October Island Batik Challenge 2019

The October Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors was to make a holiday table runner with some kind of applique.  Great challenge!  Table runners are fun and relatively quick to make.  They also make great gifts and this is a good time of year to start on those projects if you so desire.

One challenge for me is just to choose from the great fabrics that Island Batik has sent in two boxes this year thru the Ambassador program.  There are so many fun possibilities.  Do you ever just look thru your stash and think of what you might make before you go out and buy something new?  It's a fun challenge and always surprising what you can come up with!

Maybe because it is fall I decided to work with the collection Soil and Seeds by Kathy Engle. I was sent a 10" square pack of this collection as well as two pieces of coordinating yardage in light and dark.  I also received  8 pieces of basics and blenders that coordinate.  This is a great collection and I want to make a larger quilt with it, but thought I could also probably get a runner out of it too.

Aurifil Threads also sent coordinating threads in the Ambassador box.  Isn't it all just eye candy!

The colors are very earthy and I could envision pumpkins and gourds...  Then I had to decide what size and shape of runner to make.  I decided to make a square table mat for our coffee table.  Most runners I make are rectangular, so this would be a bit different. 

Off to the drawing board to sketch out some pumpkin and gourd shapes.  Once I decided on the outlines I reversed them and drew them on the back of the fusible web (I like to use Lite Steam-a-Seam II) and ironed them to the correct fabrics.  This time I left a small edge of fusible around the outside of each shape and cut the inside fusible out before pressing to the fabrics. This way I was hoping the appliques wouldn't lay so stiff and flat.

I decided on the dark brown for background to be a bit different than the light backgrounds I usually use and I thought the applique colors would pop.  Was I right?

Once I had the appliques fused I layered the backing and batting and basted it together.  I used Hobbs Cotton batting.  I had a leftover piece just the right size.  Don't you love it when that happens!

Instead of doing a buttonhole stitch around each applique, I just sewed close to the edge of each piece and added lines thru the applique to give them more shape. 

The flying geese were a mix of the fabrics and quilted in the ditch.  I ended up only using the Soil and Seed fabrics for the whole table mat (not any of the coordinating fabrics).  They worked so well together!

Here is the finished runner.  It doesn't have a name yet - so feel free to leave a name suggestion in the comments!

Here it is on our coffee table.

Note the beautiful wood on each side - it never looks like this!  There are usually piles of books and magazines on each side which is why I made the mat to fit in the middle.

I added the candle and leaves for another look.

I also added a hanging sleeve in the back in case I want to hang it sometime or give it as a gift so it could be used either way.

I hope you all enjoy the cooler weather, the colors and excitement of this fall season.

                  (Fabrics, batting and thread were provided thru the Island Batik Ambassador program)

Rayon Jacket

I don't do much garment sewing anymore.  I never felt like I was really good at it, and haven't much lately.  In the first box of fabrics from Island Batik for the Ambassadors this year there was a 2 yard piece of lovely Forest Fern Rayon fabric.  Rayon is lightweight and not as stable as cotton- it tends to shift around when you are working with it.  Last year I made a top from Rayon, but I wasn't excited about working with this piece, so I gave it to a friend  -  Elaine Mast who is great at garment sewing.  I also thought the color suited her.  (see the bundle of fabric- the red is a lovely rayon scarf).



She surprised me this summer when she made a jacket to go with an outfit and entered it in the Elkhart County Fair in Elkhart IN!  Here she is modeling it on the red runway.

 It looks great.  She did an amazing job and earned a blue ribbon from the Fair.   Thanks Elaine!

Sept Island Batik Challenge

I can hardly believe it is the middle of September!  Some of our trees are already turning color, so it looks like an early fall.  I do look forward to the burst of fall colors.

While I am waiting for fall colors I have been excited about the colors in this bundle of fabrics from the last Island Batik Ambassador box.  This is the Sunny Side Up Collection by Kathy Engle.  It's a great combination of yellows and blues in a lovely mix of prints.

These fabrics are wonderful and I was excited to use them in something...

September is time for a new challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors.  This month the challenge is called Child's Play!  

