Life is Breathed into Henry

The Tribute to Henry is nearing completion. The tulle sandwich on which Henry's form was stitched was placed on a creamy, wool background and then attached to the background by machine needle felting the layers together. A fluffy, salvaged mohair scarf was used for batting and the backing came from an old wool skirt that had been deconstructed. All layers were then quilted by machine needle felting them together. The quilt was squared up a second time because the needle felting process had slightly skewed the project. The unit was further quilted by top stitching leaf forms around the edge and a row of decorative stitches to provide an inside framing structure. The edges were then sealed by satin stitching with heavy weight thread. After the quilt resides on the design wall for a few days, further embelishments may be added, but at this point, the quilt is finished and only needs the addition of a hanging sleeve.

Henry Finds Himself in Fabric

Barb Keeling's daily notes about her visits in the park with Henry have made him leap from the annals of e-mail to the surface of a created "fabric" of tulle, fibers and paint.

Barb writes on 2/9/10:

Ya know have not seen Henry in a while. However think it was yesterday
a swore I saw a Henry Bird dart out of my driveway, Maybe it is that I
am thinking more about him now that he has become a cleb.

Henry Finds My Journal

A dear friend, Barb Keeling of Keelings Krafts takes brisk morning walks every day in a park near her home and has developed a "friendship" with a bird who she has named Henry. Her stories of Henry have captivated my heart and Henry has jumped from my heart to my hands to my journal. Henry has a cousin, Al, also and they may be further related on their family tree to the Titmouse. Here are a few entries that feature Henry and Al.

Barb and her husband, Doug, are dynamic, creative spirits who carry wonderful things in their on-line shop. I first found them as vendors at big quilt shows and have grown to care deeply for them...AND I love their products. Barb is ever kind in letting her customers know about new products and new applications for them and she has a tremendous blogspot. Check out KeelingsKrafts sometime. You won't be disappointed.

http://keelingskrafts.blogspot.com

http://bradolls.blogspot.co

Rapture of the Deep

This quilt has been great fun to make. It started a couple of years ago very innocently as a small paintstick doodle on a small piece of muslin. Over the months it developed into a springbboard for experimentation. I cast the seahorse figure from a mold I made from a bronze bookend. The metal frame was cut from the bottom of a disposable roasting pan and then embellished through embossing with whatever dull object that happened to be at hand and colored with newly discovered alcohol inks. The project seemed to grow all by itself. I have yet to be able to capture the vibrant colors in a picture. Lighting hasn't been right. When I finally capture a good, bright image, I will post it. Meanwhile, the photos here show the full quilt, a few details and the label that I designed and stitched with free motion embroidery.