Tuesday 14 May 2013

For the Birds.


Hi everyone today is my turn to show what I have made for this hop. When this hop was first put forward I knew I had to take part. One of my husbands hobbies is bird watching and (so long as it isn't freezing cold) I go along on his expeditions. Like a lot of folks we have feeders in the garden but we live in London UK and our garden is very small without larger trees to provide cover for our feathered friends and so visitor numbers are not as high as we would like.  As a result we tend to go to our favourite local venueThe London Wetland Centre at Barnes if we want to watch birds locally. 

The site of the Centre was created from four disused Victorian reservoirs and opened in 2000. It occupies more than 100 acres and is home to many birds that you don't see elsewhere in London. It's a great place to see gadwall, shovelergreat bitternpintaillapwingwater rail,  sparrowhawksand martinkingfisher,  and great crested grebe. As it's virtually on the doorstep we visit often.

As well as visiting the centre we also enjoy bird watching whilst out on our hikes. A bird you will see frequently along London's rivers and brooks is the Grey Heron. 


Of course you also see birds not native to the UK. These Black necked swans are native to South America but will have been bought into the UK to grace the parks and rivers of country estates.

So now you want to know what project I made. Well it changed several times whilst still in the planning stage. Originally I bought the green FQ with the birds on it to make a bag for my husbands mini binoculars that live in his car (yes he does pull the car over if he sees an interesting bird).



I then thought I'd make a tote bag for our bird watching expeditions, big enough to hold the flask, bird books and whatever else we need. However after a chilly evening waiting for the rooks to arrive at their roost in Norfolk I decided a bird quilt for the car was needed. That way I could have stayed a little warmer. Unfortunately you can't run the engine as the noise disturbs the birds and therefore the heating doesn't work. Did I mention I really like warm weather bird watching?

Next I needed a bird block. One of the blogs I read is Kates Quilting Blogspot and just when I was looking for a block she posted about the April Block lotto which was for a bird block and was just perfect. I wanted all the birds to have fabric with bird patterns for their wings and I knew I wanted owl fabric for my backing.

The Blocks were fun to make and soon my top was finished. The top is square and measures 53 X 53 inches.




I managed to find some owl fabric for the backing that I just love.



The quilt isn't completely finished yet but the quilt sandwich is made and the quilting has started. Unfortunately supervising final year degree students dissertations has taken up most of my time  this last week and will continue to do until they submit their work at the beginning of June. No one else had time so I agreed to take the students last week and for now sewing has to take a back seat.

If you want to see the block lotto pattern you can find it here. Having used the pattern I will be sending an email of my finished quilt.

So now you need to visit the rest of today's participants. There's sure to be lots of lovely bird projects to see.




Thanks to Madame Samm and Mary for organising the hop and cheering us on our way. I've really enjoyed creating this quilt and I'm looking forward to using it to keep my knees warm on bird watching trips next winter. Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll visit again soon. Once you've visited everyone today I hope you find some 'me' time for sewing

Lyndsey

60 comments:

  1. The bird fabrics are really pretty and that quilt will be nice.

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  2. What a lovely quilt to snuggle under! Thank you for sharing,

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  3. I enjoyed the "back story" as much as looking at the quilt! It all made me smile!

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  4. Cannot wait to see the finished project but the birds are lovely.

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  5. What a great quilt. I definitely empathise with your dilemma about what to make - so much choice!

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  6. Those birds are so cute, they will make a lovely quilt!

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  7. Beautiful birds. Thank you for sharing them with us. :)

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  8. Very cute. I am sure it will be even more wonderful when you are done quilting.

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  9. The foundation pieced birds are beautiful! You did a marvelous job and I can only imagine how wonderful the quilt will be when finished. But I was totally taken by the black necked swans. They are elegant! Thanks for sharing all those bird pics!

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  10. I love that you used bird fabric for their wings. So cute

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  11. Love your bird project!

    And those black necked swans... just gorgeous!

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  12. Your pieced birds are wonderful! I'm sure the finished project will be stunning.

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  13. OOOO - I love everything & the fabric is sooooo cute - Great job ;)

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  14. what a very pretty bird project. Lov eyour fabrics.

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  15. You did a wonderful job on your pieces..thanks for sharing

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  16. That is a nice bird quilt top. Cute owl fabric too for the back.