Each Ambassador was sent a new BOB die from Accuquilt Go!  A BOB is called a Block On Board because it contains all the dies needed to make a certain block- all on one die.  The BOB I was sent is an Ohio Star 12" block. and we were to use it in this months challenge.

I like the Ohio Star block- but have to admit I was a bit dismayed that it made a 12" block.  If you know me at all, you know I tend to make smaller blocks and projects...What to do?

The challenge was to make a child's quilt using this die.  To me that could be about anything that is bright and cheerful and the Sunny Side Up fabrics fit that qualification.  So I played around with design ideas and color placements.  I decided to include the solid white from Island Batik in the design and the solid gray for the back as I had enough yardage for that.  These three solids were included in our last Island Batik box.

Here is a poor photo (sorry) of an early layout of the quilt as I was deciding color placements for the stars.  I decided to overlap some of the stars to "hopefully" make the design a bit smaller...

Progress.  I was still trying to decide whether to use some white or yellow color placements in the center.  I like the mix of yellows in the background.  I ended up using all but a couple fabrics from the collection.

I liked the design and it was already pretty big, but I really wanted to add a pieced piano key border.  This quilt just kept getting bigger and bigger!  It ended up being 61 1/2" x 61 1/2" which is actually large enough for an adult lap quilt.

Now for a final photo.  I decided to try for a photo in my backyard.  The problem is we have good breezes thru the yard, so it was a challenge.  I did have to run and catch it a couple times before it all fell over...

Here is a close up of the quilting.  I kept it pretty simple.

I used a solid yellow thread for quilting except for white thread in the inner border.  I used a Sulky Blendable thread for the back so a little color would show up on the solid gray fabric.  I do prefer to use a printed fabric for the backing for more color and it shows the quilting less.

I liked the BOB, but you can also make the Ohio Star using their Cube dies.  I could have made the Ohio Star using my 8" block dies and the quilt would have been smaller.

All in all- it's a nice cheerful quilt.

Thanks to Island Batik and Accuquilt Go! and Hobbs Batting  for supplying materials for this project thru the Ambassador Program.

Blog Hop Winner

My winner for the Beat the Heat blog hop Island Batik fabric is Darlene B. 
Congratulations!
The fabric is on it's way!

Beat the Heat Blog Hop- Quiet Shades

Today is my day for the Beat the Heat Island Batik Blog Hop.  Island Batik sent me the Quiet Shades Collection of fabrics to work with.  I really love this collection- take a peak below:



The colors are so cool and refreshing-  you can picture having settled into a chair in the shade for some quiet time and reflection...

There are 20 fabrics in the collection- you can look at them all here:  Quiet Shades by Chris Hoover.

Here are the fabrics laid out before I cut into them

I loved working with these fabrics and quickly made a lap quilt using 13 of the 20 fabrics in the collection.  Unfortunately I can't show you the quilt because it was picked up to be published!  It will be in the March/April 2020 issue of McCalls Quilting.  Be sure and look for it then!  I will post a photo when it's released.

I did want to have something to show you for this blog hop- so I also made a table runner using all 20 fabrics.  This table mat is 16" x 37"

I used Hobbs 80/20 Bleached Cotton Batting and Aurifil 6726 thread.for both projects.

Be sure and look back at my previous post to see all the blog posts and the great projects the Ambassadors have been making.  Also, be sure to visit Vasudha Govindan today as she is also presenting a project made with Quiet Shades.

Island Batik has a special giveaway each week of the hop, so be sure to check back there and enter every week.  Many of the Ambassadors also are having giveaways on their blogs - hope you win something!

My giveaway is four pieces from the Quiet Shades Collection.  Can you believe I made two projects and still have fabric leftover!  These pieces still have anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 yards.

To enter, comment about what "Quiet Shades" makes you think of.  I will leave the drawing open until the end of the hop and will draw a winner thru Random.org.  Be sure I am able to contact you if you are a winner.  USA entries only due to postage costs.

Thanks to Island Batik, Hobbs and Aurifil for supplying all the materials thru the Ambassador program.

August Beat The Heat Blog Hop

It's time for another Island Batik Blog Hop.  This one is called Beat The Heat!  Isn't that a great theme for August!

