Island Batik June Challenge
This months Island Batik Challenge is Ambassador’s Choice. We could use any Island Batik fabric, the project could be any size and we could make what we wanted.
I’ve been enjoying looking at the Petal Pushers Collection since box 2 in 2019. There have been several instances where I thought I would use them but decided to save for something else because I wasn’t ready to cut them up. Well, I loved them so much I chose to make 2 quilts for this challenge.
Here are a couple more photos of the collections.
Project 1
I pulled these 6 fabrics and the IB Gray Solid. For all my paper pieced quilts I label each fabric with a Post-It noting it’s placement and the size strips I need to cut for piecing (the Post-Its stay on the fabrics as I cut). If you are a new visitor, when I paper piece the only pre-cutting I do is in strips. You can view my new YouTube Channel here to get an idea of my process. Just know I am new to videos and learning as I go, not to mention still very nervous.
The Gray Solid is always available and one of my favorites for a background fabric. It too is cut into strips for piecing.
I always use an Add-A-Quarter Ruler ™ , see it in action in one of videos.
The design I chose to make is my own which I have been working on for a while, this will be a small version of the actual design I call Galaxy. The design is really simple and as is my norm, no curved piecing or Y seams.
This mini consists of 4 blocks.
It looked a little bare, unfinished so I decided to add a border. After trying a few of the inside designs I decided to pull out my AccuQuilt GO! and cut some diamonds. AccuQuilt is an Island Batik industry partner and they sent all IB Ambassadors their own Ready Set GO! System.
Here I am chain piecing on my Juki using the Schmetz Needles we were sent in box 1 this year.
And my un-quilted top. A pattern (larger layout) will be available once I play a little more with border blocks.
Project 2 with the remaining Petal Pushers collection.
For my background on this quilt I decided to use IB Rice. It’s lovely shades of blue with dots and would make a beautiful sky fabric. I wanted a delicate design for my second quilt that didn’t require a lot of fabric for the design itself since I was limited to what I had on hand. Half square triangles are great to stretch your fabric, literally. I have the AccuQuilt GO! Mix and Match Qube 12″ sent to me as an AccuQuilt GO!Getter, that I can make 3″ finished hst which was perfect for the amount of Petal Pushers fabric I had left.
Before the AccuQuilt I avoided hst, now I love them. I’m currently working on another quilt made from mis-cut hst’s (the original reason I avoided them) from several years ago, brought back to life with the AccuQuilt Mix & Match Qube 8″ block.
Here are my 3″ finished hst and 3″ finished squares laid out and piecing has begun.
Oh, it would help if I told you about the pattern wouldn’t it? Google is amazing. I searched for some combo of hst quilts, delicate hst quilts, I don’t really remember all the search terms or combos I used. The design is from a quilt block Jenny Doan purchased on Ebay. She calls it Antique Lace and you can find her tutorial here. I cant speak for or against the tutorial since I didn’t follow it, I used my AccuQuilt GO! instead.
My quilt consists of 9 24″blocks like the one shown above. The colors are random except for the center block where I used the darkest shade I had left.
And here it is when the sun is not washing out all the colors. It still needs some squaring up and binding that I’ll do when my fabric arrives, purchased from MaryMack’s Blog. She has an Etsy store and she does sell Island Batik fabric.If you look closely you can see the splashes of lighter blue in the background.
Hobbs Batting is also an industry partner. They sent us the generous king size batting in box 1 and I was able to use one pack of batting for both of my June projects. As you can see there is still a small amount left that will be perfect for a runner or another mini. 
Thank you to Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, AccuQuilt and Schmetz needles for making my design a reality and the bonus Antique Lace quilt a nice addition to my hst collections.
Love both of your projects but especially the purple one because that’s my favorite color. I love that collection! So pretty. Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
It’s interesting to see which people choose as a favorite, I cannot make the choice because I love both of them for different reasons.
No need to respond. I am just saying I like both quilts. I can’t even decide which one I like best. I lean one way, and then I reverse myself. =) Great use of fabrics! Thanks for the little explanations of what you do and why.
The same with me. I love something about each.
Your Galaxy design is just wonderful Denise! What a different look between the two quilts using the same line! It’s amazing to focus on different colours within a line, and yes, I, too, love the soft grey as a background. Love the purple pop in the centre of your second quilt. 24″ blocks makes for a big quilt, fast! Love that, and love the real jewel tones of this line. Thanks for the link to the Antique Lace block, though I can see using the dies as they eliminate the squaring up part.
Thanks Sandra. Between the large 9 blocks and the dies it was a flimsy in no time.
Both of the quilts are lovely. I like the contrast between the two. The first quilt using slivers of color with the bold diamond border is so different from the second quilt made with HST, but they both show off the fabric so well. It never fails to amaze me how quilting transforms a project. The quilts look great as stitched tops, but after quilting they look incredible.
