Somethings About Me

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Villa Rosa 2024 Fast and More Fun Blog Hop

Today is Day 6 of the Villa Rosa Fast and More Fun Blog Hop which I am one of the 28 Bloggers participating and it’s my day to present my quilt. Five new quilt patterns were designed for this blog hop and since I was one of the last bloggers to join, I was asked to make the 31 quilt (top left) to ensure the pattern was well represented in the blog hop. Before I present my quilt, I thought I would mentioned the following:
  • You’ve probably have read the previous posts from the other Bloggers, read the story of Villa Rosa cards, seen the list of all the Blogger Participants and of  the wonderful giveaways and Grand Prizes, so rather than repeat this again, here is the Villa Rosa link for you to read and also if you want to purchase a bundle of these five pattern cards.
  • If you leave me a comment, your name will be entered to win either a set of the pattern cards above, a chance to win a sponsor prize or be entered to win one of the Grand Prizes. One of the Grand Prize is an Electric Quilt 8 download and the winner will be selected on the EQ Blog so you will need to register there for this prize.
  • Registration for the prizes closes on Sunday, March 24th. Please be sure to leave an email address so you can be contacted if you are one of the lucky winners.
So let’s get hopping—here is my version of the 31 quilt pattern: The Hungry Caterpillar.
This is only the second time that I’ve made a panel quilt and have only purchased a few which were novelty/kid prints. I have a nice stash of Eric Carle’s Brown Bear and Hungry Caterpillar fabrics from making several quilts for the darling Granddaughter, so I purchased the Hungry Caterpillar panel. The 31 pattern sews up fast as long as you have the right sized panel but unfortunately The Hungry Caterpillar panel was too small.  I could have altered the panel by removing the stripe border and adding strips to get to the right size but I didn’t want to because it was too cute as is. I added the necessary strips of the Adventure Land dots to three sides of the panels which made it a little busy and uneven. It complements the somewhat solid HSTs which I changed the orientation of them from arrows to a butterfly shape since I thought it was more fitting for the caterpillar theme.
I was afraid that my changes deviated too much from the 31 pattern but now that the quilt is done I think the changes are subtle. I had a love/hate relationship while sewing and machine quilting The Hungry Caterpillar. It wasn’t until I added the wide stripe binding, which wasn't in the plan and glad I did, that I finally loved it and in my mind I'm calling it Cater-thriller.
I opted to use white Aurifil thread instead of a variegated thread for the grid and straight line machine quilting since I wanted the quilting to be quiet against the colorful prints. The machine quilting was a little challenging with the backing being a blue fabric purchased many moons ago from Joann’s and I don’t know if this combined with the 80/20 cotton Pellon batting caused the big puckering and pinching resulting in my having to used the seam ripper too many times. I’m pretty sure it was during this time I hated the quilt. I was so relieved after the final line was quilted. The Hungry Caterpillar Quilt will be a gift for the darling Granddaughter who will be turning seven next week. This will be a wall hanging but would have been a wonderful playmat for tummy time if she was still a baby. She is growing up too fast and hope she will enjoy this quilt for at least several years.
I wasn’t too familiar with The Hungry Caterpillar story which was published in 1969 until the darling Granddaughter. My boys weren’t big fans though I do have a caterpillar memory spanning from when I was a young girl of maybe five to a mother of five-year old Demando. When I was young and playing outside with my friends, we spotted a bunch of caterpillars so we ran home to get empty jars to contain them. I was sad and very bummed that my mother did not have any. I kept this memory of my disappointment and vowed that I would always have an empty jar ready for my kids. When Demando was born, I started saving empty jars and had a bottom kitchen cabinet specifically for the day they would be needed. Several years later when I picked up young Demando from kindergarten, he was being real quiet sitting in the backseat. I thought he was sad because he was having a great time at the playground. When we arrived home and I turned around to talk to him, he opened his hands which had at least a dozen very tiny yellow caterpillars squirming. Even though I wanted to scream, I did manage to say “I’ve been waiting for this day” and walked into the kitchen and told Hubby that we needed a jar and without missing a beat he pulled one from the cabinet. After the caterpillars were settled in their jar and Demando was very happy, I quietly whispered to Hubby to get rid of the jars. I realized then this may have been why my mother didn’t keep empty jars. All kidding aside, I still have a cabinet of empty jars in the garage but I’m not saving them for bugs.
 
Thanks to Tricia and Villa Rosa for letting this big fan participate in the Fast and More Fun Blog Hop. I’ve been buying Villa Rosa cards for at least ten years now, at first from local quilt shops and now buying  them directly from Villa Rosa. I have at least twenty-five cards which I keep in a special binder. I also liked that Villa Rosa provides a link for you to keep an online list of cards you want and cards you own. Sometimes I get confused when I click on the Rose Cards link and hundred of cards appear giving me a heart attack thinking they’re mine but my cards are under My List—Phew! The 31 pattern is only the third Villa Rosa quilt I’ve made but I did make a version of the Clover table runner which I will post later since it was made for the Country Threads March Dirty Dozen UFO Challenge. If time permits, I hope to make the Gypsy Rose pattern (which I already owned before the blog hop) using a much loved stash of fabrics fitting of the pattern name purchased many moons ago.

