February Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

Our challenge this month was to make a log cabin quilt, any size, using our given collection. I was fortunate enough to receive Rollin’ Round by Kathy Engle for Quilting Renditions. It has fun designs of wheels, gears, bicycles, and all things round. And the colors are gorgeous jewel tones with some wheat colors and oranges as well. Bright and beautiful!

Rollin’ Round is shipping to shops this month! Ask for it at your favorite shop.

All cut out and ready to roll!

The pattern I chose is called River Log Cabin by Amy Ellis and I found it in Missouri Star’s Mod Block Magazine, Vol.1, Issue 1. It’s a different layout than I usually see and it seemed a little more modern to me. The strips are cut different widths; the grey background solid was cut into 1 1/2″ strips and the Rollin’ Round fabrics were cut into 2 1/2″ strips.

I put a new needle in before every project. Schmetz Microtex 80/12 needles are what I use for piecing.
Beginning to put it together. Strip piecing all the way!
I love these bright, beautifully saturated colors!
The orange and teal! Yum!
If you’re looking for a bicycle print, this one is super cute!

All 80 squares have been trimmed, sewn into rows, and rows sewn together. Now for the quilting. I only had my travel machine with me and no walking foot, so straight line quilting it is! I stitched a presser foot edge away from the seam lines and used Aurifil 50 wt 100% cotton thread for quilting (and piecing, but a more neutral color than shown below).

You can see the design layout now. Circles were perfect for Rollin’ Round!

I love it!

For the backing I chose Optic Flower in teal and Platinum, which is one of the Naturally Neutrals in the Basics collection. You can see the teal here, the other end of the backing has the Platinum.

Optic Flower – teal
Platinum
I’m calling it Desert Sunset!

Be sure to view and follow what the other Island Batik Ambassadors have completed for their Log Cabin challenge:

February 6:

February 7:

February 8:

  • February 12:
  • February 13:
  • February 14:
  • February 15:

February 19:

  • February 20:
  • February 21:
  • February 22:

February 26:

And last but not least — enter to win the giveaway from Island Batik!!!

Week 3 (Squiggles, Dots and Lines + Romance Garden):

<a class=”rcptr” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d463e29d66/” rel=”nofollow” data-raflid=”d463e29d66″ data-theme=”classic” data-template=”” id=”rcwidget_hg0cdatt”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>

Island Batik Ambassador December Challenge

Our challenge this month was to make something of our choice that has to do with celebrations. Well, every celebration involves food, yes??? And hopefully with shared responsibilities. Whether you call them pitch ins, pot lucks, or something else, a proper carrier is needed, so I decided to make a casserole carrier.

And Pro-Stitcher has a design for that! Actually they have a couple. The one I chose is Happiness is Homemade. There is another one called Buttered Biscuit. I combined the two as I preferred parts of each. Directions are included with the download.

The fabric I used was Island Batik Small Pointed Floral in Turquoise (BE36-D1) for the front and Island Batik Mini Leaves in Brown Ecru (112325051) from the Natural Healing Collection for the lining. I love the combination of blue and yellow. They were my wedding colors!

i quilted this on my Handi Quilter Forte (Amara 24).

I love the Baked with Love message on the side flaps

And I love this plaid design for the bottom of the carrier.
This is how it looked after turning the cover right sides out. Ready to topstitch the edges.
And I loved this Happiness is Homemade script on the front and back.
I used kabab skewers for my handles but you could use wooden spoons or dowel rods or anything else that fits.

Now I am set to bring a dish to our next shared meal in style.

Happy Holidays to those who celebrate the season!

Check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors did for the challenge this month:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Covering the World: One Quilt at a Time

by Accuquilt

Beginning in June 2023, AccuQuilt is partnering up with Island Batik and Baby Lock in a pay-it-forward campaign called “Covering the World: One Quilt at a Time.” As an Island Batik Ambassador, I chose to participate by donating one of my quilts to my local guild to donate locally as needed.

Earlier this year I participated in one of GE Designs Quilt Alongs, Strip Twist. My Island Batik Stash Builders were perfect for this quilt. Stash Builders are 5″ strips by width of fabric that come 4 strips to a roll, 5 rolls per package. That’s nearly 3 yards of fabric and perfect for cutting 5″ squares or 2 1/2″ strips. I whipped this up at my annual quilt retreat using Schmetz needles and Aurifil thread.

