Pages

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Island Batik Ambassador Great Outdoors Blog Hop and Giveaway!


The giveaway is over, and the winner is #39, Beth. She has been emailed.

Hello and welcome to my day of the Island Batik Great Outdoors Blog Hop!

The month of August is a great time for outdoor life. In my part of the world the temperatures never get very high, but we had some record highs this year. This led to early berry picking, and I love taking hikes in the forest looking for wild blueberries and raspberries, and the occasional cloud berry. This resulted in quite the collection of jams and jellies in my basement.

Now at the end of August I can feel the fall coming, with crisp temperatures in the mornings. Winter is around the corner! One can almost feel the winter blues...


I'll show off what I made from the cool colors of the new London Calling collection from Island Batik.

(Fabrics used in the project and the items for the giveaway were all provided to me by Island Batik, Aurifil and Hobbs who are sponsors for the Island Batik 2018 Ambassadors.)


This is what I received in my "surprise" package from Island Batik. 

Here are all 20 fabrics of the  London Calling line spread out on my porch in the sun. I received half yard cuts of the whole collection, in addition to two-yard cuts of two of the fabrics, one lighter and one darker.

The first thought that came to my mind when I opened the surprise package was sun-bleached and washed-out jeans.


My inspiration was a quilt I saw some time ago, that I unfortunately don't have a picture of. The blocks were made in a log cabin style.

The London Calling collection goes in shades of blue, from almost white to dark navy, with a few added golden tones.


Look how the blocks match my faded, old jeans! Most jeans are top stitched with some kind of orange thread. Orange goes very well with these blues, and I decided it would spruce up the quilt with some bright splotches spread across the top. I used the orange batik from the Paisley Dot Brights as the accent color.


The separate blocks were made in an improvisational style, I made the big ones 12.5" and the small ones 6.5". Then I puzzled them into a layout I was pleased with.


The photo session of the finished quilt was done in a recreational area/forest 15 minutes walk from my house.  This fairytale tree is a great backdrop for a quilt photo. 

I used all the 20 different fabrics of London Calling in this quilt. In addition I also used the orange Paisley Dot Bright and a neutral, Milk Shake.


I enjoy very much hiking in this forest. The roots of the tree are amazing, it looks like the tree grows without soil, it is hugging the rock!


This is an area used a lot by kindergarten kids on short hikes, and it is a perfect spot for picnics. Look at the awesome "spine" made from a fallen tree. It is a great place to play.


A close-up picture of the quilt I have named Balance in Chaos. The quilt finishes at 36" x 48", and will later hang on the wall in my son's apartment.


Not only beautiful scenery in the photo shoot, I walked a few steps,turned 180 degrees and got this view of the power lines...


The quilt was pieced with white Aurifil 50wt thread, and quilted with various Aurifil threads of 50wt and 40wt, all provided in the Ambassador package I received this spring.


I used the lighter of the two-yard cuts for the backing, and a Batik Foundation called Smoke for binding.


The batting used is Hobbs Thermore that I received in my Ambassador package. I quilted it with horizontal lines of varying distance, in five different Aurifil thread colors, and in addition I added a variegated orange thread from Sulky. This mimics the top-stitch thread on jeans, and adds extra life to the quilt.


Giveaway time: I am giving away a stack of 5" squares from London Calling, one from each of the 20 fabrics in the collection. In addition I am also including a little Dumpling  zipper pouch (made by me) with the dragonflies on the exterior.

To be included in the drawing follow my blog, either by Bloglovin or GFC, and leave a comment on what you would make with the squares.

The giveaway is open internationally, and I'll select a winner by random number drawing on Sept. 5th.

 
Island Batik is having a giveaway on their site.


Thanks so much for visiting today! See below for the full schedule.
You can visit all the blogs to see the new collections of Island Batik fabrics and be inspired by the other Island Batik Ambassadors.


WEEK 1

WEEK 2

WEEK 3

Monday, August 20 – Ocean Odyssey
Toby LischkoKaren Overton
Thursday, August 23 – Dragonfly Dreams
Inchworm FabricsBeaQuilter

WEEK 4

Wednesday, August 29 – Lavendula
Carole Lyles ShawMasterpiece Quilting

WEEK 5

Tuesday, September 4 – Whatnot
heARTS CreationsSlice of Pi Quilts

51 comments:

  1. following on bloglovin. your quilt is gorgeous. and that pouch is so pretty. thanks for sharing.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow you on GFC. I love that quilt, and the straight line quilting was perfect for it. If I won the squares, I would use them in the Splendid Sampler 2. (And I'd use that adorable pouch to hold wonder clips!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is a terrific quilt and the orange is just perfect. Congrats on a gorgeous quilt for the Great Outdoors hop!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this line, your quilt is perfect for it! Love the pop of orange, too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the way your quilt sparkles. It seems almost three-dimensional and I don't know if it is that spark of orange. But it is wonderful. I am following you through Bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd make a quilt for sure. I love yours. Blue is my favorite quilt color.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very very eye catching ty for sharing your talents with us... I follow on bloglovin. .. happyness04431@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your patches of orange really pop out on this quilt. Beautiful! I follow you on bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love how you used orange with this. I think I might make something for the table, placemats or a table runner.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great quilt, especially the pops of orange. I would make a table topper for winter.
    cecilialyoung at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Following on bloglovin'. I would use them in a quilt. Pretty blue quilt. 24Tangent@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I follow on Bloglovin, I would make myself a tote bag!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Following with bloglovin. I would piece them and make a quilted tote.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I follow via bloglovin love the quilt colors pouch is super cute I would make more pouches as gifts

