PLANE, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES ISLAND BATIK BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY!

What a fabulous blog hop so far.  

The delicious fabrics (remember no calories).

The talented people and the amount of creativity 

is out of this world!

Thanks Katie for allowing me to be a part of this Island Batik Blog Hop but most importantly for the wonderful fabrics.

Look to my side bar for the blogs that are participating and do visit past blogs, you will not be disappointed!

Today I am using 

As mentioned before, I love to do applique with Island Batik Fabrics because you can blend them, they do not fray as easily or stretch.  I tend to get precise cuts and it makes the sewing go so much smoother.  

I started this project months ago.  This project has moved from desk, to cutting table, to longarm table, so I guess you can say that it is very well traveled in my sewing room.

For weeks it sat on my longarm which you see as you enter and leave my sewing room.

Several people have commented on it and a few have watched it's progress.

Those who have read my blog in the past know that I have spent three years in Amerika Samoa.  I would say that those three years were three of the best years of my life...wonderful friends and beautiful island.
My husband and I have traveled to and from with the stopping point being Hawaii.  In fact, we lived in Hawaii for three years early in our marriage.

                                          

I have often said that I was born to the wrong family, my real family is on an island somewhere.  You know I can still hear the waves.  Is that bad?

I have been wanting to make an "island quilt" for some time now and so here it is.

My husband will be found staring at it.  He says every time he looks at it he sees something new.

The Sun is paper pieced with a Caribbean Splash yellow for the Sun and a variety of other Island Batik yellows for the rays.

The rest of the wall hanging is blanket stitched.

If you look careful you will find a gecko  at the top of the sand on the left hand side.

  and bottom of the sand on the right hand side.  Not only do you see the gecko by Island Batik's name but geckos are everywhere on the islands...and sometimes where you least expect them.  Have some funny stories but that will have to wait.

I made these gecko's by drawing on tracing paper and then placing it on top of the quilt and stitching over my drawn design.

Gene Black mentioned on my blog one time when I used tissue paper... "May I suggest some wash away stabilizer (typically used for machine embroidery) to draw on and use like you did the tissue paper. I think it would be easier to use."  

Then someone suggested that it was a sticky mess doing it this way.   I do not know, I have not tried it but wish I had remembered so I could have.

The tracing paper was much better than tissue paper (for gifts), the tissue paper left little tiny specks of tissue and was hard to get off.

Awesome giveaway from Island Batik. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Then I would like to offer a small giveaway myself.

This is a Dumplings Zip Pouch by Michelle, she has an awesome tutorial Here:

So I am giving away this little Zip Pouch and three Sea Salt Sandy fat quarters...I know, you only see two...I am whining now......because I can't decide what the third one will be.  It is hard enough to give away these two..but trust me, there will be three fat quarters.

Just leave a comment telling me your favorite place to visit.

Thanks for coming by!

The other blogs that are a must see today are:
Tamarinis
KISSed Quilts
Moose Stash Quilting
Pamela Quilts

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME SUNSHINE?

I know that several of my friends are having cold weather and snow.  Sorry to put that extra knife in your back but we are in the 70's here.

Time to plant those potatoes.

Well....

In my spare time I have been working on this quilt.

I had a hard time deciding if I wanted to make it bigger.

But that little voice in my head said.....if you even try it you will never get it finished.

So for once the voice is being obeyed.

Although I have a few ideas for another border.

Here is a better picture of the beautiful fabrics.

I just love this Island Batik Fabric.  This quilt is made from my scraps.

Most of you know that the "Planes, trains, and automobile" blog hop is going on right now.  Do see my side bar and fly on over there.  Lots of fun giveaways and inspiration.

PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES..... ISLAND BATIK BLOG HOP, FUN GIVEAWAY

From February 15th to March 4th is the Island Batik Blog Hop

We are going to be taking you EVERYWHERE!!

Maybe on planes, trains, or automobiles....

It is so awesome that fabric has no calories because you are going to see some amazing eye candy!!!  From some Amazing designers, quilters, and truly creative people.

So grab your hat, passport, and get comfy (stretch waste band)...whatever..jammies.  We don't care, just come.

There is one thing I know and that is no matter where you go, what you do there comes a point when you are ready to go home.

The old saying "No matter where you roam, there is no place like home"

So, I am starting you off at "Home".

Oh my gosh....aren't these fabrics just the cat's meow??

If you want to see the pillow better, just double click.

I made this decorative pillow for my guest bed and truly there is no place like home.  While traveling my husband and I would say on numerous occasions..."I just want to get home and get in my own bed".   How many of you have felt this way?

I used Caribbean Splash.  I love love this fabric.  If you are interested in these wonderful fabrics you can go here to find a place that sells them near you.

I have never...ever...made piping.  I have never...ever...put piping on a project.

So I am going to tell you what I have learned (no rolling of the eyes, like "I could have told you that" or duh...doesn't everyone know that)?  

1.  Piping is not as hard as I thought it was

2.  The fabric needs to be on the bias (go ahead...roll those eyes)

3.  There are many tools and gadgets out there that make this process easier.

4) and this one is very important......I  need much more practice.

