OK, nobody at Alabama Chanin is going to hire me, but I'm pretty excited after my first attempt at reverse applique.
I wanted to practice before I dove into the big rooster project, so I made a little mama bird and baby bird to hang in Magpie's bedroom. (We called her Wren for a little while because she would look up at us like a bird with her mouth open when she was hungry--and she was always hungry--so it seems appropriate to put some birds in there.)
Reverse applique is one of Alabama Chanin's signature techniques, and Natalie Chanin kindly provides directions for doing it in "Alabama Stitch Book," my Mother's Day gift.
I took the first photo before I cut into the top layer of fabric because I didn't think it was going to turn out well, and I wanted to prove that these really were meant to be birds. The stencil, by the way, is a design from "The Art of Stenciling," by Mary Hickey, which I checked out from the library today (told you I was obsessed).
The finished project (second photo) isn't perfect, but you can tell they're birds, right? Anyhow, I learned a few things not to do (like don't use contrasting colored thread) for my next attempt ... Mr. Rooster.
Sorry for the blur. It's late. It's dark. I refuse to turn on a flash, and the tripod is being held hostage in a room occupied by a sleeping baby.
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