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your quilt is beautiful, and I especially like the photo shoot! Scenery is beautiful too! I like making scrap quilts and would most likely use the 5" squares in a baby quilt. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love the way you featured these beautiful blues in your quilt design. I just clicked to follow you on bloglovin. I'd use the 5" squares for something scrappy, perhaps a table runner.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I follow you on Bloglovin. I think a table runner or small bag would be nice with the fabrics!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Followed you on bloglovin’. I need to make a book bag as a gift and these would be perfect. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wouldn't those make a beautiful Christmas tree skirt! Love the dumpling!

    ReplyDelete
  20. London Calling is a beautiful collection. I follow via Bloglovin'. The charm squares would make a wonderful winter tote. Thanks for sharing your quilt and some fabric heaven.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Eek - how cute is that dragonfly fabric!? Love the quilt and the colors - I would love to make a pretty quilt for my daughter to snuggle in while she studies! tks! I follow!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your quilt... and of course blue is my absolute favourite colour!! I think I’d make a table runner, in a mini version of your quilt!! Thanks for the chance... that dumpling pouch is super cute!💙

    ReplyDelete
  23. I followed on BlogLovin. I would make a quilt or a quilted wall hanging from these. Your quilt is very created. I love your inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I would use them in a baby quilt for our local farmer. I would need to combine them with real blue jeans. thanks for offering.



    ReplyDelete
  25. I've the quilt. I love my blue jeans too.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love your improv quilt! I’d make a wall quilt for my office with the small squares. I follow you on BlogLovin.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I follow thru bloglovin..and GFC from long while back :) Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! Think I would use the charms in a fun Tote..mixed with faded jeans squares I have left from a jeans quilt :) Your Quilt is AWESOME!! Know your Son will love it hanging in his apartment too.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great job! I do love the colors, and the pop of orange is great. (Ambassador)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your quilt will look awesome on a wall! It's so striking and it really keeps the eye moving. I love the pouch too. Those dragonflies are beautiful. Your observation about these colors and denim gave me an idea - I would use these squares in a denim-based cathedral window quilt or pillow. They would be perfect as the windows. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Your quilt is beautiful; the orange is a perfect accent colour!
    Fellow Ambassador Karen

    ReplyDelete
  31. Beautiful quilt! I love blue. I am a new follower on Bloglovin. I would use the squares to make new pillow covers for my living room. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I saw the forest picture of your quilt on IG and just stopped and stared. It really is a beautiful quilt. I follow on IG and now Bloglovin. Thanks for sharing. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. WOW - your quilt is great - has a real modern feel to it and lots of motion!!! Thanks for sharing! I wold love to try those blocks out in an improv quilt!! mumbird3atgmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  34. opps forgot to say following on bloglovin!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Love these fabrics and your quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a beautiful quilt! I love the modern design and the pops of color outside of the blues really make it so interesting and fun! I'd make a modern table topper or runner with the squares for my home.

    ReplyDelete
  37. London Calling suits my niece to a "T", so I'd likely make her a table runner, maybe in a Disappearing 4 patch design.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I have added your blog to my feed on Bloglovin. I too need to make a blue quilt with orange accents for nephew so these squares will get used for this creation. I really like what you created. I hadn't thought of creating a log cabin block quilt for my nephew. Hmm.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love the blue & white fabric with the pop of gold. Bright and crisp like a sunny winter day. A wall hanging for a spot that needs perking up would be perfect in this fabric.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Blues are beautiful. I see a large "L" for love everywhere on it!

    ReplyDelete
  41. Your quilt is really pretty. I especially like the "dots" of orange accents in the blocks! My quilt cave is painted blue with one wall that I sponged with white clouds. I think I would make a wall hanging to go there!! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I follow you with bloglovin. I would make a bag with the charm squares and put the dumpling bag in it. Your quilt looks wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Love your quilt and little coin purse...the fabrics are so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the little spots of orange, and even neater that the inspiration is the thread from jeans. Your dumpling pouch is the cutest! I think these would make a great disappearing 4-patch in all shades of blue.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love your quilt! the jeans inspration is great.
    Following you on bloglovin.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow on bloglovin and IG.
    Awesome quilt. I'd make a tote bag, and zipper pouch for one of my sisters. She'd love these colors.

    ReplyDelete
  47. It's beautiful! I love the addition of the orange to the blues and it certainly does look like a well loved pair of jeans :)

    ReplyDelete

I love comments! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave me a quick note!