Reveal Day!
It’s Reveal Day! I can finally show you my art quilt I made for The Endeavourers challenge. Our theme was Animal Kingdom. It took me quite awhile to decide what to make. I kept thinking I needed to do something big and grand, like a tiger or lion. I was seriously tempted to try making a Blue-footed Booby (because they are so cute!), but in the end, I went with the humble chicken.
Meet Henrietta.
My inspiration for Henrietta is the Polish Chicken, those chickens with the crazy head floof. You’ve probably noted that Henrietta is far from humble; I had a little fun creating her!
It started with the black and white improv for the body and tail. I had seen a photo of a black and white Polish Chicken and thought it would be fun to use those colors for all of her. In order to make her head floof, I needed to find my Sulky water-soluble stabilizer, which I had tucked away in a spot I was not likely to forget. I’m still looking for it! However, in my search (thankfully), I unearthed this piece of trimmings and I thought the pop of color was perfect for her head floof.
Once I had the black and white improv piece sewn together, I cut the body and tail freehand. Then I cut the beak and waddle, and lastly, the head floof, so that I could get it somewhat balanced with the body.
The background fabric is a piece of gradient fabric from Vicki Welsh. This particular gradient is On the Horizon. (I am not an affiliate with Vicki, but I love her fabric!)
I used raw edge appliqué to sew the pieces to the background. For the body and tail, I outline stitched around the pieces, then added some vertical feather-like stitches (using my walking foot). For the beak, waddle, and head floof, I just used a simple outline stitch.
The quilting had me a bit puzzled for a bit, but I decided to do simple rays, similar to what I used for my Sundance the Rooster quilt. I now have two chicken quilts – maybe I should do a series?
And here’s a close-up of the head floof, if you are interested.
Those trimmings are from my Postcards from Sweden quilt, which you can see here.
To make that bundle of trimmings, it’s quite easy. You need two pieces of water-soluble stabilizer, one piece of base fabric, and trimmings. Place the trimmings atop the base fabric, and sandwich all that between the two pieces of stabilizer. Using matching thread, sew over the trimmings several times, until they are securely anchored to the base fabric. Wash the bundle to remove the stabilizer and let it air dry.
The quilt back is a piece of bright blue Grunge from my stash. The quilting of Henrietta’s body is much more visible on the back.
Henrietta measures 16″ x 20″. All of the fabrics are from my stash. She was a delight to make, and will go up on my mini quilt wall, right next to Sundance.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Reveal Day as much as I have! You’ve certainly waited long enough!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my posts. I enjoy reading and responding to each of your comments!
Wendy
Summer Fun
31 Comments
Cindy Pieters
Henrietta is adorable, love the floof! And yes I did enjoy reveal day!
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
Henrietta is fun! From the black and white improv to her colorful floof – all fun! I love the piece you used for the background and how the binding matches Henrietta, too. What a fun project, Wendy!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
What wonderful floof! And I love that you still had your leftovers from your PCFS!!!
ShelteringHaven
Oh my!!! Henrietta. Is. Perfect!!!! 💗💗💗
Tracie
Sundance and Henrietta are a perfect pair for your wall! I vote “yes” to continuing with the series. I know you’ll come up with some clever sequels.
texasquiltgal
Henrietta is glorious! The floof is so pretty (and funny), and the way you did it was genius. Is the gradient fabric batik? I’m all over seeing more of your series!
Brenda @ Songbird Designs
Wendy, Henrietta is fabulous!! I love chickens and roosters, so this is right up my alley!! The black and white fabric, the floof, the quilting…it’s all perfect! GREAT art quilt!!
Sandra Healy
Henrietta is absolutely wonderful! The crest has worked brilliantly.
The Joyful Quilter
Congrats on the challenge well met, Wendy! That is some serious head floof, Henrietta. Fun! :o))
Barbara J Stanbro
It’s fabulous, Wendy. Love it, and great job with the quilting.
susan
So fun!
Rochelle Summers
Oh, Henrietta is a real star!! I love the black and white and the floof. It looks to me like you had a wonderful time making her. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and feel your pain about putting things where you will NOT forget them. Back to Henrietta….a series sounds like a wonderful idea and I can’t wait to see the next one whenever that will be.
Laura
If ya got it, flaunt it! Love Henrietta! 🙂
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! Henrietta is just fab. I adore her floof and thank you for sharing how you made it! What a fun use of the trimmings from Postcard. Henrietta is a beauty – a chicken series sounds like it has already begun. Can’t wait to see the next one. Great job! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
LA Paylor
ab fab dahling! she is the grand dame that does lunch, goes to midday theater productions, holds court in her salon
laura bruno lilly
Henrietta will no doubt hold court on that mini-quilt wall (of fame) of yours!
quiltinggail
Ah, we FINALLY got to see your challenge quilt! Henrietta is fantastic! I can imagine the fun you had! And to use up all those trimmings! WOW!!
Vicki Welsh
What a fun quilt!
Vicki in MN
You come up with the coolest things for these challenges!!! I love the ‘floof’!!!
TerryK
What a fantastic finish! Love that “flop!”
karenfae
I love it – you did such a great job!
marissthequilter
This is brilliant! Love the contrast between bright head and black and white body. Seeing as you have a rooster and a hen(rietta) I think you will just have to make a series of chickens to complete the family!
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy, Henrietta is adorable. You are so creative. I would still be thinking what should I do. Her floof is perfect!!!
Patricia M Clancy
Love It!
Kathleen McCormick
Henrietta is fabulous! I so love that “floofy head”. She is fabulous and the quilting is just perfect. Were both water soluble on top of the pile? I do love the background, too…really a perfect choice. Great job!
Sandi
Henrietta is adorable! You are so creative!
Quilting is in my Blood
Henrietta with her colorful fluff is one stylish chicken. Love the idea of doing a chicken series.
Carol Andrews
Wendy your Henrietta will hold her spot on the wall with the minis beautifully! I love her floor! 😉
Jocelyn Thurston
Henrietta is awesome and the word floof so aptly describes that head of hers. What a creative use of orts!! You should think of making more improv animals as it seems like you really enjoyed this process, Wendy.
Helen
As sometimes happens, the back is just as important as the front. It kind of makes sense of the front this time. I love the choices you made with this one from the black and white to the colorful floof scraps to the stitching used to show the chicken on the back. And, using up scraps… my favorite thing in the world!
geneblack
How fun! I love using Vicki’s gradients as background for art quilts. I have also made two “chicken quilts.” I suspect there will be another or two in the future.