! The show was fun and we met a lot of new gals and greeted many friends we see at Sew Expo in February. Thanks to all who came to the show.

On the way up and on the way back home we stopped in Kalama, Washington for our shopping spree. Tina found a wonderful tall metal sculpture for her yard. I think it will probably be shown off near her fabulous chicken house. I’ll take new photo of her garden to show you.

We had 2 delicious luncheons at our favorite Antique Deli attached to a couple of antiques shops. Dhara is the chef and chief cook and bottle washer with a couple of friends. She makes the most wonderful soups and sandwiches. We ate at the Deli and then took a BIG container of her chicken salad and a whole loaf of home baked bread in Lucy, the motor home for later lunches – clever.

Please stop by the Deli if you are near Kalama! It is only 30 minutes from Portland so we are making our luncheon menu plans for September and the Northwest Quilting Expo. September 22 – 24. Yummy!

Vintage Tea Towels Back in Stock

2011-08-20T07:28:00.001-07:00

After several months we have all four of the colorful Vintage Tea towels back in stock. We were missing the 4 Stripe Colors and the GreenGold Stripe towels.

A replica vintage-style tea towel once found in most kitchens from the 1920's through the 1940's. Back then, the homemaker would buy the toweling by the yard and have to cut and hem the sides. Our vintage look towel is hemmed on all 4 sides and is ready to add your embroidery or applique!
The four multi-color stripes will complement many kitchens as well as the decorative embroidery you will be adding!

The GreenGold Stripe towel will be beautiful with your choice of embroidery designs! To make your stitching QUICK & EASY plus getting ready to stitch a snap use Sticky Fabri-Solvy to add your design to the towel. Just print your design with your copier on the Sticky Fabri-Solvy film. Add it to your towel and stitch right through the film. Smooth and accurate too! Remove with warm water…it dissolves right away.

Have some fun this summer stitching on towels for fall and Christmas gifts. Each towel takes a short time to finish….stitch many!

Sneak Preview of NEW Design

2011-08-19T12:03:00.001-07:00

Hi all. I just finished adding this new Fall embroidery design to the website. This funny Scarecrow in Wheelbarrow pattern arrived in the studio from the printer today and has not been “introduced” yet.

I stitched the design on our Heavy Weight Muslin with 10 colorful #8 DMC Perle Cottons. When I finished I took my left over morning coffee and put it in a fine mist spray bottle and spritzed my embroidery. I thought it added to the rustic look. The Scarecrow and friends would be wonderful embroidered on our Tea-Dyed Cotton saving you from having to spray with coffee!

This embroidered character will make a great Autumn decoration for your home. Fall is coming up soon so you have time to get the pattern and other goodies and get stitching during August into September. You get a head start and are the first to see our new Scarecrow design.

NEW RedWork Design is ready for you

2011-08-17T08:54:00.001-07:00

We just received a NEW RedWork design from the printer and it is now ready for your embroidery.

Celebrate you own Home Sweet Home with this whimsical approach to 4 different home styles.
I looks so cute hanging from our clever mini hangers with clips to hold your design.

Fun and EASY RedWork with DMC’s Turkey Red #8 Perle Cotton is a perfect summer relaxer for you.

Enjoy!

Special ONE Day SALE

2011-08-14T06:52:00.001-07:00

Our website was down for a couple of days.

To celebrate, we are “back in business” again we have created a ONE DAY SALE!

So many of our faithful shoppers were disappointed they could not order – so take advantage of this treat for you!

When you order online the price of EVERYTHING will show as 15% OFF.

Enjoy the short sale announced today for our faithful blogger friends and tomorrow on our Newsletter.

Enjoy Your Summer with Embroidery

2011-08-09T07:05:00.001-07:00

I know many of you will be having a great time stitching all the holiday goodies you bought during our Summer Santa Christmas Sale….so smart of you!

The rest of you can check out some of our fun summer designs to have a project ready for vacation, hanging out at the pool or just relaxing on the back porch.

Tea towels are a perfect portable project you can pop into a tote and have ready for summer embroidery. These Fresh Picked Tea Towel designs celebrate all the yummy goodies of summer. Decorate your home and make hostess gifts for parties you will be enjoying in August.

Have some fun everyone!

Last Day of Christmas SALE

2011-08-08T07:19:00.001-07:00

Today, Monday, is the last day of our Summer Santa SALE.

Enjoy 15% OFF our entire Christmas Category.

Order your holiday patterns & other materials today and have some fun stitching during the summer. Be ready for decorating and gift giving when the cold winds begin to blow in December!

Make a colorful snowman table runner to grace your winter table – each end has it’s own pattern for lots of decorating interest.
Wool applique is so relaxing and enjoyable to create. Enjoy yourself this summer.

Christmas Sale Ends Soon

2011-08-06T07:10:00.001-07:00

Our handy summer “Christmas in the Summer” SALE continues through the weekend and ends at midnight on Monday. Save 15% on everything in our Christmas Category.

Cash in on lower prices for holiday patterns and kits plus other goodies. Then you will be able to enjoy some fun stitching time this summer and get ready for Christmas EARLY! How about that?

Make up stockings for the family in RedWork or a string of colorful stockings to grace a table or honor a wall this Christmas time. Enjoy!!

15% OFF Christmas Gifts

2011-08-04T08:25:00.001-07:00

Santa’s elves don’t do much embroidery but you can start now and have great gifts for holiday giving. Tea towels are fun to stitch because each one does not take much time – they are portable too – take them on all your summer jaunts!

Have some summer stitching fun and make a batch of tea towels. We have all the #8 DMC Perle cotton needed plus the great colorful Dunroven House tea towels too. Enjoy!

Christmas SALE! 15% OFF

2011-08-02T17:07:00.001-07:00

All Christmas is 15% OFF

Save now and be ready for the holidays in December!

Santa and Friends are awaiting You.

Have some fun!

New Summer Santa Freebie Design

2011-07-30T08:42:00.001-07:00

We also have a NEW Freebie Design for you!

Our Summer Santa RedWork Tea Towel pattern is ready to print and embroider. Santa was having so much fun with his feet in the lake we had to stitch his picture on a tea towel. Fun for summer and fun next December when it is cold outside.

