Modern Quilt Challenge with Island Batik

This month the Island Batik Ambassadors are all challenged to make a "Modern" quilt using some of the new Island Batik fabrics.  "Modern" quilts are not what I usually make, so I had to think a little about what I wanted to create for this challenge.

What is a Modern quilt?  Usually there is a lot of solid background- which is great for a variety of quilting, although generally the quilting is not elaborate.  Lots of bold colors, straight lines and simplistic piecing.  These are all generalized thoughts and like all mediums- there are a wide range of variations.  This is what I conceptualize when I think of "modern".

I decided to use my collection of Sea Salt Sandy by Kathy Engle. These are lovely bold colors with relatively small print which was great as I once again decided to make a small project.

Here is a close up of some of the fabrics.

This time I searched for a quilt I had seen on Pinterest that I liked and that I felt fit the challenge. I found the quilt photo, but couldn't locate the designer or any further information on the design.  I made a mini variation of the quilt.  This quilt measures 13" x 15 1/2"  and the block size is 2 1/2" x 2 1/2".  This is a two block pattern that I made with paper piecing.  I used a white on white cotton for the background to make the colors really pop.

I used all the colors in the Sea Salt Collection.  I still haven't decided on a name for the quilt- feel free to leave a comment with your suggestions for a name!

Falling Leaves

Falling Leaves

Photo by Mellisa Karlin Mahoney
Courtesy of Quilter's Newsletter 

This is my quilt Falling Leaves.  It has just been published in the June/July issue of Quilter's Newsletter.  

The fabrics are Island Batik fabrics from the Green Acres collection and  Neutrals.  These colors are very deep rich shades and wonderful to work with. 

This quilt was fun to make, but it is a bit challenging with things like fusible applique, partial seams, diagonal settings, etc.

Quilter's Newsletter has made kits available - if you are interested you can shop online at:  quiltandsewshop.com

Playing with leftovers

I'm sure a lot of you have had piles of leftover scraps after making a quilt project.  It seems like I always do.  The little individual pieces I usually add to my scrap drawers, but this time I was left with a lot of 1" strips of the same fabric line (French Roasted by Island Batik).  They were from a couple projects that will be in a future book by Annies (yet to be released).  Anyway- these strips were so lovely and so small- what to do with them?  I didn't want to just put them away with my scraps.

I wish I had taken a picture off all the strips before I worked with them, but I just jumped right in and forgot all about photos.  I decided to sew the strips together into various rows of four.  Then I cut those into 1" strips and sewed them into squares  of 4 rows.  So each block has 16 squares.

I had enough other fabric to add the squares and border strips.
Here is the little runner.

You can't tell from the photo, but the pieced squares measure 2" x 2" (1/2" squares inside).  The whole runner is 26" x 11".

Play with your scraps - you can make a whole new project!

Playful Paper Piecing

This month the Island Batik Ambassadors are all working on Paper Piecing projects.  I happen to love paper piecing and have several books out with paper piecing patterns.  The theme for the Island Batik projects was Playful Paper Piecing.  I thought about the word Playful, and decided to go with a pattern from my book 24 Kids Quilt Blocks (available at: e pattern central

I decided to make the block design for flip flops.  Doesn't that sound like summer fun!

I used three fabrics from the Island Batik Lavish collection.  They are so colorful and fun to work with.

Here are my flip flops made into a cute little hot pad.

The flowers are silk flowers attached with a single button.  It gives a cute 3-D effect.

Paper piecing is really fun - give it a try!

April Showers

My husband and I spent a few days last week hiking in some of the Indiana State Parks.  I love to see the spring wild flowers.  Above is Toadshade Trillium.

Here is a miniature Dutchman's Breeches.  We saw Trout Lily, Spring Beauties, May Apples,and many more.  April showers do bring April and May flowers!

The Island Batik Ambassadors are creating projects this month with the theme of April Showers.


 I wondered what to make as I've been busy with a couple projects that are due next month (you'll see them soon!), and didn't have much time for another project.

I wanted to make something with a flower theme.  Instead of creating something new, I thought about some of my past projects that had flowers.  I decided to take a block from the quilt Garden Stars that was published in the book Amazingly Simple Star Quilts by House of White Birches (now Annie's).

I used the fabrics London Fog that you can find in the store now.  It's a lovely group of soft purples, blues and greens.


Here is my one block quilt- a hot pad! I did reduce the size of the block from 10" to 8".  I used one layer of Insul-Bright batting from The Warm Company and one piece of cotton batting.

 It's a great idea to make hot pads when you want to try out a block, or if there is a block you love all by itself.  They are also great to have on hand for gifts!

Little bags

Sometimes after making quilt after quilt, I get the urge to do something a bit different.  This year I wanted to try to become more comfortable putting in zippers.  I looked around- especially at Pinterest and found a lot of free tutorials for making little bags.  I took some of my leftover fabric and made these little bags.

Fabrics are a new collection that will be launched at Spring Quilt Market this year - this is a sneak peak!

This was really fun!  Little bags make great gifts and really don't take all that long to make.  It's fun to embellish with yo yo's and buttons, etc.

Give it a try!

March Mini Madness

This month the Island Batik Ambassadors are all making a mini quilt using Island Batik fabrics, to celebrate March Mini Madness.  I debated what kind of mini quilt to make- I love to make minis!  My last book Little Gems is all 12" x 12" quilts- so those are minis.   I could make another quilt that size...

Images from Little Gems by Connie Kauffman Martingale 2015
Used by Permission.  Photos by Brent Kane  All rights reserved

I finally decided to go really small and make a mini of a mini!  Which quilt from the book should I try to make even smaller....hum...I finally decided on Serenity

Images from Little Gems by Connie Kauffman Martingale 2015
Photos by Brent Kane.   All rights reserved

This quilt is a great pattern.  Because of the small size of the pieces and using a good variety of fabrics- this is a great quilt for using up leftover 2 1/2" strip packs.  I told in the book how it is a great quilt for using up scraps and how there is really no right or wrong placement of colors.  It would be a great quilt to enlarge the pattern and make as a lap quilt or larger.  I never thought about making it smaller, but now I was curious how small I could go and what it might look like.

I decided to use an assortment of 14 different London Fog Island Batiks that I had leftover from another project (the more fabrics the better!).

Click here to see the whole line of London Fog.

Here is my mini of the quilt Serenity- 6" x 6"

Here is a photo of the blocks before it was all sewn together.  See the coin for an idea of the size.

And here it is beside the 12" x 12" version.  Notice the great Ackfeld Wire stands the quilts are on. I love to display my quilts on these stands

The pattern pieces were 1" finished.  That's pretty small- even for me!  Here are a couple hints that are especially helpful for making very small blocks.

1.  Use thin paper for printing your patterns
2.  Trim seams to about 1/8"
3.  Use glue stick to attach the first piece so that the pin doesn't distort the whole paper
4.  Use a very thin batting (I used Hobbs Thermore Batting)

Have you ever made a mini quilt?  Give it a try!