Child's quilt, butterfly quilt, applique vines, pastel butterflies, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilts
Child's quilt, ocean quilt, jellyfish print, seahorse applique, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilts

For our summer in Minnesota I packed materials to work on several quilts for Project Linus, and here are five that I turned in when we returned to Las Cruces in the fall. “Floating Around” started with a jellyfish print that was sitting in my stash for way too long. I really enjoyed doing the jellyfish and seahorse applique, while daydreaming of the ocean on those hot midwest summer afternoons.

Child's quilt, jungle print, toucan applique, jungle animal quilt, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilts

There are always tempting jungle prints at the Linus monthly meetings, and I couldn’t resist this one filled with spotted ocelots and margays, capuchin monkeys, parrots and toucans–all reminding me of our years in Costa Rica. I chose toucans for feature applique panels in “Calling All Toucans.”

Child's quilt, blue and orange quilt, butterfly applique, drunkard's path quilt blocks, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilt

At our cabin in Winona we encountered butterflies every day when we took a walk, so I was glad that I had fabrics for two butterfly quilts. First I was in the mood to make some drunkard’s path blocks. The green print of tiny butterflies became the border and also provided the shapes of appliqued butterflies in “Twirling Butterflies.”

Child's quilt, butterfly quilt, applique vines, pastel butterflies, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilts

The butterfly fabric in “Butterflies Take Over the Garden” is much more playful. I loved all the pastel colors in the print. But instead of adding more butterflies, I had fun appliqueing a range of fanciful vines and flowers onto coordinating pastel blocks, set on point with a woven trellis sashing.

Child's quilt, owl quilt, paisley applique, Project Linus quilt, Spingarn quilts

My final summer project used a wild-and-crazy piece that came from my neighbor and mentor, Mary Clark, who passed away in May. Mary was a wonderful prolific quilter and contributor to Project Linus. She taught me to machine quilt and was a constant source of inspiration. Mary’s daughter generously allowed me to choose some fabrics from her stash, and more of these fabrics will show up in my Linus quilts over the next months. The “Go-Go Owls” come from a partial panel that contained these four huge owls plus some paisley shapes that I used for broderie perse.

You can use the full-screen and magnifying glass tools for a closer look at these quilts.