Painting birds and butterflies

I’m working on a commissioned art quilt that is a little larger than anything I have made recently and it has many pastel colors which is a palette I don’t often use. I’m enjoying the process and the challenge! It was requested that the piece have monarch type butterflies and birds, specifically bluebirds. I am painting and then stitching them which I have never done on such a small scale and never using the technique I’m trying… I have stabilized the fabric with Terial Magic spray and I’m not using a hoop when I free motion stitch/embroider. I’ll have more about the in a future post.

One thing I like about this method is that if the painting isn’t quite right (sparrow’s beak e.g.) I can correct it during the stitching.

Birds before stitching

On the butterflies only the black is stitched and the colors were just left painted. I’m okay with the white fabric being wrinkled because these elements will be cut out and appliqued on to the sky and flowers. But I’m trying a few changes to see if the fabric will always wrinkle when not placed in a hoop. I’ll keep you posted and I’ll post the finished quilt when I get there.

5 butterflies washed
Butterflies after stitching.

By Ann Scott

I started sewing and designing using fabric, thread, and paper when I was a child. I taught myself to make quilts, at first not following the "rules," then watched some experts, learned the rules, and made many hand quilted and appliqued quilts. I spent years focusing on miniature landscape quilts. Now I am a fiber and mixed media artist and that encompasses everything I have a passion for. I have taught, lectured, and my work have show nationally and internationally, some pieces have been published.