Placemats for Warm Meals on Cool Days

Fall is making its arrival in Michigan! 

The sun sets earlier each evening.

We've had a few nights of hard freezes this past week. 

Apples of all types can be found at the Farm Market. 

Pumpkins are for sale on roadside tables, priced to match the size.

Yes,

HELLO, FALL!

This week it's time for Carla's Hello Fall Blog Hop. Forty bloggers have joined, posting their sewn projects, made for this season of cooler temperatures and various holidays. And you are invited to see what they have made.

Fall is time for meals of soups for my husband and I. We use the crockpot to cook the soup overnight. It also keeps the soup hot for the following day. We don't mind having the same soup two nights in a row. Cheese sprinkled into our soup the first night and a biscuit the next night adds variety. We follow no recipes for our soups. We add what we have and some spice. Making soup for so many years has led us to what we like and ingredients that go well together.

I made fall-themed placemats to protect the tabletop from the warm bowls.

Here is a photo of the backs of the placemats. I used two different fat quarters of Island Batik fabrics I had in my batik box.  

I had 2 yards of a lighter Island Batik fabric allowing me to use the same fabric for the placemat fronts. I embroidered a fall design in the bottom corner of each piece of fabric. 

The fall designs came from a free embroidery set I downloaded a few years ago from Artistic Threadworks.  (This design set is listed HERE.)

       

I used the batting as the stabilizer behind the embroidery design on the machine (reducing one step and one item to work with). I layered each designed front with one of the backing fabrics and stitched diagonal lines through all the layers. I marked the lines with a water-erasable fabric marker.

The final step was binding each placemat. I found a half yard of a Island Batik fabric in a lovely golden color with tiny green dots. It was definitely fall-like and matched both front and back of the placemats.

Thank you for stopping by. 

I invite you to comment and tell me if you used placemats during meals; and, if you do, have you made them? 

Here is the list of all the bloggers for this Blog Hop. 

Monday, September 21st

Just Let Me Quilt

Websterquilt
VroomansQuilts
Karen's Korner
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
QuiltFabrication.com
Karrin’s Crazy World
Seams To Be Sew
The Joyful Quilter
Kathleen McMusing 

Tuesday, September 22nd

MooseStashQuilting
Quilting Gail
that fabric feeling
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
Kathy's Kwilts and More
Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life
 Sew Many Yarns
Sunshine in the Attic
Becky’s adventures in quilting and travel
Food for Thought

Wednesday, September 23rd

Quiltscapes
Ms P Designs USA
Stitchin At Home
Just Because Quilts
beaquilter
Patchwork Breeze
Selinaquilts
Lily Patch Quilts
Not Afraid Of Color
Quilting & Learning: What a Combo!

Thursday, September 24th

Creatin' in the Sticks
Quilt Schmilt
Bumbleberry Stitches
Samelia’s Mum
Life in the Scrapatch
Storied Quilts
Songbird Designs
Quiltifications
Words & Stitches

for the love of geese

Follow the Pinterest Board for all the links.

Magnolia Mystery Quilt Finished

Last year I worked on the Meadow Mist Magnolia Mystery Quilt. Cheryl Brickey designs such lovely quilt patterns. I won't hesitate to participate in any of her Mystery Quilt Alongs!

I enjoyed working on the units for each new clue every few weeks and was very pleased with the lap quilt I made. I chose the fabrics from my stash of batiks. Some from the Island Batik fabrics I had, and the blue background I bought as a remnant at Hancock's of Paducah one year. They all worked well together. On Sunday, I sewed the binding on and the label.

I took the quilt to Pam at Creative Loop. Friends had praised her work. Last year at a quilting retreat, she made a presentation about longarm quilting and the types of battings to use. She showed some of her work. I was so impressed with her knowlegde and skills, I decided I wanted her to quilt this quilt because there was so much background space in it.

I was not disappointed. I think the recipient of this quilt is going to ooh and aaah over it. I am giving it to her as a thank you for all the hospitality she has shown me over the years when I visit her town.

