A Kaleidoscope of Creativity 🦋
The week we kicked off our butterfly prompt, monarchs suddenly started showing up in the garden—almost as if just in time for our June theme. Fluttering by, caught in a spiders web (sad, I know), and floating above the fence line.
It reminded me of something my friends and I used to call the blue car theory. It might go by another name, but the idea is simple: when you drive a blue Cavalier (as I did), you start seeing blue Cavaliers everywhere. There aren’t more of them—you’re just more in tune with their existence.
So as butterflies floated by all month, I wondered: were there actually more than usual, or was I just more attuned to them?
What a nice reminder this kaleidoscope of butterflies has been that if we want to see more of something in the world, maybe it’s just about tuning ourselves to the right frequency. So, what do we want to tune into next month?
This week, we’ll vote on our July theme, explore how values shape our choices, and share a few final butterfly craft ideas.
Let’s get into it →
💥 Help us pick July’s Project Theme! 🎨
Summer’s heating up, and so are the ideas! Vote for your favorite theme here—we’ll use the winner as our creative prompt for July. Here’s what’s in the running:
💬 What’s New in the Community This Week
We had a lovely time at our latest Virtual Craft Meetup! Lauren painted watercolor florals, Lorraine prepped clothes for an upcycle project, and I gave abstract embroidery a go—freeform and full of fails 🤷🏻‍♀️. If you’re looking for some low-key social time while working on your own projects, join us for the next one!
Quick question: What day of the week works best for you? Comment here to let us know.
We also launched a new poll: How much do the politics of the brands you shop from matter to you? Head to the comments to share your thoughts—we love hearing them.
And finally, a little throwback—we’ve revived an old facebook group as another gathering place. For those of you who aren't keen to sign up for something new and are already on FB, you can now join us there, too.
🦋 Butterfly Project Inspiration: Our Last Flutter
As June winds down, we’re wrapping up our butterfly theme with three final project ideas that are as delightful as they are doable.
Fabric Butterflies by One Little Project
These cheerful little butterflies are a joy to make—and beginner-friendly, too! With a free printable pattern and a step-by-step tutorial, they’re a great way to use fabric scraps. Try them as hair accessories, wall decor, or thoughtful handmade gifts.
Leaf-Printed Butterfly Wings
A clever and beautiful technique that uses real leaves to create stunning wing prints. Nature and craft meet in this process that gives each butterfly a unique and organic look. Watch the video >>
Carnival Moth Felt Ornaments by NellyMakesEmbroidery
This one’s for embroidery lovers—or anyone who enjoys stitching up something whimsical. With a downloadable pattern and tutorial, these colorful moths make gorgeous ornaments or gifts, no matter the season.
Peo Vee Events
Craft Café & Supply Swap — July Edition
✨ Swap: Bring unwanted art supplies to exchange with fellow creatives.
🎨 Craft: Bring any small project to work on: add a button, make a card... any creative project.
🛍 New in the Marketplace
We’re always finding gems in the Remnants marketplace—and this week’s new arrivals are no exception. From vintage fabrics to unique craft supplies, here are a few of our current favorites worth a peek (or a project).
🧶Explore our growing collection of yarn for all your knitting projects.
From bold and bulky to soft and subtle, you’ll find textures and colors perfect for whatever you're stitching up. These come from fellow makers’ stashes, giving you a chance to create sustainably with materials that deserve a second life.
Caught our đź‘€
đź“ą A stop motion video that seems like as much work as this beautiful upcycle.
✂️ A fabric collage process that may just inspire you to give it a try.
đź‘• A reminder that thrifted clothing can be made special with some creativity.
🩳 Cyanotype shorts that you’ll actually want to wear.
New in the Blog:
Sunbonnet Sue: The Enduring Charm of Quilting’s Most Iconic Silhouette »
If you've ever flipped through vintage quilting patterns, chances are you’ve met her: Sunbonnet Sue.
With her oversized bonnet hiding her face and a dress for every occasion, Sue has stitched her way into American craft history for over a century. But where did she come from, and why has she endured? In this post, I took a closer look at the origins of Sunbonnet Sue, her rise to quilting fame, and the reasons this quiet little character continues to spark creativity—and conversation—among crafters today.
That’s it for now—but the stitching, sharing, and storytelling never really stop. Whether you're deep in a butterfly project or just picking up some thread for the first time, I can’t wait to see what you create.
See you next week,
Molly
We're mission-driven to gather a community of upcyclers dedicated to reducing waste, sharing resources, sparking ideas, and bringing reuse to the forefront of our daily lives. But we can’t do it alone.
Keep reading
This month’s creative prompt is Kaleidoscope—explore three inspired project ideas, a new giveaway element, and details on our next Craft Café, virtual meetup, and Christmas in July supply drop.