The Artful Bird: Fanciful Feathered Friends to Make + Sew

Have not used ideas in this book as of yet but, I have a couple (birds) I am planning on trying to create in the near future based on it. Bottom line this book provides the artists path in her creations to the reader complete with pictures. I thought her friends were unique and kind of quirky and I liked that. Glad I bought the book. Shipping from the seller was super fast and description was accurate.

I love birds, love them and could not wait to get my hands on this book as I have admired the art of Abigail Glassenberg for some time!!!!! I have created stuffed dolls and work in many mediums but always wanted to take my personal sketches and create them in sculpted forms. What I like about this book is the many different projects the author/artist has in the book and the breakdown of the process of creating these beautiful birds. A valuable part of the book for me was the "anatomy of a bird" with very detailed explanation of the bird body. I understand the "underbody" and "gusset" and how important that is to make birds with great form. There are many tips and suggestions on how to do basic construction of the bird along with encouragement to think outside the box. The best advise I think she gives is to take inspiration from this book and to come up with your own pattern and creation that is unique and your true original, that is awesome! While I plan to make many of the birds in this book, I also plan to make my own patterns and birds from my personal sketches and ideas and do just that. She also has some of my other favorite artists in her book like Ann Wood and Abigail Brown both whose artwork I have admired and also purchased. If there were more stars to rate this book, I would have added them all!!! Thank you Abigail for a AWESOME book and being such a great teacher encouraging your students like me!!!!!!

I had this book in my wish list for 2 years before finally breaking down and buying it. I was slightly disappointed in what I found in the book. The bird pattern on the front of the book is the best one. All the others are not cute, but more artsy. Previewing the book did not prepare me for this. Also, the artist uses, in my opinion, the ugliest wing decoration technique on EVERY bird. I would have liked to see more finished patterns in the style on the front. I would have even been satisfied if she'd used a different technique on any of the other birds. She didn't. So this book wasn't as visually appealing as I had hoped. I still haven't made anything from the book, but from the directions for the birds, I can see it not being an issue to follow a pattern. I hope to have time to squeeze in a bird or two soon. I will update my review once I make one. I gave the book four stars because it was a great resource and each pattern was well illustrated with awesome tips and tricks. The missing star is for the bait and switch by the publishers. They knew her wing technique was ugly, which is why they chose the only bird that didn't use that technique for the front (which led me to believe there were more birds with that technique in the book).

This is a really neat book. Not for the faint of heart, as some of these birds are quite involved to make. Good sewing skills and experience are a must, otherwise you'll find these pretty overwhelming to make. The patterns as they are drawn make birds that are a little on the small side, but the templates, when scaled up on a photocopier, make for absolutely breathtaking birds. Many are quite lifelike, with that touch of whimsey.These birds are purely DECORATIVE, or sculptural. Many or most have wire frames inside, so they are definetly not toys. They would make good stage props, if made with fabrics that will hold up to that kind of wear and tear.

Loved patterns don't need to be enlarged, and are included! Instructions include pictures, which was great, the legs were a little challenging! Used 16 gauge florist wire for this birds legs.

when I saw this book I got really excited - such beautiful work, and patterns to make it possible! I haven't made a bird yet, as I'm waiting till I'm finished some other projects...but it's at the back of my mind a lot. I'm definitely inspired! And I love that she says to take the book, use it, and develop your own birds. I'll start with a basic bird, but one day I must attempt that flamingo! Appreciated her introduction to other bird artists - I went to check out Anne Wood's blog and ended up making cardboard horses and paper mache boats!

I like this book but was very disappointed that the patterns were so difficult to use. I had to go to the closest printer (over an hour and a half from me). Several of the bird pattern pieces are supposed to be printed the size they appear in the book and most others were to be enlarged (confusing if you happen to miss that notation in the book). It was alot of extra work and money to fool with copying these patterns just to be ready to use the book. I had to copy each book page three or four times in different orientations just to get all the pieces to make each bird. A waste of time and paper in an increasingly eco-conscious society. I would have appreciated a book with the patterns provided in full, usable size included for the price of the book. The author and publisher could have easily printed the full-sized patterns on perforated pages in the back of the book, a single-sided page for each pattern so I could have detached them and cut them out. I was delayed in getting started on any projects by at least two weeks because I live in a rural area and could not get to a printer easily. By the time I got my pattern pieces copied, cut out and home I was not nearly so keen to make the birds anymore. Please think of your end-user and be more user-friendly in your publishing decisions.

This is a great guide for making artful birds that require experience and knowledge about sewing. It is not a simple craft book. The techniques are unique and effective for creating texture and realism. The results are wonderful which is what counts. So, go forward, take your time, read carefully and delight in the outcome.

Très joli livre de travaux manuels. Reçu à la date prévue dans un emballage correct le livrevetait bien protégé. MERCI

Great instructions.

This book is quite delightful.The instructions are very easy to follow and easy to adapt to your own designs.I am an experienced quilter and consequently have a huge range of fabrics crying out to be used for the projects in this book. I am also a keen ornithologist and enjoy encouraging my grandchildren to appreciate the birds around them. I have plans to make them each their own bird.

自立する小鳥を作ることができます。小鳥はどんな配色でされても、作り手の感じの出ているものが作れるので、いろんなデコも含めて、ぜひ楽しんで頂ければと思います。最初はまずほんのとおりにやってみることをお勧めします。何羽かお作りになればわかってくることや自分仕様に工夫してみたいことが沢山（初心者でもだんだん型紙の理屈など理解出来ました）、ぜひご自分のパターンで可愛らしい小鳥を作ってみて下さい。

I love all ideas bird related