Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Storm At Sea Blog Hop


 Hi, and welcome to my day on the Storm at Sea blog hop!  I'm excited to share Petals Provence with you.  The Ambassadors are sharing the fabrics in the Surprise wrapping from the July boxes.  I love it!

This is such a pretty collection.  I do love the crisp blues and clear yellows, but the tjaps (chops) are gorgeous, too.  This was designed by Kathy Engle and will be in shops soon, but you may find precuts, now.  


I love the delicate florals with vine on the top of this photo from Island Batik, but also, there's a pretty large circular floral.  The colors range from pale lemon to darkest navy.  and there are dots and petals and so many pretty fabrics.  The ambassadors were asked to make a Storm at Sea quilt for this hop, and they have all been outstanding.  Please scroll to the end for links to see the others.

This is called Flower in Buttercup.

I've been working on mine, but it's not finished yet.  I've had more medical issues and need another surgery, plus the eye surgery didn't work as anticipated and will need to be redone.  Medical tests, exams and diagnosis have taken over my life at the moment, but I'm hoping I will be cured after the surgery.  If not, radiation or chemo may be needed, but I won't know for another few weeks.  Let's just say I'm scared, but hopeful.  Mostly, I feel okay, but every once in a while my body tells me it's not fine. 

Here's my planned quilt. 

I used the sample ideas in EQ8 for their Storm at Sea layouts, and made the blocks 9" so I could use the Accuquilt GO! Storm at Sea BOB die I got a few years ago.  If you only do 2 sides of diamonds and small squares, it's 9" but with diamonds surrounding, it's a 12" block. With the yellow and navy, I wanted this to look like a sunny sky, so maybe the day after the storm.  It gives me something to look forward to during this medical challenge.  I've pieced most of the blocks and have assembled the center row, and parts of the remaining, but need to make 4 more large blocks, and a few more diamonds and small square in a square units.  I'm cutting each color as I need, and actually sewing the rows as I go, which is not my usual assembly style (I web the top together in columns and then sew the rows), but because this one has directional blocks (some corner units are different colors) I went with the Get it Done Now plan, lol Here's some of the blocks so far.  I do have more, but didn't pin them on for the photo.  

It will have 5 rows of 5 main square in a square units, and end with the diamond/small units on the edges.  This shows 3 of the 5 rows, and I do have more of the medium blues done.  Just need the last corners, and borders.  Then I plan to layer it on a royal blue Minkee wide backing and put it on Vanna for a wave or spiral design.  I used 18 of the fabrics in the collection, and the White solid that is provided in the Ambassador boxes.  The yellow and dark navy in the borders are from the Basics collection, Cornmeal and Marbles Storm.  With borders, it will be about 88" square.  Of course, I'm using Schmetz microtek needles and Aurifil thread.  I have some white Hobb's batting waiting to go, too. 

The hardest part was actually deciding on a design.  This was my first thought, and then I had about 5 more ideas, and each was good.  This won out, because I felt it would showcase the fabric the best, and because the medical challenge happened in the middle of the planning, and I just needed to concentrate on the easiest.  I'm sure the other designs will show up here eventually.  

I love the movement the straight piecing gives, to make it look like there are curves. It's a fun challenge, and I know there will be more Storm quilts in my future.  In the meantime, I'll get this one done soon.  Fabrics and thread and the Accuquilt GO! die machine, plus Hobb's batting and Schmetz needles are provided by Island Batik for my use as Ambassador. 

Enter to win Island Batik's prize here.
Please follow my Instagram page for more fun inspiration, and follow my blog.  I'm working on updating the email list, so please be patient.  I'll choose someone who comments to win some Island Batik fabric from me.  Do you have something fun planned for the holidays?  What's your favorite treat or activity?  
Thanks for visiting, and please visit the other Ambassadors.  You'll be blown away!  Gorgeous projects and designs, and the fabric.  Enjoy! 

November 8:

Mania Hatzioannidi, Mania for Quilts

Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter

November 9:

Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts

Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting

November 10:

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore

November 11:

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

November 12:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 2 and Giveaway on the Island Batik blog.

Thanks for visiting!




Monday, September 20, 2021

By Annie bag Challenge

 Hi, and thanks for stopping by!  The Island Batik Ambassador Challenge for September was to make a bag using patterns By Annie, and fabrics from the new collections.  


