Island Batik Ambassdors Mini Challenge Quilt 2 - Part 2

                   

My inspiration for this project came from post-it notes I collected during a meeting.  I then dug through my Island Batik stash looking for the right colors.  I decided on the four below.  The bright pink was really not in my stash, it's very neon.  I decided this darker pink provided the right amount of contrast.

After playing around in EQ7, I decided on the block below.  In retrospect, I chose to change my dark orange to one with less contrast because the pieces were going to be so small.  This finished block is 3 inches square and those little squares are only 1/2 inch.  I did decide to paper piece the oblong triangles to make sure they were accurate.

Here are the blocks complete.

And of course I started playing with how to lay them out.

Once I'd made my final decision I started thinking about how to quilt my project.  Lines,  feathers...hnm.

Swags, paisleys...

This was my final decision.

Here it is with the lines all quilted.  I love how they add directionality to the piece.  I chose to again use Hobbs silk batting in my mini.  I love the way it drapes and I thought that property would be helpful in a mini to keep it flexible instead of stiff.  I also chose to use my favorite Aurifil threads to quilt my piece.  I love how they blend in to fabrics.

I decided then to do some feather quilting in the pink.

I love how it looks on the back!

The whole quilt quilted.  I thought about stitching the oranges, but decided against it since the quilt is so small.

I decided to try something new on this quilt and use a 1/8 inch binding on this project.  I also used bias and it worked PERFECTLY.  I sewed it on with a zipper foot for ease.

Here's a closeup of the corner.  AMAZING.  I think I am becoming a bias binding convert.

I hope you get to quilt today!

Suzy

Island Batik Ambassadors Mini Challenge Quilt 2 - Picking Color.

I love Post-it notes.  Who doesn't?  I have a problem however when it comes to going to district meetings because they have collections of all these pretty ones!  I grabbed a couple.  I'll admit that my neighbor was wondering what was going on.  I explained I was going to use them to pick colors for a project.

Here's my starting point.

Here's the first combination I tried.  I love this!

What if I add turquoise?  Nah.

Lime?  No.

A second turquoise?  Too many colors.  It starts to get overwhelming.

Nope.

I like this, but the bright pink was better than the salmon.

Okay, but not singing to me.

As you can see, I kept playing....

Funnily enough, I finally settled on my first color combination.

I dove into my Island Batik stash looking for these colors.  Here's what I found for the dark orange.

The hot pink...

Turquoise...

Cheddar...

And here are my final choices.

You never know where you're going to find inspiration!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Island Batik Ambassadors Mini Challenge Part 3

My Island Batik Magnificent Mini is complete!  Today I'm going to share with you how I did that crazy curvy binding!

Here's the quilt before I started the binding.  I used Hobbs Tuscany Silk Batting and Aurifil Thread for the quilting.

Here's the back! 

The next step was trimming the curvy line marked on the front.  Then it was time to attach the binding.  I decided to use bias binding since it bends and flexes and I was going to use a single fold binding, but my friend Sarah Ann Smith suggested using a double fold so I tried it.  This binding is only 1/8 inch thick since it's a mini so I cut it at 1.5 inches wide on the bias.  I then attached it very slowly and very carefully.  It was NOT easy, but it turned out well.  You could only take a few stitches before having to stop and turn the binding.

Then came the mini binding clips.  I LOVE these!

After hand stitching the back here is the finished quilt!  I am in LOVE with it.  It's so classical and dainty finishing at just 14 inches.

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy

Island Batik Ambassadors Mini Challenge Part 2

I finished the top with my gorgeous Indigo Morris Island Batiks so now it was time to blanket stitch around the applique.  I played with my Aurifil blues until I found just the right colors.

Here's the light blue stitched.

And the back

Next round stitched out.

I love the way the stitching looks on the back too!

Now for the quilting.  Here's the top completely quilted. 

This stitch is my favorite I ever created.  I call it Webster Clams.  Find out how to quilt them by following the link!

What's a quilt without feathers?

Needed something interesting so a circle with a few pebbles on the outside.  I like how modern it looks.

The center with some more Webster Clams.  A hit for a center that isn't symmetrical exactly.  Pebbles work really well to hide any imperfections and draw your eye everywhere.

Some baptist fans

And the back.  I love being able to see the quilting on the back.

Now on to the binding....come back Wednesday to check it out!

I hope you get to quilt today!
Suzy