Marrying someone from halfway across the globe has its perks. There is always something new to learn. Recently Paul introduced me to the Addams Family. I fell in love with Wednesday and she is the inspiration for my May project!
Wednesday Mock-Up in EQ8
But let's start at the beginning. The May Challenge requires that we use the Studio 180 Design Tool and the Winter 2022 Collection to make a project of any size. The guidelines included the following:
1. Work with two or more different size units.
2. Must use at least 30 units total, made with the Studio 180 Design tool you received.
May Challenge
I received the Square Squared Ruler and the Wild Blooms collection, designed by Kathy Engle, coming to stores in May 2023.
Tool and Fabrics
Wild Blooms is gorgeous collection with yellows, greens, pinks and purples. I am excited to work with this collection.
Wild Blooms - Arranged by Color and Value
Designing in EQ8, several ideas were made and discarded. Here are the rejects.
35 units, 3 sizes
32 units, 2 sizes
27 units, 3 sizes
Only one size units
Only one size units
If it met the design guidelines it looked blah/dated and when it looked fresh/interesting it failed on the guidelines. What a bummer!!!
That is when Paul suggested we watch the new Netflix Series - Wednesday Addams. I said yes, welcoming the distraction.
I fell in love with not just Wednesday's dark vibe but also her sparkling wit and doggedness. Later I returned to EQ8. Starting over, I chose a 6" grid because that is the largest unit I can make with the Studio 180 Tool. And I let Wednesday's intuition guide me with the design.
EQ8 Mock-up
In the end the quilt design has a total of 29 square in square units. 22 of those were made using the Square Squared ruler - three units finishing at 3", 16 units finishing at 4", and three units finishing at 6".
3" units
4" units in process
4" units
Seven units are larger (three of 8" and four of 12") than what can be made by the ruler.
Four leftover square in a square units are used on the back.
12" unit in process
So I did not meet the guideline of at least 30 units, made with the Studio 180 Design tool. But I believe that I tried to follow the guideline (the best I could) without sacrificing the design.
Basting
I used Schmetz 80/12 Microtex Needle for both piecing and quilting. I used Aurifil 50 wt thread for piecing and 40 wt for quilting. I used Hobbs 80/20 Batting. The backing is pieced from Island Batik Foundation fabrics leftover from previous backings. I incorporated the leftover units into the back. I used my walking foot to quilt at 2" intervals using a squiggly stitch.
The binding (and the background) is Island Batik Solid Black. I stitched the binding to the back of the quilt sandwich and used a zigzag stitch to secure it to the front.
Wednesday finished at about 44" by 50". It contains 26 units (22 on the front and 4 on the back) made from the Tool, falling short of the suggested 30 units. This continued to bother me...like a nagging voice in the back of my head. Temporarily subduing it, let's proceed to the photoshoot.
Here is the completed quilt. Emily of The Darling Dogwood is the photographer. My painted toes are the bonus :-)
Thank you, Emily!
Pieced Backing
Did I mention that Emily and I got together for a brief meeting of Island Batik Ambassadors? It was a very select group of Island Batik Ambassadors. Actually, it was just the two of us :-D
With Emily!
It had rained all morning but the clouds parted and the sun smiled when we met :-)
Technically, this should be the end of the blogpost. But this is Wednesday, after all. So here is the thing (pun intended). I took her with me to my trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. I visited the Huntington Beach State Park. The Atalaya Castle on the beach was the perfect setting for Wednesday's photoshoot.
On the brick floor
Matching Green of the wrought iron grills :-)
In the courtyard
Climbing a tree
Swinging from the window shutter
Hanging from the window!!!
That Wednesday!!! She is a handful. But she is mine.
Labelled
And a few close up shots.
Pretty Purples
Zigzag Binding Stitch
Wednesday Sparkles!
Be sure to visit the Island Batik blog and all the Ambassadors’ blogs to read more about the Studio 180 Design‘s tools they used, discover their inspiring creations, read the stories behind each project and participate in their bonus giveaways!
The full list of Ambassadors’ names, collections they will be using in their projects, and their post dates are as follows:
Here is a small zippered pouch made with four square in square units, bringing the number up to the suggested/required 30 units.
The last four units
Very nice
I like you a lot!
No more nagging voice. I am done...unless you have something to add. I am always up for that :-)
Did I forget something?
Giveaway?
Oh yes, oops.
For a chance to win one of these two sets of 5" squares (26 each) from the Wild Blooms collection, please leave me a comment on this post, mentioning which one of the Island Batik collections is your favorite.
5" squares - Giveaway
I will announce the two winners on Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Update on Sunday, 5/28/23 - The two randomly chosen winners are KathyE (12) and Sara (41). Emails are sent.
It was a heavy lift. The net was bursting with a huge catch.
It took a lot of effort to haul it out of the river.
Ooh it is heavy...
The fish wriggled and pulled against the net and Paul struggled.
Paul struggled
I heaved a huge sign of relief when he prevailed.
And finally managed!
Such a proud angler Paul is!!! Now, you may think that catching all these fish on the banks of Potomac is a load of bull. But honestly, it is a fishy story :-D
We catch so much fish on the banks of the Potomac :-p
I loved these fish so much that I started making them as my RSC blocks in 2022. Initially I had used the Corner Pop 3 Ruler to make these fish blocks. But not everyone has specialty rulers and this was such a fun pattern that I wanted it to be accessible to all. So I wrote the pattern such that it needs no special rulers.
RSC 2022 Blocks
In September 2022, Make Modern published Frolicking Fish (Table Runner) in Issue #48. That runner now lives in Manveen's house, in her husband's study/office. But I digress.
Frolicking Fish, at Manveen's House
This year, I completed all the RSC blocks from 2022, with the exception of yellow.
Finally, the quilt was completed. I revised the pattern, including detailed step by step instructions for on-point setting, complete with coloring sheets for two sizes.
In process
Paul was kind enough to give in to my antics by the river.
Paul, the model
Cathy was kind enough to test drive the pattern and Reed (fellow Island Batik ambassador) provided the technical review.
The pattern is listed in my Etsy store for $10, but on 20% discount till Thursday, 4/27/23. That is $8 for 12 pages of detailed/color instructions.
What is a pattern release without a giveaway? Leave me a comment on this blogpost, making sure that if you are Anonymous/No-Reply Blogger, I can reach you by email. One lucky winner will receive a PDF copy of the pattern - A Fishy Story.
For a second chance to win, head over to Cathy's blog.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties (See full list on the sidebar), including Angela's.
Sunny Day, Happy Fishes
Did you see pigs fly? No, but I saw fish climbing the tree :-D
A Fishy Story continues... I will announce the winner next week.
Update on Friday, 4/28/23 - The winner is #12 Kathy Quilts. Email has been sent!
