by Karen Suzuki
"This beautiful hand stitched pigeon, inspired by the wood pigeons that visit my garden, is one of my favourite things to make. Over a cotton base form with partial wiring for legs, feet and tail, small altered pieces of fabric are applied to the surface with vigorous, visible stitching. There is extensive surface work, the appliquéd pieces altered by teasing out fibres and distressing the fabrics. This gives it the ragged, tattered appearance of a bird that has survived life in the city - although the wonderful fabrics used suggest it is also quite a posh bird. Its length beak to tail is 36cm, height 24cm."