I picked the main print and accent fabric from the Fancy Feathers collection, and the lining from the Foundations, Wisteria.  By Annie provided a choice of patterns, and all the supplies to make the bag.  I picked the Tools of the Trade Large bag, a large portfolio style bag that can carry a cutting mat, rulers, assorted notions and scissors, as well as fabric for making a project.  It can also be adapted for artists and any creative person who needs a large bag to hold supplies.  Large sketch books, pencils, and all drawing/painting supplies would work, too!  By Annie sent the zippers, webbing for the straps, the mesh and fold-over elastic, magnets for the flap and triangle rings, plus Soft and Stable for making the bag. 


First step is to watch the Add-On Videos.  You'll get a coupon with the purchase of the bag to use for free access to the videos, and they're very helpful.  The pattern is great, too.  Great detail steps, suggestions, and more.  Together, the pattern and videos will help you get excellent results.  

First, read all the directions.  Annie has created a unique way to make bags, and once you try it, you'll see why it works.  I quilted the outer fabric, lining and Soft and Stable on my Handi-Quilter Amara long arm.  I used Aurifil 40-three in 1243, Dusty Lavender, and a panto called Kim's Feather.

Next, you prepare the parts.  Make the mesh pocket, the outer pocket, straps, padded sleeve, and flap.  



Once you have the parts ready, you assemble the bag and bind it, and you're basically done.  You can adjust the spaces of the sections on the inner sleeve, so you can personalize it for your needs.  Mine has a section that holds my favorite 8 1/2" square ruler, plus scissors, Olfa rotary cutter, Fiskars snips and seam ripper, Sewline pencils and more.  Behind the sleeve I can fit my 12 1/2 by 24 1/2 Creative Grids ruler as well as an 18 by 24" cutting mat!  
I was taking a drive with friends to The Milk-Pail U-Pick Apple Orchard, so I grabbed the bag for some photos. 



You can use the free patterns to make a shoulder strap that connects to the triangle rings, or clip keys there.  The front pocket is a combination slip and zipper.  Phones, directions, etc can fit there.

Open it wide for access to both sides with rulers and mats on the left, and a mesh zipper pocket for fabric, blocks and patterns on the front.  

Don't forget to grab an extra pack of Schmetz needles!  I used the Denim needle for this bag, since it has a few sections of multiple layers, and it worked wonderfully.  I did much of the assembly with the Even Feed foot on my Janome Horizon 9450, and Aurifil 40wt Mako thread, which is the perfect combination for success.  



Please check the other Island Batik Ambassadors for their bags.  You'll get great inspiration!  The variety of designs and fabric used is great.  Have fun planning your bag! 

On a side note, I've contacted the winner from the Studio 180 hop, and Bonnie will get a supply of fabric from me when I can pack the envelope.  I'm having more cornea surgery, so it may be a while.  I'm hoping this graft/implant will help fix the issues I've been having.  I have Keratoconus and my cornea graft from 7 years ago is failing.   I'll let you know how it works out.  

Thanks for visiting.

Maryellen





Monday, August 23, 2021

Try a Tool Blog Hop with Moonlight Sky

 Hi, and welcome to my day on the Try a Tool Studio 180 Blog Hop with Island Batik!  



This month the Island Batik Ambassadors are trying a new (to us) tool from Deb Tucker and Studio 180 Designs, and using the Spring 2021 Collections.  We hope to inspire you to check with your favorite Island Batik retailer and use a new collection for something fun.  Island Batik provided us with the tool and the collection, plus 2 yards of dark and light fabrics, and Hobb's Batting, along with Schmetz needles and Aurifil thread.  

I was sent the Moonlight Sky collection for Kate Colleran.  It's a pretty grouping of cobalt blue, apple green, aqua, and shades of purple, plus black and white designs.  The tjaps include fronds, stars, moons, and various other geometrics, as well as a checkerboard design, triangles and doves.



I was sent the Rapid Fire Hunter's Star Petite tool and Hidden Treasures Book to inspire the design.
I like using Studio 180 Tools. They make me a better piecer, and work in a variety of sizes.  I have quite a few of them that I've purchased, and Hunter's Star was a bucket list quilt.  This tool has you cut the trapezoid shape as a precision size, with oversized triangle and diamond shapes that you trim down.  The book's instructions suggest 7" blocks, but I decided to make 8".  The chart included with the tool has the cutting suggestions for the 5-8" finished blocks.  I do like to go big, lol.  

