With a nod to the crazy Portland based Portlandia television series, I’ve decided to use a bird design to decorate my napkins. One episode made the suggested we “put a bird on it” to make most anything more inviting and I’ve noticed how many things look better, more interesting or just more fun if you do just put a bird on it. I wanted to make spring napkins so what better place to add a little song sparrow.
I chose this particular little bird because there’s one that visits all summer, sitting on the peak of the house next door and serenades us through our dinners on the deck. I’m pretty sure she may be the one that laid her eggs in my big ferns twice last summer. You can see why I have a fondness for her.
I got out my bird book, sketched my design on paper, then transferred it to my rubber block and carved the design. I was careful to “think negative” which doesn’t sound the least bit creative. What I mean is that wherever I cut away is where there will be light space. Unlike the sketch where my dark marks show the markings, eyes and feathers of the bird.
I wanted to print the little brown bird on blue fabric and I found this nice blue cotton. I cut 15” squares, stitched 1/4” around each piece, then tossed them in the washer and dryer with towels to fray the edges. After carefully printing my little birds in the corner, drying and pressing, I now have six new napkins to welcome my guests this spring. If you don’t want to carve your own bird I’ll bet you can find stamps and ink pads and stamp ready made napkins. Fun!
