Spirit of Detroit

Pattern Source

The Teds and I were all born in Detroit, and I wanted to create a block based on a typical symbol of our hometown. The Spirit of Detroit is a landmark in downtown Detroit. It was created by sculptor Marshall Fredericks. Here is the photo I used to create my template.

Block Title

There is no better name than "Spirit of Detroit" for this block!

This Leg of the Journey – Completed October 2007

I spent many hours drafting the template design for this block, and I put off starting it because I thought it would never quite work. I was thrilled at how well it turned out, thanks in great part to the batik fabric!

Lesson Learned

I love to use batik fabrics, and in this case I found a batik that perfectly represented the patinated bronze of the statue. I also learned that sometimes embroidery is the way to add tiny details. The family that the Spirit is holding is embroidered, as are the sun's rays. I used gold DMC floss, and then added detail with black silk and metallic gold thread. Below is a close-up of the embroidered family.