Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Quilt Modern Blog Hop

 Hi, and welcome to my day on the Quilt Modern Blog Hop for Island Batik Ambassadors!



Have I mentioned lately that I love being an Island Batik Ambassador?  We were provided a secret bundle in the January box that I'm sharing today.  We're also provided Aurifil thread, Schmetz needles, and Hobb's Batting!  I always have Schmetz needles in my Janome Horizon 9450.  I love how long the Microtex needles last and how wonderfully they sew Island Batik fabric.  Aurifil is always used for piecing, and as often as possible for quilting.  


This gorgeous Jewel Quest collection for Nan Baker of Perfect Spots was my secret bundle.  I also got 2 yards of a dark and a light.  The dark was the dark wheat print fabric I used in the border, and the light was the aqua dots.  That's 14 yards!  With that generosity I like to make something large, and we're supposed to try to use as many of the fabrics as possible.  I think I used 19 out of 20, and that's only because I dropped the half yard piece and didn't notice when I was cutting the squares!  lol.  

The tjaps (chops, wax stamps used in batiking) include leaves, grapes and leaves, pine and holly, corn and wheat, and lots of dots.  

After playing around with different ideas, I went with a pattern from Quilt in a Day that I've used before, Sew Radiant.  It uses squares of fabric plus the background divider, and can be made larger if you want.  I played on EQ8 using a Signature block (one of the basics) so the illustration is not exact, but coloring it in solid colors gave me the plan (I didn't upload the fabrics since it would be scrappy looking, anyway).  I decided to make it 10 by 10 blocks, for a total of 100, and add borders on all 4 sides, so it's larger than the pattern suggests, but the idea is the same.  I think it's graphic and fits the alternate grid design, since it's not centered.

I sorted the collection into purple and green/blue and then sorted those by light, medium and dark.  The 2 lightest would be the lighter round of lavender, and the purples would hopefully shade enough to make the rounds radiate.  I tested the white strips, plus grey and black, and asked Megan Best of Best Quilting (she's also posting today) and she suggested white.  I'm not usually someone who makes modern style quilts, so this is always a stretch for me, but since Modern is classified by alternative grids, bold use of color and negative space, and she does an awesome job of it, I took her advice.  
And if you haven't visited her yet, you must!!  I can't believe her photo shoot for her quilt in this collection, it's perfect.  Just come back to finish reading my post, please, lol. 

I counted up how many of each color way I would need, and grabbed the fabrics I wanted to use for that group.  I cut each color as I went, but soon I had a pile of pretty blocks, all nicely squared. 

My son came for Mother's Day weekend, and that put off some of my sewing time.  The project that got the attention was the replacement of the closet doors in the Long Arm room.  Vanna, my Handi-Quilter Amara has her own room, lol.  She just fits!  The closet was finally cleared of my mom's hoarded things, and I wanted to store the bolts and precuts from my Etsy shop in there.  The bolts, unfortunately, would not fit on the rack with the original 70 year old doors.  While I could have just removed the doors and put up a curtain, I wanted a place for a peg board system to store quilting rulers and thread, among other things.  I picked up a Barn Door kit, and that's what was installed this weekend.  Thanks, Matt!! Best Mother's Day Present! 

I still have more organizing to do, but this is a good start, and will give me room in my sewing studio and the guest room (which is also bolt storage, lol  Please buy some fabric from me!!)  

So, since he was also painting the closet I didn't get time to quilt this top yet, but it's on Vanna tonight, and will be quilted soon.  

Here are more photos.  The top measures 74" square, and I'll use Bubbles Everywhere panto and Forty3 in Dusty Lavender, color # 1243.  I have a dark green wide back for the backing, and Warm & White batting, since I don't have any cotton Hobb's white left.  I prefer white when using the white fabric for the background, as the natural batts tend to have a little show through.  It's less with Island Batik's solid white, but I wanted to be safe.
I opted to continue the design into the borders, but on 4 sides, following the pattern directions.  


It will look better after quilting, but I didn't get that far yet, and needed photos.  I misread my calendar and thought I was supposed to post on Wednesday, so here it is. lol  I'll share other photos when it's done.


Triangles continue into the border.


Ready to be quilted, with the color of Aurifil chosen.  I love Forty-3, which is a 3 ply Mako cotton that works so well with the high speed of a long arm, and adds a great texture to the top.  

Close Up of the blocks.  Aren't the colors gorgeous?  

So, since you've gotten this far, please leave a comment on my post for a chance to win some Fat Quarters from me.  I'll get a bundle together, and will ship to US addresses.  If you are from another country, and wish to pay the difference in shipping cost, then I'll make it worth your cost and stuff a flat rate envelope.  

Island Batik also has a give away, with the Glacier Bay collection, using the rafflecopter link below. 


