Island Batik Goes Modern + A Giveaway!

 

The challenge presented to the Island Batik Ambassadors this month was to create a modern quilt. That’s it, there were no other guidelines. Talk about a blank slate! I decided to turn to my copy of Quilting Modern by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pederson. There are so many fun projects in this book. For this batik challenge, I selected the Swirling Medallion quilt.

This project is quite simple. It is constructed of HST’s created with 4 1/2″ blocks. A subset of the HST’s have a triangle of black applied to a corner, improv style. (Basically a stitch and flip method.) Those black corners are placed so as to create some movement within the quilt (the swirl). Were I to make this again, I would have made my black triangles larger. There are places where they don’t touch each other and I feel this lessens the effect substantially.

The pattern would have you add another row of the background blocks to frame off the orange diamond shape. I didn’t add these because I wanted to hang it in a certain spot in my entry way and it would have been just a tad too large. I was careful to leave enough of a seam allowance so I wouldn’t cut off the orange points. Hurray!

Using a buttery shade of Aurifil thread, I quilted with straight lines in each quadrant. Once I got to the  corner beyond the orange stripe, I changed direction and quilted on the diagonal, radiating out.

I am happy with the overall look and think the blue and orange are bright and cheery for summertime. My quilt model was in a mood.  Can you tell she is two weeks away from summer break?

Island Batik has been incredibly generous with the ambassador program. It is time to share the wealth!  Let’s have a giveaway. Just because. A batik celebration of sorts! First up for the win is this package of ten inch squares, called River’s Edge.  It is a selection of earthy browns and blacks and there are two of each print for a total of 42 squares.

 

The second prize up for grabs is a charm square pack.  This is a gorgeous set of charms with a theme of dots and circles.  Blues, grays, whites, browns and some black make up the pack of 42 charms (2 of each print.)

 

NOTE:i  Giveaway is now closed!

I would love to share these with two winners. Due to the cost of postage, this is open to US residents only. (I’m sorry!)  To enter to win, leave a comment that will make us smile. Did you do anything fun over the weekend? Share with us. If you are a follower, leave a second comment and tell me how you follow.  I will draw a winner on Thursday evening announce on Friday morning!  Also, I want to remind you I have a newsletter sign up form on the right side of the page. I will be using my newsletter to communicate information about my shop. When I have new fabric, a sale or a fun event, I will send it out in the newsletter. I hope you will sign up and join in the fun.  Happy Monday!!

110 thoughts on “Island Batik Goes Modern + A Giveaway!

  1. Julie Averill

    Let’s see, something to make you smile…..I had a good time planting my garden with the help of my 2 cats 🙂

    Reply
  2. kathy in WV

    I traveled to my hometown to leave flowers on my parent’s graves. My 2 grandbabies went with me and we had a lovely time. I did hear a funny story, though…which I’ll share. A young minister was given an appointment in West Virginia. During a church service he noticed a young man in the back of the church with his head down, looking forlorn. The pastor went back to where Bubba sat and asked what was the matter. Bubba replied that there was a problem with his hearing. The minister, hoping to impress his congregation with the ability to pray and his connection to the power of God, called young Bubba up front. He laid hands on the young man and prayed that God would open his ears to hear. When finished, he asked Bubba, “How’s your hearing?” Bubba replied, “I don’t know, Preacher….it’s not til next Tuesday!”

    Reply
  3. Ellee

    After a busy month, I finally got to relax this weekend. My son came by to do his laundry and we watched some episodes of Father Brown together.

    Reply
  4. Angela Short

    Hope you had a wonderful weekend. My husband and I spent time together and it was very nice. Your quilt is beautiful. angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

    Reply
  5. Hannah W

    My kiddos make me smile. My two year old likes to help with the new baby. He pats baby bother on the back to burp him and laughs joyfully the entire time:)

    Reply
  6. Debbie Miller

    I’ve smiled a lot this month since my oldest granddaughter was married on the 13th and her younger sister graduated high school on the 26th!

