Monday, February 15, 2016

Island Batik: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Blog hop!  All of the Island Batik Ambassadors have been anticipating the start of this blog hop, and I am excited to share with you the project I created using some of the Caribbean Splash line.  These fabrics are coming to your quilt shop right now!  I haven't found it locally yet, but you can see it on the Island Batik Website.
The moment I saw these fabrics I knew I would have to make a water quilt.  The Caribbean is a great place to scuba dive, but you can't get there by train or automobile, so HOP on board a plane to the Caribbean, then strap on your fins for a dive "Under the Sea"!  
I have had this idea for a fish quilt running through my head for many years, so it was a thrill to finally make it come to life!  I received the perfect selection of fabrics for my project.  I had 5 blue fabrics in a nice range form dark to light, two yellow and blue fabrics, one green and blue, one dark green and one light green plus two yellow fabrics.  I knew I wanted to do an on-point setting using four-patches and nine-patches, so I turned to EQ7 to begin the design process.  First I designed several fish blocks, then I imported the fabric images.  After that it was an easy process to color my blocks and place the desired fish in the water background:
I started out by making my fish and placing them on my design wall, then started making the background water - here are a few pictures of my progress:


Then the real fun started, quilting this with lots of fun swirls and watery looking motifs, plus adding detail to the fish!  I used three shades of Aurifil thread in blue, a bright yellow for the fish and an olive green for the plants.  The fish were so fun to quilt!


I absolutely love working with Island Batik fabrics!  They have a wonderful hand to them and vibrant, rich color that just makes your projects pop!  Plus that, they quilt like a dream :)

I am giving away a set of four Sea Salt Sandy Fat Quarters (you'll see that project in a couple weeks) plus some of my extra pieces from that project just for fun!  I love that bright green!

Don't these have great texture?  So much fun to use!

Here is the schedule for the rest of the hop - you won't want to miss any of these terrific projects, plus there are giveaways as well!
Monday, February 15 (TODAY!) – Caribbean Splash
Bejeweled Quilts
Pamela Quilts
Tuesday, February 16 – London Fog
Moose Stash Quilting
Wednesday, February 17 – French Roasted
KISSed Quilts
Made In Scraps
Happy Cottage Quilter
Thursday, February 18 – Crystal Cove
Freemotion by the River
Friday, February 19 – Florida Oranges
Fun Threads Designs
Kauffman Designs
Tamarinis
Monday, February 22 – Coral Reef
Mary Mack Made Mine
Purrfect Spots Designs
Tuesday, February 23 – Sweet Georgia Peach
One Quilting Circle
KISSed Quilts
Wednesday, February 24 – Hollywood Hills
The Fit Quilter
Maria Michaels Designs
Thursday, February 25 – Desert Rose
For Quilts Sake
Lemon Tree Snippets
Monday, February 29 – Jersey Shore
Tuesday, March 1 – Tuscany Sun
Tammy Silvers
Wednesday, March 2 – Lavish
Freemotion by the River
Moose Stash Quilting
Thursday, March 3 – Fire Island
KISSed Quilts
Friday, March 4 – Tinsel, Holiday Happenings
Purrfect Spots Designs
KISSed Quilts
Moose Stash Quilting
In addition, Island Batik is sponsoring a giveaway for a Fat Quarter Bundle of French Roasted!
Make sure you enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'd better hop back on my plane and get back to my sewing room, I've got another project to show you next week, and I still need to quilt it!

136 comments:

Lisa England said...

Love your fish quilt! Great design, gorgeous fabrics! Today I woke up to lots of snow so I'll be staying in a while until the roads are cleared. Seems like a great time to start a new quilt! I'm thinking it will be a baby or lap quilt with a large paper pieced feature block. I'm browsing a bunch of wonderful paper pieced patterns and trying to pick my favorite -- the panda? the elephant? the flamingo? Time will tell.

mumbird3 said...

Great job on the fish quilt! I am lying in bed waiting for a coffee delivery (great husband makes the coffee, foams the milk and brings it to me in bed each morning but if I get out of bed the dog expects me to walk her immediately...and it is freezing outside!). I am working on way too many BOMs and just started the Splendid Sampler.....can you say over committed?
Too bad I have to go to work......

