Seas the Day - Island Batik - Bubbles Galore!

Welcome (back?? in case you missed my Day 1 post) to the next stop on the Island Batik - Back to School Blog Hop! We're featuring Spring and Summer 2017 collections.

Summer is winding down and the kids are back at school! It also means Fall is right around the corner (YAY.. a new seasonally appropriate design of mine about to be released)! It’s an exciting time, full of new beginnings. What’s your favorite back to school memory? Shopping for new school supplies? The smell of a fresh stack of books at your new desk? Making new friends, or even meeting your BFF? It’s simply a great time of year, and we’re going to celebrate it (even if it’s been a few years since a first day of school ;) with a blog hop!

Throughout the hop, our Ambassadors are featuring Island Batik’s newest fabrics, appearing on shop shelves as we speak! See something you like? Ask for it at your local quilt shop, or request it if you don’t yet see it. We have the most delicious collections to share with you, along with our favorite back to school memories.

#backtoschoolwithisland

I'm taking you back to where I went to high school in California on the Monterey Bay with the "Seas the Day" collection.


The motifs in this collection which include sand dollars, star fish, bubbles, rope, lobsters, anchors and a shape that could easily be surf boards!

My newest design, "Sea Bubbles", used these beautiful fabrics that reminded me of my childhood as I also grew up here. My parents taught at the school for 38 years.  So, when I think of 'school' I mostly think of this place.

Here is my new design on display at the top of the bluff

and down on the beach.

Here it is up close.

I chose to let the coloration of the fabrics that I chose migrate across the quilt on a diagonal as if the water is crashing against the sand and rolling up towards the bluff.



























You may have seen my "Zoe" pattern over the years.

"Sea Bubbles" is sort of the grown up version of "Zoe".

I wanted to use fabrics from #islandbatik's Seas the Day line of fabric and make up a Zoe. Since Sea Bubbles was based on 8" finished squares, I chose to also do this Zoe version that way as well and put on small borders based on a 1/2" finished accent and then a fussy cut of the dark blue anchor fabric which when cut was about 1 5/8". The circle base was 8" and 4". If you've made Zoe, it has been a popular pattern and I have quilted many of my client's creations with it, then you get the idea of how this is made. The pattern is available as a PDF download at Craftsy.

I intended to have it done during July for our Oh! Baby! Island Batik Ambassador challenge, but I only got the top pieced that month. Glad it is now done and I can share it with you.

Here it is quilted and bound. I put a slate blue minky dots on the back.

Detailed images of the quilting. I like to let the motifs of the fabrics give me inspiration for how to quilt it. The stars were a nice size to leave unquilted and the bubbles could be any size. The anchors with simple outlining give it some texture.

Whether at the ocean or lake side ...these fabrics are so peaceful.

I'm going to share a copy of my new "Sea Bubbles" pattern to a random winner. I'm using Rafflecopter, please register and leave a comment below answering these questions:  Do you quilt more for others or for yourself? Do you prefer something simple so you can talk with friends while you're sewing or do you enjoy a challenging design that requires focus?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

There are a few extra options that will give you extra entries --see the Rafflecopter for instructions.

Loving these fabrics? I know they are available at Hancock's of Paducah..

If you're in Southern California, you might want to ask Busy Bee Quilt Shop if they have them yet.

Sea Bubbles pattern available as a PDF download or physical copy if you ask me.

Thanks for stopping by on our Back to School Blog Hop.

Other Hop Stops today featuring "Seas the Day" fabrics:
Bernie - www.needleandfoot.com
Janet - https://www.facebook.com/WhispersOfYore/

Three bundles of fabrics from Island Batik will be given away --register at these rafflecopters for those.

a Rafflecopter giveaway