After today, there are only two days left for the blog hop so here are the remaining bloggers for today and until March 21st. Happy reading and good luck!

Tuesday, March 19
Shout 4 Joy — https://shout4joy-shouting.blogspot.com/
The Darling Dogwood — http://thedarlingdogwood.blogspot.com/
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting — www.knitbug2.blogspot.com
Quilts of Valor Foundation — https://www.qovf.org/

Wednesday, March 20 — First Day of Spring!

Grace and Peace Quilting — https://www.graceandpeacequilting.com/
Happy Cottage Quilter — https://happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/
Joyfully Tracie — https://joyfullytracie.com/
Patchouli Moon Studio — https://patchouli-moon-studio.blogspot.com/
Electric Quilt Company — https://doyoueq.com/blog/ (be sure to leave a comment here if you want to be eligible for the grand prize of an Electric Quilt 8 download

Thursday, March 21
Villa Rosa Quilts — villarosaquilts.com 

65 comments:

  1. Your version of 31 is inspiring. I love how you changed out the arrow block for the butterfly, it really makes it.

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  2. Aww, your 31 is so cute. I might have to make one similar for my grandbabies since I am expecting two this year.

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  3. I love your take on this pattern! It also brought back memories for me. Brown Bear was my daughter's favorite book (I still have it memorized and she's 26 and in the process of purchasing her first home.) The Caterpillar was a close second in our house. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. What a perfect mod, Rose--butterflies for the Hungry Caterpiller quilt!!! And the jar story was pretty funny, too!

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  5. Loved the butterfly on your 31 quilt. Thanks for sharing. ryarolim@gmail.com

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  6. Rose I love your version of 31!! The butterflies are the perfect touch. That panel is adorable, and you are so clever adding fabric to make it work. "Cater-thriller" - LOL! I laughed out loud at you wanting to scream but remaining calm with the squirmy caterpillars. :D

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  7. I love your version and changing the arrows to bows was a great idea! Funny story about you and caterpillars and jars! I vowed to never have to do any of that, but then I did. You see, I had too much as a child with 4 brothers.

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  8. Rose this is such a cute panel! I was waiting to see which pattern you were using and how you would make your changes? Love the way it turned out and I am sure Granddaughter will love it too.

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  9. I love the 31 pattern - I have several panels that "need" to be used! I do love the Hungry Caterpillar. My kids weren't into it but my grands were. Funny how that happens!

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  10. The 31 pattern is a great idea for the panels we all have hanging around. I always liked reading the hungry caterpillar to my grandsons. Great quilt.

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  11. Oooh, what a great interpretation for 31 -- the butterflies are such a nice touch. And a good idea to keep the VRD cards in a binder so they don't get lost.

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  12. I love the Hungry Caterpillar and all Eric Carle books! I love your quilt. I have some panels and fabric that I need to make use too!

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  13. As usual you've cracked me up a few times with your post - EGAD! I would've screamed had one of my daughters (who have always hated bugs) had that handful of caterpillars in my car! and a snorted at giving yourself a heart attack at opening the VRD Rose Cards link. The panel is great and a wonderful spin on the original pattern imho!

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  14. I love your version of 31. It is very joyful. . Thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  15. Love the story of your jar cabinet. Have a friend that orders a caterpillar for her sons to watch it life cycle. Love your wall quilt and sure your Granddaughter will also.
    jsyoungsurgery@gmail.com

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  16. I have always been a big fan of Eric Carle and his books, so I LOVE your Hungry Caterpillar quilt, Rose! That's a fun way to dress up a panel, and the butterfly shapes you used instead of the arrows are a great idea. I laughed at your story of Demando and the caterpillars - you were a good mom!

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  17. Thanks for sharing your caterpillar story and quilt.

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  18. What a fun variation!!! I used to have the Hungry Caterpillar memorized back when I worked at a local daycare! The toddlers loved it during storytime!

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  19. Your 31 quilt is adorable and I like your creative design!

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  20. Love your changes to the 31 pattern. And, the quilt is so adorable!! Thanks for sharing! odiane79 at yahoo dot com

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  21. Liked your mods to the 31 quilt. My girls loved the Hungry Caterpillar books. My mother bought Monarch butterfly caterpillars to raise with my girls when they were small and then release the butterflies. We have planted all the plants they like to encourage them to come by, it is totally amazing how much they eat!

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  22. Such a beautiful quilt! I like the alterations too. batsmith62@gmail.com

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  23. Very nice love the 31 and your color choices. Ty for sharing your talents and ideas.....Love when a quilter thinks out of the box.... anna brown happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  24. A great quilt and really enjoyed your caterpillar story

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  25. Love the bright happy colors in your 31 quilt.

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  26. The caterpillar quilt turned out so cute!! And I love the story!!

