GUESS WHAT DAY IT IS?????

                                        

                         It is Island Batik Delivery Day!!!

Are you excited as I am?

I don't know if any of you saw my post on facebook, but Wednesday the UPS person just kinda threw out my box (not this one).  They were kind enough to wrap it in plastic.

Then our dog peed on it...Ha Ha...glad it was in plastic.

Who ever it is is afraid of our dog.  He is a blue heeler but harmless as a pussy cat.  He just puts on a big show.  We even had boxes put on the stump of a tree out by our drive.

So today they at least got it on the carport.  Here it was waiting for me.

So...here we go...lots and lots of Island Batik Goodies.

Here are two Island Batik foundation bundles/ 8 half yard cuts.

Here they are spread out for you.  Ummm Ummmmmmm good.

This is called Kaleidoscope.  Two 2 yard cuts with the 10" squares (42 each)

Oh boy....Island Batik sure knows that I love color....I am so excited.

This next is Islander Batiks 2 inch strips with two 2 yard coordinating fabrics.

I was fortunate to meet Ebony in Nebraska a few years back.  She is very knowledgeable and a ton of fun.  This next bundle is called Primo by Ebony Love.

Here is the Primo line all laid out for you.

Talk about eye popping candy, you have it here. 

Four yard cuts of black, grey, and white fabric.  Gotta love this, I see another black and gray table topper in my future.

Neutral Fabric, 4 yards.  As far as I am concerned, you can never have enough neutral fabrics or the black, white, and grey.

Here is the Accuquilt Die "Bear Paws"

I was so happy to get this die, was kinda worried I would get something I already had.  

Oh boy, my mind is already working up ideas.

Some Aurifil Threads

Aurifil 50/20 # 2130 (my favorite color, I have gone through several of these), and # 2720.

Not only do I enjoy getting thread in these boxes but I also enjoy collecting Aurifil thread.  One of my favorite places to go is Hancock of Paducah.  If my husband is reading this, he will now know what all those charges are for.  I also love their collection of Island Batik fabrics.

Oh boy.....HOBBS BATTING

Tuscany Cotton/Wool blend, 100% wool, and Hobbs Cotton Batting.

Here it is all together.

I am one totally happy gal.

The only problem is my mind is racing with all kinds of ideas.

The problem is, will I be able to sleep tonight?

Thanks so much Island Batik, Aurifil Threads, Accuquilt, and Hobbs batting.

DREAM, CREATE, INSPIRE - Artsy Fartsy Challenge

(nice little wind going)

I had actually picked out the theme of my quilt several months ago.

I searched my mind and the internet for an idea for a house for my Bejeweled Sewing room.

Then one day it hit me.  My idea of retirement, happiness, freedom is on a beach, living in a hut.

Sometimes a gal has just gotta dream!

One of my most happy times was the three years we spent in Amerika Samoa and three years on the island of Oahu.

I have said this a thousand times "I am an island girl!"

So this month's challenge is to create a project using three different weights of Aurifil threads.

Aurifil 50 wt. threads

Accuquilt Go circle die.

What inspires me?

Color, beauty of this world, friends, and having the right tools.

"A Thing of Beauty is a Joy forever" John Keats

Aurifil 40 wt. thread.

I love this quote and when I think of the Islands, the joy still lives in my heart.

As I think of quilts, the beauty  just lives on forever and if we care for them they will live long after we are gone.

The orange is Aurifil  40 wt. and the cone is  Aurifil 50 wt. (notice I am almost out).

I decided to use Hobbs batting logos for my clouds.

Aurifil 50 wt.

I should have picked a darker thread for my Bejeweled Quilts but in person it is darker.

Aurifil 50 wt. thread

Isn't it amazing that Island Batik can find you anywhere?

Even on a small island out in the pacific!

So if you were stranded on a deserted island, what would  you most want to have besides food?

What about a sewing machine (the machine had to go in front of the window)?  A package from Island Batik?  Aurifil Threads?  Notice the Accuquilt Go cutter?  Hobbs batting?

If you look close enough at the top shelf, that is a picture of my last Island Batik box....ummm ummmm good.  

Here are seven Island Batik challenges and projects that I have done in the 4 1/2 years I have been an Ambassador.

Aurifil 28 wt. thread

I have to tell ya, I am in love with the 28 wt. thread, it is great for machine applique.  I see a collection coming on.

I used Hobbs 80/20 cotton batting.  Notice how the wrapping is all messed up (that was me cutting out the logos for my clouds).

I used Avery Fabric Transfers, which was a breeze compared to what I had originally.

                                        Here are just a few of the pictures around the quilt.

