Freelancing for Island Batik Ambassador Tool Time

The November Challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is

Tool Time

and

today I'm excited to share

Freelancing.

 As an Island Batik Ambassador for 2019

every month there is an ambassador challenge.

November's Tool Time challenge was all about using the right tool for job.

Trying a new tool to create something wonderful to be treasured and loved.

For this month's project, I paired 

the Wedge Star tool

with the new

 Island Batik Kaleidoscope collection by Kathy Engle.

I had picked up Deb Tucker from Studio 180 Design's new Wedge Star at spring quilt market
when I saw the Freelancer quilt during an Island Batik Schoolhouse.

The quilt was so awesome and the pattern is included with the Wedge Star tool.

(You can see pictures of the Freelancer Quilt over at Studio 180's web site.)

I'm not super great at following patterns.  I have a tendency to get sidetracked
and add my own twist. 
This time, I started by making the included pattern for the Freelancer quilt. 
Once it was finished I noticed that if I put 4 of the quilt patterns together I could get a really cool
secondary pattern in the center. 
So I scrapped the first idea, played with the
Island Batik Kaleidoscope fabrics for placement, and constructed 4 of the Freelancer patterns
for my
Freelancing quilt. 

The white background is Island Batik Foundation Solid and I pieced the quilt with
Aurifil 50 wt thread in white.

The Wedge Star gives so many options and the illustrations on the included pattern are super

easy to follow.  There are 22 block size options and all kinds of block designs so this tool will be
handy for years to come.

Hobbs provided the Ambassadors with Tuscany Collection 100% Wool batting and I have decided
it is my "go-to".  I just love how the quilting pops and there are never fold marks in the quilt.

I quilted Freelancing on my Handiquilter with Glide thread in white.

You can find the full list of Island Batik ambassadors posting for the 

Tool Time Challenge

by clicking HERE.

I'm so in love with the colors of the new Island Batik Kaleidoscope collection

and I can't wait to try my new tool again.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Winter Blues Blog Hop Sign Ups

If you feel chilled in January, like me,  and are always trying to stay warm then you probably have some great ideas for  The Winter Blues Blog Hop.

We will be celebrating the color blue in January.

What is a Blog Hop?

It's like a "show and tell" online.

Our blog hops feature sewing and quilting and are like joining a quilt guild without leaving home.  Once the theme (challenge) is presented we set to work sewing.

We inspire each other with projects, tutorials, or patterns.

This is a picture from the International Quilt Festival's Sapphire Exhibit in Houston.

The Winter Blues Blog Hop

I was so inspired by the Sapphire Exhibit at the quilt festival in Houston with all the blues.

Some of the blues were dark, some were light.

Some were more like teal (my favorite).

They were all blue.

SO

Stitch something up with the color blue.  It doesn't have to be a quilt, by the way.

Let's celebrate winter with projects in blue.

It doesn't have to be only blue, or blue and white.  

Make it with any other colors, just have some blue.

Anything will do.  It's your interpretation of
The Winter Blues.

The blog hop rules:  

sorry, there has to be a little organization...

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. Make friends!!!!

Are you in?

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

Your blog URL

Subject Line:  Blues

PLEASE, email me the info.

I do know most of you, but if you don't send the info, I have to look up all your information.

If you have emailed me and don't hear from me within a few days, please email me again or contact me on Facebook.  Sometimes Hotmail eats my homework...lol

Remember, this is for fun.
Let's play.

Winner - Stitch It and Gift It

Blog hops are a great way to show

new quilting methods, patterns, fabrics, projects,

and

products you may not have seen before.

Carol at Just Let me Quilt 

and

I here at Creatin' in the Sticks

have partnered

to bring fun blog hops each month

and

we are having a blast.

Last week we had so much fun with the

Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop.

There were so many awesome projects and comments.
Thank you to all who either posted or commented.
YOU make it happen!

Now it's time to announce the winner of the

Giveaway!!

One of my favorite online fabric shops is the 

Fat Quarter Shop

and

Carol A. is receiving

 a

$25.00 Gift Card to go

SHOPPING!!!

Our random draw winner follows Creatin' in the Sticks on Facebook.

Congratulations, Carol.

I am emailing you right now!

Stay tuned for a new blog hop sign up announcement later this week.

Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop - Last Day, My Day, and Giveaway - Shared Hearts

Welcome
to

the final day of the

Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop.

 I'm sad to see this hop end.

I don't think I've seen this much inspiration in one blog hop, ever!

To all that participated or commented -

Thank you so much!

My head is swimming with all kinds of gift ideas

and I can't wait to get to stitching.