(not sure why this blue color is so off)

Thanks for visiting my blog.
If you are interested in a mystery quilt along coming soon, Merry Mayhem is hosting one on Aug. 12, 2018. It is a one-day event where clues are given every hour. Download the first piece of information (fabric and cutting) from the website HERE. She is calling the quilt, TWINKLE. Wonder if it's for Christmas, hmmm.

Island Batik Alumni Ambassadors Blog Hop

Today I will show my project for the Spring Fling Use It Up blog hop. Some of the Island Batik alumni ambassadors, and some of the current ambassadors, are participating. 

The idea came from Alumni Patti, with the idea of "Use it up." We were to make any FUN - SMALL project. The goal is to use up our Island Batik scraps, leftover from when WE were blogging - with what was the current IB fabrics.

I have quite a few scraps:

I wanted to use my Accuquilt Go! cutter (I haven't used it in a while) and chose the Flying Geese die. I cut out more pieces than I needed. I did not use the yellows or the red and orange scraps, so another project is in the works with those. I liked using the blues, greens and sandy colors. I laid out two options:

I chose the second layout because of the movement I got with the flying geese units. I kept thinking SAND and SEA every time I positioned the units. So the title of my table runner is "OF SAND AND SEA."

And here is the final project, free motion machine quilted and bound:

But, darn it! I still haven't used up all the scraps of Island Batik fabrics! Perhaps, there will be another Alumni Ambassador Blog Hop. That would be fun!
Thank you for visiting.

If you haven't seen all the Alumni projects, here are the links:

Monday, April 16, 2018
Lemon Tree Snippets
Beaquilter

Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Seams To Be Sew
Mary Macks Blog

Wednesday, April 18, 2018
One Quilting Circle
Seams Like a Dream

Thursday, April 19, 2018
Tamarinis
Kathy's Kwilts and More

Friday, April 20, 2018
Inspired Layers
Masterpiece Quilting

Saturday, April 21, 2018
Purrfect Spots
Patchwork Breeze

Sunday, April 22, 2018
For Quilts Sake

Spring Fling Blog Hop

As a former Island Batik Ambassador, I am in the ranks of IB Alumni Ambassador. We, the Alumni, try to stay in touch and share our quilting on a private FB group. 

Fellow Alumni, Patti Bochey, wanted to get some of us together via the internet for a blog hop. We all have some pieces, bit, scraps, chunks, and such, of Island Batik fabrics left in our stashes. So the Spring Fling Blog Hop is focusing on the idea: 

 Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!

We are making small items. I really like Island Batik fabrics and have some scraps that are 2 inches and larger. I am going to use these scraps

and these larger pieces. 

I haven't used my Accuquilt Go! in a while, so I am going to cut pieces for flying geese units. I am not sure of the final project, but I will be ready to show my project on April 21. 

Be sure to follow along starting April 16. 

Here is the list of participating alumni and their post dates:

Monday, April 16, 2018 

Lemon Tree Snippets

Beaquilter

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 

Seams To Be Sew 

Mary Mack's Blog

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

One Quilting Circle

Seams Like a Dream 

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Tammarinis

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Friday, April 20, 2018 Inspired Layers Saturday, April 21, 2018 Purrfect Spots Patchwork Breeze
Sunday, April 22, 2018 For Quilts Sake

Funky Friends at Quilt Market

While reading blogs this morning, I came upon Bea's post about Funky Friends at Quilt Market. While the snow was still flying, the Island Batik Ambassadors were asked if we would like to sew some stuffed animals for Quilt Market 2017 using Island Batik fabrics and Funky Friends Factory patterns. I said I would sew two, Stu the Sea Turtle and Dilby Duckling. I sent the finished animals to Island Batik in March.

The patterns were fairly easy to sew. The size of the stuffies were larger than I thought they would be. And that was helpful in sewing all the pieces together. In fact, I haven't sewn anything like these in a YEARS! And it was fun.

