Wednesday, June 13, 2012

a little tension


 Yesterday i took a picture of my first Iris to open up. They are so delicate looking.
While I was doing my laps this morning at the pool, I was envisioning how I would finish up my two hummingbird pieces. I was looking forward to trying out my new Wonderfil thread for some curly vines, but that turned out to be a bit of  a trial. The thread kept shredding and breaking, so when I sit down later, I must do some more research on needles. I actually tried a metafil, a titanium and a jeans needle which is what worked. By the end, I was pretty frustrated.
 

I've picked out the borders which I will add in the quilt as you go method. You can see a bit of them laid out below.
Next I added some iridescent paint highlights and darkened up the wings with Inktense watercolor pencils. They're looking better I think.
I'm trying to make up my mind about quilting the background space around the birds. The Timtex gives such nice texture that I'm thinking it might be better to leave it blank so that the birds and flowers are even more showy. I'll have to think on it.
I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network for WIP Wednesday. go check out all the fun works in progress..

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice. The hummingbirds have been out in full force here....there are two of them in particular that have been fighting over the feeder, even though there are two...go figure. It is amazing what we think about when we swim laps! How many do you do? I do lap swimming during the school year, for some reason they shut down the pool during the summer, still haven't figured that one out yet. Lovely, choices in colours!

Wendy said...

Holly try a top stitching needle...bigger eye.

Wendy said...

Holly try a top stitching needle...bigger eye.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

This work is just beautiful Holly. It just gets so frustrating when thread and needle don't co operate. I have heard that the topstitch like Wendy suggested is what you want...never tried it myself.

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

BTW I love that white Iris...never saw one before. I have quite a few here; but are all dark purple and mauve.

Gill said...

I love the grid effect in the bottom corner!

Susan J Barker said...

Me too! Love the grid effect, that is. And I love taking photos of my garden - I think I drive my family crazy with all the close ups of flowers and weeds and bugs and leaves!

greelyrita said...

It's not just the grid that makes that corner so nice. It's the contrast of the grid and the curliques. Lovely!

Mary Ann Tate said...

Very beautiful.

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

that stitching is so beautiful! I'm always so amazed also at how boarders can completely alter the way a piece looks.
: )
Monika

Regina said...

Your stitching is wonderful, sorry that you had such trouble with the thread breaking. Have you tried thread conditioner?