Wednesday WOW–May 22

I was able to complete these blocks today.  I’m all ready for the next month’s instructions.  I’ll have to wait a couple of weeks, but that’s OK.  I have plenty of other projects to work on!

When you use the “sew and flip” method of adding that brown corner piece, you end up with a lot of triangles that get trimmed off.  So they became these":

I’m sure I’ll be able to use them some time and they are all pressed and ready to go!  While I still had the scraps out . . . .

The hexies are one-inch and this will become a pincushion.  I do enjoy sewing the hexagons once in awhile.

With that project all done for this month, I had time to start on another fairy tale quilt.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the progress on that!  But I did take a picture of the fabrics I’m using in it.

I got about four blocks done so there will be plenty to show next week.  This pattern goes really fast, especially when I mis-cut my strips.  The pattern is very forgiving, though.  I think the blocks will just be a little bigger, and as long as I cut the rest of the strips the same size, it will be fine. . . . she said expansively. 

A Day at the Dressmaker

More like three or four, actually.  But the doll is now clothed and quite well, if I say so myself!

Unless I am using a pattern, I tend to follow the same steps a (human) clothing designer might follow.  It starts with draping – paper towel in this case.  One trick I use that I hope a real designer would not is to stick a pin into the body at center and side seams.  Ouch!

Sometimes it takes multiple test fittings to get it just right.  You can see here where I am fine tuning the curve over the shoulder.

Once I’ve got something I think will work, I transfer it to paper.  I’ll add seam allowances and grain lines, as well as mark centers or darts.  That way if I want to make this garment again, I’ll have a starting point.  Now we are ready for fabric!

For some items, however, it needs to be plain muslin first.  On the skirt I wanted to test the drapability and also take a practice run at the ruffled seams.  No need to cut into the actual fabric until I’ve answered all my questions.  But I think we are ready at last!

What do you think?  Was it worth all those fittings?  If you’ve seen this year’s Hoffman Challenge fabric, you’ll recognize where this doll will be heading.  After she gets a few more things, of course.  Like – oh, arms maybe – and a head!  That’s coming soon.

Serendipity Sunday–Darling Dahlias

Today’s flower is a dahlia and I couldn’t resist borrowing the title of Susan Wittig Albert’s books for this post (I hope she won’t mind!).

The process was fairly simple – just stitching zig zags along a length of folded fabric.  When the thread was pulled up, it became this:

I’m soooo glad I decided not to make the full projects in this book, because that would have required me to do this six times . . . on about 57” of fabric each!  With my short attention span I could not have made it in one sitting!

This is what the base of the flower looks like.  I added just a bit of stuffing and moved it out into the petals.  Things go together much easier when the center is flatter.

Here it is – one flower and one bud.  Looks good.

And here it is pinned up with the roses.  Looks even better!  I may have to make a vase full of a mixed bouquet one of these days.  And yet another flower is on the schedule for next week.  I wonder what it will be.

Wednesday WOW–May 15

Another day at the quilt shop and another quilt top FINISHED!

This isn’t a very big quilt – 43 inches by about 48 inches.  It will make a nice crib quilt or receiving blanker.  No, not for my family!!!!  This is destined for charity and I have enough of the fairy tale prints to make another.  Might even stretch a third from it before I’m done!

But before starting on number 2, I cut these fabrics.  Month one of a Block of the Month program that I’ve been watching and waiting for.  One advantage to a sewing day at the shop is that we get to see what fun projects they are planning before everyone else.  One disadvantage is that we still have to wait to get started – and it can be a long wait!

But this one has finally started and here are the first blocks off the assembly line.  Just wait until you see what’s coming up! 

A Letter to Anonymous

About five years ago now, I posted a nonsense piece about sending party invitations by butterfly.  It was titled “Never Trust A Butterfly” and was pure silliness!  For some reason, this post attracted spammers like crazy – averaging 50 or more daily!  They were entertaining at first so I delayed turning off comments, but really, when is enough?!  I thought my regular readers (all 3 of you!) might enjoy some of the silliness as well.

Dear Anonymous,

Thank you for your interest in my blog, particularly in my vast knowledge of butterfly behavior.  Since you have not signed your comments, I cannot answer your questions directly, but will attempt to answer in this post.  I hope my answers will provide for further enlightenment.

 

• It's great that you've taken the effort and time to aid those out there who are looking for resources within this area.

