Barn Owl

The Barn owl was made with tsukineko inks on muslin fabric, and the tree was made with fabrics and thread painted.

I've been making domestic and wildlife animal quilts and textile pieces for several years. My Lynx, Ram (big horned sheep), and plocar bears are a few of my favorites. I never made a bird or raptor, so I started collecting photos of various owls and have come to appreciate their ability to blend into their habitat perfectly as camouflage.

I sent in an idea for a SAQA theme challenge for the Calls for Entry/Exhibits at their request and my suggestion was: Camouflage. They chose this as a Global Exhibition premiering at the Houston International Quilt Show 2024, and traveling for 3 years. I was so happy they chose my theme, and look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries!

I made "Barn Owl" as an entry. I started with the Barn owl as part of a class project in tukineko inks with June Jaeger at the Sisters, Oregon Quilters Affair, class. I loved the finished owl and decided to work it into a piece. I set the owl on a branch of a tree of my own design made with fabrics, lace, organza (leaves), and thread painting. I love to do thread painting on most of my wildlife pieces.

I entered this piece into the Arizona Quilt Show this year and won 2nd place in the Art/Innovative category! Yeah! I was very pleased and excited!

It's been a wonderful journey with this barn owl. I plan to do a few more owls, like the Snowy Owl set in an arctic scene with Ptamigans (bird) and an Ermine, and another piece with Great horned owlettes and parent in a nest in the Sonoran Desert on a rock cliff face. Both of these are already in the process of being made. I've painted the backgrounds, on blues on white denim for the Artic scene, and rusty oranges and brown paint on canvas for the Sonoran desert piece. I love to paint my backgrounds, so I have full control of colors and placement!

I hope you enjoyed reading about my inspiration and process for the barn owl, and about some of my future projects.

Maker: Leilani Purvis

Quilter: Leilani Purvis

Year Made: 2023

Owned By: Leilani Purvis

Size: 60 x 60 inches

Shows & Museums: Arizona Quilt Show 2024

Awards: Second Place Art/Innovative