As always, I printed Santa on Sticky Fabri-Solvy to get a QUICK start on my embroidery. Just print the pattern from your computer and then copy the design onto Sticky Fabri-Solvy to finger press onto your towel. So fast and accurate with a super surface to embroider on your cotton towel.

More Vacation Photos

2011-07-23T12:13:00.001-07:00

Another photo or two from Idaho. This one includes Robin’s son, Jeffrey and grandkids Anika (11) and Zane (8). Jeffrey is the “tech” guy for Bird Brain Designs. He is responsible for how great our website looks and works. Many of you have gotten email help from him – thank goodness! The little people have long and wonderful days riding bikes, going to soccer camp and having a wonderful summer around Hailey, Idaho.

As yesterday’s blog said, we toured and ate our way through 2 days in Idaho. Breakfast at the Bakery in Stanley. Stanley is a tiny town in the mountains north of Sun Valley. The town is the meeting place for white water rafting. The Salmon River runs along the edge of the town. This year ALL the rivers we saw were overflowing with rushing water from our wet winter.

Summer is fun, we hope you are all enjoying yours!

Summer is Flying By

2011-07-22T11:20:00.001-07:00

Seems we have been away more than at home and in the studio. We are leaving again on Monday to drive to Long Beach to get set up on Wednesday and Thursday for the BIG Long Beach Quilt Festival. The show is right on the marina and water at the Long Beach Convention Center. A super place to visit – both the show and enjoying the fun right close by!

Here we are (Tina on left, Robin on right) on our 2 day vacation in the wilds of Idaho after the fun Denver show July 7-9. Robin’s son and family live in Hailey right next to Sun Valley, Idaho. Had great fun touring the fabulous countryside and eating wonderful food.

More “on the road” with the birds soon. I will get back into my blogging when we return from Long Beach. Let’s see what photos we can get there!

Hope you are enjoying your summer and get in some precious and relaxing stitching time.

Robin

Embroider a Freebie for July 4th

2011-07-02T07:11:00.001-07:00

We have a new FREEBIE design – Summer Celebration - for you to embroider for 4th of July picnics and parties.
The star will look great in your kitchen too, of course.
Make a towel for you and for friends and family you will see this holiday weekend.

Patriotic red, white and blue plus a little gold stitch up a bright star in a variety of simple embroidery stitches. QUICK TO STITCH in just a couple of hours. Get the design onto your towel or other fabric with Sticky Fabri-Solvy and be stitching in just minutes. It makes stitching on the tea towel easier too with a smooth surface to do your embroidery.

Have some FUN stitching and enjoying your holiday weekend!

Mini Hangers are Back in Stock!!

2011-06-13T06:04:00.001-07:00

At spring market we found NEW little metal hangers with clips to display all your little stitchery designs and special photos. Ornaments on your holiday tree will be great too.

Our elderly photo of the Three Sisters, Robin, Linda and baby Tina, look cute on our NEW little hanger.
We are excited, too, that these little cuties are made right here in the USA….that means we can buy them any time we need too! Jobs for Americans!

You can buy a single hanger or get a special price with a package of 6 hangers. The clips are easy to add with a simple pair of pliers. Order yours today.

Thanks to Everyone Remembering Mackenzie

2011-06-12T11:04:00.001-07:00

A heartfelt thank you to all of the friends of Miss Mackenzie, a very popular fur! We received so many thoughtful emails and telephone calls to tell us how many more animal lovers there out there. Lots of tears were shed as we read your words of sympathy and confirmation that these critters are just our children with fur coats, not just pets.

Thank you for so many orders placed for our dog and cat patterns plus donations from caring pet lovers. We will total all the sales on Monday and make our donation in honor of Mackenzie thanks to all of you. It will be wonderful to give other not so lucky dogs and cats a better life – a life that our dogs surely enjoy!

Campbell will still travel with us in Lucy, the big white dog house, as we head to shows. We hope more of you will meet this funny little dog, Mackenzie’s daughter, in the future.

Remembering Mackenzie

2011-06-10T06:33:00.001-07:00

Our sweet little Mackenzie, Robin’s frisky Wire Haired Fox Terrier companion, has passed away. Many of you will remember our doggies at the quilt shows in the past years.

All the money from today’s sales of our Dog and Cat RedWork patterns are going to be donated to an animal rescue shelter in Mackenzie’s memory.

Mackenzie was a very loved companion both at home and on the road in her large white dog house on wheels with her daughter, Campbell. She will be lovingly remembered and missed tremendously in our lives.

Our Spring Sale Continues

2011-06-03T08:54:00.001-07:00

The weather man is still ‘pulling our leg’ and giving us weird weather all over the country. Take advantage of perhaps not being able to get out and enjoy “normal” spring weather and shop our Spring Category on the Bird Brain Designs website.

Save 15% on all the beautiful patterns to celebrate spring. At least you will be able to smile as you embroider, applique or needle felt a bright new project for your home or for a gift!

Chose one or more of your favorite patterns plus other goodies that are in our Spring Category and enjoy some special time make a new gift for yourself or someone special.

BIG Sale on Spring Designs

2011-06-01T07:56:00.001-07:00

It does NOT appear that we are going to have our “normal” springtime weather here at Clear Lake. The unusual rain just keeps on falling! My garden is very happy but my spirits are beginning to dampen! We can’t tell if spring is actually going to arrive.

We are boosting everyone's spirits with a 15% savings on all the good stuff in our large Spring Category on our Website. Let the weather be funny coast to coast – you can have a great time saving some money finding all the spring designs you like.

Jump into the garden with this pretty GreenWork design, on SALE of course. Enjoy “gardening” inside as you take some relaxation time for yourself with some embroidery. Stitching is good for your health!!

Visit the Spring Category and select your favorite patterns and other goodies you have had your eye on. Cash in on our Spring Sale – it is only 1 week long.

It’s MEMORIAL DAY!

2011-05-30T05:22:00.001-07:00

My mistake – I said it was Veteran’s Day – that is in November! Still a day to honor those who have given so much to keep our freedom and wonderful way of life.
Remember ALL who have and are now serving.

