When it comes to wildlife paintings, John James Audubon is a well-known name. Working in the 18th and 19th centuries, Audubon set out to paint and document every species that he encountered. At the time, conservation and stewardship efforts were non-existent. Audubon's enthusiastic and tireless work set a standard for conservation, a legacy that endures today.

Bring the beauty and magnificence of Audubon's work to your embroidery projects with an exciting new line of designs. 2012 is going to be a wild year with new designs every month that have been adapted from Audubon's original plates.

This month we're featuring Audubon's American Flamingo. Audubon saw his first flamingo in 1832 when he was exploring the Florida Keys. He was transfixed by the unusual coloring of the birds. He painted the bird in the foreground a blazing shade of pink, and muted the colors of the other birds in the background. Audubon was also impressed with the bird's size. Because he wanted to draw the feathers in such detail, he positioned the bird with its head down, so it would take up less space.

The design is below, available in four sizes. Click on the link to the size that you need, and add the design to your basket.