Sew Karen-ly Created...

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Monday, 12 August 2019

Beat The Heat

Welcome to today's stop on Island Batik's "Beat the Heat" blog hop.  Although we can't actually help reduce the heat and humidity, we perhaps can offer some distraction by showing off the new Island Batik collections shipping to stores now.
We've had wicked heat and humidity this past month, so it was
nice to think back to January when the
first Island Batik Ambassador box arrived.


In that box were two parcels wrapped in paper marked "Surprise",
which we were to keep secret
until now.
Inside my parcels, was a collection called "Garden Party".  Designed by the Colourworx team, the collection  includes 20 different batik prints in saturated rainbow colours.
I received a sampling of the entire collection, plus an additional 2 yards each of a light and a dark.
Our instructions were: lap size or larger, with the goal of featuring as many fabrics from the collection as possible. The batiks headed for the laundry...
...and I headed off to the open EQ8 on the computer.  I wanted to use large pieces to show off the fabrics;  these are 8" squares, with triangle corners added to give a star shape. Alternate blocks with an X made from the cranberry yardage give the stars the appearance of floating.
The triangle point at the edges were pieced into the inner border to complete the star shape.
I auditioned many styles of borders, but in the end I went with my favourite piano key border, in 1" strips.  My quilt ended up a fair bit larger than this sketch, as I liked it so much I kept going.
  
To make the borders, I pieced 1" width of fabric strips of each colour together, then subcut them into 6-1/2" widths.  It made the piecing go really quickly to do it this way.
I decided to mitre the corners, and everything lined up perfectly.
This time, instead of basting on the floor as I always do, I decided to clamp it to my cutting table (which just happens to be in an air-conditioned room!) Polly was her usual helpful self when it came to basting...  The batting chosen is my favourite Hobbs Tuscany Wool;  you can see a bit poking out at the edge. It's Polly's favourite too, and the cut-off scraps go into a box for her which we call her nest, as she snuggles down inside to nap.
 The backing is a plain muslin from Mrs Pugsley's Emporium, for which Aurifil #2000 in 
50 weight was a perfect match.
For the blocks, I free motioned a flowery motif. 
The borders got a squiggly line free motion stitched across the seam, rather than in the ditch.
The alternate X blocks have the same squiggle stitched through their centres. As this is a bed quilt, I wanted it left soft and squishy.  The quilt is sized to fit a twin bed.
Hubby and I took it downtown to photograph at Amherst's beautiful Victoria Square.



A sincere thank you to Island Batik, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs Batting for supplying the products used.

As a small thank you for stopping by, at the end of the hop (after August 31/19) I will draw a name for two free pdf patterns. This giveaway is open to everyone, but please make sure you leave an email address in the comment where I can reach you. Make sure that you visit the Island Batik blog for a chance to win some fabulous fabric, as well as the links below to see gorgeous quilts:
Monday, August 5
Leanne Parsons 
Sherry Shish

Tuesday, August 6
Bill Locke
Lisa Nielsen

Wednesday, August 7
Sandra Walker
Terri Vanden Bosch

Thursday, August 8
Pamela Boatright
Kathleen McCormick

Monday, August 12
Karen Neary
Carol Moellers

Tuesday, August 13
Michelle Roberts
Laticia “Tish” Stemple

Wednesday, August 14
(Debora) Anne Wiens
Gene Black

Thursday, August 15
Tina D Dillard
Bea Lee

Monday, August 19
Joanne Hart
Carla Henton

Tuesday, August 20
Connie Kauffman
Vasudha Govindan

Wednesday, August 21
Vicki Schlimmer
Mania Hatziioannidi

Thursday, August 22
Gail Sheppard

Monday, August 26
Maryellen McAuliffe
Jennifer Strauser

Tuesday, August 27
Connie K Campbell
Joan Kawano


48 comments:

  1. I just love fabrics and especially batiks!
    miroula@yahoo.gr

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  2. those blocks are wonderful, but the corners make this extra special. Great photo settings, that rounds it all up to be a success that is out of all our imagination.

