Category Archives: Island Batiks

Yup – It’s September!

Posted on August 31, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Looking at my August listing, you might wonder – “what have you been doing?” My Island Batik January project is now a flimsy. The quilting won’t be happening right away. It feels so good to be so very close to completing the year! Don’t forget to stop by on Tuesday, September 4, for my Great Outdoor project for the IB Blog Hop and a giveaway!

Two quilts came back from the long arm professional. I so want to trim and bind them but there just hasn’t been a chance to do that. We were in Chincoteague, Virginia for 5 days. The weather was perfect, the national park was perfect, the beach was perfect and visiting with a friend was perfect. Did I mention it was perfect?!

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There’s always Hospice quilts to work on.  Here are two flimsies with the backings. The plan is to get these quilted in the coming week. Both would be suitable for male patients whereas most of the quilts are geared for women.  The blocks of the above flimsy were pieced at the Spring Quilt and Sew-In and then I pieced the blocks.

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The flannel was another donation from Laurie J who has been so generous.  When I examined this quilt top, an alarm went off. Remember my lesson learned here?  I just knew that deep burgundy would run and so it did. Here are the color catchers! The third color catcher came out white so the quilt is now good to go.

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My current absolute goal is to get caught up on “have to’s” by the end of September and then dive into my “want to’s.”  Can I do it?  We’ll see!

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Toppers & Runners

Posted on August 12, 2018 by heARTs Creations

A friend of mine’s church which was founded in 1765, is having a special breakfast honoring the patriots of the American Revolutionary War. She somehow got volunteered to make 12 table toppers and 3 table runners. Although an amazing seamstress, quilting is not her thing. I was glad to help! We recently got together for about 3 hours. So glad she was all about keeping it simple, simple, simple.  I cut, she sewed.

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As you can see, these table toppers are very simple. I did need to do a few after she left because I just didn’t want to leave it to another day. The runners are simple too.

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We’ll get together again in a few weeks to add batting and backing. It’s been decided to do them envelope style and not do bindings. Oh…I like that idea very much! These should look very patriotic when set out at the tables. The best part? Working with a friend and catching up!

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Don’t forget the Island Batik Great Outdoors Blog Hop!

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On to August Sewing

Posted on August 2, 2018 by heARTs Creations

A LOT of sewing was done in July, but I can’t show most of it. Island Batik gives us a schedule for the year with monthly projects. I am now working on December and January! I have a lot going on in the coming months and really wanted to work ahead. Somehow the motivation and ideas hit so off I went!

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I can show this Hospice quilt that I completed. Waiting for two from long arm volunteers that I will bind as soon as they show up on my doorstep.  I asked for them to be to me by September, so there’s still time. There are ten completed Hospice quilts all piled up waiting to be donated in November. There are four for me to quilt – by November?? Please note: a reader recently contacted me asking if I accept quilt tops for Hospice. YES!! I accept completed quilts, quilt tops (flimsies), and blocks. We have plenty of fabric so I am not accepting any at this time. Our group might donate about 25 to 30 this year, but the local Hospice has over 300 patients, so the more quilts – the better!

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And here’s my July progress report:

July PP Listing

 

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Making Room – Giveaway!

Posted on July 6, 2018 by heARTs Creations

Twice a year the Island Batik Ambassadors receive a big box from Island Batiks jam packed with goodies.  July is when we receive our second box and mine is due to arrive tomorrow! Yikes, my two bins of Island Batiks are full and needed a clean-out.  I separated out pieces of varying sizes, strips and squares. There are bigger pieces too!

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Scrappy projects are one of my favorites, but I just finished a scrappy top and have another in the works.  I would rather have someone else who does scrappy, improve, art quilts or who can incorporate into a project to enjoy these beautiful fabrics.  And, honestly, I need the room! If you would like to add this pile to your scrap stash, please leave a comment below.  Tell me if you are a follower of this blog and that will give you two entries. Please be sure I am able to contact you via email. My apologies, but international postage costs limits this giveaway to the US only.  A winner will be randomly chosen and the lucky winner will be announced on Wednesday, July 11.

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Here are my two bins after the cleanout.  Lots of room for my new shipment. Can’t wait to share with you all the treasure.  Also, look for a giveaway by all the Island Batik Ambassadors in August!

