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?

Island Batik May Challenge and Blog Hop

Whoever said "Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road" wasn't making this pattern.

But let's start at the beginning.

For Island Batik's May Challenge and Blog Hop, we were required to use our assigned Winter 2024 collection, transforming fabric into a visual ode to joy and festivity.

I received Fire and Ice. This is an original collection designed by Claudia Pfeil.  It should be available in fabric stores now.

With my favorite pinks and oranges, this is a beautiful collection and I created about six paper-pieced designs in EQ8 that would be perfect for celebration/festive quilts.  

As I struggled to pick one, I came across an email from my quilt guild, announcing an Ultraviolet Radial workshop with Audrey Esarey of Cotton and Bourbon. Of Quiltcon fame, I have admired her work and seen it in person in Austin (2020) and Raleigh (2024).  

Easily seduced, I bought the pattern and signed up for the workshop. I downloaded the pattern and went to the Print Shop to get the templates printed on 24" by 36" paper to avoid taping the paper together. I promise I did everything to ensure accuracy.

And yet, it was a struggle.

The paper-pieced wedges were simple enough to make. My Oliso Iron was a huge help. But 22 pieces per arc made it stretchy and prone to distortion. 

The trickiest part was the outermost concave piece. It was so skinny (1/2") at the two ends that instead of maintaining the curvature, it just straightened as I tried to align and stitch the two pieces.

Distortion at the Skinny Ends

Half inch width means that the two seams will completely eat the skinny edge so that the fabric tapers into nothingness. It has extraordinary visual appeal, but from the construction viewpoint, it is a nightmare.

Very Slightly Off

Prior to piecing the quarter circle block, I measured and noted that it was very slightly off, but there is no room for error. The circle would get cut off if I straightened it. 

Unstitched

Trimmed and Marked seam line

Corrected!

I had to redo almost every block.  It was an agonizing two weeks. The skill level associated with this pattern is "Confident Beginner". 

Either I am a complete novice, or this pattern is for advanced/experienced quilters.

First Circle - Will it fit?

Once all blocks were made and four circles completed, it was time to decide the layout. 

Black Center

Yellow Center

I decided to go with the bright center.  The original pattern is 60" square. I reduced the border widths so that I could use the Hobbs Tuscany Cotton Wool Blend Batting in Throw Size.

Throw Size 60" by 60"

I used 14 of the 20 fabrics in the Fire and Ice collection.

I used two background fabrics - Solid Black and Bumblebee (Opulent Oranges).

I used Aurifil 50wt thread for piecing. I used 80/12 Microtex Needle by Schmetz.

I marked the entire quilt top with a 2" grid and used my trusted walking foot and squiggly stitch. 

The backing is Valentino (Precious Pinks). 

Valentino Backing, Black Binding

I used Aurifil 40wt thread and 90/14 Microtex Schmetz Needle for quilting.

The Binding is Solid Black.

Wagon by Ikea, 56" square

Me: What do you think?

Paul: Impressive!

Me: What would you name it?

Paul: Hmmm...

Me: I was thinking Wheelin' and Dealin'. It sure took a lot of coaxing and fudging.

Paul: Wagon from Ikea?

Me: Some Assembly Required?

Then we both had a hearty laugh. 

I am beyond thrilled that this quilt is complete. PHEW!!!

Wagon by Ikea finished at 56" square. 

Quilting Detail

Almost Matched!

Transparency Effect :-)

With the transparency effect, it gives the impression of a Giant Ferris Wheel, reminiscent of a County Fair.  My fellow ambassador Brenda (also posting today) said that it reminded her of Halloween Hayrides. 

Hayrides and Ferris Wheels - that sounds like a celebration!

For a chance to win a scrap pack of Island Batik fabrics, please leave a comment on this post, letting me know your favorite memory of a county/state fair or a hayride.

I will pick two winners on May 17, 2024. If you show up as Anonymous/No-Reply, please include your email so that I can reach you.

Giveaway Update - The lucky winners are Pamela (#33) and Diptee (#49). Emails have been sent.

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In other news, all Island Batik Ambassadors were invited to become partners with the Missouri Star Quilt Company. And I’m so excited to tell you that I’ve been accepted!

This means that when YOU order over $50 from Missouri Star Quilt and you use my Affiliate link: https://glnk.io/mzmmj/sewpreetiquilts you will get 20% off your order and I will receive a small commission.

Enjoy receiving 20% off all of your orders! You can use my link over and over and over!!! It’s permanently on the sidebar of my blog so you won’t need to always search for it!

Happy Shopping!

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The BlogHop Continues. Make sure to visit the Island Batik Blog for exciting prizes every week. 

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

WEEK 1

May 6:

• Pamela Boatright, PamelaQuilts
• Sarah Pitcher, Pitcher’s Boutique LLC

May 7:

• Lana Russel, LanaQuilts
• Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
• Victoria Johnson, Forever Quilting for You

May 8:

• Connie Kresin Campbell, Freemotion by the River
• Brittany Fisher, Bobbin with Brittany

May 9:

• Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs
• Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts (You are here)!!! 

May 10:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway

WEEK 2

May 13:

• Megan Best, BestQuilter
• Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
• Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

May 14:

• Lisa Pickering, Lisa’s Quilting Passion
• Julia Schweri, Inflorescence Designs

May 15:

• Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood
• Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

May 16:

• Susan Deshensky, Lady Blue Quilt Studio
• Jane Hauprich, Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting

May 17:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway

WEEK 3

May 20:

• Mania Hatziioannidi, Mania for Quilts
• Sandra Starley, Textile Time Travels

May 21:

• Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine
• Renee Atkinson, Pink Tulip Quilting

May 22:

• Denise Looney, A Quiltery
• Kim Jamieson-Hirst, Chatterbox Quilts

May 23:

• Carol Stanek, Stitch with Color
• Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

May 24:

End of Blog Hop and Final Round-Up

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