Here is another patriotic Freebie design you can print and stitch right away.

Happy Veteran’s Day

2011-05-29T10:56:00.001-07:00

Have a wonderful holiday.

Print out your Freebie patriotic design and have some fun stitching this weekend!

Enjoy!

New FREEBIE Design for You!

2011-05-26T05:32:00.001-07:00

It will be June very soon and time for us to enjoy a NEW Freebie design, All Things Grow With Love, to jump into Spring and right into Summer, too.

Embroider a simple but colorful little garden on a Dunroven House tea towel with Sage Green stripes. Other stripe colors from Dunroven House would accent the stitched garden with a sweet verse added under the flowers, too.

As I have mentioned in the past – probably close to a million time now! – printing your Freebie design on Sticky Fabri-Solvy from Sulky of America is wonderful to have you stitching right away. The design to embroider is perfectly accurate and will dissolve away when you finish your towel. Just print the design on your copier and finger press the printed film on your towel. Now you can embroider right through the design printed on the film – so QUICK & EASY! Dissolve the film away with warm water when finished and you have a great design ready to show off. Give Sticky Fabri-Solvy a try, you will like it – especially on towels.

Enjoy your FREEBIE design and take some time for yourself and stitch up a something new.

Happy Stitching! Robin

More from Salt Lake City

2011-05-24T06:13:00.001-07:00

As I said before Tina and I had a great time decorating our little Mercantile Shoppe at market in Salt Lake City.

Propping designs with some (LOTS) of the goodies we brought in our funny little U-Haul trailer was fun. Maybe we are frustrated shoppe owner who would like to set up displays all around a real store….not happening though! We do like travelling around to see lots of different areas and a different groups of ladies.

My favorite display was my stack of little kid chairs to show off our NEW Bless Our Home BlackWork Samplers. The framed BlackWork just worked so great resting on and around these cute little chairs. I have just the softest spot in my heart (maybe my head!) for tiny little chairs. I found another at a local estate sale this Thursday….cute.

Another nifty display shows off a couple of Wool Applique pin cushions hanging on the screen back of an old window with an added flower box added to the front. We added live geraniums and greens to the window box for a nice look. Tina’s funny little yellow stool was perfect to attach our Vintage Clamp pin cushions. Other pretty RedWork designs surround the window box.

We are working on new designs to tempt you in the NEAR future. Happy Stitching everyone!
Robin

Our Spring Market Space Looked Inviting

2011-05-22T10:11:00.001-07:00

Even if we do say so ourselves, we thought our little booth space looked very inviting to our quilt shoppe customers. We had a great time fixing up our travelling store. It is much easier to decorate this type of space rather than at a retail quilt show. Then we need to fit in all the extra stuff all of our customers need – patterns, fabric, floss – all the good stuff!

We used a couple of great pieces of furniture from Tina’s house…her potting bench and corner cupboard made from an old door.

Both of Tina’s treasures added so much to the look and feel of our Spring Market Store.

Market was successful with LOTS of quilt shops visiting and buying patterns. Remind your favorite quilt shop to check out Bird Brain Designs and stock patterns for you to buy in their stores – so handy for you!

Salt Lake City was Great

2011-05-20T05:35:00.001-07:00

Because we were told there would be no place to park Lucy, the motor home, we drove my truck and a U-Haul trailer.

We had a great trip but found we really missed Lucy and the dogs! When we got to Salt Lake City we saw big parking lots all around The Salt Palace convention center. Next time we will remember and our pooches, Mackenzie and Campbell, will join us!

An interesting ‘town’, Salt Lake City. Really huge and spread out. We had some fun trying to find restaurants and other good spots to shop. We are home until our 2 July shows in Denver and Long Beach with BIG plans to design and stitch some new designs for all of you. We’ll keep you posted as ideas hit paper!

2011-05-08T05:05:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother’s Day

Enjoy the Day Everyone!

NEW BlackWork Embroidery Design

2011-05-05T08:01:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we introduced a NEW BlackWork Embroidery design on our Newsletter. In case you missed it here it is again!

Bless Our Home BlackWork Samplers.

Three dramatic and graphic designs stitched in DMC #310 Black #8 Perle Cotton. I used a Tea-Dyed Cotton for these models but the BlackWork will also look sharp on our Natural Heavy Weight Muslin. The contrast makes the designs “pop”.

The frames are interesting too. Of course the small one is just a nice black 5” x 7” wooden frame. The long, skinny ones are new to me. They are 5” x 12” and are made to hold 2 photos in the standard 4” x 6” size. Different and nice!

The design illustrations can be traced right onto your fabric with a permanent Black Pigma Marker. If you do NOT like to trace use our Printable Sticky Fabri-Solvy. I grouped all 3 of the illustrations on a piece of paper 11” x 17” to match the Printable Sticky Fabri-Solvy. Just print the designs at your copy store on the 11” x 17” size and you have all of them ready to embroider!

QUICK & EASY to get to your embroidery! All the little Lazy Daisy loops making the leaves on the trees will be easy for you to see and stitch. Use the Printable Sticky Fabri-Solvy gives you a completely accurate design illustration to stitch….just perfect! Enjoy some new pictures to decorate your home.

God Bless America

2011-05-02T06:05:00.001-07:00

Celebrate the USA - Justice has been done!

Get out your flags and wave them today! Bad guys do get caught. Three cheers for the Red, White & Blue!

Thank you, Mr. President and the brave Navy Seals.

A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!

2011-05-01T16:07:00.001-07:00

What a lovely weekend we had here at the lake. Finally it has gotten over 70 degrees and the sun was shining both days. The Sailing Club on Clear Lake had a fabulous day and more sail boats than I have ever seen were out enjoying the spring breeze. Clear Lake has more than 65 square miles of water – lots of sailing space.

I enjoyed working in the studio with our bird’s eye view of the lake keeping track of the boats. I busied myself just making some wool applique make-do pin cushions not “real” work like designing a new pattern. FUN!

Hope you enjoyed your weekend too.

