Butterfly and Flower

A collection of posts following the process of making “Butterfly and Flower,” a painted and stitched fabric collage quilt.

1 – What to do with a painted flower?

I made this painted flower in a workshop taught by Andrea Brokenshire. She’s a very talented quilt artist and generous teacher. Only…

2 – A perfect background!

My photo from the summer is perfect for the background of the flower I painted in Andrea Brokenshire’s fabric painting workshop! #artstart…

3 – Beginning the background

The background begins! #artworkinprogress #paintedquilt #saqawip #susanpolansky

4 – Winging it with paint

Using a black and white photocopy enlargement underneath the fabric, I’ve painted the main structures. I can wing it from here by…

5 – Making a mess is fun

“Controlled mess” is so much fun in painting! Here I’ve protected areas that I want to keep white with freezer paper templates,…

6 – Leaves and stems appear

First steps…painting a background for a new quilt using my photo for reference. I’ve maintained some areas of white by ironing on…

7 – Do you see a problem?

There’s a problem here-do you see it? (Painted flower from Andrea Brokenshire’s workshop and painted background from my photo reference.) #paintedfabric #paintingproblems…

8 – Oops-your background is showing

My painted flower had a transparency problem. The background was showing through, especially the trellis lines, even with a white backing applied….

9 – The black of a butterfly

Flower painting has been put aside – now for something completely different, creating the butterfly. Hard to go to straight black after…

10 – Building a butterfly

Building a butterfly with fabric -the photo shows back and front. The black fabric has fusible on it, which made it easier…

11 – Soft as a butterfly’s wings

Added some paint to soften the edges between black border and fused color spots. I’m liking it! #butterfly #wings #fabriccollage #saqawip #fabricpainting…