
This month, the Island Batik challenge was to make a Storm at Sea quilt with the following guidelines:
- Project Type: Quilt
- Size: Lap size or larger
- Must use the Summer 2021 bundle, wrapped and labeled “Surprise”
- Any technique
My Surprise package in Box #2 was Bellingham Bay. I was in LOVE immediately!!!! I LOVE the colours … the rich greens paired with a few deep purple … just wonderful!!! These should be available in stores soon!

I searched for a Storm at Sea that was a bit different. I found several quilts with diagonal waves and I really liked them. I went to my EQ program and came up with this:

I know that I would easily become confused with which piece of fabric went where … so I printed out the quilt outline and numbered the main fabrics. I was hoping that if I took my time, I’d be able to paper piece the quilt with the correct fabrics in the correct spots.

In order to keep all of the fabrics in the correct wave, that’s how it was pieced … one wave at a time. I knew that I would get it all mixed up if I did it by blocks …

Each element is paper pieced – without sewing on the paper. I really dislike removing the papers after I’ve sewn on them.
Here’s a picture of my piecing without sewing on the paper.

The quilting was done on my domestic sewing machine, with a walking foot and a Schmetz quilting needle.


I used Aurifil #2600 (Dove) for the quilting and the scrappy binding was attached with Aurifil #5012.
This quilt is 57″ square. And, I LOVE it!!!

For some reason, I didn’t use all of the fabrics in the main quilt. I have no idea why. So, I made a 2nd quilt using Coconut as the background and 4 of the lightest coloured prints from Bellingham Bay.

You could win …
That’s correct, you have an opportunity to win some wonderful Bellingham Bay fabric … Click on the Rafflecopter link and follow the instructions.
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
The Photo Shoot
Bellingham Bay is just a short drive from my house. However, since the USA border is closed to Canadians driving down, I had to content myself with going to a local beach to take pictures. It was a blustery windy day … very windy … but I did manage to get some shots!







The Blog Hop
Pretti, from Sew Preeti Quilts also made a Storm at Sea quilt using the Bellingham Bay fabric collection. Make sure you visit her blog!
Here is a list of all the ambassadors participating in the Storm at Sea Blog Hop. I’ve already had a sneak peek of some of them – they are all pretty awesome! Make sure you follow along!!!
November 1:

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail
Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts
November 2:

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts
Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
November 3:

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese
Megan Best, Bestquilter
November 4:

Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads
Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia
November 8:

Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts
Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter
November 9:

Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs
Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting
November 10:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations
Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore
November 11:

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
November 15:

Elizabeth DeCroos, Epida Studio
Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts
November 16:

Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky
Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde
November 17:

Sally Manke, Sally Manke Fiber Artist
Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
Thank you!
The making of my Storm at Sea quilts would not be possible without the generosity of Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread, and Schmetz Needles!!


