IBA March Challenge

Our March challenge as an Island Batik Ambassador was to do a 'mini' (24"x24" or smaller) using English or paper piecing techniques.

I chose a block, "Eastern Star", the second block in the paper piecing chapter from my co-authored book "You Can Quilt!" There are two complete blocks, shrunk to 10" finished, and stacked and then partial blocks to finish the corners of those blocks and then just background fabric beyond that. Somehow there was a conversation in our group about modern and as I was designing what to do I got distracted and changed it up to be more modern than traditional. 

I've been working on developing an idea of quilting to look like lace and had hoped with this dark background I might test the idea, but chickened out. Here it is at various stages of progress.

 I used two layers of 80/2 batting and #Aurifil threads.

I'm calling it Winter Night Sky. It measures about 20" x 25". With good sunlight (today!!) I was able to at least photograph it in a way that you can see the quilting.

Front

 

Back (just for fun!)

 

The fabric used is from the new collection "Frost" that I also have a new design called "Winter Bright" being released through Island Batik or directly from me wholesale or retail. Enjoy!