I've decided to sack the cartoon staff, although I love them I simply cannot be them anymore, as it's making me feel a slightly bonkers!.

Been raining here for about 2 months, non stop, which is good weather for staying in and making things, and I need to make loads!!   So today I have been mostly making button - and here for you, if your interested, is how it's done.

Print designs onto heat transfer paper and cut out.
Iron onto twill cotton fabric and cover the buttons!

I have also been printing my illustrations onto cards but am frustrated with the quality of recycled card - why is the printing so grainy??

Ah well, off to school now - in the rain with a supply of biscuits to help Vince home (hopefully avoiding any tired tantrums).

I will soon be doing a Give Away! so watch this space.

New shop!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/strangebloomdesigns?ref=seller_info

As Mike Yarwood used to say 'and this is me' - and then he would sing a cheesy song. I won't be singing today.
None of the usual staff of Strange Bird Designs are here today, that's why you have me.
I've been attempting some promotion this week, which I'm not good at, but I did get a wee write up in this indiequarter magazine which was exciting!

http://www.indiequarter.com/blog/2011/09/13/strange-bird-designs-2/

And I've opened a new shop! Selling buttons bags and zippy pencil cases - so far.
Next week I will be sewing sewing sewing which I am really looking forward too!

Bearwolf (Spadeflax) Johnson - Folk singing legend

     Too bittle my pretty Spotted Spadeflax

      Too bittle, too bittle

      Spade up for battle

      Undo your plots nettles

      Pull up ladies mantles

      And sew - the Spotted Spadeflax.

      Too bittle, too bittle

      Your salad’s too subtle

      Fettle your lentils

      Fill up your yottle

     And serve at the table

     A Bindle

     Too bittle, too bittle

     Empty tins rattle

     But I hear my spleen chortle

     Now bulgar’s for rental

     Spread lovely petals

     Through flowery portals

     Too bittle, too bittle my pretty.

Hey ho, Boris here, I'm thrilled to say that there's news here at Planet Strange Bird,  and a mid-century, knicker pink tinge of excitement has filled the office. 

Some time ago while I was researching for our Strange Bloom range I came across a reference  to an ancient folk song all about the Spadeflax bloom in a 16th Century cook book called
'Mable Muddlewaters Country Kitchen' which mentions the Spotted Spadeflax as being widely used in
a farm workers favourite sandwich filler - Bindle Salad.
The song was 'Too bittle my pretty spotted spadeflax"

The Bindle Salad was so delicious that a song was written in its honour and my Granny, Constance Clearwater says she can remember being lulled to sleep by it. 

Now if you think that's exciting, wait,  there's more. 

In the late 1950's the songs revival spread amongst the British beatnik poets, and it was adopted by the groovy folk singing legend -  Bearwolf Johnson who brought it back to life and his tune hit the pop charts at number 115! 

So here for the first time in ages we have the songs lyrics and a picture of  Bearwolf (Spadeflax) Johnson - as he was later known.
 love from Boris Beardy Snodgrass