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  17. very clever ....fabrics are amazingly thought of....this is going to be a great anything....I would fly with it lol

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  18. Loved your birds and the owl fabric is super cute!!

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  19. A quilt for the car and bird watching trips sounds like the perfect thing for you. You can always use something else to tote the watching paraphernalia. OR make it for the pecking order hop later in the year.

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  20. I love your birds. Thanks for sharing

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  21. Beautiful fabric choices for those cute birds and that owl fabric is adorable! Nice job...thanks for sharing!

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  22. I love the owl fabric, it's too cute! Thanks for sharing!

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  23. I love your quilt top. Those birds are so cute and the owl fabric is great for the back.

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  24. good looking quilt, thanks for sharing.

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  25. What a fun pattern for those birds! And I love the owl fabric. Well done!

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  26. Your fabrics are so wonderful for the Bird Blog Hop. Nice work! Your real birds are beautiful too.

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  27. Lovely quilt and I really enjoyed 'hearing' about your birding adventures. We have Blue Herons in Oregon, as well. One day I was walking with my big yellow Lab and as we walked by a home with a water feature near the door, a huge heron swooped out away from the water...I'm not sure which of us was more frightened, me or the dog! For months afterward, Spot would watch that doorway nervously every time we walked by that house!

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  28. What a beautiful quilt. I love your fabric choices, so bright and fun.

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  29. Having been a road side birdwatcher myself I know exactly what you mean about that evening chill that can come about. So I thing your quilt is beautiful and you will the envy of those around you. Thank you for sharing it with us.

    Sincerely,
    Tricia

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  30. Beautiful quilt top!!!
    Love those birds!

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  31. Now you can stay warm, I just love all of those birds, are you going to make a matching bag for your husbands mini binoculars.

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  32. What a wonderful quilt for you & your Mr. to snuggle under while you're waiting ;)
    That owl fabric is adorable.

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  33. Love your quilt. I have joined the bird watching too. Spent Saturday at the Horicon Marsh in Wisconsin looking for birds. Thank you for sharing your quilt and experience for this hop.

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  34. I do love love love your birdie quilt! What fun!

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  35. You have a great quilt. Thanks for sharing.

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  36. Love it! Such cute birds! Thanks for sharing the link.

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  37. I hope you will have warm knees next winter bird watching with your DH,your quilttop looks great, it will make a lovely quilt. Thanks for sharing.

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  38. Loved your bird quilt. I really love the backing fabric. Can you tell me where you found it? Thanks.

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  39. That is a sweet quilt! Great job.

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  40. Great birdie quilt...it will be extra fabulous when it's all finished!

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  41. This will be so cute. Your birds are adorable.

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  42. I love your fabric and your quilt! Nice way to keep warm while bird watching with your hubby.

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  43. This is really a cute pattern, and you did a great job putting the blocks together. I would love to see it quilted. I'm sure you will get lots of use out of it. My husband and I also bird watch, but mostly at home, looking out the sunroom window. The fabrics are great.

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  44. I love your bird quilt!! How pretty! (I love the whimsical birds!)
    If you like warm weather bird watching, you need to come to South Texas! We are warm all year and are a bird watcher's paradise (at least parts of south Texas are). In September, Rockport,Tx (about 100 miles from where I live) is the stopping off place for millions of hummingbirds. They fatten up there before flying on across the Gulf of Mexico.

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  45. sew nice to hear about your birding! i live off the gulf of alaska, the north pacific, so we see seabirds, migratory birds and our own birds. makes for great pictures! like your bird quilt ... thanx for the link ~ i may make one, too.

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  46. Super cute quilt! Love all the various colors you used.

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  47. Very pretty quilt top. Love your fabric choice.

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  48. Good choice of projects. Your quilt is going to be perfect. Love the birds and the fact that you varied their # and orientation.

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  49. Love your real bird pictures and your bird quilt! I used that bird pattern for my project too and noticed some others had used it. It was a really fun block as it turned out differently each time!

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  50. Great birds! and thank you for the link - I shall be making some!

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  51. Love the way the birds come together in the quilt. Very pretty.

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  52. Hi!!!! I love the little birds!!!! So cute!!! Beautiful quilt!!!

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