Song Bird - Shyamala Rao

“Where we wish, we go”

This quilt idea is derived from the sonnets (heroic crown of sonnets) 'Jonathan Livingston seagull' a fable written by Richard Bach. 

Seagull is a favourite subject for me as I live in a coastal city, with the vast Arabian Sea bordering my little town with up-teen beaches. Seagulls are a great part of bird life in this part of the country. 

I specially loved the set of sonnets because, that is the struggle in many of our lives too. To do something different, to prove oneself, yet to be with the rest of the folk. 

Tied from so many bindings in life-like surroundings, upbringing and so many other factors, it is always a struggle to be free and do much more like Jonathan and uplift others too. I applaud Jonathan for daring to free himself to reach greater heights. 

“Where we wish, we go” This is the title of my quilt as well as the tag line of this story. 

“Jonathan Livingston Seagull” is an inspiration and role model to everyone who wishes to achieve something in life.

So I wanted to do a piece in a picture story telling style.

I was thinking of my grandkids and I can  read the poem and provide them the visuals through my quilt. 

I printed part of the poems on fabric and incorporated it in the quilt. 

To give honour to Jonathan and support his thoughts I made him a 3D character and put him on the finished piece, keeping his wings free. 

Pastel paints, raw edge appliqué, free motion quilting are the techniques used.