Island Batik Box 1

 

Welcome to 2021 and a new year of Island Batik Challenges and Ambassadors. I am embarking on my 3rd year as an IBA and already its promising to be a GOOD year so I hope you’ll come back to see what I make with the beautiful fabrics below.

As Island Batik Ambassadors we receive 2 shipments a year of fabric along with products from their Industry Partners; Hobbs Batting, Aurifil Thread, Schmetz Needles and AccuQuilt. Island Batik then challenges us each month to make a project following pre-set guidelines using the products they have sent. All of the products in this post were given to me and I do not earn money if you click on a link. To see more of the disclosure click here.

 

Foundations

sorry photo was lost

A nice assortment of solids and prints from the Foundations Collection. Foundation are always available throughout the year and they include Solids, Neutrals, Basics and Blenders. Last year they expanded the Solids to include additional colors totaling 14 now.

There is also a lovely collection of Rayons, one of which you can see in the upper left hand corner.

Freedom 2 and ?

 

Surprise, I haven’t peeked yet and the suspense is killing me. The purple and yellow right below that package is the light and dark coordinating fabric, yikes I may have to look.

The rest of the fabric you will see in my February project, Freedom 2 designed by Kathy Engle. It will be shipping to shops next month. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this collection. There are fireworks, stars, eagles and I am having a difficult time cutting into the dark fabric standing in the background.

Pre-cuts

Garden Gems (upper left with coordinating fabric under) was designed by Kathy Engle for Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design. It will be shipping to stores In February. Hmmm, wonder what I will make with this cheerful collection.

Forecast (upper right with coordinating fabric under) was designed by Ebony Love of Lovebug Studios. This looks like a fun collection 🙂 Forecast will ship in May so you have plenty of time to decide what design and how much fabric you will need.

In the bottom of the photo are gray, black and white solid, and Batter. All from the Foundations Collection.

Stash Builders, Schmetz Needles and Aurifil

 

Two packs of Stash Builders. Stash Builders are 5″ x wof strips that are perfect for applique when you just need a small amount. But they are also great for running through your fabric cutters or for a scrappy quilt. Each pack contains 5 rolls with an assortment of fabrics from different collections totaling 2.8 yards.

Aurifil and Schmetz Needles were very generous as you can see. Aurifil sent 7 spools, 40 and 50 wt threads. Its hard to choose a favorite color with so many to choose from.

Schmetz Needles sent 3 packs of their Microtex Chrome Needles. Until last year I had only ever used the needle brand that came with a machine at purchase. When I tried the Microtex for the first time I was paper piecing blocks and found my paper tore away more cleanly and easily. Whether it was my choice of needle in the past I can’t say but I am hooked on Schmetz now.

Hobbs and AccuQuilt

I love Hobbs Batting and their many options to choose from. So far my favorites are their cotton and wool batting but I’m excited about trying the Poly-Down. My first year as an Ambassador I had never used black batting and I can honestly say it does make a difference when quilting dark fabrics. First of all you don’t get the white fly-aways clinging to your black or dark fabric. Best of all, no matter how perfect our tension is there are no white pokies.

Another first for me as an IBA was AccuQuilt. Prior to becoming an IBA fabric cutters had never crossed my mind which is a surprise given the fact that I hate cutting fabric. I remember saying I felt like Granny Clampett when they moved to Beverly Hills with all the modern conveniences.

There was this the love/hate relationship I had with half square triangles that no longer exists due to the AccuQuilt GO! I received in 2019. I loved it so much that I now own a GO! Big. AccuQuilt sent me the GO! Snail’s Trail-8″ Finished Die. It is what they call a BOB (block on board), you can cut every piece of the block with just a single pass. In their description it states you can cut three complete 2-color blocks in just one pass through your cutter.

Thank you

To Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, AccuQuilt, Aurifil Thread and Schmetz Needles, thank you!

Click image below for links to other Ambassadors.

Join me every Thursday for…