Saturday, April 23, 2016

Island Batik #AprilShowersIB Tulip Garden

The Island Batik Ambassador challenge for April was to make anything, any size, that relates to April Showers or Spring Flowers.  I had designed a foundation pieced table runner for my Sister-in-Law last year, when she asked for something Spring, but I was going to use regular print fabric, because she loved the bunny and tulip fabric I had.  I still plan to make that one (yes, I'm behind) and figured a similar design would be fun in Island Batik.  I was right!  I think any design, either traditional or modern, works just as well in Island Batik fabric.  Maybe even better, because Island Batik doesn't fray like most other prints.  I LOVE NOT having to trim so many threads from the backside of my quilt top before quilting.  
 I found the Tulip block and stem in the foundation pieced section of EQ7.  My original plan was to use 6" blocks, but for this runner, I made them 4", then I played with layouts.  Did I want it to look like you were standing in the middle of a garden filled with tulips, or have the stems in the center, and the tulip flowers on the outer edge?  


As you can tell, I picked Option 1, flowers in the center.  


I foundation pieced all the blocks, and then played with the border sizes.  I added a 1 1/2" border in the light yellow fabric I had used for the center of each tulip, Island Basics Butter, and picked the orange and deep pink print, that is also in the tulips, for the 2" outer border.  The Tulip flowers are all from Coral Reef.  The background is Basics Cream.  The green stem fabric is from a different collection of Island Batik.   The flower colors were all left over pieces from the Coral Reef quilt I shared in March, with the Ocean Waves blocks, and are still available in your favorite LQS that carry Island Batik.  I tried to use the scraps to the best use, which is why the outer border is only 2 1/2" cut.  






I still need to choose a backing and quilting design, but I couldn't wait to take photos!  I was driving home (the back way) from the grocery store yesterday, and passed the entrance to the Garden City Pool.  They had 2 full sections of orange and yellow tulips!  I couldn't believe they matched my runner!  I had to grab my camera and the top and get some shots today.  Mom waited in the car while I jumped out and took a few photos.  Although the sun was a little bright, I still thought it was a perfect location shoot.

Until the police officer came up next to me...

Actually, I had stopped in the turning lane for the entrance and put on the hazard lights.  I knew the few cars that would want to enter the park could easily get around me, and it was the closest to the area I needed (the parking slots were closer to the pool, not the entrance).  I took some with my camera, and some with my phone (for Instagram) and got back in the car.  The officer was going to make a left turn from the corner behind me, but saw the flashers, and made the right, to come up next to me (I saw him in my rear view mirror).  He asked if everything was fine, and I said, "Yes, just stopped to take a few photos of the tulips.  Thanks."  So he waved and drove off.  I didn't mention the quilt top, lol

I wonder how many quilters he's asked that question to?  Mom just laughed.  She thought I would get in trouble.  I also wonder if the Garden City police will read my blog, and see what I was doing today, lol.  The flowers were perfect, though.  I think Mom's enjoying my quilting adventures.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come back to see how I quilt this.  I hope to get it finished and in my shop soon.  But I have a baby quilt to make and a special order to finish.  I'll share details on those soon!  And check back for May's Island Batik challenge!  And I can't wait to show you the fabrics that will be available at Spring Market.  I have the Red Tide collection.  Just wait until you see them!

Have a great weekend!
Maryellen