Published

 During all the unheaval of closing our store I was approached to do an article for the October 2013 Quilt Magazine!
They wanted it to be on my quilt "The Great Horned Owl".   I was honored and I just received my complimentary issue this morning.

 I am on the final page and I am thrilled  to be featured in this wonderful and popular Magazine.
My cup definitely runneth over this year!

I asked my studio cat, Watson, what he thought....he replied "That's Nice" but did not seem
overly excited. 

Owl Under the Needle

It is going to be many hours of quilting on this Great Horned Owl.   He does not look like he is enjoying it either.

The snow is coming down and coating all the trees again.  A good day to spend in the studio until shovel time.

Face Time

 I pick my background fabric and cut holes in it.  Then I fuse the yellow and black eye under the background fabric making sure he has the right expression.  In this case it is INTENSE!

 I add the brow......

Highlights to his hairdo..........

After trimming him up he goes onto his body.  Now I will do all the detail work on his face and around his eyes with thread. 

Wing

Working the wings.   This is harder than I thought and a bit scary but I think once all the layering is on and it is quilted it will look better.  the lighter section is not quilted yet and that will darken it a bit.  the other wing will overlap this one so there is a lot to come. 

Talon

 I had just enough time this morning, before leaving for work, to make the Owl's Talon and quilt that.   Then I added the furthest part of his chest that just sticks out a bit at the top and bottom under the wings. 

Now I am ready to tackle the wings.   Looking forward to working on them tomorrow when we are expected to have sleet and rain mixed.  Right now it is way to cold for that, but I guess the temps will go up during the night.  That will mean staying put in my studio which will give me the time to concentrate on making these wings.  

Tail Feathers

After a few false starts and ripping out some quilting, I finally was satisfied with my fabric choices and quilting on the the Great Horned Owl's Tail.  YOu can compare it to the photo above which is the one I am using as my reference/inspiration.

I may go back later and tweak this a bit but for now that is as far as I want to take it without the body on as well as his talon.    

Now my DH and I are going out to dinner with friends so ....I am off to spruce up!

Have a good night.