I have enjoyed being an Ambassador, as I was trying to find some of my favorite quilts to put on this quilt, I was amazed at how many projects I have completed in the past 4 1/2 years.

Many of the quilts I still have, a few I have sold (but not many), gave some to friends and family. and charities.

I look forward to putting this quilt on my sewing room wall.

It is fun to create when you have such wonderful tools to work with.

Island Batik fabric inspires me with the vibrant colors along with the Aurifil threads.

The Accuquilt Go is an amazing tool that makes life less complicated and the cutting process to go a lot faster.

Hobbs batting is just a dream in the clouds.

As most of you know, all of the items have been given to me through Island Batik and I have enjoyed every minute of it and just want to take a moment to thank Island Batik, Aurifil Threads, Hobbs batting, and Accuquilt.

LIFE'S SIMPLE PLEASURES

A few weeks ago my cousin text me on facebook and told me of a gal getting rid of her fabric stash.

Needless to say it didn't take me long to get in contact with her.

She was charging 10 dollars for whatever you could fit into a laundry basket (ones she purchased at the dollar store).  

So I picked up my cousin and we drove to her home.  Sorry to say that most of the "Good Stuff" as the owner put it was gone.

POOEY

I did manage to find several yardages and a lot of remnants bigger than fat quarters.

I filled up three baskets then put them all in this tub.

Then she asked if I was interested in zippers,  She was selling them for 50 cents a piece.  Was I interested?  She could probably tell by the slobber on my chin that that was a silly question.

Life simple pleasures for sure.

Then I went to an antique store here in town looking for my mother some crochet patterns and came across these two books for a dollar a piece.  

Yep....life simple pleasures.

Aren't these threads just delicious?

For my Island Batik project in July I purchased these beautiful threads off Amazon.

Just love the Aurifil colors

I have had these little items finished, for some reason my camera put a blue tint to them.

This is part of my Fancy Forest project using Flea Market fabric by Island Batik.

I have part of another hedge hog done and then two butterflies left to to and then I can put it all together.

YEA ME!!

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM COUCHING - TRY A NEW TECHNIQUE - ISLAND BATIK CHALLENGE FOR THIS MONTH

This month's challenge for the Island Batik Ambassadors is "TRY A NEW TECHNIQUE"

Many years ago, I started collecting these Hawaiian Quilt Pattern books, a friend gave me some and just recently my sister gave me one.

So I decided to make this my

                                                               "Try it Technique"

So we need some freezer paper.

fold it how they say to in the book.

Unfolded it and drew the design in the folded lines

Oh yes, I staple the folded paper to make it easier to cut.

Non fabric scissors

Here is the design cut out

Shinny side on wrong side of fabric and press

Here you have it....

Don't you just love this Island Batik Fabric?

I glued the raw edges under.

I had planned to do a needle turn with the blind hem

BUT

But

I decided to switch gears......hear the tires squeal?

Glued the design down.

I was chatting with a friend via hotmail and she mentioned that one day she would like to do couching around the Hawaiian design.

Say what?

What is couching?

Is it when you are sitting on the couch doing nothing?

I like couching then but that is not a new technique for me, that is something I tend to do with a book.

I had to look it up online.

How to Machine Couch Without a Couching Foot

Just click on that above and it will take you to a website that will teach you about couching.

So I went to Walmart (the only place for miles that has any kind of sewing notions or fabrics, sad, I know).  I wanted bling but this yarn is what I settled on.

Now keep in mind that I am new to this and I have made my share of mistakes but as I went along I got better....I think???  That remains to be seen.

Also, at first I glued down the yarn for about 1/3 of the way but got sick of gluing that I just started sewing (couching)

One thing I learned is DON'T GLUE it down.
The next thing I learned was to pull it taunt as you see above.  It works better and the yarn doesn't  relax into a bigger thread, if that makes sense?  Of course, you do not want it too taunt but just enough to have a nice even line.

As you see here, this is where I started...hummmmm

I will have to say that my husband and I like the design on the yarn here but it just doesn't look crisp enough....also this is glued (the yarn is more relaxed and kinda fluffier which made it hard to crouch).

This is how I ended up.  I could say that is much better.  I think next time I am going to make a longer stitch length.

Here is is finished.  I can certainly tell I got better as I went along but that is what learning is all about, right?  If I was perfect at everything I tried for the first time, well..that would be amazing.

As I was reading on my facebook page I saw that one of the Island Batik Ambassadors did a Hawaiian applique as well

You can go here to her site "Mania for Quilts", she does an amazing job of needle turn, do go and check hers out.