Dana Gaffney said...

Beautiful fabric and your fish quilt is wonderful. I'm working on a wedding signature quilt, hoping to have it all pieced today.

Tamera said...

Is the pattern for your quilt available somewhere?

Unknown said...

So far today, I'm working on waking up. Love your quilt
llamance@hotmail.com

Grandma said...

Beautiful fabric, I love blue and yellow!
patsystitch@gvtc.com

beaquilter said...

This is just GORGEOUS!! Love it- I was going to write a fish sounds, but other that blub blub I can't think of anything :)

Barb said...

I just love your quilt....great job!

Gene Black said...

Today I confess that all I will be working on is some crochet (a shawl) since I have a doctor's appointment.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

What a neat quilt Pamela and those beautiful fabrics are perfect for it!

Renea said...

I am working on a full size quilt for my granddaughter. She changed the colors in her bedroom and wanted me to make her a new quilt. Thanks for the gorgeous giveaway.

Carol said...

Absolutely lovely and fun quilt!

Anita said...

I am working on handquilting a little baby quilt. It's an EPP quilt designed by Lynette Anderson.

Anonymous said...

I love your fish quilt. I have been sick so am not working on anything right now. My next project is a pine tree quilt and a fishing quilt for my son.

Shelley said...

Wonderful assortment of Batiks. The colors were perfect for your fish quilt. I am working on a polarity quilt using The Little Black dress fabrics left over from another project.

Dale said...

Your batiks are just beautiful! I am working on kitchen placemats right now in shades of blue. I love batiks!

Betsy said...

Pam I am working on a Facebook mystery quilt. I love your design

Unknown said...

Beautiful Quilt. Love the way the fish stand out against the background.

Quilts for Sale said...

What a beautiful quilt! Love the colours and the quilting is absolutely wonderful!

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I love your "under the sea" quilt! The fabric assortment was perfect for it.

Calicojoan said...

OMG, that is just wonderful! I love those colors, and the fish are perfect. I want to go scuba diving now!

Quilting Tangent said...

Wonderful school of fish quilt. Working on a tablerunner. 24Tangent@gmail.com

JoyceLM said...

Love your fish quilt. I'm working on organizing my fabric stash & then cleaning up my cutting table. Thanks.

Annmarie said...

I'm making 5 appliqued 10 inch flower blocks to add to the lap quilt on my design wall. The quilt started with a bunch of orphan blocks I wanted to use up, but need it to be a little longer so I'm making blocks now instead of using orphans!

teachpany said...

That quilt is awesome, a perfect use of the fabric and so much fun! Love how you quilted the fish, too. Awesome. I'm working on my blocks for my quilt, for next week's hop.

Createology said...

Your vision of a fish quilt has come to life in Island Batiks and it is FABULOUS!!! Thank you sew much for hopping. Embracing Creative Bliss...

Anna brown said...

I am working on my friends T-Shirt quilt... fun fun lol......ty for blog hop very very pretty stuff............ happyness04431@yahoo.com

Michele T said...

Oh my goodness, I love the fish quilt... It is stunning!! I am working on a quilt for my daughter-in-law, the top is sewn together and now I need to decide on the border fabric!!!

Pam Geisel Art Quilts said...

Those fish are so adorable!

Tina Howell said...

Beautiful job love the colors and the quilt. Today I am working on preparing projects that I wish to start and doing some clean up in my sewing room.

Cat Lady said...

Love your sea and fish. What a great tribute to the fabric.

cjmont said...

your quilt is gorgeous, i don't scuba but i have seen scenes similar to this at the aquarium. thanks for the giveaway.

lalaluu said...

Not working on anything today, but I was working on a quilt for a nursing home this past weekend.

Marlene @ KISSed Quilts . com said...

Love, love what you did with these! I'm working on some 'Row by Row Experience' rows and enjoying time with my dad in AZ before I head home and get back at the real work. Can't wait to share my blog post on Wednesday!

Lori Smanski said...

i love your quilt. thanks for sharing how you did it.
right now i am in between projects. but i have a pillow for the front room all ready to start. it is a pp bowl with shells inside. i am excited to start.
quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

~Laurie~ said...

