Patchwork Breeze: @islandbatik

Showing posts with label @islandbatik. Show all posts

4/16/2018

Spring Fling Blog Hop Begins

Today is the first day of the Island Batik Alumni Ambassador Spring Fling Blog Hop!

Wow, that was a mouthful!

Well, those of us who have been ambassadors do have some pieces of fabric leftover. I haven't done much with my scraps in the two years that I have been away from creating with Island Batik. I liked the opportunity to get spurred into using those beautiful scraps.

My blog post date is April 21, so come back to see what I made with my scraps (or some of them)!

In the meantime, visit the other ambassadors (alumni and current) who have some projects to show you.

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
Kissed Quilts

Saturday, April 21, 2018
Purrfect Spots
Patchwork Breeze

Sunday, April 22, 2018
For Quilts Sake

5/31/2017

Funky Friends Photos Found and Giveaway

My last blog post was about the Funky Friends Factory stuffed animals made by Island Batik Ambassadors for the Island Batik display at Quilt Market this past week. I wasn't able to find any photos of my stuffies and the other IB Ambassadors' stuffies on social media.

Thanks to Pamela, from Pamela Quilts, I was able to see photos of my two stuffies on display, along with many other Funky Friends. You can see the photos HERE on Canton Village Quilt Works.

I enjoyed making the stuffies. If you are interested in sewing something a bit different, visit Funky Friends Factory HERE. Sign up for the newsletter and Pauline has a free pattern for Honey Teddy.

Follow her blog to see the new patterns and other activities she has going on. While you are there, grab one or more of the free patterns on her blog (Felt Cupcake Pattern, Christmas Hat Sewing Pattern, Knitted Sheep Pattern, Gingerbread Man) and watch video tutorials showing how to easily make these patterns. Gaining confidence by using a free pattern will help you choose a pattern to purchase to make for a gift or donation. The next pattern I want to try is Hannah Hedgehog.

Giveaway!
I have Island Batik fabrics left from the Funky Friends Factory stuffies I made. Enter through the Rafflecopter form below. There are 2 entry chances. I will choose the winner on June 5, 2017. Unfortunately, I can only mail to United States addresses. If your name is selected and you live outside of the United States, I will email 2 of my PDF quilt patterns to you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4/02/2017

Did A Little Sewing This Week

Last week was a busy week. My major goal was putting together the final details of the bridal shower I was hosting for our youngest daughter on April 1. It was out-of-town, so I couldn't forget anything.

I began the week on March 25, at an All Day Sew hosted by Creative Loop. I sewed 10-Minute Table Runners that day and finished more at home. These were for the guests who attended the shower. We let each person choose the runner they liked.

The All Day Sew was a fun day at a hotel conference room with lunch and dinner served. I finished the Compass Fire Star quilt top I began at the AQS Show in Grand Rapids, MI in August 2017. Nancy McNally taught the class using her pattern and special templates. I like the purple and yellow Island Batik fabrics I was able to use.

Friday I packed the car. I drove 30 miles north to pick up 4 dozen of these luscious and beautiful mini cupcakes from The Pie Hole. (This picture was taken after some were eaten.)

The bridal shower was very nice. The luncheon (which I ordered from a local grocery chain) was very good. I was happy I didn't have to do all the preparation. We ate, played 3 games and watched the soon-to-be bride open gifts; and the two hours were over. I was on the road heading home within the hour.

I got home exhausted; but, I found happy mail on the table that excited me! I got 2 blocks from Mary for the April Gridsters Bee (Instagram #gridsterbee) block exchange, for my month as Queen Bee. They are so pretty and fun! I can't wait to get those from the other beemates this month. I can show only a bit right now, as I am using them in a special quilt.

Tomorrow will be a rainy day and I have a high school helper coming to assist in painting our guest room. I am excited to move on with the decorating after the paint dries. And a new quilt is in the works!

2/13/2017

10 Days of Quilting

Since I last blogged (10 days ago), I have been able to work on quite a few sewing projects--even some that were not quilting related. It really does energize me when I get some sewing completed. And I cherish each day I can sew, as I have hip replacement scheduled for later this spring and I never know how long I can sit comfortably.

Rachel, who is also a member of the Gridster Bee, began making the monthly block for each Queen Bee, and one for herself, too. This way she'll have 12 Gridster bee blocks for her own quilt. I decided that I would do this as well. I completed the pineapple block for myself as well as Sherri, who requested them. Pat Sloan has a tutorial HERE.

Sherri's is on the left. Mine is on the right. On mine, I tried the leaf patchwork that Elizabeth used for her pineapple HERE. I am not sure which one I like better.

I will make my own New York Beauty (Susan requested them in January). But it is a block I have not done until now. I found the curved piecing on the machine to be nerve-wracking. But I was please with the 2 I sent Susan.

I spent about 3 days finishing my niece's T-Shirt quilt using her sorority shirts. I put it together in January. I quilted it on Feb. 2 using the Sweet 16 at the art studio I go to once every so often. This week I put the binding on it. One shirt had a pocket. I printed a photo on fabric of her and her dad at the Dad's Day event. I fused it to a thicker fabric, stitched around the raw edges and tucked it into the pocket. A nice memory. I forgot to take a photo of the finished quilt before I mailed it out. So you here it is trimmed and ready for binding.

I finished my sister's birthday present. The center panel was 1/4th of a table cover our mother had in the 1950s or 60s. It was one of the things I saved after she passed away (many years ago). I have now made each of my siblings a table topper with one of the pieces. I have mine yet to make.

I was very pleased with the mitered corners.

