Cherry blossom, framed paper quilling art

I was writing this post when the news came about the tragedy in Japan. Like many other's, my thoughts, heart and prayers are with the people of Japan. For those looking for ways to donate to support the disaster relief efforts, here are a few links:
- Japanese Red Cross (via Google)
- American Red Cross
- British Red Cross
About five months ago I was asked to create a large-size quilling picture featuring the Japanese flowering cherry — Sakura, and birds. I was able to find and buy a deep frame measuring 19 5/8 x 19 5/8 inch (50x50cm). This is my first work in such a large format. Before starting to work on actual quilling, I looked at tons of books and Web resources on Japanese art in search of inspiration. As this was a custom-tailored work for a client, I sent her a variety of sketches to choose from. She liked this one, but asked for red birds.

After agreeing on a sketch, I could start quilling. First, I made a plenty of flowers with eccentric coils for the petals, using narrow pink strips, only 1/16"-wide (1.5mm).

The flower centers were made of tiny fringed flowers with a pink base and yellow fringe. In the photo below, the grid lines are at the distance of 1cm apart.


Then I shaped the eccentric coils into "teardrops" and attached five petals to each flower center I have made. To add dimension to the flowers, I glued the petals at an angle. In order to do so, I used a circles template to hold the flowers until the glue has dried completely. You may put something underneath the template to place it even higher, to achieve the angle you want.

Next, I outlined the tree branches on a square sheet of thick light-blue paper, and placed the flowers to see if I had enough of them. Then I made some half-open flowers out of three pink petals each, and also closed buds. The latter were created with three-dimensional quilling using pink and brown strips. For this quilling project I used the total of 44 completely open flowers, 14 half-open flowers and 8 closed buds, which means I had to make 262 eccentric coils :) I also made light-green leaves out of 1/16"-wide (1.5mm) paper strips.

To make the birds, I first drew them on a separate sheet of paper. Then I put the sketch onto a cork board covered with plastic wrap for assembling. For the birds I used 1/8"-wide (3mm) paper strips in different tints of red.

When the birds were ready, I started mounting them onto the picture. First, I glued onto the background the sitting bird on the far right. Then I began creating branches of the cherry tree by rolling "tendrils" around a long needle tool. For these I used 1/16"-wide strips (1.5mm) in tints of brown.

When the branches were finished, I mounted all the buds, leaves, flowers, and the remaining two birds. The right-hand side of the picture looked too empty to me, so I decided to add also a bumble-bee.

For this picture I used both home-cut and precut quilling strips. My husband helped me cut the matting. It has a beveled edge (at 45 degrees) which I dyed with golden acrylic paint.

Comments
Классно! Особенно нравятся веточки, изгиб очень натуральный и витушки клевые =) Объемный хвостик у птички классный - очень живо. И полосатый мух тоже весьма живописен.
Здорово!
what did you do that well done great!
Greetings Baukje
Paula
Congratulation for everything you do!
Я бы фон какой-то добавила для большей реалистичности.
www.anandhirajansartsncrafts.blogspot.com
Sonia
http://cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.com
All I can say about your work is, It's Beautiful!!! Lovely :)
FELICITATIONS
your work is so beautiful that actually i am at loss for words,the detailing and the amount of work involved is lovely ,totally love it.
Ну до чего же изящная работа!
Nati(from Brazil)
http://myquillingplanet.blogspot.com/2011/02/start-vot.html
I invite you to check out mine...
Cheers :)
Dear readers! Thank you very much for your comments, I really appreciate your kindness! Unfortunately, I’ve been very busy lately and created very few new works. Thanks for keeping following my blog and not abandoning me:)
the pink flowers are cute .
thanks for sharing the tutorial with us.
Светлана, спасибо огромное!
I loved their work, are very creative and very original.
Visit my blog.
Greetings from Brazil.
Roberto
María Jesús
Precioso trabajo. Acabo de hacerme seguidora de tu blog. Felicidades por tus creaciones. Me han encantado los pajaros en color rojo.
María Jesús
how are you?
I come to say hello and tell you that I had just opened a new website:
www.lascreations.over-blog.com
currently there are no quilling but I reassure you, there will, I can not abandon this technique so wonderful!
Besides, I think this Japanese tree is a marvel, bravo!
I kiss you and goodbye
Thank you very much! I love your quilling.
@L"As Creations
Thanks a lot! Your new website is very beautiful.
http://divya-art-room.blogspot.com
Love & Hugs
Divya
I like very much your creations .
Hugs,
Melissa D
mkds312@hotmail.com
sleeplesswonder.blogspot.com
Teddie
Avni
@Niveditha,
I've explained it briefly in the post.
S