I looked at all of the designs in the book, and I have another pattern that uses the larger Rapid Fire Hunter's Star, and kept coming back to La Caribe.  It's also in blue, aqua and lime, which may have influenced my decision, but I liked the layout, and that it was different from the traditional look. I did choose to do the alternate layout (lights and darks are reversed), and picked the blues, aqua and lime shades of the collection.  I picked Sprinkles for the background.  
From Hidden Treasures

To test out the tool, I cut enough pieces for a few blocks, and was happy with the mix. I continued to cut pieces from 9 fabrics from the collection, plus the blue Cheerio fabric and Sky for the borders, as well as one of the 1/2 yard collection pieces, Apple, that was in the latest box.  I was quickly able to assemble 48 blocks.  With the borders, it finishes at 74 by 88"
All pieced and trimmed, and perfect because the tool makes it easy!
I think the quilt looks like it belongs at my local pool!  

Or by the mural of the beach scene on the bathhouse at the pool.
Rath Park in Franklin Square, NY.  Thanks to the lifeguards who cooperated and held the quilt for photos!  I wanted to get someone jumping off the diving board for a splash, but no one was on line.  The colors work so well with the location! 

Sun Deck at the pool. 


I used Aurifil Forty-3 in  2710 Light Robin's Egg with Kim's Feather panto on my Handi-Quilter Amara with Prostitcher.  Hobb's Heirloom Bleached Cotton 80/20 is inside, and a grey swirl wide back is on the back.  



I used the Apple fabric to make a faux piped binding.  I love the spark of green at the edge. 

Please visit Jane's blog to see what she's done with her tool and this collection. 

And the rest of the blogs this week! 

August 23:

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine

August 24:

Megan Best, Bestquilter
Janet Yamamoto, Whispers of Yore

August 25:

Claudia Porter, Create with Claudia
Michelle Roberts, Creative Blonde

August 26:

Leah Malasky, Quilted Delights
Andi Stanfield, True Blue Quilts

August 27:

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 3 and Giveaway

August 30:

Joanne Hart, Unicorn Harts
Connie Kauffman, Kauffman Designs

Please leave a comment telling me your favorite color, and I'll send you something if your name is drawn at the end of the hop.  Please have a US address, or be willing to pay the additional shipping to your country.  Please follow my blog, look for me on Instagram and Facebook.  Click on the Rafflecopter link to win a gorgeous precut from Island Batik!  



Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a comment!  
Maryellen

Saturday, August 7, 2021

August OMG

 I've forgotten to post my monthly goals for a few months, so I'm back on track, I hope.  Things have been a little nuts, but I've been sewing and did finish a UFO.  More on that later.  

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts.  

For August, I need to get my Island Batik Ambassador Challenge completed.  Here's the fabric, and the ruler for it. 


I currently have 4 of 48 blocks done pieced, 6 more ready to be pieced and one trimmed to correct finished size.  I'll share more progress photos on Instagram, but the blog hop starts Monday, so please check out the other Ambassadors and the schedule and give-away at Island Batik.

My other goal is to finish the July Never Too Early challenge, which needs to be quilted and have the lights added. 

What are you working on? 

I wanted to share some recent finishes.  I've been doing quite a few customer quilts on Vanna, my Handi_quilter Amara Long Arm, and here are some shots of them.
Marilyn Hamilton Jackson's Log Cabin quilt with Malachite panto.

Maureen Mitchell's scripture quilt with Pieces of my Heart panto. 

I finally finished this UFO, which was the Try a Tool challenge from 2020 with Split Rects.  It was a gift for my great-nephew Noah, who asked for a new quilt.  It's almost 90" square so it should be enough to get him through college.  They were visiting, so I was able to give it to him in person.  I had 9 blocks done from the first time, and a few of the pieced centers done, and worked on it from Saturday to Monday, and finished the top (25 blocks), and quilted it on Tuesday, did the binding Wednesday and met them for dinner Wednesday night, for delivery.  I put it on him for the photo, and he just said "Ahhhh".  He loves it. His first quilt featured the Cars fabric, so he wanted something more "teen" appropriate.  I have plans for quilts for his 2 sisters, which I hope to get done by Christmas.
Island Batik Stashbuilder Rolls and scraps from other collections were used.  The main issue was I was unable to get a bolt of Navy mottled until recently, because of shipping issues.  (You know why, lol)

Customer Roz Liebenthal's quilts. 

Computer theme with Boxtrot panto.

Jelly Roll Race with Sachet panto.

Elaine Alvarez asked me to add borders and use Circle Meander.

And I finally finished this table runner, with Dancing Flowers panto.  It was left-over blocks from the Island Batik Ambassador challenge from April.  

I'm hoping to get 1 more quilt done for Roz this week, and the second for Patricia Fox, so I can deliver them.  I also need to quilt the fabric for the September By Annie bag challenge.  

I think that brings me up to date with current projects.  
Thanks for stopping by.

Maryellen