With all the things going on in life, I completely forgot about the Funky Friends until I saw this photo on Bea's post. There in the front was Stu the Sea Turtle, that I sewed! I tried searching for other photos of Funky Friends to see others that were made. I found a few, but not my Dilby Duckling,.

So, I will post the pictures I took before mailing the stuffies. If you spot one of my Funky Friends out there on the internet, let me know!

April Sewing Projects

My primary focus for the past few weeks has been on the upcoming wedding of our daughter! Since we were having guests staying, my husband suggested we get the spare room painted. I bought paint a year ago when the local hardware had buy one get one can free! He recruited a friend's high school daughter to help paint. (I am scheduled for hip replacement in May, so no climbing or bending right now.) She did a fine job and earned some money over spring vacation. The guests have a lovely, fresh room to stay in.

A new place for my "Love" quilt in the room.

Sewing has not taken the back seat. I am posting a photo tour of the items I have worked on this month, with a brief caption under each. 

This wall hanging was finished and sent to my aunt in Wisconsin. 

It hangs in her room at the assisted living home.

I used Island Batik fabrics with her favorite color--purple.

Another set of Michigan coasters and

 a pincushion basket to sell at The Yellow Window.

A pillowcase for donation.

Michigan Potholders

GRIDSTERS BLOCKS

A test of the bee pattern for the Gridsters Bee block exchange selected by the Queen Bee for May.

Last month I forgot to post the 2 piggy blocks I sewed for the Gridsters March's Queen Bee.

Check Elizabeth's blog to see the quilt top she made with all her piggies.

I am April's Queen Bee and the blocks are arriving. I designed the block pattern. They are beautiful. 

I can't show them yet; they are for a special project. 

FOUR-IN-ART REVEAL COMING SOON!

I am also working on the finish for the Four-in-Art Reveal for May 2. Be sure to check back then to see how each of the members interpreted the theme of "Light in the Darkness" for this quarter. Here is a little section of the quilt.

SEPTEMBER ROW ALONG

I have been working on my row submission for the Christmas Caroling Row Along - sponsored by Seams to be Sew. It begins September 5, 2017. Over 40 pattern designers are participating! This should be a spectacular event. Put it on your calendar to row along with us. You can find more details HERE.

I wish you a happy ending to the month of April and hope it includes many things you like to do.

This Quilt Has a Name!

The quilt I made for the Island Batik New Beginnings Blog Hop needed a name. 

In my post HERE, I asked blog visitors to help name the quilt with a giveaway of 

this Sea Canyon Stamp Pack (42 pieces, 5" square).

I thank all who participated and visited during the blog hop.

I was amazed with all the creative names you gave me. 

I listed all the ideas submitted and asked my husband to help choose. 

This would be a good way to involve him, 

since he chose the layout design from those I had made in EQ7.

His favorite name was 

DANCING DNA

which was submitted by 

RACHELL.

I have sent Rachell an email and look forward to mailing her the Stamp pack. 

Are you sewing this weekend? 

I'm off to sew a table topper for my sister's birthday present.

Island Batik New Beginnings Blog Hop

Welcome to my post for the Island Batik Blog Hop. 

This is the last day of the blog hop.

Island Batik has a giveaway through Rafflecopter HERE.

You will also find links to all the Island Batik Ambassadors' 

blog hop posts there, as well. 

I have a giveaway, too!

Details on entering for a chance to win my giveaway 

are at the end of my post.

We Island Batik Ambassadors were charged with interpreting the theme "New Beginnings" by creating a project larger than 24" x 24" using the fresh, new Fall/Winter 2016 fabrics introduced at Quilt Market in November. We had to use at least 8 of the fabrics from the fabric collections we received. I had some of the Merry and Bright collection to use. 

I bought this black Island Batik Blender (BE23-E1) from a local quilt shop, 

to use as my background.

This is the quilt I designed. 

It looks different depending upon how it is viewed. 

