I received the Buds and Blooms Collection by Kathy Engle for Swan Amity Studios. Such yummy garden prints.
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
September Island Batik Blog Hop - Pieced to Perfection
Friday, September 1, 2023
2023 September Monthly Color Challenge - Classic Cars
For the 4th year, I'm joining in on a fun project run by Jen of PBJ, Patterns By Jen; her awesome free mystery quilt - the 2023 Monthly Color Challenge. ***SEPTEMBER PATTERN LINK. The Star Pattern is free during September so visit her page after you look at my cute little star block and learn more about it and the Challenge.
This year the inspiration is something totally different: Classic Cars.
September's palette is Mustard
Of course, my mind and color palette always goes to a more Cheddary Orange color. Here I'm trying to decide what fabrics to use and how to coordinate with the previous years' projects. (Beautiful batiks from Island Batik, I'm a 2023 Brand Ambassador).
Jen provides super easy to follow instructions for each monthly free pattern and how to videos too. This month's block is a wonky, off center, or uneven half square triangle star block using a unique variation of the flippy corner or stitch & flip method of making 1/2 square triangles. Block size is 12 inch finished.Friday, August 25, 2023
August Island Batik Ambassador Challenge - It's All Up To You (Pumpkin Pillow)
This month's Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is an open challenge - It's All Up To You. Each ambassador gets to decide the fabrics, the technique, the size of the project, etc. etc. I decided to make a pillow inspired by my garden and featuring pumpkins and gourds that I am growing now.
The new Celtic Fields Collection just screams Autumn Garden! I was able to use all of the yummy colors to create my paper pieced pumpkins (a set of 5 for each gourd) and I repeated a few for a mini center pumpkin. Here's the 20 different fabrics in the collection.I drafted six inch blocks for the large pumpkins and then made a tiny 1.5" finished pumpkin for the corner stone. Isn't it too cute!!!
The blocks were all paper pieced using the strip pack strips. Here's a shot of the design process, figuring out the perfect combinations of colors.
And here's a close up of another block. The Aurifil Golden Shrimp Plant Collection had just the right orange for the quilting. I quilted curves over the pumpkin/gourds with a walking foot in a freeform unmarked experiment. I like how it added subtle motion and interest to the fruit.
The full quilt/pillow before stuffing. It would be a fun wall quilt too or a cheery set of placemats.
Here's what I used to create my pillow.
Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts
Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt
Friday, June 30, 2023
June Island Batik Ambassador Challenge - Fly Away aka Flying Geese!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts
Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt
Monday, May 8, 2023
Island Batik Studio 180 Design - Tool Craze Blog Hop - Maple Island Table Runner
The brief was to use the assigned new collection: Maple Island (a beautiful grouping of pinecones and maple leaves and aspen trees)
and the Studio 180 Design ruler. I received the Four Patch Square Up Ruler which makes 4 patch blocks in 12 different sizes from 1/2" finished to 6" finished. I needed to make at least 30 units and at least 2 different sized blocks.I ended up making 60 units and 6 different blocks in 4 sizes.
1" finished (4 Patch and Offset)
2" finished (4 Patch and Offset)
3" finished (4 Patch)
4" finished (4 Patch)
Look at those teeny 4 Patches on the back - a key to the tool's precision is to spin and press the seams or intersections.
*I used the extra Technique Sheet for Offset Four Patch using the same tool. The Offset or uneven blocks add extra interest and pizzazz to the regular Four Patches. I made regular and offset Four Patches that finished at just ONE inch!!! See those little 4 patches in regular and the double 4 Patches (offset).
I was really impressed with the accuracy I achieved using the Four Patch Square Up tool even working with those tiny pieces.
To see more of the new Island Batik Collections and what my fellow ambassadors are making with them and the Studio 180 Design Rulers/Tools AND to have chances to win new Island Batik fabrics, follow along with this month's Blog Hop. Some of the other ambassadors are doing giveaways too (links below).
WEEK 1
May 1

Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilts
Randi Jones, Randi’s Roost
May 2

Elita Sharpe, Busy Needle Quilting
Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts
May 3

Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany
Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts
May 4

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
May 5
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway
WEEK 2
May 8

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts
Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels - you are here - leave a comment for the Giveaway!
May 9

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
Lana Russel, Lana Quilts
May 10

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia
Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum
May 11

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
May 12
Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway
WEEK 3
May 15

Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting for You
Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion
May 16

Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique
Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting
May 17

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts
Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion
May 18
End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up