Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Monday, March 25, 2013
All the Birds in Air blocks are sewn together---


Do you think it needs a narrow border?  Something dark and TOT maybe?  The plain white on the edges where you grip the quilt might become grubby quickly--so perhaps a 3" or so border would be good?   It finishes at 80" square--no matter how wonky the picture looks!   I was standing on a step stool trying to include the bottom of the quilt over the edge of the long arm and the picture is a bit skewed--but in real life its square!  The pattern had random appliqued simple bird shapes on it, I'm considering adding some.  It would make the quilt more unique.  Hmmmmmm  See what everyone has on their wall at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--
  1. Load and begin to quilt another top
  2. Borders on Little Boxes
  3. 2 bibs
  4. Borders on Dee's Star 
  5. Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks
  6. Prepare two more Beyond the Cherry Tree blocks
  7. Machine sew one binding on a top
That's plenty for one week, I'll never do them all but I like a lot of choices.  

And a few more pictures from Sertoma Butterfly House---


Everywhere you looked there were butterflies--on the wall, flitting through the air, on bushes, and sometimes they landed on you!

Golden Birdwing

A Swallowtail--not sure which species

Don't I look like a dead leaf??


Don't you think that brown butterfly looks exactly like a dead leaf?  Everywhere I looked there were all these "dead leaves".  But the room was filled with the most BEAUTIFUL bright blue butterflies.  Theywere the dead leaves--when they opened their wings they were so beautiful, an electric neon blue--but I could not capture them in flight for the camera.  

I found this picture on the internet--


Blue Morpho Butterflies are some of the largest in the world--5-8" across. 

Have a great week!


18 comments:

Henrietta said...

Our visit to the Butterfly House was awesome.

~Kris~ said...

I love your quilt as is. I would add a colorful binding, maybe multi-color. It is really pretty. I don't think applique would add anything.

The butterflies are gorgeous.

Mel said...

I love your quilt. I like the idea of a small border in a color, but the problem would be what color. I don't know that I'd applique anything in there, it is beautiful without the applique.
Butterflies are so pretty.

Pieces of Time said...

You quilt is quite striking just the way it is. If you think a white binding would get grubby, try a bright color.

Gari in AL said...

The quilt is great as is but I do understand the fear of having a white outer border. Maybe you could have a larger double binding using a multi colored fabric so it could be the border and binding all in one.

CindyC said...

Your quilt is beautiful as it is. If you really want to do applique, I think I would add it to the border only. A few birds with the wings spread overlaying in the blocks would be nice.

Rhonda said...

I like the quilt just the way it is. It's an old-fashion look!!

Jill said...

I know how it is to try and take a photo of a large quilt ~ they never seem to look square in the picture! Your quilt is beautiful; I would add a border or at least a colorful binding. I think random birds appliqued across the quilt sounds fun and a bit unexpected (in a good way). If you're not sure about it, you could cut out some of the bird shapes from different colored paper and just lay them on the quilt, to see if you like the way it looks.

Nancy said...

Nice job on the quilt top.

The butterflies are gorgeous!

Sara said...

I love this quilt, and your idea of adding a 3" border sounds perfect. I can't quite picture the appliqued birds, but I'm sure they will be a pretty addition.

Your photos are beautiful. The Sertoma Butterfly House is on my list of things I want to do with the grand kids this spring or summer. I haven't been there since they added the tanks so I'm looking forward to it.

Bonnie said...

Your birds in the air quilt is outstanding. I agree that I'd want somewhere for someone to hold the quilt with out getting grubby paws on all that gorgeous white. I also like Gari's idea of a wider binding although it would cut into the blocks and might look weird if too large. As to applique -- sure if you want but it stands as is just fine if you want to get on to something else now!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Wow! I love that quilt. What a lot of work!!!!

Unknown said...

Love your quilt and the butterflies. Spring is just around the corner.

Tamera said...

If you keep it the way it is, it has a more modern look. I love it, but you have a good point about the edges maybe getting grungy, lol.

Vic in NH said...

Lori, your background on your blog makes it very difficult to read; please don't kill the messenger!

I love the classical look of your birds in the air and I do NOT think applique will improve it! Fussy little things stuck onto it would distract from your superb piecing. I do like the idea of putting on a darker border to keep the eye from falling off the edge of the design with a good "stopper." It is coming out awesome!

Kathie said...

Beautiful quilt, all those triangles would drive me nuts to do!!

Dar said...

Your quilt is stunning-- I like it just the way it is. It has a modern look but a traditional pattern. Perfect!

The butterflies are beautiful. We have a Butterfly House in my city too, but I'm ashame to say I've never been YET.

Michelle said...

That must be the same pattern I used for my Birds in the Air. I did all of the triangles in blue.

Love your more colorful version!