I had happy mail one day. I received the rotating Calibre Arts Cutting mat I won from the Sunbonnet Sue and Sam Travel The World BOM at Seams To Be Sew. I have wanted to get a mat from this company because of what I have read about their products.

The mat does rotate very smoothly and I am pleased that I don't smell an odor in the room like I have when I have purchased mats from the stores. If I put my nose right up to it I smell a little odor, but my sewing area doesn't smell!

On the same day, my order from Missouri Star Quilt Co. arrived. I am going to make a quilt for the Modern Quilt Guild Challenge with Riley Blake fabrics. I tried to find Riley Blake fabric locally, but to no avail. MSQC had the best selection, so I placed the order.

I saw these Island Batik Stamp packs and couldn't pass them up. So they went on the order, too.

One final project that I sewed yesterday was Dilby Duck from Funky Friends Factory. I am sewing it for Island Batik Fabrics with some of their new fabrics. I have not sewn any stuffed animal this involved before. It wasn't too hard. I thought 4 hours total wasn't bad for my first time. I stuffed it while watching TV that evening. I don't know if I can show a photo of it yet, but here is the photo from the Funky Friends Factory site. You'll have to believe me, I made him much more colorful!

So that is a summary of the past 10 days.

12/11/2016

Snowing Means Sewing

I know it is snowing in many parts of the U.S. today and many areas have had or will have heavy accumulations of snow. The warm waters of Lake Michigan sometimes make it difficult for the weather forecasters to predict how much snow various areas of West Michigan will get. We could get 4 inches and 10 miles away they could get 10 inches! When I wake up in the morning I'll see what we have here.

These are photos of our deck right now. We had about 6 inches from the other day, but it looks like 12 inches now (and it is still snowing steadily).

(I left the tomato cages and pots on the deck this fall.)

(And the chair was left out!)

Whatever the amounts, the silence and peacefulness on a snowy night like tonight is wonderful.

After church, a day like today meant staying in and relaxing at the sewing machine. Our meals were leftovers, so I accomplished much while sewing.

The Island Batik Ambassadors are working on items to Give this month.

I am using Island Batiks scraps from this past year's projects as well as my batting scraps to make kennel quilts for Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter and Training Center. Which is located in our county of residence.

Their mission statement says: "We are dedicated to the health and well-being of the abandoned, abused and neglected dogs and cats coming into our shelter, preparing them for their adoption with people looking for forever companionship. We do this through medical care, socialization, training, and sometimes rehabilitation.

We work with people looking to adopt our animals by helping them to find the dog or cat that is the best fit with their lifestyle. We do this through an interview process, multiple visits, education and training.

Our ultimate goal is to encourage and support the human animal bond."

The kennel quilts are for the cats.

I am zig-zag stitching the batting strips together.

I sewed the Island Batik scraps in crazy quilt style onto the batting. I opened each sewn piece, ran a row of stitching down the piece (about center), then added the next piece.

I trimmed the crazy quilt section to 14" x 18" and cut a piece of fleece the same size. I sewed the 2 sections right sides together, rounding the corners and leaving an opening for turning out.

I top-stitched the opening closed as I went around the entire quilt using a zig-zag stitch.

I will make more tomorrow as I predict the snow will be deep and I would rather stay home!

9/02/2016

Faced Binding for Quilts

Ok, I came upon a new term today when I read Pam's post at For Quilts Sake and she mentioned adding a faced binding. Now, from sewing clothes, I knew the term facing, but wasn't sure how this was done on quilts. I did a bit of Googling and found out why Pam decided to put a faced binding on her lovely quilt. She calls it "Branches" and I see beautiful faux stained glass.

So if you are not familiar with a faced binding, I found a few places on the internet to learn about them and how to add them onto quilts.

Terry Aske Art Quilt Studio has a very nice write up on how this is done and discoveries she has made for easiness.

Debbie has a YouTube video on how she does facings so they look like binding on the back.

SewCanShe has a completely different methods.

I have learned 3 different was to face a quilt, such a selection!

I think this technique would be great to use on wallhangings. Adding a binding places another element on the front of the quilt. This technique allows the quilt to shine on its own.

Have you ever faced a quilt?

9/01/2016

Some More Quilts from Island Batik Fabrics

Quilts that have some sort of illusional effect always grab my interest.
KISSed Quilts has made a very colorful ribbon quilt that I stared at for a few minutes to understand how it was pieced.

I definitely have to get the pattern to make this beauty. Marlene gives a few tips on how she pieced the rows. I think this would make a great Christmas quilt. Check it out HERE.

This next quilt is quite modern in design and on The Blog of The Patchwork Pearl, Linda says she is looking for readers' suggestions in naming the pattern she is writing for this quilt. Visit the blog, find out about the inspiration for this quilt, and make a suggestion for the pattern name--and possibly win a stamp pack of Island Batik pre-cuts.

Only one more day, September 2, for the Island Batik Seaside Summer Blog Hop and a chance at the Batik Bundle from Island Batik giveaway HERE.

Here is the last blog for this blog hop:

Friday Sept 2 - Landscapes

For Quilts Sake

8/31/2016

Projects from Island Batik Blog Hop

Today's projects from the Island Batik Blog Hop Ambassadors are wonderful.

Desert Bloom Quilting has a great quilt with a definitely imaginative seaside theme.

The introduction description on the blog is a must read.

There is a drink recipe given that I am going to make this weekend for the small Labor Day Bar-b-Q we are hosting. And there is a giveaway from Desert Bloom Quilting as well as Island Batik.

Another great project is found at Adventurous Applique and Quilting.
I enjoyed learning a new technique for quilting on my domestic machine.
And what a great idea for embellishing the sealife on this quilt. You must go visit the blog.