March 31, 2018

Island Batik Ambassador {Try a Technique}

Our March task as Island Batik Ambassadors was... 



"Sometimes it can be hard to step out of our comfort zone. But that’s how we grow! This month, we challenge you to try something new (to you) - a quilty technique or method you’ve never tried before. Maybe you just heard about it, or perhaps you’ve been thinking about it for a while and haven’t worked up the nerve (or been able to set aside the time). This is your chance! We can’t wait to see what you try and hear about what you’ve learned!"

Trying some new is difficult. Trying something new on a deadline is even more difficult! I like try a lot of new things but most of my trials end up in piles and may or may not ever see the light of day again. One of the things I like most about the Island Batik Ambassador program so far is that I feel completely free to create. There are some guidelines and a theme, but aside from that, the sky is the limit.

After going through my box of Island Batik fabric, I decided to use some of the very colorful fabrics from the Fall 2017 Mountain's Majesty collection.


I also decided to use my AccuQuilt Go! 9-inch Wedge die since I have had it for well over a year but hadn't even opened the package yet.

Curves and I are not friends, but I was determined to use fabric wedges to create arcs then piece those arcs into background fabric. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, that's okay. I didn't really have any idea what I was doing, either!

I decided to work in sections. For the first sections I pieced LOTS of fabric strips together then cut the wedges. (I like how it looks like way more work and piecing that what it really is.)


If my first sections doesn't look square, that's because it's not. Due to bad quilt math and trying to piece large (and very stretchy) pieced arcs into more large (and very stretchy) pieces of fabric, it's a bit wonky. But I forged ahead!


After some quilt math help from a friend, the other 3 sections are quite a bit better. I used scraps and offcuts from the previous section to make wedges for the next section. I enjoyed the process of making this, and I feel like it's the first artistic-type quilt I've made.

While I would like to present you with a picture of my beautiful completed quilt, it's still on the longarm. When I longarm my quilts, I almost always do an edge-to-edge pantograph. It's easy, and I really like the effect of all-over quilting. Since I was on a roll trying new things, I decided to "custom" quilt it with free-motion quilting.


I know I'll only get better at free-motion quilting with practice, but it would have been much easier to have quilted it with a panto! There is definitely some quilting that I like and definitely some that needs some work. Overall, I learned a lot doing this project and can't wait to finish it!

March 2, 2018

Elementz Blog Hop...Welcome!

Hi! If you're here as part of the Elementz Blog Hop...welcome! This blog hop is to showcase projects made with Tamarinis' gorgeous new Island Batik Elementz fabric line. I'm a 2018 Island Batik Ambassador, and imagine my excitement when I found a Stack of these fabrics in my fabric box. (I'm a sucker for bright colors.)


Our Ambassador task for February was to create a mini quilt using fabric from our box. Of course I chose these gorgeous, bright fabrics and created this improv and applique "Maker" mini for my sewing room. (There's more details about his project on this post.)


Island Batik is giving away some great prizes during the blog hop, and there are multiple ways to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You should also visit these other blogs to see more Elementz projects!

Wednesday, February 28
Quiltoni
Seams Like a Dream
I'll be giving away a cute little thread catcher I'm making from Elementz scraps of my mini project. (I'd show you a picture, but it's still in pieces on my cutting table!) To enter, just leave a comment here telling me what you would make from this fabric. (If you're a "no reply" blogger, please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win!) I'll draw for a winner on Monday, March 5. Thanks for stopping by!