byrd & belle {studio notes}

New Wool Tote

I'm beyond excited to let you know this is ready. Admittedly, I've been sitting with this project for too long. I first released images of this project quite a while ago and the response was surprising. Many of you asked for it but it needed refinement. Two major changes include its general body which is now gussetted to allow for your hand to more easily reach the bottom of the bag to retrieve errant pens & bits and also the addition of the leather on the bottom. I'm really happy with the final product but the thing I like most has nothing to do with the way it looks but rather the way if feels at my side. It has a nice weight to it. I hope you like it.

Find it here available in two colors.

ps. A sparrow flew into the studio yesterday. That's good luck, right?

 

New Workshop

 

Exciting news for me to share today.... I've moved into my new workshop.

This is the part where you say, "New workshop?  I don't remember hearing anything about a new workshop?  Did I miss a blog post or tweet that would have prepared me for such exciting news? "

No, you didn't.  I kept this one pretty well underwraps.  In part because I've never been good at talking about things in progress but also because the domino of things that had to happen to get here was longer than I wanted to explain mid-stream.  In a nutshell, byrd & belle out-grew our previous live/work space on Nicollet Island; it was no longer something that could be lived alongside.  We needed a new situation and we found what seems to have been the perfect situation a little farther up river in northeast Minneapolis:  a house with good bones, a big yard for our big dog and a new (but unfinished) space for byrd & belle.

Construction took 6 months of nights and weekends starting in January which is likely the least fun time to start a project in an unheated space in Minnesota.  My brother Scott and my Dad were very generous with their time, their advice and their tools.  I got to do things I'd drawn a million times when I used to work in architecture but hadn't actaully done (like electrical wiring... my inspector said I did a very good job for my first time).  And there is still more to be done.  I have plans to add more storage so I can bring in all my non-essential tools and materials but for now, I'm just happy to be here and I'm grateful to have had the oppurtunity to do this.  I feel very connected the space and I suppose it feels appropriate that as a maker, I also made the space I work in. 

 

Ok, I've got to get to work but follow me on twitter if you'd like to see more of the new space.

tiny tiny.

I made this tiny custom case for a customer today.  I took a video for him and figured I'd share.  I don't have time to do custom designs very often but this was an interesting little project so I took it as an opportunity to work out a few ideas.  He wanted a small wool/leather case that holds 10-15 mini moo cards and attached to a key ring.  I'm really liking the tiny seam allowance on this little case.  I think I should incorporate it into the simple ipad (and soon macbook air) sleeves.  Anyway, thought I'd share.. have a great weekend!  (p.s.  The wool looks blue but it just the late afternoon Minnesota light through my north-facing studio wall.  It's actually the same grey as the laptop sleeves)

 

Fast Company!

What do Lance Armstrong and I have in common... I mean besides an affinity for yellow?  We're both in Fast Company this month!  What?!  Yes, byrd & belle is in Fast Company!  Click here to view the article online.

I'm happy to be there and happy to be in good company.  See that clock on the wall?  That is from Keith Moore of Pilot Design who also happens to be from Minneapolis.  Keith and I are meeting for coffee later this week to discuss our good fortune... I'm not sure if Lance will be there.

japan gq

A byrd & belle ipad sleeve popped up in Japan GQ this month under the arm of its owner Mr. Jay Parkinson MD.  Jay is a pediatrician and preventative medicine specialist with a masters in public health and I've been following his blog and the blog of his venture The Future Well since we first (virtually) met earlier this year.  Check it out.

Also... I had 3 days of uninterrupted sewing this week and was able to get quite a few orders out early.  I've been able to cut the wait list down quite a bit:  2-3 weeks for laptop sleeves and 5-7 days for everything else.  That means that grey wool felt ipad sleeve with the brown leather strap above is now ready in 5-ish days rather than 4 weeks.

Thank you, Jay for sending this my way and for the great work you do.

an A and a B

A.  Have you noticed things are looking a little different around here?  Maybe you noticed that image at the top and a new and improved sidebar?  (Yep, one-third of number one... done-ish)  Also new is that I am now posting my Studio Calendar online which means when you place an order, you can keep tabs on me your order.  Judging by the action the last few days, this has been a popular addition to the blog.  I'm still thinking through ways to adjust it so if you are currently waiting for your order (and kudos to those who remained undaunted by that four-week wait for the dark grey cases) check it out.  It is also available in the sidebar... the new and improved sidebar.

 B.  I've been nominated for a Poppy in the category of 'Favourite Textile'.  Poppytalk is a Canadian blog (which explains the "favourite") that annually holds the Poppy awards for craftspeople and handmade mavens.  There are 12 different categories and below each ballot, there are links to the work of all the nominees.  Check it out.  It's an excellent way to find new people to follow and work to covet.... also, if you are so inclined, you could drop a vote my way.

I was in the New York Times tonight which is exciting and slightly surreal.  I've been meaning to stop and chat for a while but what with the pending holiday... my attention has been elsewhere.  I suppose now is a good time to stop and say hello.