I really like your work!! BTW - In your About Me section you say you love writing and quiting. I imagine you meant to say quilting! LOL!

JANET said...

Unfortunately, I am helping work on a home improvement project that does not include sewing. But I am quilting, in my mind, at least!

GranChris said...

I just finished a wonderful Labyrinth of Hearts quilt. I love it.

claire ross said...

What a stunning quilt. I am currently making the vintage shirt dress from Sew over it x

LeAnne said...

I'm working on Becca Bags by Lazy Girl Designs. They use only one side of the zipper, and it still zips. It's a really fun technique.

Cecilia said...

I love your fish quilt! Your quilting is beautiful, too. Thanks for sharing.

tac73 said...

Love your fish quilt. I'm working on a quilt for a grandson.

Kelly Dee said...

Cleaning up the sewing room and hopefully stitching on my flying geese ufo project.

Donna W said...

Today I will be putting together my quilt sandwich so that I can start free-motion quilting it.

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I love your fish quilt--it almost looks real--
just might have to start me one of those--
beautiful job-
love and laughter, di

Grammasheri said...

Wow! The colors are beautiful and the quilting is perfection!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I love your under the sea quilt. Too bad people can't enter the other drawing unless they are on facebook (I'll never be on facebook). I plan on working on my nieces graduation quilt, after I finish cutting out a quilt for Quilts of Valor.

Unknown said...

Love your quilt. A batik quilt is definitely on my bucket list. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

Kathy L said...

Love those batiks. You are very talented.

MaryBeth said...

I'm working on Baltimore Album applique quilt and a quilt for my great nephew for his graduation.

Mary said...

I love the fish and the bright colored fabrics. I'm working on a table runner for my sister.

Carole said...

Love your project. The fabrics say water to me too!

Mara said...

Love the fishies! I am working on some swap projects!

Hanke said...

I am working on the top of the New Hexagon Millifiore quilt, pattern made by Katja Marek. Thanks for the chance! Love your fish!

Nan Baker said...

Love your fish! They are so fun! Love the Caribbean Collection. Thank you for sharing!

Sewgirl said...

Wow, that quilt is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your design process. I always find that interesting. Thanks for sharing the giveaway.

Chiska said...

What darling fish! I'm trying to get a quilt set up for quilting today.

Lee said...

What a cute idea to make the fish - love those batiks!

Joyce Carter said...

Your quilt is so adorable! Today I have been working on my hexie quilt. Thank you for the giveaway.

barbara woods said...

Working on baby things for a July g-gs

Paradise Threads said...

Putting a 60x60 scrappy star quilt in the longarm frame for a customer. Lots of reds and neutrals.

Vicki in MN said...

The perfect quilt for those yummy fabrics!

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

I love your fish swimming in that delightful blue water! I'm working on a baby quilt for a new nephew who will be arriving sometime tonight!

Havplenty said...

Your fish quilt is inspiring. My mind is always in the Caribbean somewhere. I have been trying to make a dent in my scraps so I working on not one but two string block quilts. I made about 120 eight inch blocks. Now to create quilts.

tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

SewDoUQuilt said...

Love your fish/under the sea quilt. I love all blues! I'm working on a large quilt for my husband made up of 9 patch blue colors. jarvenpa1ne (at) gmail (dot) com

Judyk said...

I worked on 2 projects that have been hanging around way too long in my sewing room. Love your fish quilt--I purchased watery blue batiks some time ago to do a quilt similar to this. Still in my stash! Maybe you have inspired me to get started.

Vicki H said...

Working on 16 patch blocks using scraps and stash.

QuiltShopGal said...

I've always enjoyed fish quilts and absolutely love yours. Beautiful fabrics and great job with overall design and shading. Really makes me think of scuba diving in tropical waters.
Total #CreativeGoodness.

QuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com

Jean said...

Your quilt is so cute! Love the fish in water and the fabrics. Great job!

Bec said...

Cute quilt. The best part is how you custom quilted the fish. Awesome!

LJ said...

