Birds and Butterflies

Posted in Bouquet For a New Day, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I was very excited to begin the second side border of the Civil War Bride Quilt! When I start a border or a block, I never really have a clear picture in my mind of how it is going to look when it is finished. So I just start prepping pieces in colours that I think will work and audition them. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they don’t!

I love the bird….I love the butterflies. I just don’t love the way they look together. It just looks a little blah. I may change them, but I’ll wait until I add a few more pieces. Sometimes things have a way of growing on me once I add more pieces. I have a sneaking suspicion that because I used black and gray for the bird, the butterflies should be a bit more colorful.

So….I thought I would leave the butterflies alone for a while and audition some flowers to see if that helped…first a blue one…

…then a yellow one….

…and, finally a pink one.

I still wasn’t happy with the overall feel, so I made some new butterflies. Now, I love it!

Til next time….

Kerry

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Think Happy Spring Thoughts!

Posted in Civil War Bride Quilt, Hand-Applique Techniques, Uncategorized by Simple Bird Applique

I looked out the window this morning and this is what I saw! Yikes!

So, I thought I better get busy and think some Happy Spring Thoughts! The next block from The Civil War Bride inspired me to think Spring!

First, I started with the branches and a few little leaves.

Then I added more leaves.

…and some more!

Next, I added the bird’s feet and the underbelly of the bird. (If you let your imagination run wild, it looks like a folk art kind of bird…but just wait…!) I used Ultra-Suede for these tiny pieces because they are really….tiny! When using Ultra-Suede, I just cut out the pieces without adding a seam allowance and stitch it in place. Easy peasy!

Next came the rest of the bird.

Then, I auditioned a few nests. Should I choose Nest #1…….

….or Nest # 2?

Til next time….

Kerry