It’s always a thrill to see a new project come to life, and my latest, “Birds of a Feather Flock Together”—a chicken and a rooster—has been a true joy. I love exploring different techniques and bringing fabric to life, and these two really let me stretch my creative wings!

Getting Started: Stabilizing and Decorating My Fabrics

For me, it all begins with the fabric. To give my sculptures the right foundation, I always start by using heat and bond fusible interfacing to stabilize the fabrics. This gives them the body and structure I need for all the fun that comes next. Once that’s done, I dive into the decorative side, using my trusty machine quilting and fabric appliqué to add all sorts of beautiful details and textures. It’s where the fabric really starts to tell its story.

The Magic of My Hand Stitching

There’s something incredibly satisfying about hand stitching. It’s where I add those personal touches that really make a piece unique. You’ll see a lot of blanket stitching on these birds, especially on the rooster’s tail feathers—it’s fantastic for adding texture and body. And for those neat, invisible finishes, stitching is my go-to for closures. For the rooster’s comb, I had a little fun with French knots, which give it that lovely, bumpy texture.

Building Form with Epoxy and Wire

Some parts of my sculptures need a bit more rigidity, and that’s where epoxy sculpt comes in. I used it for the beaks and the legs of both birds, and even for those detailed talons. It dries hard and strong, perfect for those structural bits. But the real secret to getting my birds to stand tall is the heavy-duty wire inside. For the rooster, I even repurposed a coat hanger! It’s all about giving them that essential support so they can show off their best side.

Bringing the Eyes to Life

The eyes are so important; they really bring personality to a piece. For these birds, I used needle felting to create their eyes. It’s a wonderful technique for building up soft, expressive forms. Then, to add depth and a bit of sparkle, I gently apply pastels to the felted eyes. It’s amazing how much life that simple step adds!

Adding Unique Textures: Ruffles and Puffs

I love playing with different textures! For the chicken’s neck, I used wired ribbon to create a lovely ruffled effect. The wire inside the ribbon is perfect for shaping and holding those ruffles just right. And on the back of the chicken, I experimented with puff quilting. It involves carefully stuffing fabric through slits in a canvas backing, creating this wonderfully tactile, puffy surface. It’s a bit of a trick, but so worth it for the result!

Layered Feathers and My Mixed Media Style

The rooster’s tail feathers were a real labor of love. I built them up by layering and attaching fabric pieces to a canvas base, using various colors of blanket stitching to define each feather. I really believe in mixing and matching fabrics, textures, and techniques—it’s become a bit of my signature style. I love how it allows me to bring so many different elements together into one cohesive piece.

Playing with Color

And finally, color! It’s something I’m always exploring and refining. With “Birds of a Feather Flock Together,” I really focused on using colours and playing with their variations. It creates such a harmonious feel, and I think it’s becoming another one of my signature techniques.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my creative process! Is there any particular technique you’d like to hear more about?