Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies 19

How crazy that although I've made several kaleidoscope quilts I've never made a butterfly quilt. Time to change that. There are several options to choose including Cathy's lovely waste butterflies but, in the spirit of reducing my small pieces, I think I'll make a different one. I've been comparing tutorials from Mrs. Schmenkman and Rita at Red Pepper Quilts. Both used black backgrounds which certainly set the other fabrics off well.  There was a yard of solid blue in my stash which might resemble the sky. I started pulling some fabric. Easy peasy small quilt of about 40-50 blocks.

Then I noticed some fabric intended for a shirt... and I need a shirt. The pattern was not in my new {clear} bin so I had remember where it was. That was an experience. Finally found it behind the DVD storage boxes. How did it ever end up there? You'd think I'd been hiding it. At the bottom was a large set of 2.5" strips cut for a Rachel Clark coat class. It's been sitting here for twenty years.

Vintage strips should make good toddler quilts

Even if it doesn't look like it, almost half of this fabric is green and I have some young friends who like green. The old bait-and-switch still works. Off to make Mini Trips. Hopefully I'll start the butterfly blocks next month. Does anyone else want to join in?

This article about a parasite that attacks monarch butterflies was posted recently. The highest infection rate is in the non-migratory butterflies in Florida and unfortunately there is no cure.

Swallowtail butterflies were busy collecting nectar in the Uncompahgres. QS took the best photo.

Swallowtail tiger butterfly in Uncompahgre National Forest

This butterfly emerged from its chrysalis during our visit to Denver's Butterfly Pavilion.



Kaja made some wonderful points about adding words to quilts. There's quite a difference between planning the wording from the beginning and adding it at the end. Is there are way to combine words with butterflies? I'll have to think about that, too.

Enjoy the day, Ann

InLinkz removed because it was hacked.

16 comments:

Goofin' Off Around the Block said...

I love the colors of those 2-1/2" strips. They will look fantastic in a quilt. Happy sewing! --Andrea

Kaja said...

Great photos! I still haven't persuaded anything to sit still long enough to get a picture.

Ann said...

Thanks, Andrea. I thought I'd done a good job clearing and cleaning this spring but keep finding more stuff tucked in odd places. It's a bit embarrassing

Ann said...

Ha. My sister took the first with her special lens. The second was in a pavilion. Between the high humidity, heat, large flowers of nectar, and lack of predators, they move a bit more slowly. You can hardly miss there; like shooting fish in a barrel.

Monica said...

Lol, sounds so familiar! Oh well, it will be fun to see your older fabrics too. Maybe I'll recognize one or two!

Janie said...

Thanks Ann and Cathy for hosting Kaleidoscope of butterflies.
I see your stack of fabrics you are prepared for action!
Thanks for the links both the tutorials are done well.
I might have to start another butterfly quilt, I think I'm hooked.

Ann said...

Good to know I have a twin out there. Ha. Moving from idea to idea seemed so logical at the time (Squirrel) until I realized how many things I'd picked up and set aside. Finding the strips in the old pattern box was the last straw. I vaguely recall putting them with the pattern but no idea why the box was tucked away. Yikes. I'm getting old.

Ann said...

I think yours is just lovely. So understated but lots of movement. Love the fabric choices you made. If I can ever clear these old bits out of the way I want to start a butterfly project, too. Ha.

Cathy said...

I had to look up Rachel Clark coat...oh my goodness! Pretty wild!
Those two butterfly blocks look like lots of trimming and waste. I just used a Beggar's Block (little 3 inch spools) for my Vintage Butterfly quilt...easy peasy and no waste BUT wings aren't as nicely angled as those other tutorials. Have fun (when you get around to a butterfly quilt)! And that monarch parasite sounds nasty. I have wild milkweed here and THOUGHT I saw a couple of Monarchs fluttering around it but they are never around for photo shoots.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

It will be interesting to see your 'older' fabrics morph into butterflies! I recognise one fabric! The idea about adding words to a quilt is something I have never tried. Love your last flutterby pic!

Mystic Quilter said...

Such lovely colours here Ann, amazing what can be found in the strangest of places!
I would be up for joining you with a butterfly quilt, goodness knows I am being overwhelmed with love KF scraps, they'd make beautiful butterflies. So, September start? Good job not this month I have lots to work on!

Shelina (formerly known as Shasta) said...

I'm still working on clearing and organizing stuff. I was trying to clear out the deep recesses of the house, but then the visible areas cried out for attention. Have to go back into the depths soon. That Denver butterfly is so striking!

Ann said...

Sorry I forgot to add a link, Cathy. Thanks for the reminder. She is such a talented sewer and teacher. I was so sad when she retired.
These butterfly blocks do require trimming but I like the way the edges of the butterfly aren't the corner of the block. It seems to add a different effect. I had milkweed but we had a heat wave while I was out of town and it died back. Grr.

Ann said...

How funny you recognize some of these fabrics. They are all 15+ years. Yikes. We've both been quilting a long while.
I'm scared and excited to add words to a quilt. It's time to stretch.

Ann said...

I was so embarrassed to find these fabrics stuffed in the "wrong" box although I wouldn't have remembered why they were cut if they hadn't been stored with the pattern.
I hope you will join me making butterflies next month. Your KFs will make wonderful wings - so colorful. And hopefully, I won't find any more lost UFOs.

Ann said...

Sadly, I thought I'd gone through everything. Yes. It's hard to clear out the innards while the public areas get dustier and grimier. And how does this stuff get stuck in the depths?