"Bib" Construction
Patricia, the artist and energy behind GoneNutz, has spent hours upon hours developing the present floor covering we call the "bib". Her love of her birds and their complete inclusion into the family life brought about the need to reduce the negatives of that relationship. To brighten an already brilliant affair!
The bib is truly an individually handcrafted piece of art that has the endurance to survive the daily pressures of maintaining some semblance of cleanliness and order in your home. As a Persian carpet, they offer you the pleasure of beauty and service!
Following several years of research and development, we have arrived at the current Bib/mat construction, offering aesthetics and serviceability. Both bibs, slotted and flat, utilize the same materials and construction methods, however to assist you in understanding how the bibs are constructed, I will focus on the slotted style Bib.
Photo 1 depicts the slotting that allows for ample caster room with reinforced circular cut outs and two under flaps, (shown in my hand) tuck under the center section and allow for total coverage and protection. The wings can be pulled out and away from the cage and the center section slips easily from under the cage for complete removal. The weight of the canvas and the design makes the mat virtually static. Walking and cleaning do not disturb its placement. Referring to photo 2, the flap that is stitched to the wing offers more weight and serves as an anchor when tucked under the main center section. With the wings in place, the mat offers total coverage. No spillage is allowed to penetrate the slots cut for easy removal.
Accurate measurements are crucial. The "footprint" of cage must be exact in order that the slots, the caster cut outs and the length of under flaps are not too large and any area of the floor is exposed. The mat is constructed in concise steps. The length and width of the mat are directly correlated to the footprint provided by you. We have found that a 12" buffer around the perimeter of the cage offers ample protection when your bird is on the side. Also, the measurement with the door open is extended 18" to easily catch droppings from door "sitters" Next the slots are constructed by first stitching them on an industrial machine and then steam pressing to give a sharp true edge. The under flaps are likewise stitched, steam pressed and then stitched again, with industrial thread, to the main body of the mat. All surfaces are then treated with an artist’s medium to allow the canvas to take the paint. The flaps, the body of the mat and the underside of the hem are all treated, thus allowing for water repellency and easy cleaning. The background paint is then applied and the characters are added last. Each step takes anywhere from an hour to three hours to dry. Finally the entire surface is treated with a non/toxic process to insure a smooth, watertight seal. Bibs are designed to catch droppings, fruits, vegetables and water. They are not designed to catch the seed from overzealous feeders.