How To - Make an Art Quilt Style Mixed Media Canvas - Autumn Owl part 2

Welcome to Part Two of my Autumn Owl tutorial.

Last time I had finished appliqueing the trees and had done some decoration/embelishment on the branches give a helping hand when starting to decorate it.
This time I'll be filling out the background of the trees and doing some more embelishment on the branches

Things you will need for part 2

1: PVA or craft glue

2: paintbush

3: an old book or decorative paper

4: embroidery threads

5: leaf ribbon, fabric leaves, more twigs and small metal flower spacer beads

This is where I left the canvas last time

Step one is concerned with using your paper to create a background.

I'm using an old penguin book with beautiful yellowing pages that was falling to bits with a broken spine. You can use any type of paper you want from newspaper, handmade paper to tissue paper and coloured paper but I am using book print as our subject is an Owl and they are the creatures of wisdom and learning so a written background is very fitting

You will need to tear your paper into small pieces the sme size as your fabric scraps and gently paint them to the white canvas with your glue and leave to dry for about an hour and a half

For the next step you will need fabric leaves and ribbon. I simply cut my leaves from a leaf print fabric. You could do the same with a floral fabric if you don't fancy leaves or simply cut out leaf shapes from any fabric you have in your stash

Cut out your leaves and cut the ribbon into 3 - 4" lengths and stitch into your branches wherever looks right. Remember to leave space for your owl!

Now stitch on your flower beads. You can also add red or purple beads in clusters for autumn berries

The last thing in part two in to make a perch for your Owl

You will need a preferably bent twig or piece or chair cane approx 3" long. You need to wrap it in either cotton, thread or a light fabric and stitch it onto the canvas in the botton quarter of the piece.

This is what you should have after this session. With your own twist of course

Next time I will be making my Owl and giving options for other techniques for your feature creature