Eagles on the Brain

Since I've been working on my Quilt Like An Eagle quilt, I have become much more conscious of eagles as decorative symbols in the world around me.

 

I spied this eagle on a bank's after-hours depository.

 

The federal courthouse in downtown Denver had these eagles and shields atop the building's columns.

 

How 'bout these Peeps I found at a Cracker Barrel (the US restaurant chain)?!

I have been working on my eagles, but only intermittently.  I decided I wanted to make my own patterns for the rest of the quilt, and it took some time to get that accomplished.  The center of the quilt will have two concentric spiky circles with a star in the center.  

 

I made a test version - half of the outer circle - to see if I was happy with the outcome.  From looking at a lot of 4 block eagle quilts, it seems many of these spiky circles are done with reverse applique.  I've never done a stitch of reverse applique and I decided this was not the time to try it!  These will be made with regular applique, using the freezer paper and spray starch prep method.  

 

I purchased some French General Rue Indiennes fabric for the outer border of my quilt, but I think I will also use it for the outer concentric circle.

 

The eagles have all gotten embroidered eyes and arrows in their beaks.  I'm also playing around with some 8 pointed stars below the tail feathers.  Now that I see the stars in the photograph, I may switch the blue star fabric for the Rue Indiennes paisley.

How are you doing with your eagles?  Do you spy eagles where you never noticed them before?

 

 

 

And Then There Were Four

 

The eagles for my four block quilt are finished!  I'm excited to be at this stage, although there is still a lot of work to do.

When I started this project I thought I might add my own personal stamp to this quilt by doing a fleur de lis inspired center applique block.  Now I'm veering back toward the more traditional sunburst/spiky circle with a star center.  I think I'll have to make some mock-up blocks and see which idea I like better.

Before I stitch the blocks together, I'd also like to applique some five-pointed stars in the area below the wings and tail.

I doubt there's any way I'll finish this quilt by July 4th - at least not July 4th, 2015!  That's OK, I'm enjoying the journey and still see several more eagle quilts in my future!

One Down, Three to Go!

 

I finished hand appliqueing the first of my four eagles.  He still needs to have a few details embroidered in, but that can happen later.  The applique was not difficult, except for a few places where it was awkward to hold the fabric and stitch at the same time.  I used the freezer paper and starch method for prepping the fabric pieces - that technique really simplified the stitching process!

Now I just need to prep and stitch 3 more identical blocks.  Since I have the experience of the first block under my belt, I think I'll prep all the remaining blocks at the same time so I can just stitch my way through all of them.

How's everyone else doing?