NEW Freebie for Mother’s Day

2011-04-28T05:20:00.001-07:00

In case you did not see the NEW Freebie design on our Newsletter, here is it for you. May 8th is Mother’s Day so there is not a lot of time to make something for your Mom. Don’t forget your Grandma and other family members too. Many of them are lovely Moms themselves!

Take an evening or an afternoon and relax and embroider our “Feathered Family” on a tea towel. I selected a fresh spring green DMC #8 Perle Cotton and stitched the birds on our Sage Green Tea Towel. The design will look great in any Perle Cotton color to coordinate with one of our 9 color stripes on the Dunroven House towels.

Have some fun and enjoy some quality stitching time!

A Job Opportunity!

2011-04-25T12:01:00.001-07:00

We are very sad to announce that our Kendall is heading back to Sonoma, California to take a very interesting NEW job with a large winery. Her very charming manner will be wonderful in her new job!

BUT, now we won’t have her smiling personality here at the studio! We now have a job opening for another very charming person to be our customer service champ. Formerly, Gail did a bang up job and then we had Kendall. I know everyone is not available to work here in the Kelseyville studio, but there may be someone we are not aware of close to us!

The studio is a very busy place and the job has become a full time position. If there is someone out there in BlogLand who is interested, please email your resume to us! Info@birdbraindesign.net Let’s hear from you. We can tell you lots more about us and the job if you are interested.

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE

2011-04-24T06:39:00.001-07:00

Signs of Spring – and Easter Too

A nest of “cute” baby birds just watching for Mom and another snack. ..a sure sign of spring!

Have a lovely day with friends and family.

Happy Easter

March for the Animals

2011-04-21T20:16:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday many people, dogs, a pig, a tortoise and a goat marched through Druid Park in Baltimore, Maryland on the 16th annual March for the Animals. They raised an amazing $358,000 for homeless animals! Robin’s daughter was part of a “pack” of people and pooches walking for the animals. You can still make a donation to help them beat last years money total – they are getting close!

Check out the photos of the march including the funny animals on the flickr photos below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mdspca/sets/72157626524786810/show/

Hug a dog and a cat today!

Campbell Was a Little Under the Weather

2011-04-14T09:41:00.001-07:00

Tina’s Campbell the dog did not feel well yesterday or the day before. Here she is in her sick bed feeling quite sorry for herself.

She didn’t want to eat or walk or do anything but tremble and look really pitiful. Sometimes she would yelp if you touched one of her front paws. Tina took her to the vet’s office and, of course, she pranced right in wagging her tail (good grief!). Turns out she was in pain and feeling bad because she had mud between her toes!! She does like to play down at the pond but mud on her paws is quite the new wrinkle in dog drama.

Remember all the dogs that have REAL problems because they are hungry and homeless. Probably sick too. Help donate to care for animals who need assistance when you buy our Dog’s Perfect World pattern. We are donating money to the ASPCA with sales.

Campbell and Mackenzie plus all of us will thank you for helping us support animals who need our help.

New Embroidered Tea Towel Design

2011-04-12T08:37:00.001-07:00

Time to think about yummy fruits and veggies. Our new Fresh Picked Tea Towel designs show off 6 oversized fruits and veggies in fun “containers” . These colorful towels are sure to add some amusement to the drying of your dishes!

The Dunroven House cotton tea towels with colorful stripes will complement the design illustrations and are great to stitch on. Of course, I printed each of the designs on Fabri-Solvy to make life QUICK & EASY. Using the wonderful printable water soluble film makes you so “clever” as you get ready to stitch in a flash. Your embroidery pattern is also accurate and on the towel right away.

Because toweling is a heavier fabric, it is not easy to trace designs directly onto it with a Pigma Marker. Fabri-Solvy gives you your design ready “in an instant” and makes a nice smooth surface to embroider on. What’s not to like? Give it a try.

Scroll down to the April 6 Blog post below to see more about Fabri-Solvy and Transfer-Eze….both products super to use. They are each from a different manufacturer. We have both for you to buy and use.

I Think It Really Is Spring

2011-04-10T16:04:00.001-07:00

When out on the road to the grocery today (here it is a 30 minute trip along the lake shore) I saw lots of our pretty Redbud trees in bloom. Such a beautiful fuchsia shade of pink actually. Stopped to snap a few pictures to share. Our Redbuds grow wild all over Lake County, a sure sign Spring has arrived – here anyway!

This one has a buzzing bee landing on the buds…nifty!

I have plenty of bulbs blooming on the terrace garden in the front of my house and one lonely tulip. I snapped a picture quickly before the deer find it and it becomes a spring snack! We have been enjoying vases full of these pretty daffodils in my stitching area and in the studio too. They smell so sweet and nice besides being so cheerful to look at. Our pretty flowers should get us inspired to design some new designs and patterns for you right away.

Hope the weather at your house is cooperating too and lifting your spirits. We are just happy the winds, rain and hail of 4 days ago have gone away. Warm sun is so welcome!

Fabri-Solvy and Transfer-Eze

2011-04-06T11:51:00.001-07:00

We have been getting lots of emails about the difference between Fabri-Solvy and Transfer-Eze. Both of these great products are printable water soluble film on a paper backing. You can quickly and easily get your embroidery designs ready to stitch in just seconds with either of them!

The difference between the two name brands is the size of the sheet you print on. Fabri-Solvy is a FULL 8 1/2” x 11” just like your regular paper. Transfer-Eze is 8” x 11”, 1/2” smaller than regular paper.

With either paper, just print your design using your copier putting the Fabri-Solvy or Transfer-Eze in the paper try. Pull the printed film off the backing paper and finger press onto your fabric. Add your hoop and embroider right through the film. You will always have a perfectly accurate design illustration the designer wants you to stitch! QUICK & EASY. If you don’t stitch over all the printed lines perfectly – no problem. When you have finished your stitching, ALL the lines will dissolve leaving only your lovely embroidery!

Dissolve the film in your sink with a generous amount of warm water. It is fun to watch the film dissolve in just a few minutes. I usually can’t be patient so I swish the water around to see the film dissolve. Having plenty of water helps everything dissolve. Rinse the fabric under fresh warm water when you are finished.