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Linking up with: Can I Get a Whoop Whoop,  Needle & Thread Thursday

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Modern Batik Challenge

Posted on June 5, 2018 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Adventure

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The ambassador challenge for June is “Modern Batik Challenge.” I decided to make a baby-sized quilt and went to one of my Island Batik bins to choose fabrics.  I love all the blues and pulled out all the small pieces I had left from previous projects and a few of the bigger ones too.  I chose an white with a very light blue print neutral for the background.

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From a very light weight tissue-like paper, I cut long strips 2 inches wide.  I used those as a base to randomly paper piece all the blue fabrics.  Once it was all sewn, I trimmed each of the four strips. I placed two across the top and two lengthwise on the left-hand side which created much negative space.  After all was cut to size and pieced, I machine quilted straight lines in the white spaces and used a loop-de-loop in the blue strips. Aurifil thread was used in this project.

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This quilt will go into my stash of quilts and when there is a baby I want a quilt for, I will probably put his or her name in the large open space.  I love when baby quilts are personalized that way.

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All the Island Batik Ambassadors have been busy and I encourage you to give them a visit to see what they have created with these beautiful fabrics that Island Batik has provided us with.

 

 

 

 

Linking up with:

Linky Tuesday,   (too) Cute Tuesday,       WIPs on Wednesdays

Needle and Thread Thursday

 

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Quilt Cabinet and Topper

Posted on June 2, 2018 by heARTs Creations

It made me sad to have a pile of my quilts hidden away in a closet. I do have three quilt ladders in the house and quilts on beds and sofas. It was clear I needed a cabinet to house my quilts that made them somewhat visible. I so lucked out at a local antique mall. Technically it is a curio cabinet, but I just removed the glass shelf, neatly folded the quilts and placed them in two stacks – a total of seventeen! And what a bonus to have all that closet space back!

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Now the top of the cabinet needed something. I thought about doing a small table runner, but I have vowed to not begin any new quilts for a while. Ah Ha! A rope table topper with fabric scraps. It was done in just a few hours and is now on the cabinet top. Another score!

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All this made me curious as to just how many quilts I have in the house. Without going around actually counting, I came up with the number 41.  Later I did count quilts, wall hangings and table runners in my home and the grand total is 64.  I know that’s far less than many quilters have in their home, but wow – really – it’s still a lot! And when I think of all the quilts I’ve given as gifts and to charity! Some day soon I’ll go through my blog and see if I can come up with a count – or maybe I better not – it could scare me away!

May was a very productive month – maybe because it rained, and rained, and rained…

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Playful Pillow

Posted on May 16, 2018 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Adventure

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Such a fun adventure – “Playful Pillow.”  It wasn’t much of a decision for me as I knew I wanted another pillow for my sofa to go with the one I made last year with our curves adventure. I got the idea from potholders made by  Patchwork Pottery.

The pillow top was easy and it was the first project I attacked at my Spring retreat.  As soon as I got home I embroidered the face, backed the pillow front and quilted it.  I kept it simple because I wanted the kitty’s face to be the focus of the pillow.

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It finishes at a generous 20 inches and I love the way it looks side by side with my other Island Batik pillow.

The fabrics were provided by Island Batik and the threads by Aurofil.

 

Linking up with: Let’s Bee Social, My Quilt Infatuation, Midweek Makers

 

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Posted in Applique, Art, Color, Embroider, Fabric, Island Batiks, Quilting and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Sew Many Goodies!

Posted on April 15, 2018 by heARTs Creations

The Spring Quilt & Sew-In is this week and many goodies have arrived from several generous sponsors. I can’t thank these companies enough for their generosity which lends to the fun and creativity of the retreats.

A HUGE thank you again to Island Batik. How generous to have sent several “Fifi and Fido stamps” (five inch squares) and City Culture II fat eighth stacks. The colors and designs of these beautiful fabrics will make some quilters very happy!

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Once again Dritz has sent an amazing prize – this beautiful sewing basket and a pile of sewing notions – such goodness!

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Pineapple Fabrics is a faithful supporter of the Quilt & Sew-Ins.  The box of fabric they donated is especially useful for the charity blocks that are constructed at retreat. The blocks are then pieced and made into quilts donated to Hospice. Thank you Pineapple for a wonderful assortment!

