Joan Brailsford – Nature #3
Insects – Dragonfly
Insects are my inspiration for the next pair of quilts, and in this first one I am also inspired by the dragonflies that hover and hunt around pond margins.
Dragonflies have extremely complicated compond eyes that are very sensitive to their surroundings. I wanted to depict how I imagine they see the world by using small hexagons in the colours of water and vegetation that comprise the dragonfly’s world. I used a mixture of fabrics to depict the scene and added these to a background of hand dyed fabrics, blue for the sky and pale green for the vegetation. I added straight lines of machine quilting and couched threads to depict the strands of reeds that the dragonflies perch briefly on while they are hunting.
The dragonflies were made by wrapping thin slices of wadding with sari silk ribbon, then wrapping and stitching these. I made the wings from Angelina fibres for all three insects, and for the large insect I mounted these onto a fine sinamay fabric to give them added stability with additional silver thread stitching for density. I used beads for the compund eyes on the large insect and metallic thread French knots for the smaller ones.
Finally I added a few fine stitches to depict the flies that the dragonflies hunt, and some wispy grass heads.
Detail views:
Original pictures:
FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN 
Lovely work, great use of the hexagons, how time consuming! I admire the way that you have related the background to the dragonflies point of view. I love it!
The interpretation of the vision of dragonflies through the hexagons is intelligent and successful. An excellent composition and choice of colours. The making of the wings is splendid. Lovely work.
From the delicacy of the work and the colours, I knew straight away it was your work! The hexagons blend into the background fabric so well and I love the way you’ve done the dragonflies! well done!
Oh, I love the way you made the water with the hexagons, it looks like water with the reflection of the sun on it. Beautiful attention to details and quilting. Bravo!
The way you work is very interesting. You go into the smallest details in tiny layers. And the coloring is so suitable for the story.
Unexpected use of hexagons makes your story very interesting. Now I really wonder how the dragonflies see the world? Your attention to details is extraordinary and your stitching, as always, perfect.
What a brilliant idea – the world through an insect’s eye. Great use of hexagons and such a wonderful, calm colour palette. The little insects are very cleverly made. Excellent.
You have chosen an innovative method of displaying the view through a dragonfly’s eye. Your attention to detail is amazing!
How wonderfully creative to use those hexagons as the way the dragonflies see the world! The colors are beautiful and so representative of a pond. the stitching is lovely. A gorgeous piece of work!
This is such a creative way to depict the way the dragonfly sees the world.
I love how you made your dragonflies and the angelina wings. As always such an attention to detail. Beautiful.
Beautiful colors + beautiful technique = beautiful quilt!!!
I love it.
Wow, such a unique idea and interpretation. You’ve created a warm, breezy, tranquil feel for the fluttering dragonflies and so beautifully executed. Bravo!