Perhaps A Monarch Next?...

Butterflies of North America 

You may recall when I learned stumpwork from tutor, Owen Davies from The Royal School of Needlework. My project then was a Red Spotted Purple Butterfly. He chose to teach it because a contingency of tutors from the RSN had come to Kentucky for our classes, and that butterfly was Kentucky's state butterfly.

Before it was time for everyone to pack up and leave, Owen and a number of students went to a wonderful, local needlework shop together. While there, he helped me choose all the silk threads I would need to stitch a Monarch butterfly.

I've found myself thinking about Owen lately. He passed away a year after returning home to the UK from the states, so when I stitch my Monarch, it will be in his honor.

I'd been planning to start my fourth Seasonal Birds (goldfinches) next, but the idea of doing the butterfly won't leave me alone  I think I need to stitch it. 

What do you think? Goldfinches or a silk Monarch? Let me know in the comments.

 

I've Decided On The Next Big Project...

Bluebirds!

This photo is of the very first step of my process. I have a huge notebook, filled to the brim with nature images - inspiration for future projects. My next seasonal quilt will be the bluebirds. I pulled examples of the poses, subjects and colors I'll need for this piece, and will proceed from this starting point. 

First, I'll size the basic images I want to use to be comparable to the two quilts I've already completed...Song of Spring - Robins and Winter Song - Cardinals. This one will be called Summer Serenade - Bluebirds. Once I've chosen the poses and corrected for size, I'll work on the composition and lay it out on my musical notes background fabric. I intend to share the major steps in this process with you as I do them, but I'm sharing the first steps now.

At this point, I've chosen my colorways and will spend the next few hours just winding threads onto bobbins so they're easier to pull and strand when the stitching begins. It's really grunt work, but also very zen to just sit winding thread.

You will see other projects I start and complete while I also work on this, but this will be a long-term, fall/winter project until it's finished.

*** While most images I use are actual wildlife photos, I was so smitten with the mother feeding her babies by Marjolean Bastien that it ended up in my binder. Of course, I'll change some things, but I wanted to recognize the artist for that artwork.

When I get to working on the next phase, I'll take photos to share. As I said, winding bobbins is next on my agenda. Time to make a cuppa, turn on some good music, put up my feet, and get to it.

Happy Weekend!