Moon Magic - Kindred Spirits Exhib.2008

This is my first piece for our Exhibition next year under the theme Myths & Legends - and I am into fairies. This is a wall quilt measuring 2' x 3' (I have another three to do!!) I have tried to depict a night scene, with a full moon and a rather gothic flavour!
I dyed all the fabrics at the same time, at a 5 day Retreat with Patricia McLaughlin in January this year, when Patricia also showed us this technique of hand applique, where you apply the fabrics in a logical order to medium weight Vilene and then applique the whole piece onto the background. This is how the Gothic Castle was worked.
I also worked the Fairy in the same way, and both designs are from a Dover Publication of copyright free patterns. The fairy's dress is hand dyed silk using salt when the dye was still wet, and the wings are three layers of organza, made on the machine in a hoop, then cut out with a soldering iron (and I wiggled the iron on the wings a bit to make a pattern!)
The leaves are impressions of real ivy leaves I painted with opaque paint then pressed on the quilt. The whole quilt is free machine quilted, and there is quite a lot of metallic rub ons on the tree trunks. I've also used watered down Stewart Gill Galactica paint for the fairy dust!
I reckon I need a couple more 'bits' on there somewhere, perhaps along the bottom, but I mustn't make it too pretty, as it is supposed to be atmospheric and spooky like - hence the fairy's expression! Any suggestions.........?
And finally... I received this beautiful postcard from my friend Dot (who still hasn't got a Blog yet!) and she writes on the back "Have been trying my hand at printing, thought you'd like to see. Made the block from craft foam and printed with acrylics with some coloured pencil on top. Enjoy" The hand embroidery is just exquisite, and the poem at the bottom reads - Seasons come and seasons go but loving feelings stay, the treasures cherished in your heart can never fade away. Magic. Thanks again Dot.