Quilt in progress

I get asked all the time how I create a quilt. The answer is that it's always different. It depends on the subject, style, size, mood I want to evoke. . . . and my mood.

Currently I have been itching to recreate a photo I took of a huge metal bird outside of a gallery in northern Michigan. So the following is the work in progress: 

I start by selecting an image, in this case the bird photo. I like to work small but decided to make it a bit bigger, 11 x 17 this time. After selecting a healthy dose of fabric choices from yardage and my all time favorites. . . scraps. . . I threw everything on the bed and settled in to make the piece.

I first pinned the paper pattern at the top to prevent shifting, placed the background colors in the appropriate spaces, then proceeded to cut the large body piece and lay it in place

Then added the second largest body piece to the right of the red

Next the peach colored shading and beak

Now the top of the head and feet

It's starting to take shape. . . but wait. .  I had to change out the beak color. I like this better. I also added the eyes

(what the camera doesn't pick up is that the eyes are sparkly fabric and the top of the head and beak, shimmery)

Oh boy . . . now it's time to paint some shadows and highlights

For recycling at its finest, I'm using a plastic pie carrying thingy to keep the paint bottles organized (?) and to prevent spillage on the bed, plus an old script bottle for the water :) Perfecto!

So the shading has been added under the bird and highlights added to the top of the head, beak, body and legs

I think that'll do it for today. . .  I'll finish him up some time next week. . . .