What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

It is hot and humid. Fortunately I am well-prepared to stay (and entertain myself) indoors.  That is where Island Batik's second shipment of goodies is supremely helpful :-D

Here is the "Set" of Unboxing Video showing Nihal on the left and Wednesday on the right.

Unboxing Video - Set up

It is good to be an ambassador!  Here is the link to the Unboxing video.  There is an oops in there and I left it as such. We are only human!

I start with the generous box of batting provided by Hobbs.

Thermore Batting - Light and Very Thin

Premium Wool ...

Marrying someone from halfway across the globe has its perks.  There is always something new to learn. Recently Paul introduced me to the Addams Family.  I fell in love with Wednesday and she is the inspiration for my May project! 

Wednesday Mock-Up in EQ8

The Island Batik challenge for April is Crazy Quilts with Aurifil Threads.  

The Zippered Pouches - in progress

I received the Frangipani Color Builder from Aurifil Threads.

To ensure that these threads/embroidery/stitches showed well on the fabric, I decided to use Island Batik solids.  Since I also wanted to make a modern interpretation of Crazy Quilts, the solids were a perfect choice ...

Mardi Gras Magic was published in McCall’s Quilting March/April 2023.   

Mardi Gras Magic

My favorite picture

Island Batik Fabrics - Inspired by Nature

Bright Yellows, Shimmering Greens

If I could be doing anything quilty, it would be improv piecing.  It is like taking a journey. "Come hither ye fabric scraps; together we will travel and see where we end up." 

Here is the Island Batik Challenge for March. It reads 

"March brings a free month for you to determine your own project of any size, using any theme and any technique!! This is an opportunity for you to express your creativity without guidelines. Have fun!"

And I did have fun. See how the bits and pieces grew.

Starting Point

And then there were two

Growing

Coming Together ...

Wish you a very happy 2023!

I have news. Island Batik has selected a new slate of ambassadors for 2023.  And I am honored to have made the cut.

Here is a link to the Unboxing video.

Testing the set-up - Looking good!

I firmly believe that anyone who has a voice can sing. Whether their singing is pleasant to hear or not is another story altogether.  Similarly, I can make a quilt with any group of colors. Will that grouping be aesthetically appealing? That depends on the design.

December Challenge!

Four times a year when the challenge is combined with a blog hop, we the Island Batik ambassadors are required to use one of the new fabric collections, assigned to us. Further we are directed to use as many fabrics (from the collection) as possible.

I was assigned the Chickadee Fabric Collection ...

Island Batik's August Challenge is Marvelous Minis.

The guidelines are simple. 

Any technique, any pattern and size between 12" square and 24" square.

With such broad and open ended requirements, my mind went in many different directions... 

Improv Piecing because that is my favorite technique

Playing with Scraps

Rainbow theme because I could not pick just one color

Island Batik Rainbow

A Landscape Mini using gradations because they are just so beautiful

Gradations

International Sisters because it made me slightly famous(scroll down)

But I kept coming back to the recent Supreme Court decision leaving us 

with fewer freedoms ...

The second shipment of boxes from Island Batik arrived in the last week of June, loaded with gorgeous fabrics and other goodies/supplies from Island Batik's industry partners.

Last weekend, I shot the video. 

The setup below shows off my Island Batik projects from this year - Syzygy, Pobody's Nerfect and Harmony.

Ready to Roll the Camera

I received Batting from Hobbs. Cotton Queen Size, 80/20 Black Queen Size, Cotton Wool Blend Lap Size, Thermore Polyester Queen Size, and fusible batting strips ...

The Island Batik July challenge is sponsored by Accuquilt who have recently launched the GO! Tree of Life Block on Board Die! Our challenge was to make an inspiring piece where the GO! Tree of Life pieces are the focus. 

Further, "AccuQuilt’s mission is to bring joy to everyone – especially when they need it. That is why, this month, we are encouraging you to make Christmas come early for someone who could use a little joy."

Also, "when you finish, AccuQuilt would like you to give the project you have made to someone you know who needs a little ...

