Thursday, June 1, 2017

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies

Kaleidoscope of Butterflies
It's a top!

It doesn't at all look like the free pattern I used called Ghost Moth. 

four light blocks in the middle

I used some floral pieces left over from a couple of other projects to make the butterflies.  I have a bad habit of making blocks but don't pay any attention to VALUE especially when working with scraps.  So when it is time to put blocks into a top it's sometimes difficult to arrange them so they look right.  I also don't usually lay blocks out on a design wall or floor to arrange them because I learned a long time ago that I'm never satisfied and spent too much time arranging and rearranging.  So I usually just randomly sew blocks together.     This time I just arranged things a little in my head before I started sewing blocks together.   I could see there were four very light blocks so decided to keep those in the middle and keep the darker blocks on the outside.   I also knew there were several red blocks that I decided I should try to evenly distribute throughout.   So before I started sewing blocks together I kind of had  vision in my head of how blocks should be sewn together then I grabbed and sewed.     A normal person probably would have eliminated those lightest of blocks and made replacements that blend better but who is normal?   And in nature butterflies don't care who they flutter with as far as I can see so why worry about them in a quilt? 

I guess I have sort of a cottage style flower garden and that's the same method I use when quilting. 

trying to keep red blocks evenly distributed

trying to keep red blocks evenly distributed

trying to keep red blocks evenly distributed


And as for real butterflies...what is the one weed you should never pull if it pops up here and there in your gardens? 

food of larval monarch butterflies

I've  seen a lot of it here and there this year.   This piece and some wild raspberries popped up in a section of my flower garden.   I have a lot of it in my strawberry patch. 

Time to link up some butterfly or kaleidoscope related news! 




11 comments:

Kaja said...

I have always admired your ability to turn out such great quilts without a quilting wall/floor. This time, I think holding the placing of the reds/darks/lights in your head has resulted in a really well balanced quilt. I love this block too.

Julierose said...

Oh I love the look of your version...it is much more in keeping with my style of "old fashioned" quilt appearance that I strive to achieve with these new fabrics.... It looks like a quilt and not a wall piece. I like this type of quilt for a bed quilt--comforting...not such a fan of the "modernist" look--altho they are beautiful in their own right...just sayin' hugs, Julierose

Monica said...

This really turned out well. I would do it in florals like this too -- it is so pretty and cheerful. Great flimsy! And sooo tempting...

---"Love" said...

I think your fluttering butterflies are lovely to see! Nice job! ---"Love"

Mystic Quilter said...

Oh this is lovely, the butterflies are so true to life!

gayle said...

I love your flutterbys! (And after seeing this, I'm even more glad that I've printed out this pattern and have it ready to go, because you've given me a bad case of butterfly envy!!)

Linda said...

Interesting to read how you put the butterfly blocks together, clever how you keep the picture of the plan of the blocks in your head.

mangozz said...

It's amazing what you did with that pattern. Yours looks so much better. You should send them a photo and maybe they will use it on their site.

Cathy said...

Your butterflies look perfect to me! Great quilt top!!

Janie said...

Super lovely! Great work Cathy.

Louise said...

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who isn't always thinking ahead about value or block placement. The scrappiness just takes care of all that, right? All I can say is, it seems to be working really well for you! This quilt is just lovely, full of floral fluttery freshness.