Friday, March 4, 2016

Island Batik - Holiday Happenings


Here we are on the last day of our Planes, Trains and Automobile Blog Hop featuring the new fabric collections from Island Batik. #islandbatik #PTABlogHop 
Wow...what a great 3 weeks it has been. Lots of giveaway opportunities and inspiration!

Today I'm featuring fabrics from Holiday Happenings.







and a few from










Last fall, Heidi Kory from Electric Quilt, (#EQ25) shared this free pattern -- Heartfelt Holiday. Since I love heart shapes so much, perhaps that is why I fell in love with this quilt. It also reminded me of something from my childhood.

When we think 'end of the year' travel, we often think of holiday travel. If you're going on an extended vacation at Christmas time, why not take your Christmas tree with you?

When in the Philippines at the age of 13, my mother acquired a woven green tree with red balls on it. She hung it in our dining room year round. A photo from a significant event in your life was hung on it with honor. Graduation or Marriage for each of my cousins got their photo on the tree as well.

So, these two thoughts came together for me to use the beautiful Holiday Happenings fabrics for the tree and some Lavish fabrics for the presents along the base. In the tree, I did add a red from  Sea Salt Sandy.  I couldn't help but get a bit creative with the border and came up with something new. I haven't seen this anywhere on a quilt, so I will share a little tutorial on how to make it happen.

My grandfather's photo albums included one with older black paper pages and photo corner holders. This concept inspired the border design.



The 'golden' photo holders are using fabric from Countryside (111510121).

Whatever width you want your 'border' to be --in this case the white border which then looks like an old style photo edge, the holder is the equivalent of a half square triangle on each outer edge, a square, and then a corner square. Since I was scrounging from leftovers of another project, I had to be creative. Sometimes I was able to cut a trapezoid and do a mitered corner, otherwise I was doing HSTs and squares or parts of both. Since the blocks in this design have a finished 8" (height) x 5" (width), I decided the inner border should be 2" and the outer border 3". This also allowed me to have enough of the 'golden' fabric for the corners!


A large variety of threads were used. Not much of any, but having the ability to use the variety gives me lots of options. Checking tension and knowing how to go to almost no tension for the metallic threads is important.

I chose to use two battings. 80/20 on the bottom and a wool on top.

The quilting in the photo corners is just an echo on the inside, using the A&E Tex 30 Fox. If you look at a real one, that is how they are embossed. The white paper edge is a free style cross hatch intentionally 'squiggled' to give it kind of a linen look. So Fine! 401 thread.


The quilting on the presents is fairly simple and used the motif of the 'wrapping' for a quilting design and stitch-in-the-ditch the ribbon. Signature - Berry Wine, A&E Tex 40 - Yale Blue and YLI Variegated Kyoto Garden were all used. I did use a couple of fabrics from "Meadow" collection for the first and fourth present ribbons and one from "Countryside" for the ribbon on the very last present as well.






The hearts on the tree have a feathered border around a smaller inner heart. I used a #Wonderfil metallic thread in the hearts.

The tree quilting is just long spikes to look like tree boughs to fill the space. YLI Forest.

The star quilting is just a simple inner echo of the outer edge with a gold Madeira metallic thread.

The tree trunk has a wood grain effect in the quilting, YLI Old Penny thread. I used a Sea Salt Sandy fabric for the trunk.

Now for a little information about the pieced background. The light blue is a Galaxy Batik.

The quilting is a pantograph --Dancing Snowflakes (Willow Leaf Studio)--am I crazy? I just felt it was the right thing and so used this as a test (I did it again on the next customer quilt!) and at each pass I would mark out the tree or whatever the obstacle was and carefully stop and start and run around to the front to move to the next area by ditching along the tree or present. I hand guide all of my stitching, so this seemed pretty crazy, but I'm quite pleased with the result. So grateful for the sunshine today so I could get this photo!




 The black border is stitched with Omni Black and I used the motif of the fabric to do the quilting.

 A word of thanks to the entire Island Batik team for engaging us Ambassadors and providing these wonderful fabrics.

Thank you for following along. I hope that if you are a blessed winner of any of the giveaways, you will enjoy using them in a special treasure.








