#Your blog really got me back into wof

[daily-wof-designs]

Daily WoF Designs - A Retrospective

Here we are! Three hundred thirty one designs, eleven months, and one very, very tired high schooler. I’m writing this at two am after finishing Freedom’s design and wow. Just. Wow.

In case you dont want to read all my sappy stuff and just want to know about the future of the blog- I WILL be posting new designs if any new characters are introduced in new books (the dragon guide, any future winglets, etc). I will also answer any asks. There just wont be any more designs for a while.

Onto the sappy stuff!

I got the idea of this while working on my Sirens animatic, because I thought to myself that a reference would be useful to have right about then. About a month later, I saw someone mention that one of those “drawing every warrior cats” blogs had finished (ive looked and cant find it anymore, but im sure I saw that post!). So, I got the idea in my head and wondered if this was a good idea because- really? four hundred designs? (in concept I was going to do the humans too. I decided against it partway through book 2)

So, who better to ask than my hashtag besties who I’ve known for years?

I immediately disregarded her, of course. But it’s the principle of the matter.

This was a project I started on the tail-end of quarantine, and it gave me something to do with myself once the school year started up and I went back to in person school for the first time since eighth grade. It was something to keep me grounded. I knew that if I had nothing to do, I could always knock out a few designs while listening to a video essay.

Even if theres some designs I’m not so proud of (looking at you, tsunami and deathbringer), I always enjoyed it. Trying to figure out how to make every character look interesting, how to go beyond “brown scales” or “black wings”. It helped me improve my character designing skills, that’s for sure. If I were to go back to some of my book one designs, I’d probably do things differently. But I know if I go back to redo book one, I’d end up redoing EVERY design. Best let sleeping dogs (or dragons!) lie.

Anyways, now that I’m here, I’d like to shout out followers (or just those who frequently interacted) that I noticed a lot. If I missed you, I’m very sorry- theres just SO many of you and I’d like to keep it short haha.

@neozoid You reblogged nearly every design! That’s just impressive dude. 

@fugivitus-from-gerard You’ve been here since the start and I appreciate that.

@seawing-vibes As your name suggests, you always seem to enjoy my seawing designs. You were also one of the first blogs to actually reblog with compliments instead of just liking the post! It really inspired me to keep going

@belovedisaster You mostly reblogged my darkstalker art, but you always had something nice to say.

@lunathemeifwawitch You don’t really comment much in the tags, but you reblog everything very consistently and are usually the first to reblog the design of the day.

@mothpawbs Dude. I’m pretty sure you went from my main to this blog instead of the other way around, which is VERY unusual. Normally people find my main from here (then they unfollow my main in like, a week because I don’t wofpost daily like i do here LMAO). Anyways, you’re cool.

@nach0 I always notice you in the notes. Hi.

@lettuce-tv​ Hi bestie!!! I didn’t know you followed this blog but you were my first follower on here. Congrats? I think?

There’s more, of course- In fact, theres 373 of you! And I appreciate each and every note I get.

I just want to say that this project has meant so much to me, and I’m glad all of you appreciate it too. Thanks for coming along with my journey of drawing a years worth of dragons and supporting this silly little pet project of mine. (Also please join my map i desperately need more members lmao)

#not designs #housekeeping - self promo #housekeeping - celebrations

[tentacle-stylograph]

WID: W 30 Nov. - T 6 Dec. '22

T 6 Dec 1.31 pm what i’m doing: setting my calendar up for December is this what i want to be doing: yee :') if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

2.26 pm what i’m doing: ...scrolling old chats with a friend is this what i want to be doing: -sigh- noooooo........ if no, what would i rather be doing: homework. i need to plan out a large drawing. i want to make a digital sketch so it's easy to move parts around and edit them before working on the larger physical version if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: why struggling: i think i got distracted when i went to message myself the paper sketch of the drawing so i could import it to my drawing program. so. just distracted. but my brain is also doing a "oh, you've got this in the BAG. no need to start it yet and fret." which is dumb 'cause it's a big project and it'll take a while and i've still got another class to work on and i'm not even fully enjoying the scrolling thru my friend's messages because i have this project in the back of my head, knowing i need to do it what's my next step: -sigh- i'll set a three minute timer to reblog a very good animation i just rediscovered/check if i've already reblogged it. then i'll--ah. i'll turn on my second laptop and put on a Study with Me in a library and aquatic ambiance