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of HM Queen Elizabeth II, so I was thrilled when Aurifil announced they were releasing a thread collection in honour of the Platinum Jubilee.  The box reads: "The Platinum Jubilee Collection is Aurifil's humble tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.  This year, we celebrate her success and achievements throughout her 70 years of service.  Her fierce nature, resilience, and compassion have set a strong example, inspiring a new generation of leaders."

Inside the commemorative box is an array of  colours fit for a queen: neutrals, plus gold, silver, platinum and ...

I am thrilled that Island Batik selected me as one of their 25 ambassadors in 2022.  This is my second year and I knew what to expect (sort of) when the first shipment of fabric and supplies arrived at my doorstep.  And yet when I opened the two boxes, I was giddy with delight. 

Setup for the Unboxing Video

Here is the Unboxing Video

Clearly, I am showing the gorgeous fabrics while failing to contain my delight.  Here are the supplies.

A generous box of batting from Hobbs.

Fusible Batting Strips for Totes/Baskets etc.

Queen Sized Batting - Polyester and ...

Because this is my favorite season of all, I have a lot of autumn inspired things to use in the kitchen and on the table. I adore these salad plates with the leaves, purchased some years ago when Pier 1 still had stores. The pumpkin bowls are also years old, and I get them out every fall for cereal in the mornings, and soup on chilly days. For this season, once again I challenge myself to create a new table using only what I already have. I wanted more color, so the burgundy tablecloth came out, topped with a little ...

 Welcome to Day Two of Island Batik's August 2021 Blog Hop - Try a Tool.

My assignment was to use the Butterfly Blooms collection and the Corner Pop 3 Ruler to make a project.

Inspiration Board

If you like these fabrics, you are about to be dazzled...by how bright they look in person.

On my cutting table

These colors remind me of the Crape Myrtle trees that are in full bloom these days.

On my morning ...

As an Island Batik Ambassador, I receive fabric from Island Batik and other supplies from industry partners (Hobbs Batting, Aurifil, Bags by Annie, and Studio 180), twice a year. The first set of boxes were received in January 2021.

Island Batik Boxes and the Video Shoot Setup

The second set of boxes were received in July 2021. Here is my home video showing the goodies as I unbox them.

For the August Challenge (Try a Tool) and Blog Hop, I will be working with Island Batik's Butterfly Blooms collection.

Butterfly Blooms

Foundations to Match Spring 2021 Bundle

Matching Yardage ...

The Island Batik Challenge for July urged us to get an early start on Christmas and other end of the year holiday projects!

In my first Island Batik Ambassador Box, I had received a strip set of Holly Holiday fabric, designed by Kathy Engle. With deep red/dark green colors and reindeer/pine shaped trees it screams Christmas. Naturally I set it aside for the July challenge.

Holly Holiday Strips

Selection

I chose to make a tree skirt.

We have a small Christmas tree and some years we even put it up, when we are not traveling. If I make ...

The Island Batik Challenge for June 2021 reads as follows:

The challenge for you is to use the 8” or 12” finished BOB dies from your Ambassador box, the GO! Qube 8" Mix & Match Block and create a whole new pattern by combining the two!

Here is my response

Novella, 11" by 66"

BOB means Block on Board. In other words, the complete block is on a single die. I received Snails Trails Die.

Snails Trail BOB Die

All units in one place

Cut Pieces

First Block

In my opinion, the best complement to Snails ...

The March 2021 Island Batik Challenge is to make a Scrapbuster Quilt.  

Being a new ambassador I do not have a lot of Island Batik fabrics.

It’s been almost two weeks since I announced the Rise Above Sew Along and it’s time to prepare! Some of

There is a first time for everything, right?  This is my first attempt at making a video. 

I hope that what I lack in production quality and overall appeal is balanced (somewhat) by my genuine excitement.

Well, according to Blogger, my video exceeds their size limit (yes even after cropping and reducing file size). Insert raspberry here. 

You may view it on my Facebook page here.  Here are a few highlights from the Box.

Full of goodies