What a designer! The fabrics are wonderful but you brought them to life. Love the quilting you did on fish.

Debbie said...

No sewing this week! I'm working on knitting a cowl for a KAL. BTW, I LOVE Island Batik fabrics. Always so vibrant!

vivoaks said...

I have several projects in the works right now, including making a pair of curtains for a window in a college co-ed's room. I know I should do that before all the patchwork that I need to do, but the patchwork may come first....at least some of it!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Are the patterns being shown going to be offered to your readers? Just wondering.... Thanks!!

Cloud 9 said...

My, what gorgeous colors! I've been working on a hardanger project. No time for quilting as it's ski season. Just got back from a week in Vail with a women's ski club. We meet tomorrow for skiing and socializing at the local ski resort.

Sally said...

Wonderful quilt and perfect fabrics for it!

Farm Quilter said...

Totally adorable!!! I love your fish - awesome idea and perfect fabric!

quilt455 said...

I worked on a charity quilt for a little boy or girl.

Crafty Tokyo Mama said...

I am making tote bags today.
Love your fishy quilt design.
The quilting is perfect!

Beth said...

Right now I am making a little quilt for our funny, crabby cat with a heart condition and asthma. My sweetheart told me he would like to be able to "tuck her in at night", so I got busy right away. What quilter could resist a tender request such as that?

Karen said...

I absolutely love the quilt!!

Stitchin At Home said...

On replacing my sewing machine. Love your quilt!

sewspeciallady said...

Today is working as a sub at school/ no sewing till later.Blessed 10 friends witha quilt last night. they were surprised.

Charlene S said...

I am working on adding coins for luck or circles of gold on a wedding top. Actually, they are covering a tear in the fabric but coins for luck sounds better.

Connie Kauffman said...

Love the fish in the water- perfect use of the fabrics!

Nancy L said...

I am working on a civl war reproduction quilt. This is my first time using these fabrics and I'm not sure about it!!

Debbie -- Sheltered Stitches said...

thanks for the opportunity.. these batiks are just lovely!!

Rebecca said...

I love your fish quilt. those yellow fish really stand out and that just makes the quilt. thank you for the chance to own some of my favorite fabrics, batiks! sewfabrics@outlook.com

quilter said...

Starting a new quilt today, cutting our L Anderson fabric-very pretty. No, did not finish those UFO'S yet!!
cork@pa.rr.com

JM in Toronto said...

The quilt is bright and fun, and the quilting on the fish is just fabulous! I hope to get to play with some of my batiks today after I finish up a custom table runner.

Dody said...

I'm working on a 4 patch quilt!
Dmac5958ataoldotcom

kupton52 said...

I am a batik LOVER!!! And these are absolutely scrumptious! Today I'm working on trying to catch up on all the 2016 BOM's I've signed up for....this is my only day at home this week.

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

I love the yellow fish on the blue background. I am working on string blocks today.
maureeneh52@hotmail.com

Mary Ann said...

Beautiful quilt. I am sewing a scrap backing together and getting things together for a 5 day retreat. Great giveaway......survivor972002@midco.net

Anonymous said...

Love your fish - what a unique idea! I am working on some placemats to use at Christmas next year. Thanks!

Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

Jen Barnard said...

I haven't done any sewing today, but I spent several hours on a flower block on sunday.
jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

Farm Quilter said...

I'm working on healing my body after a 10 mile walk/run yesterday. Why walking would hurt my neck and back is beyond me...I totally get my gluts, hams and knees hurting! Just icing everything in rotation! And doing some drawing on some future quilt patterns.

Unknown said...

I am working on a baby quilt with an ocean theme. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the contest.

June D said...

Later today I'm going to work on my game board for the Play with Me QAL http://alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com/p/play-with-me-qal.html

Laura said...

I dyed some fabrics this morning. This afternoon, I am piecing some heart blocks.

Diane Beavers said...

Hi Pamela
It's too nice to meet you via Blog.
Right now I'm stitching up some "Kennel quilts" for a local pet rescue organization. We all know quilts give comfort and warmth to us humans, abandoned animals deserve the same feeling.
Love the batik fishee's.

bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Margaret said...