Thank you.  Although my knowledge is limited to the butterflies I know personally, it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated.

• Thanks for every other informative web site. Where else may I get that kind of information written in such a perfect means? I've a project that I am simply now operating on, and I have been at the look out for such info.

I’m sorry to say that I do not know of any other resources on the internet.  Perhaps if you ask around your local butterfly community they can direct you.  Good luck on your project.

• Good way of telling, and good article to obtain information regarding my
  presentation subject, which i am going to deliver in university.

Excellent!  It’s past time academia addressed this important topic.  Perhaps more information will become easier to find soon.  Too bad I cannot direct the second commenter to you, though.  Good luck.

• Thanks , I've just been looking for information about this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you positive about the supply?

My conclusion is that butterflies do not make reliable long-distance messengers.  Short range, however, they should be an adequate means of getting the word out.  My experience has been that the supply is more sufficient during warmer weather, although not to be counted on in cold seasons.

 

 

 

• An inteгеsting disсussіοn is definitely worth commеnt. Ӏ thinκ that you ought to write moгe abοut this topic, it may not be a taboo matteг but generally
  folks ԁon't speak about such issues. To the next! Best wishes!!

Yes, I have noticed that this issue is not generally spoken about.  Perhaps most people are simply not interested.  On the other hand, see below: 

• Hi! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!

How wonderful to hear that others are interested in the same issues.  Let me know how your community responds.

• It's nearly impossible to find knowledgeable people on this topic, however, you seem like you know what you're talking about!
  Thanks

Yes, it seems that there are not many butterfly behaviorists about.  However, these comments seem to suggest there are many more than we imagine!

• May I simply say what a сomfоrt to uncοvеr an individual ωho genuіnely knows what they are talking about οnline.  You cеrtainly know hοw to bгing a ρrοblem tο light and make it impoгtant. A lot more pеορle should look at this аnd undeгstand this side of yоuг stоry.

Thank you.  I believe this really is an important issue that merits more discussion.  In my opinion, too many important messages are going astray simply because people have not carefully considered how they are sending.  Think of all the misunderstandings that could have been prevented!

[This one is my favorite!]

• I almost never comment, however i did a few searching and wound up here "Never Trust A Butterfly!".  And I do have a few questions for you if it's allright. Could it be simply me or does it appear like a few of the remarks come across as if they are left by brain dead individuals? :-P

While I don’t feel it is my place to remark on my commenter’s intelligence, I must say I have wondered if perhaps many have misunderstood the intent of this post.  It also occurs to me that maybe – just maybe – these readers are not actually reading this blog but really trying to direct readers to their own web sites.  What do you think?

 

Wishing you well,

The Butterfly Whisperer

Serendipity Sunday–Coming Up Roses

Like roses usually are in the Spring, these roses are mostly buds. 

These buds are made by simply folding a square – very similar to some of the folded inserts from earlier experiments.  But I did catch one rose in full bloom!

I thought photographing against that yellow would show the red details better.  Looks like it overwhelmed it instead.  Perhaps it’s just as well, since I’m not quite satisfied with this yet.  The directions call for stuffing petals ‘lightly’ – something which apparently I cannot do!  I guess I’ve worked so much to learn to stuff doll parts full and hard that I’ve lost the light touch!  I’ve still got two more roses to stuff, so will try to keep it in mind.

Here is the bloom and a bud pinned against the leaves – a better photo but farther away.

About there only being one bloom today . . . as is usual for me, I decided to make some adjustments to the patterns and one of those was to reduce the size.  These are at about 65%.  Since some of the pieces are small to begin with, I had quite a time working with teensy bits and some of what should have gone quickly on a sewing machine had to be done by hand.  My bright ideas have a way of rebounding sometimes!  That’s me over in the corner.  The one with the black eye.  LOL!

Next week I’ll try another flower.  Maybe I’ll stick to the directions as written.  What do you think?

Wednesday WOW–May 8

Off to sew at the quilt shop again today, where I made more blocks of the fairy tale fabric.

I’ve even started sewing rows.  This quilt is going SO MUCH faster than the last one!!  I needed something simple to cleanse the palate, so to speak.  These are fun blocks, too, so I’m enjoying the colors and reminders of favorite stories. 

In other news – Spring has finally shown it’s face in Northeast Kansas.  Yippeeeee!