Photographed before I posted it.
I went to the Festival of Quilts at Birmingham NEC on Thursday. It was a lovely day, so much to see and be inspired by. The Quilts were amazing, so much variety and colour and skill.
Then there was my own quilt. I made it by hand printing the butterflies with rubber stamps and fabric paints. I used an old recycled white sheet, added the original label and kept the actual top and sides showing, see the fine yellowy woven stripe in the weave. This was the first time I had ever been to this huge show or entered a quilt. The quilt was pure fun to make, mixing up the fabric paints and printing the images and seeing the sea of butterflies appear on the huge white sheet. It was like starting a drawing, every mark and shape and colour was made by me. I had fun with my new sewing machine and used lots of coloured cottons to embroider the grass at the bottom and the tiny circles of colour. I spent hours hand quilting the grid pattern, which you can see on the back of the quilt. I loved the finished result, making it and achieving this beautiful coloured quilt.
It was exciting to see it hanging at the show, although it seemed to be a little crushed, hadn't travelled too well as a parcel. The backboard was white so my vintage white sheet appeared a little dull , even grey. It wasn't lit too well down the display aisles and the colours didn't glow like at home in my sunny room. But I saw so many people stop and look, go nearer for a closer inspection and many even took lots of photographs......already seen two on Flickr. It was my intention to share my quilt and to hopefully inspire others, so I hope it did. It was a simple idea inspired by collections of butterflies and colours. I like simple. Drawings from Nature is all about seeing beauty in nature in ordinary simple natural objects. Hope you enjoy looking more closely.
As this is my100th blog. Guess how many butterflies are printed on my quilt. The nearest will win a prize, something butterfly related. I don't know the answer myself yet as I will count them when the quilt arrives home, in a week or so. Millyx The answer after a double count is 777 and as Teresa guessed 778 she certainly deserves to win.
22 comments:
1,248 - don't ask me why.
I am stunned by the workmanship in this sheet - a famly heirloom I shouldn't wonder.
Wow! What a beautiful quilt. Lovely that you got to see it at the show!
I'm going to guess 410 butterflies. 410 is a significant number to me, it was the number of the building in which I was born!
I wonder how many people will stand and count your butterflies at the show ;o)
What a lovely design Milly, I'm not surpised so many people stopped to look!!
Congratulations on the 100th blog post!
648 butterflies is my guess, though I don't envy you the job of counting them.
Dan
-x-
This quilt is so, so gorgeous! I'll say 800 butterflies, just to join in. Would have been fun to see it hanging in the show, too.
Milly, I will not venture a guess at the butterfly count. I will definitely tell you how much I love this amazing quilt that you have printed and sewn. It is a gem, full of lots of subtlety.
Bravo. xo
It's gorgeous - it must have been a real labour of love
Guessing 750
un vrai bonheur de voir le résultat !
c'est absolument magnifique! bravo
It's a beauty, Milly. I'm going to guess 900 butterflies.
A beautiful quilt Milly, and so unusual, well done. I think that there are 350 butterflies! x
Gorgeous workmanship!! I say 575 butterflies.
It looks wonderful Milly, such delicate details and colours...
I'll try 520...
Hope the exhibition continues to do well :)
It's a beautiful quilt... and simple is often the most elegant and eloquent.
I'm going to guess... ah.... ummm.... 778 butterflies
exquiste milly
So much work, dedication and joy. It's stunning! I love all the colour and shapes. My guess is 624.
Congratulations Milly, this is an inspirational quilt to be sure. I marvel at your patience and admire your workmanship. Like everything you do it is a work of art.
I am guessing 849.
Wow this absolutely gorgeous.. I love it..
it is wonderful that so many people have had a chance to see it.. it makes us all appreciate quilts in a new way...
...956 is my guess...
Simply stunning. My guess is zillions!
508 butterflies, What a beautiful quilt, you did amazing job!!
I saw your quilt at the show and thought it was terrific! I took photographs but haven't shared them yet - waiting to link it with other inspiration. I thought it was screen printed but great to see your process here. Thanks to Lucille http://usefulorbeautiful.blogspot.com/
for directing me to your blog. Very beautiful work, very talented!
This is incredible!
Just beautiful. What a pleasure to see such a creative and inspired quilt.
Oh what a gorgeous quilt!!! I just finished a fan quilt for my daughter. You have such a fabulous blog! So inspiring! Marva
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