Kookaburra Cross-body Bag

Laughing Kookaburras are common across SE Australia, known for their territorial calls. This 'kooka' is painted using pearlescent and 'normal' fabric paint, to highlight the white chest and wing feathers.
The kookaburra is part of a design by Helen Godden. I have painted it on undyed calico, then quilted around it to give it shape. Outside the bird panel I free-motion quilted designs in the four quadrants, using a variegated brown cotton thread. The four quadrants represent common plants and animals in the kooka's environment (spiders, snails, ferns and flowers).
The reverse shows kookaburras among gum trees, lightly quilted. The lining is a golden cream, with tiny flowers, and the strap is a leaf batik. The strap has cream machine embroidery along its length.
The bag measures about 31 cm square, and the strap is 126 cm long.
The fabric is cotton, as is the wadding in the strap. The wadding in the bag is polyester, and the paint has been heat set. Cold water washing is recommended, and do not tumble dry.