Oh, Deer!

I guess the inspiration came when I got this hanging out for fall decorating. 

 I made this a few years ago:

I have an abundance of scraps, and following my surgery, 

realized I could make a background similar to the hanging, even one handed. 

I put a backing on my long arm sewing machine, followed by some batting. 

I began placing scraps on the batting, overlapping the edges. 

Then I sewed vertical and horizontal lines to hold the fabric pieces..

Having decided I would put a deer head on the fabric, adorned with bells,

I found this embroidery design:

I "auditioned" several fabrics for the deer cutout. 

I sketched the deer head, ironed on a fusible backing,

and had a friend cut it out. The Mister is left-handed.  I can only use my left hand.

Neither of us could use my right handed scissors!

I used the cutout to plan where to put bells hanging from the antlers.

I added a border, ironed on the deer and added bows and bells to the ribbons. 

...and what makes me so proud of this piece? 

I could not grip anything with my right hand, except between my fingers. I could not use my thumb, or pinch anything between my thumb and fingers on my right hand.  Most all of the work was accomplished with my left hand. I did the hand sewing with my left hand (with plenty of needle pokes on my right fingers!)

But, I finished it, and I'm happy to hang it up as a Christmas decoration in our home.