    Reply
  7. Deb E / Oregon

    I’m typing this while watching my two little dogs – a Coton de Tulear and a small terrier – on the back of the sofa looking out the large living room window. They mutter and yip whenever they see a squirrel or bird on the small maple tree just outside the window, and bark ferociously when they see people walking their big dogs on the sidewalk. I call it their “dog TV” and it never ceases to entertain them (and me)! Deb E / Oregon

    Reply
  8. Deb E / Oregon

    I follow you by email — and enjoy your postings very much! Hope you had a wonderful long weekend.

    Reply
  9. Chiska

    We’re going to be having dinner in about a half an hour and I looked out the window and my youngest has an empty hamburger bun that she’s eating…..that’s supposed to be for dinner! Frustrating and funny at the same time.

    Reply
  10. Chris K.

    I repaired the bookcases in my sewing room, and it was NOT fun, but it felt good to have it done.

    Reply
  11. Kathy E.

    How fun to be an Island Batik ambassador! The more batik projects I see, the more I love batiks! Over the weekend, we took a little road trip to a giant greenhouse to buy plants for my gardens. It was a perfect day for a trip and some shopping. Today, I spent all day planting…which means I’m pooped!

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Dyck

    I figured out how to hang my new hammock today for serious leisure time this summer. 🙂

    Reply
  13. Janie M

    Today is a lovely day with the sun shining bright and the humidity being low makes me smile.

    Reply
  14. Tina

    I spent the weekend at our cabin with a 7 year old boy and his family. They have a new puppy which loved to run through the water but wouldn’t get in farther because she didn’t know how to swim yet. She would cry and bark at the kids playing in the water. We also have neighbors that have 2 horses. The boy is allergic to horses but petted them anyway. They are so loving they licked his arm and nuzzled his face so he had to wash his face and arms but still would break out in hives. He knew he would break out but still petted them the next day. Kids and animals and great open space. Best combination for a holiday.

    Reply
  15. Nancy A

    We had our 1st dinner on our back patio. A couple from Taiwan, a man from China, and our daughter and her family were here. Because it was Memorial Day weekend, I bought a special paper cover for the table and used special paper plates. I cut roses and put them in an empty mayonnaise jar for the centerpiece. I was trying to decided how to cover the jar when I remembered my daughter had left a cloth wine bottle bag here, so I rolled the top down and stuck the jar of roses in along with a small American flag. It turned out to be a really fun evening.

    Reply
  16. Judy Vaughn

    I got to be the passenger today while my grandson practiced driving. My vertigo came back in full force as I’m telling him to move over, move over. I survived but I think I would rather be sewing..

    Reply
  17. Sandy A in St. Louis

    Hmm…fun for me today was going to thrift stores with my hubby. We didn’t find anything worth bringing home but it was fun to look! It’s like hunting for a treasure.

    Reply
  18. Janet

    I spent the weekend spring cleaning. Every room in this house has had something dumped in it. Not only has it been an eye-opening experience for me, but I found things I thought were lost, and found a box of fabric that I am very happy to find as the fabric is older, better quality, and great for applique. Almost feels like Christmas!!

    Reply
  19. Lori Smanski

    Hope your weekend was bright and super. hmm, make you smile – been pretty quiet here. oh, my niece gave her 5 month old daughter pears and peaches for the little kiddos first food. oh the faces she made. Poor thing, that is like giving grown ups lemons to eat. HaHa, she is now loving vegies, especially the squash family.

    Reply
  20. Susan Spiers

    My daughter, her husband, my granddaughter, my grandson & myself packed up the van with folding chairs and headed out to the Veterans parade in a nearby town. The set-up of the chairs took longer than the parade-six cars from different eras, and a Veterans marching band & flags. The kids did enjoy chasing the candy that was thrown fom the cars. It was a beautiful day & we all enjoyed that little towns parade!

