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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

July - An Island Batik Month

I had so much fun this month as an
Island Batik Ambassador.

I wanted to do a recap of the month
because the projects are some of my favorite to date.


The beginning of July brought the


Island Batik was super generous and provided the fabrics
from the new
Freedom fabrics collection designed by Kathy Engle
for my


I've always wanted to participate in the 
and this was the month I finally did it.
That post can be found by clicking HERE.

One of the biggest challenges for July was a video challenge for Island Batik.
We receive 2 boxes a year and this was box number two.


Mid-July I was super excited to join other
talented Thermoweb designers
 for the
Summer Fun Sew Along.

I combined my Thermoweb designer gig with my Island Batik Ambassador gig
and
had so much fun 
 designing a quilt block inspired by so many childhood memories.


Later I made the Summer Fun Kitchen Towels with the sew along quilt blocks.


The post with all the pattern information is HERE and the towel post is HERE.

I saved my favorite July project for last:
The July Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors was
Artsy Fartsy.

I went out to our pond and spent time just looking around and taking pictures.


That was my inspiration for


The real challenge was to make him look half in and out of the water of the pond.


Check out the fun pictures of my frog process HERE.

He was so fun to create and I didn't want him to get lost in the shuffle of vacations
 and 
crazy busy summer fun.

Bring on August!!



Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Summer Fun Kitchen Towels

I had a great time joining other
members of the Thermoweb Fabric Design Team
to make a series of 
Summer Fun Quilt Blocks.



All 4 free quilt block patterns are available over at Thermoweb.
Click HERE for the patterns.

Catching Fireflies
is my design.


It's a 6" finished quilt block.


 I used HeatNBond EZ Print Lite to print the patterns right on the fusible adhesive to create all of the quilt blocks. 
 Just print, fuse, cut, bond, and stitch.  It's that easy.

My fabrics are all Island Batik 
and 
the thread I used to stitch around the appliques is
Aurifil Thread:  50wt #2620.

Today I am over at Thermoweb
to share a tutorial
for
Summer Fun Kitchen Towels.


The smaller quilt blocks make it a cinch for this quick summer project that is perfect for gifts or your own home decor.  
Who can't use a new, super cute kitchen towel?

Click HERE to find my free pattern in a special blog post over at Thermoweb.

Craft a little summer today!!

Monday, July 22, 2019

Artsy Fartsy - Patience, The Art

The July Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is
Artsy Fartsy.

Today is my day to show
Patience - The Art


As Island Batik Ambassadors,
we are to get fancy with the Aurifil Artsy Fartsy Challenge!
Fabric is our canvas and Aurifil thread our paint!
The challenge is to
create a one of a kind art quilt or project with 3 different weights of Aurifil thread.


Well that sounded easy enough... NOT.
It's not that using different thread weights is hard, it's coming up with an artsy idea.

I went through magazines, books, and web pages
and still, I had no ideas.
I was even thinking about doing one of my favorite past projects again
only in a new size. But even that was a struggle. I was losing my patience.

Then it hit me, why not take some time, take the camera out in the yard
and see if anything (maybe flowers) inspired me.

I took a lot of pictures and really enjoyed the afternoon in my own back yard.
Mostly the pictures were of flowers and bugs, but as
I sat on the dock at our pond, I noticed there were eyes everywhere watching me.




OK, maybe they weren't interested in me at all.
The frogs just sit and wait so "patiently".

These were the eyes that inspired my
Island Batik
Artsy Fartsy Challenge Quilt.


What a great model, right?  
Just sitting all day with his head out of the water waiting for something to come by.

So patient.

I sketched him out and used HeatnBond Lite Fusible Adhesive to applique the frog.
I used green, brown, and creme Island Batik fabrics I had from the Ambassador box for the frog's body and eyes.


Next, I chose the most perfect Island Batik fabrics for the background,
Forrest and Eucalyptus in the Batik Foundations Basics.


I used my new skill from the June ambassador challenge to add a soft improvised pieced curve to the top and bottom to make it look like the shore of the pond.
I sandwiched Hobbs Heirloom Natural Cotton Batting between the top and backing fabric


Now, it was time to play with Aurifil thread.

I painted the frog with Aurifil 50 wt thread in 2 shades of green (#2882 and #2890),
 brown (#4012), cream (#2310), yellow (#2134), and black (#2692).


Once the frog had all its make-up on, I quilted the "water" with 
Aurifil 12 wt (#8730) in wavy lines.  I used 50 wt thread in the bobbin with the 12 wt on top
and I really like the heavier thread for quilting.



When I was out visiting the pond, there were flying bugs of all colors and sizes enjoying the pond, so I took that idea and added flying bugs to the corners of the quilt with Aurifil 28 wt thread in a red/orange color (#2395).  I used the machine to stitch the bugs and used a 50 wt thread in the bobbin.  I like to print my design on StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets and stitch right on the design. Then I just tear away the quilt block sheets.