I am planning a giraffe baby quilt. I do not know if the baby will be a boy or girl (the parents did not want to know - UGH). I'm making a neutral background, and then will applique a large giraffe in the middle.

apple blossom said...

nice quilt.. fitting for the fabric line

thanks for sharing

apple blossom said...

I'm working on a kitchen aid cover as well as a quilt

rrjane011749 said...

I'm working on a Daughter Quilt for my daughter.

OhioLori said...

I just finished a Wallhanging last Thursday! Yay! :) Getting fabrics around to start cutting tomorrow for another project...is a "secret project" shhhhh...he he he

LOVE your Fish! Beautiful!!! & thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way! :)

Sandy said...

Love this quilt.

Sandy said...

Worked on a name badge for a new guild meeting tomorrow.

Susan said...

Very nice quilt. I really like the colors and the whole thing reminds me of an aquarium. I am currently working on cleaning out and reorganizing my sewing/craft room.

Crafting for Shoeboxes said...

I am making drawstring bags for a charity project.

Jess Burns said...

I am working on a bathrobe / house coat (does anybody call them that anymore?). It's a pattern from 1982. I'm using it because it was 49 cents at the thrift store and it has a hood, which I think is awesome. :)

I think I'm not a no-reply, but just in case: jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) c0m

Anonymous said...

Love your "fishy" quilt. Why when I try to enter the raffle, I fill in my name and email adress and press enter, nothing happens. This has happened on two websites today. I hope this doesn't mean I can't be entered in the contest for the fat quarters. Help!

Kd Brown said...

I'm sewing a new zipper in a pair of my husband's jeans, and it's going wonderfully!!!

Batiklvr said...

I'm working on a quilt a long & trying to straighten my studio.

Anonymous said...

I'm working on a scrappy around the world quilt today!
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Bloglovin follower: Nicole Sender
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

Your quilt is so cute. Love the fish and your quilting is lovely. I am cleaning up one of my sewing areas, getting ready to pull out a UFO as well as work on some 1 1/2 inch strips for a friend for a string quilt.

Dolores said...

What a fun quilt. Love the colours.

The Victorian Girl said...

Perfect colors for your fish quilt!
kellam.susan@yahoo.com

Emily C said...

I am working on a star quilt.

Shelina said...

Today, I am going to be catching up on the circles for my circle 365 quilt. Your fish quilt is amazingly beautiful.

Rozz01 said...

Loving those Batik colors & I am working on a red, white & white patriotic quilt.

Rebecca said...

I'm working on a bulls eye quilt at the moment. thank you for the chance

Allison said...

Your fish quilt is adorable! I love batiks and can never seem to have enough. I've got about 5 different projects going at once.

Sallie said...

I'm making String quilt blocks.

Kathy Eyre said...

I'm working on a "spaceship" quilt for my three year old grandson

Darlene B said...

Working on a Christmas tree skirt for my daughter. Love your quilt and the inspired quilting you did!

Kathy E. said...

Those pops of gold (the fishies) are so eye-catching! I don't currently have a project I'm working on, but am thinking of making a table runner for spring, if it ever decides to get here! We've had a few hints of lovely weather, but that's unusual for us.

Kathy E. said...

I am a new follower on Bloglovin' and look forward to reading more posts!

Rose Santuci-Sofranko said...

Not much, except cleaning and organizing my home a bit. Thanks and God bless! ILuvTheEucharist (at) aol.com

Dawn F said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dawn F said...

I love how rich the blues are! Great concept of making those into a great fish quilt! I am working on a cute little chevron quilt.

Kathryn said...

I always like a fish themed quilt.

Rachel said...

This is lovely. I like how there are so many different kinds of little fish swimming around! I'm working on making some quilt backs to go with the tops in my quilting pile. Thanks for the chance to win!

Annmarie said...

Today is the last day of the Island Batiks Blog Hop & I just had to come back to your post to tell you that I have checked out EVERY post on the blog tour & your Under the Sea wall quilt is my favorite. Caribbean Splash is also my favorite of all the batik offerings with Sea Salt Sandy coming in second. I have started following your blog & look forward to seeing more of your wonderful designs.