TGIFF

Island Batik’s “Wild Blooms”

/ quiltinggail / 13 Comments

Wild Blooms is an awesome fabric collection!

I made 2 quilts for the Island Batik ’22 Fall / Winter Catalog: “Stepping Out” with a black background and an light background (Sprinkles). I LOVE how the different backgrounds give the quilts a totally different look!

McCall’s Quilting: May / June issue

I was very excited to have another quilt in a magazine!!! The magazine put out a call for quilts that are “out of this world.” I immediately thought of this star quilt that’s been in the back of my mind! I submitted the draft (from EQ8) and it was accepted.

After, “talking” with Island Batik, the fabric collection, Wild Blooms, along with Ravine (a basic) was selected and they sent it on it’s way very quickly! It arrived and the top was completed before I went on holidays last year. I LOVE quarter square triangles and it was a fun quilt to put together!

After my holidays, there were a few very intense days of quilting (and shoulders complaining!) then Nova was on it’s way to the publisher!

The directions for making this quilt are in the magazine and digital copies are still available.

I also used Wild Blooms to make this crazy quilted composition book cover. You can read more about it HERE. (and find the links to the pattern).

And, I made this cute tote bag, using Wild Blooms …. using left-overs from the Nova (the star quilt above).

I made the following quilt as a Pattern Tester for Brenda at Songbird Designs. You can order the pattern from her HERE.

This Picnic Tote was made for a Sew It-Show It Blog Hop. See HERE.

And now, all I have left is a few scraps … but the joy I had in making all these projects is huge!

Can you tell I LOVE this fabric collection?

Where you can find Wild Blooms:

  • Hancocks of Paducah, KY
  • Threads That Bind, OR
  • Creekside Quilts, OR
  • Missouri Star, MO
  • plus many more … ask at your local quilt store.

I was Featured

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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Friday, Oct. 13th

/ quiltinggail / 16 Comments

One of my sweet followers sent me this meme on Instagram. I obviously fell in love with it! Thanks ioleene!

Now unlimited sewing supplies! That’s up my alley. On Thanksgiving weekend, a local fabric store (if you can call 30 minutes away, local) had a 50% off notions sale. I went over and bought a few goodies. Nothing too exciting … pins to use on my design board, iron-on 1/4” tape for helping with zipper insertion, some magnets and a few zippers.

Pattern Testing

I tested the “Starry Path” pattern for my friend and fellow Island Batik Ambassador, Brenda. She has this and another pattern available on her blog, Songbird Designs (click HERE).

And yes, I did change the pattern a bit … but isn’t it gorgeous? I used the “Wild Blooms” fabric collection along with solid white. The Half Square Triangles were cut with an Accuquilt die. Brenda’s pattern provides instructions for using Accuquilt dies. Hobbs batting (80/20) is in the middle. “Ghost” is the fabric on the back. The The custom quilting used various rulers and quilted with my domestic Janome M7.

Here’s some more pictures of the quilt: It almost looks like stained glass from the back with the sun shining through. In June, I showed you the unquilted back when I posted about Kelly Young’s book, “Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs.”

Island Batik Ambassador

Have you ever considered applying to become an Island Batik Ambassador? They are accepting applications NOW. Here is the LINK. The application explains what is expected from Ambassadors and the benefits being an Ambassador. It’s a challenging program, but I absolutely LOVE it!

If you apply, just make sure you take my email off and put your own in! In the past, I’ve had a few people ask me to ‘vote’ for them or ‘put in a good word’ for them. It doesn’t work that way … each Ambassador needs to apply each year – even we don’t know if we’ll be accepted or not. But fill in the application if you’re interested!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

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Shweshwe Fabric and TGIFF

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I’m hosting TGIFF this week … scroll down to see the link up.

But first, I’ll show you my finish for the week:

When I was in South Africa in 2019, I went to a fabric store in Cape Town, “Lowry’s Fabrics.”

In the picture below, the red, blue and green fabrics are Shweshwe fabrics with the 3 Cat label on the back. You can buy Shweshwe fabrics from a Canadian store: Meerkat Shweshwe and they ship worldwide.

Shweshwe fabric is a heavier fabric, not as heavy as canvas, but much heavier than quilting cotton. When I first bought it, it felt like a board! But after washing, it softened considerably!

I had made my daughter a small zipper pouch a few years ago. She recently asked if I could make one a little bigger, with possibly a pocket inside?

Of course, I said, “yes!” It’s not like I have no deadlines or other sewing to do!!! LOL!!! 😄

Once it was cut out, it didn’t take long to make. And yes, the inside pocket is also Shweshwe fabric. The lining is from fabric that was hanging around, waiting to be used!

Shweshwe fabric is perfect for bags!

TGIFF

TGIFF (Thank Goodness it’s Finished Friday) is a weekly link party for participants to show their finishes for the week!).

As well as the Shweshwe pouch above, I also finished a group of zipper pouches for the blog hop: It’s a Dog’s Life … you can read about them HERE.

Here is the Link for you to link up your FINISHED project:

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

Coming Soon!

I will be hosting a Mystery Quilt here on my blog starting Wednesday, September 27. The clues will be posted every Wednesday for 8 or 9 weeks.

When I originally made this quilt, I used a Kansas Troubles layer cake. I will be making this quilt along with you using a 10″ stack of Island Batik fabric.