Awe thank you so much.
Your IB quilt is amazing! You really have a talent with geese. I would never know how or where to start to design something like that. Really awesome. Congrats! Love the second one too. This huge block probably makes a quilt in no time flat. I love that idea. ;^)
Thank you, that is so kind. The second quilt, yes it goes together very quick. It helps is you lay the pieces out in front of you in the block layout.
Both of those are just wonderful. The batik collection really makes me drool.
So far I think it’s my favorite collection. Thank you for stopping by.
beautiful projects!
Thank you.
Gorgeous quilt and gorgeous fabrics!
Thank you
Gorgeous projects!! Love the second one, off to watch that tutorial.
Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll help if I can.
Not one, but two amazing quilts. I’m a bit hard pressed to say which is my favourite, on account that they are so different but both beautiful. I love the movement and secondary patterns in the Antique Lace quilt. And your new pattern is stunning as ever. I agree with the comments, the border and diamonds really frame your piece. Thanks for sharing both your lovely quilts at the Chameleon’s Colour & Inspiration Party.
Awe thank you Dione. Judging by all the comments I think I may have found the border for the pattern.
Both quilts are so pretty with those batiks but Galaxy just made me sit and look/enjoy for 15 minutes. The diamonds are the perfect finish!
Thank you Carol. The diamonds seem to have top vote.
Oh my goodness – I love your Galaxy quilt! The colors are perfect for the theme of the quilt and the design is wonderful. Great job! Thanks for sharing your quilts on MCM Denise!
Thank you Beth, that is so kind of you.
I have one word for your Island Batik design. WOW!
Your two quilts are both amazing! I love them. That collection of fabric is awesome and deserved these special projects.
I really haven’t paper pieced but I’m looking at that first quilt thinking that this may be a skill I need to learn just so I can make that pattern. I just love it.
Thank you. I have a couple short tutorials on YouTube that show the basics.
Hi,
Lovely quilts…so colorful. Have a great day!
Thank you Sherrie and thanks for stopping by.
These projects are both beautiful. It is fun when we finally get to use the ones we have stashed for so long! I have purchased from Mary before and it was a delight! I am still living off some of what I got from her, but now I need to peek and see what she has.
She just got an order in, hint hint. I’m so glad I saved these and was able to make both quilts. It’s always interesting how different a collection looks in different designs.
Both are beautiful. I love the deeper red center of the Lace quilt. And your fabric is here, I just need to figure out the invoice and get it shipped. Thanks for the shout-out!
Thank you, and you are welcome. I am looking forward to receiving it, lots of good stuff happening right now.
Hi Denise! I love the addition of the diamonds to the first piece. They really pull the whole look together, like magic. The whole quilt is just gorgeous. Your second quilt looks so much like summer to me. Those fabrics . . . lovely. You did such a nice job on both of these. ~smile~ Roseanne
Thank you Roseanne, means a lot. I’ve been questioning the diamonds and if I want to include them in the pattern.
Hi again! Not only do I love the diamonds but the addition of that narrow border in all the different fabrics really is a nice break as well. I forgot to say thank you for linking up this week. ~smile~ Roseanne
I kind like that border myself, thank you for coming back and for the linky party.
These are both beautiful! I especially love the scrappy HSTs and the dark pink center really draws your eye. Pedal Pushers is so lovely! I also got some last year and have been saving it for a perfect project.
Seems we think a lot alike, these were from box 2 last year and I couldn’t bring myself to cut into them until now. The Rice blends really well with the collection, hint hint.
I really like both of your designs…especially your half square triangles. I enjoy my Go and will have to see if I have the die for the 3″ finished HST. Thanks for sharing these great designs. (And, I think your fabric choices are spot on.
Thank you Bonnie. You could use any of the hst dies, I chose the 3″ for the size of the finished quilt and because I knew there were enough fabrics for it. Anything larger I wasn’t sure. If you do make it I found it much easier to organize the pieces in the block layout and stack them. Then pieced each section at a time. When I started I was pulling the hst and blocks from piles and quickly confused.
It’s another stunning quilt as your quilts always are;) You just have such a knack for paper piecing!!
Awe thank you Vicki. Your runners are pretty amazing too.
Beautiful projects!
Thank you Anne-Marie
I am amazed that you resisted using those gorgeous fabrics for so long. You did a great job on the Galaxy quilt. Ilove the added diamond border. It really adds a nice POP to the design. The lace quilt is so pretty too. I love the colors against the “Rice” background fabric.
They are just so beautiful I couldn’t bring myself to cut into them, I needed more viewing time. The Rice is a dream with the collection, so pleasing to the eye. Thank you for the diamond compliment, I’ve been questioning my use of them.