But first, it's my day to show my "Shared Hearts" quilt.

This quilt was the inspiration behind this blog hop.

I started this quilt top in January for the Project Quilting challenge, Hope Springs Eternal.

The intention was to donate it to

Quilts for Cure

PROVIDING QUILTS FULL OF HOPE, LOVE, AND SMILES TO KIDS FIGHTING CANCER

 Following the Heart block tutorial at Cluck Cluck Sew - I calculated for a 12" finished quilt block.   I added sashing to the top of half the blocks and the bottom of the other half.

The top was finished in January and was a UFO until this hop.

Now it's ready to wrap a sweet child in comfort while she fights cancer.

Sharing Hearts is 48" x 57" and made from my stash fabrics.
I quilted on my long arm with Glide thread (white).

I invited bloggers to start the season of giving with a blog hop

celebrating the art of sewing or quilting
and then
gifting.

A week of gift-giving inspiration!

I'm excited to introduce today's line-up of bloggers.

Friday, November 15th

Quilted Delights

Seams To Be Sew
Ms P Designs USA
Just Because Quilts
Inquiring Quilter
Susie’s World
Creatin' in the Sticks -you are here

Have fun visiting each blog and making new friends.

They have worked hard to show us some new ideas, so be sure to thank them with 

a sweet comment!

Find the rest of the schedule by clicking HERE

You can find links to all the posts on the Pinterest Board.

I am always moved by the giving hearts of so many quilters

and

love reading the stories behind the gifts.

The gifts we give aren't always personal

but

are from just wanting to make a difference for someone.

All week I've been sharing along with the amazing bloggers. 

I've shared different ways to share stitching with charitable organizations. 

Be sure and check my past posts this week for other ideas for charitable stitching.

Somehow our little canoe ended up in the pasture behind the pond, but it makes for an interesting picture.  I just love photographing quilts.

Be sure to check out Carol's blog hop at Just Let Me Quilt coming in December.

And I will be announcing a new blog hop for next year sometime next week.

I am having a

 GIVEAWAY

One of my favorite online fabric shops is 

Fat Quarter Shop.

One of my readers will receive a $25.00 Gift Card to go SHOPPING!!!

Come back every day of the hop, visit all the blog posts of the day, leave a comment, and enter the giveaway.

I've extended the giveaway over the weekend, so everyone has a chance to visit the blogs and enter the giveaway.

Be sure to enter every day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced on Monday, November 18th, 2019.
Thank you for stitching and gifting!

Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop and Giveaway Day 4

It's hard to believe it is already day 4 of the

 Stitch It and Gift It Blog Hop.

There has been such a wide assortment of gifts.

I have so many ideas swimming in my head from the inspiration.

I invited bloggers to start the season of giving with a blog hop

celebrating the art of sewing or quilting
and then 
gifting.

Some of the stitched gifts are small and some are large.

Some are personal and some are charitable donations.

A week of gift-giving inspiration!

I'm excited to introduce today's line-up of bloggers.

Thursday, November 14th

Beaquilter

RidgeTopQuilts

Cynthia's Creating Ark
Songbird Designs
Farm Quilter
Kathy's Kwilts and More
Bumbleberry Stitches
Quilt Schmilt

I am always moved by the giving hearts of so many quilters

and

love reading the stories behind the gifts.

The gifts we give aren't always personal

but

are from just wanting to make a difference for someone.

People aren't the only ones that need the comfort of quilts.

Photo courtesy of The Quilt Pattern Magazine

As an Island Batik Ambassador

one of the first events of the year was to make a rep sample of the secret fabric collection that was received in our ambassador boxes.

  Rep samples provide the Island Batik sales reps with samples of collections that show shops what the fabrics look like when sewn together.

The hope is that the samples, made to be the size of small kennel quilts will be donated to the Small Kennel Quilt Program once shops are finished with the samples.

Island Batik Petal Pushers collection by Kathy Engle - available in stores now

The Quilt Pattern Magazine sponsors a volunteer organization that provides small kennel quilts to shelters in times of need.

Right now with the California fires, there is a great need for kennel quilts.

Click HERE for more information and see how you can help furry friends.

In the spirit of giving, I am having a

 GIVEAWAY

One of my favorite online fabric shops is 

Fat Quarter Shop.

One of my readers will receive a $25.00 Gift Card to go SHOPPING!!!

Come back every day of the hop, visit all the blog posts of the day, leave a comment, and enter the giveaway.

(I've extended the time to enter to allow for everyone to visit all the blogs)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The winner will be announced on Monday, November 18th, 2019.