Triangle Tricks

 

Four Cornered   35" x 35"  Designed and made by Connie Kauffman

The May Island Batik Ambassadors challenge was all about triangles.  The challenge was called Triangle Tricks and we were encouraged to see what we could create with triangles. What a fun challenge!  It was hard to decide what design to work on.

The first thing I decided was that I wanted to work with the 2 1/2" strip pack of the Island Batik Savannah Collection.  This collection will be shipping to stores this June, so look for it!  I love the 2 1/2" strip packs.  They are great for a lot of things, but I especially like them for doing paper piecing.  I also used a dark purple IB basic for the background.

I looked around at a lot of triangle paper piecing patterns.  There are some great ones!  I finally decided to work with one of my own designs.  I have a pattern called Cornered that was to be in my book Little Gems published by Martingale.

Unfortunately there were too many patterns to fit in the book, so Cornered wasn't included.  Martingale saved the pattern and added it as a free online pattern to accompany the book.  I've never felt like many people saw that it was online.  You can find the pattern here.

Cornered

Cornered is only 12" x 12" and I wanted to make a larger quilt using the 2 1/2" strips.  I decided to enlarge the pattern and make four of them.  I also changed the center just a tad with the dark purple triangles.

Here is the small Cornered quilt and the larger Four Cornered quilt.

Paper piecing this scrappy quilt is especially fun with a package of 2 1/2" strips.  You just pick up a strip and sew.  No worries about color placement.

I stitched in the ditch around the triangles with a purple Aurifil thread using Schmetz Microtex needles and I also used Hobbs Cotton Batting to finish the quilt.  It was wonderful only using one color thread - unlike my Row by Row Garden Quilt where I used 20!

After enlarging the pattern and making four of them, I still only used less than half of a package of 2 1/2" strips.  So now I have half a package to make something else!  If you knew someone else who wanted to make this, you could buy a package and split it between the two of you!

The colors look nice on the love seat.

Look for Savannah fabrics shipping to stores in June and have fun with some triangles!

*Many thanks to Aurifil Threads, Island Batik, Hobbs Battng and Schmetz Needles for providing materials to make this project thru the Island Batik Ambassador program.

Funky Friends - Honey Bear

I've made several of the Funky Friends stuffed animals out of Island Batik cotton fabrics.  The last one I made was Pete the Dog.  I decided I wanted to make one with softer more cuddly fabric.  I decided to try the pattern called Honey Bear.  If you subscribe to the Funky Friends Factory website, you can download this pattern for free.

I went to my stash and decided to use a light yellow soft, fluffy fabric I had yardage in.  It may be a minky fabric.  The fabric sewed up really well.  With this kind of  fabric you will have a  lot of fuzz, but it's worth it.  It's also wonderful to create with fabric you have on hand!

My little bear turned out great!  It has little bead eyes and an embroidered nose.  Don't forget a bow around the neck and he's ready to cuddle!

Warm hugs to everyone!

Pixie Posies

 

Pixie Posies

24" x 24"

Designed and made by Connie Kauffman

photo courtesy of Love of Quilting

My quilt Pixie Posies is in the May/June issue of Love of Quilting 2022.  This is a lovely spring quilt made with Island Batik fabrics in a variety of bright fabrics.  The paper pieced design is easy to make and buttons are an added embellishment.

Wrenches and Nuts and Bolts Oh My!

 

Wrenches and Nuts and Bolts, Oh My! 

49" x 49"

Designed and made by Connie Kauffman

photos courtesy of Quilting Daily

 

My quilt Wrenches & Nuts & Bolts, Oh My! is published in the May/June issue of Quiltmaker Magazine 2022.  This is a great quilt for the man in your life!

The magazine is available at stands now and the digital issue is available at Quiltingdaily.com.

Fun with Funky Friends

 

The April Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is all about stuffed animals made with Pauline McArthur's Funky Friends Factory patterns.  Pauline allowed each of us to select one of her Funky Friends pattern to make this month.  She has a delightful menagerie of all kinds of animal friends- you will want to check them all out here.   It was hard to decide which one to make.

I picked the pattern Puppy Dog Pete.  Pauline's patterns are great.  They progress step by step with helpful hints along the way and many even have a video you can follow which is really helpful.  This pattern had a video and I watched it as well as following the pattern.

I picked out three fabrics from the Island Batik Contempo collection to make my puppy.  I used the Contempo collection for my February Row by Row Challenge.  This has to be one of my favorite collections.  I love the bright colors.

I used Schmetz Microtex needles and Aurifil Thread.  The stuffing came from an old poly pillow. I love using what I have on hand.  I also had two 12 mm safety eyes leftover from other projects, so I was ready to go!