A 3 Dec 12.12 am what i’m doing: removing an image from my desktop; saving it to a personal Pinterest board is this what i want to be doing: sure................. but i really need to get ready for bed. (decided to message a friend a message i've been meaning to send for about a week) if no, what would i rather be doing: same as below. it's just it's tricky right now because i have things all over my bed and it'd be easier for me to organize all that without music being on, but i need the music to keep me going in my momentum. ...okay, deciding right now to *turn on music and keep it on* but probably just clear my bed slower than i would otherwise if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

12.29 am what i’m doing: got caught clearing off my bed, but i was on my computer for quite a bit in the intervening 18 mins. scrolled on Quora for a bit and i forget what else. a moment of Pinterest while uploading a Quora screenshot, but other than that...? -checks- ...-sigh- don't know. maybe moving things on my bed is this what i want to be doing: keep on plugging along. taking some time, but keep going. if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

1.24 am what i’m doing: scrolling a blog's 5.0.5. tag for Villainous posts to reblog is this what i want to be doing: -flops on face- -reluctantly:- nooooooooo... if no, what would i rather be doing: SLEEPIIIIIIIING. I'VE BEEN HUNCHED AT MY LAPTOP FOR MAYBE A HALF HOUR BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING QUICK. WHAT WAS IT? I CAN'T TELL YOU if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: just... -sigh- delete a couple things from desktop then turn off laptop and have a little convo with a bud what's my next step:

__

10.02 pm what i’m doing: looking at some frames of the WoF Carousel MAP is this what i want to be doing: yee :3 just get off comp soon (turning off comp after making this note) (do it) (no don't click any of your bookmarks) (hide the bookmarks bar) (okay done) (no don't go to tumblr. you just need to turn off your laptop. ...okay you can turn on nuclear mode to cover this ten second process if that will help) (yeeeeee i was having the stuck-ness of "i need to do a thing before doing other thing," like when i end up making a gif spam post or send a friend messages with pictures of creatures. and turning on nuclear mode helped with that. now comp OFF) if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

F 2 Dec 11.34 pm what i’m doing: scrolling tumblr is this what i want to be doing: nooooooooo if no, what would i rather be doing: getting ready for bed. -groans and flops around- if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: don't wannnnnaaaaaaaaaaaa. wanna siiiiiiit. uuuuuuuuuuuugggggghhhhhh what's my next step: uuuuuuuuggggghhhhh. music then change into pj's then music onto headphones >__>

11.53 pm what i’m doing: finally standing up to get on my pj's + checking my messages to see if my trainer replied about tomorrow is this what i want to be doing: yeeeeeee if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

H 1 Dec 10.38 pm what i’m doing: sitting on toilet scrolling tumblr is this what i want to be doing: uuuuuuuuugh. yes-but-actually-no if no, what would i rather be doing: brushing teeth then sleppin' [sic] if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

10.56 pm what i’m doing: flossin' mah teeths is this what i want to be doing: yeeee!!! ^v^ if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

11.15 pm what i’m doing: re-admiring a Villainous AU comic lol is this what i want to be doing: shore! but go to sleep soon. maybe read 'til my next check-in timer if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

what i’m doing: reading The Invisible Man :3 is this what i want to be doing: yeeeee 😌 if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step: time to get to sleep now, though. hum. need to put a pen in--oh, it's already in the car. well, need to put a pen in my backpack. then say prayers and sleep

W 30 Nov 12.01 am what i’m doing: plugging in my phone before going to drink water, change into pj's, put on headphones, then brush teeth is this what i want to be doing: ye :') if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

12.18 am what i’m doing: brushing my retainer!! :3 is this what i want to be doing: yoyoyoyoyoyo yessir yessir if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

12.37 am what i’m doing: typing a rough draft message to send to some peeps for help on getting me diagnosed with ADHD is this what i want to be doing: if no, what would i rather be doing: if struggling to do the above, why, and why do i want to do the above in the first place: what's my next step:

#wid

[wof-reworked]

