![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTghthwDdVpVQd6sXWEdg8ohaMuF1TC9WvEHy3g-Fsd74RFe4FowmNTLbzQaSk8cLxLFbsBb5CUNpXim9rtzmDsamJ7hn8eNIv62R0w1w_eLXbs8whElWleVOtMRftoS6nfSbLkVSJ3CM/s400/orchid2.jpg)
I made a lot of progress today on my first orchid piece for the Fiber Art Options’ project we are hoping to turn into a traveling exhibition. After heat setting the paint with an iron, I trimmed out the painted orchid and hand appliqued it to a black background. I then layered it with batting (wool/poly) and an upholstery-weight backing, and pin basted it. You can see all the layers here:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaanCe8SCI4fgOFqwQ5Qf00JGl60Qz8luugFXFzbf5mktm5z-9YX_bOuA20zhHchVm0eHcScQHuzrM6NFSqMCCxxChFLqkZ8D56SGm3dpYA-mJzGIBb6fwj3qqytu1USfWW8Bhh-GQ5Q/s400/orchid1.jpg)
Then I started machine quilting it, using 50 weight Aurifil Cotton Mako thread, which I love for this kind of work.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBVJ9jv8jUPDzn5Zo4dWZMDM0XcejP0eStgKmcO6bEXSzH_rlbxMPV7IK_bEazU6EZHBX2u96RcsK-mRGxzBNQCjKn4mWOUOIoAdFame5q8qNpwHxJh4oP9mG0RrjThlrdFSTkzkFaQo/s400/orchid3.jpg)
I added a slight suggestion of leaves in the background, but left it pretty much alone. I’m trying to decide if this is enough detail in the background. If I get up tomorrow morning and it still looks okay to me, I’ll finish it up and face it.
Here’s how it looks now:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KGBNtaFp2rzzDzqc4YSQfGrS84lXWNsYPTuHX7ZXhYsPm_VEe1hsmFz7MmDWp3PLZTPti_z5K0dBem7Rlia7ErENm7FQOgOTTu8EFb_18Td-o0XRDViN35dPfmfviw4HkAfaSX8h5pQ/s400/orchid4.jpg)
This last photo was taken outside, so the colors are pretty true.