2018 Aurifil June Block

Kerry Goulder is the Aurifil designer of the month for June. She designed a block featuring a sea turtle. Here is my interpretation.

Modern Batik Challenge

 

The June challenge in the Island Batik Ambassador program was a fun one, create a modern quilt crib size or larger. This is my resulting quilt, made from the Southern Blooms collection including a neutral, almost white batik.

 

I used quite some time searching the internet for examples of modern quilts, weighing the designs up against the fabrics that were available to me. The instructions were as stated below.

  

Must incorporate one of the characteristics of modern quilts as defined by the Modern Quilt Guild (the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, Minimalism, expansive negative space, alternate grid work).

 This is the collection of batiks that was my starting point, the Southern Blooms collection. I wanted to use as many of these fabrics as possible, I had 30 different fat eight cuts. I used the same collection for the challenge in May, but still had plenty left over.

I wanted to showcase all the 30 beautiful batiks in one quilt, and after some searching I landed on this relatively simple block, inspired by Jenifer Dick and her book Nine-Patch Revolution.

The magic comes when you put the blocks together. The white/neutral batik in the crosses form a color consistent grid over the background colors.

I wanted a gradation effect in my quilt, from the lightest colors in the top left color down to the darkest in the bottom right corner. I used quite some time working with the value of each color and the placement of the blocks. There were "zillion" pictures taken, making them black/white to see if the value gradation was correct. It was amazing to see how my initial interpretation of the colors didn't always work out with the value. The picture above shows the final layout of the blocks.

 Here the quilt top is sewn together. It looks like a white lattice hovering over the background colors.

I am very fond of spiral quilting, and what would be more appropriate on a modern quilt than that! I used the walking foot and Aurifil 50wt in white 2024 for the quilting.

I started the spiral in the red/orange block and just continued from there until I reached the outer edge. Then I started filling in smaller spirals in an improvisational manner, there was no specific plan plan.

 I used Paisley Dot Sky for the binding. The quilt gives a very summery feeling,

Naming the quilt is always difficult, Summer Sherbet was a name that came to me during the process of making the quilt. Due to the gradation of the color blocks you get a new interpretation of the color scheme when looking at different sections, from cooler to warmer colors. I love the optical illusion in this quilt.

 Ikea Britten Nummer was used as the backing.

It looks like a yummy Summer Sherbet, doesn't it?

 Quilt stats:

Size: 52" x 63"

Fabric: Island Batik Southern Blooms for the colored background, neutral is Sprinkles in white, and binding is Paisley Dot, Sky

Thread: Aurifil 50wt white 2024

Batting: Hobbs Cotton Batting

The fabrics, thread and batting that was used for making this project was given to me by Island Batik. One of the biggest joys of being an Island Batik Ambassador is to get to play with the fabrics they send me.

Happy quilting!

Arkansas Crossroads Quilt

This is my latest charity quilt. It is made from a kit I won from Quilt Sandwich Fabrics some time ago. Blocks of matching solids were added to make a decent sized donation quilt from the available amount of fabrics.

My quilt holder (aka husband) and I took the finished product out on a photo shoot in the most perfect location, as far as I can see it. The forest area next to my home is loaded with these muted greys, greens and browns, and is the perfect contrast to the bright colors of the quilt.

The forest floor is loaded with roots. Here you can also see a glimpse of the backing fabric.

The forest is a gorgeous recreational area, and I use it a lot. It is just perfect for photo shoots, you just have to be careful where you step so you don't fall off the edge!

Back home again and the quilt is displayed on my porch wall. The finished quilt is approximately 48"x72" and is quilted with wavy lines using the walking foot.

This is my fourth charity quilt for the year, and number 24 all time for the children's ward at my local hospital.

Wisdom Testing

This is the wise eye, the eye that sees and understands everything! But, it still got that little twinkle that shows it got a sense of humor!

I have been pattern testing for Berene of Happy Sew Lucky, and this is a piece of her latest pattern that will be available later in June.

I am very pleased with the colors and layout of this piece. The grey background enhances the colors of the eye, and the complementary colors of the banner and letters is a great visual effect. I am also pleased with how the directional green fabric of the banner worked out in the paper piecing process.

This is the ninth Tattoo pattern by Berene that I have tested. The next one in line is Respect, looking forward to it!