Spent a wonderful day at Valley Green with some of my students. After a short hike we spent some time talking about what Public Art is or could be. I engaged their assistance in hanging a group of birds I’d been holding. At the end of our trip I was happy to find one of my students wrapping stones he liked in leaves, leaving them along the path “for people to find”… after a short discussion he gathered leaves and stitched them together for “public art” and ran to hide it before we took off. Proud teacher moment!

Hope they bring a little cheer to someone… get in touch if you found one!

If the weather is as beautiful this weekend, as it is right now, I’ll be out doing my thing…

I’m over half way through my first year as a “real” art teacher in a North Philadelphia private school. In addition to teaching art classes; I do tutoring, emotional support & one-on-one, as well as some anti-bullying activities and mini-workshops with kids who need some help with socializing. I say all that to explain what could look like hibernation… it’s not.

I should get started with some of these birds though… nicer weather will be here sooner than I can plan for.

I’ll be sending out some of my completed embroidered birds… will post hints once they’re out there. Hope you find one!

Today there’s a steady breeze, bright blue sky, and a bright sun to dry up the soggy streets. We had some serious flooding in the area but they’ve reopened some bridges and roads again. I’m not sure if this weather is going to last so I’m going to hold off on hanging my birds outside, where inside is the question…

The first group of birds were all taken from the tree in front of the Chestnut Hill Coffee Co., on Germantown Avenue, in Chestnut Hill. I had pointed them out to a couple of friends, and a couple were taken by strangers. I’m pleased with the response I’ve gotten when discussing the project and I think it’s had a good start. Hope to see some increased communication with the next batch, they’re very intricate than the hand drawn and colored Bright Birds.

See you on the streets!

Some of the detail from the next group of birds…

I woke up to soft rain, my window wide open, and the breeze finally making its way into my room. The sound of fast falling little drops on leaves and birds calling to one another was enough to spin me into an early morning sentimentality. Outside there is a soft calm everywhere except the bird feeders; they fly off, circle, and return to chase and chatter at each other. The rich green of the leaves and grass fill the view from my window and make me want to spend the day sitting here.

I made a rainy day jazz playlist so the moment can be more complete. I couldn’t help myself.

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I spent most of my weekend so far in front of a sewing machine. These next round of birds, made from dye scraps, are hand embroidered with colorful threads. The process is more time consuming than I expected but satisfying. The patterns happen as I work, allowing me to loosen up.

The previous batch of birds were hand drawn and colored onto white fabric, sewn, and drawn onto after stuffing. This time the colors and marks present save me the time of laying in base colors.

Very excited about this group and already thinking of the next group!

“I found one… I was a little apprehensive about bringing one home. I wasn’t sure if the artist had intended them to be taken or not. Eventually my curiosity got the better of me and I just had to have a closer look. I’m glad I did because these birds were very beautifully made and this was a great idea for both street art and treasure hunting! Where and when can I find more?! :)”

I’ll be planning, hiding more, and posting photos and clues soon! Thanks for getting touch, I’m glad you took one and got in touch!