Feather Attitude

When I first started quilting I thought feathers had to be strictly designed. A spine that is drawn out using tools like cardboard cut in perfect undulating curves, plumes that were laid out in the right angle, and all the correct size...these were the perfection to attain.

All you have to do in take a design class with Sharon Schamber or read books by Judy Allen (“The Art of Feather Quilting”) or Lee Cleland (“Feathers that Fly”) to see that there are RULES to designing the perfect feather! 

                        (feathers from Judy Allen's book, pink thread on pink satin)

And, of course, this leads to stunning quilted feathers. But, there are other feathers, too!

Certainly there are sophisticated quilts that demand this sort of perfection. Ah, but there are others where you can be much freer in execution. Look at this Christmas Dresden Fan, for example. 

First of all, the feathers have no spine! And, there are curls thrown in. The original feather I copied started with the curl, feathered over it with three plumes, then switched to add three or four plumes off in the other direction. But of course, all such designs must fit into the space allowed. And this space has chunks taken out by the tips of the fan blades. So, I convinced myself to just go with the flow.

And, I love how it turned out.

Sometimes you have to let go and be free.

Break the Rules. Find Your Freedom. Live Your Life.

What if I fall? But, Darling, what if you fly?!!!