Celtic Butterfly at Christmas in July...

Today Yesterday was the annual Christmas In July lunch for a group I belong to but unfortunately rarely get to go to anymore because of work shift times...I missed out last year because I had to work on the Saturday it was held...it was great to see people that I haven't seen in ages...anyway, a tradition of this group is the Christmas Elves Challenge* (explanation at the end of the post). This year's challenge was Stained Glass.

I bought Irish Quilting Volume 2 Issue 6 some weeks ago and randomly opened it to the last instalment of a series of Celtic Zodiac designs and the dates for that sign started with my birthday!  Perfect!!  So, based on that block, this is what I came up with...

Yes I am a butterfly...you can just stop that laughing now!

We had to incorporate a piece of green fabric from our "resource box" which I used as the background for the side panels and also in the flying geese.  There was just enough of the 1/4" bias stuff supplied for what I wanted so I used that rather than make my own....and I learnt?...I don't like it, too stiff, thick and hard to needle.  I used this as a bit of a play of various things...machine raw edge applique, kind of based on what I learnt in Kellie's class but not her technique 'coz we all know I suck at that...polyester machine embroidery threads received from a retreat a couple of years ago...celtic knot design cutting a stencil from the fabric and using the stitching to create the knot effect...and of course the stained glass...and an upside? apart from the $2.50 I spent on the black poly pop at Lincraft last week all out of the Emporium or resource box.  This was a fun challenge and I enjoyed just playing about a bit.

There was a good response of "entries" and it is always interesting to see just how each individual interprets the challenge outlined.  If you'd like to see what everyone else came up with feel free to visit my picasa album SSQ Christmas Elves' Challenge 2011.  I can't figure out how to imbed a slideshow (yet!) so the easiest thing to do is just put in the link. Well, it's either that or spend another two days waiting to hit the publish button!!  Enjoy the slideshow of all the entries (finally figured out the whole Smilebox thingy!...

Slideshow design created with Smilebox

There was no judging or viewer's choice or any other form of competition attached to the challenge but each participant received a gift which we had to "earn" by playing a game...a bit of extra fun...opening the present in my bag revealed this cute little baggie...

looks innocent enough but it is folded like origami like to create 7 (yes 7!!) pockets of various sizes inside...items in pockets for demonstration purposes...

The rear pocket

And the other 6!

The Elves did an awesome job...yes, they made a lot of the giftees...the rule was that after we all opened our gift bags simultaneously we were allowed to swap our giftees - they weren't all the same - if we wanted to...I don't think anyone did...we were all too impressed with what we found...well done Elves!  Mmmm...who will they choose as their successors (I've been an Elf and that was just about the hardest part!!!) and what will next year's Challenge be?


Totally wrecked...spent the day at Jeff's Shed...some awesome quilts in the show this year...stayed tuned...


Happy Stitching...

* So what is the Christmas Elves' Challenge?

Each year, at the Christmas Dinner (the proper Christmas not the July one) the Christmas Elves for the following year's challenge are revealed and challenge the members to make an item using the technique or theme the Elves have chosen giving each person a "kit" or "instructions" which includes the "rules" for that challenge and any materials that the Elves want to be included.  We have until Christmas In July to create away. The Elves then secretly choose their successors, advise them by mail and the cycle starts all over again.  It is a great fun tradition.  For this year's technique of Stained Glass we were provided with the piece of green fabric, some or all of which had to be included (more was available if required) and a length of that 1/4" adhesive bias stuff (or we could make our own).  It had to be any item within a certain minimum and maximum size and also had to use a traditional quilt sandwich.