Robin has been stitching in some form for nearly 45 years (amazing to think about). Embroidery became a part of her life when she was fired - HA, try that these days - because she was pregnant!  What else could a creative person do with all that free time but embroider anything that didn't move while waiting for her son, Jeffrey, to arrive.  Now he is the very clever web designer/master for Bird Brain Designs and many other companies.

After teaching crewel embroidery at a local store in Davis, California, and selling supplies to students from a wicker basket in the back of my station wagon, Robin opened The Sampler with a needlepointing partner.  At a trade show she met folks who produced needlework kits and soon was asked to move to Pennsylvania with two young children. After many years "in the industry" the kids were grown and flew the coop and Robin moved home to Sonoma, California.

The three sisters, Linda, Tina and Robin opened a gift shop in town called "Three Sisters"
The three had a wonderful time for 6 years and closed the store in June, 2002 because Linda needs operations to replace a hip and two knees. Whew! She has had a hip and one knee replaced so far and can now walk again. We have a new "bionic" sister!

Bird*Brain*Designs was launched when Robin was asked to design a felt table rug and stocking for Better Homes and Gardens. With the discovery of how wonderful Penny Rug Appliqué is Robin designing lots of other things - Bird*Brain*Designs was born. Soon many new Redwork Designs, Needle Felting, Leaflets along with Wool, Wool Roving, Perle Cotton Floss and assorted stitching accessories were added as the website and shows grew.  Now the "Birds", as they are known, hit the road and travel to quilt shows up and down the west coast and farther east to Texas.  FUN, BUSY and EXHAUSTING too. 

The Studio is a busy place always in motion.  It is on the third floor of Robin's home in Kelseyville, California.  The wall of windows looks out on a panoramic view of Clear Lake, California's largest natural lake.  From the front door you look up at Mt. Konocti, an extinct volcano last erupting 10,000 years ago....lets keep it that way!  The view is beautiful, the weather great and the traffic small.  Lake County is a super place to live and work.

Mackenzie and Campbell are special furry folks in the studio and on the road.  They go everywhere the "Birds" go.  Many of you have already met the 2 frisky wire fox terriers.  Mackenzie is the mom and Campbell is one of her children.  The dogs travel in style to all the quilt shows in a BIG motor home with a garage on the back.  They spend their days at work checking on visitors like Scott, the UPS man and any and all other visitors.  Everyone is welcome in their Studio!  The rest of their day "at work" is spent moving from one bed to another under all the work tables to continue their dreams of designing.

Tina, is the Keeper of the Coop running the business end of Bird*Brain*Designs. Tina has become a designer, too, of wonderfully imaginative Needle Felting designs after so many years of saying she was not "crafty".  Now she is a professional felter with a posse of fans enjoying all her designs.  Very few folks can visualize the kind of critters she can create using wool roving and needle felting needle.  Bird Brain Designs offers patterns and complete kits so you can make your own critter pets like Tina's.

After trying many different wool roving brands, Tina has found a terrific source.  The colors are fabulous and the fibers are "just right" for Needle Felting.  The wool is blended with up to 4 coordinating shades giving color filled with pizazz.  Tina is a great advocate of using the right tools when enjoying your hand crafing hobby.  Single felting needles are always needed but she says using the Ultimate in Multi-Needle Felting tools will speed your creativity and add to your enjoyment.  These precision made tools are just the ticket!  Check out our Needle Felting Section to see all the wool roving, special foam, needles and our Ultimate in Multi-Needle Tools.

We hope you enjoy our stitching our stuff as much as we love designing it for you.
Let us know what you think - comments are appreciated!  We look forward to hearing from you.