Island Batik Whimsical and Wonky

Here is my Whimsical project, it isn't wonky because no matter how I try I can't do wonky. It just is to hard for this analytical mind to handle. I might actually explode trying. I had some strips of Winter blues that weren't enough to make more than a table runner but oh they are pretty. Island Batik fabrics are so nice to work with. I love the designs and the colors and the feel. I have had so much fun being an ambassador and love seeing all the projects the other gals come up with. Having a monthly theme is a challenge but I have learned a lot. January's blog hop will be loads of fun so be sure to stop by. So stay tuned, there is more to come. I will post a schedule so you can hop to all the ambassadors sites and see the wonderful projects and beautiful fabrics.

This had to be put on the back burner because I had Christmas presents for the grandkids. I made pillow cases for some of the distant ones but I made pocket pillows for the 13 that live close. Gave them a flashlight and a book.

I also, got a few projects that were almost done finished. I think I put binding on at least 5 quilts and pulled out some that need quilting with the intention of putting them on the frame, needless to say they are still waiting. I did have a nice productive vacation besides the trips to see the grandkids. Then after I got all that sewing done I couldn't take the mess in my sewing room, so I cleaned and rearranged so that I could move around better. I feel much better and now I am ready to tackle some bigger projects.One of which is Island Batiks January Getaway Blog Hop with my surprise fabric.

After Christmas Activities

My daughter came to visit yesterday and we spent time finishing two quilts she started for her kids for Christmas.  Then today I should have been working on some projects of my own for Island Batik challenges but I spent the day rearranging and cleaning my sewing room. I love having more space. I moved some furniture around and took some things out and I am feeling more creative already. Does any one else get side tracked cleaning when they should be sewing? Have a great day and hope you get lots done.

Cozy Cabins Log Cabin Challenge for Island Batik

This months challenge is any kind of Log Cabin. My sister Barb over at Bejeweled Quilts and I bought this awesome ruler from Sew Kind of Wonderful called quick curve ruler, and we both decided we would make the same quilt but with different fabric lines. You should hop on over and see what she has on her blog. I chose Apline Jingle from Island Batik because of course it is getting close to Christmas and I thought it would be fun to make a Christmas quilt. It has definitely been a challenge getting this quilt done not because it was hard but November has been crazy. The log cabin blocks went together fairly fast using Eleanor Burns' quick piecing method.

 
 Here's a few pictures of the process. Using strips.

 

After all the blocks are put together I had to get up the courage to cut a corner off with the curve it up ruler. Then the process of sewing a curved white piece back on to make the curved effect.

4 log cabins make the block which ended up being about 20 inches. I thought about just making table toppers out of the 20" block but decided I wanted a Christmas quilt. The quilt is 4 blocks by 5 blocks with 3 borders on it a white one, red one and a green one. The back is holly leaves from Connecting Threads quilt back collection, they were on sale, not sure if they still are or not. This is a queen size quilt.

I put it on the quilt machine and that is where it is still. The machine broke so I had to take it apart and luckily for me it was an easy fix. The timing belt came off and I was able to put it back on. But I ran out of time it is the end of the month so this is it for now.

Happy Holidays

Here is a link to the tutorial from Sew Kind of Wonderful. for their quick curve ruler.

Needle Paper Scissors Island Batik October Challenge

I AM NOT A FAN OF PAPER PIECING
I know it looks cool when you are done but let me vent for a minute.
 1. I can never get the pieces the right size and I either have to take it out or waste a lot.
 2. I feel like it is such a waste of time to have to pull the papers off.
 3. When pulling the papers off it leaves little pieces that cant be removed.
 4. There is also the problem of the seam coming undone with the paper.
With that being said the finished product does look good. In order to minimize the agony, I made a mug rug using Karen Neary's pattern Winter Star Mug Mat.


I have been wanting to spruce up this tree in my front yard. My husband was kind enough to bring me some blocks home. I was thinking he was bringing me the small 12 inch blocks but he brought the 16 inch blocks which made a nice ring but they were heavier than this old women could hardly handle and to top that off I was one block short. What is that saying? "One block short of a full deck" Oh wait that is one card short.

Have a great evening/weekend.
Jeanette

Starstruck Challenge for Island Batik

                                                This month the Island Batik Challenge is Stars.

I have been wanting to do a Carpenters Star and so I picked a layer cake called Lavendula and cut a stack of 10 inch squares of white. There are lots of free patterns on the internet. There is one on Moda bakeshop and a tutorial on Missouri Star Quilt site. It was an easy and fun quilt to do and I love how it turned out. I even tried a new free motion all over quilt design that was suppose to look like ribbons which doesn't look to much different that the swirls that I seem to use a lot. Oh well practice makes perfect right?

