Island Batik Dresden Challenge and Bloghop

Island Batik November Challenge requires us to make a Dresden Quilt using our assigned Summer 2024 collection.

Here is my response. I have named it "Like It Or Not" (LION). LION finished at 45" by 46".

Vintage Fans, 45" by 46"

I received Peach Blossom,  an original collection by Claudia Pfeil. 

Fabrics

There are so many options for Dresden Plate designs. I could use a skinny Dresden Ruler (12 degrees) to make 30 blades per circle or a double Dresden (36 degrees) to make 10 wide blades per circle. I chose the 18 degree ruler. 

I wanted to make a modern design but felt limited by the subdued color palette. I tried several designs but they did not inspire me. Honoring the vintage vibes of the fabric collection, I settled for the classic Grandma's Fans. 

EQ8 Mock-Up

The First Block

I chose Meringue (Island Batik Neutral) as the background and Island Batik Solid Black as the accent. I used 10 of the 20 fabrics in the collection.

Piecing in Progress

All Blocks in Place

I used Schmetz Microtex 80/12 Needle for both piecing and quilting.  I used Aurifil Thread 50wt for piecing and 40wt for quilting.  The batting is Thermore by Hobbs.

Marked and Ready for Quilting

Quilting in Process

The binding is Meringue. 

Here are some close-ups from the photoshoot.

Understated Elegance 

Crinkly Texture

Close-up

Like It Or Not (LION)

I also made this one block. She is on the back, amid darkness, trying to protect the soul of all that is good and kind and hopeful.

Soul Sister, Dresden Skirt

Thank you, Paul!

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

For the giveaway, I have two scrap packs of batiks that can be yours, if you do the following:

1. Leave a comment on this blogpost.

2. Provide your email. If I do not have your email, you will not be entered into the drawing.

I won't be showing pictures of the scraps. However, if you are the winner, I will reach out to you to ask for your favorite colors, before making the scrap pack for you.

If you are the lucky winner, not in the US, you can get any pattern of your choice from my Etsy Shop. If you don't want/need any more fabric, please do leave a comment and let me know and I won't enter you in the drawing.

I will announce the winners next week - 11/25 or11/26, depending on how scrappy I feel. Hang in there and big, squishy hugs!

Below is the complete list of Ambassadors, the collections they’ll feature in their projects, and their scheduled post dates:

WEEK 1

November 4:

• Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
• Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion

November 5:

• Pamela Boatright, PamelaQuilts
• Connie Kresin Campbell, Freemotion by the River

November 6:

• Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts
• Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

November 7:

• Megan Best, BestQuilter
• Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

November 8:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

November 12:

• Lana Russel, Lana Quilts
• Julia Schweri, Inflorescence Designs

November 13:

• Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
• Denise Looney, Quiltery

November 14:

• Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
• Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

November 15:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

November 18:

• Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)
• Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio

November 19:

• Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting
• Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

November 20:

• Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
• Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
• Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique LLC

November 21:

• Carol Stanek, Stitch With Color
• Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

November 22:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Final Giveaway

WEEK 4

November 25:

• Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels
• Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting For You

November 26:

End of Blog Hop + Final Round Up

Pesto Mushrooms

I have a new finish and I am so excited to show it to you!

Meet Pesto Mushrooms :-)

Pesto Mushrooms

When I was asked to make a Birthday Quilt for a 6-year old boy who loves the color Green and is fascinated with Mushrooms, I said Yes, please :-D

The Pesto (Green Fabrics) was the easy part.  I wasn't sure how to incorporate mushrooms.

Pieced or Appliqued? Small or Large? A mix of large portabellas and tiny enokis?

I turned to EQ8 and found a template for mushroom applique.  BINGO!!!! In EQ8, the dots are applique as well. I think I can do with using dotted fabric instead of adding each dot. Insert eye roll here.

EQ8 Mock-up

I had fun raiding my box of green scraps and I found plenty of 2.5" strips in various lengths. 

Variety of Greens!!!

Chocolate Dots Added

Making the base blocks was a simple process. Making the mushrooms was a fun albeit a multi-step process.

I transferred the three shapes - the mushroom cap, the gills, and the stem on to a thin cardboard from a box of cereal. I cut out the three shapes and traced them on to the Steam-A-Seam 2 sheets. Repeat 24 times :-) It took six sheets.

I then rough cut all 75 shapes out of the Steam-A-Seam 2. 

Then I chose fun fabrics. Bright dots for the caps, light yellow/beige for the gills and brown for the stems. The next step required peeling the 75 paper slivers and sticking the sticky side (of Steam-A-Seam 2) to the wrong side of the fabrics.

