Hummingbird Paper Piecing Sew Along #3

This will come as a complete surprise to Sue, but we are going to start another sew along in January!  This time it will have two main focuses:  the hummingbird and paper piecing.  By designing a free pattern for a small wall hanging, we will encourage you to dust off some skills that you may not use very often.  There seems to be two camps for paper piecing.  Some people love and adore it, while others despise it.  Maybe this sew along can have all of us find some middle ground with tolerance and acceptance.  Perhaps.

Hummingbird focus #1

I have a wonderful theory to share with you about hummingbirds, but will save it for the sew along start.  I have a good friend, Darlene, that introduced me to the plight of hummingbirds.  Later, I’ll share those details as well but for now let me tempt you with a few photos.

These images are from a Google search using the term ‘hummingbird image.’  What struck me most about these four images is their beauty and variety.  The deep green of the first photo with the white-tipped tail is breathtaking.  For the little guy on the right above it seems like he is in camouflage and would blend in while sitting in a bush.

Capturing the extreme quickness of the hummingbird’s wings is depicted so well in the left photo, don’t you think?  Finally, the ability to drink the nectar from a flower while in flight is an amazing ability shared in the photo on the right.

Paper Piecing A Natural Choice

Don’t you just think that a hummingbird is THE natural thing to chose for a small paper piecing project?  You could go just NUTS with intricate, small details.  OR, you could start with a simpler pattern and add more details in the background, ancillary pieces.  I can guarantee you that this pattern will not be the first option.  The usual stress-free, no deadline, join in if you want rules apply just as they have for the first two sew alongs.

In case you are wondering what the first two sew alongs are, here is a link for each with more details:

• Regatta Quilt Sew Along
• Second Sew Along

Since these sew alongs are no pressure, no deadline, no prize and essentially no end they are still ongoing!  If you decide to join in and then change your mind, no worries about that either.  Whatever floats your boat.  However, I think this may be a fun, potentially quick sew along.  I’ll be sharing all my struggles and successes as I recall why I stopped paper piecing in the first place.  Did I just move on because something else caught my eye?  Did I move on because it is frustrating and never went back to it for that very reason?  Only time will tell, because I sure can’t remember why!  I hope you think about joining in, and I’ll remind you later . . . like the end of December!

All of our Linky Parties can be found by clicking the link along the sidebar on our website or in the tab above for more quilting fun – check out what our friends are up to.  Like/follow us on our Facebook page and you can share your photos of what you’re working on.  We would love to see them!

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