Friday, September 15, 2023

Stairway to Heaven

Here is the Stairway to Heaven...

Stairway to Heaven


I really enjoyed working with these gorgeous fabrics from Island Batik Foundations.

Nature Inspired?


Stairway to Heaven was published in Annie's One Day Quilts.

One Day Quilts


When I think of easy patterns and quick quilts, I think of rail fence. 


Published


Choose fabrics carefully and let them do the hard work while you enjoy the compliments :-) 

Thanks to Island Batik for providing the fabrics and Thanks to Annies for publishing the pattern/quilt.


Quilt in Magazine atop the Quilt :-)



Here are some more pictures.

Lighting up my yard


Quilting Detail



Fall-ing for you!



And one last look.

I am in love with you!


I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 
As always I love when you "link" your comments/thoughts with my blogpost :-D


Make sure that you check for weekly prizes.
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In other news, I have been working on the October Challenge for Island Batik, which is sponsored by Accuquilt. We have to make a quilt/project using the North Carolina Star Block on Board Die
I made an audition block. More to come.


My version of North Carolina Star Block

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The two winners from the September Challenge and BlogHop are #19 (nicolesender) and #46 (Jayne). Emails have been sent.  













Thursday, September 7, 2023

Island Batik Challenge & Blog Hop

The September Island Batik Challenge and Blog Hop is called Pieced to Perfection. We were required to make a paper-pieced project at least lap sized, using as many different fabrics as possible from our assigned collection.



I received Chromatic. It is an original collection designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Designs.




Chromatic Bundle


Chromatic Fabrics

And here is my response to the challenge!

Bromeliad Garden


I chose "The Palm" block from EQ8 Block Library (under Old favorites). 

The on-point layout uses 24 blocks. I used 21 (out of the 22) fabrics from the Chromatic collection. I used three fabrics from Island Batik Basics, so that each leaf uses a different fabric. I chose the solid white background for maximum contrast with these dark/bright fabrics. 




I started with making an audition block and after about three attempts, I was ready to roll.

Audition Blocks


I chose this block because it gives me the opportunity to show off every fabric (except the white one) from the Chromatic collection.  

Since paper-piecing is not my strong skill, I wanted a block where imperfections did not cause a fatal flaw. Leaves, you know, are not exact :-) Further, since each leaf is its own block, a mismatched/imperfectly shaped leaf does not mess up the adjacent one.

Imagine the horror of mismatched seams, especially after all the effort of piecing and tearing out (hair and) paper. 


On the Design Wall

I used Aurifil Thread for piecing (50 wt) and quilting (40 wt). I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 needle for both piecing and quilting. I chose Thermore batting from Hobbs

Completed Quilt



Since the quilt finished at about 47" square, I pieced the back, using the leftover fabrics from the front.
I like to think that I "zipped" the two white pieces together :-D

The quilt is named Bromeliad Garden, for the shape of the leaves.

Pieced (Zipped) Backing


I quilted diagonal lines using my walking foot. The Backing and Binding are Island Batik Solid White. 

Quilting Detail 


Of course I added my label and thanked my quilt model for his patience and support of all my quilty endeavors. He was rewarded handsomely for his efforts :-)

If you'd like to win a handsome reward (in Island Batik fabric), please leave me a comment on this post. I will pick two winners on September 15. 


Be sure to check each of the Ambassador’s posts as many of them will be offering their own giveaways – all the more reason to enjoy the Pieced to Perfection Blog Hop!

The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:

WEEK 1

September 5

Elita Sharpe, Busy Needle Quilting

Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese

September 6

Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique

September 7

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)

September 8

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

September 11

Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

September 12

Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilts

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

September 13

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Anorina Morris, Samelia’s Mum

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

September 14

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia

Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting for You

September 15

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

September 18

Lana Russel, Lana Quilts

Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

September 19

Randi Jones, Randi’s Roost

Suzy Webster, Websterquilt

September 20

Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights

September 21

Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

Reed Johnson, Blue Bear Quilts

September 22

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up


Finally, the winners of the Avantika Quilt Pattern are comments #9 (Lisa Marie) and #42 (Sara). Emails have been sent. 



Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Avantika

I first made Avantika for the Island Batik catalogue. The working title was Mosaic Stars but once the quilt was completed, it needed a better name. Avantika means princess :-)


Avantika, the original princess :-)



Sunset Backing and Binding


Made using Island Batik Juicy Mosaics fabric collection, Avantika finished at about 64" by 84". 
Juicy Mosaics is a beautiful collection and I love every fabric in it. 




Of course, we took her out for a photoshoot, thanks to Paul!


Ooh, the reflection!!!


I was so much in love that I chose to make these blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2023. 

Since August is "Ambassador's Choice" month in the Island Batik Ambassador 2023 calendar, here are my finishes that serve the dual purpose - Island Batik Ambassador August project and completed RSC2023 quilts.


To differentiate between the three, I have named them Avantika (original), Avantika (cool) and Avantika (baby). 

Meet Avantika Baby. Although it is the exact same block, the layout is different. Using only the warm colors, it has 32 different Island Batik fabrics. 


Avantika Baby, 40" square


Since the yellow hues are lighter than the others, I struggled with the layout. Placing them  in the center made sense. It also makes this baby princess glow from within. 


Oyster (Island Batik Neutral) Backing


I took her with me when I traveled to Myrtle Beach earlier this year.  These pictures were taken at Atalaya Castle at the Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina.


At Atalaya Castle


Princess in her tower


Cool location, warm quilt


No princess, no climbing trees!!!


Are you really going to jump off?

The little princess has loads of attitude, as you can see. But I love her so very much!


Let's meet Avantika Cool. Made using blue, green, turquoise and purple, she finished at 60" by 80". 

Avantika Cool


Paul: How many fabrics does this one have? 
Me: Well, Avantika Cool uses 96 different Island Batik fabrics, plus the background, backing and binding. 
Paul: So 99, total?
Me: Yes.
Paul: 99 pieces of fabric on the wall...

The princess coming down the steps of her castle


I am glad I could get closer...


Time to meditate...



Crushing on You!



Time to rest. No more visitors, please


Gorgeous Fabrics - Fit for a Princess

I used Schmetz Needles 80/12 for all piecing and quilting. I used 50wt Aurifil Thread for piecing and 40wt Aurifil Thread for quilting. Hobbs Batting was used for all three quilts.

Solid Light Grey Binding


Rice (Island Batik Neutral) Backing


I so enjoyed working on these blocks throughout this year, I could hardly wait to complete these quilts. Since I had so many more fabrics in blue, green, turquoise and purple, than in yellow, orange, red and pink, it made sense to divide the rainbow into warm and cool colors, resulting in two quilts, made exclusively with Island Batik fabrics I have received as a part of the Ambassador Program.

If you have ever doubted about using Island Batik fabrics, these two quilts should clear all misgivings. 

Island Batik Fabrics are the Best!

I love how I have two princess quilts - sisters that could not be more different from each other, in spite of sharing the same basic block.

But wait there is more. Avantika is also my newest pattern, available in my Etsy shop, at a 20% discount till 8/31/23. If you wish to get a free copy of the pattern, please leave a comment on this post. Please include your email if you show up as Anonymous. 

I will pick two winners on September 7, 2023.