There have been quite a few things I wanted to share... my first appearance in a real-life, hold in your hand, slick paper magazine and oh, I think I've decided on a new sewing machine for those of you privy that debocle last month.  My mom drove through that snow storm from Iowa last week to help me out but her sacrifice was mostly overshadowed by her insistence we listen to Christmas music while we worked (I had no choice but to escape into my headphones for some back episodes of the Radio Lab podcast).

Much has happened but probably most notable is that the one-year anniversary of my losing my job passed and I didn't really think about it until I had to go buy pens today.  In my adult life (at least since college), I had never bought pens... or post-its for that matter, or those pads of gridded paper I'm so found of.  These things always migrated home with me from the office.  But today, I bought my own pens.

www.byrdandbelle.com

Slowly but surely, I've been working up to launching a new site to make shopping even easier for all those who cringe at the idea of having to 'sign up' and create yet another username and password for yet another website.  Friends, I give you.....

www.byrdandbelle.com

I put it up quietly about a month ago and even without publication, it's been getting hits and sales and everything is rolling smoothly.  It is already reachable by using the Byrd & Belle button on the top of the side bar and although the coasters from Gertie Byrd aren't there yet, they will be soon-ish.   I will still maintain both of my shops with Etsy which has served me amazingly well over the past year, but I'm excited to have a retail site where I can control how it feels.  Take a look.

Phew.

It has been a busy week around here with little time left for blog updating but I wanted to take a few minutes to thank everyone who left messages and to answer a few of the questions that were asked last week about my space and my process.   

1.  Shelves:  Those great modular shelves behind me are a vintage Swedish set called the 'Bokhyllan Ladder Shelf'.  The set is actually one bay wider and about one foot taller than shown here but we're using the other shelves elsewhere.  I was given this set by a client I designed a whole-house remodel for a few years ago... quite a score.  They are extremely versatile, really well built with interesting and convenient connection hardware.  Its best feature is a box-like console that has a front that folds down into a writing surface and reveals dove-tailed drawers in the inside for keeping papers and small things organized.  The front folds back up and gets locked with a sweet little brass skeleton key.

2.  What is the bike that is in the photo?  It's called the 'Amsterdam'.  Made by Electra. 

3.  Where did I get the fabric for the 'Modern Furniture Pencil Pouches'?  I designed this print last spring for this pencil pounch.  I print it myself here in the studio on denim fabric.

4.  Why is your shop called 'Byrd & Belle'.  We have had our dog Gertrude for a few years but very soon after we adopted her, we started calling her 'Gertie Byrd', which soon was shortened to just 'Byrd'.  Belle is borrowed from Clara Belle who who was the oldest dog I ever knew.  A 14 year old beagle that came into my life a few years ago.  The two made an interesting pair in our house for about 6 months before Belle died; a 90-pound two year old and 14" tall, deaf 14 year old.

5.  A few people wanted to talk more about what I listen to in the studio.  I'll hit NPR throughout the day.... news, Morning Edition, Fresh Air.  I also listen to The Current which is a great Minneapolis Public Radio station for music which you can listen to online.  I will also listen to lectures on TED and listen to episodes of the Daily Show, Jimmy Fallon, Rescue Me, and such on Hulu.  If I have a project lasting more than 3 days, I'll start Arrested Development from the pilot and just let it play. 

6.  When are the new _________  going to be in the shop?  Hopefully, I'll have a little extra time in the coming weeks to get my new things completed and photographed.  For updates when things happen, check back here, sign-up for my email list, find me on Twitter or Facebook.

7.  What about this weeks giveaway?  I'll get something up on Tuesday-ish.

Featured Etsy Seller

Exciting Day!  Today (and tomorrow), I am the Featured Seller on the Etsy Front Page.  So to all those that check here often, thank you for your support and for those of you who are just finding me... Hello!

You can check out the front page write-up here.   

It has been a busy couple of weeks getting ready for this day and there are still about 5 unfinished projects on my desk that I should be about to get up tonight... er.. maybe tomorrow.  Here is one of them that did make it up.  It's the first in a series of shoulder bags that I will be doing.  You can see the full photos of this bag here.

If you'd like to be the first to know when the other bags go up, click the 'newsletter' button to the right and sign up and I'll send you a quick note. 

 

Coming to a store near you...

... that is, if you happen to live in Rhode Island.  I am happy to tell you that a variety of products from Byrd & Belle will now be available at 'Modern Printed Matter'.  Laptop sleeves, gadget cases, pencil pouches, eyeglasses cases and a varitey of coasters from Gertie Byrd will be in stock in September. Check out shopkeeper Anna's fantastic work in her etsy shop. 

Gertie Byrd!

The second shop from Byrd & Belle has launched!  I give you Gertie Byrd.  Due to the popularity of the Central Park Coasters, we've launched an entire series.  Where have you been?

byrd & belle gets noticed

A customer was kind enough to point out to me that he found me through a blog called 'The MId-century Modernist'.  Imagine my surprise when I shamelessly googled to see where else byrd & belle was showing up.  

Mid-Century Modernist

Grassroots Modern

Prairie Mod

All three of these are great blogs and if you enjoy mid-century anything, you should check them out.