Child's Play -The Absurd Bird - Island Batik

Welcome to my take on the Island Batik Ambassadors' September Challenge.   We were challenged to make a juvenile inspired quilt using Island Batik Fabrics and an Accuquilt Block on Board die that was supplied to us in our July shipment.  The block I received is the Accuquilt Spiderweb 6" finished die.
Confession time - I saw this die and said "What can I make with that except a Halloween quilt???!?!"  So I was determined that my quilt would not be overtly "halloween."  I wish that I were a writer of children's books.  You see after lots of playing with ideas and what ifs, and Electric Quilt designing software, I saw a full fledged character.   He needs a book to tell his story.

 May I present to you------The Absurd Bird!

In my mind, he is a type of super hero, although just a bit off kilter. 

I had a wonderful time using the Spiderweb die

and the wonderful bundle of Island Batik fabrics - Electric Desert - designed by Jackie Kunkel. 

I cut lots of pieces using the Spiderweb die.

Then I sewed several spiderweb sections. 

And I constructed the bird's face.

As you can see, the entire rectangle that makes his face is all "spiderweb" blocks. 

I cut his spiky "hair" with another Accuquilt Go! half square triangle die. 

I used that same die for his beak/neck.   

Then I used other dies to make his body and wings and the top and bottom "slanted checkerboard." 

For the outer borders, I used strip dies and a small tumbler die. 

The bird really wanted to fly around and play. So we went to a local park where he 

enjoyed the kids playground. 

Then the Absurd Bird went to a small dogwood tree to rest for a bit. 

 But the sun was very strong and hot here in Alabama on an early September day,

 so we decided to go home.

But here are a few more pictures - just in case you haven't seen enough just yet. 

Tumblers in the outer border.

Fun quilting textures

More texture in the quilting

 For now, the Absurd Bird wishes you happy quilting and lots of smiles. 

Note:
Quilt Details:  Designed, Pieced and Quilted by Gene Black.
Quilt Size: 44" by 61"
Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Cotton
Fabrics: Island Batik
Thread: Aurifil.

The fabrics, batting, cutting die and thread were supplied to me at no cost as an Island Batik Ambassador.       

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Faster and Easier

I cut all of these while watching part of a movie. 

Don't think it looks like much? 
Look again with the stack I cut the slow way. 

The "little" stack in the front took over 30 minutes to cut with the rotary cutter- and I had to pay close attention. See how many more I cut with the AccuQuilt 2" square die.  It cuts six at a time and up to six layers at a time. 
Yes, there are almost 200 squares in the back stack.  - I confess that I haven't counted the small stack.  I need to add a few more color values, but I am well on my way to another watercolor project. 
Now that is the way to GO!