March 2023 Island Batik Ambassador Challenge - It's All Up to You

This month we get to make whatever we want for our Island Batik Challenge! I have to admit that I had so many ideas running through my head that I didn't know where to start.  All the products used for this project were provided by Island Batik and their program partners as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program.  

I decided to work on a project that I've been playing with in my head (and in EQ8!) for a while now and see if I could make it work - and it was really fun!  I used this Stack of 10 in squares in the Exuberance collection - designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 designs - from my January Ambassador Box.  Such pretty colors!  

If you would like to purchase these fabrics, you can find them at:

 Amy's Quilt Room, PA

Block Party Studios, IA
Creekside Quilts, OR
Hancocks of Paducah, KY
Tucker University, OH
Castle Sewing Centre-CANADA BC
Mulqueen Sewing & Fabric Centers, AZ

I got started sewing up blocks and had so much fun mixing and matching these beautiful fabrics to create them!

Each block uses three different fabrics, so it's really challenging and enjoyable to find the next great combination.  

I put my handy dandy GO! cutter to good use to cut the accent strips in the blocks as well as the sashing strips. (This light fabric is Doughnut from the basic collection!)  It's so fast to cut a load of 2 1/2 inch strips with it!  The ease and accuracy of cutting with this tool from AccuQuilt is so awesome!

I used Schmetz Microtex needles for both the piecing and the quilting - the 80/12's work great for both! They have no problems with stitching through the batik at all!

 

I used Hobb's Heirloom 80/20 Black Batting in this quilt.  It is my definite favorite for dark quilts as it has such a wonderful soft feel to it!  And it always quilts up great!  And black solid from Island Batik was the perfect choice for the backing.

For the quilting, I used the same Auriful thread I used for a project last year - Desert Dawn. 

 I just love the looks of the variegated thread against the black solid from Island Batik that I used for the back of my quilt.  I amped up the contrast so you can see how gorgeous it looks.

I was very happy with how the quilting looked on the top as well.  I like how the 50 weight shows up just enough to catch my eye without overwhelming the design in the piecing.  Swirl hook is such a fun free motion motif to quilt!  It's definitely in my top three choices!

I really like the way the dark sashing looks like it floats above the light strips in the blocks! (This is smoke, a lovely mottled black in the Bodacious Blacks line of basics.) I decided to call my design Enlaced, and wrote up a pattern for it!

I was hoping to get outside for a photo shoot, but the weather hasn't been very conducive to that.  At least it was bright enough to get some decent inside photos, even if they aren't the best.

For a finishing touch, I decided to add a faux flanged binding.  It takes a bit more time, but is really so easy and that little strip of color adds the perfect pop to the edge!  It's Orange solid.  Can't beat those solid colors from Island Batik - perfect for adding a little pizazz to your quilt.

And with the small pile of leftover scraps, I created a journal cover!  I am trying to use up my leftovers from my projects this year instead of adding them to my scrap bin and hoarding them!  It's really kind of fun to think of something to do with small leftovers like this!  Nothing left to add to my scrap pile, now.

My finished quilt is 66 x 66.  The pattern for Enlaced is available right now in PDF form in my Etsy shop!  This pattern works with 2 1/2 inch strips as well - I'm planning a second quilt soon!

I sure enjoyed creating my own challenge for this month!  I hope you enjoyed reading about it!  Why not set a challenge for yourself next month and create something fun?  You can check out the Island Batik Ambassadors and get some great ideas!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts
Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt