Handin' it Over: Annabelle Crowe, Guest Blogger

Hello there! Annabelle speaking. My mother's blog is today's stop on the blog tour for Abby Glassenberg's new book, The Artful Bird. On each page of this intriguing book, cocky little birds grab at your attention, while the majestic owl with the wise eyes simply radiates awe. The earnest penguin grows a bit shy at so much attention. Whatever their attitude, each bird has a very distinct personality, an almost tangible story. In short, fascinating.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing this extremely talented woman! Below is our virtual chat.

Annabelle: What is your favorite type of bird?

Abby: I don't know that I have a favorite bird overall, but among the birds featured in the book I like the penguin the best. He was the very last bird I made after 8 months of solid work and when he was finished I just felt so pleased with his expression. He is looking down at his feet and I am well-known for always looking down at my feet. I have missed many cool things because I am always looking down (including nude men on a nude beach on Cape Cod), but then again, I've also found many cool things that other people missed (including several $20 bill over the years). Me and that penguin, we're two of a kind.

Annabelle: How do you learn about what the birds look like before you make them? Do you use the internet? Bird watch?

Abby: I have the Sibley's Guide to Birds on my desk, among other bird and nature reference books, and I use those when I am making sketches for a new bird design. I don't think the birds I make are an attempt at realism, though. They have recognizable features, for sure, but they are my artistic interpretation of a particular species of bird. In no way am I attempting to create a real scale model. I kind of like to use an imaginative set of colors and textures for fabric birds.

Annabelle: Where do you get vintage fabrics?

Abby: I live in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where one Saturday each year all the big church's in town hold rummage sales. It is a crazy day for me! I go from church to church and I have the most fabulous time. I always head straight to the linens and I check out the holiday section, too, because that is often where miscellaneous craft supplies end up. I have found and bought the scrap bags of many church women who, for one reason or another, no longer sew. I even found an amazing box of vintage feedsack at our town dump's take-it-or-leave-it section recently. Finding vintage fabric that costs only pennies, or is entirely free, is like winning the lottery. I just get so much joy from giving all that material new life.

Annabelle: What was the first bird you made? Why/when did you start making birds?

Abby: I had a show at the local library about three years ago. At that time I was making all kinds of stuffed animals. I made over fifty finished pieces for the show, including three long-legged birds. Those were the first birds I ever made. It's funny because the long-legged wading birds are among the hardest birds to balance. I find them frustrating at times, even after so many years of bird-making. I guess I like the start with a challenge! The long-legged birds in the library show got a really warm reception from everyone who walked by the display cases. I had them set up to look like they were standing in a marsh full of reeds, like in a display in a natural history museum. Seeing them there and watching people's reaction spurred me on to explore fabric birds in earnest for the next several years.

Annabelle: Do you have any advice for aspiring fabric artists?

Abby: Don't be afraid to make your own patterns! If you have an idea for a bird or animal that you'd like to make, don't feel like you have to find a published pattern, either in a book or on the web, in order to make it. You can draft a pattern and do it yourself! In The Artful Bird I give some tips and techniques to help you draft your own, original patterns for fabric birds and I'm doing a series on my blog right now that explores the basic elements of soft toy design. So get out some paper and pencil and see if you can draw out your very own pattern. It might not work the first time, but you'll learn so much along the way and when you do finally figure out a pattern that works, you will be so proud of yourself!

Thanks, Abby!