Monday, February 26, 2018

Elementz Blog Hop

Today is the first day for the Elementz Blog Hop.

This is a hop created by Tammy Silvers to highlight her new Island Batik fabric collection called Elementz.  This is a bright and fun collection.  The hop starts today and you can go to the blogs listed below to see some great projects and enter to win some nice prizes.  I'll be posting on March 1, so be sure and come back then!

Monday, February 26
Island Batik 
Aurifil
Tamarinis
Sew Many Creations

Tuesday, February 27

Wednesday, February 28

Thursday, March 1

Friday, March 2

Saturday, March 3

Monday, February 19, 2018

Mini Love Island Batik Challenge


I am an Island Batik Ambassador.  The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, including products from Aurifil Threads and Hobbs Batting.

As an Island Batik Ambassador, we are given a challenge to create a new project each month.  This month the challenge was to make a mini quilt.  I love to make mini quilts and thought a lot about what I would make.

In this post I'll show you a little how my mind works...

This idea all came from a plate.

This is a photo of the plates we selected when we got married.  It is Noritake Stoneware.  I love the design in the middle and we've used them every since we got married.  When we lived in PA about 25 years ago, I drew out a design similar to the plate and made a stencil out of it.  I stenciled the design using blue paints to match above the cupboards and sink in my kitchen.  It looked very nice.  I wish I had a photo to show you how it looked.

Just recently I was going thru old files and came upon the plastic stencil I used.  I didn't think I'd use it again, so I threw it away, but I couldn't seem to part with the design I'd drawn out.


It happened to be laying out when I was thinking about a mini quilt for this month of Feb,  I was thinking about some kind of quilt with a heart.  As I looked at this design, I thought if I reversed part of the image it would look like a heart!  I also added a small flower on the side.

How would this look in reds instead of blues?


Island Batik sent a box of fabric to each Ambassador with materials to use in our projects this year.  I decided to use two of the lovely pink fabrics and a neutral Island Batik from my stash.  I think it is called Rice.

I added pearl beads to the flower centers.


Once again I made my favorite size 12" x 12".  I used some of the Hobbs Heirloom Premium Cotton Batting and Aurifil 50 wt white thread that were included in our Island Batik box.  They worked wonderfully in this little project.

Here it is on the great Ackfeld Wire Stands- a perfect way to display your minis!


It never hurts to go back and look over past designs and update them with new fabrics or change the size and try something new with them.  Have fun!



Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Happy Galentine's Day


Happy Feb 13 or what some people now call Galentine's Day.  It's become a day to celebrate all our "Gal-friends".  Island Batik sent every Ambassador a small fat quarter bundle of 4 beautiful pink and white batiks to make something small like a mug rug for Galentine's Day.  This is the pretty bundle they sent to the Ambassadors this year.  Aren't they just like candy!  And not fattening either!

*I am an Ambassador for Island Batik.  The batik fabrics featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik.


I was wondering what to make this year and decided instead of me making a mug rug or two- how about I let a group of my "gal friends" have the fun of making their own!  My local quilt guild in Nappanee Indiana met last Thursday night which was perfect to do before the 13th.  Unfortunately I hadn't received my new box of Island Batik fabrics with the fabric above, but we were told we could use fabric that we had leftover from last year.  I had some lovely fabric from last year's Galentine's project, so we were good to go.

Being a cold Feb night- just hours before a big snow storm was to arrive, we had 8 brave ladies that showed up.


I gave everyone a small kit with  backing, batting, mini quilt top, fusible web, some heart templates and a selection of pink and red Island batiks.  They each decorated their mug rug in their own way.  I think they had fun and they turned out cute.






Here is the cupcake mug rug after she went home and finished it!



This lady took her's home and added a clear acrylic sleeve so she  could add her granddaughter's photo!



Everyone got the top put together and they took them home with a piece of binding to finish any applique and quilting they wanted to add.  Hopefully they will have a lovely mug rug finished to celebrate Galentine's Day.


Saturday, February 10, 2018

2018 Feb Island Batik Box Reveal


The BOX!  Every Island Batik Ambassador is on high alert when the box from Island Batik is about to arrive.  Twice a year Island Batik sends the Ambassadors a box filled with wonderful fabrics that we use throughout the year.  Each month we have a challenge on what to create and we share that with you on our blogs and with a couple blog hops during the year.

My box arrived yesterday amid a big snow storm.  My husband and I shoveled several times to keep our driveway clear for the Fed Ex man to deliver.  Here is the first peek when I opened the box.


Hobbs batting and Aurifil Threads are partnering with Island Batik this year, so they sent several things to be included in the box.  Doesn't this look exciting!

This is a fat quarter bundle to use in making a Galentine's Day project.  Be sure and check out my blog again on Feb 13 to see what is made.


This is a lovely 10" Stack pack of Pumpkin Patch fabrics with a light and dark selection of Pumpkin Patch with yardage.  I can hardly wait to work with this...


Here is a large cut of a neutral batik called Mini Dot Buttercup and a selection of various foundation fabrics.  Island Batik is great to give us so many various fabrics for our stash so we have lots to draw from in our projects.


Did you know Island Batik also has batik rayons?  They sent yardage in this lovely orange and also a lovely scarf to wear!  Does this feel like Christmas or what!


Here is a fun bundle of fat eighths of the Sunflower Serenade Collection.  I already have a project in mind for April using these lovelies.


Hobbs batting sent this roll of 80/20 Cotton batting and a package of Thermore batting.  I've used these in the past and they are very appreciated.  They also sent a brochure about all their products which is handy to have.


This is the second year that Aurifil has partnered with Island Batik.  I love their threads.  They sent a super big cone of white and a variety of colors in 40 and 50 weights.  They will be used for sure!


The box just keeps offering more items!  Here are brochures about Aurifil threads and a package of stash builder rolls- each roll has four 5" strips of different fabrics.  These are a great way to expand your batik color stash.


Last but not least- a surprise bundle!  This is fabric that is not released yet.  I'll be doing a blog hop post with a project using these fabrics in August so be sure and check back then to see what they are!
(I got to open this, but can't show you yet.  But believe me- they are great!)

Wow!  That is a lot of inspiration in a box isn't it!  I have to admit, I've unpacked it all and have it sitting on the floor in front of me and I've just been admiring it and thinking of what all I might create. It looks like an exciting year for all the Island Batik Ambassadors.  I hope you can follow along and get inspired too.


Sunday, February 4, 2018

Blog Hop Winner

The winner from my blog for the Four Seasons Island Batik Blog Hop was Anita Jackson.  Her name was drawn using Random.org.

Thanks to all who entered, and thanks to Island Batik for the beautiful fabrics.  I hope you all enjoyed the hop!