Lay your design flat on a bath towel to soak up the water. I iron my embroidery wrong side up on the bath towel using a steam iron. If you want, you can use a little spray starch too to crisp up your design.

Give Fabri-Solvy or Transfer-Eze a try. You will be so happy to have a perfect design to stitch in just a very short time….no more using the light box to trace your designs!

A Very Special Sister’s Embroidery

2011-04-05T10:36:00.001-07:00

One of our lovely needle work friends adapted one of our Kitchen Helper Tea Towel designs for a family reunion creating a very special surprise gift for the entire family.

DeAnn’s mother is the youngest of 7 sisters ages 73 – 97! The gang gathered together for a well deserved reunion last month. As you can imagine, everyone attending was touched and very impressed with DeAnn’s contribution to her Mom and Aunts. What a wonderful treat for all! DeAnn’s Aunt Dorothy organized the fun party and now proudly displays the wall hanging in her home.

Thanks so much for sharing, DeAnn, we LOVE your unique adaptation – who knows what can be done with tea towels!

NEW Free Design for Easter

2011-04-02T05:07:00.001-07:00

We have just posted our latest Freebie design to stitch up and enjoy for Easter. A fun decorated egg hanging from a violet ribbon on a tree branch.

Lots of color and texture in the Easter design embroidered on a Dunroven House Yellow Stripe tea towel. Easy and quick to stitch with #8 Perle Cotton threads. Just click to go to the design and print out the pattern.

Getting ready to do the embroidery was QUICK & EASY too. If course I keep telling you about using our fabulous printable films on paper you can print on your copier….but they work so well! Just print your embroidery design onto Transfer-Eze or Fabri-Solvy, pull the printed film off the paper backing and finger press onto your towel. Voila! You can stitch in just seconds.

If you haven’t tried the new printable film, order a single trial sheet to stitch your Easter Egg tea towel and give it a try. You will become hooked!!

When you complete you embroidery, just put the towel into the sink with a generous amount of warm water. The film will dissolve in just minutes. I like to swish the towel around while in the water to see the film dissolve! Rinse in warm water under the faucet and dry flat.

Enjoy getting ready for Easter – remember the bunny is coming!

NEW Yellow Stripe Tea Towel

2011-03-31T06:36:00.001-07:00

We have just posted a NEW color towel from Dunroven House on our website. A couple of years ago this Yellow Towel was used for our Freebie Mother’s Day towel. For some reason it was not on our website!

Here is the pretty Freebie for Mom….maybe time to get started on this one and be ready to honor your Mom and Grandmom in May! Just print out the Mother’s Day Tea Towel design.

For your own special design, you can now order the pretty towel with the delicate Yellow Stripe. The background is a creamy shade and will accent lots of designs you have ready to stitch.
Spring seems to really be here now. We are very happy to see the sun here in Northern California after so much rain!! Clear Lake flowed over it’s banks and is SO FULL….an amazing amount of water. The governor of California announced yesterday that our 3 year drought is over. Yay!

Enjoy the springtime and find some time each day for some stitching….it will relax you!

Robin

Home from Sacramento

2011-03-28T07:21:00.001-07:00

We had a great show in Sacramento over the weekend. In spite of high winds, thunder, lots of rain and even hail the turn out was BIG. After so many days (weeks?) of terrible weather everyone was ready to get out and enjoy the show.

We were right next door to Natalia from MamaShaman’s fabulous hand made shoes and boots. Of course Tina and I went shopping first thing Thursday morning before the show opened. We each now have 3 more beautiful pairs of these Mola shoes….boots this time! SO COMFORTABLE just as soon as you put your tootsies inside. The Molas are hand made in the San Blas islands and the shoes are constructed in Columbia. Check out the website for a pair for yourself. wwwKunaPrints.com Natalia will be coming to the Long Beach International Quilt Festival in July. Come see her and Bird Brain Designs too! You will be happy you came to the show.

Robin

NEW Downloadable Pattern Category

2011-03-12T06:19:00.001-08:00

Exciting news for us! We have 4 patterns now available to you QUICKLY & EASILY send to you without paying any postage. Many more of our designs will be ready for you to just download in the weeks to come.

The first of the design is our Downloadable Category is our Fresh Strawberries RedWork. This pattern featuring a fat Strawberry pin cushion plus a mini Strawberry filled with emery with a pin keep and tea towel celebrating fresh and yummy strawberries.

Our New and special Dog and Cat patterns are also ready to be sent directly to your computer. The design illustrations are ready to print right onto your Transfer-Eze or Fabri-Solvy film. How QUICK & EASY getting to your embroidery can be with Downloadable Patterns!

Remember, these two RedWork patterns will help all the dogs and cats that are need of special care….so many abandoned and homeless animals. A portion of each pattern sold will be donated to the www.ASPCA.org. We do hope that one day all dogs and cats will have a home! Donate today and help.

Get ready for Easter and get your Easter Sampler sent right to you computer. Stitch this fun Sampler in RedWork or in multi shades of #8 Perle Cotton. The framed design or small quilt-lette for your wall with make you smile all the way up to welcoming the Easter Bunny.

Of course, all of our Freebie designs have always been downloadable for you. Just print them out and have some fun create “reasonably priced” designs!

Enjoy these first of many Downloadable patterns and keep an eye out for more to come soon.

Robin

More Wacky Snowy Weather

2011-02-19T09:12:00.001-08:00

After the first snow we got a little more. Very odd and unusual but sort of exciting. This morning the sun came up over the hills with lots of snow still showing. Lots of clouds but the sun is shining now.

I had hoped to add more photos from Tina’s Twisted Wire Ranch but she and Kendall couldn’t get to the studio again yesterday. Let’s hope Monday will work as we need to load up Lucy to head to San Mateo and the Bay Area Quilt, Craft and Sewing Show! Visit www.RustyBarn.com for more information.

My foot prints on the deck as I walked out to take the photo of the sunrise. Still lots of snow. Mr. Kitty, my outdoor rescue kitty, is quite confused about all this stuff. We will add more photos when Tina and Kendall come to work next week.

