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 problem is the…
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 #artoninstagram #artworkinprogress #fabricpaint…
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 referring to my…
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, painted a streaky…
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 freezer paper templates,…
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 #wip #saqawip #fabriccollage…
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. So next I…
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 working with bright…
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 to cut out…
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 #realism #susanpolansky
12 – Where will the butterfly land?
Before quilting, I need to play with the position of flowers (I’ve painted a smaller second one) and butterfly on the painted background. #flowersandbutterflies #fabricpainting…
13 – So much greenery
The assembled quilt has been loaded onto my A-1 longarm sewing machine. Not only will the stitching hold down the fabric collage elements, but it…
14 – Butterfly has landed!
It took longer to finish up this quilt than I expected, though it wasn't the quilt's fault. Life just got in the way, but I…