I've got 10 Fat Eighths from this collection to share, so leave me a comment ----do you like to design your own quilts or use someone's pattern? Do you use EQ? Be sure to get your email into the rafflecopter. Just today to enter!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Here is the Island Batik Giveaway .....one last day to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Here is the complete listing of the blog hop if you've just joined us and would love to catch all the inspiration. Happy Quilting! See you again later this month (I'll be posting on March 23 using the Tinsel line of fabric!)


Did you miss these posts?
Here’s the blog hop schedule:
Monday, February 15 – Caribbean Splash
Bejeweled Quilts
Pamela Quilts
Tuesday, February 16 – London Fog
Moose Stash Quilting
Wednesday, February 17 -- French Roasted
Made In Scraps
Happy Cottage Quilter
KISSed Quilts --did you see my airplane theme here?
Freemotion by the River (Bonus!)
Thursday, February 18 – Crystal Cove
Freemotion by the River
Friday, February 19 – Florida Oranges
Fun Threads Designs
Kauffman Designs
Tamarinis
Monday, February 22 – Coral Reef
Mary Mack Made Mine
Purrfect Spots Designs
Tuesday, February 23 -- Sweet Georgia Peach
KISSed Quilts --yep, me! ...and my own set of giveaways!
One Quilting Circle
Wednesday, February 24 – Hollywood Hills
The Fit Quilter
Maria Michaels Designs
Thursday, February 25 – Desert Rose
For Quilts Sake
Lemon Tree Snippets --did you see what she did with my Dangling Diamonds design?
Freemotion by the River -- a bonus post!
Friday, February 26 – Sea Salt Sandy
Bejeweled Quilts
KISSed Quilts
Moose Stash Quilting
Pamela Quilts
Tamarinis
Mary Mack Designs - BONUS!!!
Monday, February 29 – Jersey Shore
Beaquilter
Lemon Tree Snippets
BONUS - Freemotion by the River
Tuesday, March 1 – Tuscany Sun
Tammy Silvers
BONUS - Freemotion by the River
Wednesday, March 2 – Lavish
Freemotion by the River
Moose Stash Quilting
Thursday, March 3 – Fire Island
KISSed Quilts
Friday, March 4 – Tinsel, Holiday Happenings
Purrfect Spots Designs
KISSed Quilts- You're here!
Moose Stash Quilting   



50 comments:

  1. As a beginner I am sticking to patterns! Safest all round at the moment. Beautiful work x
    Iain.ross30 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I sometimes design my own patterns, but I don't have EQ. Most often I use other's patterns.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks so much for sharing this cute pattern and the story that goes with it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I like to mix it up -- I design my own patterns, use other people's patterns as is or with my own twist, and I use EQ. I just love your quilt, the design and the quilting are just gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like to use someone else's patterns but maybe put a different spin on them once in awhile. Thanks for the cute fabric giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your quilt is absolutely gorgeous!! I usually use a pattern, but then I tweak it to show my personality.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I most always use a pattern and try to put my own touch on it.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like using a patter, since FMQ petrifies me. Ten years ago, for our 50th. Anniversary, we went on an Alaska, cruise tour for 14 days, and Denali was definitely high on the list of places we visited. Best trip ever. Love your quilt. lv2bquilting2@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I use patterns that come with fabric. I'm not good at putting fabrics and colors together. But if there are suggestions in a pattern, I am usually able to work from my stash.
    kakingsbury at verizon dot net