    Reply
  21. Alice Ronne

    Spent the weekend in our backyard planting some summer flowers and weeding the flowerbeds. The hummingbirds are out flitting around and loving the gorgeous weather we have here in Southern California.

    Reply
  22. Maggie Bradshaw

    We spent an amazing 6 days at Kanopolis State Park in KS horsecamping with 4 other couples. We rode the trails, ate some yummy crock pot and dutch oven cooking, and mostly relaxed and enjoyed each others company.

    Reply
  23. Lori Morton

    We caught up mowing etc outside..have had soooo much rain lately. Sooo nice to have two sunny days in a row!!! 🙂 Something to make us smile, is that our oldest Grandgirl sent a picture of her in their pool..floating on a slice of (inflated) Pizza! So cool!! lol

    Reply
  24. Lori Morton

    I already follow you, thru Email, Bloglovin & Pinterest too 🙂

    Thank you for chance to win your Give-a-way too! 🙂

    Reply
  25. Beth Stanfield

    This weekend I started a new adventure: making my niece a weighted blanket. I had barely heard of these and now I’m up to my neck in process. I even received a ten pound box of plastic weighted pellets on my doorstep TODAY on Memorial Day!
    My niece is beyond excited and I’m so happy to bless her! Not funny, but quilty fun.
    Beth

    Reply
  26. Beth Stanfield

    I follow you via email. Recommended by my friend Gloria.
    Thanks for the giveaway.
    Beth

    Reply
  27. Chris

    Nothing fun because it rained all weekend. I’m making huggables to sell at our Quiltshow. Lots of them, bears, ducks, elephants, dogs and frogs. I love that fabric, the quilt is wonderful.

    Reply
  28. Patricia

    Husband and I went to see the new Pirates movie saturday. Bought some new flowers for the yard Sunday and had family over to eat yesterday. No sewing time at all…

    Reply
  29. Linda Williamson

    I got to take care of my son’s kittens for the weekend. I’ve never had cats before and it was quite an education and very entertaining.

    Reply
  30. Linda Edwards

    I won the insurance adjuster’s prize for the most hail dings he’s ever seen–over 500 on the top of my van alone. On the fun side, I got to take two of my grandkids to Silver Dollar City in Branson and another grandson to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. Then we had a cookout at the newly constructed playset in his backyard. So happy winter is behind us! I follow you by email.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      This sounds like the perfect introduction to summer! Well, except for the hail dings on the car!! That is nuts.

      Reply
  31. Gloria Cotten

    We had 2 couples, dear friends from Iceland, visiting this weekend. We spent our time telling tales, explaining thunder storms (they don’t have thunder in Iceland but here in NC we have it very frequently) and eating strawberry shortcake. Fun!!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      We lived in State College PA for several years. I loved the intense thunder we experienced there. We rarely get that sort of thunder here. Sometimes, but not often.:-)

      Reply
  32. anne beier

    We spent the Sunday at friends of ours. They have a house on a lake. I’ve know them since high school, we we are in our 60’s and still good friends. The weather was not good. But we just had a lot of fun catching up, eating, and laughing.

    Reply
  33. Susan Stanton

    I’m almost done with binding a newly finished quilt! At least that make me smile on this glorious day!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I totally get that – I love when I am coming to the finish while hand stitching the back of the binding down. Very satisfying.

      Reply
  34. carolyn montgomery

    this made me smile, my 5 month grandson is now sitting up by himself:) i follow with blog lovin’ and now the newsletter.

    Reply
  35. Peggy Gibbs

    i will be able to see my new grandson in about a month. He was very sick when he was born but is so much better, with God’s help and lots of prayers.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      How wonderful he is doing better. Life is amazingly fragile and when something like this happens, we are so grateful for good health. 🙂

      Reply
  36. Barbara Woods

    Good times with family leave you feeling like a bloated whale from all that salt

    Reply
  37. Nancy

    Your piece turned out great. Good job with the orange points. We just attended my youngest sons graduation and now he is officially off the payroll with a real job and everything! We are smiling from ear to ear. Thanks for sharing your great giveaways.

