Sunday, January 31, 2021

January 2021 Island Batik Ambassador Challenge

 So much news!  First, The Island Batik Ambassador challenge for January 2021 was Placemats.  I couldn't decide what to do, or which season I needed placemats for.  I have for Valentine's, Spring, and regular time, and have other fabric for July, but not batik, so I grabbed the scraps from the quilt above (new pattern for Stars and Bars coming soon).  The collection is Freedom 2, which is shipping to stores now.  I know precuts are available, and fabric will be coming soon.  I make tumbler flags, and thought it would be fun to use the Accuquilt GO! 4" tumbler die for placemats.  I decided 6 across by 3 rows would be a good size, and made 6.  I had scraps left, so cut more shapes and alternated the colors for a patriotic table runner. 



My mats measure about 19 by 12, and I left the edges with the tumbler shape angles, instead of cutting them straight.  I thought it was more fun.  The runner measures about 28 by 12", again with the angled edges.  

As you can see from this photo, I didn't get the binding finished on 4 of the mats, but that will happen tonight.  The project required 12 strips of binding, so the edges are longer than most king size quilts.  It takes a while!  



I put the runner and 3 place mats on one strip of wide backing, which was at the end of the Medallion quilt.  

I used Aurifil 40wt in Liberty to quilt them, and the remaining Hobb's Heirloom cotton batting, but didn't have enough room on the backing for the last 3 mats.  


The panto is Celebrity from My Creative Stitches.  I actually set up one area for all 4 pieces, with each piece basted individually.  Just a few minutes later I had them all stitched. 

This week was pretty hectic.  I did finish all of the FMQ on the Blazing Star medallion before starting the quilting on the runner and mats, and will put the Blazing Star back on the frame soon to do the side borders (I don't know how to chunk the computer designs to work with vertical stitching space, so I just remove and reload the quilt sideways, then I can set the area and stitch across, like I did on top and bottom).  

I added more backing fabric and also taught my sister-in-law and her twin how to use Vanna.  They're new quilters, and I'm so excited for them.  They had a blast, and are thinking of their next project, which we'll do in a Zoom class, since they're back in Colorado.  Ellen even bought a sewing machine!  Arlene is getting the one I purchased for my mom about 8 years ago, and Ellen's is the same.  They'll have twin machines (I think one needs stickers, lol)  




They picked their strip colors from an assortment of Island Batik pieces I sometimes get when I purchase for my Etsy shop, and each set was long enough for 2 mats.  They picked their thread color and the designs for quilting, and did the edge basting, and loved watching Vanna do her thing.  After the mug rug pieces were quilted, I added my last 3 placemats onto the backing, plus another topper (I'll share after it's bound) and quilted them.  Then I cut their mats into large mug rug size, and did the binding for them, so they could take finished projects home.  But binding 8 mug rugs takes time, too.  That's another reason I didn't get to bind all my placemats.  

Arlene and Ellen were in NY for almost 2 months, to help their siblings clean out their Mom's house, after her passing in December.  I was glad to have so many chances to spend time with them while they were here, and show them why I love sewing.  They made mask pouches, a zipper pouch and pillow covers from their mom's clothes, we worked together on cleaning out more of my house (Mom's stuff) and sewing lessons, plus some shopping, lots of good food, and even the holiday light show at Jones' Beach.  They gave me one of their mom's china sets, so I'm looking forward to getting them in my cabinet, and will remember Helene with love every time I use them.  She loved my cooking, and my treats.  

And I also have another new project.  Someone on a local Facebook page asked me to finish a quilt her mom started about 20 years ago.  It has some hand quilting, and she's happy with having it finished on the machine.  I'll have to find coordinating binding. 
I'll have to stitch extra fabric on the backing to get it loaded, then will just do a similar 1/4" line with rulers.  When I met Maureen today at The Flower Shoppe, where she works, she handed me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers as thanks for agreeing to finish the quilt.  I was shocked and thrilled!  
I had to go put the arrangement I made on the new runner, just because! lol  


I'm going to show you how to do the angled edge with regular binding (no bias cut binding needed) in another post.  This one is long enough.  

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal.  
I did finish other projects this month, and put them in another post.  I know some of my goals switched after I set them on my calendar, but it's all good.  I do have finishes.  

Thanks for reading my novella! lol 


Some of the products used in this post were given to me as Island Batik Ambassador.  
Others were purchased, or left over from a catalog quilt. 

Island Batik Ambassadors are doing a blog hop starting February 1 (tomorrow) for Create for a Cause quilts using the new Fall 2020 Collections.  Please go to Island Batik to enter to win this week's give away and the schedule.  

Thanks for reading!  I told you there was a lot of news!

Maryellen

4 comments:

Kathleen said...

Great job on the runners....I have a tumbler to do....just waiting for the inspiration and this is helping!

Christine said...

Nice placematsM happy to hear you had such much time with your sister in law.

Jennifer Thomas said...

Wow! That was a lot. You've been so busy. I really like the angled edge you did on the placemats and runner. How nice that you had that sewing time with your relatives, too. Have a lovely day.

Emily said...

The tumblers look great in these red white and blues! Great choice, and I like that you didn't straighten out the edges. Lovely! And those flowers!! Perfect timing for your table photo shoot!