Now I had to carefully cut the exact shapes, ensuring the slight curve of the mushroom caps and the gentle line of the gills. This took a while. Oh but it was so worth it.

The first Mushroom

The second one!

One 5" square

Two Mushroom Caps (very carefully cut)

Was I ready to add the mushrooms to my blocks? Not yet. 

I arranged the base blocks on my design wall in the desired layout, making sure that no two white squares were touching.

I did not add the mushrooms to the individual blocks until after the layout was finalized. I wanted to make sure that all mushrooms were upright, whereas the blocks could be oriented in any way.

Once I was happy with the layout, I started adding the mushrooms, one column at a time.

Adding Shrooms

I added one mushroom at a time, peeling away the paper, ironing and stitching in place and returning it to the design wall, before picking the next block.
 

Stitched in place

Step 1 - Make the Base Blocks. Set aside.

Step 2 - Make the Mushroom Parts (Cap, Gills and Stem). Set aside.

Step 3 - Finalize the Layout, separating the white squares.

Step 4 - Working with one block at a time, place and iron the Mushrooms. Gills first, followed by the stem and lastly the cap on top of both (I messed up the first one). Stitch in place.

Oops NO!!!

Step 5 - Stitch the mushroom blocks into a flimsy, making sure that the layout stays intact.

It is fun and looks simple but there are many steps and the order of the steps is important! Here is the completed quilt!

Such a happy quilt, 50" by 50"

Honestly, I think the whole quilt is a tad too busy, with so many greens, chocolate dots and all the bright mushroom caps. I could have used fewer greens, or a solid brown instead of dots. But for a six-year old, who needs a lot of stimulation, it will do just fine.

Pesto Mushrooms finished at 50" square. The backing is pieced from a directional mushroom fabric. I added narrow brown strips (when joining two pieces) to avoid the weird look of an ill-matched pieced print. All mushrooms are upright - even in the backing!

Pieced Backing

A yellow striped binding completes the look. 

Yellow Striped Binding

Let me show a few close-ups. These mushrooms are so stinking cute.

Labelled

Bright and Dotty

Thank you, Kaffe

Who says mushrooms grow in damp, dark places. Look at these beauties thrive in the bright sun :-)

My Happiness Mushrooms

Red and Pink

And one last look!

Such Fun Guys!

Once the quilt reaches its intended recipient, I will add another picture. I am hoping for big smiles. If Pesto Mushrooms made you smile, please let me know. 

Sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.

Snapshot Bags, By Annie

The October Challenge requires the Island Batik Ambassadors to make a bag using Patterns by Annie. We get to choose the bag and the fabrics :-) Pretty sweet. Isn't it?

I chose to make the Snapshot Bag in both sizes - Small and Large. Here are my supplies.

Pattern, Fabrics, Zippers, Hardware and more

The fabrics are from the Daisy May Collection.

Interfacing and Stabilizer

Annie's Bag patterns are really the very best with detailed instructions and videos to help you through the trickier steps, like Annie was holding your hand :-)

 

Outer Pocket Done!

I started by cutting out fabrics, interfacing and lining for both bags. But somewhere down the line, it got too much.  There was one step in the making of the welt pocket, where I was stumped.  The image showed the pocket smaller than the bag, but my pocket extended beyond the bag.

Inside Pocket

The images in the pattern sheet showed only the small bag with big bag dimensions included in brackets. So I set the large bag aside and completed the small bag.

Straps and Rings (sounds naughty)

Then it was time for a vacation :-) A long overdue vacation :-D To Hawaii!!!!!

Of course I took the small bag with me.

On the Dinner Cruise (Front View)

Matching Colors in the Sky :-)

The Storyteller in Waikiki (Back View)

The idea was to take some on location pictures, but the Small Snapshot turned out to be the perfect bag for evenings and short excursions. 

Wearing Cross Body

Once we returned, I completed the big bag. I was needlessly worried about the welt pocket. Once it was folded it fit neatly within. Time for pictures showing both bags.

What do you think, Bob?

I had to show Bob the inside pocket - how roomy it could be once unfolded and opened to its full size. 

Roomy Interiors

Thank you, Bob!

Bright & Sunny Bags

Small (folded) + Large (Opened) = Happy me!

Snapshot is a simpler bag since it requires no quilting or binding. But it still had several layers and a new Schmetz Microtex 90/14 Needle is an absolute must to sew through multiple thick layers.

I have a backpack, an ultimate very spacious travel bag, storage units in three sizes, and evening bags/purses. I think I am all set. Wonder what I will make next? What else could I possibly need? I welcome your ideas :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.