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.

Island Batik 2024 - Unboxing 1

I am excited that I made the cut for 2024. I am one of the 26 brand ambassadors selected by Island Batik. This is where I show off my newest fabrics and supplies generously provided by Island Batik and other industry partners include Schmetz Needles, Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Designs, Hobbs Batting, Oliso Smart Iron and Funky Friends Factory.

Here is the Unboxing Video.

Here are the supplies.

Breezy by Kate Colleran Designs

In February, I will be using this half yard bundle of Breezy (Original Collection by Kate Colleran) to make the Log Cabin Lap/Throw size quilt.  In the video, I show the unopened bundle but you have to get close to see these beautiful colors.

Fabrics from the Breezy collection

The matching yardage in deep purple and palest pink is so pretty :-)

Two yards each of Leaf Pile-Purple and Tea Rose (Precious Pinks)

The Log Cabin challenge and Blog Hop will have prizes and giveaways. Make sure to revisit in February.

Thanks to a generous supply of Solid Neutrals in Black, White and Light Grey, we always have plenty of background options. They also make perfect backings. 

Island Batik Solids - Black, Light Grey and White

My box also included six yards of Platinum - a light grey perfect for background and backings.

Island Batik Neutral - Platinum

I also received 12 half yard cuts from Island Batik Foundations. These include four solids, four basics and four blenders. Island Batik Foundations are available all year round. 

Island Batik Foundations - Blenders, Basics & Solids

Stash Builders are a set of 5" wide strips, 20 per pack. They are the perfect resource to make a scrappy quilt and easily lend themselves into 2.5" strips, 5" squares and more.

Stash Builders - 5" strips, 20 per pack

My box came with two precuts from the Island Batik Basics regrouped into the Gradations - Brilliant Blues and Tantalizing Teals. 

Brilliant Blues - 10" Squares

Tantalizing Teals - 2.5" Strips

I received a pack of 10" squares of the Prisms Collection. Prisms is a signature collection designed by Kathy Engle for Claudia Porter. It comes with matching yardage, two yards each of Champagne (Island Batik Neutral) and a Dark Green Blender (BE31-G1).

Winter 2023 Prisms - Signature Collection by Kathy Engle for Claudia Porter

My box also included a 2.5" Strip Set of Monarch Collection, designed by Kathy Engle. It came with matching yardage, two yards each of Buttermilk (Island Batik Neutral) and Red Blender (BE29-B1)

Fall 2023 Monarch designed by Kathy Engle

From Schmetz Needles, I received a set of needles and a handy luggage tag showing a graphic
of needle types.

Needles for Piecing, Quilting, Costume, and Vinyl

Oliso, a new industry partner, generously provided a smart iron to each of the ambassadors. Mine is yellow :-)

From our industry partners at Studio 180 designs, I received a Corner Beam Ruler. I will be using this ruler to make a quilt for the May project - Create for a Cause. 

Studio 180 Designs - Corner Beam Ruler

I received two batts of throw size Cotton-Wool Blend batting from the Tuscany Collection by Hobbs Batting.

Hobbs Tuscany Collection - Throw Size Cotton Wool Blend Batting

Hobbs will be sending more batting in the coming months. We will also receive threads from Aurifil and I will be sure to show you when I do.

We will be making a toy in April, using a design of our choice. The pattern is generously provided byFunky Friends Factory. I will be making the Dachshund dog :-)

I will be sharing the February Island Batik Challenge and BlogHop Project on February 6, 2024. Hope you will revisit. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. 

Disclosure: The fabrics are provided by Island Batik. 

The batting is provided by Hobbs.

The needles are provided by Schmetz Needles.

The Corner Beam Ruler is provided by Studio 180 Design.

The smart iron is provided by Oliso.

The toy pattern is provided by Funky Friends factory

Island Batik Ambassador Boxes

It is hot and humid. Fortunately I am well-prepared to stay (and entertain myself) indoors.  That is where Island Batik's second shipment of goodies is supremely helpful :-D

Here is the "Set" of Unboxing Video showing Nihal on the left and Wednesday on the right.

Unboxing Video - Set up

It is good to be an ambassador!  Here is the link to the Unboxing video.  There is an oops in there and I left it as such. We are only human!

I start with the generous box of batting provided by Hobbs.

Thermore Batting - Light and Very Thin

Premium Wool - High Loft and Warm

Cotton Batting - New Look!

Cotton & Wool Blend

Aurifil Threads - We received some interesting new threads this time.  The red spools are cotton/wool blend used for embroidery.  The white spool is monofilament (invisible thread) for applique or anywhere you don't want the stitching to show, like a multicolored binding, or hanging sleeves, especially if you don't want to painstakingly hand-stitch the long sleeve on a large quilt. 

The two smaller spools are Cotton Floss (thick threads), best for embroidery or accent stitches.

Cotton/Wool, Monofilament (Invisible), and Cotton Floss

Island Batik Precuts - We received the following Island Batik Gradations precuts.

Precious Pinks (10" squares) and Glorious Greens (2.5" Strips)

Also received this Spring collection with matching yardage. Designed by Kathy Engle, Blushing Garden will be available in stores in September 2023.

Blushing Garden - 10" Squares

Light & Dark Yardage

In September we will be participating in a Blog Hop. The challenge is "Pieced to Perfection".  I will be using the Spring collection called  Chromatic. It is an original collection designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Design, which should be available in stores in September 2023.

Half-Yard Bundle

22 Fabrics

Matching Yardage

In October, we will be using the Accuquilt die - North Carolina Star. This is a complicated block with many pieces. Fortunately, all pieces can be cut with a single slide under the cutter with this block on board.

Bags by Annie - The November Challenge and Blog Hop requires us to make a bag (or a set of bags, if you are ambitious), using Patterns by Annie.  I chose Room with a View in three sizes. I will be using a Summer Collection called Morris Mist. It is a Signature Collection designed by Kathy Engle for Sherry Shish of Powered by Quilting.

Hardware and Supplies

Since the Morris Mist collection won't be available in stores till November 2023, the fabrics will remain a secret for now.

We also received six yards of Neutral and the Foundations Bundle - 12 Fabrics, 0.5 yard each

Blenders, Solids and Basics

Six yards of Neutral - Flour

Some supplies like Black, White and Light Grey Solid fabrics and stash builders are running late. I will happily let them in when they get here. After all, everyone is invited to the party. I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties, see full list on the sidebar.

Disclosure: The fabrics, dies, bag-making supplies, thread and batting were generously supplied by the following companies: