This year I changed almost everything about collecting butterflies for the 2019 showcase. I must admit I did consider not doing the showcase at all but then decided that changing the rules was the best temporary solution… at least for this edition. The obvious change has been the use of Instagram as the host and promotional tool. I have had some fun trying to ‘pretend’ that I know how to use Instagram properly. Some of you more expert may have read between the lines but at least I have learnt a lot of new skills… and I’m afraid to say I still have a lot more to learn.

Instead of inviting people to send me their butterfly designs and publishing them all on World Lupus Day, I organised a personal Instagram Challenge called Chasing Butterflies. The ‘challenge’ became a test to myself to design a butterfly everyday for the whole of May, that means 31 butterflies! Obviously my personal challenge was also open to anyone who wanted to join in and a few people sent me some lovely butterflies. The final showcase contains 42 butterflies which you can see on the Showcase page or on Pinterest. In past editions I have always made a donation to a Lupus Charity. However, this year I decided to buy a few nice butterfly themed items and hold a small prize draw between the people who sent me a butterfly and gave me support. The winners of the prize draw are Thomas Fummo, Maike Thoma, Ellie Fidler and Debbie Head.

Last of all I need to say a big thank you to everyone who supported the initiative ‘again’! I will be back next year with another Showcase to help raise awareness for the disease Lupus. As always thanks to Daniele who keeps a strict eye on the website.

I finish this post on an extremely personal note, my Dad passed away in January, and he is reason I almost didn’t do the showcase, and, the reason in the end, why I did! Also a wonderful friend Giusy passed away on the 15th of May, so the entire showcase is dedicated to these two very dear people, who from now on will not be part of my life anymore.

Thanks for reading
Thank you
Dawn