Total Flake

Yes, I'm a total flake.  I've bounced back and forth on design concepts for my Ancient/Modern challenge with Ethne.  This is it.  It's what I'm doing.  It's a Dover Clip Art pattern from the "Design Motifs of Ancient Mexico"

I printed out a 8x11 inch version (top left)  then cut it in half length-wise and then in thirds.  I ran those small bits through a photo-copier at 400%.  As you can see there were some sections that got cut off, so I measured key sections (like the beak) to see where the missing bits were and then did a little math (shut up Mrs Casper..yes I now know you can use math in the real world) to mathmatically figure out the proportions, and then drew them in.  (I'm math challenged...if I can do it , anyone can.)

Using the original challenge criteria...these are fabrics from my stash.  I'll be using reverse applique, so the blue fabric will be the bird fabric.  The background, is a batik with dragonflies.  What could be better for a heron or similar water bird?  The batik is heavy enough that I can use a darker fabric for the "under" fabric in a reverse applique technique.  

For my next step, I plan to trace the pattern on to tissue paper, then (for the first time) try "front basting" applique appoach.  As a back-basting girl, I've been totally stumped about how front basting might work.  I think I finally got it figured out.  Stay tuned for details.