Friday 19 March 2010

A Lesson in Ornithology

Probably the most surprising thing to have come out of my little felty business is my new found love of birds. I am amazed how much I am learning and am always on the look out for new birds to sculpt. My stack of vintage bird books is getting pretty big now!
Pay close attention now!

Who knew that this city gal would ever know that there was a difference between an American goldfinch and a British one? my inspiration file is getting really big now I think I need to quit my job to make all these guys!My current favourite is the Tufted Titmouse... now we don't get these in the UK so I always thought a Titmouse was some kind of... well... mouse! Then I found a book called "why birds sing" from the 30's with a chapter called the circuit of the titmice! Well wasn't I wrong... having spent several housrs googling the Titmouse and going aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw and squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee... I made one... I made 2! lol I love them so much!
I'd love to hear your suggestions of what I should make next... what's your favourite bird?

So we're not mice then? Who knew?

12 comments:

Unknown said...

What about a chicken? You've already done a cock!

M.M.E. said...

I'm not sure if you've done it, but the magpie is always my favorite bird.

Theresa MacNaughton said...

Oh my goodness, he is just WAY too cute!!!! You do such a great job with all your little birdies (and our Puffin is very well-loved here). Have you done a chickadee yet? Or a raven or magpie?
Have a wonderful weekend! Theresa

camelama said...

Oh, these are adorable!

I wonder if you could do a Northern Flicker. They're not little brown jobbies, they're pretty hefty birds and elongated - in the woodpecker family.

Ooo! Or a nuthatch! Those are fun to watch feed, and move about on trees.

Or a bushtit! They come through my yard in a gang of about 20 to 40, take over the feeders, and then move on. The cat goes NUTS watching them through the living room window. "So! many! little! moving! birds!" :)

Claire said...

You've already done my favourite - blue tits! I just love the little round bodies, the way they bob around and the colouring. Though I'm also very fond of long-tailed tits...

Robin Andreae said...

I agree bushtits are really cute :-). How about an indigo bunting? or maybe a painted bunting? They're really colorful.

Lizzie said...

Love the Titmouses (not "mice" surely?)!
How about a Goldcrest? Or a Reed Bunting? We have a pair of these visiting our garden just now and they are so pretty.
Re. USA birds, have you tried one of their wonderful Cardinals yet - I saw one in the woodland behind our appartments, when I stayed a month in Fairfax,Virginia. It was so beautiful.

Chown Town said...

Felt, have you made a penguin? Ooo - what about a Bald Headed Eagle?

Laura said...

Puffin, parakeet, ostrich, kiwi!

Jille said...

Wow! You are so talented. All of them are my favourites.
Jille x

april brooks said...

I LOVE them!

Angela said...

What about one of these dudes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcn1N17-4ik&feature=watch_response

Long Tailed Tits. They are so cute, they always hang around in gangs of 3 or 4 and apparently when they roost at night they all cuddle up together to keep warm because they are so small. Aaaahhh!