Monday, December 5, 2022

Island Batik Ambassador Lone Star Blog Hop



Just wait until you see the inspiration with this hop!  The Island Batik Ambassadors were asked to use the collections shipping to stores soon, and make a lone star style quilt.  I'm sure you'll see some unique ones, and I can tell you the colors and collections are gorgeous.  Thanks for stopping by on my day.  Lone Stars are a very popular design, using a variety of diamond shapes to create a larger diamond, which becomes a star with setting triangles and corners.  I used the book Radiant Star by Eleanor Burns for my quilt.  I've done a few this way, and think the directions and design options are great.  

I was given the Baby Bloomers collection, by Kathy Engle for Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler. It's a collection full of pastels: lavender, yellow, aqua, pink and gorgeous cotton candy multi blends, and the tjaps include clouds, moons and stars, checkerboards, and the cow jumping over the moon. It's sweet and happy, and I loved using it. We were also provided Hobb's batting, Aurifil thread for piecing, Schmetz needles for the domestic machine, and a great Alpaca and wool pressing mat to make our seams flat, by Prairie Spirit Alpacas. The bundle was the Surprise bundle in our June Ambassador boxes.


The first step is to decide how many colors you want to use, and I picked 7, but the book has options for 4 and 6.  The second step is to make strip sets, which are then cut on a 45* angle to make the diamond strips that make up the design in the large diamond. 

We're asked to use as many fabrics in the collection, and I used 17 total. I sorted them into shades of lavender, pink, yellow and aqua, then the multi color ones. The deeper lavender is the center and star points, and the medium lavenders are the Radiant row. The multis surround that row. We were also given 2 yards of a light and a dark, which I used for the 2 outer borders and binding. I used White solid for the background, after trying out Sprinkles and some of the other batik Neutrals. White seemed to make the colors and shades stand out more. Here's photos of me testing out the backgrounds, once I had some of the star wedges done. Of course, when tying to use as many fabrics as possible, I went big. Like really big. My quilt finishes at 94" square. That's a large queen size.

I lay out ideas on the guest bed, and take a photo.  It helps me decide.  

I opted for the small stars for the corners, and think it adds more sparkle to the top.  This photo is just before adding borders.  First I used a white solid, then leftovers of the strip sets for the diamonds, then the Yellow Oatmeal dots I got as the light, and Pink Raspberry dots for the outer border. 

I quilted it on my Handi-Quilter Amara with Pro-Stitcher, using Feather Dreams edge to edge panto from My Creative Stitches, and a Aurifil 40-3 in 2410, Pale Pink.  I wanted something that added a little to the white, and still looked good on the other colors.  Subtle, but pretty.


I used Hobb's Tuscany cotton bleached batting, and a wide white tone on tone backing I had.  As you can see, it's a big quilt.  The frame for the long arm is 10 feet long.  

Details: Baby Bloomers collection
Pattern: Quilt in a Day's Radiant Star
Size: 94" square
Thread:  Aurifil 50wt for piecing and 40-3 for quilting.
Schmetz size 12 Micron needle for piecing. 
Batting :  Hobb's Tuscany bleached cotton King size. 
Machine pieced and machine quilted by me!  

On my queen size bed. 
Early Morning in  the frosty air.

Pieced Border details, along with the Little star.
Center shot.
What happens when you swirl the star?
Little star with detail of the quilting texture.

True colors in the sunlight.  It was a challenge getting the photos.  Thankfully, my son is visiting and he's tall, but the quilt is huge.  The colors is so much prettier in person.
Please stop by Gail's blog to see what she did with the same collection, and click on the link for the Rafflecopter for Island Batik's give away.  Please comment here, as well, if you want to be entered in a give-away for some Island Batik fabric from me.  Have you made a Lone Star?  I do hope you're on my mailing list!  

Remember to check the blogs for the rest of the week, too.  Have fun, and get inspired, and see the new collections coming to a store near you.  If they don't carry Island Batik, ask them to get the collection you love, or check on the Island Batik website for stores that carry it.  I have some for sale in my Etsy shop, and can't wait to get more of the new collections.  

WEEK 1

December 5

Maryellen McAuliffe, Mary Mack Made Mine (Thanks for stopping by!)

Gail Sheppard, Quilting Gail

December 6

Megan Best, Bestquilter

Brenda Alburl, Songbird Designs

December 7

Preeti Harris, Sew Preeti Quilts

Emily Leachman, The Darling Dogwood

December 8

Jennifer Thomas, Curlicue Creations

December 9

Blog Hop Round-Up Week 1 and Giveaway 

36 comments:

MooseCarol said...

