Backyard Feeder Friends

Dimensions: 23" x 30"
Materials: #2- and #3-cut wool on Scottish burlap
Designed and hooked by Bernice Howell, Beltsville, Maryland, 1996.
Featured in: Celebration VII

Backyard Feeder Friends is a reflection of Bernice Howell's interest in bird watching. "We have several feeders in our backyard and are fascinated watching the activity as different birds come to eat," she says. Watching them at close range has enabled her to learn their markings and shapes. "Birds are fascinating, beautiful, and delightful," Bernice says, "and I wanted to try to capture some of that in a hooked piece."

"I decided to put the birds on an espalier so I could more easily highlight some of their most distinguishing characteristics," she explains. She chose to show the ones she sees over and over again at the feeders, although "the towhee is not a regular visitor. Last winter on a snowy morning, one appeared on the window ledge and looked into our kitchen. All winter I fed him and two other towhees on the ground just below the window, [so] I just had to include him."
- Bernice Howell, Celebration Hall of Fame 2018
(Note: This rug description was taken as an excerpt from the published Celebration entry.)