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Saturday 10 February 2018

I'm An Island Batik Ambassador!

Early in this new year, I received the exciting news that I had been selected as an Island Batik Ambassador for 2018.  When I told friends and family, they all had the same reaction: "Wonderful...but I didn't know they made batiks on the Island!" To a Maritimer, anything "island" refers to Prince Edward Island - like Island Chocolates, or Island Distillers, or the popular Island Beach chain of shops.  You can see how close P.E.I. is to Amherst, just across the Confederation Bridge.
Island Batiks, however,are from an island almost half way around the globe.
The fabrics are produced on the island of Bali, world famous for the manufacture of beautiful batiks. Island Batik provides employment for approximately 100 people on the island.
The art of batik, a wax-resist dying method, has been practiced for centuries in Indonesia. Starting with plain, white fabric, dyes are then added to create stunning and unique designs.  The fabric is spread outside in the sun to dry - much like the way we dry our dulse. Each piece of fabric is custom designed, and every yard made by hand.  It's a very labour intensive process.

Island Batik is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and have been in business for around 15 years.  They have approximately 4 dozen ambassadors around the world, in places like Norway, Australia, the US, Canada, Greece and the UK. I applaud Island Batik for making this a global program.






As a newbie to the Ambassador program, I will learn the ropes as I go. Each ambassador receives product from the company for use in their work, and there are monthly events to showcase the fabric. This year, Aurifil and Hobbs Bonded Fibres are also on board as partner sponsors.

The first boxes from Island Batik have shipped, and mine should be arriving this week. To say I am excited to see what's included is an understatement. I look forward to spending lots of time in my sewing room, creating with this beautiful fabric. Thank you, Island Batik!

11 comments:

  1. This is very exciting! I'm looking forward to seeing what you get in that box, and what you'll do with it!

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    1. I can hardly wait to see the colours and prints I get to work with!

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  2. Can you show us the "unboxing" or is it a secret until the monthly events?

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  3. How excellent is that! Will you get a trip to Bali, I wonder? You could drop in here on the way.....

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  4. Congratulations Karen. I think you'll be a wonderful Ambassador for Island Batik. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create with their fabrics, as well as Aurifil threads and Hobbs batting. I'm sure they will be beautiful.

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal2.wordpress.com

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  5. How exciting! Congrats! Can't wait to see what comes next...

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  6. It is hard waiting for that box. Look forward to seeing your unique collection.

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  7. Congratulations, looking forward to seeing what you will receive.

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  8. I’ve already seen the contents of this month’s box, and assuming it’s the same, it’s lots of fun!

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