Hot Stuff - Oliso Iron Case Challenge

Picture this - a completely solar-powered, aerodynamically designed, sleek automobile of the future. Its exterior is so dark and shiny that the passing landscape is reflected perfectly on its surface.

Cool Trees, Scorching Planet

In January, we received a mini Oliso Iron, complete with a matching Solemate (a base for placing the hot iron) and a thick wool carry case. Island Batik's August Challenge is to decorate the carry case for our Oliso Mini Irons.

This was an unusual project. The thick wool carry case would certainly break a needle or two, if I tried sewing on it. The idea of hand-sewing on a thick material made my finger pads shudder, thimble or not. Design consideration aside, the logistics of this project was the bigger challenge.

I decided that it would be best to stick to the surface, instead of sewing on it.  I traced the shape of the two sides and the back on to a background fabric, cut it out and began designing/playing.

Bright Fabrics + Steam A Seam 2

Layering

Wool Mat - Notation for the next Layer

I used a heat-erasable pen to mark the gentle slopes of the landscape and note its placement on the existing layer.

Once I layered the landscape curves on the background, it was time to add the trees, followed by quilting with wavy lines. I stitched the entire piece onto the smooth side of SF-101 and trimmed it. I secured the edges with zig-zag stitching and ironed the piece on to the carry bag, so that the sticky/bumpy side of the SF-101 did the work!

Ta-Da

This was a fun and creative project, which forced me to think outside the case :-D  I used the case once in the beginning to trace the shape and once in the end to stick the piece to it. I am glad that I did not have to stick a needle through that thickness. My finger pads are thanking me :-)

But enough about that. Let's see how the other three surfaces turned out.

Preparing the Landscape hills

Adding Trees

Cool Landscape - Bright Trees

The Cute Caboose

Braids

The top was a simple rectangle shape. I treated this slightly differently. I used the leftover braid from a previous project, stitched it on all four sides facing the sticky side of SF-101, cut a slit in the SF-101 and turned it inside out. I carefully pushed out the corners and stitched on top. Then I ironed it to the top of the carrying case.

I could not use this technique on the side panels because they were thicker due to the use of stabilizer (applique) and could not be turned. 

In the end, I am so very pleased with this project. It challenged me, allowed plenty of room for creativity and turned out to be very cute :-) That is a win-win-win.

Do check out other Island Batik Ambassadors' posts. All of our projects are so uniquely creative. I love it!

Many thanks to Island Batik and Oliso for providing products for this project thru the Island Batik Ambassador program.

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In other news, Angela announced that Aqua/Tea/Turquoise is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for August. Here are my picks.

Island Batik Scraps

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (including Angela's on Saturday). See full list on the sidebar. But I'd love to hear from you. How are you feeling - Hot or Not?

Rosemary etc.

Rosemary came home on May 1. She is a short-haired almost all-black Bombay cat. 

Rosemary

She is affectionate and agile. Loves to play, and often zooms around the house. Surprisingly, she is not interested in our food. She neither begs nor does she sniff our plates. 

It has been a while since we had a third family member. After Jonesie passed away and Louie displayed misdirected aggression (and returned to the shelter), we had been a pet-free home for a few years.

When we spotted a mouse in the house on Easter, and the mousetraps did not work, it was time to bring home the beast. Since then we have seen neither hair nor hide of the mouse.

I firmly believe that the mouse was the universe's way of telling us - "Bring Rosemary home"

Here she is inspecting Bubbles and enjoying the perch from her condo. 

Just curious...

I am so cool!

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We managed to get away for a holiday weekend, saw some sights, ate good food, had some exhilarating moments (ziplining) and got sunburnt, while tubing in the Shenandoah River.

Mayneview Bed & Breakfast in Luray

The View from our B&B

Lake Arrowhead State Park

Growing Old Together

So Much Fun to get a SunBurn

Yes, we did apply SPF50 cream, but the river water washed it away. 

Pork Belly at Chop House Bistro

Peppers, Mushrooms and Cheese 

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I received the remaining fabrics from Island Batik, including the pattern and bag making supplies from ByAnnie.

The Pattern + Bag Making Supplies, from ByAnnie

The Fabrics to make the bag

Summer Collection - Paisley Pop 2.5" Strips

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July is Purple, said Angela. And nature got the memo.

Crepe Myrtle in Bloom

And here are my completed blocks!

Divided Squares

Framed 4-Patch Blocks

All Purple Blocks, All Island Batik Scraps

Sharing with Angela's Linky Party.

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Island Batik's August Challenge requires us to decorate the carrying case of our Oliso Irons.  That blogpost is coming in August.

I am so naked...cover me please!

Stay tuned and stay hydrated.

2025 Island Batik Ambassador - Unboxing 2

July is the time when the Island Batik Ambassadors celebrate Christmas! We have just received our second shipment of supplies and they did not disappoint. 

Here is the Unboxing Video. 

It is all about the supplies. I am losing my looks and the fabric gets prettier every year :-D

The Bounty

In September, we will be making a Crazy Quilt. I will be using the Everlasting Collection designed by Jerry Khiev. This collection will be in stores in September 2025.

Everlasting Collection

Dark & Light Yardage to Match

Of course, we need threads to make a Crazy Quilt. Aurifil supplied the following four spools - one for piecing (50wt) and three for quilting (40 wt).

Aurifil Threads to match Everlasting Collection

We received a generous supply of precuts.

Playful Purples (10" Squares) and Brilliant Blues (2.5" Strips)

Colorburst by Jerry Khiev for Heidi Pridemore, 10" Squares 

Ceramic & Cherry Yardage

As always we received a 6 yards of Neutral and 4 yards each of Black, White and Gray.

6 yards of Buttermilk 

Black, White and Gray

If we want to make a scrappy quilt, there are stash builders to help us out. 

Stash Builders - 5" by WOF strips

We also received 12 half-yard cuts from Island Batik Foundations. These are available all year round and match perfectly with seasonal collections.

Island Batik Foundations - Blenders, Basics & Solids

I will be using the following fabrics in October to make the bag. The Yellow id from Island Batik Blenders. The remaining three fabrics are from the Garden Glory collection designed by Claudia Pfeil.

Fabrics from the Garden Glory Collection

We received a generous supply of batting from Hobbs Batting. Queen sized Premium Polyester, 80/20 Bleached Cotton, and Cotton Fusible.

Queen Size Batts from Hobbs Batting

Tuscany Collection Batting from Hobbs

We have yet to receive the Summer Precut and the bag pattern from ByAnnie.com. I have selected Leader of the Pack. I will share when I get them.

Thank you so much for voting for Honi. She won the Viewers Choice Award.  I chose fabrics from the Fossil Finesse Collection.

Fossil Finesse Collection designed by Kathy Engle

Thank you to the generosity of Island Batik and Industry partners! 
Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, Hobbs Batting, and ByAnnie.

In other news, I have selected the purple scraps for July's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Will be sharing with Angela's Linky Party on Saturday.

Plentiful Purple Bounty from Island Batiks

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