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Colonial Needle is back again with their Turn Sharp rotary blade sharpener and their beautiful Presencia Thread which is virtually lint free!

Clothworks Textiles sent these beautiful fat quarters. Fun prints and solids to compliment them – how wonderful!

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And where would our quilting be without Olfa mats and rotary cutters – in two fabulous sizes!

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Martelli has also returned this year with one of their ergonomic rotary cutters. Truly, these are life changing in the quilt studio! And, a pack of rotary blades is greatly appreciated.

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Quilters Dream has added to the retreat goodies with wonderful battings for our precious quilt projects.

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Inch Worm Fabrics sent these lovely fabrics. Soft and rich colors will truly delight a lucky quilter.

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June Tailor donated these cute mug rug quotation panels. These will definitely make some cute and thoughtful gifts.

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Hobbs donated a wonderful batting – a must product for quilters.

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Thank you doesn’t even begin to communicate how grateful I am – these prizes add so much fun to the Quilt & Sew-In and certainly enhance each quilter’s supply of goodies.

There are still openings in the Fall Retreat! November 4 thru 8.  More info and registration form are here.

 

 

 

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Old Made New

Posted on April 1, 2018 by heARTs Creations

An Island Batik Adventure – Vintage Quilts Inspiring New Creations

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I scoured my books, patterns and the internet for hours trying to come up with the project I really wanted to do for this challenge. Then it came to me – an apron! How vintage is that?! I did find a pattern for a half apron that was very vintage looking, (Sewing Geek Harlequin Apron pattern) but with these amazing Island Batiks I knew it would immediately be new and exciting.

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I did a little altering to the pattern: one row less from top to bottom and one more row added to the side. I also gathered it at the waist a bit so it wasn’t just straight across. It is fully lined, and I straight line quilted the whole apron.  A pocket was needed, so I sketched several: rounded, rounded gathered, rectangle. Mimicking the pattern of the apron was definitely the answer. Once the pocket was on I was absolutely giddy about this project. Don’t you just love when that happens – not just being okay or pleased with your creations, but super happy?

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My new vintage apron now hangs in my kitchen, adding a burst of color and soon to be worn when having friends or family over for dinner.

 

 

Looking Back Vintage Quilt

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What I’ve Been Working On

Posted on March 23, 2018 by heARTs Creations

I’m a planner. It seems to be my nature. Some of it probably comes from years of administrative work and deadlines. I’m the one when going on a retreat or trip is packed days ahead of time. (Spring retreat is in four weeks and my projects are packed!) I do think it’s a good thing although it tends to make a few folks think perhaps I’m a bit off balance!

As an Island Batik Ambassador, we’re sent the year’s calendar events with project themes.  I’ve combined getting ready for retreats with my Island Batik Adventures – I’ve sketched, written plans and cut fabrics. My April project, “Vintage made New” is done and here are the fabulous fabrics I used. I can’t wait for my reveal very soon! I am ridiculously giddy about this one.

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“Playful Pillows” is the May event, and I’ve got a real cutie planned for a much needed new pillow for our sofa in our TV watching area. Here are the fabrics all ready:

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June’s event is “Modern Batik Challenge.” I have a really fun baby quilt planned, combining a scrappy modern look with applique. It will make a terrific baby gift using these fabrics:

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I found July to be somewhat challenging. Not so much in finding a pattern, but finding one I wanted to use. The challenge is “Pattern Play, Secondary Pattern.” These too are all cut and ready to sew at retreat:

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August is our Great Outdoors Blog Hop. This is when all the ambassadors reveal a newly released fabric line using a Spring/Summer 2018 bundle. I was so excited about the beautiful fabric line I received I went right to work. I had an idea all sketched out, but one evening I went through my pattern bin and found a pattern I’ve had for years and have always wanted to do. Yup – next day I had it all cut out and it is now nearly done! Just a bit more quilting and binding!

There may not be a lot to show here, but you can see I have been busy planning and prepping. I have a few ideas for the rest of the year, but will hold off as we’ll receive a new shipment of fabric in July and the fabric will be part of the inspiration. Now I can go ahead and pull out a work in progress bin and make some progress there. Should have something to share soon!

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