The Mola bird is fully emerged from a driftwood photo taken in Desolation Sound this summer. I loved the organic, flowing crack pattern. The bird was a bonus discovered on my computer screen much later.
The history of molas and the colourful outfits of the Kuna Indians (First Nations?) of the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama really captured my interest. Molas (literally meaning blouse according to the web site below) had me tempted to use a flowery blouse as the base fabric. The primitive animal shapes in traditional molas made it easy for me to draw my crude bird shape. I think the combination of simple shape with complex geometrical patterns and colours is very exciting. The freedom of design and brilliant colours are a big lure for me. My bird mola will be trimmed to 13"X16", the approx. size of traditional molas. Molas often came in pairs, one for the front of the blouse and one for the back. http://www.galenfrysinger.com/mola_panama.htm
Stumbling Block- I wasn’t sure about the legs. The original legs were short and stubby. I decided to appliqué the body first and worry about the legs later. 'Later' came, as it always does and I just couldn't find legs that made me happy. I'm trying to accept the leg outcome by convincing myself that most birds have legs way to small for their bodies.
I really enjoyed all aspects of this exercise-except the legs.
The history of molas and the colourful outfits of the Kuna Indians (First Nations?) of the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama really captured my interest. Molas (literally meaning blouse according to the web site below) had me tempted to use a flowery blouse as the base fabric. The primitive animal shapes in traditional molas made it easy for me to draw my crude bird shape. I think the combination of simple shape with complex geometrical patterns and colours is very exciting. The freedom of design and brilliant colours are a big lure for me. My bird mola will be trimmed to 13"X16", the approx. size of traditional molas. Molas often came in pairs, one for the front of the blouse and one for the back. http://www.galenfrysinger.com/mola_panama.htm
Stumbling Block- I wasn’t sure about the legs. The original legs were short and stubby. I decided to appliqué the body first and worry about the legs later. 'Later' came, as it always does and I just couldn't find legs that made me happy. I'm trying to accept the leg outcome by convincing myself that most birds have legs way to small for their bodies.
I really enjoyed all aspects of this exercise-except the legs.
1 comment:
Lori,
I just love your bird and the legs look fine to me. If you hadn't mentioned them I wouldn't have looked twice!
I am also doing the same course with the Kemshalls and am just slightly behind you in terms of activities completed.
It is lovely to find someone else doing the course to be able to "compare notes" with!
Have fun and happy quilting!
Ruth
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