Georgia is known for its hot and sticky (or is it glistening?) summers, and this one's no exception. Honestly, this time of year I find it hard to muster the desire to quilt. 

So, needing an alternate creative outlet, I picked up a new-to-me tool for the iPad - the drawing stylus, Pencil by 53 - and immediately fell in love. I wasn't sure what to do with it at first, but it sure was fun to hold and scribble. At the time I got started (early May of this year), the app I use didn't have much in the way of tutorials or help files, so it became sort of a treasure hunt to unlock the features and uses of the tools available. I started with some doodles (really more like finger painting) but felt I needed a subject to focus on in order to develop a solid technique and mastery of the digital drawing tools.

 Clarence in The Cotton Patch

About this time Clothworks was announcing a new fabric line to be released later this summer - Ramble & Roost by Betsy Olmsted (OMG! This is really pretty fabric and I can't wait for it to hit the shop, but in the meantime ... ) - I was struck by the personality of Betsy's owls and realized BIRDS could make for a nice wide array of subject matter to practice and hone my skill with the stylus. INSPIRATION struck!

Rosie the Spoonbill, Wilma the Whimbrel and Orson the Scaled Quail

I started drawing birds. First up an owl or two and then soon expanded to some old and newly-discovered favorites. 

Friends started asking for prints so I decided to set these birds free by way of printed note and post cards. Take a look and let me know what you think. I'm also open to ideas and requests. What started as a temporary project has become a true love and there are many more birds to explore!