Robin

Funny Weather – Great for Stitching

2011-02-17T10:33:00.001-08:00

The mid west and east coast have finally decided to have warmer weather. What happened in Kelseyville? It is snowing like crazy and we now have at least 6” at the studio. Tina and Kendall are “snowed in” at the ranch with over 8” of the pretty white stuff.

Gail made it to the studio this morning and just left after we decided this is not going to stop any time soon. She has to travel around the lake to head home at the other end of Clear Lake. You realize we are a little wimpy here with no snow plows and the 2 lane road around the lake is a little skinny plus covered with 6” of snow! Scary!

Sunday I took a photo of my first daffodil in the garden. Guess Mother Nature was just teasing about spring coming. I hope the apricot tree’s blossoms will think this is a joke too and just hang in for lovely apricots this summer. The raccoons and I will miss them if they don’t grow.

Enjoy the weather where you are. Guess I’ll go stitch a new Freebie design for you to have at the end of February.

More Pooch Pictures

2011-02-13T07:09:00.001-08:00

I have been collecting dog figurines since I was a young girl (nearly a million years ago by now!). I found a great old fashioned shelf at a yard sale to put them all on.

Our first dog RedWork designs is on the way. Fun to embroider pictures and help take care of animals in need. Part of all the money that comes from our NEW dog and cat patterns will be donated to www.ASPCA.org They do such great work saving lots of animals abandoned or treated with cruelty. Be a part of the people who care about animals and visit their website to donate or buy the patterns soon!

A preview of the “Dog’s Perfect World RedWork” design. I have printed the design on our Transfer-Eze to get stitched. We will announce the arrival of the design soon….get ready all you pooch lovers!

NEW Cat and Dog Designs on the way

2011-02-11T10:03:00.001-08:00

We love our animals around Bird Brain Designs. Mackenzie and Campbell are star workers here in the studio. This is a photo of Campbell supervising the creating of kits – on the work table on her cushion. Such a helper!

Mackenzie is not fond of being on the tables and does her best supervising under the computer table. Her very best job is guarding any snacks that might arrive in the studio. Here you can

see her at attention – eyes glued on the bag of chocolate chips on the table. She can remain in that pose not moving a smidge for ages! Tina says she should be on TV as the “eager eater” pooch.

Soon we will have 2 NEW designs to honor Dogs and Cats. All animals need love, home and love. We support the ASPCA in our county and the National organization too. A portion of the proceeds for each of the new designs is to be donated to www.ASPCA.org. Please join us in your support of ALL animals in need. Thanks so very much!

Watch for the NEW designs very soon.

Robin

Wool Applique and Freezer Paper

2011-02-09T08:29:00.001-08:00

In our Newsletter today we are featuring designs to remind us that spring is coming – a well deserved treat for all of you still in the deep freeze!

Our Posy Pin Cushions are in the Newsletter and all three are fun and easy to make. Each of the pin cushions features a bold flower appliquéd on an olive green wool with a large window pane pattern. Fill with wool fleece around the Blanket Stitched edge and add Crushed Walnut Shells in the center for weight. Using Freezer Paper to make each of the pattern templates make creating Wool Appliqué so enjoyable. Just print the pattern illustrations in your package on Freezer Paper (shiny side down) with your copier.

You can, also, trace the designs on the Freezer Paper (shiny side down) instead of using your printer.

Cut out your pattern piece just outside the printed or traced line. Iron the pattern template (shiny side down) on your wool. Now you can cut out the petal on the printed line. The Freezer Paper give great stability to your wool and makes cutting shapes so EASY. All the Freezer Paper templates are reusable for a few times – until they get too fuzzy to stick!

Enjoy creating fun Wool Appliqué designs. Wool is so forgiving to work with and adding the simple embroidery stitches to appliqué is fun and easy.

Embroider Quilts in the Garden

2011-02-08T04:42:00.001-08:00

A whole long time ago I posted a new design I was stitching – Quilts in the Garden. It is finished and available as a pattern for you to stitch up in hopes that spring will be coming soon!

Three pretty quilts hanging out on a clothesline for display to everyone to admire. Embroider with Turkey Red #8 Perle cotton RedWork on muslin. Frame your piece or make into a nice long pillow for your favorite stitching chair.

I took 3 of the small designs in the quilts and in the garden and added the little embroidered patches to a pillow. One of the quilts has been made into a pin cushion to add to your sewing basket.

Spring will eventually get here and warm us up but you can enjoy a spring-like design to stitch now and be ready when the bulbs peek out of the ground.

BIG Game Day Sale – Today ONLY

2011-02-06T05:54:00.001-08:00

In case you are not a big fan of football on TV, you can shop with Bird Brain Designs online today and SAVE 10% on everything!

Save even more if you order more than $100. Then you also receive FREE shipping. Plus we will tuck one of our handy and colorful tote bags.

Use our bag when shopping or carry your latest project in it. Roomy and easy to carry whatever you need.

Enjoy a shopping spree with Bird Brain Designs and save some cash today ONLY!

NEW Valentine RedWork for you

2011-01-09T05:07:00.001-08:00

Our Loving Hearts RedWork Valentine is NEW and ready for you to embroider and be ready for happy Valentine’s Day coming up.

Quickly embroider these pretty hearts and flowers with messages to tell your valentine how you feel about them in your life! Easy to finish in a ready made frame or you can create pillows and sachets for your friends and family. Our models were stitched in Turkey Red #8 Perle Cotton on our Heavy Weight Muslin….both embroidery goodies all RedWork gals need in their stash!

Hearts are always a popular embroidery these for ANY time of year. This pattern will become one of your favorites to own and use to create gifts all through the year. Enjoy this new one!

NEW! RedWork Stitch Sampler

2011-01-08T05:35:00.001-08:00

Our NEW RedWork Stitch Sampler is now finished and ready to come to your house. Learn or practice 18 popular embroidery stitches on a handy reference wall quilt. Our Sampler and Pin Cushion have a couple of very sweet glass Ladybug beads added.Have some fun stitching your Sampler and then place it in your sewing room to use as you enjoy your time doing embroidery. The handy little Sampler Pin Cushion can tuck into your sewing basket and travel with you as a stitch guide during classes and workshops. Stitched with Turkey Red DMC #8 Perle Cotton on our Heavy Weight Muslin. White muslin would be great too!

