Southwest Bird

I called this small quilt (24" x 24") Southwest Bird.  It's not a recent finish, but it is one of my favorites.  The interior red fabric is recycled wool, given to me by a friend. It was too scratchy to use as a blanket, but after repeated washings softened up nicely for the background of this quilt.  After adding some special ribbons made from velvet and wool, rick rack and embroidery stitches to the background, I researched old petroglyph bird patterns and settled on this shape for the bird.

 It is of course my interpretation, but the flavor is there.  Birds where a favorite with the native people in this area and I hope to do more.  The embroidery on the bird, taking artistic liberty with details, was lots of fun to do.  It's hard to decide what to do exactly, but once I get going, it seems to tell me what's needed.  The sun added a real southwest flavor, as well as the border print that I happened to have in my collection of southwest fabrics.  It is a quilting cotton, and goes perfectly I think.  

Lots of tiny quilting later, and voila, you see the results.  Look for more birds soon!

thanks for stopping by,

Nicole