Heart Quilts

My friend Mary Ebert made this beautiful heart quilt from the pattern Open Heart Quilt  by Rachel Pellman.

The colors are lovely the way they are shaded from one to another, and she followed the colors in the pattern.  She thought the pattern would look really nice in batik fabrics and knowing that I'm an Ambassador for Island Batik fabrics, she asked me about it.  I thought it would be a great idea and sent her my leftover fabrics from the Island Batik Drizzle collection to try it out.

It turned out lovely!

Here are the two quilts together, with my sister Jody Warner and Mary holding the quilts.
Thanks for sharing Mary!

Lotus Blossom

My pattern Lotus Blossom is published in the latest Special Edition magazine by Quilter's World called Springtime Quilting.

photos used courtesy of Annie's

The fabrics are from Island Batik's Drizzle.  I love how they are cool and refreshing.

Guest Blogger

Today I am a guest blogger with Tammy Silvers- a fellow Island Batik Ambassador.  You can go to her blog and see my post at:  www.tamarinis.com 
In  return, Tammy is posting on my blog today.

What’s in a Name? Juxtaposition Explored
I'm thrilled that the talented Connie Kauffman is guest posting on my blog today - and that she's letting me post on her blog today too!
I'm Tammy Silvers, quilt designer, new fabric designer, and confessed batik fanatic and fabric-a-holic.  I design under the name Tamarinis, as well as designing projects for Northcott to highlight new fabric lines, and occasionally am published in many of the quilt magazines, including American Patchwork and Quilting, Fons and Porter, and McCalls.  You can see my full pattern line at www.tamarinis.com.
I'm often asked about the names of quilt patterns, so I thought it would be fun today to take a look at one of my more recent quilts, Juxtaposition.
A little bit of background - I taught high school English for a number of years - sharing my life long love of all things written.  I don't teach any longer, but I do still have a passion for the written word, and that love creeps into my quilt designs and my quilt titles.  Juxtaposition is one such quilt.
So the dictionary defines juxtaposition as follows:
jux·ta·po·si·tion
ˌjəkstəpəˈziSH(ə)n/
noun
the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
"the juxtaposition of these two images"

So here is my "two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect" - a light background batik and a dark background batik, each surrounding a different coordinating print.  Like Connie, I LOVE Island Batik, and this quilt is no exception.  It showcases a stamp set (a set of 10" squares) and two different Island Batik backgrounds - a juxtaposition of light and dark.  Proof that not only do opposites attract, but that they help each other shine.
Thanks to Connie for letting me offer up a little vocabulary lesson - and an example of why contrast (juxtaposition) works so well!

Kennel Quilts

Island Batik Ambassadors had another goal this month and that was to make a Kennel Quilt.

Here is the information that was sent to us about kennel quilts:

 " In 2016, Island Batik joined forces with an existing group of industry partners and supporters of the Petfinder Foundation to create the Piece for Shelter Pets (PFSP) initiative.  The initative supports the Petfinder Foundation, a "Public Charity" that works to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets by assisting animal shelters and rescue groups across North America through financial contributions made possible by the sale of fabric, thread, and other quilting related products.  PFSP sponsors include "The Quilt Magazine, Island Batik, Aurfifil Threads, QuiltyBox, Benartex, and Hancocks' of Paducah."

The TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team is a volunteer organization sponsored by "The Quilt Pattern Magazine (TQPM) that springs into action(or should we say "Stitches" into action?) when disasters strike, sewing small kennel quilts for animals in need while they are separated from their humans and possibly injured.  Creating kennel quilts is a way for quilters to help our animal friends in times of need by doing what we love.  TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team supplies kennel quilts to shelters across the United States.  Want to  

know more go here."

There is a list of requirements as to size, washing the fabrics, etc.  These little quilts only measure 12" x 18".   They are a fun and quick little project to make.

II designed a dog bone to go in the center of my quilts.  They only require two different fabrics and were quick to make.  I donated these to the Marshall County Humane Society.

If you are interested in supporting this cause by making some of these cuties- go to the link above to find out more specifics on how to make them and where they can be donated.

T

Happy "Gal"entine's day

Have you ever heard of Galentine's Day?  The challenge this week for the Island Batik Ambassadors was to create a Post Card or Mug Rug for Galentine's Day.  I'd never heard of this, so had to do some searching on the internet.  Turns out it is a day to celebrate all of your "Gal"  Friends!  Pretty nice idea.  The day is celebrated on Feb 13.  A time to celebrate all those special women in your life.  I liked this idea!

Okay, I know I used the word "celebrate" several times in the above paragraph, but that is what this is all about!

Island Batik sent each of the Ambassadors a lovely assortment of red and pink batiks to see what we might create with them.  I decided on making coasters with ric rac around the edge.  I'd seen something like this on the internet and wanted to try it.  I also had a "gal" friend that had given me some old ric rac that would work well-isn't that a coincidence!   I created a log cabin block for the base of the block which I paper pieced.

I made four coasters that were pretty quick and easy.  Adding the pretty ric rac was the most time consuming part of the project.  Each one is a little different- just like my friends!

I've already given these coasters to four special ladies to say thanks for being a special part of my life!

Maybe you want to do something special for the "gal" friends in your life today!

Island Batik Ambassador Year 4

I'm so happy to announce that I've been accepted as an Island Batik Ambassador for another year! This will be my fourth year and I couldn't be more excited!  This means you'll be seeing special projects each month and lots of special things like blog hops and give a ways again this year.

Today started my adventure with the arrival of a special box from Island Batik.

Not real exciting from the outside....

But treasure inside!  Lovely, lovely fabric and spools of thread donated from Aurifil and Superior Threads!
Here's a pictures of the whole stash - I can hardly wait to get started!

Fabric Winner

I loved all the comments on what New Beginnings means to all of you.  The winner of the Island Batik fabrics from my blog was selected by Random.org.  The winner is KathyE.  She has been notified and the fabrics are on the way.  Congratulations Kathy!