Assembled pieces
My first completed block!
Trying a layout
All together
Added borders and scrappy binding using more of my Island Batik Stash Builders, Hobbs 80/20 batting, and Pro-Stitcher on my Handiquilter Forte
Donated to our guild’s charity chairperson, Darlen,e at our November meeting

I know someone will appreciate this one as it is delivered this month.

Thank you Island Batik for the fabric and GE Designs for the inspiration!

Island Batik Ambassador November Challenge

by Annie Blog Hop

Island Batik Ambassadors had the opportunity to choose a ByAnnie bag pattern that we would like to make. We had our choice of any with a supporting video, 29 to be exact. I have made a few ByAnnie patterns and love the results I get from her quality step by step instructions and supporting materials. ByAnnie supplied us with the pattern we selected and all the hardware and supplies to make it! Thank you, ByAnnie!!

We have an Airstream travel trailer and aren’t afraid to use it! We enjoy nature, hiking, biking, kayaking, and the out of doors. It’s always fun to meet and become friends with like minded people we meet during our adventures. I found a bag pattern that will be useful when we are glamping, it’s the I’ll Drink to That bag! We are often toting things to happy hours and pot lucks. This bag will be convenient for carrying our drinks.

The Island Batik collection I was given to work with for this project is Citron Breeze. Citron Breeze is shipping to retailers this month. Ask your favorite quilt store for it. It is a beautiful, very calming collection of greens and blues. Thank you, Island Batik for this beautiful fabric with which to work.

First I quilted the main fabric, foam, and lining on my Handi Quilter Forte (Amara 24). I chose SC Winter Swirls and Pearls design found in PS Patterns. I liked the bubbles and swirls and thought it appropriate for a drink carrier. Then I cut out the pieces from the quilted fabric.

SC Winter Swirls and Pearls
Adding binding to one of the pieces
The inner sectioned dividers
Front section with padded handle and zippered pouch

Every project deserves a new needle. I use Schmetz needles, normally an 80/12 Microtex, but for this project, sewing through several layers at a time and through Annie“s Soft and Stable foam, I used a size 90 needle.  I enjoyed this project very much! Annie’s patterns, directions, and supplies give such a professional look to your finished projects!

Please take a minute to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors did for their challenge this month:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Island Batik Ambassador October Challenge

Falling for Accuquilt

Our challenge this month was to use the Accuquilt North Carolina Star block, generously donated to us by Accuquilt. We could use the entire block, just parts to make a totally different design, and/or pair it with companion dies. We could make it into any project we liked, using fall fabrics, if possible.

Accuquilt North Carolina Star

I thought about what fall decorations I needed, and came up with ideas for placemats. Placemats add a finishing touch to a table setting and we host Thanksgiving. Time to get busy.

First, select fabrics. I selected a variety of fall colored fabrics and wanted to use the larger prints as the focus fabrics. They became the 4 51/2″ squares in each corner of the North Carolina Star blocks. Then it was pure fun to play with the other fabrics to see how placement changed the entire look. The block itself was 12″ square and I wanted the placemats to be about 12″ x 18″ so I added some designs on the sides.

Parts and pieces to play with.
My first placemat used Pine Leaves Cone-Gr as the focus fabric in the four corners. I really love this one. Other fabrics used were Leaves- Green in the very center, Berries -Orange, Pebbles -Coffee, and Sprig – Yellow in the middle and on the right border, and Rock -Yellow and Copper on the left side.
This placemat was made with Leaves – Green Cactus in the four corners, Berries – Orange in the very center with Leaves-Green Grass and Rock – Yellow in the center cross and Rock – Yellow on both borders.
This placemat features Pine Leaves from the Sandalwood Collection for the four corners, Leaves-Green from the Sandalwood Collection for the very center, and Leaves – Green Cactus from the Sandalwood Collection, Pebbles – Coffee, Sprig – Yellow, and Berries – Gold and Berries – Orange from the Sandalwood Collection for the rest of the placemat.
This placemat features Leaves – Green from the Sandalwood Collection for the four corners, Sprig – Yellow, and Bubbles – Cherry to complete the center, and Copper, Rock – Yellow, Sprig – Yellow, Pebbles – Coffee, Round Petal Floral, and Leaves – Green Grass from the Sandalwood Collection for the side borders.

All placemats are backed and bound with Rock – Green Grass.

