When I first saw Leah's latest quilt along project, I was drawn to it. Her Dancing Butterfly quilt was done in pinks and purples, my all-time favorites. Though I liked it, there was just something I couldn't put my finger on. When she offered a discount on the price, for Black Friday, I jumped at the chance.
I so enjoyed the last quilt along project with Leah Day, the one that resulted in my "Black and white and pink all over" quilt, at right, under the watchful paws of my girl, Kasey.
I love #quilting. Leah Day is a wonderful teacher who has perfected her skills in free-motion quilting and probably any other thing she endeavors. The beauty though, is that she shares her knowledge with anyone else who is interested. This makes her an excellent quilting teacher, who has already taught me so much. In addition, I like her attitude and demeanor. Who wouldn't love a woman who has the patience to teach her own husband to quilt? Josh was a big part of the Building Blocks Quilt Along, as he learned the skills right along with the rest of Leah's students; students all around the globe. I cannot imagine my husband having the patience to learn to quilt, or me having the patience to teach him. But these two are obviously special people and wonderful partners. It is a pleasure to support their efforts wherever I can.
Since this quilt along was such a positive experience, I really wanted to participate in her next project, which was also a quilt along, but with applique added. That is a skill I have yet to master, so I thought it might be beneficial to join in.
![Dancing Butterfly Applique Sampler Quilt](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0978/5612/files/dancing_butterfly_quilt_large.jpg?11197550640924893987)
But since that wasn't an option, I found some fat quarter batiks on sale for a ridiculously reasonable price from Connecting Threads. I would have bought them anyway because they were beautiful, but I figured on using this delicious fabric for the butterfly project. Then I read the materials list. It called for 2/3 of a yard of several fabrics. I only had fat quarters. I didn't know if it would work, so I decided to rethink all my options.
I downloaded the pattern and examined several of Leah's videos. This looked like loads of fun, but something was bothering me. I attributed it to the hard decision to pick out just the right fabrics and thread colors.
In the meantime, I had ordered new quilting software Electric Quilt 7. I had EQ5, but it was so old and obsolete. I am a frugal quilter, so I really balked at the price of this software, at $189. That was too steep for my blood. Then, I found it on sale for $30 less on Amazon, as another Black Friday deal. I knew it would never be any cheaper. So I reasoned that it would be a nice early birthday present. Well my birthday is tomorrow and I got it two days ago. Not bad!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GazP1gVlvj0hQ6QNyhVh_MSOtAGh0FhsEzvtsT954Ix1wPnpDUHrgUlq5L5WSaQD5cgQXixnDC-XSBcD1PwUl0ZhSFxJirM-RcjMXYU1LyiUq-ZqPORsz3w1W7ywOrJ822bbqltFsMk/s1600/P1030561.jpg)
I started playing with the program. One of the best ways to learn new software is to just start using it. I decided I would try to mimic Leah's butterfly quilt design. I figured it out. Learning new software isn't much fun if you can't tweak it, so I changed the butterflies to pink flamingos.
Hallelujah! That was it! That was what was bothering me. It wasn't the decision about fabrics. it was that I wanted to make a quilt that spoke to me. Every quilt I've ever made has spoken to me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW3gwBTcgYXqY08gjtHBFXrPo3bKd-2QvLeNnOBLgHNsxREoZy3JOZkTlbJ_TixKKoa_UxU1vqLgnjp7pIjrGoGVxB7CWZcFKA7Ah7Uvbbxs8X5B7M4tsgS1chrJhhUPqOMIuIUGes9o/s1600/P1030574.jpg)
Just this year, we installed a laminate floor and painted it turquoise using a pink flamingos theme. That's what I wanted! It was easy to use EQ7 to turn Leah's butterflies into my pink flamingos.
I can still do Leah's quilt along in every other way except for the animal depicted.
![CHQuilts: pink flamingo design CHQuilts: pink flamingo design](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCR_jmZKrvhtIi7Bz4XZa5UiIYnqwobpMDzzLtMlHIHZCp4PIqWlkspon_qu2DfJ-N0jT3CQjmMDkj2ehQjLI8hdis8lZcVA68FoTaM4sOAQ0QjyNdMG4hyphenhyphen2rhttoGvglemAybJR6Xok/s1600/pink+flamingo+quilt.jpg)
This is like a lightbulb went on. I believe this quilt really did speak to me.