my funky feathered friend

[fingerpistol]

please excuse my crap picture (as always)...i am by no means a photographer.

okay, so last month, my mom hosted an ornament exchange party. someone brought a cupcake ornament. and you'd better believe i fought tooth-and-nail to get it. (i even had it for a while.) but i did not get to take it home with me.

however, a week or so later, my mom called to tell me that the lady who had brought the original cupcake ornament had gone out and gotten another one...JUST FOR ME!

HAHAHAHAHAHA! TAKE THAT, UNIVERSE!

so, naturally, i wanted to show my appreciation. the only thing i knew about the nice lady was that she liked birds, and LO AND BEHOLD, my roommate just happened to draw this awesome (albeit slightly morbid) bird for me.

at first, he worried that it would be too creepy for her. (it actually does look kind of creepy in black-and-white, because the eye’s all googly and glare-y and whatnot.) but i told him that if i used bright colors, it would be fine. (it’s true, you could embroider a scary penis with spikes and talons and it would be adorable in some bright shades of blue and pink and orange.)

the polka-dotty fabric was the plainest stuff i had on hand, and while i chose the pink floss to match the hoop (because i had no frames it would fit in), the blue and green were just the brightest coordinating colors i could find.

i had meant to do it quickly in split-stitch, but my stupid transfer pencil needs to be sharpened. the lines were so thick i had to satin-stitch the whole freaking thing. ha! yeah, it took me a good deal longer than i had anticipated. but the satin-stitching did give it a kind of cool feathery look, so i don’t mind too much.

i used french knots for his little head feathers. also, my stupid transfer pencil left some random stray marks all over the fabric, but i’ve decided they just give the piece character. so meh. i used some extra green floss to pull the edges in behind the back, but i didn’t cover it with any fabric because the satin stitches actually left the back pretty neat and tidy.

mmm…yep, that’s it!

blogged here.

(c&c fully appreciated…you’re probably smarter than me anyway, and i’m okay with that. lol.)

[LaundryBunny]

Love it!  You're right, not creepy at all with bright colors and polka dot fabric.   

[momcuellar]

I think it wouldn't be creepy even in dark colors.  I think he looks like a baby bird after birth.   Okay, I'm creepy.   I like him!!

[Chicory]

I think the satin stitch looks really cool.  Adds enough texture and dimension to stand up against the polka dots.

Fantastic.

[kittykill]

It's not creepy, it reminds me of the bird from Up. I really like the colors.

[Ravenau1]

Love it!  That bird has character

[LaundryBunny]

It's not creepy, it reminds me of the bird from Up. I really like the colors.

Haha Yes kittykill!  He does look like her!

[fingerpistol]

HA! i had to netflix Up after that comment, and i got to watch it this weekend (which was DELIGHTFUL in and of itself),and you're right! it does look like that bird! i'm kind of pleased, actually, cuz that bird was HILARIOUS, which (as everybody knows), is the exact opposite of creepy.

radness.

[lisalady161]

I love it!  The texture of the fabric is so clean and happy for that not-so-creepy bird!  And yes, it does remind me of "Kevin' from 'UP'!