27 Island Batik Ambassadors will be presenting new projects using the beautiful Island Batik fabrics that are in the 2019 Fall Collections.  The colors are just awesome!

Island Batik is having a prize giveaway each week of the blog, and the Ambassadors are also having drawings- most of which will last til the end of the month so you can be sure and visit each site.

Take a look at the schedule for the hop - and remember that my day to present is Tues. Aug 20.

Friday August 2
Blog Hop Kick off and first Giveaway!

Monday, August 5
Leanne Parsons
Sherry Shish

Tuesday, August 6
Bill Locke
Lisa Nielsen

Wednesday, August 7
Sandra Walker
Terri Vanden Bosch

Thursday, August 8
Pamela Boatright
Kathleen McCormick

Friday, August 9
Blog Round-Up Week 1

Monday, August 12
Karen Neary
Carol Moellers

Tuesday, August 13
Michelle Roberts
Laticia “Tish” Stemple

Wednesday, August 14
(Debora) Anne Wiens
Gene Black

Thursday, August 15
Tina D Dillard
Bea Lee

Friday, August 16
Blog Hop Round Up Week 2

Monday, August 19
Joanne Hart
Carla Henton

Tuesday, August 20
Connie Kauffman
Vasudha Govindan

Wednesday, August 21
Vicki Schlimmer
Mania Hatziioannidi

Thursday, August 22
Gail Sheppard

Friday, August 23
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3

Monday, August 26
Maryellen McAuliffe
Jennifer Strauser

Tuesday, August 27
Connie K Campbell
Joan Kawano

July Island Batik Challenge

The July challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is called Artsy Fartsy.  What a name!

This month we are highlighting Aurifil Threads.  Aurifil is a co- sponser of the Island Batik Ambassador program and sends thread for us to work with in each of our Ambassador boxes.  This challenge was to use at least three different Aurifil Threads in some way in our project.

I had several ideas for this project.  I finally decided to make a project that would serve two purposes for me this year.  One was to make this challenge project and the other was to make a quilt for the Annual Camp Mack Festival in Milford IN on Oct 5, 2019.   Camp Mack is our local church camp and I always make a quilt for their live auction to benefit the camp.

This years quilt is called Becker Lodge and pays respect to a building that stood many years on the camp property.

The idea started with a postcard my husband had that he had sent to his mother from Camp in 1965.  I enlarged the photo and thought I would try a project with thread embroidery.

This was a new technique for me and I wasn't exactly sure how to proceed.  I'm not a fan of marking on my quilt tops, but decided to go with the blue water soluble markers.  I traced the major outlines of the building on a piece of Sprinkles Island Batik fabric which is a white fabric with tiny dots.

I wasn't sure what I would use for borders, so I just made the backing and batting larger and would decide that later.  I used Hobbs Thermore batting which is a very thin batting and should work well.

 Here you can see I started the thread embroidery with 40 wt Aurifil.

For a slightly heavier look in the stone fireplace I used some 12 wt Aurifil thread.

 I worked from one area to another adding in some detail.  I first thought about thread painting all the color of the exterior of the building, but decided that would be too heavy and I didn't have the colors I thought would work.  I finally decided to leave the building with just the outline- to somehow give the feel of remembering the building in the spot where it once stood.

Here are all the threads and colors I used in this project.  I did try a green wool thread which I thought might make the bushes "fluffy", but found it didn't work well in the machine.  What I did then was use the wool and a 40 wt thread at the same time and it worked okay for a small area.

Having never done thread painting I didn't think about using a stabilizer of any kind besides the backing and batting.  It might have been helpful as I had some puckering on the right hand side because of the close quilting in the bushes.  It mainly puckered on the backing behind the border area and didn't show on the front.

I wanted to have some color in the sky, but didn't want to make it heavy with thread, so I added a hint of blue to the sky with crayon. To finish it off I added a small light green Island Batik Basic called Ivy for piping and a dark green Island Batik Basic called Large Netting-Pineneedle for the borders.

Becker Lodge

22" x 16 1/2"

Thanks to Island Batik, Aurifil and Hobbs for supplying the materials for this monthly challenge.