    Reply
  38. Lisa Marie

    This poem used to make my son giggle when he was about 4. It still makes me smile. I hope it will make you smile too!
    Snowball by Shel Silverstein

    I made myself a snowball
    As perfect as could be.
    I thought I’d keep it as a pet
    And let it sleep with me.
    I made it some pajamas
    And a pillow for its head.
    Then last night it ran away,
    But first it wet the bed.

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Love this one!! I remember reading Shel Silverstein to my kids for years. I enjoyed it as much as they did. 🙂

      Reply
  39. Nan

    I live on a large recreational lake. Memorial Day is the opening of tourist season. It’s always fun to watch the visitors enjoying their new water toys. Boats, tubes, wave runners, all that they’ve been waiting to use! Of course on Monday night, it’s nice
    to get my lake back and watch the Momma ducks swim their babies across the water.

    Reply
  40. Melody Lutz

    Wonderful weekend, grilled a steak for me and Salmon for mom, made fresh triple berry hand pies with butter pie crust and shared with my neighbor. Overheard in a quilt store one day: A close to 4 year old asks his mother “If April showers bring May flowers – What do May flowers bring?” “I don’t know son, What?” “Pilgrims!” I walked around the aisle of fabric to see this young boy and gave him a thumbs up!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh, that one is so cute!! I am loving these comments and also wish I had a bite of the hand pies you made. Yum. 🙂

      Reply
  41. Dawn F.

    I have the makings of a quilt top spread out all over the floor and don’t want to pick it up until I sew it together, so all night I have been watching my husband navigate the living room floor trying to step around it!!

    Reply
  42. Pam

    My six-year-old granddaughter was visiting over the weekend and made videos with my phone. She interviewed the dog and cat, who didn’t have much to say, so she supplied the dialogue. Watching them makes me smile. Your quilt is lovely! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  43. Kathy Slaughter Cummings

    I finally finished the quilting of a queen size flying geese creation that I started 2 years ago!! I’m very proud!
    Thank you.

    Reply
  44. TIRZAH

    MY FRIEND ASKED ME TO GO TO THE BEACH OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND BUT I TOLD HER NO I COULDN’T BECAUSE I WAS SCHEDULED TO WORK ON MONDAY. SHE BEGGED ME TO CALL IN SICK BUT I WAS GOOD AND SAID NO. SUNDAY ROLLED AROUND AND THE TRUCK SEAT SMASHED MY THUMB. I ENDED UP SPENDING SUNDAY WITH MY FOLKS AND AN ICE PACK. THEN SUNDAY NIGHT I GOT FOOD POISONING AND SPENT SUNDAY AND MONDAY GETTING A GOOD CLEANING OUT. I HAD TO CALL IN SICK FOR REAL MONDAY YUCK. THE NEXT TIME SOMEONE ASKS ME TO PLAY HOOKY I’M GOING TO DO IT BECAUSE FAKE SICK IS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN REAL SICK!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Oh my gosh, that doesn’t sound like a very good weekend. I am so sorry you were sick. Hoping you are feeling better by now and that next weekend is wayyyyyy better than the last!!

      Reply
  45. Valerie

    I hope you’ll smile to hear that I’m a new sewer, very excited! I love finding new sewing blogs! Over the weekend I made a tote bag & a drawstring bag for a friend’s daughter out of an old valance I had on hand. I love it!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      That totally makes me smile!! I hope you will find all sort of projects to sew. What are you going to work on next?

      Reply
      1. Valerie

        Fingerless gloves & hats for friends! I’ve got a stack of knit fabric to practice with, & a list of people to whom I’d like to gift some love.

        Reply
  46. Faintly Artistic

    Spent my weekend piecing a scrappy granny square and writing a tutorial for it 🙂

    Reply

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