    ReplyDelete
  10. I use patterns, but might alter them some. I don't have EQ. Love your quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mostly I use patterns from designers, but sometimes I add a little applique to jazz it up. I don't use EQ. Your quilt is beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a beautiful quilt! As always your quilting adds so much and of course using the beautiful batiks is perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  13. wow your quilt is gorgeous. what a wonderful quilt to have for the season. right now at the point i like to follow others patterns. have not tried to make my own yet. maybe someday. thanks for the inspiration. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  14. What amazingly beautiful quilting! It makes an already lovely quilt an amazing one!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I usually use someone else's designs!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Beautiful quilt with gorgeous quilting! I like to use other peoples' patterns, but I usually change something on it to make it more of my design. I don't use EQ.Thank you for the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Awesome quilt. I use quilt patterns but did design one of my own that got a blue ribbon in the AZ State fair. I am tempted but haven't used EQ yet.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an inspirational post today. A lot of lovely projects. I follow patterns. Thank you for the hop it was fun to see what everyone has created with batiks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never used a pattern for a quilt. Not that I wouldn't consider it, I just have so many quilts floating around in my head that I need to get some of them out of my brain and into fabric! I don't use EQ, though I would LOVE to. Unfortunately my computer is old and couldn't handle the program. Maybe some day...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, you do know just now to put the "Q" in quilting. That is one spectacular showstopper! Love love love it!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I do a combo of the two, I surf the net and buy books, then make a design from what I've seen and generally have changes along the way. eyreka1@gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I use somebodys pattern but change it to my colors. EQ is great. Your quilt reminds me of a special card saved in an old album. 24Tangent@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love this quilt, and the fabrics work so well in it!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like the tree quilt and your idea to put "photo corners" in the inner border adds the perfect touch. I'm a big fan of EQ to design quilts, but occasionally graph paper and colored pencils fill the bill. I like to use patterns by others (especially if I'm learning a new technique) - but I usually end up adding my own twist.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It depends on what I want, and if I have time to do it or just use a pattern. Love the tree! I do not have EQ.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love your quilt and the inspiration that helped you create it. Your quilting is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your quilt is just beautiful! Thanks for sharing it and the giveaway. I often design my own pieces and use EQ7 frequently.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I like to use other designers patterns. But, would like to start designing my own----just have to get the courage to do it.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I don't have EQ. Sometimes I design my own paterns using pencils and graph paper, sometims I wing it and make improv quilts, and sometimes I follow other people's brilliant patterns. It depends on my mood and the occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I like to use other designers patterns but usually add a unique touch. Love the Christmas tree.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have EQ5 haven't design a pattern with it yet, I do both I like other pattern and I also have designs a couple of quilts with graph paper. Love your quilt and the quilting is beautiful. Thanks for sharing and the giveaway.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love your quilt! So special and filled with your wonderful memories!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like designing my own and just got EQ7 2 months ago so still learning!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like designing my own and just got EQ7 2 months ago so still learning!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I usually use someone else's pattern but I seem to always need to make it my own - just like you did. I love the combination of the hearts and the Christmas tree. Your borders, especially the photo corners, were perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  36. great quilt! and always love your quilting

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thank you for sharing the story that goes with your adaptations of Heidi's quilt. Lately I have been testing patterns for others more often than doing my own designs. I do use EQ, but not to the extent that it is capable of helping me.

    ReplyDelete
  38. That's really cute, and I love the photo holder accents. I use published patterns and books, and use EQ7 to design quilts or change borders on published ones. It's fun to make them unique.

    ReplyDelete
  39. No not really but have looked at a picture and grafted it out and made it.... Nice quilt ty for sharing... happyness04431@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I usually use someone else's patterns when I quilt. I have never really seen EQ.Thank you for the nice give away! Island Batiks fabrics are really beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just emailed you above under the name of "Dale". I meant to include my email for you which is warner.dale@gmail.com Thanks!

      Delete
  41. EQ7 is a great tool. Still like other people's patterns as well.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I do like to design my own quilts (even when I use a pattern, I make changes.) And I do indeed use EQ
    geneblack -AT- gmail ----dot-----com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I like to design some of my quilts as well as follow patterns. Thanks for sharing your beautiful quilt.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I usually use a pattern...am too new to design my own lol Your quilts are Awesome! Thanks for chance to win your Give-a-way too :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I've done both,but designing my own is the most fun!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I am speechless over the beauty of your quilt! The details and the actual quilting stitches are amazing. I do not quilt but I sew annd I admire those of you who can and do quilt. Thank you sew very much for hopping...

    ReplyDelete
  47. PDFs work for me.
    Thanks,
    Peggy
    Peggy_verdongibbs@att.net

    ReplyDelete
  48. Great quilt and the quilting was stunning.

    ReplyDelete