Button painting tutorial

5/03/2016

Best of the Nests Giveaway

Which nest do you like best....?  As I was working on a bird nest Saturday I was trying to remember all the nests I had embroidered over the years....most going out in round robins.  But I was able to gather a few pictures.  I wish I had taken more.  And I also realized it had been ages since I did something fun like a giveaway...so I'm combining nests and giveaway...  Just leave a comment on this post and I will pick a name Sunday and the winner will receive this hand painted antique MOP button... painted by me of course.

This was on round robin and I think went to Cathy K.
















This was also a round robin and went to Cobi in the Netherlands.  I don't have a picture of it finished on the block but here it is in progress.  It was one of my favorites. I did the bird in two parts.. the wing separately so it was three dimensional.













This one was on a block I did for my mother years ago.  I loved the button nest and want to do it again.  I had forgotten this one.











I just did this one last winter on my anniversary hanky quilt.











This should be 5... It was on the first cover I did for my beloved featherweight.. All the fabrics were busy prints.  You have to look closely to see the baby birds..











And this one was on the vest I wore to Houston.











And finally the nest I'm working on now.



Do you have a favorite?  Be sure and leave a comment ... you may be the lucky winner of the button!!!!











75 comments:

  1. Well, I couldn't resist leaving a comment :) I like all of your birds and nests must admit. I suppose if I had to make a choice I'd say the one you stitched for Cathy in the round robin. I plan to do some experimenting with creating some of my own birds and nests very soon. As always, thank you for the inspiration :)

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  2. I think I like the first one best although they are all lovely. I need to try this some time....

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  3. It was between the first one and the one you are working on now! Hard choice so I picked the first one! Love the different colors and textures, also the little bird looks like she is happy to sit there waiting for her eggs to hatch! Just love birds! lol

    Robin

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  4. I love #4 and #6. The colors are very calming and they make me smile. They are all very pretty but those are my favorites. Thanks for posting.

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  5. Hi Gerry, I think I like 4 the best of all, the colors are particularly nice to me as well as the lace background above the bird's heads. But then I love all your work!

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  6. Love the three dimensional one you did for Cobi, but they are all so neat. We met a few years back at the retreat in Glastonbury, CT a few years back. I bought some of your buttons.

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  7. Hi Gerry! I like the one that went to Cobi the best. Thanks for the giveaway - - your buttons are awesome.

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  8. All are incredible but #4 just takes the prize. You always amaze me with your talents.

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  9. So hard to pick a favorite as all of your work inspires and delight me. Ok - so if I have to pick I choose #2 - love love love it!

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  10. love all of them,,,,if I had to pick one,,it would be number 4,,,it has a very natural look to it

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  11. I absolutely love #4. The birds are lifelike and the button eggs are perfect. I especially love the use of a doily as the background.

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  12. They are all gorgeous but I can't decide whether I like #1 or #4 the best.

    syvisser@gmail(dot)com

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  13. I think they are all great. But my choice is 2, because in my opinion that one will go best with all of your other blocks with the gold birds.

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  14. lInda H says....
    I really like them all but my preference is number 2 . I feel that it would go the best with your other gold bird blocks.

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  15. #2 I like all the detail her 3dness of the wing and the lovely nest with its light color and little pink flowers.
    Though the robin on the suffregett quilt is another favorite.
    And the goldwork and and
    ok I like them all.

    I'm just answering since I was just there and got lots of giveaways 😊

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  16. They are all so nice..I would love to learn how to make some.

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  17. The Dove on a nest of buttons, pretty pretty.

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  18. They are all lovely but I am partial to #7.

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  19. My favorite is number 4, but they were all lovely.

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  20. Hello Gerry, I like the one you did for the Netherlands, it looks like a lot of work, but actually love them all.

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  21. I think I love the bluebirds best, but they are all lovely. It is hard to surpass a bluebird of happiness, though!

