Thursday, August 16, 2018

Great Outdoors Blog Hop- Wild Things!


The Blog Hop this August with the Island Batik Ambassadors is called The Great Outdoors.  And today we are talking about the GREAT BIG outdoors!  We're talking Africa big!




 Each of the Ambassadors were given a bundle of fabrics to use specifically for this blog hop.

                          My fabric collection:  Wild Things

These prints make you feel like you are seeing all the animals on a safari!

I received a bundle of all the fabrics in the collection - 24 in all!  You can see the whole collection at Island Batik.  Fabrics were given to me as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program..



I used all of the collection except the three below in my project.  The yellows were just to bright and the leafy print was the only piece in the collection that wasn't an animal print, so I decided not to use these for this project.

I wanted to use a pattern where I could use most of the fabrics, and I thought adding a solid black would make the prints stand out.  I decided on a simple block pattern that I used for the first pattern in my Little Gems book called "Playing With Plaids".  It also used a solid black that worked well.




This block pattern is a very simple three pieced block.  I used the same block that was in the book, but enlarged it 200 percent.  Several patterns in my book give directions on how to enlarge the small patterns to make larger projects, so I thought this would be a good time to show this block pattern enlarged.


Here is the quilt in proces with the rows laid out on the floor.  The black strips really bring out the colors in the animal prints.  I played around with the  placement of the blocks and decided this was a nice layout.  I only reversed one row.  Quilt measures 44" x 55"



 Finished quilt- looks great on my couch!




Be sure and check out all the blog posts thru Sept 4.  Enter the drawing at the Island Batik Blog  and on daily blog  posts.

My drawing is for a stack of 38 ten inch blocks  of the collection Wild Things - two each of 19 prints in the collection.  Leave a comment on my blog about where your favorite place is in the big outdoors.  Make sure I can reach you by email if you are a winner.  USA only for the drawing due to shipping costs.  Winner will be  drawn at the end of the Blog Hop.


Here is the list of all the Island Batik bloggers and the fabrics they are highlighting.

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

Monday, August 20 – Ocean Odyssey
Toby Lischko, Karen Overton
Thursday, August 23 – Dragonfly Dreams
Inchworm Fabrics, BeaQuilter

WEEK 4

Wednesday, August 29 – Lavendula
Carole Lyles Shaw, Masterpiece Quilting

WEEK 5

Tuesday, September 4 – Whatnot
heARTS Creations, Slice of Pi Quilts










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Monday, August 13, 2018

A Special Nappanee Quilt Garden

                              Connie's Bloomin' Stitches
                          Nappanee Indiana Quilt Garden
                                               2018


Isn't this a beautiful quilt garden!  The garden is 30' x 30'.  It has thrived thru the heat and rains with the loving care given by the 11 quilt garden committee members that weed, fertilize and water when needed.  It is a big commitment of time and energy.  A lot of creativity goes into each garden from choosing the block layout, the colors, flowers, mulch and how it is all displayed.  Planting, maintenance, and plant removal at the end are all part of the job.  This year the quilt design is the Spool pattern with a large wooden spool and needle and thread in the center.

I was on the Quilt Garden Committee for two years and since then have continued as a "friend of the garden", to help plant the gardens each year.  I also make a wall quilt each year to commemorate the garden.  These wall quilts belong to the Nappanee Center/Heritage Museum which is directly behind the garden and all ten of the garden quilts are displayed inside.  The Nappanee Center is a Visitor Center with a museum inside that is free to the public and very worth your while to stop in and look around.  There is also a quilt show displayed in the Museum this summer.

This is the garden quilt for this years garden.  (photo taken inside the Nappanee Center)


I always place the garden block design in the center of the quilt and add a border around it.  This year I added a variety of spools around the border.  Each spool is a different color with different colored striped fabric for threads.  Every quilter needs a variety of thread colors!

Because of the quilts I've made, the Quilt Garden Committee has honored me this year by naming the garden after me!  The garden is named Connie's Bloomin' Stitches.  What an honor!

Here I am with the garden that is near and dear to  my heart!


If you are near this area (Northern Indiana) yet this summer, I invite you to stop by take a look.  Also include the other 17 gardens in the Elkhart County Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail (18 gardens all together). This makes a wonderful one or two day trip to drive around and see the beautiful quilts in the area. All gardens are free to view and are on display until Oct 1
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Friday, August 10, 2018

Island Batik Great Outdoors Blog Hop

                            The fall Island Batik Great Outdoors Blog Hop has started!


The Great Outdoors was the inspiration for this hop’s theme. Throughout the month of August and first week of Sept. all of the Island Batik Ambassadors will be featuring Island Batik’s newest fabrics, which will be appearing on shop shelves very soon! I hope you join us everyday and see all the great fabrics and wonderful projects that have been created.

Here is the listing of all the daily blog posts.

WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

Monday, August 20 – Ocean Odyssey
Toby Lischko, Karen Overton
Thursday, August 23 – Dragonfly Dreams
Inchworm Fabrics, BeaQuilter

WEEK 4

WEEK 5

Tuesday, September 4 – Whatnot
heARTS Creations, Slice of Pi Quilts
Be sure can come back on August 16 and see what I created with the Wild Things Collection!

Look for and enter the daily drawings and Island Batiks three grand drawings on their blog.






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Thursday, August 9, 2018

Ebook winner

The winner of Jo's Little Favorites III ebook was drawn by Random.org.  The winner is:  GranChris.
Congratulations!
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Monday, August 6, 2018

Book Review and Giveaway - August

Another great book of mini quilts by Martingale is Jo Morton's Jo's Little Favorites III.
Photos are courtesy of Martingale

This book has 15 projects and they are all photographed in Jo's own home!  There are lots of Jo's favorite quilt making techniques throughout the book.  One special technique she has is her "clipping trick" which helps to lessen the bulk when you are pressing seams.  I think this trick is worth the price of the book!

I love two of the quotes from Jo in the book:

"There is always room for another small quilt"  

"If you want to make it all, make it small"

Isn't that so true!

This little quilt gem is called Antiquity.  The finished hour glass block size is 2" x 2".


The next quilt is called Star Shine and the finished star blocks are 4" x 4".


This little doll quilt is called Point of View.  
The finished half square triangle squares are 1 3/4" x 1 3/4".  Pretty small aren't they!


Be sure and look for this book in your local quilt shop or you can purchase online at shopmartingale.com

I'm having a drawing for a free ebook of  Jo's Litle Favorites III.  Leave a comment telling me if you like to make miniature quilts to be entered in the drawing.  I'll announce the winner early next week.  Make sure that I can contact you if you are the winner.  Good luck and happy quilting!
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Saturday, August 4, 2018

Magazine winner

The winner of the McCall's Quick Quilts issue August/September 2018 is Teachpany. 
Winner was drawn with Random.org.
Her magazine is on the way!
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