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!