The quilt will finish at 59″ x 59″

Fabric Requirements:

  • A 10″ stack (or layer cake) that has at least 39 squares. (Yes, you can use fabric from your stash if you wish) The pattern tester used 20 squares from a layer cake and 20 squares from a coordinating fabric that she cut herself. Both quilts look great!
  • Background: Fabric 1 ¼  yard   or 1.1 m
  • Binding: ¾ yard or 0.8 m

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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A Couple of Finishes to show you

/ quiltinggail / 11 Comments

Did you see my post earlier this week? The one with the Island Batik “Pieced to Perfection” quilts?

These were made with the fabric collection “Copper Patina.” These collections should be shipping to your local stores in October. To read more about these quilts and If you want an opportunity to win fabric from this collection make sure you comment on the original POST, HERE.

Coming Soon!

I will be hosting a Mystery Quilt here on my blog starting Wednesday, September 27. The clues will be posted every Wednesday for 8 or 9 weeks.

When I originally made this quilt, I used a Kansas Troubles layer cake. I will be making this quilt along with you using a 10″ stack of Island Batik fabric.

The quilt will finish at 59″ x 59″

Fabric Requirements:

  • A 10″ stack (or layer cake) that has at least 39 squares. (Yes, you can use fabric from your stash if you wish) The pattern tester used 20 squares from a layer cake and 20 squares from a coordinating fabric that she cut herself. Both quilts look great!
  • Background: Fabric 1 ¼  yard   or 1.1 m
  • Binding: ¾ yard or 0.8 m

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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A DrEAMI for Friday’s Finish!

/ quiltinggail / 25 Comments

Just in case you’re not aware, a DrEAMI stands for “Drop Everything And Make It.” And I did. I put all the things I was working on aside and made this cute “Call Me” pouch. It’s a free pattern byAnnie and is super easy to make!

Our grand-dog is here and we go for daily walks. It’s too warm to wear a jacket and I HATE carrying my phone in my jeans … so I made this! I tried it out this morning and it’s perfect!!!

Island Batik fabrics were used: Nautilus Floral Baja, from the Mystery collection and Cherio – Bermuda from basics. Quilted and pieced with Aurifil Thread. The Annie’s Soft & Stable, mesh, vinyl and fold-over elastic were left-overs from a previous by Annie bag.

At the end of the month, Sandra, from MMM Quilts holds a link party for DrEAMIs. Since it’s the beginning of the month, I’ll have to wait until the end to link up!

A Mistake

When I finished my pouch, I went back to working on a few works in progress. There are 2 mistakes in this Splendor quilt … can you find them?? Time to get the seam ripper out! And then give this one a good press!

I was Featured

Featured the Trivet I showed last week!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

Accuquilt: Covering the World

/ quiltinggail / 20 Comments

This was a Hugs and Kisses quilt that used various Island Batik pinks, purples, and greens. If you recall, I made a blue & green Hugs & Kisses quilt and cut out too many greens (you can read about it HERE). So not wanting to waste those blocks, I cut out the pinks and purples and joined them up to make the following quilt.

I used the Accuquilt Go! to cut the pieces: Die #10 from the 8″ Qube ‘Corners’ collection paired with Die #5 from the 8″ Qube set. It made piecing the Hugs and Kisses very simple. Each Hugs or Kisses block uses 4 mini blocks composed of 1 Die #10 and 2 Die #5. Then the blocks are arranged to form a Hug or a Kiss. I added sashing and borders and the quilt was a flimsy!

Hobbs 80/20 is in the middle and I used Odif 505 spray baste to hold the layers together.

It was quilted with both the 3″ and 4″ Cupid ruler from Silly Moon.

This quilt was donated to the “Comfort Quilts” committee at the guild and will be given to the B.C. Cancer Agency at Surrey Memorial Hospital. Here I am giving the quilt to Dawn, one of the volunteers of the “Comfort Quilts” committee.

Why did I choose “Comfort Quilts” as my charity? I don’t know anyone that hasn’t been touched by cancer. We all know family members and friends that have dealt with cancer. When I was working as a nurse in the hospital, we cared for cancer patients daily: it didn’t matter what department I was working in. It’s a heart-breaking disease and the treatments can often be grueling and harsh as one fights an uphill battle. If providing a quilt can give someone comfort, I’ll all for it!

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting!    
Gail 

Linking to:

TGIFF: June 16’23

/ quiltinggail / 18 Comments

I am hosting TGIFF this week!

Here is my finish. It’s left-overs from a lone star quilt that I made earlier this year using Island Batik’s Naturescape fabric collection, solid grey and a blender. You can read about the Lone Star HERE. I will show you a close-up of the back next week when I showcase “Perfectly Pieced Backs” a new book by Kelly Young.

Quilt Stats:

  • 48″ X 55″
  • Hobbs 80/20 is in the middle
  • Wild / Grafitti quilting
  • Island Batik Fabric: Naturescape, Solid Grey and Blender: BE24-E2
  • Pieced with Aurifil 2000 (Light Sand)
  • Quilted with Aurifil 2600 (Dove Grey)

Link YOUR Friday Finish!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
https://fresh.inlinkz.com/js/widget/load.js?id=c0efdbe6b4add43dd7ef

One who sleeps under a quilt is covered by LOVE!

Happy Quilting! 
Gail 

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