Great Outdoors Giveaway Winner

Barefoot Thunder 

The last person to comment on my blog post is the winner today of  5 lovely rolls of stash builders complements of Island Batik (the Great Outdoors Blog Hop giveaway). They have supplied the fabric for the project and the giveaway. I love their fabrics and I am sure Barefoot Thunder will also.











I am onto my next project. So check back later, I will post it when I am done. Actually I have 2 projects for this month both star projects. I do love stars and if you love them also, you should check out all the Ambassador pages to see lots of lovely projects.

Island Batik Great Outdoors Blog Hop and Giveaway

Welcome to my blog.


I had the pleasure of working with Island Batiks Dragonfly Dreams II and I used the pattern Delectable Mountains for this blog hop and I am so excited at how it turned out. I started with 40 ten inch squares of background and 40 of the main fabric. There was 2 of each color which worked out great, giving me enough half square triangles to make one large block. A background and a color square were marked from corner to corner and sewn 1/4 inch on either side of the line. Then cut on the line. Iron open and square them up 9 1/2 inches. One pile is the left cut and one pile is the right cut. It is important to keep them separate. Cut the square into 2 3/8 inch strips. Then trade the two outer strips with each other, then trade the two inside strips. Sew the strips together to make one quadrant of the final block. Sew 4 quadrants together and then layout in rows. It is five across and four down. Not quite a square.

If you want to watch a tutorial on this pattern, Missouri Star Quilt Company has one called Grand Adventures.

 I tried different layouts and decided to use all of one color for my blocks because there was such a wide variety of colors. I just couldn't find a random layout that was pleasing to the eye. One of my daughters said that it made her eyes hurt and she voted for the final layout. The quilt finished at 83 x94. I backed it with the a light grey with dragonfly's in white.

I will be giving away a package of 5 stash builders. That is 2.8 yards of sewing goodness. So be sure to enter by leaving a comment below on what project you might want to use the stash builders for. Also check the links below and see what the other ambassadors have made and enter their giveaways. Island Batik is also giving away a great prize so be sure to check out their blog and enter the raftorcopter. I will choose a winner at the end of the hop.

Blog Schedule with LINKS!

Monday, August 6 - All A Flutter - Yellow Cat Quilt Designs, Creative Blonde

Tuesday, August 7 - Birds N’ Bees - Ark Angel Creations, Patterns By Jen

Wednesday, August 8 - Canterbury Manor - Sally Manke, Powered By Quilting

Thursday, August 9 - Eclectic Garden - Desert Bloom Quilting, Sew Karen-ly Created

Friday, August 10 - Vintage Morris - MooseStash Quilting, Devoted Quilter

Monday, August 13 - Safari - Sew Incredibly Crazy, SweetGrass Designs

Tuesday, August 14 - Spring Blossoms - Mary Mack Made Mine, If These Threads Could Talk

Wednesday, August 15 - Victoria and Albert - Bejeweled Quilts, Clever Chameleon

Thursday, August 16 - Wild Things - Freemotion By The River, Kauffman Designs

Friday, August 17 - Petting Zoo - Den Syende Himmel, Sarah Goer Quilts

Monday, August 20 - Ocean Odyssey - Gateway Quilts, The Quilt Rambler

Tuesday, August 21 - British Rose - Busy Hands Quilts, Mania for Quilts

Wednesday, August 22 - Dear William - The Inquiring Quilter, mmm! Quilts, Living Water Quilter

Thursday, August 23 - Dragonfly Dreams - Inchworm Fabrics, BeaQuilter

Friday, August 24 - Fur-ocious Friends - Quilting Affection Designs, Dizzy Quilter

Monday, August 27 - Globetrotter - Pamela Quilts, Curliecue Creations

Tuesday, August 28 - Jungle Cruise - Vicki's Crafts and Quilting, Little Bunny Quilts

Wednesday, August 29 - Lavendula - Carole Lyles Shaw, Masterpiece Quilting

Thursday, August 30 - London Calling - Quilt in a Not-Shell, Lizard Creek Quilting

Friday, August 31 - Spirit Rhythm - Steph Jacobson, Whispers of Yore

Monday, September 3 - Sweet Tweets - Kathleen McMusing, Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Tuesday, September 4 - Whatnot - heARTS Creations, Slice of Pi Quilts

 Thanks for stopping by. Have a great time hopping.