Phylum: Arthropoda, Order: Lepidoptera
Created by Chris Daly - June 2011
This is the quilt I created for the Art Quilts Around the World "Animal Kingdom" challenge back in June.
When I was a child my father gave me a butterfly net. I caught butterflies, euthanized them and mounted the butterfly specimens. I learned a lot about butterflies from those experiences. Looking back on those days I have very mixed feelings.
As an adult I prefer to observe live specimens. Our farm is the perfect habitat for many species of butterflies especially Eastern Swallowtails, Giant Swallowtails, Monarchs and Viceroys. Each summer I look forward to the time when butterflies return to feed on the nectar of our lilacs and hydrangea bushes.
This quilt was made using a combination of hand dyed silks, silk ribbons and cottons. I made the 3D butterfly using a free motion embroidery technique learned in a class taught by Nancy Prince. I sandwiched a poly stabilizer between 2 layers of hand dyed silk and added another layer of wash away stabilizer with my design traced on it. Once the embroidery was finished I stitched floral wire around the edges to give the wings shape.
No butterflies were harmed in the making of this quilt.
No butterflies were harmed in the making of this quilt.
See more quilts from the Animal Kingdom challenge here
7 comments:
It was stunning this summer Chris and stunning still!!!
Glad you enjoy them live now! ;-)
Really beautiful!
Simply amazing, wow!
Wonderful!
Absolutely beautiful! The butterfly seems to be flying out of the piece -- so realistic!
Diane
I love the butterfly and really appreciate hearing how you constructed it. Gives me some ideas for a project of my own. Thank you!
Yes, the butterfly is fantastic but I like the "balloon" of magnified color.
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