Sunday, December 12, 2010

Woolly Mini Full Frontal

I don't think I've ever been so excited to share my work as I am today. Nannette received her Birdhouse Fence woolly mini today, so that means I can share it with you, too! It brought me great joy to make this - after waiting way too long to start my swap project, suddenly it all came to me in a great rush (perhaps fueled by the guilt of procrastination?). Actually, I think I knew that one day my photos of the real life birdhouse fence would end up in fibre. Nannette is well-known on Flickr for her love of birds and using them in her work, so it was really a case of fate that she ended up being my partner on this one!

Ok, I'll stop blabbing on. Here it is, as we printed it on our family Christmas cards this year (we ramped up the colour saturation a bit for printing):

birdhouse xmas card

Here is the mini with it's 1/2" binding:

birdhouse fence wool mini by Poppyprint

I made this felted wool 'picture' by fusing the background sections onto a piece of cotton canvas using Steam-a-Seam Lite. Each section of field and sky is butted up to the next, so no overlaps. I was able to tighten up the seams between two sections when I zigzagged across each one. Things got a little thick where the two layers of jaggedy-cut grass are overlapped, but I was able to free motion the grass blades with a lovely 30wt. variegated Aurofil thread without much difficulty.

sneakpeek2 for Nanotchka

I am particularly happy about the farmer's fence wire, which is 2 strands of DMC floss attached to the quilt only at the fence posts and where each 'wire' overlaps another one. I also really like how the Queen Anne's lace turned out with the white french knots. The mama sparrow checking out her real estate options is stitched freehand with 3 different colours of single-strands of DMC (light brown, grey and dark brown).

I can't tell you how great it made me feel when B asked if we could turn it into our Christmas card. He always silk-screens our cards, so it was a real pleasure for me to be able to share my original work with our family and friends this year (a few of them read this blog, but most don't really know what I do 'with all my spare time' hehe).

Okay, while I'm feeling all aglow, I would just like to send a shout out to Carolyn S. of Surrey, B.C. just in case she reads this blog. Carolyn wrote the sweetest letter to the editor about my Autumn Jewel Box pattern in Quilter's Connection fall magazine that made me blush, actually. Thank you so much for taking the time, Carolyn. When a friend emailed to ask if I'd seen the nice letter about me, at first I panicked thinking that maybe my mom wrote it! It was a relief to see a name I didn't recognize at the bottom of the letter!

Be sure to stop in tomorrow....it's Sew Mama Sew giveaway day!!

32 comments:

maree said...

Krista you have every right to blabble - your mini is just delicious:) I am sure your swap buddy is stroking it as we in blogland are admiring it ourselves. Well done you - it must've been a 'wow' moment when the inspiration finally struck after the procrastination, but hey it was well and truly worth it:) Ciao

Unknown said...

wow can't believe i'm the first one to comment of this thing of beauty... Krista, obviously you've got some kind of talent. i wish there were more closeups. the fact that you were able to give this away says something about your character. had it been me, i would have had serious second thoughts about giving it up. it's so gorgeous. i don't even have the right words... so i'll end my comment by saying that i'm darn jealous of Nannette... she is one lucky lady!

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

beautiful!

Jodi said...

I remember that pic of the birdhouses - love the felted wool pic, too!

Nina Lise@Mrs Moen said...

Love it!!

dutchcomfort said...

Krista, this is so beautiful! I love the birdhouses and the use of fibres!

9patchnurse said...

Oh golly! I love every inch of that mini. The row of trees, the shingles on the roof, the birdie, the queen anne's lace, and the wire and the grass............ Excellent work and what a genius idea to put it on your xmas card. You really should be proud.

paulette said...

OMGosh...stunning work...the textures and the colours...just lovely. Your swap partner must have been over the moon!! And then to turn it into your Christmas card...how clever is that!! Well done!!
Paulette

Anonymous said...

Krista,
You did a beautiful job and should be very proud of your work. Birds and their houses make my heart sing.

Marie in Oregon

Ariane said...

Wow!! This little quilt is stunning!!! Your workmanship is just beautiful! Your partner is one lucky lady!!! This is definitely your calling!!! I'm so glad you took pictures, so that we could see it! Hugs Ariane

Arita said...

Both the mini and the card are gorgeous. I love the detailed work.

♥Duff said...

Love it! I was able to get the large pic on flickr--wow! that bird is so small and amazing. how the heck did you get the beak and eyes on there when they're smaller than the zig zag stitch? and the little birdie feet--perfect. The bales of hay remind of the fields of gold I live around (*sigh*). It's just a joyous work of art & a wonderful way to spread heartfelt tidings this Christmas season!

Rachel said...

It's so beautiful. Definitely worth waiting allllll that time for the full view. I love it - wanna make another and send it my way...hehehe. It's the perfect Christmas card, too.

Christine M said...

I love your wool picture.

Amy Friend said...

It's absolute perfection and you should be proud! I think it's wonderful that you made it into your Christmas card. Nannette is one lucky lady! I still love the grass/flower/fence area best. It's just so lovely!!!

carol said...

Krista, how in the world are you ever going to top that mini??? I don't think you can. It is just gorgeous....and I wish it was coming here....but you could send me a Christmas card instead. What a thrill to have your quilt reproduced on a card. I'd be on the moon too!!

Katie B said...

Wow! This is just incredible.

birdhouse said...

That's awesome! You could sell a Christmas card with that design. You should try to license it to Hallmark.

Kristie said...

This is a beautiful piece of art, well done!

Bobbi said...

wow....im speechless. you are so talented!!! pat yourself on the back because that is one fabulous piece!!!

Barb said...

Krista, what a gorgeous piece of art! Thank you so much for sharing...your work is such an inspiration.

Emma said...

Fantastic! I love all the layering and details.

Andrea C said...

Absolutely lovely Krista! It's beautiful.

Tracey Jacobsen said...

You do such art work. I'm kind of in awe here. I love this (and I know Nannette did too!)

Rachaeldaisy said...

That is so beautiful!! Thanks for showing all the features. The fencing wire is so clever. I really love the haystacks.

Dianne said...

See we told you you could sell the cards!!! How wonderful do all these amazing comments feel? Not one bit less than you deserve I must say!

Vivian said...

Oh I love it, what a wonderful little quilt!

Anonymous said...

This is truly beautiful! You're very talented!

Ammieloris said...

Ah! It's gorgeous. I am sure it made awesome Christmas cards.

Kim said...

Wow that came out so great.......I don't blame you for bragging a bit....come on its adorable!

Now wasn't it hard to give it away?

Happy sewing

Катаринка said...

Потрясающая работа!!!!

Lynne (Lily's Quilts) said...

Yay, love this one although my fave of yours is your DQS last time round which just knocked my socks off.