Bloggers' Quilt Fest - Flora and Fauna Parts of the Garden

Nominations are now open for the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side.  Viewing and voting begins on May 24 and it closes on May 29. Each quilter may enter two quilts in eleven categories. There are wonderful prizes available to be won for those who enter quilts and for readers too! To be entered to win a prize all you have to do is leave a comment here! If you would like to enter a quilt or two go here. You have until May 23rd to enter!

I expect there will be loads of entries so it will be a great way to go to a quilt show from the comfort of your home! I know I'll be making myself a lovely cuppa and then I'll settle back and be inspired by the display of wonderful quilts! It will also be a great way to discover new blogs!

I have decided to enter two quilts. Today I'll tell you about the first one. I entered Flora and Fauna, Parts of the Garden in the small quilt category (more than 80" but less than 240") . My quilt measures 29" square.

Flora and Fauna, Parts of the Garden by Karen H

Flora and Fauna was a challenge quilt. My Guild offered kits for $10 and each included three fat quarters from Northcott. None of the fabrics were meant to go together and if fat they had nothing in common. That made for a huge challenge! The rules allowed for six additional fabrics. The bright blue circle in the center was one of the challenge fabrics. I also used the wrong side of that fabric to give me a lighter blue and it was the first ring around the center circle. The red and black butterfly wings were cut from the second fabric which was long-stem red roses on a black background. I used the black background to cut parts of the chickadees (little birds).

The third fabric was pink, purple and yellow flowers and leaves on a white background. I used the background for the white on the chickadees.

The flowers were fussy cut for the wings on butterflies,

I also used the green leaves to create this praying mantis!

The fancy leaves, the little flowers and the grasshopper body were all cut from a single fabric. The fabric had a pale creamy background which I used for the chickadees and the print on this fabric was all sorts of flowers and leaves in a wide variety of colours. This provided me with a wide range of design possibilities.

To the fancy floral fabric I added three green (two of which were medium and one light for the border), one pale blue (pictured above)  and a brown mottled print (also pictured above). In the picture above you can see the blue, the mottled brown and the band of green is actually the two medium greens.

I added lots of embroidered details to embellish the quilt and then I hand quilted the whole thing.

The walking stick insect (upper right) was cut from the stem of one of the long-stem red roses! I love the red ants and their tunnels but they do have a nasty bite!

This is one of my favourite small quilts that I have made. I started with a little idea which was the sky in the center and the ground as the border and then it just grew and developed from there. As I went along I just appliqued and embroidered until I had had enough. At that point I knew it was done and it was time to hand quilt!

Tomorrow I'll write about the second quilt I will enter! I'm not sure which one it will be. I'm considering Stars in the Loft,

or perhaps Mom's Flower Bed. The floral fabric I used for all the leaves, berries and bugs in Flora and Fauna, Parts of the Garden was used to make this quilt.

I'm also considering entering Cherry Blossom or perhaps Loopers in the Sky with Diamonds!

I'll have to make my decision in the next day or two but value your input so if you have any suggestions I am open to them!  If you have quilts of which you are proud why not consider entering them? It is a great way to share your work with a wider, friendly audience!

Until I post again, happy sewing!
Karen H