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  27. Your quilt turned out lovely :)
    c.j.m.71email (at) gmail (dot) com

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  28. Hi, Rose! I love your caterpillar + jars story! I loved Eric Carle's book and even brought my kids to a book signing and have our signed copy of The Hungry Caterpillar. Your idea to turn the arrows into butterflies was truly inspired and turned out so cute.

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  29. Your caterpillar story is so sweet! So is the quilt!

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  30. I remember reading The Hungry Caterpillar to all my kids when they were young. Cute story. Your quilt turned out great and the butterfly idea was perfect for that quilt.

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  31. I've always loved The Hungry Caterpillar. Great quilt!

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  32. I had that same quilting experience a couple of weeks ago. I was quilting with donated fabric for a charity quilt, and think some of it had a questionable heritage! It is finally done, and I hope some little kido will love the heck out of it!
    UGH, bugs!

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  33. 31 is well done! I like your variation! It's a super cute quilt!
    (don't enter me in the draw - thx)

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  34. How fun your version is with the pieced butterfly blocks instead of arrows.

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  35. Good change-up with the butterflies. I loved your empty jar story (I understand completely!). dove1615@gmail.com

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  36. Love the story and the quilt! I have a couple panels to try out with the 31 pattern. mrush2@gmail.com

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  37. Love the vibrant colors of your #31! Am going to try this with some of the panels I have. cake42493@gmail.com

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  38. Good that you pushed through and finished your quilt--turned out very cute!!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  39. Oh I miss those bug days when my son was little! Moreover, the very hungry caterpillar was one of his favorite books! I like that you changed up the pattern a bit! I am so guilty of that! 31 is my favorite pattern. I have so many panels and this is perfect for climbing out of my stash! Thank you for sharing! Gingerdawnharman@live.com

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  40. Your quilt is lovely! I don't have very many panels either but might have to try this with one of them.

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  41. My Three boys loved the Hungry Caterpillar. I have made several quilts with this fabric line. Just love your bright colors. Anneandbenhike@yahoo.com

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  42. What a fun story of the empty jar and Demando's fuzzy handful of caterpillars! I look forward to having a grandchild someday to do something like that! Your version of 31 is perfect with so many bright primary colors!

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  43. I think your 31 quilt is AWESOME! Sew colorful & bright! Love it! Annmarie (tegens@charter.net)

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  44. I like how you changed the points to be butterflies! It turned out very cute!

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  45. Very clever of you to switch out the arrows for butterflies. Prefer Rozz01@cox.net

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  46. favorite author; favorite pattern of these five and wonderful memory filled story jacominaderegt@gmail.com

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  47. I think it's great. I want to make Gypsy for donation quilts. Jmikebalou (at) aol (dot) com

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  48. Love all the cute quilts on the blog hop!!

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  49. Your Hungry Caterpillar quilt is wonderful! The changes you made to the pattern worked out beautifully, especially changing the chevrons to butterfly shapes.

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  50. Your 31 quilt with the caterpillar panel is adorable. I'm sure your grandbaby will love it! Thank you for giving us a child's version of the 31 pattern and thank you for sharing your work!
    mrspcballard at gmail dot com

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  51. I love it and I have a couple of wee grandies who I know would love it too. That book is a favourite in our family. Enjoyed my visit and reading about your bugs.
    marmic1954@hotmail.com

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  52. Your quilt is child perfect, the colors, the panel, the extra shapes. Visually this all works to create a happy quilt. You did what quilters often, you adapted to what was needed.

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  53. I love what you did with the 31 pattern! I hadn't thought of that pattern for a child but that quilt is fun!

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  54. What great fun your quilt/wallhanging is. I think using butterflies was a brilliant idea and very fitting for the panel you used. Great job!

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  55. Your catterthriller is so much fun!! And the story!! Funny how we go from collecting bugs to "oh no!" when we grow up!!

    Eboward@yahoo.com

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  56. A wonderful idea for this pattern to make the Hungry Caterpillar! Very nicely done! I would not have thought of making the 31 quilt but after seeing how others use it I think I would like to give this one a go!

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  57. Your 31 quilt is great! I have a number of panels that I really didn't know what to do with.... now I do! Thanks!

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  58. It turned out so fun! And I love that you didn't have the perfect panel and that you deviated from the arrows by changing the orientation of your HSTs. Hearing your challenges and changes gives me lots of ideas and food for thought. I find that is one of the things I'm becoming a fan of with the Villa Rosa patterns. Small changes can provide a whole different look without redesigning the whole pattern.

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  59. I love how you changed the HSTs. Gives the quilt a very different look.

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  60. Aw I'm sure your granddaughter will love it!

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  61. What a cheerful and bright quilt, love it.

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  62. Your granddaughter is going to love this! And I love the name Cater-thriller! Your alterations to the pattern are perfect for this. Thanks for sharing this fun quilt.

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I appreciate your comments but due to traveling and my ineptitude with typing on either my iPhone or iPad, my response may be somewhat delayed. Thank You for your understanding.