This is a lovely Lone Star! Great work.

Kathy Bruckman said...

That is a gorgeous quilt. I have never done a lone star although I would love to.

Anonymous said...

My all time favorite is a lone star - what a beautiful quilt using this collection. Thank you! Karen Overton

Joyce Carter said...

WOW! Maryellen, your quilt is absolutely gorgeous! And I really love these colors. I have always admired these quilts, but I have never tried to make one. I think they are beyond my expertise.

Elizabeth said...

You did a great job on a difficult pattern. Love the fabrics.

Brenda @ Songbird Designs said...

That is beautiful, Maryellen! I love the corner stars and the borders. At 94" square, I think this would work quite well on my king sized bed! LOL I love it!

Lori Smanski said...

oh but this fabric is lovely. Your quilt is gorgeous. thanks for sharing. my first pattern in my first quilt was a nine patch.

Barb said...

Beautiful Lone Star--I have Eleanor's pattern also and now am inspired to try it!!

denise said...

Beautiful finish, you are so lucky to have received this collection.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful quilt, MaryEllen! The stars in the corner are great and really add to the quilt.

Vicki in MN said...

This lone star is so gorgeous!! My first quilt was a dresden plate, 45 years ago!

Quilting Tangent said...

Never made a long star quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

Sharon Aurora said...

I've never made a lone star. Your quilt looks fantastic!

Jayne said...

This is beautiful. I've never made a lone star quilt. My first quilt was a sampler quilt

JANET said...

Lovely Lonestar! I have been wanting to make one for a while. Maybe this hop will nudge me to get started. I will keep you in my prayers! God is in control. Happy Holidays to all!!!!!

Anonymous said...

My first quilt was a kit with the hungry caterpillar. I’ve been trying to get brave enough to try a lone star.

Cecilia said...

I designed a baby quilt with four patches and half square triangles. It was for my first grand baby. Your quilt is beautiful!

nicolesender said...

My very first quilt was actually a comforter made with 2 sheets and lots of stuffing. I tied it with yarn abou every 4 inches!

Pamela said...

What a beauty! I agree - the white was the perfect background choice to show off the lovely fabrics in this!

Pamela said...

Your quilt is stunning! A lone star is on my bucket list, and yours is definitely an inspiration. My first quilt (about 30 years ago), was made of corduroy squares that I cut from a lot of old pants. It was backed with a sheet and tied with yarn. My dogs are still enjoying it in their dog bed. LOL.

Lee said...

The lone start is on my list to make! Yours is beautiful! My first quilt was a log cabin - I made it at 13 along with my mother and grandmother!

Anonymous said...

Such an intimidating pattern but your instructions do make it seem a bit easier to tackle. You did a beautiful job. I have been quilting so long I don't remember my first quilt which is probably a good thing! It is nice to reflect on my progress though. Beautiful job on your very large lone star!!

Jennifer Thomas said...

It's beautiful, Maryellen! I love the look of the small stars with the big one. Have a great day.

Preeti said...

Best Lone Star Quilt I have ever seen. It is a stunning finish!

Anorina @SameliasMum said...

Ahhhhmazing! You've made an absolutely spectacular quilt.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous lone star!!!

Cindy Shelley said...

This is a wonderful quilt. The colors are gorgeous.

Diantha said...

Such a beautiful lone-star quilt! That design has been on my bucket list. I'm excited to see various examples!

Sara said...

Gorgeous color arrangement!

CyndyL said...

Love the colors, I have never done a Lone Star. It has always intimidated me, I think I need to just go for it.

Astrid said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Never made a Lone Star. It's been on my bucket list for years, maybe next year.

Dawn F said...

I have never made a Lone Star quilt, but it has been a dream of mine for quite awhile. I'm looking forward to some inspiration from this blog hop, and maybe some great tips so I don't feel so intimidated!

Andree G. Faubert said...

Hi Maryellen, what an incredible quilt. Congrats on your finish.

Beth said...

I've never made a Lone Star quilt, but the more of them I see, the more tempted I am. I think choosing the colors is a wee bit daunting to me, which is unusual for me. Also, all those angles.

Susan said...

What a beauty! The small stars work perfectly!

cjmont said...

So beutiful! Lone Star is one of my favorite quilt designs