Mini Madness!

Friday, March 17, 2017

This year I have the incredible opportunity to work as an ambassador for Island Batik fabrics. Each month, all the ambassadors have a challenge to create something with a common theme. Last month, we made Galentine mug rugs and kennel quilts. This month, the challenge was to make a paper pieced mini quilt.

  Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

I chose some bright fabrics from the Island Batik basics and blenders, and a neutral that reads as white. (Did you know batiks can be bright and colorful??) I love how these fabrics aren't quite solids, but aren't prints either.


bright Island Batik fabrics

The specific fabrics I used are as follows:

Pink - Watermelon
Orange - Nasturtium
Blue - Pool
Green - Lemongrass
Purple - Jelly
White - Sprinkles
Purple for backing - Glowing Embers

I played around in EQ7 for a bit before settling on 3" blocks with a "boomerang" design. It's a "simple" design, but I wanted the bright batik fabrics to be the focus! The small blocks would allow for an 18" square finished mini quilt.


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

I printed the templates, tossed the fabric into my suitcase, and headed off to a quilt retreat (read about that fun weekend here)!


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

Once at the quilt retreat, I cut 4" squares out of the white Sprinkles fabric and some rectangles from the colors to use for the blocks. Being organized with my fabrics from the get-go allowed for me to chain piece and chat away at the retreat!

Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

Once all the blocks were pieced, I trimmed them up and sewed them together to create the top.

Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

Next came the fun part - removing the paper! My handy pair of tweezers that I keep in my sewing box came in quite handy! (Surely I'm not alone in using non-sewing things as sewing notions??)

Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

Next up was a good pressing before making the quilt sandwich. As usual, I pin basted.


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

While designing the quilt and sewing the blocks, I could not come up with how I wanted to quilt it once finished. Even after having the top done, I just stared at it for a bit. Finally, I took the print out I had made in EQ7 and started drawing lines. Before long, I knew exactly what to do!


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

Using the walking foot on my vintage Bernina 930 Record, I quilted the diamond design onto the white sections. I did the "right" side of the diamonds, stitching all the way across the quilt. Then I would turn around and quilt the "left" side of the diamonds going back.


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

After quilting, I trimmed off the extra batting and backing and added orange binding to finish the quilt. It felt great to start and finish an entire project in a single day without any interruptions from kids or washing machines or dogs or .... Did I mention how much I enjoyed the quilting retreat??


Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt
Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt
Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt
Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt
Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

I love how bright and cheery this quilt is! I'm ready for spring!

Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt

I'm sure the other Island Batik Ambassadors would love for you to stop by and see what they've been up to!

Purrfect Spots
Den Syende Himmel
Quilt'n Party
Pamela Quilts
Ark Angel Creations
Kathy's Kwilts and More
Desert Bloom Quilting
Freemotion by the River
Seams Like a Dream
Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Quilting Affection Designs
Inquiring Quilter
Bejeweled Quilts
Sally's Quilting Corner
Inch Worm Fabrics
Kauffman Designs
Moosestash Quilting
Needle & Foot
Beaquilter
Cheryl Lynch Quilts
MaryMack's Blog
heARTs Creations
Kissed Quilts
The Quilt Rambler
Seams To Be Sew
Inspired Layers
Vicki's Crafts and Quilting
Masterpiece Quilting
Fun Threads
Meanderings Along Lizard Creek
Little Bunny Quilts
Webster Quilt
Sophie Junction


Happy quilting!

Island Batik paper pieced mini quilt


Linking up to TGIFF at Celtic Thistle Stitches, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts, and Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

14 comments:

  1. From one IBA to another-It's beautiful!!!

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  2. It looks wonderful, and I love the quilting!

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  3. I was just making the exact block last night! It may be simple, but looks amazing! Such a pretty finish!

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  4. What a fun design and great photoshoot! I love the white background with subtle pattern too!

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  5. What a great result from that day of stitching, quilt retreats should be available on prescription :)

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  6. Oh it's so pretty! I love the design and the quilting turns the boomerangs into funky stars! I'm curious about the paper piecing - are you leaving the paper on right until the whole thing is a top? I'd always taken it off once they got to block stage but I'm curious to experiment to see if it makes me neater!

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  7. Love your design! They look like butterflies. What a great box of stash you were given to work with! I like the quilting you decided on.

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  8. Great little quilt! It helps to start with nice bright fabrics.

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  9. This is so bright and springy. I love the colors on the white background, they really stand out.

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  10. Love your mini - so bright and cheerful. I also REALLY love the boat! Aren't we having fun?!

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  11. Less is more certainly fits your mini quilt. So perfect for spring.

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  12. Popping over from the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers Hive~ Glad to be a Bee in your Hive!

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  13. I love this! What a fantastic design

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