This illustration from Pocketful of Posies is for the rhyme, Hickety, pickety, my black hen, she lays eggs for gentlemen. My descriptions will be brief, as I’m working hard to finish all of the borders for the upcoming traveling show. The colors vary in this series of photos becuase I took them at different times of day, under different lighting conditions. The color green is famously difficult to reproduce anyways. Here’s the fabric relief piece sewn to foam core board, before a border was attached. Yes, I made the egg basket, by wrapping and coiling wire around and around. Pretty obsessive, but necessary!
The arched hen-house is made with bittersweet vine, with driftwood floor boards.
The border need a little punch, so I sewed some purple perle cotton around the outside edges.
The embroidered leaves could also be seen as feathers.
The hen’s nest is made from some curly excelsior packing material and her feathers are highlighted with purple metallic thread.
This coloring is more true to the original piece.
Note: See other posts from the Pocketful of Borders series here.
SALLEY MAVOR 
I just love her!
Raffia might have made for less work and a real look of straw. I admire your tenacity in wrapping those yards of wire!!
I think that raffia would be more work because I’d have take the time to learn how to work with it and the scale is not small or fine enough. I like to adapt the materials and skills I have to what I need.
Salley,
You are nothing short of incredible. Another amazing piece. Love the blog and your artwork.
You really are a master of color. What a gorgeous combination! Love the dark colors in the hen and the red really pops out and livens up the whole thing!
Oh, what a fantastic chicken and nest!!! The nest is simply wonderful!!!!
Salley,
You continue to delight and amaze me, I just adore the hen sitting in her wonderful little nest. I can’t wait to get my hands on the book next month.
That hen is a work of art. I can see her personality shinning through.
I agree raffia would have been too heavy – the wire is perfect on the nest as is the feather stitching on the hen. Such a beautiful scene!
This little hen is so amazing..her details and fine stitching bring her to life. Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart
Hi Salley,
Have you seen this blog post about your book and your work? http://www.needlenthread.com/
Dorothy, thank you for letting me and my readers know!
The combination of textures and colors is so lovely…your stitching is so meticulous! Lots of bittersweet around here. I will not look at it again with out thinking of that graceful arch.
Really love the little hen. She has personality and such a cute face!
I have pre-ordered this book from Amazon months ago. Can’t wait to get it. Your work is incredible.
I just discovered your blog. I am ordering your books – Wee Felt Folks and Pocketful of Borders for me! Where can I find a list of places your traveling show will be?
Welcome, Maria. To see the show schedule, go to the traveling exhibit page of my blog: https://weefolk.wordpress.com/pocketful-of-posies-a-traveling-exhibit/