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  22. Wow Gerry, these birds in the next are incredible. You do such lovely work and always coming up with something new. I have s couple of your MOP buttons but find it hard to part with them they are so gorgeous. Would love to win a bird in the next.
    Hugs, Donna

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  23. Number 4 is my favorite, the birds look so content in the nest

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  24. I absolutely LOVE #4. The birds cuddling watching over the eggs and the nest looks awesome with the threads intertwined throughout, giving it a real homemade nest look. :)

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  25. I like #2. Something so cute about that one!

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  26. I like #2 best. It is just too cute!

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  27. They are all lovely and unique. My favorite is #6. She is sitting in this sweet little nest that surrounds her perfectly. She did a great job.

    Your MOP button is really sweet too. Whoever wins will love it.

    FlowerLady

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  28. For me it's definitely the mama Robin and her babies. All your birds are wonderful, but there's something about robins that does it for me (chickadees too).

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  29. Wow they are all beautiful but favorite is the blue birds with eggs in the nest that you did last winter for anniversary hanky quilt. I especially like the use of the doillie as backdrop. Looking forward to finally meeting you in septemper at the retreat.

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  30. I love them and can only imagine the time they took. I love number 3 but really really love number 4.

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  31. They all are just wonderful! Loved the little button nest and the last nest with the addition of sequins. But, my favorite of all is #4 because it is so realistic...it could fool a bird! BRAVO on that accomplishment! Hugs, Kathy

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  32. How much time do I have to decide?!!!! Quick...I think it's the first one that Cathy was lucky enough to receive. Like the whole block that it's tucked onto!

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  33. These are all beautiful! My favorite is #4 the two bluebirds with their eggs. But I must say the the button nest in #3 is some kind of wonderful too! Love your work!

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  34. I can't decide which one I like best as they are all really beautiful.
    Happy Stitching.
    Hugs Katie
    katiebock242@gmail.com

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  35. Have always loved your birds and nests, but I'm partial to the Robin #5! Just love that one! Everyone of them is gorgeous though!

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  36. You're birds are always so lovely. They make my heart happy when I see them!! You are a very talented woman!! Pam Gonzalez

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  37. I think they are all wonderful but 2 is my favorite.

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  38. All your birds and nests are so lovely. HOw I WISH that first one came to me, but it was definitely someone else's block. :-/

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  39. Well,its a toss-up between the button nest and the robin's nest on your Featherweight machine cover....I think the robin's nest wins out.

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  40. I love all of them but the button nest is best of all

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  41. no way could I pick a favourite they are all so beautifully stitched

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  42. What a talent you have; your stitching is beautiful. I love the nests and the detail on the birds is amazing.
    My favourite is no 1 but the white one that you stitched for your mum is stunning xx

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  43. love them all,number 4 is my favorite because it has the most natural look to it

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  44. They are all wonderful! I think my favorite is the button next, I've never seen a button nest before.

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  45. You made that a hard choice, but for me it's the first one..for sure. Love the texture ans, well, I just like it the best.
    Xx, Carol

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  46. They are all wonderful! I would say 1 is my fav followed very, very closely by 4. Of course the others are butting right up behind those two. Always enjoy your work.

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  47. ...even though I missed the deadline ;-)

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  48. wow, I have never seen anything like your birds. they are just wonderful and beautiful.

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  49. #4 - Beautiful depiction of Missouri's state bird! Magnificent!

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  50. Wonderful a give a way
    I like the birds in nest on your anniversary hankie because of the 2 little white buttons that looks like maybe sweet little bird eggs

    My Mom always loved the dishes Birds In A Nest which I have one of

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  51. Definitely number four. I think it the mixture of birds and the lace doily that I love. Thanks Gerry, for sharing all your beautiful birds with us.

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  52. Gerry, you are just too sweet. Choosing a favorite from these is NOT an easy task. I suppose it would be #4 - it's such an adorable pair!

