Out and About

I did manage to get to the museum yesterday and drew a couple of pheasants. My favourite was the Silver Pheasant, simple black and white plumage with beautiful markings. I'd love to make a long etched plate of one of these birds. I've had to scan it over a few different pages and haven't quite managed to get him all in, but you get the idea!

Today I went back to Castle Espie. I got in contact with the staff a few weeks ago to ask if they had any specimens and they showed me to the attic where they have a secret stash of old, dusty birds. It was great!

View of Stangford Lough from Castle Espie.

Tomorrow I hope to get to the Belfast Print Workshop and finally join! I always get nervous when it comes to taking steps towards printmaking again, I love it, but it's such a wide area of possibilities it slightly daunts me. I think this is a good thing though!

By Request

My friend Kyoko of Rachel's Cabinet has requested a few photos of my surroundings here in Northern Ireland so I brought my camera with me today when I went for a walk along the coast at Crawfordsburn Country Park. I think she meant more photos of the suburb I live in, but I'll do that another day!

A lovely grey heron

On a good day you can see out to Scotland from here.

Pretty stalks

This is the mouth of Belfast Lough where all the boats come in from Scotland and England

New Fantail Brooches

I'm still making them! Here are a few new ones I have available until I send my order to my new stockist Mattt on Gertrude Street, Melbourne. I'm also looking for stockists in the UK and Ireland. If you're interested please send me an email at bridbird78[at!]hotmail.com.

The First Illustration

My mum, back in Northern Ireland, owns a successful coffee shop. It's called The Bay Tree. She has owned it for about 10 years now, and she worked in it for about ten years before that. She has built it up to what it is today, which is a very well known, very well regarded eating establishment! My brother and his wife also work there so it has become quite a family business. I feel a bit left out over here in Australia!

My part to play in the Bay Tree story is connected to The Bay Tree Books that my mum has written, well, she wrote one a few years ago, and is currently in the process of writing the second. They are cookbooks and are full of delicious recipes that she regularly uses in the coffee shop. My job is to illustrate the cookbooks and I've just completed my first of many illustrations for the new book. Here it is below.

It was made on my trusty print gocco machine, which I am still in love with!

So, if you are ever in Northern Ireland and feeling a bit peckish, I highly recommend The Bay Tree Coffee House and definitely try the famous cinnamon scones. These scones are so delicious people come from far and wide for a taste. Seriously.



Just thought that I should add that once the new Bay Tree Book is out I'll post the fact on here, it may not be until next christmas though. But my mum is thinking of going onto etsy to sell it to a wider audience. Maybe she should do that for the first one too? I'll mention it to her! Keep an eye out on my blog for it!