Moon is the character I may have identified with the most ever, but yes oh my god I was kinda disappointed at what happened to her as the second "cycle" progressed? Everything that made me love her was... Less and less there and I was a bit sad :( but at least I can always go back to the first book to read it again and identify lol. Also I don't necessarily have the same HCs as you do but I do agree that having more aro/ace characters would be so cool! Or maybe just... Characters that don't have obvious love interests lol. I remember distinctly reading the first "cycle" + the 6th book when I was like 12 and seeing who the author wanted us to see as a potential couple, and I was just like... okay so Clay is supposed to go with Peril, Tsunami with the guy whose name I forgot, Glory with Deathbringer, there's the thing with Sunny and Starflight and the other girl, and the plot with Qibli and Winter and Moon, and being so sad that basically there always was a romance plot somewhere? I love romance but sometimes you don't have anyone you want to date and that's okay, whether it's because you haven't met anyone or because you're aromantic or any kind of reason really, and I felt sad about everyone having romance in their lives. Sorry that turned into a rant lol, thanks for your blog it's very fun!

No no I love the rants please keep them coming !!!! You're so right too for that matter

Wof really suffers from that YA syndrome of "every main character must be paired off in a (usually heterosexual) pair by the end of the book/book series" and it just gets really tiring and starts to feel weird/unrealistic?? People don't meet and start dating in that timespan tbh, it just feels. weird, and I imagine isolating if you're aroace, or not looking for dating options

And like same with Moon !!! I wanted to like her so bad !!! Her finer personality points, like her curiosity/intelligence, her anxiety and feelings of isolation, her awkwardness, they all got like. slowly degraded over the series for no good reason after Winter Turning until she was just "generic nice girl who wants to see the good in people" instead of like- the kickass awkward but empathetic dragonet she was in Moon Rising !!! It just disappoints me :<

#also anon if you wanna tell me ur hcs I'm all ears :eyes: #that goes for all of you but you mention urs being different than mine and now I'm curious

[lessrthanthree]

It's your turn now. Tell about OC's please. 👀

Oop i have a bunch but i mostly use my wings of fire ones, theres 36 of those kids djxkksk some were made 4 years ago that i still keep and love, and some that i made literally yesterday

My main kid is named Swamp Cat and he's a mudwing. Soft boyo who wears a sunset bandana. He likes the western aesthetic and wears a little cowboy hat sometimes. Heres his most recent commision I got as a gift from WoFA

My newest kid i made yesterday in a panic and i hated the design at first but he grew on me already. He's a Trenchie i got approved in a MYO event, and he's a nocturnal tattoo artist with his own nighttime business. He's quiet and reclusive, but he has a secret rose garden in a back room he really cares for. He also collects knives because he thinks theyre cool

I got Iri in an adopt bid. They're a dumbass and I love them a lot. They live alone and rarely travel far distances, except to trade rare items. They have a massive fish tank in their home. One time they poured glitter in the water becasue "this'll look so fucking sick" but the fish died and they cried for a day.

Here's a few more random kids i like, Amber, Angel, Menagerie, Chile, Presto, Pyro, and Bluebell. I might talk about them or some others later, as ive been considering making a side blog for WoF and my ocs

#wings of fire #wof #avo speaks #ask #absentia sees all #ty for the ask i love all my dragon children

[inquiringquilter]

My Day on the Island Batik Log Cabin Blog Hop

Welcome to my day on the Island Batik Log Cabin Blog Hop!

This month long celebration of Island Batiks features tons of giveaways, gorgeous batiks, and beautiful quilts. Be sure to read all the way to the end of this post to enter my giveaway, the Island Batik giveaway, and to find links to the other Ambassadors who are participating!

This hop features the Fall 2019 batik collections that are arriving in stores now. Click here to use the Store Locator to find a store near you that carries Island Batik.

For the blog hop we were to make a log cabin quilt 36” square or larger using as many of the fabrics from our Fall 2019 collection as possible. I got Jewel Box, an gorgeous collection of blues, purples, and greens.

I started with my Picnic Under the Stars pattern intending to make the quilt with the Jewel Box collection plus the addition of some Check it Out batiks.

Then I discovered that the Check it Out batiks are no longer available <sob> so I decided to create a variation of the design and thus Lake Cabin was born!

I decided to call the new design Lake Cabin because the combination of log cabin blocks and stars reminded me of nights at the lake cabin where me and my Bee friends used to have quilt retreats once or twice a year.

