Veda's 365 Days of Butterflies

Veda Aprile in Oakville, Ontario, Canada is creating 365 Days of Butterflies...

 

Why did you decide to do this project? I had been following the progress of my friend Lilian #lilsheart on instagram for awhile which put the bug in my ear, then when I retired Lilian gave me Noah's book as a gift.  I was pretty excited as i had been itching to do the project just from following my friend. I chose butterflies to represent the changes that were happening in my life (retirement) and wanted to concentrate on the positive changes and growth I knew I would be experiencing in this new life of freedom from 'work.'  Also I wanted to pick a subject I knew I would enjoy painting or drawing.  I added the gratitude portion to the project on day one, when I thanked my friend for the book, at which point i thought what a good idea to keep me grateful over the course of a year.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I think this was the perfect time to start a project like this for me, it has given me something to think on every day which helped with my transition of working full days to no work days. 

I am now finding the time to do creative things I may not have attempted. For example on day 2 my butterfly cat- I learned how to use a draw tablet from my daughter.  It's interesting to note that at the beginning of the day when I read the suggestion and maybe I am at a loss of what to do, I now know if I just think on the idea for a bit something will come to me. 

I am also noticing my first attempt is a stepping stone to my final project. I have been keeping some of my original ideas to compare ie my favorite piece to date is my tea cup collection. When I first put the cups out it felt lacking - I left it on the table for a bit and out of the blue I thought 'sugar!' and that little touch just elevated the design to me. This has been happening over and over again.

 

  

I am enjoying the input from my friends as well, not only are they appreciative, they have been giving me all sorts of ideas and sending me butterfly pictures and messages. 

It was also rewarding for me to have another friend start the 365 day challenge after me with water as her subject. Now i feel like I am part of an exciting team of creativity and I am hoping to encourage more people to join the bandwagon.

See all of Veda's butterflies on Instagram and on Facebook.

 

Make and Let Go

Sarah Westeren in Columbia, South Carolina is releasing her work into the wild daily in Make and Let Go...

She explains, "For some time, I have wanted to start releasing my tatted butterflies (tatting is a form of knotted lace made with a shuttle or needle) into the wild in order to spread unexpected cheer. I spent the first month or so making butterflies, so that I would not run out faster than I could make them. Over the next year I will release at least 365, leaving them behind for friends or strangers to find. Each butterfly can be worn as a pin or necklace, and comes attached to a sheet that describes what tatting is, that the butterfly is a piece of free artwork to keep or give away as desired, and a link to my blog should the lucky finder wish to tell me what they decided to do with the butterfly (contact is entirely optional - I will be happy with mystery, as well)."

Why did you decide to do this project? So many people I love are in crisis - pain, illness, stress, loneliness. Sometimes all it takes is one smile, one moment of cheer, to help make someone's day better. I consider my butterflies a tiny gift with no strings attached (pun intended!). It's a way for me to say, "You are a unique and irreplaceable being, and deserve happiness and joy."

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I enjoy having a reason to pick up my tatting every day! After only a week, I already find myself examining my surroundings with a different eye, looking for a grey area (or a beautiful one) where I could sneakily place a butterfly. My photography skills are mediocre, and I hope to see those improve through the year as well. The blog will feature photos of the releases to start, and hopefully expand to some book reviews and projects for readers.

Follow Sarah's progress HERE. 

365 Butterflies

Kelly Godlewski in Huntington Beach, California is making 365 Butterflies...

Why did you decide to do this project? I was reading an Etsy article on January 1st that highlighted your book.  I decided to go check out your blog and see what it was all about.  I was really excited about the idea and being January 1st, I decided to jump right in and give it a go.  I enjoying creating many different things and sometimes I don't have the focus or the routine to keep things going.  I thought this would be a great experience.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? It has been quite the journey.  I thought two weeks in, How can I keep this up?  Sometimes finding the time is easy and quite enjoyable, while other days it proves to be more difficult.  There is a great sense of accomplishment from completing each day though.  It's nice because my entire family is on board and they ask me if I have completed my butterfly for the day.  They have been great helpers and a couple times they have been part of my composition.  Some of the funnier experiences are butterflies that I have completed at restaurants.  Knowing that I won't have time to complete my butterfly when I get home, I end up playing with my food.  There have been quite the variety of food butterflies, but my most memorable one, not because of the butterfly, is one I created in a nicer restaurant.  In between courses, the bus boy was waiting to clear my plate and I didn't realize it.  Once I finished the butterfly and took my picture, he came over and said nice job.  It was a little embarrassing but also funny.  My girls got a kick out of it.  It's things like that make this journey quite incredible at times.  I have 69 more to go, which still seems like a lot but I am already thinking about continuing on next year. I am enjoying what this process has brought out in me and how I am finding that bit of time to do something extra throughout the day.

See all of Kelly's butterflies HERE.

A Butterfly A Day Keeps The Boredom At Bay

Emme Roberts a student at Bangor University in Bangor, Wales, UK is doing a project inspired by my book that she calls A Butterfly A Day Keeps The Boredom At Bay...

Why did you decide to do this project I decided to this this project as i am currently a third year history undergraduate and found that i was lacking in a creative outlet. I have always loved arts and crafts but have not felt able to do any in the past 2 years. I discovered your book whilst looking for 5 year journals and am very happy that i did.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life?  As i have not been doing the project long I cannot tell how much this has affected my life, however so far it has made me feel more enthused about life and about my university work. I want to get my reading done for the day so that i can complete that days challenge, it gives me something else to think about instead of stressing about exams and essays. It also has given me a reason to get out of the house/library occasionly to find inspiration, materials, or even to complete the challenge (I am on day 4 today and will be going out for a walk later). I have really enjoyed the thrill of thinking creatively again and am very grateful for your book and for all the links to other peoples challenges on your website.

See all of Emme's butterflies HERE.

Pura Vida

Artist Nancy Mizuno Elliott in Oakland, California made 1000 butterflies by hand in a year as part of her project "Pura Vida".  In her words...

"Pura Vida is a valentine to the country of Costa Rica and Oakland’s thriving Latino community. Based on the Japanese tradition of 1000 cranes, it is an installation of 1000 hand-made butterflies that was exhibited at two recreation centers located in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. (I live in Oakland, California.)  The butterflies are opulent and ornate, constructed out of paper or acetate, and decorated with watercolor paint, glitter, ink, and tissue paper. The butterflies are 2–6” wide, have folding wings, and were mounted on walls—curving around furniture, entryways, and skylights. Each are unique—some real, some imaginary. And like true valentines, they were given away. At the conclusion of the exhibitions, the public took a butterfly home for free. Additional butterflies were offered to viewers at a suggested donation of $1 each, with all proceeds benefiting the hosting recreation centers. Over $1500 was raised. (The first 500 butterflies were a blast; the next 300 – doable; the last 200 – mind numbing.)"

Why did you decide to do this project? I needed to take a leave-of-absence from the high art community (i.e. courting private galleries) and decided to strengthen my commitment to everyday people and their need for beauty, truth, pleasure, and art. So, I returned to the original inspiration and function of art, that of gift giving and community building.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I realized that people have good intentions, crave generosity, and the gift of one paper butterfly will bring out their sense of wonder and gratitude. I also learned that it is okay to be sentimental. And you can create  your own relationship with the viewer. Screw galleries and their commodification of artists and art.

See more of Nancy's work HERE.