Sunday, September 24, 2017

Island Batik Back To School Hop and Give-away!

Hi, and welcome back to school.  Today's my day on the Island Batik Ambassador hop, and I'm pleased to introduce you to some wonderful new fabrics, the collection called Cherry Berry.

Click on Cherry Berry to see the fabrics.  I'll wait while you ooh and aah over the colors and designs. Did you see the cute kitchen tools, and all the fruit prints, and that gorgeous pink with grapes and leaves?  No?  Go look again.  Yes, there are even polka dots.  So, go call your favorite fabric store and tell the you need Cherry Berry now.  It's shipping as you read.  I'll wait...

Are you back??
I love going back to school!  I loved being a student, and loved being a teacher.  I've taught all levels, from kindergarten to college (yes, I have friends who still call me Professor). and love getting new pencils, crayons, and folders.  I loved that line in "You've Got Mail" when Meg's character says she wants a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.  All those years as a teacher, I also loved getting apples, and collecting apples and also going apple picking.  So, I chose to use the Accuquilt GO! Apple core die and make something with all the fabrics in this collection.  Bright and fun and scrappy.  

The die comes with directions for a basic 41 by 50" quilt, and there's a tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop  that measures 51 by 57.  I think I cut out about 140 pieces, planning to do 11 by 15 rows, and picked randomly from the pile.  I did try to not have the same colors or fabrics touching, but with scrappy, it doesn't matter as much.  My collection included 20 SKUs, plus 2 more for border and binding.  I'm not sure if I'll add a border to this, or just cut the edges straight, or use a bias binding and keep it curvy.  That part of the quilt isn't talking yet, lol.  I've named it Apples From the Teacher. 

But as a teacher, I always need to include my version, my directions, and how I did it.  I'm not big on pinning, except when adding gathered things or sleeves, or long seams.  I've been sewing since I was little, and got my first (hand-me down from mom) full size machine when I was 7.  (Ahem, more than 45 years ago).  I made clothes and doll dresses, and worked with tons of curved pieces.  I think it's really funny when someone says you need to pin something every centimeter or less.  That's really not necessary.  I've also done tons of Accuquilt curved shapes, like the Drunkard's Path, and recently, the Double Wedding Ring.

Here's my lesson: Limit the pins, use a stiletto or your fingernail to help make sure the edges line up. You may want to pin the beginning, the place where the notches line up, and the end.  Or not.  Just go slow, and use a good seam guide.  I recorded a video of me sewing on my vintage Singer 15-91, so you can see it works.  If you're using a more modern machine, just adjust the speed so you have the most control, and use a good 1/4" guide. Please notice I use my right hand to guide the fabric on the bottom, and left to guide fabric on the top.  I adjust as it goes through the machine.  

Here's the video.


Here's a few photos of my top so far.  Life happens while deadlines loom, so I don't have this quilted, and may still add a few rows.  I do love nice size lap quilts, and this one is just so fun and pretty.




So, I'll let you know when this is done.  I do occasionally finish something, lol.  

So, thanks for visiting for the Island Batik Back to School Hop.

Island Batik has a give-away using Rafflecopter.  


The other Island Batik Ambassadors have more to share and to give away.

WEEK 1
Tuesday, September 5 – Country Dozen
Cheryl Lynch Quilts • Inspired Layers
Wednesday, September 6 – Bonsai
Little Bunny Quilts
Thursday, September 7 – Sakura
Masterpiece Quilting

WEEK 2

Monday, September 11 – Fresh Pick’ins
KISSed Quilts
Tuesday, September 12 – Lotus Blooms
Kathys Kwilts and More
Thursday, September 14 – Rise & Shine
Den Syende Himmel • Sally’s Quilting Corner
Friday, September 15 – Diner Days
Ark Angel Creations • The Quilt Rambler

WEEK 3

Monday, September 18 – Seas the Day
KISSed Quilts • Whispers of Yore • Needle & Foot
Tuesday, September 19 – Vineyard
The Inquiring Quilter • Inchworm Fabrics
Wednesday, September 20 – Abalone
PamelaQuilts • Yellow Cat Quilts
Friday, September 22 – Captain’s Anchor
Purrfect Spots Designs • Beaquilter

WEEK 4

Tuesday, September 26 – Lobster Bake
Seams to be Sew
Wednesday, September 27 – Solstice
Bejeweled Quilts • heARTs Creations
Thursday, September 28 – Sour Apple
Seams Like a Dream • Kauffman Designs
Friday, September 29 – Zen
Lizard Creek Quilting • Quilt’n Party
And I have something, too.  I'll be sending a lucky comment writer a sweet little something.  I have a really hard time picking to give my gorgeous Island Batik away, but you'll be happy with a small prize.  It may be strips or a charm pack or some FQs or some 5" rolls, and a copy of my first published pattern, featuring Zen, which you'll see later this week.  You'll have to wait and see.  So, I do hope you're following my blog, either by email or bloglovin, and you also follow my Facebook page.  Let me know and you may be my lucky winner.  This will close Saturday, Sept 30 at midnight. NY time.  
Please also share this with your friends!  Thanks for visiting, and go find some Cherry Berry and some apples for the teacher.  

44 comments:

JANET said...