"Did someone say Aurifil Thread?"

The puppy was fun to make.  This is the 5th Funky Friends critter I've made.  The instructions are great.  It is interesting how the arms and legs are stuffed separately and how it all comes together.  I didn't take any pictures when I was working on the puppy. You tend to stay focused on the steps and the fun of seeing it all come together, and photos don't even come to mind.

Puppy dog Pete likes to hang around the couch.

He also keeps me company while I work on the computer.

If you'd like to make a cute little stuffed animal for yourself or a loved one- be sure and check  out the Funky Friends Factory patterns!

The other Ambassadors will be posting their Funky Friends this month.  You can check out their blogs below

2022 Island Batik Ambassadors

• Brenda Alburl
• Megan Best
• Pamela Boatright
• Jennifer Fulton
• Preeti Harris
• Mania Hatziioannidi
• Jane Hauprich
• Reed Johnson
• Connie Kauffman
• Emily Leachman
• Denise Looney
• Leah Malasky
• Maryellen McAuliffe
• Anorina Morris
• Lisa Pickering
• Claudia Porter
• Gail Renna
• Brianna Roberts
• Michelle Roberts
• Gail Sheppard
• Andi Stanfield
• Sandra Starley
• Jennifer Thomas
• Suzy Webster

March Island Batik/Aurifil Challenges

Island Batik Ambassador Mania Hatziloannidi posted a great summary of all the March Island Batik/Aurifil challenges.  Thanks Mania!

Sicily Yellow

Denise Looney from “For the love of Geese” blog made the following pannel. It is a machine embroidery project. More details here.

Jennifer Thomas from “Curicle Creations” blog used also Sicily threads. More details here.

Pompei

Claudia Porter from “Create with Claudia” blog made a faux mosaic quilt ispired by a long ago trip to Italy. More details here.

Gail Sheppard from “Quilting Gail” blog made her Mountain Vesuvius Eruption quilt

Sardinia

Hauprich Jane from the blog “Stitch by stitch Custom Quilting” made a quilt ispired by the pink beaches of Sardinia. More details here.

and Maryellen McAucliffe from “Mary Mack’s “blog made . More details here.

Emily Leachmann from “The Darling Dogwood” blog made Neptune’s Grotto on the following quilt.

Florence

Connie Kauffman from “Kauffman Designs” blog made a piece of Tuscany and used also other Aurifil colors. More details here.

Gail Renna, from “Quilt Heaven Threads” blog made the Ponte Vecchio of Florence. More details here.

Amalfi

Brenda Alburl from “Songbird Designs” blog made an “Amalfi Coast”. More details here.

and Sandra Starley from”Textile Time Travels” blog made her own colorful Amalfi. More details here.

Tuscany

This is my piece. The country of Tuscany. You may see more details here. My blog is “Mania for Quilts“.

Preeti Harris from “Sew Preeti Quilts” blog made her project in a technique she has recently learned. The shadow of the couple is herself and her husband. More details here.

Dolomites

Elizabeth De Cross from “Epida Studio” made an applique and thread painted pillow inspired by the mountains. More details here.

Leah Malasky from “Quilted Delights” blog made also the Dolomite mountains. More details here.

Lake Como

Andie Stanfield from True Blue Quilts made a “Follow your dreams quilt” for your daughter who wants to visit Italy. More details here.

Pamela Boatright from “Pamela Quilts” blog made also a rather abstact quilt inspired by Lake Como. More details here.

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Milan

Reed Johnson from “Blue Bear Quilts” blog made this. More details here.

Brianna Roberts from Sew Cute and Quirky blog made her own aspect from Milan including many well known buildings of the city, old and modern. More details here.

Carrara

Lisa Pickering from “Lisa’s Quilting Passion” blog made this quilt inspired by Carrara marbles. More details here.

Michelle Roberts from “Creativeblonde Gifts” blog made the quilt you see below inspired also by Carrara marbles. I think she had a very clever idea! More details here.

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Capri

Megan from Best Quilter blog made this quilt. She also includes on jer post a tutorial on how she made it. More details here.

Suzy Webster from “Webster Quilts” blog .More details here.

Verona

Jennifer Fulton from “Inquiring Quilter” blog made Juliet’s romantic balcony and then photographed it on her favorite Italian restaurant. More details here.

Anorina Morris from “Samelia’s Mum” blog made her version of Juliet’s balcony. Just thread painting and coloring for her work. More details here.

Those were March’s works from all Island Batik Ambassadors. I hope you enjoyed them.