I love agricultural shows, and one of the biggest and best in this area is the annual show at Turriff, on the Moray coast. Last time we were there I was fascinated by the competition for fancy pigeons – there were cages and cages of pigeons of all different kinds, and I couldn’t resist the idea of turning them into a panel of embroidered birds
The real pigeon show
This turned out to be a very big project. I drew and digitised nine different pigeons and stitched them out in greys, browns and white, using hand-painted and hand-printed fabric for the applique. All of them were stitched over squares of dull grey fabric, with stitched lines to suggest the bars of their cages and to give the feeling that they were all enclosed in small boxes. This repeated background also served to hold the nine birds together as a single composition
Four of the stitched pigeons
When it came to constructing the panel, I pieced the individual birds with the wrong sides together, so that the raw edges of the fabric were brought to the front of the panel. Then I frayed the fabric, rather as you would fray the edges of a rag quilt. This gave a three-dimensional feeling to the panel, and also served to emphasize the fact that the birds are separated into small boxes.
The finished pigeon panel
I have to confess that I really like this panel. I'll be showing it at the upcoming exhibition at Touched by Scotland, and the gallery owner is sure that it will be sold, probably to a pigeon-fancier (of which there are a lot around here) Oh well, as long as it goes to a good home I’ll be happy
Oh, wow! Each bird is magnificent, but all of them together in one composition is stunning! I love the idea of using the 3D rag edge to reinforce the idea of the divisions between their “prisons.”
Great job! How can you bear to part with it?
OH! You have done it once again…made the mundane into a glorious work of art that shouts to everyone the true beauty of nature. You are an unique artist because you can use thread to speak to us.
Thanks so much
Jane in KS
I think is my favorite you have done! I see the cage for sure.
What a wonderful piece! The 3D fringe around each pigeon really adds depth to each bird cage. I’m sure it will go to a good home. You are so creative, thank you for sharing!