I thank my husband and future son-in-law 

for holding the quilt and apologize for a wonky photo.

I used EQ7 to design this quilt. 

Scanning the fabrics and adding them to the fabric palette 

allowed me to determine which quilt layout was the choice I wanted.

I used half yard cuts of the 8 fabrics and 3 yards of the black. 

The Merry and Bright fabrics were cut into 2.5 inch strips. 

The blocks finish at 9" x 18" long when sewn into the quilt. 

I have to thank Michelle Fialek, my longarm quilter for quilting this for me. 

I was under the gun to get it finished for today and she came through. 

She used a lovely variegated black and gray thread with the swirls. 

(The photo is a larger file, if you want to click on it and see a close up.)

Now, for my giveaway. 

I haven't given a name to the quilt I designed. 

Leave a comment with a name for this quilt. 

I will choose a suggestion on Friday, Feb. 3. 

Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are a no-reply commenter. 

The chosen name will be sent this Stamp Pack of 5" squares from

the Sea Canyon fabric collection. 

For a giveaway chance for a random selection of 

fat 1/8ths from my Island Batik fabrics,

leave a comment on my Facebook page HERE. 

(I am sorry I can only ship to United States addresses due to postage costs.)

But if you are outside of the United States, I will email you a some of my PDF patterns.

If you would like an idea of what can be made with 

a Stamp Pack of Island Batik fabrics, 

see what I did HERE or HERE.

Thank you for visiting and I look forward to choosing a name for the quilt. 

Tomorrow I will post the reveal of my 

Four-in_Art group quilt. I hope you return. 

Quilt Projects in Progress

The last 2 tree blocks arrived on Saturday for my Mid-Century Modern Bee swap. 

I then made two more blocks to complete the quilt top. 

I have an idea for quilting. I am thinking of leaf motif in the green blocks

and swirls in the blue blocks. 

I sent this pillow to my niece. 

She had a sweatshirt that I felt was too thick to use in the t-shirt quilt.

I had to add an extra piece of sweatshirt fabric to the top where the neckline was cut.

I wanted to center the logo. 

I sent it off to her and hope she likes it when it arrives. 

Back to work on my New Beginnings Island Batik Project.
Happy quilting!

New Beginnings Blog Hop

The New Beginnings Blog Hop with the Island Batik Ambassadors began on January 6. 

The newest fabrics (released at Fall Market in Houston, TX) have been used in projects by the Ambassadors. The list of project posts for you to view is listed below. My project is on the last day, but here is a peek at what I am doing with the Merry and Bright fabric line. I will have a giveaway on my post, so check back on February 1. 

Friday, January 6 – Hop Introduction!
Island Batik 

Monday, January 9 – Coastal Mist

Stone Cottage Quilts

Tuesday, January 10 – Dotalicious
DelLillians
Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
PamelaQuilts
Inchworm Fabrics

Wednesday, January 11 – Drizzle
Webster Quilt

Thursday, January 12 – Fifi and Fido + Happy Hounds
Mary Mack Made Mine
Quilting Affection

Friday, January 13 – Fresh Catch
Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Monday, January 16 – Glowing Embers
Purrfect Spots Designs

Tuesday, January 17 – Lake Life
Freemotion by the River

Wednesday, January 18 – River’s Edge
Ark Angle Creations
Jennifer Sewing

Friday, January 20 – Blushing Blooms
Desert Bloom Quilting

Monday, January 23 – Gone Fishin’
Maria Michaels Designs

Wednesday, January 25 – Surf and Sand
The Patchwork Pearl
Beaquilter

Thursday, January 26 – Twilight Blush
KISSed Quilts

Friday, January 27 – Happy Harvest
For Quilts Sake

Monday, January 30 – Jolly Holly
Kauffman Designs

Tuesday, January 31 – Frost
MooseStash Quilting

Wednesday, February 1 – Merry and Bright
Patchwork Breeze
Sally’s Quilting Corner