Stitching "Practice Flights"

I ran across this old article by Karin Winter from the August/September 2008 issue of Quilting Arts magazine about pet portraits. 

I liked Karin's collage approach and thought I would try it for my Merging Visions entry this year. I quilted the background before I added the bird outlines and bird fabric. 

 I used colored pencils, paint sticks and marker to add shading.

I'll probably try this method again. It's very freeing and fast.

Backyard Experiment

DH has converted our former pool pump house into a chicken coop. 

The girls arrived a week ago. A Barred Rock, an Ameracana, a Rhode Island Red and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. They were hatched in late October so we don't expect eggs until April. 

We're still trying to figure each other out. 

Rusty is obsessed with the new smells and sounds. I don't think he will be allowed in the yard when the chickens are out of the coop. Sigh. 

I had hoped he could control himself.

I just planted a small garden of greens today. Swiss Charred, Collards and bib lettuce. The package says they are frost tolerant and should produce in 50 days. 

I can't wait.

Practice Flights

I've been busy with graphic design work lately and haven't had much time to sew.

I have managed to begin the piece I'm doing for the 2012 Merging Visions show. 

I'm trying a new raw-edge method for adding my birds. 

 

Rusty's friend Roady is spending the week with us while his humans are out of town. So far so good.