I quilted all of them at the same time on my Handi Quilter Forte with the Filigree Leaves e2e design from Pro-Stitcher Patterns.

I was able to use some Hobbs 80/20 batting scraps left over from what they generously supplies us. I don’t like to waste!
Quilted on my Handi Quilter
Forte (now Amara 24)with Pro-Stitcher
My Handi Quilter Glide 2 foot made it so easy
Quilted with Filigree Leaves by Pro-Stitcher Patterns
I like the way they look on my dining room table. I enjoy some of them more than others, but that happens when you give yourself freedom to play. And they will let good with some of my other solid color placemats to complete the table setting for Thanksgiving dinner.

Many of the fabrics I used are from the Sandalwood Collection, which is a Winter ’22 Collection. These were the only fall colored fabrics I had on hand to work with, so if you see some you like, check your local retailer to see if they still have them. Country Charm or Celtic Fields are Summer ’23 Collections with similar colors and look. Otherwise, check out their current Island Batik fabrics, and I’m sure you’ll find something that needs to follow you home! I can always count on Creekside Quilts near me in Oregon to have Island Batik fabrics.

Remember, every project needs a new needle. I use Schmetz needles, normally an 80/12 Microtex. Hobbs 80/20 batting goes into nearly every one of my quilted projects and this one is no exception. Accuquilt makes cutting fabric so much easier and cutting the pieces is my least favorite part of quilting, so I use my Accquilt whenever possible. This time, it was the North Carolina Star BOB. Aurifil 50 weight thread is used for piecing. And a big thank you to Island Batik, who gives us freedom to play with our fabric and projects!

Please take a minute to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors did for their challenge this month:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone who commented on my blog. It is nice to know I’m not just talking to myself out there!

So… the giveaway ended yesterday and the drawing for this beautiful Royal Crown collection happened this morning!

The winner in a random drawing is Dawn F! Congratulations, Dawn!! If you would please email me your shipping address, I will get this out to you asap!

Thanks, everyone for being here and commenting on my blog. I plan to have another giveaway within the next two months, so consider subscribing to my blog so you don’t miss anything. Time to go play with some fabric!

September Island Batik Ambassador Challenge and a Giveaway

This month features paper piecing, either English paper piecing or foundation paper piecing. Our challenge included using our collection of fabric assigned to us to make a lap sized quilt or larger. This is week 3 in our monthly blog hop.

The Natural Healing collection is the one I was lucky enough to work with this month. Look for it coming soon to your local quilt shop.

I was given this 1/2 yard bundle by Island Batik to use for this challenge. Isn’t it gorgeous?! Natural Healing is a fantastic name for this collection.

I choose to use foundation paper piecing and found some inspiration in this book:

Paper piecing isn’t my normal mode of operation, so I used this book for some help. Since our collections this month are for spring, I went looking for some springy patterns. I thought these designs were super cute, so I used them to make a small, lap sized quilt to hang over my stair railing to decorate for spring.

We were traveling in our RV for 10 weeks, so I brought my Singer Featherweight and all the supplies I would need to make this project on the road.

Allowing 1/4″ seam allowance around the outside.

I was planning on quilting using rulers and straight lines, since I only had my Featherweight to work with, but we decided to make a bee line for home once our Airstream Caravan was over, so I had time to put it on my Handi Quilter Forte 24 longarm and use Pro-Stitcher for the body of the quilt. I still used rulers around the paper piecing.

Love the buttons and hand embroidery on these cute blocks.

This design is Spritzi from Pro-Stitcher Patterns.

Many times I choose to sew my binding onto the back and flip to the front and use a decorative stitch. That is what I did here.

I used the Serpentine stitch and elongated the width and length to fit the binding.

I think I’m gonna like it as a spring decoration!

I used Hobbs Tuscany batting, which is a cotton and wool batting which drapes beautifully. I always use Schmetz needles, a new one for every project. Hobbs and Schmetz supplied me with the batting and needles for this project.

Be sure to check out what the other Island Batik Ambassadors have done or will do for this challenge and check your local quilt shop for Island Batik fabrics.

