Back in the High Life Again...

I know I've been gone a while again, but I had good reason - I was feeling the anemia worse than normal and also getting ready for some tests to find the cause. So far, I'm OK, but I have one more test next week. Also, I was setting up the new computer. It is done and I have some neat goodies coming up the next few days.


I have also managed to finish the body of my quilled cardinal. It is ready for the tail feathers next. So far, I am very proud of how it is turning out.

I'M BACK!

Well, I'm back blogging. I was out of the loop for the last week setting up my new computer! I forgot what a mess it is to set up a machine from scratch. I am in definite love, though. :) I will be able to create again in the next couple of days, so be on the lookout for new freebies.

The ATC above is from a cyberfriend - Antonella. the base is a photo of a flower she took herself and then she accented it with quilling. You can see her other work on her blog. The link is in the sidebar.

Quilled Cardinal - part 3

At this stage, the cardinal is beginning to take bird-shape. I am using red and dark red 3" marquises. I lay out the outline for a while and then fill in the body, squeezing to fit as necessary.

Quilled Cardinal

One of my other major interests is quilling. It is an ancient craft, nearly 500 years old. Basically it is thin pieces of paper rolled around a pin and shaped. I am doing a quilled 'painting' of a cardinal. I will share it with you as I work on it so you can see how it can come together from little pieces of paper.

This is the beginning. I took an acid-free magazine backing board (similar to hot press board) and did a simple watercolor to tone the background. I then transferred my design to the board to use as a guide.

I then took 1/8" wide paper strips and began the quilling.

1. The beak is done with an orange triangle and an orange marquise. I just guessed at the length of the strips to make them fit the outline of the beak.
2. The eye is a 4" black strip glued to a 2" white strip. I made a tight circle starting at the black end of the strip.
3. The black mask is made of 2" marquises. This is to make sure to properly fill in the mask area. I fit the eye in place at this time.

I will share my progress and instructions as I go along. It will not be every day, but at major stages in creation.