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  53. I am really having a hard time with this one. I like different elements of different nests - and I am focusing on the nests not the birds. In number 1, which I think is really my favorite, I love the little bits of red. That slight variation just makes it seem so alive to me. Mit has a real nests that speaks. The stray bits and bobs sticking out from nest four are wonderful and the only thing I can say about your hold work is, please can I have one too! I love your work and find it really inspiring. I find that following the blogs of crazy quilters, most especially you and Lisa Boni really keeps me motivated to work on my projects and up my game by improving my skills and trying new things. I am a really big bird lover. For years we had bird feeders at the house. However, the bear that cruises our neighborhood has destroyed too many feeders and we have given up. I miss them!

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  54. Gerry, I would have an impossible time trying to pick a favorite.
    I love every single beautiful bird you have created. They are all truly amazing.

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  55. Hi Gerry, #7 is my favorite. It reminds me that all babies depend on their parents for food and shelter.

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  56. THEY ARE WONDERFUL...
    MY FAVORITE IS NUMBER 5.

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  57. Beautiful! I love them all. My favorite is the one you did for Cobi. Thank you for sharing these lovely pieces. Blessings

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  58. The button nest--it's a great way to use single buttons & beads that might otherwise be lost in a seam! Thank you for sharing such a wide variety of "nest ideas" to inspire us.

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  59. They're all gorgeous, but number 4 is so intricate I can't even imagine how you did it.

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  60. The nests and birds are wonderful. What a gift this would be to win.

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  61. All your nests are works of art! With Mother's Day coming up, paired with my love for dragonflies, my favorite is #5, the mother with baby birds as a dragonfly hovers over them. What a beauty! You have a true gift for what you do, and a hand-painted mother-of-pearl button would add to my collection of mother-of-pearl buttons, which were my own Mother's favorites. Every time I buy a bag or jar of buttons, they're what I seek first, and I feel my precious mother's spirit searching for them with me. Funny how something as simple as a button can blanket me with such sweet memories. Only another button lover might understand that.

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  62. They are all so beautiful and you are so talented! I love #4 but would be happy with any of your creations! Thanks for offering the give-away.

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  63. I love #4, of I also like #3 and #1. Thank you for this great giveaway.

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  64. I love your bluebirds. I couldnt resist leaving a comment. I am a HUGE fan of your artwork and would be happy with anything...

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  65. Thank you for sharing your love of buttons, all of the birds are worth coveting - had a comment thought out but now I'm just going to say ditto what Doreen said :)

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  66. It was fun to see all the pictures with the different approaches to the bird in nest theme. I like the last one best. A gold nest may not be naturalistic but it sure is pretty.

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  67. Tough choice, but I love the button nest the best. So clever.

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  68. My favourite is #3, the button nest. The others are very close seconds. They're so beautiful.

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  69. Buttons and nests ! What could be better. I love #1...and #2, oh wait !!! #3 and #4..noooo wait...#5. Uh, make that #6. Wait wait ! #7 !!!! Okay, I admit, I can not choose. They are all wonderful.

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  70. I've looked through several times...very hard decision. I think I must say the one you sent to lucky Cathy on a RR block! Just love the touch of color in there as I'm always leaving little bits of threads "around" in my travels hoping a little bird will one day find it.

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  71. I always love your inspiration, and seeing the gorgeous buttons..im surprised you don't hear me ohhhing and ahhhing while reading your posts...firstly I hope you have a happy mothers day..may it be filled with sunshine and birdsong...speaking of birds...I adore number 4...its so sweet with the parents watching over their precious eggs...thanks for the chance to win a button....big ladybug hugs lynn

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  72. Hi Geri, I had the pleasure of meeting at the quilters weekend in Connecticut a few years ago. In fact, you painted a portrait of my precious grandson on a button for me. I love all your nests, but my favorite is the one you did on your hankie quilt. And how I'd love to win that beautiful button! Hope all is well with you and yours. Warmest best wishes from NJ and RI!

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  73. OMG, I just discovered your blog. I'm sure you have already had your give a way but I had to comment anyway. I love all of these but I think #4 is my favorite. Now that I have found you I will be looking for your posts.
    clehlers@kanokla.net

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