The stars at night over the lake were so beautiful! And the way I’ve laid out the log cabin blocks in this pattern, they remind me of the soft ripples on the lake as boats would motor by the lake house.

Of course this pattern would look wonderful in any color, but I love the blues, greens, and purples of Jewel Box and how they pop against that bright white batik.

I also love how scrappy Lake Cabin is, and how it lets all the colors in this fabulous batik collection really shine.

It’s been snowy and bitter cold of late, but I managed to find one sunny day with moderate temps in which I could take photos of Lake Cabin. My daughter and I ventured to a nearby urban village where we had fun staging the quilt with various backdrops.

I received a 1/2 yard of all the fabrics in the Jewel Box collection plus two coordinates. I ended up using almost all of the coordinating blue batik I was sent for the star backgrounds and the large outer border, so I didn’t have any of the blue left over for the binding. I decided to make the binding scrappy to match the quilt and I’m glad I did!

I made the back scrappy as well. I needed 5 yards for the back, so I pieced together as many large Island Batik scraps that matched the front as I could find and then pulled a few prints from my stash and used them to create a backing as large as I needed. I love mixing prints with batiks because they compliment each other so well.

I quilted Lake Cabin on my home machine, quilting feathers in the log cabin blocks and a modern wavy line design in the stars. I quilted using Schmetz Jeans 100/16 needle because it was still good. I find that a Jeans needle penetrates the tight weave of a batik nicely. Still, it wears out after quilting a big quilt like this one. Next time, I’m definitely going to try the Chrome needles we were sent in our boxes and see if they retain their sharpness longer.

Here are the quilt details:

"Lake Cabin" 66” x 82" Original Design Fabrics: Island Batik Jewel Box collection (121933560 from the collection used in the outer border) and White (Solids) Backing: Peacock (Basics) and 121809612 (Check It Out collection) and various prints from my stash Binding: 121910855, 121917865, 121922883, 121917885, 121930883, 121935843, 121936865, 121937603, and 121937855 (Jewel Box collection) Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Cotton Piecing Thread: Aurifil 50 wt. #2311 (Muslin) Quilting Thread: Aurifil 50 wt. #2311 (Muslin) and #4182 (Dark Turquoise) Pieced and quilted by Jennifer Fulton

Be Sure to Enter My Giveaway!

The Jewel Box collection is filled with the rich jewel tones of emerald, sapphire, turquoise, tourmaline, and amethyst and I loved working with in for Lake Cabin. I have a little bit left over so I cut 2-1/2” x WOF strips to create a jelly roll.

To spread the love, I’ve cut the strips in half and I’m giving away one mini-jelly roll to two different winners! Because of the cost of postage, I can only mail the prize within the continental US. However, if you live outside the US and you win, you can choose to pay the postage via PayPal or accept two free PDF patterns from my shop as your prize.

To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below.

You’ll get one chance for leaving a comment. Be sure to leave your email address!

You can earn an extra chance for following me—just leave a comment telling me how you follow.

Finally, you can earn one more chance to win by visiting my special Facebook group, Quilting with the Inquiring Quilter. I’d love for you to join my group and get the latest updates from my blog and special content. If you join, be sure to tell me something about you and your quilting projects so we can get to know each other!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No purchase necessary to win. Giveaway is open to everyone over 18+ years of age, however I will only cover the cost of shipping to legal residents in the contiguous US only. International winners may choose to pay for shipping or to receive an alternate prize of equal value (two free PDF patterns.) Giveaway starts at midnight EST February 18th and ends at midnight EST on March 1st. Two different winners will each receive one mini jelly roll from the Island Batik Jewel Box collection with a total value of approximately $20 (or the alternate prize.) Odds of winning determined by number of eligible entries received. How to enter: complete the Rafflecopter above. Winner will be chosen by random on March 2nd, 2020 from all eligible entries and notified by email. If winner can not be reached via email or prize is unclaimed after three days, a new winner will be chosen by random. Winner is responsible for paying any taxes related to the prize. By entering this giveaway, you release Inquiring Quilter from any liability whatsoever. Void where prohibited by law.

Island Batik is also Having a Giveaway!

