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Eye Contact: Creating a Connection 

Every two years, Sacred Threads has a national quilt and fiber art exhibit. Barbara Hollinger, curator of Sacred Threads created a special installation, Eye Contact: creating a connection, for the 20th Sacred Threads.

I decided to combine the special installation parameters with the Island Batik ambassador Artsy Fartsy challenge.

NOTE: As an Island Batik ambassador I was given the fabric for this project and Aurifil provided the thread.

The challenge required ambassadors to use three provided spools of Aurifil thread. I received 12, 28 and 50 weight threads.

The heaviest thread, 12wt, emphasizes the silhouetted ...

No more Frogs after this for a while, I promise

But seriously, can you resist this face?! This adorably agile amphibian is the second option for Block 4 of our Love with a Twist appliqué series. Which puts him in direct competition with the Duck of Attitude from June 21.

Can you choose? Or do you have to make two throw quilts to fit them both in? Of course you can just opt to make the big twin size one and have them play together. read more

Today I finished my Island Batik Ambassador project for June read more

added by Dione Gardner-Stephen 1 month, 4 weeks ago. under bag , colour inspiration tuesday , drawstring bag , hobbs batting , island batik , island batik ambassador post , island batik fabric , madeira thread , music , music notes , paper-piecing (Comments)

On-the-Go Tote

There are many uses for totes. For makers, each tote is an opportunity to add fun accents, functional details and learn new sewing techniques.

For Island Batik Ambassadors, the June project inspiration is, Try It!   So….I decided I “needed” another tote bag.  This time, I wanted to add never tried accents, hardware and a zippered pocket.

NOTE: As an Island Batik Ambassador, the fabric to make the tote bag was given to me by Island Batik. Also, CT Publishing supplied the Kraft-tex.

This is the first time I’ve added a zippered pocket, a hook and D-ring ...

“A duck walked up to the lemonade stand…..”

Last post, Denise commented that my balloon duck appliqué has attitude. read more

Kraft-tex Sampler Projects

I’m falling in love with kraft-tex!  The hand-dyed and prewashed sampler pack is a perfect introduction to this fun paper product that sews like fabric.

There is plenty of inspiration in kraft-tex Style. Complied by Roxane Cerda, the book has several “get-started” beginner projects.

NOTE: I am a CT Publishing kraft-tex ambassador and affiliate. They provided the kraft-tex paper fabric for the projects below.

With one 8.5 x 11 sheet I made Betsy La Honta’s free coin purse pattern and three bookmarks. I used Island Batik fabric accents on all.

I had fun designing ...

The products featured in this post were given to my by Island Batik and Aurifil.

This month our Island Batik challenge was to try something new. There are so many options in the quilting world to try a new technique or tool. I was inspired by my friend Gayle’s recent quilt project where she used Fabric Magic on her quilt top. Here's one of her textured flowers:

Fabric Magic is a polyester fabric that "shrinks up to 30% when steam-activated." The way it works is that it is stitched to the back of a single layer of fabric ...

The Island Batik Ambassador’s June Challenge is “Try a New Technique”!  Have you tried Studio 180 Design’s new Wedge Star Tool?

The Wedge Star tool is designed to make a variety of different blocks based on 45 degree sub-units.

They range from Wedge Star Blocks, Wedge Blocks & Mixed Blocks.  There are 22 different size options ranging from 3″ to 24″ finished blocks!

Diamond units are constructed and trimmed down.

Units are stitched together in quarters and half’s, then joined into blocks with corners added to complete it.

The new Wedge Star tool is for “Intermediate Skilled” quilters ...

Well, I'm so out of OMG practice that when I met my goal last month, I totally forgot to linkup my finish. Oops. Onward...

This month's goal is a two-fer. My Island Batik project challenge is to try something new. I've chosen the product Fabric Magic by Pellon as my something new. A few weeks ago I looked at my "want to make" list and had significantly more on the list that time would allow in my life. I had to eliminate some fun "wants" like finishing the Trinket quilt top by the sew along deadline (you ...

The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, Hobbs, and Aurifil.

This month's Island Batik challenge is Make It Modern with Hobbs. Last month for the AccuQuilt challenge I used my cool color scraps with a neutral background. This month, I decided to use my warm colored scraps, and initially intended to use a tan neutral background. I toyed with the idea of using the same layout and the AccuQuilt again, but eventually decided that I would piece a scrappy slab. I didn’t have a final layout in mind and just started sewing ...

Designer Spotlight

Speechless. Excited. Amazed. Thankful. These are some of the words to describe how it felt to open the July/August issue of Quiltmaker magazine.

It is thrilling to see my interview with Quiltmaker magazine in the July/August 2019 issue. The Designer Spotlight also includes some of my favorite quilts. Quiltmaker is available as a digital or print magazine.

This issue of Quiltmaker features my quilt design, Airship Propeller. The pattern, a coloring page and free motion quilting tips are included. The featured fabric is Dear William, an Island Batik collection.

I love to share my designing ...

Eye’ve got a confession to make

I changed my mind (shock). Several times. (More shock….. you are shocked…… right?!). When I got out of bed on Sunday I was all set to use my sewing time to make a modern quilt for Island Batik and HOBBS. I was going to make a large colourful graphic improv block…. maybe a wonky log cabin or a star. And float it in a big black background ...