photo BlogButton_zpsf979d556.jpg  photo AboutMeButton_zps0d48ecc3.jpg  photo FinishesButton_zps92f1f16c.jpg  photo TutorialsButton_zps33a38379.jpg  photo RTQLabel_zps71a4ad0f.jpg

27 June 2014

Lightning Bug Pincushion

My local quilt shop (Brooklyn General) has a crafty contest each summer. This year the challenge was to honor the bug. All entries have to be 5" or less, and the have to be 3-D. I had this contest in the back of my mind for a little while, and then inspiration struck like a bold of lightening:

Lightening Bug Pincushion
Lightening Bug! 

I made a design for a 5" square, traditionally pieced lightning bug. I may enlarge the pattern into a pillow size and share with you later. This small one is awfully fiddly. Suffice it to say, all these teenie tiny pieces were hard to get an accurate seam allowance on, but they are so cute that it doesn't matter (to me)! I ended up adding some hand embroidered embellishments because the wings looked a little odd without definition, and buggy needed some legs and antennae. This is maybe my second time embroidering, and I used 4 different stitches! One of my favorite parts of the pincushion are the sides and bottom in the neon yellow stripe. I got it as a remnant, and am not even sure what kind of fabric it is, but it fit in with the theme perfectly!

Here are a few close ups, pardon the cat hairs!

Lightening Bug Pincushion
Head shot. Antennae were stitched using backstitch and french knots. 


Lightening Bug Pincushion
Close up of the 'lights' with some mosquito stitching embellishment. 


Lightening Bug Pincushion
Here's how he looks as a functioning pincushion. 


Lightening Bug Pincushion
Back side of my label. The other side is my initials and the year. 

There's still time to enter the contest, and everyone is welcome to participate (just mail in submissions if you're out of town). They're accepting submissions until July 15th. Everyone can enter up to 3 bugs. I've got an idea for another one, just not sure if I'll be motivated to finish in time! 

Lightening Bug Pincushion
Buggy got back!
Linking up to Finish it up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts

9 comments:

  1. That is so cute! I love the neon fabric too - such a great touch!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness that is awesome and your tiny piecing skills are so impressive! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very creative and so cute!! Good luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I thought they were called Lightning Bugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for pointing out my typo! I wish you had left some contact information so that I would have been able to personally thank you.

      Delete
  5. Wow! This is a fantastic pattern! I hope you win the contest!
    BTW, thank you for leaving your comment about my blog during the first week of New quilt Blogger blog hop!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love it, it is too cute!!! I remember catching lightening bugs years and years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  7. So cute! And those pieces are so tiny!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This little guy is adorable! My family was running through the yard trying to catch them the other night. We didn't have much success. This is a winner for sure :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I usually respond via email, if it's a good question I may respond here so everyone can benefit!