Friday, July 14, 2023

July Island Batik Ambassador Boxes


Twice a year the Island Batik Ambassadors receive boxes with supplies for the Ambassador program.  UPS is our friend!  We all wait anxiously for the boxes to arrive!  This is the second shipment this year and the UPS man backed right up to our garage so he didn't have so far to carry the large boxes.

July marks the second half of the 2023 Ambassador program and there are lots of great fabrics and supplies from sponsors and great monthly challenges ahead for the rest of the year.

Instead of showing you the outside of the plain boxes, I jumped right in to video and show you what exciting things I received to work with.









The video unfortunately cut short when my camera ran out of power.  Sorry about that!  Since I'd already tried to make the video several times, I decided to just post this one and conclude the video by letting you know that the Accuquilt die I received would be used for the October challenge.

Here are some close up photos


This is the half yard bundle of the collection called Chromatic.  It is a Spring 2023 collection by Studio 180 Design.  It also came with 2 yards of a light and 2 yards of a dark coordinating fabric.  The dark fabric is one from the Chromatic collection..  The light fabric is called Icing and is from the Foundations collections.  These fabrics will be used in the Pieced to Perfection Blog Hop in September.


These are fabrics from the Basics, Benders and Solids Foundation Collections.  These are always available.  The names are from left to right - Dashes-Salt and Pepper, Wavy Dots-Chetty, Parchment, Ravine, Tangy, Lemonade, Cherio-Iris, Small Pointed Floral Turquoise,  Orange Solid, Green Solid, Red Solid and Dark Gray Solid.  These are always handy to have on hand.


This is the surprise bundle!  Isn't it pretty!  Wonder what is on the inside?  It's a half yard bundle of a Summer 2023 collection with added yardage in a light and dark fabric. You'll see these surprise fabrics in November.


This is a great 6 yard piece of Oyster which is from the Naturally Neutral collection.  Island Batik is so gracious to send this large cut of fabric that can be used as backings or anywhere we want to use it.


Aurifil is one of the program sponsors and this time they sent a different selection of thread for us to use.
The first and second threads are on wooden spools and are cotton floss.  I've never used this before.
The black thread is 50 wt cotton.  That is what I use most of the time in my sewing and quilting.
The white spool is clear monofilament thread.  I didn't know for the longest time that Aurifil carried monofilament thread.  I'm glad to have some to try out.
The red spool is new to me.  It is a blend of 50% wool and 50% acrylic.  It is very soft and fluffy.


By Annie is another sponsor and they allowed us to pick out one of their bag patterns to make and send the patterns and all the supplies needed to make it!  I picked the In Control pattern.  Island Batik allowed us to select the fabrics to make the bag and that was also included.  This tote is for my husband and I let him select the fabric for it.  By Annie's bags are great.  I can't wait to get started on this!



Island Batik sent a new Spring Collection precut package of fabric called Pin Dot Floral with 2 yards of coordinating Cream from the Natrually Nuetral line and 2 yards of navy Cherio- Bermuda from the Blender collections.  I like working with the 2 1/2" strip packs.  This is a lovely spring collection.


Island Batik sent two precut packages from their Gradation Collection - Playful Purples and Precious Pink. If you want a selection of gradated colors, these are the way to go.  They are photographed on top of the Oyster fabric shown above.


Hobbs Batting is another sponsor and they always send a great selection of battings to use.  This time they sent Thermore, Heirloom Natural Cotton, Heirloom Preimium Wool and Tuscany Wool/Cotton Blend.  It is interesting to try the different battings.  You might want to give a new one a try!


Here's another peak at what came in the boxes (minus the batting shown above)


As mentioned in the video- Accuquilt Go! is another sponsor of the Island Batik Ambassador Program and they sent each Ambassador the North Carolina Star Block on Board die in an earlier delivery.  You'll see what I make with this die on my October blog.


Many thanks to Island Batik, Aurifil thread, By Annie, Hobbs Batting and Accuquilt Go for sending these supplies to use thru the Island Batik Ambassador Program.



Saturday, July 1, 2023

July Doll House - Bedrooms

 It's July and time for the last installments of the rooms for Amy Bradley Dollhouse quilt.

This month the room is the Bedrooms.  In Amy's full house with 13 rooms, there are actually 3 bedrooms.  There is a room with a full bed and a little girl and little boys room.  The girl and boy room are very similar.  If you are making a 10 room house, you will probably only make one or two of the bedrooms.

I decided to just make one bedroom.  Mine is for a little girl.  


It turned out so sweet.  I sewed the buttons on the pocket before sewing the pocket to the background.  There will be another button on the flower on the headboard once the quilt is quilted.

This room fills up the last space for my 10 room doll house.


Now I'm excited to put the rows together.  

Next month will be more about assembling the rooms, adding the roof and side borders and assembling the quilt top.