Tuesday, July 7, 2009

THE MAKING OF THE SANDHILL CRANE -



If you saw my post yesterday, you saw the photo of the juvenile sandhill crane, taken by my friend Mary Jane, in FLorida. This is a photocopy, with the outlines I used to make the pattern.













I took it to Kinko's, and enlarged it to about 14" x 21", and used it to trace my image onto fusible. Although Bob gave me a light box, I like using my back door when I trace bigger projects.

Using the mirror image, I traced it onto the sticky side of a one-sided fusible. I used a fusible by Pellon, which has cotton on one side. 












Next, I constructed the background, and used it for more practice on my free-motion machine quilting.














Then I placed the fusible on the background. Sometimes I use double sided fusible for my birds, but this also worked fine.










 
I applied the legs, feet,  and his flip-flops.














Then, the cap and facial features, with a perfect bead for his eye.

















Here, the fun begins, applying the feathers one by one.





                                                                                          






More feathers, hundreds of them. I used all sorts of fabrics, including silk, copper mesh, brass mesh, many different textures. 











When I decided to add the fishing pole, I had to add a wing to cover it. The scarf went on last. 

I did some additional thread painting on the background. I may do a few more finishing touches, then he's off!  













2 comments:

  1. This is the quiltest quilt! Are you entering it into the state fair?

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  2. He turned out great! I can hardly wait until I have the time to create like that.

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