Head Over Heels!©

It's almost a year to the day that Island Batik was in touch to request design submissions for their new Summer 2025 fabric scans. When I saw this "Colorburst" collection, I knew immediately it needed to become a fun, happy, stress free quilt. The design selections were made within a few weeks by Island Batik, and the fabric arrived here in Amherst in November (2024).  In addition to the fabrics in the collection, I also requested a solid black for the heels (! :)) and a multicoloured batik named Sunset for the backing.

 

The Island Batik Ambassadors have a new challenge this month. At the start of the year, each ambassador received an Oliso M3 Pro iron along with a small carrying bag for their irons, provided by our sponsor, Oliso. For August, our challenge is to decorate these small iron carrying bags. We can use various techniques, including quilting, embroidery, appliqué, paint, and more.

It’s hard to believe we are already halfway through the 2025 Island Batik Ambassador program; this year has flown by so quickly! Lumin Fabrics has sent me a new box of Island Batik fabrics and products that will help us create some exciting projects over the next six months. I created an unboxing video, which I've shared in the blog post below.

Next, I have two stunning gradient precut packs: the Precious ...

Island Batik's June Challenge is co-sponsored by Funky Friends Factory. 

I chose Dizzy Dolphin.

Bubbles!

Let's start from the beginning.

I downloaded and printed the pattern. I chose a light and a dark fabric from an older Island Batik collection, called Exuberance. I had used this collection to make Trevor (the quilt with dimples).

2nd fabric in 1st column, 8th fabric in the 2nd column

The dots gave the impression of playful bubbles.

Pattern and Fabrics

The step by step directions were clear and the pattern was easy to make. I used Schmetz 80/12 Microtex needle for ...

I am excited to share a ...

 I am honored and thrilled to return as an Island Batik Ambassador for the year 2025.

We received a generous shipment of fabric from Island Batik and other supplies from industry partners. 

A Very Generous Haul

Here is my Unboxing Video.

The fabrics and products are shown/described below.

Four queen sized batts from Hobbs Batting,  including 100%Wool from Tuscany, Heirloom 80/20 in Natural, Heirloom 80/20 in Black, and 100% Cotton with Scrim Binder.  

Hobbs also sent a bag of stuffing that will be used to make the soft toy from Funky Friends Factory in June.

Thank ...

And now to Part D of my posts on Kokomo (Stars Upon Stars)

D. Hand Quilting

And now to Part C of my posts on Kokomo (Stars Upon Stars)

C. Assembly

Island Batik's September Challenge and Blog Hop theme is Adventurous Applique and is jointly sponsored by Aurifil Threads.

Here is my response.

Finished!

For this challenge we were to use our assigned Spring 2024 Bundles along with the matching threads provided by Aurifil.

I received Geometric Symphony designed by Jerry Khiev. This collection has beige, fuchsia and navy fabrics in bold geometric prints.  

Geometric Symphony

Aurifil Threads

We knew about the theme of the challenge for months and I had come up with several possible ideas. But when I saw the fabric, I had to discard each one of ...

This is Part B of a series of posts explaining how I make my version of Stars Upon Stars.  

B. Planning the colours

 1. External stars in the blocks. 

A key design feature of the original Stars Upon Stars quilt is that each block is unique.  I decided replicate that idea by using different fabrics and colours for the external stars of each block. I opted for tone on tone fabrics in most cases, and tried to use every colour within my limited colour range - blue, aqua, green, pink, orange and yellow.  If I repeated a colour I used a ...

Thank you for all the lovely comments on my Kokomo quilt.  As promised I'm going to explain more about how I made it - both for anyone thinking about making one themselves, and for my personal record, because after all, that's what blogs are for.

A. Fabric selection

Where do I even begin to describe my happiness with how this quilt has turned out?

I'm thrilled with it and I'm not going to let it out of my sight.  I've even considered sewing an Apple AirTag into it so if it goes missing I can track it down! I've spent so many hours making this quilt but I've enjoyed them all. 

I started this quilt back in January 2020.  I've spent four years working on it in the background.  I haven't once put it on social media or even shown my ...

Whoever said "Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road" wasn't making this pattern.

But let's start at the beginning.

In the land of Island Batik, March is Ambassador's Choice Month.  Mine is Lula May. 

EQ8 Design

Lula May

Designed in EQ8, and made with Island Batik's Celebrate Collection, Lula May finished at 62" by 82".

Love this collection!!!

I wanted to step away from square blocks. I designed a rectangular block measuring 12" by 16". The triangle in a square made the basis for the elongated star. The strip pieced alternate block combines the colors used in the stars, using the leftovers and tying the pattern together. 

Design Wall

Alternate Blocks

I used Aurifil Thread to piece ...

Dashing Doors

Dashing Doors is my response to the Island Batik's Log Cabin Challenge and Blog Hop that begins today.  My pun on Door Dash got a huge eye roll from Paul :-)

I received a half-yard bundle of Breezy Collection.  Purples, Greens, Coral and Pink make this a lovely collection.

Breezy Bundle

Light to Dark!

We’ve stitched up a surprise for you all here at Fat Quarter Shop. We’re doing some redecorating and we have some spools that are looking to go out into the Threadiverse and find some new homes! Find out all the details of The Great Thread Giveaway in today’s blog post.

Fat Quarter Shop is excited to give 60 lucky winners some of our favorite 50wt Aurifil threads from the thread wall in our studio! You may have seen it in the background of videos on Fat Quarter Shop’s Youtube Channel!

Aurifil 50wt thread is the most ...

It may be Thanksgiving where you live, but I've just finished my Halloween quilt!  I've called it "Spooky Darlings" after the fabric range that I used.  

I only had a fat eighth bundle to play with so I made the biggest triangles that I could and combined them in alternating dark and light rows ...

Meet Radiance. She is my response to the October challenge.

Radiance!

Let's start from the beginning.

October's Challenge is sponsored by Accuquilt. In our Island Batik Ambassador Box, we received the Accuquilt Block on Board Die - North Carolina Star.

Accuquilt Die for North Carolina Star

Star of North Carolina is a traditional block made with paper-piecing AND partial seams - two of my absolute nemeses ganged up against me!!!

Star of North Carolina in EQ8 Block Library

Fortunately, Accuquilt has simplified the block such that there are no partial seams. However, in doing so the number of fabric pieces ...

This week I started hand quilting my Licorice Allsorts quilt.  

The guild I belong to, Capital Quilters in Wellington, New Zealand will be holding an exhibition in May 2024 and I ...