BRANCHES & NEEDLES

 Had a day to work in the studio today.  It snowed last night so had shoveling to do etc and did not go into town to work on Bob's shop that he is closing up.  So it was an unexpected treat to have a full day to work on this new piece.   I started by adding two branches to the main trunk.  I quilted the bark and then added the needles. 

Once I finished the two new branches I added a third to the foreground and proceeded to quilt the bark and add needles.  This was pretty much an entire days work but lots of progress was made.

"Peace" unfinished

 Yesterday we lost a very good friend named Todd.  He was a kind and generous man and died way too young in his early 50's.  He had cancer.  He left behind his wife and 4 children.

So in honor of him I will title this piece "Peace".  I am happy with it ....still need to add the binding and the sleeve and label to the back...but wanted to show you some detail shots as well.

I will try to finish it completely tomorrow and post the true finished piece then.

Dove

Have been working on the dove off and on for the last two days.   I am ready to quilt it now.  This will take a bit of time as there are a lot of feathers.  I am happy with him though....so he will only get better with the quilting.

Mourning Dove

 I took this photo a few weeks ago out of my studio window.  It was early in the morning and this dove was huddled in the sunshine.  I love the bark on the maple tree and the dove....so I knew it would be my next piece.

I chose this fabric which I recently purchased at our local quilt shop, The Sewing Basket.
Then I added the border randomly fusing those pieces down.  Today I quilted it with  organic lines from one side to the other about a 1/4 inch apart.
 

 I had sketched out the dove yesterday on tissue paper....He is big so taped several sheets together.  Then I placed him on the quilt background to envision it.  He will be made up in mauve colors so the contrast with the grey will be very nice.

Here is a closeup of how I sketch marking areas of shadows and feathers.   Before working on him I will do the branches he is perched on.  I want to place them so they are going over and under the border giving depth.  It is why the border needed to go on first.
So tomorrow I will begin working on that.  I love making trees and bark so it will be enjoyable to work on.