Friday, May 21, 2010

My First Blogger's Quilt Festival Entry!!



Hi, all!

Wow, this is exciting - my first quilt festival entry!  And what a great idea to make it in "blogworld"!  




This quilt is part of a group of quilts I am making for a silent auction the first Saturday in June.  My daughter and son-in-law are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia, which can be a very expensive process.  They are well on their way - they've made it to the waiting list so we're probably just a few short months from having a new grandchild to join the adorable Lilli!!  Lilli is two and a half and my almost constant companion, at least Monday through Thursday during the day while her parents are at work.  We have a wonderful time sewing (she'd like to use my sewing machine with the power on, but I think she's just a little too young for that yet!)  She has her own little stack of "quilts" in the hall closet - I can't wait until she's old enough to really put one together!




So anyway, my contribution includes this quilt, which I call "Breakout Butterflies".  My granddaughter, who serves as my #1 encourager and critic, immediately pronounced it playworthy - I almost didn't think I would get it back from her - so hopefully some child will also love it well!  The butterflies are appliqued on top of the quilted top and the backing, with baby rick-rack outlining and antennae.  




As you can see in the picture of the backing, I outlined both butterflies with stitching then quilted up to the outline, creating a "ghost butterfly" on each side.  I love the bright colors in this quilt, and sure wish I had remembered to take a picture of the bound quilt before I gave it to my daughter for safe-keeping!  I used the bright blue print of the four-patch squares for the binding and it really makes the border look complete.


What did I learn from making this quilt?  That piecing the back is a great place for creative expression - even though it sometimes feels like more work than piecing the pattern on the front!!   (If you are interested in seeing the other quilts I'm making for the auction, check back  - I've got three more ready to quilt and bind and should be posting pictures of them in the next week or so.)


Hopefully soon I'll be posting a picture of my new grandchild so you all can see one of the benefits of this quilt!   I hope you'll join me then in welcoming him or her to the family!

Thanks for checking out my entry in the Bloggers Quilt Festival - enjoy browsing all the great quilts!!

Later!

Sarah

20 comments:

  1. Sarah,

    Lovely quilt. The butterfly is wonderful.

    Carol

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  2. Adorable! I love the front and the back and I think the "ghost" quilting was very clever.

    Good luck with the auction!

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  3. Lovely! I enjoy piecing the back almost as much as piecing the front! I think it is fun to add a little bit from the front design to the back. :)

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  4. That's such a cheery, happy quilt! I love the butterfly with the baby rickrack trim. I hope all goes well and that you'll be meeting your new grandchild soon. How exciting!

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  5. Beautiful quilt front and back. Congratulations

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  6. Sarah, I never get tired to seeing that butterfly.

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  7. Greetings from Bellevue. Hope you did not get hit too hard by the flood.
    I love the quilt. Butterflies are one of my favorite applique symbols.

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  8. I love your whimsical quilt. The use of the rickrack for the butterfly is very creative not to mention the ghost butterfly too! Wishing you the best when your new addition arrives.

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  9. This is beautiful Sarah! Chase and I are so interested to hear how their adoption process goes!

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  10. Great quilt with a great story!

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  11. such a cheery quilt! I love the addition of the butterflies. Hope your new grandchild arrives safely home soon!

    many blessings ~ T

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  12. Fantabulous quilt and awesome story. Sew On!

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  13. Wonderful quilt. Love the ric rac on the butterfly!

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  14. Lovely Butterflies .... my hopes & wishes go to you & yours .... Can't wait to see your new grandchild ...
    Bless

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  15. That is one lovely quilt. the butterflies are cute. yep the back of a quilt is like a blank canvas.

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  16. a great quilt and the story is so compelling. hope you soon have another grandbaby to hold and cuddle in another quilt. anxious to see the other quilts for the auction

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  17. That's a lovely bright, happy quilt and you're very clever using the ric-rac for the outline and antennae.

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  18. Such a cheery quilt! Love the appliqued butterfly. I'm positive some child will love this quilt.

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  19. I am in love with this quilt! I've worked my way through a few hundred of the quilt festival entries and must say that this one is my favorite. It just calls my name:)

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Comments make me smile!! If you want a PDF of a pattern, PLEASE leave your email address in your comment, or email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!