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Holocaust Museum Butterfly Project

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:TerryF (contact)
Swap categories: Themed  Nature  Newbie 
Number of people in swap:87
Location:International
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Last day to signup/drop:August 10, 2009
Date items must be sent by:August 31, 2009
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

Please see Rachels's article on this in the SB blog posted June 27th. You can also read about The Butterfly Project here.

I thought this would make an excellent swap as it will be easy and inexpensive to mail.

There are 2 parts to this swap:

  • Please make one 2 dimensional butterfly (according to the website's criteria) and send it to the address provided on the website. Be sure to indicate that you belong to Swap-bot.

AND

  • Please send your swap partner via snail mail a photo/scan/coloured photocopy of your butterfly, along with a note describing the materials/techniques you used and how you felt while making it.

I am opening this swap to everyone in the hope that no one will flake on such a wonderful and bittersweet project.

Thanks to everyone who joins!


The Butterfly

The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
against a white stone....
Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ’way up high.
It went away I’m sure
because it wished
to kiss the world good-bye.
For seven weeks I’ve lived in here,
Penned up inside this ghetto.
But I have found what I love here.
The dandelions call to me
And the white chestnut branches in the court.
Only I never saw another butterfly.
That butterfly was the last one.
Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

~ Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942
Born in Prague on January 7, 1921.
Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942.
Died in Aushchwitz on September 29, 1944.

Discussion

Ellama1 06/28/2009 #

Oh my. Watching this.

charmcityartist 07/ 3/2009 #

Thank you for this! I would love to do this project with people in my community!

choke 07/ 4/2009 #

This is great, thanks for hosting it!

MrsAnnaSue 07/ 4/2009 #

On my watch list.... will sign up closer to the sign up deadline.

kizmet 07/ 5/2009 #

It's on my wishlist as well but I have a question..when they say "two dimensional" they basically mean that the butterflies must be flat isn't it? I'm sorry this sounds a dumb question but English is not my first language and I don't want to get things wrong!

ElizabethObviously 07/ 5/2009 #

Don't worry...english IS my first language and I am wondering the same thing! I think it is flat because 3d would be the criss crossing butterfly i think

choke 07/ 7/2009 #

Yes two-dimensional means the butterflies should be basically flat, only having a height and length but no width. I imagine they're probably easier to display that way, but now I am wondering if a pipe cleaner type stick would be okay to use as the butterfly's body? What do you guys think?

LavenderLizard 07/ 7/2009 #

Watching!

zigg13pra 07/ 7/2009 #

Wow that's awesome, on my watch list..

LittleCakes 07/ 9/2009 #

Moving...it is on my watch list for now...will definately sign up!

marionjoy 07/ 9/2009 #

watching...

TerryF 07/11/2009 #

Re the 2 dimensions, choke has explained it properly (thx choke!). It is so they can be attached easily to the wall for display.

I think that as long as it is flat enough to fit into a regular flat envelope without any padding, it should be fine. (If you use a pipe cleaner, I think it should be Ok as long as you seal the whole envelope with scotch tape to reinforce it for mailing.)

Don't forget that you may start this swap anytime you like and mail it off to the Museum - you only need your partner's info for the second part. (I will not ban anyone unless they are obvious flakers with bad ratings.)

PLEASE NOTE: I have revised the swap description to indicate that you must send a snail mail note and pic to your partner. Thx!

funkylukecosmicart 07/14/2009 #

this is fantastic.. i am going to have my son make one too.. thank you for sharing and caring

missmonroeville 07/16/2009 #

I think this is a beautiful idea. Will watch for now and join nearer the time.

luvscrappin 07/16/2009 #

I am going to have my kids make one also and I am sending a print out to my daughter's camp/school. THis is a great project.

whinendine 07/16/2009 #

Definitely on my watch list. Great idea

AynE 07/16/2009 #

It makes me cry...my family lost family during the Holocaust. Thank you for doing this....

TeaNi 07/16/2009 #

This is a wonderful project. My daughter participated in it a couple of years ago when they had a display at a local university and her photo was in the local paper. I didn't get to make one myself though... hmmm, I may have to do this!:)

raeraethejetplane 07/17/2009 #

Not joining this swap but I wanted to say I am glad that you guys are doing this. I plan on making a few butterflies when I have the right inspiration to honor my family.

djmom11 07/17/2009 #

Can we make two butterflies and send one to our partner instead of sending a photo?