Have a great and relaxing time stitching your Sampler. The instructions include detailed stitch diagrams to assist you!

Last Day for our 15% off SALE

2011-01-07T03:29:00.001-08:00

Make a date with our website www.BirdBrainDesigns.net and visit all the categories we have. Everything you find will have a sale price of 15% off.

A photo of our collection of Vintage Tea Towels with 4 colorful stripes you can order at 15% off.

Time to save some money to start 2011. You will be able to get more of the goodies you want. We are very pleased to thank ALL of our faithful needle workers with Special Prices as a small appreciation gift.

Have a great time today on your Bird Brain shopping adventure!

Enjoy our 15% OFF everything SALE

2011-01-03T15:56:00.001-08:00

Check out our website and enjoy 15% OFF anything and everything. Have a fun shopping trip and save some cash too. (That way you put get more goodies for you in the shopping cart!)

Hearts, flowers plus the ever popular tea towel will make a great Valentine gift for someone special in your life. This is our NEW RedWork design, Hearts & Flowers Tea Towels, now available for you to get kicking on your Valentine gift stitching! Have some fun and save too.

It is Snowing In Kelseyville!

2011-01-01T08:48:00.001-08:00

OK, yesterday I was finished with the snow and rain with a preview of our new ‘Quilts in the Garden’ design.
Happy New Year to us – it is snowing in Kelseyville!

A doe walks by my back fence (on the right under the deck corner) wondering what is going on here. A very interesting way to begin 2011. We get a dusting of snow once in awhile but this is now over 2” and still coming down! I plan to stay home today and embroider some new stuff….no shoveling for me. All nice to see from my favorite stitching chair next to the fireplace.

Happy New Year’s Day to all of you out there.

Preview NEW RedWork Embroidery

2010-12-30T04:50:00.001-08:00

Enough with the rain and snow!! I am looking forward to having some lovely sun in the garden to dry things up around here. At least we are NOT shoveling snow around Clear Lake. However, Tina and Kendall have a dusting of snow again this morning up at Twisted Wire Ranch….nothing to stick around though.

Spring really will be coming and I have been working on a new RedWork design, Quilts in the Garden.

Here is a preview photo of the quilts design with the drawing at the top and my tracing on our Heavy Weight Muslin with a red Pigma marker. I haven’t put the design on fabric with Transfer-Eze yet as the design is not yet finally finished. Little changes will happen as the embroidery continues….fun! Watch for this one early in 2011 to chase away the winter blues.

Embroider a NEW Snowflake Freebie

2010-12-29T10:59:00.001-08:00

The snow is flying in record amounts from coast to coast! Stay inside warm and cozy – let someone else shovel the snow! Embroider our NEW Let It Snow! Tea Towel.

The new FREEBIE design, Let It Snow! is ready to print out and get stitching! Again, this design doesn’t take a long time to embroider. Relax and have a little time for yourself – Enjoy!

A NEW Version of Our Santa Freebie

2010-12-10T04:37:00.001-08:00

Our Gail here in the studio embroidered a NEW and Cute version of our December Santa Freebie tea towel. Around here RedWork rules and Gail loves doing it too.

Gail stitched Santa in RedWork with a festive green tree….very clever and so cute! Stitching Santa in just Turkey Red will be an even quicker way to embroider a bunch of the Santa tea towels for Christmas gifts. Have some fun. Print out the Freebie design and have a pleasant time for yourself during this oh so hectic time of year. Merry Christmas to you!

New Christmas Freebie for you

2010-12-01T15:46:00.001-08:00

It is now only 25 days to the BIG Christmas Day. Whip up a few tea towels or make ornaments with our December Freebie design. I embroidered Santa holding a mini Christmas tree on a Sage Green striped tea towel. He only took a couple of hours one night to complete. A hint for you to speed your embroidery. Thread a crewel embroidery needle for each of the colors in your design. You won’t always be pulling the thread out and changing color. This little cutie would make a great ornament too. Just do the embroidery on muslin and finish in your favorite way. FUN!

I used our handy dandy Transfer-Eze to print the Freebie Santa and finger press on our Dunroven House tea towel. The Freebie design can be put on your light box to trace directly onto the fabric – BUT – toweling is a little thicker and rougher than muslin. Using Transfer-Eze solves the problem. The smooth Transfer-Eze film put on your towel gives you a nice design line to see and a smooth surface to stitch on. Try one of the trial 8” x 11” sheets and try it for yourself. You will be converted.

Have fun making hostess gifts and don’t forget one for you too!
Happy getting ready for the big day and all the celebrations.

Halloween Sale–Save 15% on Autumn Items

2010-10-30T18:06:00.001-07:00

Get an Early Start to our Halloween Sale. This one day sale starts tomorrow, but our blog readers can start shopping NOW and SAVE 15% off everything in our Autumn category.

Click Here to Start Shopping

Heading to Quilt Show

2010-10-28T07:48:00.001-07:00

Lucy is locked and loaded so we hit the road today heading to Houston, Texas. The International Quilt Festival will open for a preview on Wednesday, November 3. Show opens Thursday

morning. We will be all set up and ready to welcome all of you to our spiffy booth 557, 559 and 561. See you soon!

www.Quilts.com for more details.

Wool Appliqué Fabrics

2010-10-24T05:24:00.001-07:00

I’ve been spending several hours getting the “wool rack” ready to load into Lucy and take to Houston’s Quilt Festival. Felting all our bolts of wool takes time but it is so beautiful to “play” with! I have been ripping fat 1/8ths to put on our rack so all the shoppers in Houston will have a great selection for their wool appliqué designs. There are a few cubbies to fill and then I can move to designing some new collections for spring. Remember, we have all our wool in any size you need on our website.

See lots of you folks in Houston soon. Visit our 3 spaces 557 – 561 and say hello! We haven’t been to Houston for a couple of years and are anxious to enjoy the festival and see old friends and make new one….see you soon.

Two RedWork Embroidery Leaflets

2010-10-21T17:01:00.001-07:00

After a few years, a couple RedWork Leaflets for holiday stitchery have been added to the website. It surely is about time to show them to all of you…better late than never!

