Farmhouse Runner....Island Batik way....

October is here, along with a new challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors. Make a holiday runner that includes applique. Well, I have had an idea running around my brain this summer so this is the perfect opportunity to bring the idea to life.

I started with fabrics from the Foundations line--Custard and Smoke. The strips were torn along the lengthwise grain of fabric. Because of the tightly woven nature of batik fabric--tearing the strips is easy and quick!!

To keep my seam allowance accurate and straight, I used the seam guide for my 97D foot on the Bernina 790.

Now for the applique. What I thought was going to be a simple addition of letters to the runner, ended up taking me MULTIPLE tries!! But I persisted, because I was going for a specific farmhouse look for this runner. Most of the tries were user error on my part. I was torn between matching the letters to the stripe or making them from the solid black batik.

Using a ruler to align the  black solid batik letters across the runner end worked so well!!

Time for the quilting. Aurifil #2315 was the perfect match to Custard.

I chose my go-to design. Walking foot soft wavy lines that overlap!! I should come up with a name for it!!

I wanted this runner to have more of a farmhouse feel than a quilty feel--so a faced binding was just the right choice. Having never tried this technique before, I searched Pinterest and used the tutorial I found HERE.

I am just over the moon excited about the finished runner!!! It came out better than I had even hoped for--so there might be a winter one made too!!

Just a little glimps into my dining room corner. I love how Island Batik fabrics from the Foundations line blend so well with their other lines. Read about the little table topper on the chair HERE.

Since I enjoyed this project so much, I thought others might too. So I wrote up a little pattern leaflet. The leaflet is available in my shop. Use the code GATHER to get the leaflet free until 11-21-2019.

"What greater blessing to give thanks for at a family gathering than the family and the gathering."
--Robert Breault

"For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul He fills." Psalm 107 : 9

Thanks to Island Batik and Aurifil for suppling the products for this project.

Vintage Reimagined.....Island Batik Ambassdor Assignment....

....Vintage Reimagined...."Take something from the past and give it a personal touch that is yours. Inspiration can come from anywhere!" A quote from our assignment the month of March.

My Mom gave me this scrapbook that was found in my paternal Grandmother's things after she passed away. Inside are Kansas City Star newspaper clippings that my paternal Great Grandmother cut out and pasted in the book. Every page has 2 clippings. The page edges are getting brittle, but the binding is still intact. The scrap book lives on a book shelf in my long arm studio. How cool is that--it now lives in a studio with a quilting machine that wasn't even invented when these clippings where so lovingly cut out and saved.

To my knowledge my Grandmother did not quilt---but she could do amazing mending on Grandpa's bib overalls!!! I also don't know of any surviving quilts from my Great Grandmother. I don't even know where my Great Grandmother lived---oh if I didn't have a quilting addiction I would so enjoy doing geneology!!

The clipping dated February 10, 1937 from the scrapbook caught my eye for this month's challenge. Here is what The Kansas City Star says about The Nosegays, "This is an excellent design to try when you desire to make use of odds and ends in your scrap bag. All diamonds and squares may be made of prints. The pattern was contributed by Mrs. Anna A. Threlkeld, Waynesville, Mo." Copywrite 1937.  There are no further instructions than what you see here. The templates do not include a seam allowance--I read that on another clipping. So I guess you just dive in and do it!!

I can say that this Nosegay block has always intriqued me. So much so, that when I designed 72 blocks for the AccuQuilt Angles Qubes in 2017 I had to include an easier but similar looking block. 

The block is called Splendor. 

Squares, half square triangles, kite shape and side triangles all cut with the 10" AccuQuilt Mix & Match Qube and Angles Qube.

Here is an Electric Quilt drawing of the two blocks side by side. The same, but different. Simplified.

A tip when pressing the kite shapes. I like to first set the seam by pressing the unit before opening the seam. Finger press the seam open. Then I lay the unit straight horizontally on the pressing mat so the iron can just simply set down on the seam to press open. 

Long wavy quilting lines seem to be my go-to lately!!

Aurifil Light Orchid #2515 was the perfect blend of pinky purple color!!

The snow has all melted!! Can't wait for the world to start greening up again!!!

“Give of your splendor to everyone.
Like the sun.” 
― Emmanuelle Soni-Dessaigne

Thank you to Island Batik for the fabrics, Aurifil for the piecing and quilting threads, and Hobbs for the batting in this project.

Floaters.....miniature quilt...

Super excited to be an Island Batik Ambassador again for 2019!! Let the monthly challenges begin.
February the challenge is to make a miniature quilt less than 24" x 24".

This was the state of my sewing studio before I started--not even a speck of clean space to work!!

Ahhhhhh...now some breathing room...let the creating begin!! I find it hard to start a new project in a messy studio--although I have no problem making a mess while creating and sometimes find inspiration in the surrounding pieces of previous projects. So a never ending cycle!!

I had a general concept--concept being the key word--when I started. A soft neutralish pieced background, with a "pixelated" circle applique on top. This quilt is going to do some double dipping--Island Batik assignment and Project Quilting 10.4 pixelated challenge of the week.

I like to think outside the box--or Qube--when designing quilts using AccuQuilt dies. The bow tie
dies included in the Corners Qubes. I am using dies from the 6 inch Qube.

Just look at those tiny pieces!!! The half square triangles have a finished size of 3/4 inch!! The pretty multi-colored fabric is called Moonstone. The triangles were cut from one width of fabric. Look at all the variety of colors in just one strip!!