The 28 wt thread is perfect for embroidery and is strong and shiny.


Patience - The Art
finished at 16" x 17 1/2"

I started this challenge with dread and I ended it with so many more ideas for thread.
I have more inspiration in my own backyard.
I need to spend a little more time there
and
learn to be more patient like a frog.



You can find the full list of Island Batik ambassadors posting for the 
Aurifil Artsy Fartsy Challenge

by clicking HERE.



I had a blast adding make-up to my frog with thread and can't wait to try it again.
Thank you Aurifil Thread!


Ok, one more picture - I'm in love...



Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Catching Fireflies - Summer Fun Sew Along

Oh, how I love summer.
So many fun things to do and enjoy the outdoors.
Today, we are celebrating
sweet summertime with a sew-along.

I'm so excited to join the 
talented Thermoweb designers
 for the
Summer Fun Sew Along.


Today I am sharing this quilt block:

There are 4 quilt blocks and the patterns are all free.


The fabrics I'm using are from
Island Batik
and the thread I used to stitch around the applique is
Aurifil thread:  50wt #2620


I'm using
to print the patterns right on the fusible adhesive to create all of the quilt blocks. 
 Just print, fuse, cut, bond, and stitch.  It's that easy.



Head over to the Thermoweb Blog
to download the 4 FREE patterns
and
Quilt Along
 with us.


I'll have a project with all the blocks to share on July 28th over on the Thermoweb blog.
I've been having some summer fun.


Monday, July 8, 2019

Blog Hop Announcement - My Favorite Quilt Block

We took a little break, but it's time to start thinking about fall.

Today I am happy to announce a new stitching blog hop.


There are about 2 months to sew something and join in on the fun.  
It's another easy theme that should have you thinking of lots of things you could make.

Your favorite quilt block should be your inspiration.
Show it, explain why you love it, and make it a project.
What kind of project?
Anything you like.  
Make a tutorial for the block (or not), make a quilt (or not), make a pot holder, make a mug rug, just make us smile to see your favorite quilt block.

Interpret it any way you like.


The blog hop rules:  
sorry, there has to be a little organization...

Sew something that includes "your favorite quilt block".

It's up to you!  Inspire us.

Post your project on your assigned day.

Have a giveaway or don't have a giveaway. It's totally optional!

Visit everyone's blog on the list and leave a sweet comment.

Are you in?


Send me an email with the following information:
Your first name
Your email address
Your blog name
Your blog URL




Let's get to stitching.



Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Carpenter Star - Quilts of Valor Blog Hop

Welcome to Creatin' in the Sticks
and 
my day in the 
Quilts of Valor Blog Hop.


Jennifer over at Dizzy Quilter is hosting this blog hop
and
Island Batik has been super generous and provided the fabrics
from the new
Freedom fabrics collection designed by Kathy Engle.


I've always wanted to participate in the 
The mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing 
Quilts of Valor.


My first step after joining the 13 other fellow 
Island Batik Ambassadors
to make quilts for our local
Quilts of Valor groups
was to check out the QOV Foundation website
for quilt requirements and ideas.
The first free pattern listed is a Carpenter Star quilt
which became the inspiration for my own design.


With this beautiful package of fabrics by
Island Batik
I decided to take advantage of the 10" x 10" precut squares
and
made 9 1/2" half square triangles.
I also used 2 yards of White Basic for either 9 1/2" squares or a few extra squares to make the half square triangles.


My Carpenter Star is 72" x 72"
and
is a great size for wrapping around the shoulders of a service member.

Hobbs provided the Ambassadors with batting
and I chose to use the Heirloom Natural Cotton Batting.



I quilted it on the Handiquilter with Glide thread in stars and loops with the pro stitcher.


It was moving to take pictures of the quilt
at the 
Veteran's Memorial here in Dodge City.



Be sure to visit the other
Island Batik Ambassadors
making quilts for the
Quilts of Valor Foundation.

July 1

Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney

Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks
July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine



As I was finishing the quilt, I reached out to my friend Joyce.
She just opened a quilt shop here and just became a Quilts of Valor shop.
Her shop, Birds of a Feather Quilt Shop, also has Island Batik fabric.
She provided the label pictured above and also wants to display the quilt
until the shop has it's first presentation ceremony and Carpenter Star will be given to a Veteran.

I snuck down and took a picture through the window of my quilt on display.
What an honor and I hope the quilt will encourage other quilters
to jump on board with more donations.


This has been such a great experience and I am so happy that someone touched by war will receive this quilt as a comfort. 

Thank you, Jen and Island Batik, for putting this blog hop together and including me.

 I hope to do more in the future.
I just love the Island Batik Freedom collection
and
there's just something about red, white, and blue.


Be sure and visit Jennifer Jennifer over at the Dizzy Quilter for an awesome giveaway!

Have a safe and happy 4th!