It was a bumpy start, but a start none the less. I say this because I started reading about the birds on the list.
I opened two internet windows, one for Audubon Common Birds In Decline site and the other for the Cornell Ornithology Lab site. And the Cornell Ornithology Lab cites the Evening Grosbeak as a bird of Least Concern, backed by a site called the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Now, I am no researcher.
What I know so far is that Audubon has based it's research on many years of citizen science. They have tabulated numbers from 40 years of bird counts and those numbers show that these birds are in decline.
What I didn't understand is the difference between these two highly regarded sources. This is the first time I have come across the IUCN Red List and I will assume they are firmly grounded in the scientific community. But I would like to understand. I have written to the Audubon site. I have written to David Sibley and posted to the Birder's World web site.
And then I started anyway.
Yesterday I got the background of both the cotton and the organza layers finished. I stamped, monoprinted and layered the day away.
Here are the two layers loosely placed, one atop the other.
Now comes the hard part; how to depict the bird. So, true to form, I have set myself up to practice on scrap. The awesome thing about practicing on scrap is that as a result, I have all these random pieces of interesting cloth. Enter the word, Random...
And... I got a response from one of my birdie queries... It is good news (in a manner of speaking) but will have to wait! I am off to have a day.
Still wanting everyone to sign on to my fan page! You could win some of my cloth for doing so!
Stats are out there & I find they always differ, but what I am enjoying is that it caused you to do a series on birds....you do birds so well.
That's all I care about right now.
LOVE seeing the process - THANK YOU!!!
BEAUTIFUL!
I am enjoying watching your process! The blue circles below the bird i really like.
My son and his girlfriend do an official bird count every year. They go out at about 5am. It always amazes me that I could never drag him out of bed but at the age of about 21 he'd go out before dawn and count birds.
I love seeing your process as well as your product.
Hi Melly - congratulations! Will you email me your address so that I can post your 'Long Lugs'off to you? I'm sorry that I put I wrong link on my post - I've only just found this blog today. I will change the link ;)
Beautiful start! I love your "pretty rags"
Thinking outside the box yet having the traditional theme of birds is amazing. You go girl!
Thinking outside the box yet keeping with the traditional theme of birds has amazing results.
You go girl!
Melly I love this project! I grew up with grandparents who were passionate birders and always took my brother and I birding- so I truly appreciate your attention to detail and your very evident love and passion for your subject matter. I cannot wait to see how this develops!!
Melanie, I just love your art! It is so unique and beautiful. I absolutely love birds, too. I work from home and hung a bird feeder rightoutside my office window. It delights me all day long to see the different birds feed there. I'd love to take a class from you some day, but in the meantime, will just keep looking for your work in QA. - Beth in ABQ (we have roadrunners here!)
I am happy to have found your blog. Your projects on Quilting Arts TV are my favorites. I love your use of drawing, texture and color.
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