Fabric closeup time!! Love the swirling dots on that neutral. This one is called Almond--a little gray dot swirl with mostly white background and a little bit of light purple/pink mottle.

Background all pieced together--12" x 12"!! Each sqaure finishes at 1 1/2".  Quarter there for reference. Photoshop overcorrected the colors in this photo--as they are a bit too bright.

Now to add the pixels!! I used the circle dies #55484 and #55155--but wanted to remind you to look at all your dies for multipurpose use. The circles included on the dies to the left could have worked also. Use what you have and think creatively!!

Making a mess and changing my mind more than once!! Lite Steam a Seam 2 is the fusible I chose most. The sticky back lets the shape stay put or be moved around before applying heat for a more permanent fuse.

Now to get to the inspiration for this quilt. A picture of my Dad and I at 6 months old. Sad to say that I never lost that precious double chin--LOL.

My Dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease when he was only 42. Quite the shock to a hard working self employed farmer and his family.

He fought bravely for 25 years. He passed away 13 years ago--seems like yesterday and a million years all at the same time.

A side effect from one medication needed to help control his tremors would give him "floaters". He would "see" dragonflys floating in his periphial vision for a short while after taking the medication. They would leave after a bit and not come back until he took the medication again. This has prompted my Mom to collect dragonflys over the years.

So I give you Floaters....a memory remade with fabric. Thank you to Island Batik for the amazing fabrics, Aurifil thread for piecing and quilting, and Kim Lapaceke for the Pixel Challenge.

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” 
― Lucy Maud Montgomery, The Story Girl

Slip along with me on the Get Away Blog Hop...featuring Icicle

Welcome to the final day on the month long Get Away Blog Hop from Island Batik!! If you are just joining us--make sure to check out links to all the previous posts HERE.

Icicle--is the collection Island Batik provided me to work with for this special blog hop. This is a Signature Collection by Kathy Engle for Tamarinis. View the full collection and accompaning patterns HERE. 

I see that I added one fabric from the Foundations line--Gun Metal Bubble Hole--isn't that a cool name. Plus I love how the Foundations just blend seamlessly with the other collections.

Icicle should be arriving soon in your quilt shop that carries Island Batik--if your shop doesn't carry Island Batik--make sure and ask for it!!!

The cool and crisp colors in this collection immediately made me think of a Nordic sweater. I have wanted to remake my pattern--Peace Seeker---available HERE--or send me an email--so this collection was a perfect fit--get it sweater--fit--oh I must be putting in too many long days here on the farm--or my brain is frozen with all our below zero air tempuratures this past week!

Using this collection of AccuQuilt dies--all the pieces for the 80" x 84" quilt were cut out in no time at all!!

Love me some batik stacks all ready to sew together!!!

Pretty piles of 2" half square triangles--notice all the dog ears are already cut off--my favorite part of using the AccuQuilt dies!!

Beautiful morning sunrise on the day I pieced this quilt top!! Those pretty rays on either side of the sun are called Sun Dogs--seeing them means COLD weather ahead!! But they sure are pretty!!

One of the coolest pieces in the Icicle line is the Deer Stripe--the row of deer run the entire 45" length of fabric--and I say 45" because that is exactly how much fabric goodness you get with Island Batik!!

The Deer Strip was bordered with this equally cool check print!! Just look how even that plaid is!! When you think that these batiks are HANDMADE in Bali--just look at the precise craftmanship of those artisans!!

Visualizing what applique shapes to use in those lovely wide open spaces of cool blue goodness!!!

Cameo apperance of my sister, who was here last night!! She doesn't consider herself crafty--but with one short lesson--she cut out all the upcycled wool appliques for the quilt!! Great memory for me!!

I may have taken a few too many photos of this one....so just sit back and enjoy for a bit!!

This headboard was made with two doors from the old farmhouse we lived in...great way to bring the old house to the new house!

..these pretty ivory snowflakes were once a classy pair of wool trousers that I took apart and felted!!

...I only have a little bit of that fun houndstooth left--will have to start hitting the GoodWill stores again!!

The sun was shining for just a brief moment this afternoon--I should have put a coat on--almost got frost bite--but just look at all the glorious crisp blues!!!!

It's like the quilt is just a reflection of the Winter sky--ohhh I may have just come up with the name--I have actually been thinking the whole time I was sewing and even writing this post--what am I going to call this one--naming quilts is one of my favorite things to do!!
I am looking at this photo again--and look closely snow color in the ditch--a perfect match to the beautiful blues in this Icicle collection!!

Winter Sky.

"Winter giveth the fields, and the trees so old, their beards of icicles and snow."

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Now for the fun part--make sure you head on over to the Island Batik Blog HERE and enter the rafflecopter giveaway for an amazing rainbow of colors!!!

I am offering all these leftover fabrics from the collection--and when I say leftovers--that is what I mean--there might even be a finished half square triangle or two in there!! Along with the pattern--Peace Seeker that I used to make Winter Sky. Will be drawing a winner after Feb. 10.

To enter please leave a comment about your favorite winter memory!! 

Thanks so much for stopping by and make sure to check out the other stops for today!!

Friday, February 1-  Candy Cane Lane and Icicle

Terri Vanden Bosch Icicle - Meanderings along Lizard Creek

Anne Wiens- Icicle - Sweetgrass Creative Designs

Mania Hatziioannidi Candy Cane Lane- Mania For Quilts

Barbara Gaddy - Candy Cane Lane  -Bejeweled Quilts by Barb