Sunday, August 9, 2020

Freemotion Quilting Butterflies by Edyta Sitar


Happy Blogiversary to Pink Doxies!

Six years of color-filled posts shared with friends and family, laughter, tears, and lots and lots of love! Thank you all for being part of my world, and letting me into yours. I am truly blessed!



I have to say it. Time is flying by! It's been 6 years since my first post, and though I'm still a quilter, I'm a changed quilter now. (Maybe a butterfly quilt was more than apropos.) Most of my time is spent longarm quilting for others, and I've been especially swamped during the recent Covid-19 period.  I've been so tickled just seeing the range of gorgeous quilts come into my studio, and love that I get to add my ideas to them. Like magic, I transform the top, back, and batting into the actual quilt! Well, not quite that fast, but it's still a pretty cool job, I admit.



This beautiful applique quilt is a pattern called Butterflies by Edyta Sitar made by local quilter Rita Darr. The colors are sublime, but I barely noticed them until I was done with the quilting. To me, it was one butterfly at a time, working my way through, and focusing on each shape. Pebbles and swirls, pebbles and swirls, and watch for those antennae!



When I was finished, I stood back to take it all in. Only then could I say, "Wow!" It's often that I need to sort out the details before I can enjoy the big picture. Work before play?  Perhaps. 

The Catch Up 

I've been a busy bee behind the scenes through July, and beg forgiveness for not sharing with you. Our new solitary lifestyles have forced each of us to evaluate how we live, and I've mulled over many areas. Realizing that Covid was here to stay meant not having a stream of in-person sewing days for a while or really knowing when they might resume at all. The studio has slowly been converted from a gathering space to a recording space. I'm moving toward connecting and teaching digitally vs. in person, and oh, what a challenge that actually is! Maybe you'll pop in here one day soon, and see a video link to the day's blog content. There have been hours of practice involved, and one day I'll have to actually publish something. Terrifying! 

Don't you feel like we've all had to grow so much in the past months? Not unlike a caterpillar safely wrapped in a self-made cocoon, each of us has changed. Breaking out, and spreading our wings is in our reach. How each of us does this depends on our own needs, but we still need to think of ways to connect with other people, and find things that feed our souls. I hope you you are actively thinking of ways to support yourself emotionally as well as physically. Tune in to your senses, and follow your instincts. Find your flower.

Come on, Doxie girls.
Let's go sew.



11 comments:

Stitchin At Home said...

Happy blogiversary Julie!

sandi s said...

The Butterfly quilt is just beautiful!! Your quilting is amazing, you made that quilt a treasure. I do miss my sewing buddies and really seeing what others are working on. Several of us email or text on Wednesdays to stay in touch and show what we’ve been doing. Wednesday’s were one of our get together days. Hugs,

Linda Swanekamp said...

I, for one, am grateful for your blog because I have been able to know you, meet you and correspond. I have a thing for butterflies. They are a miracle to me. Ever since my heartattack, they have great meaning for me. I have been collecting butterfly fabric and don't know what to make with it. This quilt has exquisite colors and design. Your quilting added life and did not interfere with the butterflies at all. I really miss sewing with somebody. Our retreat and meetings have been cancelled. Thank you for showing such a gorgeous, inspirational quilt and keeping the blog alive. Your work is truly a gift to others.

Barb Neiwert said...

Congratulations! Just look how far you have come in the past six years! Going to video teaching productions - awesome! I look forward to learning from you one day. These butterflies are beautiful! I am still trying to find my 'balance' with our new normal. Sure miss my friends, and even strangers who I might have just said 'hello' to once in awhile at a store. One day I can catch up with everyone!

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Happy Anniversary!! Those butterflies are adorable.

Rebecca Grace said...

The butterflies are lovely, Julie! I couldn't tell from the photos -- did you stitch in the ditch around the appliques first or just quilt your swirls and pebbles up close to them? You did a great job; you've come a long way over the past 6 years. Happy blogaversary! I hope you'll link up with us at Long Arm Learning tomorrow, by the way -- feel free to link this post, an older post, whatever tickles your fancy!

Beth said...

Congratulations on six years of blogging! I am one of the many whose life has been enhanced by this blog--I really look forward to its arrival in my In Box and I have learned a lot from you, both in terms of quilting and in quilting theory, or perhaps quilting priorities. Thanks for always "keeping it real" and for keeping me motivated.

KaHolly said...

What a wonderful quilt to help celebrate your blogaversary! Congratulations on both! Isn’t it just like you to put a positive spin on such a difficult time. I look forward to having the opportunity to learn more from you as you unfold your new adventure in quilting.

audrey said...

Happy Blogiversary! So glad to have found you several years ago. Love how you promote creativity and learning/growing! You definitely do have a way of transforming the quilt tops that come your way. Very special how you take the quilt to the next level with your attention to detail.:)

Kate said...

Happy blogiversary! That butterfly quilt is gorgeous! Life certainly has changed. Virtual learning, virtual meetings, face coverings, etc. In some ways better, in some ways not. Hope you are getting in some of your own stitching time between the customer quilts.

Anonymous said...

This is so stunning! I have zero experience in quilting but I would LOVE to try to do this. Any pattern or tutorials you recommend?