Bird Postcard Process

Just another bird postcard.  But one different from any other I have made.

He is a quilt block pattern by Nadia Ridgeway of ellisandhiggs.com that I purchased on Etsy.

I redesigned him to be a paper pieced pattern, reduced in size for a postcard.

Here I show a peek into my process of changing a quilt block pattern into a paper pieced pattern that I can sew as a postcard.  Anything can be sewn from the pattern though.  I just happen to love sewing postcards.

Quite an involved process, but the work only needs doing once then the pattern is reusable infinitely after that.  I’m looking forward to a variety of bird colors with this pattern.

Abstract Bird Art

My painting is for the birds lately...literally.

I found a tutorial on how to paint an abstract bird on Pinterest.

https://pin.it/5dQpcQ9

I received a very nice gift of Prima Marketing watercolors for my birthday.  This set is Essence.  I wanted to give them a real try.

And here is my result.  Although I struggle to work correctly with watercolors, I am pretty pleased with my fuzzy bird result.  I used Vermilion Neocolor II crayon for his bright color beak and legs.  White and black acrylic paint for his eye and spots.

I left him this way for several days not knowing what to do with him until I was inspired to give him some ground to stand on.  Again I’m surprised to be pleased with this painting.  There is a strip of Washi tape at the top of the painted ground.

But my journal page remains like this as I don’t know what else to do for his background.

But I loved trying to paint him and wanted to do another.  This next one is a postcard size.  I added a defined wing with a portion of a flourish rubber stamp.

Still fun, so another postcard size.  I’ll decide what to add for greeting when I decide where he goes.

And then I thought I wanted a tag size bird.  With very long legs.  And I drew his wing.  That was brave of me!  This tag bird’s body was painted with Neocolor II crayons.  I found a YouTube tutorial on how to use the crayons like watercolors.

I outlined these smaller birds as they felt like they needed it.  After I do that I question whether they need it or not.  I still don’t know.

I used some gold watercolor paint to give their wings a bit of glitz.

I have had the best time painting abstract birds.  

Tweet, Tweet!

A Bird & Blooms

It looked much better in my mind than it does in reality.

  I'm going to re-visit this idea in the future to try to get closer to what I visualise in the ole noggin.

I printed off some fabric pieces and pulled some selvages.

One of the fabrics is a purchased print, the others are all printed with my printer.

I wanted a black and white background with subtle colors smattered throughout.  I think some of the printed fabrics are a bit too dark for my thread painted swirl flowers. I thought my selvages would work well for the smattering of color part and for the most part I am happy with that bit...with some improvement next time.

I sewed strips of the background fabrics and added selvages here and there and did fusible raw edge applique for my bird.

Then some thread painting for my swirl flowers.

This piece was to go into a frame that Dad made a while back, so I just stay-stitched the edges.

Oh for goodness sake, don't I ever dust my walking foot?!

That's a bit better.  I'm always telling myself I'll clean everything after this project.  Then I just start sending the new project through....I forget.

Anyway, for now and until I get a chance to play with this thought again, it is what it is.

Get ta stitchin'!

Annie