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.

More Island Batik Goodies

This week, we received the remaining supplies from Island Batik and I am happy to share them with you.

Solids - Four yards each of White, Dark Gray, and Black 

Summer Precut - 2.5" Strips of Vintage Charm. This is a Signature Collection designed by Kathy Engle for  Terri Vanden Bosch of Lizard Creek Quilting. It comes with matching yardage, two yards each of Valentino (dark pink) and Dandelion Crumbs (beige).

Stash Builders - 5" strips, 20 per pack.

Angela has announced the color for August. It is Yellow :-)

I love Yellow. It is the color of warm sunshine and flavorful curries.  It is the color of turmeric which is the main ingredient of the beauty concoction that is associated with brides and wedding ceremonies. Yellow is also the color of my favorite fruit - mangoes. 

Sorry, I did take off on a tangent. In any case, here are my blocks.

August is Yellow!

I believe I am ready to put together my RSC blocks into a flimsy. That post is coming later this month. 

Here is a sneak peek of my latest finish - a baby quilt using last year's RSC blocks.

Dinosaurs Rule!

Captain Hotpants :-D

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

Vicky and the Zips

The Island Batik challenge for April is Crazy Quilts with Aurifil Threads.  

The Zippered Pouches - in progress

The challenge is to show off the thread from the Color Builder set in a Crazy Quilt! Try out different block combinations and layouts and experiment with decorative stitches and embroidery to highlight the tread you received.

I received the Frangipani Color Builder from Aurifil Threads.

To ensure that these threads/embroidery/stitches showed well on the fabric, I decided to use Island Batik solids.  Since I also wanted to make a modern interpretation of Crazy Quilts, the solids were a perfect choice.

I also tested various decorative stitches on a piece of scrap fabric. I kept a list of stitches that would look good, the ones to avoid and what modifications to make, if any.

I was at a loss for a name so I asked Mari, what should I name my Crazy Quilt. Mari suggested that I name the quilt, Victoria, because Crazy Quilts are from the Victorian era. Since my crazy quilt is a modern version, I have named her Vicky. Let's meet Vicky.

Vicky likes to play outdoors

Vicky likes to embellish

Although I started with the three threads in the Frangipani Color Builder set, I soon added in other threads in colors like Orange and Purple, all Aurifil, of course.

Binding with Zigzag Stitch

A black binding on a black background with a black thread is blinding. So I used a zigzag stitch to secure it in place. That way I don't have to strain my eyes to make sure that the needle hits the fabric in the 1/32" width.  This is a relief for my eyes and goes so much faster. 

Labelled - Vicky is mine

I used Island Batik Solid Light Gray for backing.  Used Hobbs Thermore batting. Quilted with my walking foot.  Can you see the zig-zag stitching on the label? I used 80/12 Schmetz Microtex Needle for both piecing and quilting.

Vicky is bright

Vicki is ready to party :-)

Vicky finished at 38" square and I am very happy with her but...

But there is more.  Meet the Zips.

Two Zippered Pouches

They are the Zips :-)

So what do you think of Vicky and the Zips? I think they rock. But I am dying to know your thoughts.

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The winners of the Celebrate etc. charm pack giveaway are #25 and #33. That is TerryK and MissPat. Emails have been sent. 

In RSC news, I have completed my Purple blocks for April. Here they are.

Reddish Purple

True Purple

Bluish Purple

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar), including Angela's RSC Linky.

Bourbon Street Bash

Designing for the May/June 2023 Issue of Quiltmaker Magazine, I chose the fabric line Celebrate. Designed by Kathy Engle, this fabric line will be available in stores in May 2023.

Imagine my surprise when the magazine was published in March 2023.  It is Island Batik's guidance to release patterns as close to the fabric availability as possible. If the fabric is not available (at the time of pattern release or shortly thereafter), then it feels like a tease or even a torture, especially when the fabric is this gorgeous!!!

For this reason, I have been slow/reluctant to share this quilt.  It is April. I can safely say that the fabrics will be coming to the stores next month.

Picture Courtesy - Quiltmaker Magazine, May/June 2023

Here are the pictures showing my journey of making Bourbon Street Bash.

The first block

Pieced Border

These fabric screams Spring. The colors make the blooms blush and the bright hues are reminiscent of a party or a bash. Since no one parties like the Bourbon Street, I named it Bourbon Street Bash.

Balloons and Streamers = Celebration

Quilting

I quilted slowly, enjoying the deep greens and bright citrusy prints.

Binding

The backing is Pistachio (Island Batik Basics) and it is yummy enough to eat :-) 

The binding is Egg White (Island Batik Neutrals).

Bound and Labelled

Bound and Labeled, it was time for the photoshoot. Paul, my love?  

Will you please...

You are the best!!!

Can we get one with the reflection, I asked. We can try, Paul replied. Although it was a beautiful day, it was just too breezy for a good reflection picture.

Sunny but too Breezy

Garden Party, indeed!

Very Happy Me!

I received many comments and emails praising this gorgeous fabric line. So, I cut up the leftover fabrics into 5" squares.  Since I only had 17 fabrics (out of the 20 in the Celebrate line), I added three matching fabrics from Island Batik Foundations (top three fabrics in the picture below - orange, yellow and pink) to make two complete sets of 40 squares (2 squares of each fabric).

Giveaway Prizes - Two Charm Packs

Yes, there is a giveaway.  Two prizes. I will announce the winners on April 10, 2023.  To be eligible to win one of the two charm packs, please leave me a comment telling me your favorite party food or drink, along with your instagram handle. Please make sure that I have your email address.

And one last look because you are such a juicy quilt :-)

Citrusy Yumminess

My friend and fellow Island Batik ambassador, Connie Kauffman also has a quilt in the same issue. Her sweet mini quilt is called - Have a Cuppa. Do check it out.

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In other news, Purple is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for April. I have picked out my fabrics - some reddish purples and some bluish purples. 

Plenty of Purples from Island Batik

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (see full list on the sidebar), including Angela's Linky Party.  As usual, my bash is incomplete without your input :-)