TerryF 07/17/2009 #

That is a nice idea and yes you may, but it is not a requirement of this swap.

rifkasorah 07/19/2009 #

What a great idea . Maybe one,day, names of family/persons can be put onto the Butterflies for memory and honor.

gillianinoz 07/20/2009 #

I'm printing this up to share with the teachers at the school where I work. I hope to interest the Year Seven students.

It's a lovely project.

Ogma 07/20/2009 #

This is a wonderful idea and I'm glad you've decided to host a swap here for it. Excellent.

constancet 07/22/2009 #

Thank you for this hosting this swap. My friend and I sent butterfly ATCs last year. Hope everyone reads the poem "The Last Butterfly" written by one of the children at the camp -- it made me weep. Thanks again.

virgovegan 07/24/2009 #

This is so beautiful - I am going to see if any of my crafter freidns want to join even though they may not be part of swap-bot. Thanks for doing this.

candigirl 07/27/2009 #

constancet, It appears, by the dates accompanying the poem, that this was written by a young man, rather than a child..it looks as though he was 21 or so when it was written, and he died at Aushchwitz at the age of 23.

TerryF 07/30/2009 #

candigirl, you are correct, but to have that kind of a life in your teens and early twenties was still way too young...

LaTosi 07/30/2009 #

just the thought of what they had to endure is so incredibly sad . i want to be part of this and i like the idea of sending a duplicate to my partner. thanks for hosting. peace, pat

Kalimorgana 08/ 7/2009 #

I'm in. I think this is such a great idea, and it must be very special to receive butterflies from all over the world. I hope, once the butterflies are on the wall in this museum they'll place a picture or something online. I live in the Netherlands and won't be able to go and see the wall for myself.

spinjenny 08/ 9/2009 #

Re: 2D, the requirements on the Butterfly project site say "two-dimensional submissions are preferred", not that only 2D is acceptable, so I can't see that a pipecleaner body would be a problem. For you glitter addicts, note that it also says "Glitter should not be used".

TerryF 08/11/2009 #

Thx Jenny!

TerryF 08/11/2009 #

Partners have been assigned. Since I said I would accept everyone, I have not banned anyone. I hope that everyone sends their swap (a butterfly to the Project and a note and picture to their partners).

If you have not received your swap by September 30, please let me know. Thx!

RachelB 08/12/2009 #

If I make two butterflies and send one to my partner instead of a photo I wont get a three will I? It seems daft to send a photo AND a butterfly but its part of the swap requirements!

TerryF 08/12/2009 #

Thx for posting RachelB!

Check out the full story here.

TerryF 08/12/2009 #

Here is my take on RachelB's question above:

I cannot imagine that any partner would have a problem receiving the real thing rather than a photo, but I cannot recommend that you do that as it isn't according to the swap description and I don't want anyone getting rated a 3 because of it.

I would suggest that you contact your partner to see which they would prefer. If they don't reply, then I would just send the photo and save the second butterfly for someone else (maybe a magnet or ornament for a future swap?). After all, if they cannot give you the courtesy of a reply, why send them something that nice?

Anyway, that is my take on it. Hope it helps. Good luck!

RachelB 08/13/2009 #

I got a reply and the butterfly is all packaged and ready for migration!

TerryF 08/13/2009 #

Excellent!

IlonaH 08/21/2009 #

If I would get a real butterfly instead of a photo of it, I'd give a heart instead of a 3! My butterfly (-ies, as my son drew it and I duplicated that in felt) is ready to be shipped.

TerryF 08/24/2009 #

IlonaH, I am not sure what you mean by your first sentence above...why would you give a 3 (unless it was late)?

SweetClementine 08/24/2009 #

Terry, I think Ilona was responding to RachelB's question that she won't get a 3 for sending the real thing instead of a photo, will she? I think Ilona means that she would never give a 3 for not sending a photo, but rather she would give a heart for sending the real thing instead.

TerryF 08/25/2009 #

Now I comprendez - thx SC!

racheljohnson 08/31/2009 #

I feel ashamed that I waited until the very last day to send, but I had a wonderful time making my butterflies for this awesome project.

buterflies

^ my butterflies

RachelB 09/ 1/2009 #

Oh I love the butterflies! There are 25 people sending late on this swap - thats nearly a third! :-(

TerryF 09/ 3/2009 #

Very cute Rachel! Thx for posting.