WEEK 1

September 5

Elita Sharpe, Busy Needle Quilting

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

September 6

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique

September 7

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

September 8

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

September 11

Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

September 12

Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

September 13

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

September 14

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting for You

September 15

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

September 18

Lana Russel, Lana Quilts

Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

September 19

Randi Jones, Randi’s Roost

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

September 20

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

September 21

Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

September 22

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

AND NOW for the GIVEAWAY! Win this Island Batik Royal Crown 42 piece 10″ stack just by commenting on this blog. Do you enjoy paper piecing? Random winner will be drawn on September 26 (in honor of my grandson’s bday!).

Island Batik Ambassador August Challenge

More goodies to play with!

This month was a free month for us to determine what to make and which fabrics to use. I had been wanting to try the ProStitcher Fabric Bins, so that was my choice. The Pro-Stitcher Fabric Bins come in sizes, but you can adjust the size and make them any size you want. I like to keep my Island Batik fabrics separate from the rest of my stash, so these will be perfect for that.

This video shows the pattern stitching out on my Handi Quilter Forte and also the overall shape of the bin before sewing the seams. The program stitches a 1/4″ line to the outside of the design to make it easier to cut it out leaving the 1/4″ for the seam allowance. This project comes with easy to follow written directions.
Here is a closer look at both bins flat on the longarm before sewing the side and bottom seams. The top fabric is Round Petal Floral Lemon Lime by Island Batik and the blue fabric on the bottom is Sprout by Island Batik.
You can see the one side and one bottom seam. The horizontal seam shown here is made by bringing those two seams together to make the boxed bottom. The lining fabric is Mocha by Island Batik. It’s one of the beautiful foundation fabrics!
Bottom seam
Binding the top of the bin is the last thing to do!
Flip it inside out and voila! My larger bin is bound in Lime solid by Island Batik. It measures 11″ x 11″ x 11″, perfect for storing my scraps I have cut into 10″ squares.
Here’s my smaller storage!! It measures 8″ x 8″ by 8″. This will store my 5″ and 2 1/2″ squares. Fabric is Sprout by Island Batik, bound with Cheerio in Bermuda by Island Batik. The bundle inside my bin is Natural Healing. Look for it in September when I’ll be using it for my September Challenge.
A different design on each side
A different design on each side
This is a picture of my Pro-Stitcher history showing some of the designs I used for the sides of my bins.

I used 2 layers of Hobbs 80/20 batting on the blue one and quilted with denser stitching to help make it stand upright. I used Bosal foam on the yellow/green one, which is a heavier batting/stabilizer/foam usually used for tote bags. Then I didn’t feel like I needed to quilt with as heavy quilting because it stands upright easier on its own.

Many thanks to Island Batik for supplying the fabric and Hobbs Batting for supplying the batting for this project! Check your local quilt shop for Round Petal Floral, Lime solid, Sprout, Cheerio Bermuda, and Mocha by Island Batik!

Check out what other creative projects my fellow Ambassadors did for their challenge this month!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ 

June Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

Flying Geese

Our challenge this month was to make a quilt or table runner using Flying Geese blocks with the Fall or Winter 2022 bundle we received. I had been looking forward to using the Winter 2022 pre cut bundle I received, Holiday at Home, because I love how the peach (Conch) companion fabric brings out the subdued peach in the background of the fabrics. I was also given the Hunter fabric, but didn’t end up using that fabric for this project.

Hunter and Conch

It was back to The Trendy Table for inspiration for my table runner. I’m a sucker for what I call Film Strip sashings or borders, the small squares repeated in a row, as in the runner in the top right of the front cover. So, that was my choice for this month.

I made this at a quilt retreat in April and was so busy chatting with my friends, that I forgot to take progress pictures! I used Aurifil thread and a fresh Schmetz 80/20 needle in my machine. Every project deserves a new needle!

I quilted it using double batting, one layer of Hobbs 80/20 and one layer of Hobbs wool on the top to provide the loft I wanted. Hobbs has many varieties of batting for every need. The digital quilt design is used is Hollies and Berries from Pro-Stitcher Patterns quilted on my Handi Quilter Forte 24 (Handi Quilter Amara 24).

And…it’s reversible!

Digital quilt design is Hollies and Berries from Pro-Stitcher Patterns

The Holiday at Home collection can be found at these shops:

Compass Point QuiltsNH
Cotton Cupboard-MEME
Creekside Quilts-OROR
Hancocks of PaducahKY
Missouri StarMO
Nine Patch FabricsVA
Quilters HeadquartersSD
Sew What Fabrics/Batiks Etc.VA

Check out all the other Ambassadors to see how they handled the challenge:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

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