Background Nearly Done

I had hoped to get a little further on my Marsh Isle piece this week - but spent time working on samples for several new classes I will be teaching this summer and as Spring has finally arrived in the Lowcountry, I started working in the yard and on my plant pots.  Because of the deer in my area, most of my plants are in pots (the only way they survive) and every Spring I have a major effort in moving them to the porches and decks from underneath the back deck where the are protected from the winter weather. We had a very mild winter overall (although March was 11 degrees cooler than normal) and more plants than every made it through the winter.  I think last year I counted over 60 pots and I probably have more this year.

I did continue painting the background pieces I needed for the quilt.  The first cut at the pond water is too blue and too light.

With many more layers and the addition of black and brown paint I think I am pretty happy with it although it shows more blue in the picture than in real life.  I will be added a little chartreuse green for algae before it is quilted. I also painted the cattails and separated the log into bark and bare wood pieces.  The black spot in the log will disappear when I get to the construction phase.

The bird is only a sketch at this time - I was trying to get the size and placement.  I think it will be a Snowy Egret like the one who visited us this afternoon.

I thought about using a Little Blue Heron which starts out white and during its first year changes to a blue/grey color, but think I need the focal point of an all white bird.

Last week we also had this guy in the tree.   Pretty awesome.  I think another quilt will be required.

Once again I am linking to Nina Marie Sayre's Off the Wall Friday.   Having a deadline every week has really helped this piece move along.