An unique large bag for carrying taller-than-normal items, with birds on both sides - which side is the front? One side shows 5 birds in various poses, while the other has a centre machine-embroidered bird, surrounded by strips and patchwork pieces known as 'flying geese'. A very avian bag. This is a tall bag, for carrying things that don’t fit in a ‘normal’ bag.
Technique: The 5 birds are appliqued to the background using the raw-edge technique, with fabric glue. The stitching firmly holds down the fabrics that make the birds. A small amount of fraying around the edges of the birds is possible, but each bird is stable. The eyes of the birds were added with fabric paint. The quilting is free-motion embroidered on a patterned cream background. This means the sewing machine was used like a pen to sketch around the birds.
Once I'd decided the theme was birds, I had great fun adding to the theme with a machine embroidered bird and patchwork pieces called 'flying geese' (the row of triangles) leftover from a quilt. All was then quilted to highlight the shapes. Some of the extra pieces of fabric have gold highlights.
The bag is quilted and lined. The lining for the front and back features ammonites, or spirals if you prefer, while the sides have fabric showing marbly golden swirls. The handles are black braiding.
Bag Details: The bag is 50 x 35 x 19 cm on the outside. The handles are 35 cm long. Except for the handles the bag is all cotton, so washing is simple - cold wash in a machine then dry in the shade.