This week, Island Batik is giving away a precut bundle from the Kismet collection by Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis! Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway ends February 21st at 11:59 PM PDT. The winner will be announced February 24th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This Week’s Blog Hop Schedule

Here is the blog hop schedule for this week. Each day, a different Island Batik Fall 2019 collection is being featured. So be sure to visit the participating Ambassador’s blogs every day of the hop to see their gorgeous quilts and to enter their giveaways!

Be sure to visit the participants from Week 1. Not only are many of them are having giveaways that you can still enter, all of them have gorgeous quilts and lovely batiks to share with you! Click here to view the Week 1 schedule.

Monday, February 17th - Faded Blue Jeans

Gail @ Quilting Gail

Janet @ Whispers of Yore

Tuesday, February 18th - Forget Me Not

Carolina @ Carolina Asmussen

Michelle @ Creative Blonde

Wednesday, February 19th - Jewel Box

Gail @ Quilt Haven Threads

Jennifer @ Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!)

Thursday, February 20th - Kismet

Sally @ Sally Manke

Megan @ Bestquilter

Friday, February 21st - Blog Round Up Week 2 and Giveaway Winner Announcement!

Island Batik is announcing their winner in a special post on Friday. I’ll be posting the Week 3 participants on Monday, and announcing my winner at the end of the hop. Be sure to return for these special posts!

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs, AccuQuilt GO! and Schmetz Needles.

you might also like

Tell me…what would you make with your mini jelly roll if you won my giveaway?

#Island Batik #Featured

[inquiringquilter]

My Day on the Island Batik Try a Tool Blog Hop

Welcome to my day on the Island Batik Try a Tool Blog Hop!

This blog hop is all about trying new quilting tools—specifically, the Studio 180 Design tools!

The Studio 180 tools are designed to make it easier to make quilts. Basically the way the tools work is that you make block units slightly larger than needed, then use the tools to trim them precisely to their needed size. I got the Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star tool, which is used to make a Hunter’s Star quilt quickly and easily. More on the tool in a moment.

The Try a Tool blog hop is also about premiering the latest batiks from Island Batik’s Spring 2021 collections just arriving now in a quilt store near you.

The blog hop also features giveaways from Island Batik and from many of the Ambassadors. Look for my giveaway at the end of this post.

Each Ambassador got a special Spring 2021 collection to use for the hop. I got Midnight Dazzle, designed by Kathy Engle. I love purple so to me this is simply yummy! The addition of the jewel tones (emerald, sapphire) make this collection really dazzling. No wonder they named it Midnight Dazzle.

We were each sent 2 fat quarter bundles of each of the fabrics in our featured collection, along with a 2 yard cut of a coordinating light and a dark fabric. Typically these 2 yard cuts come from the collection, but because of delays due to COVID, we were sent coordinates from the Basics and Blenders collections. Specifically I was sent Opal (from the Basics collection) and BE21-A1 Cherio Iris (from the Blenders collection). Both are lovely and go beautifully with Midnight Dazzle.

In addition, we also received several 1/2 yard coordinates from the Basics, Blenders, and Solids collections.

So I had a lot of fabric with which to create my design.

Knowing that I had the Hunter’s Star tool gave a great start because there is only one kind of block I could make with it. That doesn’t mean that I had no options—in fact, I had almost too many! With the tool you can cut several sized blocks—from 5” to 8”. Also, with a Hunter’s Star quilt, the color placement is very important and helps to define the final design. To spark ideas for color placement, Deb Tucker from Studio 180 Design also sent along an idea book.

After I came up with a design I liked, the final decision was to choose a background fabric. I had enough of both the light and the dark Island Batik provided to use either one, or I could choose something else. I laid the fat quarters on the Opal and the BE24-A1 but wasn’t completely happy with either although the Opal was very nice. Next, I looked at solid grey. In the end thought I chose a solid black batik for the background because it really made the colors pop!

You use the tool in several different ways to make the block. First, you use it to cut the wedge shapes.

Then you sew the wedges to WOF strips, enabling you to make a good portion of the blocks superfast. (I’m using short strips so I can use all of the fabrics in the collection but typically Hunter’s Star is made with only a few fabrics.)

Next, you use the tool to trim the wedges at either end of the main wedge.

Sew two big triangles onto these wedge shapes and you’ve got half the blocks done in no time! All that’s left is to sew the two triangle halves together to make a Hunter’s Star block. You use the tool a final time to trim each block to size.

