Butterfly Fantasy Quilt and GIVEAWAY!
Earlier in the year the lovely folks at Free Spirit Fabrics asked if I’d join in with their Murmur Fabric Influencer Tour. Murmur is the new fabric collection from one of my favourite designer’s Valori Wells, so of course I said ‘Yes please!’.
A beautiful box full of the new collection arrived a few weeks later (a while ago now as you can see by the frost in this photo) and I have since been patiently awaiting my stop on the tour.
Well it’s finally here! I am very excited to show you what I have been making.
And read on to enter a giveaway to win some of the Murmur fabric for yourself!
But first a little bit about the fabric collection which is actually Valori’s 41st collection! Wow! She uses photography and block printing to create her beautiful artworks, before turning them into fabric designs. This collection was inspired by the hummingbirds that visit her garden every year and the 300 sunflowers that she has planted with her kids!
I absolutely adore this fabric collection, it has been a joy to design with and I love everything I have made with it.
Here is the full list of stops on the Influencer Tour, go check them out and see all the gorgeous makes:
Before I started on the project for the tour I used the fabric for some of my class samples like these improv baskets from my Modern Sampler Quilt evening course.
I then used the fabrics to make a whole quilt for a Today’s Quilter magazine (which you will see in a few months time!).
These HST are part of this new quilt.
When I went to Sweden to teach my New York Beauty class I used the Murmur fabric again for my class samples. And this got me thinking about the NYB block and how I could use it in a new way…
I made more New York Beauty blocks and, as I have been extremely busy these last few months, when my sister Jane visited at Easter she also helped by making the FPP part of the blocks – thanks Jane!
Meanwhile I made quilted panels from the improv basket blocks and turned them into a pouch.
I used Aurifil 12wt variegated thread to quilt the wavy lines. I used 50wt in the bobbin and a size 90 needle. It works so well and looks like a neat hand stitched back stitch!
And finally I began to turn those NYB blocks into these crazy butterflies!
At first I did think about making them hummingbirds but the design didn’t work as well as the butterfly and I loved the idea of adding those tiny applique circles as antennae.
Unfortunately I didn’t have time to finish the whole quilt but a quilt top is almost as good and it means we’ll get a chance to revisit this project again when I finish it!
And I do intend to produce a pattern for this block soon. It’s a great mix of FPP, curves and tiny bit of needle-turn applique.
I was going to call the blocks Fantasy Butterflies (as they look like something out of a film like Avatar!) but my friend Sarah Ashford was visiting me this week and she suggested switching the words around – so Butterfly Fantasy it is!
And now to the GIVEAWAY!
EDITED 20th May 2019
Thank you so much to everyone who entered the giveaway, which is now CLOSED.
The winner was Paula Collings, comment number 25.
Congratulations Paula!
Free Spirit are providing a pre-cut fabric bundle as a giveaway and all you need to do is comment below. You can tell me anything you like! I will choose a winner through the random number generator and Free Spirit will send you the bundle.
The giveaway is open to international entries and closes at midnight UK time on Sunday 19th May. GOOD LUCK!
Meanwhile I am giving away the pouch, my left over scraps and some Aurifil thread on my Instagram feed! Why not head over there and enter that giveaway too!
Valori Wells is in my top 3 favorite designers! I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Murmur! I really enjoyed seeing your butterflies.
PRETTY BRIGHT COLLECTION! THANKS FOR SHARING!
I love this design, Jo …. maybe a class? Gorgeous colours and designs too. Xx
Your design is so clever. I love it! And the material and colours are a dream.
Beautiful fabrics, as always, from Valori Wells! Your design for the butterflies is truly fantastic! Can’t wait to get both fabric and pattern into my sewing room. Thanks.
Lovely Jo, what a wonderful gift you have for colour and design
they are so pretty
I love this fabric and I can’t wait for a pattern to make this quilt. My daughter will absolutely want this on her bed.😻
I can think of a couple of granddaughters who would absolutely love a butterfly quilt made with these fun fabrics! Love your innovative pattern.
Those fabrics are so bright and beautiful, I love them!
Beautiful cheerful collection!
Beautiful projects and beautiful fabrics! I have Valori’s book “Radiant New York Beauties” so that seems the perfect block to use with her fabrics!
What can I say? I love Your projects!
Gorgeous. Would love to make something cheery and colourful with this fabric.
This fabric is gorgeous !!! I would love to make a quilted table runner and placemats…would this not brighten up your dining table💕
Love the butterfly’s
Beautiful quilt and such lovely fabric! Thank you for the chance with this giveaway!
I love the butterflies
I love Valeri Wells. Her colors are sprightly! The Butterfly Beauties are a genius use of NYB blocks
I loved reading how your Butterfly Fantasy blocks transformed! They are beautiful and look ready to take flight. Murmur fabrics are the perfect way to show them off! duchick at gmail dot com
I am so glad spring has finally arrived. It’s time for butterflies in the garden.
Beautiful pattern and beautiful fabrics!
I absolutely love it. The colors and the design are wonderful
What an absolutely beautiful range of fabrics.
Got a glimpse of a very early glimmer of the idea at the NYB class. Lovely to see the finished block.
Yet another beautiful collection of fabrics.
Yet another beautiful collection.
You have shown us some fab projects wit this fabric, it just shows how versatile it is. Thank you for a lovely giveaway, a girl can never have too much fabric. x
Beautiful fabrics inspired by nature and colors! Thanks for your ideas!
I just loved your fantasy butterflies. Such gorgeous fabrics.
A delightful rainbow of colours and a gorgeous quilt top.
beautiful fabric, making up fabulous quilt
Love the butterfly quilt.
Thanks
Love the butterfly quilt!
Your Fantasy Butterfly quilt is so cute! ~Denise
I love this quilt top!! (And the fabric, obviously!)
Wow! Those butterflies are AMAZING! love the ideas and the fabric! Thank you so much for sharing with us 🙂
Such a lovely fabric range.
Hi Jo,
I love your quilt, it reminds me I have a New York Beauty quilt in my cupboard waiting to be finished! Tee hee! Your basket bag is so cute! Love the fabrics you used for both projects.
Thank you for the chance to win your lovely giveaway.
Hugs,
Barbara xx
What fun butterflies! My daughter would love a quilt like this.
This is a very clever and unique idea! You are very talented. Thanks!
Love the hummingbirds in the print. Your butterflies are fantastic!
I love this fábrics, so colourfull 💙💜💚💛💖 and your quilt with this butterflies is very beautiful 😍😍
This fabric is gorgeous and I love your butterfly.
What a wonderful idea!
Another excellent quilt