Later in the hop I am going to take you to one of my most favorite places but for now, just relax, take your shoes off and stay a while.

Maybe you will be inspired to take home some of this awesome fabrics.

Island Batik is giving away a couple of fabric bundles to celebrate these new collections! There are multiple ways to enter – see them all and enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Today Pamela is on the tour as well, it would be great if you would go by and say hello.

The rest of the schedule is on my sidebar.  

WANNA DO!

Lately it seems like time is just flying by and every once in a while I get some time to myself

and this is what I do.  (oh come on...I know you do it too)

Between the piles of to do's on my ironing board, table, and yes, even piled on my longarm table.....

I try to sneak in some time to work on this quilt.

It is not a must do, it is just a wanna do.

Got out my Island Batik scraps and had at it.

A few weeks ago a friend posted a quilt similar to this one on my facebook page.  It kept needling at me, all the while I could see those awesome Island Batik fabrics made up into this quilt.

So.... in between sewing for Heaven Sent, family health issues, and other distractions I started this.

Yes, I know....don't need to start another project but well....the needling has stopped and I just love to sit for a few and do a few squares and now rows.  I think it is the fun colors that soothes my soul and makes me happy.

Enjoy your week-end!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Island Batik Blog Hope

I hope you all join us for this awesome blog hop.  There will be fun giveaways, ideas, and tons of quilty inspiration.

Here is the line up:

bruary 15 – 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

Monday, February 22 – Coral Reef
Mary Mack Made Mine
Purrfect Spots Designs

Tuesday, February 23 – Sweet Georgia Peach
The Patchwork Pearl
KISSed Quilts

Wednesday, February 24 – Hollywood Hills
The Fit Quilter
Maria Michaels Designs

Thursday, February 25 – Desert Rose
For Quilts Sake
Lemon Tree Snippets

Friday, February 26 – Sea Salt Sandy
Tammy Silvers
KISSed Quilts
Moose Stash Quilting
Pamela Quilts

Monday, February 29 – Jersey Shore
Bea Lee
Lemon Tree Snippets

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

HEAVEN SENT INFORMATION

Some of you have asked for more information on Heaven Sent, you can just click on the name and you will be transported to the web page.  After you read you are welcome to contact me if you want more information (fivesons4barb@hotmail.com)

I had such plans for today, got up and started working on my little quilt sets.

Then my son comes over with Baby Gene and leaves him with me so he can get some work done.  Which I definitely didn't mind but he left him with me all day.  I did not get one thing done.

Once again that is ok but I had such plans.

So I only have 17 tops quilted, they need binding and then the blankets to go with it.

We are looking for Blanketear quilters, people who might want to do a chapter in their area.  Tracy will find the funerals for you.

If you just want to do the embroidery middle, well...I have the formats that I can send to you.  If you want to just do the little quilts, I can send you the centers.  It will take a few weeks to get the centers to you but we will get them to you.  Right now I am using all  70 centers I have to supply the area around here and maybe even in Huston.

Once again, thank you so much for wanting to help.  I will email you personally, if you email me.  There were several of you interested and this is the easiest way I can give you the information.

Thanks so much.

HEAVEN SENT BLANKET/QUILT SET PATTERN

Some of you know that my cousin and I have started a non profit.  

This is our mission

Heaven Sent, Corp's mission is to assist grief recovery by providing Pitter Patter swaddling and keepsake blankets through our Pitter Patter Funeral Home Partnering Program, to bereft mothers who have suffered natural pre-term or infant loss under the age of one year, promoting grief healing and recovery by creating a bond for the surviving mother to her lost child, offering tangible proof that the baby was real and existed, delivering comfort and security that the baby was a precious addition and significant loss to the surviving family, and solidifying the birth space the baby occupies within the family structure, guaranteeing that the baby will never be forgotten.

My friend Karen Ross embroidered and sent 70 of these centers to me, what is life without good friends?  She has now offered to make more....she certainly is our little embroidery angel.

Here is the newer version of the little quilt which makes up faster than the original version on the Pitter Patter site.

If you would like to join us in our efforts to bring comfort to mothers across the country, please contact me.  These are simple to make and fun. 

If you would love to but can not help, that is okay, we certainly could use fabric, threads, or batting.  I will have to say for now my batting scraps are excellent for making these

We really could use someone in the Texarkanna area or Huston area to oversee and build their own chapter.  You will not have to worry about finding funeral homes, that is what Tracy is for, all you need to do is keep up with the needs of the funeral home.

Thanks for coming by!

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

Once again I find myself doing something other than what I am suppose to be doing...

Got all these lovely Island Batik fabrics out.  Mostly scraps!

!

Sewing strip together....

Now I am appliqueing....no picture for that.

But trust me, it will be fun fun fun and BRIGHT!!!!  So start tapping your fingers....it will be a few days.

The winner of the Island Batik fat quarter is

Carol- Beads and BirdsJanuary 22, 2016 at 7:40 AM

Love the Babe!!
Are you going to Hawaii? Love those colors!!

I do have to say that she is really really on the mark but so are a lot of  you.  It is not as if I am not hard to read???  But next week  I will show you what I have come up with for the Island Batik Blog Hop...see you then.