3D Blowing in the wind..with Island Batik...

Here we are....the 30th of December-2019..what a whirlwind of activites this past year has been!!! And I have enjoyed every minute of being an Island Batik Ambassador during that time...but have decided to let the experience go so that I can make time for other new and exciting things to come!!

But let's leave that for another time...and move on to my last monthly challenge--make something 3D with Island Batik fabrics!!

The weather is cold and frightful with a strong north wind today--so the thought of taking photos outside--just went out the window--as I took this photo out my studio window!!

My concept for this  3D design challenge started long ago when I was at Spring Market in Kansas City.  I was browsing in The Fat Quarter Gypsy's booth and fell in love with their Windsock Pop-Ups. She offered me a pattern in return for mention in the blog post. You have to go check out her designs--they are amazing.

The pattern comes in booklet form with step by step photographs that were easy to follow. Some of the steps may seem a little tricky--but just follow the pattern--and it will work perfectly!! Finally cutting the spring loose was my favorite step!!

I started with strips leftover from Electric Desert by Jackie Kunkel for Island Batik. See what else I made with these gorgeous fabrics HERE.

As  you can see by comparing above photo with pattern cover, I don't always follow directions well!! I chose to put a traditonal sawtooth star in the pop-up portion of my windsock. I used the 6" Qube from AccuQuilt to cut out the star pieces.

Sooooo pretty--I can't wait to hang it out on my patio next summer!!

I chose the enclosed seams option for the tails--and by using a different fabric on the back--such a wonderful riot of color I should get when it blows in the wind. And yes, I did actually lay on the floor to get this shot!!!

I just had to figure out a way to get a blowing in the wind photo....so here the windsock is...hanging in my open studio door!!! It took a few shots to get this lovely swirl of tails, but oh so worth the cold!! Good thing nobody drove by on the road and saw this crazy quilting lady taking photos in an open doorway with her pj's on!! But now you know the behind the scenes!!

So it is....I close the door on this time as an Island Batik Ambassador. But have no fear, I still have plenty of batik fabrics and ideas left!! Plus, I still plan on designing patterns with their amazing fabrics!! Thank you to Island Batik for this AMAZING opportunity--I am forever grateful!! To the other sponsors--Aurifil, AccuQuilt and Hobbs Batting--thank you!! And to The Fat Quarter Gypsy for this super cute project!!!

Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.
Ashley Smith

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."  John 3 : 8

Luxury Holiday Stockings with AccuQuilt stocking die

Oh man--how did it get to be 7 days away from Christmas?!?! Harvest was long and hard on the farm here at Lizard Creek--so there needed to be some rest and recuperation days taken!!!

I did make some time to use one of AccuQuilt's new fall release dies--the GO! Stocking #55854. As part of their new GO!Getters program--I get to come up with amazing projects using their dies--which I am given by them--and then write a post for their blog with all the specifics on how you can make the project also!!

You can read about my first AccuQuilt blog project--Gather Fall Blessings pillow HERE!!

Now to Luxury Holiday Stockings...funny backstory to both of the fabrics used in this project!!

I was cleaning out a sewing room cupboard--you know one of those lovely corner ones--yeah--I took out the spinning thing--to make more storage room--and sometimes it just becomes a catch all place.
So in digging to the back of the cupboard, I unearthed this peice of upolstery fabric that I had purchased when we were building the house. I was going to have my sewing chair recovered with the fabric. Well that did not happen--but I still loved the color!! In popped the idea to make Christmas stockings that would match my decor!!!

So I pitched the idea as a GO!Getters project of using unusual fabrics with AccuQuilt dies! Great idea--project accepted.

Now, let's get to the faux fur backstory. My friend, Lois and I go to a sewing club at Heirloom Creations in Sioux Falls once a month--and have done so for almost 20 years. We take the day off from quilting and farm life to learn new things at sewing club, catch up on each other's life over lunch and do a little errand shopping. We always have a great time and I highly suggest this practice!!!
Well on this particular Tuesday in September after an outdoor lunch downtown, we went to the local JoAnn's where I purchased several different faux furs to try for this project. We finished our shopping and went home--nothing unusual so far!!
Later that evening, around 11:30 pm, Sioux Falls was hit with a tornado--right through the center of  many businesses and the heart hospital!! There were no fatalities--thank the Lord!!! But the strip mall where JoAnn's is located was severely damaged!! And has not been open since!! You don't realize how much you use something until it is gone!!

Remembering the history behind these fabrics will make me smile every holiday when I hang them!!

Read the full blog post on AccuQuilt blog HERE to learn tips about working with unusual fabrics and AccuQuilt dies!!

Have a Blessed Christmas Season!!!