A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Let Your Sewing Techniques Take Wing

Quilting Daily — Wed, 01 May 2013 06:12:33 GMT

The more closely I watch birds, the more fascinated I have become with trying to capture their colors and textures using fabric and stitchery . I have developed a design and sewing technique for "capturing the moment" in cloth and quilting stitches

Ideas for Handmade Quilted Gifts

Quilting Daily — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:54:25 GMT

If you're looking for some ideas for handmade quilted gifts , I want to remind you of three of my favorites. Two are make-in-day projects. One is a little more involved, but worth the time, I think.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

sabknits — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:03:03 GMT

I love my backyard "pets" - they'll eat almost anything I put out for them and I don't have to clean up after them! To date we've logged 28 different varieties in our yard, including a pileated woodpecker, and their antics provide countless hours of amusement to my family and me.

I've always been a cat person, so for me to make the swing to birds is quite remarkable! I started using bird images in my mixed media work about a year ago, well after the "crow" themed mania began. I've collected quite a few bird rubber stamps, all 'natural' looking, which is my main criteria. I love the different bird colors, but their shapes are captivating to me - the stiff backed blue jay, the round bellied Carolina wren, the elegant head of the nuthatch. I'm planning a series of bird related projects this year and will add your article to my technique folder. Thanks so much for sharing!

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Vivika DeNegre — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:43:35 GMT

My goodness, so many people use birds in their quilts! I wish we could see them all here. To answer a few questions:

*I don't use fusible because I don't want to waste fabric. Small amounts of white glue (actually, just a few drops) work fine for me. However, if fusible is your glue of choice, then go for it!

*I am sure that there are copyright issues with some coloring books, and I would suggest tracing only copyright free images. I believe Dover publishes books for that purpose.

*Yes, I've seen the Portlandia video "Put a bird on it!" and it has become one of my favorite sayings...

Thank you all for your kind words of welcome!

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Donna McDade — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:52:32 GMT

My birds:

1. Folk art turkey with men's ties for tail

2. Hauty broderie perse bird with "Mother-in-law" embroidered around it and the wide border in heavily embroidered crazy quilting

3. Full size of my conure (think big parakeet) with some of her real feathers. (Originally was named Picasso, but when 'he' laid 3 eggs the name was changed to Polly.)

4. A white peacock where the eyes of the tail feathers are folded white roses.

5. My own paper pieced patterns of hen, rooster and egg.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Asian Art And Quilts — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:10:33 GMT

I do , I do ! I sure to use birds,often in a garden setting or an Asian like setting, like; birds on a cherry blossom branch.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Asian Art And Quilts — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:10:27 GMT

I do , I do ! I sure to use birds,often in a garden setting or an Asian like setting, like; birds on a cherry blossom branch.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

grannypat1112 — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:36:00 GMT

I love this idea, especially with cold winter days coming.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

pat p. — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 23:30:39 GMT

I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed your step by step to arrive at this wonderful bird! Up until now my birds have been rather whimsical unless embroidered by hand. This is just what I had in mind for a more realistic look. Thanks so much for the information,I will be putting it to good use! The backyard inhabitants here in central Indiana are Cardinal,Goldfinch,Oriole,a few varieties of Woodpecker , Robins and if I'm very lucky Bluebirds and an awesome pair of some type of water Cranes that like the stream in the cow pasture. I sit on the porch swing with my binoculars and stare, wishing I had any talent at all as a photographer! C'mon Spring!!

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Riverlovr — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:47:22 GMT

Vivika,

Congratulations on your new role as editor! I've enjoyed your seeing your work on your blog and hope we'll see more of it.

I love birds, and did use them frequently in my work until last year . . . that's when the new TV series "Portlandia" premiered (which is very popular here in Oregon!). In one episode, a character quips "Put a bird on it, and call it 'art'!" and that made me hyper-aware of the popularity of bird motifs everywhere and on everything. While I still love birds (and occasionally still use them in my work), I can't help repeating "Put a bird on it!" whenever I see that familiar silhouette. Here's the clip: www.youtube.com/watch

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

jmarie — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:42:00 GMT

Is there not a copyright infringement using traced images from coloring books?

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

Mary Herold — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:32:46 GMT

Quiltfox asks why don't you use fusible web instead of glue? I am axious to try this. I personally love hummingbirds, chickadees, and cardinals.

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

bryerpatch — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:20:10 GMT

Hi Vivika,

Thanks for posting your bird quilts. LOVE those song birds, expecially in the winter. My most recent bird quilt is a Yellow-billed Hornbill I photographed in South Africa 11 years ago. You can see it at:

www.bryerpatch.com/.../YellowbilledHornbill.htm

Happy New Year

Caryl Bryer Fallert

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

KristinF@7 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:13:41 GMT

Using birds in my work is, it seems, where I naturally head with my ideas. I always have a camera at the ready for quick shots of a flicker who visits my yard and the collection of little nuthatches and chickadees who flutter into the yard year round. A walk just blocks from my home is along the flyway for migrating birds...always someone in traveling through. Then I sketch from my photos and finally dig through the stash for just the perfect fabrics...or I get out the dye-pot and make that perfect piece to make my birds dome to life in an art-quilt. Nice to have you at the helm! Looking forward to your writing ....Kristin

re: A Gift of Nature in Fabric and Embroidery

artistic — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:58:51 GMT

Welcome! What a wonderful way to start the New Year! I use birds in just about everything I create in Art Quilts. You can see some examples of my work, by visiting my new website: Gingham Leaf Designs.com and opening the 'Just for Fun' tab.