Quilting "Fly Be Free"

Remember Mork and Mindy back in the day when Mork  learned birds begin life inside an egg then threw an egg in the air and said " Fly Be Free." Well... thats where this title comes from. Such a talent for the ages...
I had painted this little bird a while back ( mini therapy during the hubby in wheelchair days)  .. now to quilt!  I painted this little bird on a light value yellow stonehenge and decided I liked the fringed out bottom edge and wanted to incorporate it in the finished piece...  so the question in addition to "how to quilt?" was also " how to sandwich?"

 First... before sandwich time I marked an on point double grid behind the bird. I LOVE frixion pens.
Then I stitched the top edge of the fringe to the backing where I also placed a finished edge at the bottom.. THEN inserted batting.

 I secured the bird and limb with .004 monofilament.  I liked the bird surface and didn't think threading to be necessary. Now to quilt. Free motioned grid done. (I use a heat blower to erase the frixion pen  lines).

Next the lower area: There was not a clear pattern in the painting so I kept it sort of ethereal... not too formal on purpose. I think that made a nice contrast to the structured grid.

I thought the side areas  might look okay using linear vertical curves...

Then the very top  an open circular pattern I call Curly Q.

I'm pleased with the overall. ( The dots on the lower edge are markings on my cutting table... duh...   looks like beads tho... Nope!

Next post.. I'll face this puppy.. i.e. birdie.