Please also visit  
For today's posts, and check with the Island Batik blog for the rest of the schedule.  

Thanks so much for stopping!  Enjoy the hop! 

Maryellen

46 comments:

Quilting Gail said...

Very pretty quilt! Love the white - it's perfect!

Homesewn said...

Beautiful. Love the colors !

Jane Hauprich said...

Very pretty!! Can’t wait to see it quilted!!!

Gene Black said...

Very pretty.

Caring for a quilt? wash it, use it, love it.

Bonnie58 said...

I love your quilt. The design shows off the luscious colours of the batiks so nicely. Thanks for sharing

For the love of geese said...

This is going to be so much prettier after quilting, the colors are fabulous. A visit is always nice but a productive visit is the best, glad to see you're house is coming along.

Anita Jackson @ Domestic Felicity said...

To make a quilt last? I usually minimize washing and definitely hand wash when I can. Love the barn door style closet door!

Anonymous said...

What a unique and beautiful, eye-catching quilt. Love it! I don’t wash my quilts often, and when I do, it;s a gentle cycle.

Pamela said...

I love the glow that these colors create together! And your design is positively inspired! It really highlights the colors and keeps the eye moving. Thanks so much for sharing this beautiful quilt!

CyndyL said...

Love your quilt and colors, the white really makes them pop

Julie said...

Great pattern choice to showcase this fabric collection. I love the purples and greens together. I will put this on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing.

Quilthaventhreads said...

Very pretty quilt. I love that fabric can’t wait to see how you quilt it!

Andi said...

You did an awesome job making a modern quilt! I love the off-center layout.

Quilting Tangent said...

Pretty design, I like the diamond points in the border. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Kathleen said...

Love this quilt! It is a perfect way to showcase and get a lovley large quilt out of it. Hooray for sons that are handy and help.

Kathleen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sharon Aurora said...

That quilt is so eye-catching. It would be beautiful on any bed.

Jayne said...

I love these colours. A great collection

works4me said...

That is beautiful.

Anne said...

I love the colors in this fabric collection from Island Batik. I look forward to seeing the tjaps in person. Your quilt has striking contrast and movement. Great job.

Carol Ethier said...

Beautiful colors-reminds me of a peacock! And the layout provides a lot of different quilting designs! Looking forward to seeing what you decide on!

Sally said...

This is SOOO pretty. It makes me think of stained glass!

Diantha said...

Love these colors. And I like how your design goes great with them.

Cecilia said...

Gorgeous colors and quilt!
cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

@lutzcats said...

Island Batiks and Quilt in a Day pattern=GORGEOUS! I wash quilts in quilt soap in cold on gentle and machine dry.

cghundley said...

Gorgeous colors and
great design to your
quilt.
Carla from Utah

Angie said...

Your quilt is beautiful! Such great colors. Enjoy your day! 🌟🌻 angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

Jollygirl said...

Fantastic quilt. Caring for a quilt: keep out of direct sunlight, wash in cold water, use it and love it.

Michele T said...

Love the beautiful jewel colours and the white makes them sparkle. Gorgeous!

Michele T said...

I forgot to add how to care for quilts... keep them out of direct sunlight to prevent fading.

Brenda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brenda said...

I love the colors you used! I don't think sewing rooms ever get organized! I don't have any certain way I care for quilts.

cjmont said...

i love the way you extended the design into the borders, very creative.

Marie said...

my tip for caring for quilts : I let my quilt dry flat, no drier

Barb said...

Beautiful colors in your quilt--it's going to be great!!
barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

Barb said...

Rotate your quilts and wash only when necessary on gentle cycle, cold water. barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

Preeti said...

The colors are gorgeous as most IB fabrics are but your design really brings out the beauty of the fabrics. Extending into the border makes it truly modern :-)

Jennifer Schifano Thomas said...

This is so vibrant and definitely modern! I like the off center look. I can't wait to see it quilted and finished up. I'm loving your new barn door closet, too. Have a great day!

JANET said...

Love the colors and fabric in your quilt! The white makes the quilt shine.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

It looks great. Love the colours. The barn door was a great idea. I remove the doors from my closet in my sewing room.

Sue D said...

Love the fabrics and this modern design.

ShirleyC said...

Wow! That's just awesome work! Beautiful!

Beth said...

What a pretty quilt. Your blocks are big enough to allow the batik designs to be evident, which is really important with Island Batiks, I always think. Thanks for sharing.

MrsV said...

What a lovely quilt top looking forward to seeing it quilted.
Growing up, at gramma's house we knew the top quilt was for decoration only, and it got folded down to the end of the bed before you got in for the night. We're now allowed to use them, but old habits die hard.

nicolesender said...

What an absolutely lovely quilt! The colors are outstanding!
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

Dawn F said...

I love your quilt! Feast for the eyes :)