I haven't made an apple core quilt before. Maybe it is time! I follow by email and facebook.

GranChris said...

I love how it turned out. Maybe I will have to do an Apple Core quilt this winter. Thank-you for the inspiration.

Anonymous said...

I really like your quilt! Follow you through e-mail. Also follow you on facebook: Nicole Sender.
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

Cheryl @ Simply Shoeboxes said...

I love the bright colors! I follow you via GFC. I would like to follow on Bloglovin' but can't find you there. I do not have a Facebook account so can't follow you there.

Elizabeth said...

I love the way you pieced without pins. I am also a non pinner. love the fabrics also.

Lisa Bruce said...

This is absolutely beautiful! I love the placement of all the colors.

Jane, Mulberry Patch Quilts said...

Beautiful quilt top! And love the way you pieced the curved seams with no pins...you make it look so easy.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful quilt Mary and like you, I love that collection! I've never made a Apple Core quilt.....it is now on my bucket list.

Susan L. said...

Awesome quilt! I hope I will be brave enough to try an Apple Core quilt one of these days.

Allison said...

Apples were the perfect choice for these colors. Nice work! I'm a retired teacher and I get a bit melancholy in the fall when school starts.

Vicki in MN said...

Nicely done and the perfect one to go with our theme!

Annmarie said...

Cherry Berry is my favorite new Island Batik so far in the blog hop. So cheery! Your quilt top is wonderful. The apple cores give it lovely motion.

Joyce Carter said...

Your top is so beautiful with all the bright colors. I really like the Apple Core pattern. It has been on my to-do list for a long time, but haven't gotten up the courage to start it yet.
Thank you for the giveaway. I follow on GFC.

Jayne said...

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. I have always been a little scared of curves but you have made it look so easy. I must give it another go because your quilt is beautiful

Annmarie said...

I would love to follow you with Bloglovin but could not find the link anywhere. So I'll try Blogger & Facebook instead. Looking forward to seeing Zen - sounds mysterious.

Linda Williamson said...

Thanks for the great video. I follow on FB. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

Calicojoan said...

What a fun apple core quilt. Those colors make those apples look fresh enough to eat! LOL!!

Monica said...

I can see what you might not want to giveaway your batiks..... The colors are great.

Christine said...

Great video! I found your tip to be very helpful. The colors in your quilt top is gorgeous. Happy Quilting :)

Cecilia said...

I haven't made an apple core quilt yet, but after seeing yours, I may have too! Thanks for sharing. I follow you via email and on Facebook.

Quilting Tangent said...

Pretty Apple Core quilt, I never made one. 24Tangent@gmail.com

beaquilter said...

totally HAD to use the apple core for this apple print ;) looks great!

tac73 said...

Loving the fabrics in this collection and your quilt. Thanks for the tips. I follow on bloglovin'.

@lutzcats said...

I follow on Bloglovin, and NOT afraid of curves. I've got to play with the apple core-thank you for the inspiration! lutzcats (at) yahoo (dot) com

Pamela said...

Nice video! This is going to be a fun quilt when it's finished!

Sewgirl said...

Wow, your quilt is turning out great for such a challenging (to me) project. Love the fabric line..so beautiful. I follow via Bloglovin and FB! Thanks for all you share.

Anna brown said...

Very very nice I am doing the apple cores with my scraps not an easy quilt...lol... happyness04431@yahoo.com

Vicki H said...

Thanks for the tips. I love your colorful quilt. I am following with GFC.

Anonymous said...

Such vibrant colors! <3

Lori said...

what gorgeous fabrics. ohh your quilt is so pretty and fun. these fabrics really go well together. thank you for the video. I have wanted to try apple core but it just seemed like it takes forever. I can see that it does not now. thanks. oh I follow by email and FB

Barb said...

Love that beautiful rose color border on your quilt!
barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)
I signed up for your email.

Barb said...

Woops--Guess I shouldn't have called it a border, but the apple core pinks are what I love!
barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

Michele T said...

Love those colours! I am following you via Bloglovin and email 😉 Surprises are always the best!

Kathy E. said...

I have only seen a few apple core quilts and seeing yours in Island Batiks fabrics is the pretties of them all! It really gives the quilt movement and that is one thing I always look for! I follow you on Bloglovin' and by email.

OhioLori said...

Love your Quilt!! I recently got an Apple Core Template!! Thank you for encouraging me to make one quick!! :)

I follow your thru Email & Bloglovin. Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too...love surprises! :D

VA said...

Such a pretty quilt! I follow by email.

pamspretties57 said...

Love that quilt. Love me some batiks. I follow by email. Thanks for having the giveaway. Blessed be, hugs!!!
pamspretties57 at gmail dot com

barbara woods bewtjw@gmail.com said...

Love that Apple core!

Sharon said...

Fabulous and fun quilt!

Lee said...

Very cool quilt!!

Angie said...

The Cherry Berry fabric I'd amazing! I like your quilt alot! Thank you for sharing! Enjoy your day!! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

Mom C said...

Fun, fun,fun. Thanks for the tip on curve sewing. Love the colors.

Booking Lost Time said...

I love how the colors flow and jump out in this quilt.

Maria said...

Love the quilt! Thank you!