Our pretty and graceful Herald Angel announces the coming JOY of Christmas. Her lacy dress has borders of stitching as well as her sleeve cuffs. Embroider your angel in white or natural muslin with Turkey Red #8 Perle Cotton.

Our Homespun Santa is also embroidered on your choice of muslin with DMC #498 Turkey Red Perle Cotton. A funny fellow to make into a pillow center or a cute small quilted hanging. Each of the leaflet designs has a low $2.00 price and the designs fit into an 8” x 10” frame. Fun and Fast to stitch!

Getting Ready for Houston

2010-10-20T13:13:00.001-07:00

We are making lots of stuff to bring to our booth in Houston. All of our 8” square Wool Stash packets were sold at PIQF so another batch are being made! The Ultimate Wool Stash of 40 beautiful colors is a great thing for wool appliqué lovers. All the felted wool 8” squares provide a wonderful place to go when you need just the right color just as soon as you want it. The ‘Stash’ is always popular and we expect lots of wooly types in Houston and we will be ready!

Pacific International was Super!

2010-10-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

The 2010 Pacific International Quilt Festival was really great this year. Everyone seemed to be in a festive and happy frame of mind. Lots of shoppers and lots of beautiful quilts on display. I took a photo of one of the BIG winners but in person it was just spectacular, my picture doesn’t do it justice. I am sorry to say I don’t remember how many fabrics are incorporated into this wonderful scene but it was over 200…amazing!

Now we are back in the studio regrouping for our trip to Houston in just a little over a week. Lots of fabric to cut, kits and patterns to make and then pack in Lucy to head east. We plan on a fun time at the show and after the show is over we are going to take our time coming home. We want to stop whenever and wherever we like. this will be our “vacation” for the year. See LOTS of you folks at the show!

Clydesdale Horses – Beautiful!

2010-10-11T06:52:00.001-07:00

As we arrived at the Pomona Fairplex last Tuesday night to set up for the quilt show, we found the fabulous Clydesdale Horses poking their BIG heads out of their barns….all looking for their dinner.Eight beautiful horses all picked for their similar coloring and a white blaze on their face. All eight are very friendly and sweet, easy to pet and talk to…and really BIG.

Of course the Dalmatian pooch, Brady, who rides on the HUGE wagon was at the horse barn too. He is frisky and cute trotting up and down the stalls to visit his horse friends.

The 8 horses have a couple of wonderful horse vans to carry them place to place. It is a custom 18 wheeler more like a limo than a horse trailer! The 3rd big rig carries their beer wagon. All the drivers and grooms were friendly and talkative telling us about their month at the Los Angeles County Fair that had just closed. The horses, of course, were a very popular attraction at the fair. We were so happy that is one of their California homes and we saw them!

NEW Freebie Trick or Treat Freebie

2010-10-02T04:27:00.001-07:00

We have a NEW Freebie for you to head off to some Halloween decorating. Embroider a dancing crow heading off to Trick or Treat to collect lots of goodies to put in the smiling pumpkin!Stitched on a Sage Green striped tea towel, this design stitched up in a very short time – really! All in one evening of TV shows.

Not to sound redundant, BUT, I used our great Transfer-Eze to transfer the crow design onto the towel. Tea towel fabric is heavy and harder to see through using a light box. Using Transfer-Eze will get you stitching quickly- just seconds- and be ready for your own Trick or Treating fun! Try a sheet and see how great it is.Get ready for your Happy Halloween and decorate your kitchen. The crow will be happy to dry your dishes!

QUICK Christmas Gift Idea

2010-09-29T05:03:00.001-07:00

I just stitched up one of our RedWork Ornament designs on a Flour Sack towel. It only took a couple of TV shows to embroider and I was finished. Using our small design motifs will get a bunch of holiday gifts ready in short order….have some fun getting ready too!

The designs, of course, are perfect for ornaments, too. Make goodies to add to your tree or tie an ornament on a special present for a special person this year.

We have the Flour Sack Towels on our web site I used to embroider the little Santa face. They are just like those from the “olden days” that the Days of the Week designs are stitched on. On our website, buy 6 towels and get the 7th FREE…have some holiday fun everybody!

Back from Portland, Oregon

2010-09-28T15:59:00.001-07:00

We had a great show in Portland showing off lots of fall and Christmas stuff. The shoppers were getting in the mood for all the fun times on the way! The booth looked great and we had a fun time. The weather was nice until we started home on Sunday….it didn’t matter except that our windshield wipers had a collapse. Spraying the glass with Rainex sort of works but wipers are better!

We are getting ready for Pomona and the Quilt, Craft and Sewing Expo in just a week. It is at the Fairplex October 7-9. Come see us there, please.

Leaving for Portland, Oregon

2010-09-20T12:47:00.001-07:00

We came home yesterday, Sunday, from the San Mateo show and repacked Lucy in the afternoon. We are just finishing up stuff here at the studio and will leave and head up I-5 to Portland, Oregon.

The NorthWest Quilting Expo was fun last year - our first time as a vendor. We have our normal bigger space this year and are looking forward to 3 busy days. We set up (the busiest 4th day) on Wednesday and are open for business Thursday – Saturday. Come visit! September 23, 24, 25.

We are bringing all our Christmas and Harvest designs for you to see. Here is one of our new favorites, The BOO Cat pin cushion and her companion Mouse Emery to sharpen your pins and needles. Fun and different for your sewing table!

Holiday Nine-Patch Finished

2010-09-11T10:57:00.001-07:00

The NEW RedWork Holiday Nine-Patch I was working on last week is now finished. I took the photo yesterday and had the instructions printed – it is to go!

Nine FUN holiday motifs are embroidered inside a border to help you decorate for the up coming (too quickly!) Christmas time. The nine-patch can be finished as a nice wall quilt as shown or you can make it into a pillow by filling the red and white backing. Either way it will look great and festive.

Fill up your Christmas tree by making each of the “patches” into a little ornament. Check out the NEW pattern in our Christmas Category on our website. Our Holiday Nine-Patch RedWork joins lots of other goodies you might like too!