Bird House - For Project QUILTING 15.1
Drum roll, please! On Sunday, January 7, 2024, Project QUILTING announced the first challenge of season sixteen. I’m writing this blog on Monday, January 8 and my project is DONE!!! My BIRD HOUSE-themed project is complete.
I want to give a huge shout-out to Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams and Trisha Frankland of Quilt Chicken. Project QUILTING is just what I need during the short, cold, snowy, windy days after the holidays. These challenges provide an opportunity for our creative minds. The adventures push us to think outside the box, try a technique rattling around for a while, use fabrics you have no idea why they are in your stash, and feel accomplished for creating and completing.
The Plan
The idea of creating a frame with fabric has been churning in my mind for a while. What is a house, or a bird house in this case, but a frame around its inhabitants? Here’s what evolved.
A. Creation of a line drawing on Adobe InDesign Desktop Publishing Program.
B. Locate fabric with BIRDS from my stash.
C. Locate the Karen Kay Buckley Bigger Perfect Circles 3-1/2 inch template.
D. Gather my stash of Cherrywood Hand Dyed Fabric in coordinating colors.
The CONSTRUCTION
Construction begins on a pair of birdhouses.
A. Bird house front and back are cut in one unit. Scraps from this are large enough to cut facing for the entry hole. Duplicates are cut as the project will include homes for two birds.
B. Fusible batting is bonded to both the front and back of houses. I used Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Fusible Batting.
C. Lining is stitched to the front of the birdhouse, right sides together. Rotary cutter slashes make way for trimming and clipping circular seam.
D. Facing is turned to inside and pressed.
Time to introduce the birds to their new homes.
A. First bird is auditioned in house entry.
B. Both birds are pinned in position to secure for stitching.
C. Top stitching secures printed fabric behind the entry.
D. Back and front are pinned right sides together. The stitching line is traced on the batting from the pattern.
E. Somehow I neglected to take a photo of the project as they were turned right side out and top stitched.
THE FINISHED PROJECT
These two golden birdhouses can be used as mug rugs or hot pads. They are sure to find their way into a bird lover’s home. They finished at approximately 8 X 10 inches and can be found in my Etsy Shop.
Additional views of the completed project. I’m linked up to the challenge here.
Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist
Sally Manke's mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. She is a speaker, teacher, pattern designer, and fiber artist. Contact her to book a workshop or trunk show at this link. Visit her Etsy Shop at www.sallymanke.etsy
Sally is a brand Ambassador for BERNINA USA. All stitching on this project was completed on a BERNINA 790 PLUS.