I have decided I am not going to stress over people who might send this swap late. Many people are busy with back to school right now and some have probably sent but just not logged on to say so. As for the rest, it is on their conscience if they flake.

I am happy to send my pic and note to everyone who doesn't receive this swap (I will do this the week of Sept. 21), but it would be really nice if some of us could make some extra butterflies and just send them off to the Holocaust Museum. I am not going to formally organize anything, I'll just leave it up to those good hearts here who have the time and can do so. But, if you do, perhaps you could post so here so you at least get some credit and recognition! (I know of at least 2 people who sent butterflies although they didn't join this swap.)

Thank you to everyone who fulfilled their commitment here, and to all of you who send off an extra butterfly - you know who you are and you all deserve a big hug! Terry

LiveTheChaos 09/ 3/2009 #

I posted pictures of my butterflies on my Flickr. The link is on my profile.

TerryF 09/ 4/2009 #

Here are LTC's lovely butterflies:

TerryF 09/ 4/2009 #

And mine:

(fabric fused to Pellon and beaded)

TerryF 09/ 5/2009 #

Here is LOLA's butterfly - I think it is amazing:

Perhaps she will come here and comment on it...

LOLA 09/ 6/2009 #

Thank you Terry!

The butterfly is made with recycled materials and painted papers. You really can't see the text, metal mesh, and torn silk flowers I used to symbolize the captivity of the child.

Though Butterflies are a symbolic of change and metamorphosis I really wanted to include the literal victim somehow. I "bronzed" the baby chrysalis as you would a child's shoes so one would never forget who the child once was.

Finally the fully formed developed wings of the butterfly triumph, cradled in the hands of future generations.

choke 09/ 6/2009 #

I mailed this swap out near the deadline, I have just been super swamped lately and completely unorganized the past couple weeks and just now found time to sort through them all to see what was sent, and what wasn't. So, I'm just clicking now...sorry for the confusion. Out butterflies were mailed to the museum a couple weeks ago, I'll try to put some pics on here when I can. Thanks for hosting such an awesome swap, we had a great time!

TerryF 09/19/2009 #

The following people have not marked their swaps as sent AND are either partially suspended, starting to get 1 ratings, or have not logged on for weeks:

@buzzybumble
@kendrakittay
@StichedSongbird
@JPGirl
@somuchmore

I will arrange angels for the partners of these people right away.


The following people have not marked their swaps as sent BUT have logged on recently and do not have any problem ratings as of today:

@aisbaby
@KellyR
@auntjudy
@Haole1

I will send a follow-up pm to these people.

TerryF 09/19/2009 #

KellyR advised that she has been in contact with her partner and made mutually satisfactory arrangements.

TerryF 09/19/2009 #

aisbaby advised that she sent on time, just forgot to click the sent button.

TerryF 09/20/2009 #

I have angeled @ArtfulFig @fleasha and @aisbaby via email.

@mommy2000 and @FibreJunky have kindly declined angeling.

I will be making and sending extra butterflies for all those I have angeled.

It appears from discussions in the Swap-bot Flakers Group that @auntjudy is starting to flake so I have also angeled her partner, @stellar3mailart .

TerryF 09/21/2009 #

@Haole1 has advised she will send today (Sept. 21), but I have angeled her partner @blondie78t via email anyway.

TerryF 09/23/2009 #

This butterfly was made by AynE - here is her explanation:

"I have attached the butterfly I did for my swap. I want to do a series of them using Holocaust Poetry and images from the poems. That is what I did for the first one, there is a chestnut tree, a dandelion and the ghetto because the poem on the website talked about the yellow of the butterfly, white of the chestnut tree, the dandelions and the blue of the sky. I don't know if you can see it in the picture but I copied the words from the poem along the lines on the left wing of the butterfly."

Thx dear!

TerryF 10/22/2009 #

It appears that only 4 people have actually not sent this swap in the end, so AynE and I will each make and send in 2 butterflies for them.

Many thanks to everyone who completed this swap as well as to those of you who very generously offered to angel!

racheljohnson 10/24/2009 #

I just received my postcard from a student named Josh!! Very sweet. Thanks again for this great swap.

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