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  3. That is such a fun design, I love it! A beautiful spot for photographs too.

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  4. I love the colours in that quilt. I will have to look for the collection around here. I know a store nearby has started carrying Island Batiks, so I'll watch for it.

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  5. I love your quilt design. The quilt came out beautifully with the red background. And those piano key borders are just lovely.

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  6. Karen beautiful as usual, I love bright colours and love batiks they are my favourite to work with.

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  7. Love your quilt.
    Cshelleyqbq(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Karen - as usual you have knocked it out of the park with this design!! It is gorgeous!

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  9. Nice use of all those wonderful, bright colors. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. your quilt is lovely. you really showed those fabrics off well. I love how you made it so in the end it is soft and cuddly. thanks for sharing. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  11. Gorgeous quilt! Love
    the floating stars.
    Carla from Utah

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  12. Wonderful use of those happy colors. Nancy A: SewingGranda@gmail.com

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  13. This is a beautiful quilt - shows off the colors so nicely.
    diantha.howard@gmail.com

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  14. I love the construction of this and that you get to see so much of the fabric. The extending into the border is always a nice touch. I love that you mitered the corners - just what it called for. This is a real beauty!

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  15. I looooove bright quilts and the fabrics are just amazing. What a wonderful design and quilt.

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  16. Love your beautiful quilt!!
    barbkaup)(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  17. Love that bright bright quilt. Really shows off those beautiful batiks.

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  18. What a great quilt! I love that it is Polly-approved! LOL! I love how you made the stars floating!!

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  19. Ooh...I like this fabric collection. Love your pattern. It turned out great.

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  20. Wonderful quilt, great colors and design. Jmikebalou (at)aol (dot) com

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  21. Great pattern, Karen! I've just finished a "rainbow" bargello, so these fabrics are particularly appealing. Joanne, Armstrong, BC (you have my email address)

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  22. I love the bright colors in your quilt. Beautiful. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

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  23. What a fun collection to work with. I love how the made the corners of your border. dawn (Dot) bulthuis (@) gmail (dot) com

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  24. A beautiful quilt and I love all the photos throughout. I am assuming you quilted this on your domestic machine.

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  25. Lovely quilt - especially love the quilting motif! mumbird3atgmaildotcom

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  26. Karen, it’s quite beautiful! So bold, bright and cheerful! Love how those corners came out when you mitered them. I keep meaning to tell you how much I like your header picture!

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  27. It's lovely Karen! Those colours sure do remind me of our summer heat- blue skies and "July-hot" reds yellows and oranges! Whew! Love the blocks extending into the border,and the mitred corners are the perfect touch!

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  28. Great quilt--and it works well with the rainbow colors. lesliejp9@gmail.com

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  29. Lovely quilt and a fabulous shot of Polly! (If I win, you know where to reach me ��)

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  30. Lovely quilt in a lovely setting. Thanks.

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  31. Great colors and design, really beautiful quilt!

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  32. Wow great quilt and the colors are to die for.... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  33. What a vibrant, cheerful quilt! You made great use of the fabric and really showed off each print. wordygirl(at)earthlink(dot)net

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  34. This is lovely. It has a real Moroccan feel to it

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  35. I love the colours. Your pattern shows them wonderfully.

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  36. Your quilt is wonderful! I love that you went into the borders to continue the design.

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  37. This is a gorgeous quilt. The cranberry background really makes the colors pop.

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  38. Vibrant and exciting quilt. Love the machine quilting also! Thanks for posting inspiring patterns.

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  39. I really love this design, Karen! It's beautiful and great for showing off the pretty fabrics. Your quilting is a great complement to it, too!

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  40. Thank you so much Karen, for my name was chosen, and I have some wonderful patterns, the Stuffie bag fabrics are chosen, cut, slashed and sewn back together again, this is something I have always admired so much, and NOW have made my own.

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