Pingback: Island Batik Blog Hop Week 2 - For the love of geese
Your quilt is gorgeous. And thanks for taking the photos of Bellingham Bay. I have a dear friend who lives in Bellingham. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her–your pictures are like a quick wave hello.
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Hi Beth,
Unfortunately, the photos I took were in Canada … just north of the Canadian/US border. The border is still closed to Canadians, so I wasn’t able to go to Bellingham Bay to take the photos! But, the beach I was at is from the same sea / straight … so I’m sure that some of the water was from Bellingham! 🙂 However, I’m glad you got to wave to your friend! 🙂
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Pingback: End of Week One Storm at Sea Blog Hop and Giveaway!
Wow! Gail, that is a whole lot of piecing – paper piecing at that! Both are beautiful. It makes sense you only used some colors with each project. Both turned out to be stunning.
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Thanks, Bernie! 🙂
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They both turned out great. Well done! The little bit of purple is a nice surprise.
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Gail both of your Storm at Sea quilts are stunning with these fabrics. I’m glad I don’t need to pick a favourite because the larger reminds me of a dark stormy ocean, but the lighter makes me think of gentle waves on a sunny day. 😉
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Hi Carol!
Thank you!
Yes, the quilts both give off different ‘vibes’ don’t they?
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Beautiful quilts. Love your “action shots”! 😊~Diana K.
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Thanks, Diana! The “action shots” are fun!
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Love 💗 your “action shots”. Both beautiful quilts — The coconut-background one is my favourite, even though I know you made that one second — love those colours!
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Thanks, Diana!
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Both quilts are beautiful! And I love the photo shoot by the sea. I like the diagonal setting with the light strips looking like the foam on the edge of a wave. Lovely. Have a great day!
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Thanks, Jennifer!
“Foam on the edge of a wave” … that is very fitting for the quilt! Thank you!
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Both quilts turned out beautifully! I really like the focus on the waves, it adds a lot of motion to the quilt.
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Thanks, Kathy! The waves certainly give it a totally different look!
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Turned out gorgeous
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Thank you!
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Both quilts are beautiful! I also love the photo shoot setting-very appropriate!
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Thanks, Carmen!
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This is stunning!! And I really appreciate how you shared your strategies and techniques. Thank you.
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You’re welcome, Sara!
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Both are so beautiful. I think I would call the second one “Tidal Pool”.
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Hi Helen,
Tidal Pool is a great name for the smaller quilt! Thank you!
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Both quilts are great but my favorite is the coconut.
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Thanks, Laura Kate! It was the easiest to make! 🙂
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That is a beautiful quilt in the greens. This has been on my bucket list for a very long time. If I win the fabric this is what I’d make. Great post!
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Hi Helen,
Bellingham Bay makes a beautiful Storm at Sea! Good luck with winning!
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I love the colors of both of your quilts and yet, they are so different. I would love to make a Storm at Sea quilt. It has been on my list of quilt to make. It looks like your photo shot almost got blown away. LOL I would love to win those beautiful fabrics.
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Hi Sharon,
The quilts almost got blown away!!! Luckily they didn’t end up in the water! Best wishes on your entry for the fabric!
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Wow – I love both of them! Your piecing diagram looks pretty complicated, but clearly you had no problem following it. Beautiful quilts.
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Thanks, Karen! It was complicated and there was a LOT of triple checking as I went along, but thankfully, very little ripping! 🙂
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Hi Gail, I love your blog and storm at sea is my favorite design. I have been collecting fabric and hope to sew a full size quilt at Eden vale in January. My version is simpler but all pieced. I’ve made a couple of pillows and think I will take this on. I tried to link to the raffle as I do love the Bellingham Bay series, they are totally my colours. but the link isn’t working. Is there another way to get into the raffle? kimberley
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Hi Kimberly!
Thank you!
You will be able to make this quilt! I’ve seen your work and have no doubt in your ability!
Sorry the link wasn’t working … if you go to Island Batik’s blog and scroll down, way down, you should see the link … https://islandbatik.com/storm-at-sea-blog-hop-and-giveaway/
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I absolutely love your waver!
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Thanks, Nancy!
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I love both of your quilts. They are moody without being sad, if that makes sense. If I won, I can see the fabrics as a “scrappy” background for an applique quilt or the lighter fabrics as a sky for a landscape quilt.
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Thanks, KJ!!
I like your vision for your use of these fabulous fabrics! 🙂
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What a gorgeous quilt, Gail!
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Thanks, Wendy!
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This quilt is beautifully done and is vibrant with the coloration it is. Well DONE!
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Thanks, Eileen!
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I love the Storm at Sea patterns. Yours is so pretty with these fabrics. I really love the lighter one!! Beautiful fabrics and quilts! Thanks for sharing and the opportunity to win!
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The link did not work, but I hopped over to the IB Blog and found it there.
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Smart lady! (sorry my link didn’t work!)
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Thanks, Brenda!!! It was a challenge to make the bigger one and a lot of fun to make both of them!
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Beautiful job, Gail. I couldn’t get the Rafflecopter to work, though. Rats!
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Thanks, Sue!
Sorry the Rafflecopter didn’t work … try going to Island Batik’s blog & scroll down, way down … there is a rafflecopter there … https://islandbatik.com/storm-at-sea-blog-hop-and-giveaway/
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Pretty quilts and great location to take pictures of this pattern.
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Thank you!
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I love these quilts Gail! That is a great strategy for piecing, as it does get totally confusing. I really am stunned when you do two for a challenge! Sorry you couldn’t actually get to Bellingham Bay but you sure did have a great photo shoot.
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Thanks, Kathleen!
I was sad to not actually go to Bellingham Bay, but where I was and Bellingham Bay are all part of the Salish Sea … so pretty close!
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Love this! I am currently working on a small accuquilt cut SAS tablerunner. This is awesome timing for inspiration. Thanks
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Hi Bonnie!
I would have loved to have used an Accuquilt die for this pattern, but alas, shipping it to Canada was a ridiculous price, so I settled for paper piecing!
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I love your storm at sea! The quilt looks really stormy, just like the weather is here today.
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Thanks, Marly!
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I love your finish. Its looks like a marble floor.
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Thanks, Denise!
I love how you see things in a different light!
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It is amazing that an exact same set of fabrics with same directions can result in such different outcomes. Gail, these are your favorite colors and your love is reflected in your completed work. Congratulations on two gorgeous quilts. The windy shots are the best!
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Hi Preeti,
It is amazing! I love how they all look so different! These fabrics are not necessarily my favourite (blue is my fav), but I did LOVE working with them! 🙂
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It is beautiful. You did a great job on the quilting as well. It really gave definition to the storm at sea. I like your smaller one too. I guess it just takes time and patience?
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Thanks, Pamela!
The bigger one did take a lot a patience! And the smaller one was so quick and easy after making the larger, wavy one! 🙂
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