I love my finished quilt. And with the Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star tool, it was quick to make and the result was a precisely sewn, very flat, perfect quilt!

Here are the quilt details:

"Dazzle" 52” x 68" Original Design Fabrics: Island Batik Midnight Dazzle collection and Black (Solids collection) Backing: BE21-A1 Cherio Iris (Blenders collection and Plum (Basics collection) Binding: Black (Solids collection) Batting: Hobbs Heirloom Premium 100% Cotton Piecing Thread: Aurifil 50 wt. #2692 (Black) and #2605 (Grey) Quilting Threads: Aurifil 50 wt. 2692 (Black) and #2545 (Medium Purple) Needle: Schmetz Chrome 80/12 Pieced and quilted by Jennifer Fulton

For quilting, I straight lines to emphasize the star center and the alternating bands radiating out from it.

For the backing I used the dark coordinate they sent me (BE21-A1 Cherio Iris from the Blenders collection) and Plum (from the Basics collection) which I pulled from my stash.

For the binding, I used more of the solid Black (Solids collection).

Be Sure to Enter My Giveaway!

I’m giving away left over bits and bobs from Midnight Dazzle.

To enter, complete the Rafflecopter below.

You’ll get one chance for leaving a comment. Be sure to leave your email address!

You can earn an extra chance for following me—just leave a comment telling me how you follow.

Finally, you can earn one more chance to win by visiting my special Facebook group, Quilting with the Inquiring Quilter. I’d love for you to join my group and get the latest updates from my blog and special content. If you join, be sure to tell me something about you and your quilting projects so we can get to know each other!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No purchase necessary to win. Giveaway is open to legal residents in the contiguous US only that are 18+ years of age and who are not current Island Batik Ambassadors. Giveaway starts at midnight EST August 18th and ends at midnight EST on August 30th. One winner will receive a scrap pack from the Island Batik Midnight Dazzle collection with a total value of approximately $25. Odds of winning determined by number of eligible entries received. How to enter: complete the Rafflecopter above. Winner will be chosen by random.org on August 31st, 2021 from all eligible entries and notified by email. If winner can not be reached via email or prize is unclaimed after two days, a new winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner is responsible for paying any taxes related to the prize. By entering this giveaway, you release Inquiring Quilter from any liability whatsoever. Void where prohibited by law.

Island Batik is also Having a Giveaway!

Island Batik is giving away a precut bundle to two lucky winners! This week you have a chance to win a a 2.5” Strip Pack from the Floral Wonders collection by Jerry Khiev or a 10” Stack from the Midnight Dazzle collection by Kathy Engle!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter. The giveaway ends August 21st at 11:59 PM PST. The winners will be notified by email on August 22nd and announced on Facebook August 24th. If the winners do not respond within the first two days after being notified, two new random winners will be chosen and notified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the Other Ambassadors!

Every day during the hop, a different Island Batik Spring 2021 collection is being featured. Be sure to visit the participating Ambassador’s blogs every day of the hop to see their gorgeous quilts and to enter their giveaways!

Drop by Jennifer @ Archipelago Quilting today to see the quilt she made with Midnight Dazzle.

Click here to see the entire schedule for the hop. Be sure to visit everyone, even the Ambassador’s who have already presented their quilts!

I’d love to see what you’re working on. Click here to link up a photo to my weekly Wednesday Wait Loss.

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs, AccuQuilt GO!, Schmetz and Studio 180 Design.

you might also like

Tell me…do you like Midnight Dazzle? What do you like best about it?

#Island Batik #Featured

[inquiringquilter]

My Island Batik Boxes - What's Inside?

As an Island Batik Ambassador one of our biggest events is the opening of our semi-annual boxes of goodies from Island Batik.

To celebrate this early Christmas-like event, each Ambassador makes a box opening video. The videos reveal what’s inside of course—a preview of upcoming Island Batik collections and the latest tools from our program partners.

Don’t miss any of the excitement this year—new quilts, blog hops, free patterns and for sale ones, and giveaways! You’ll find ways to follow at the top of my sidebar.

As usual I received two huge boxes from Island Batik filled with the freshest batiks just now arriving in stores. Gorgeous! The boxes are also filled with great things from our program partners—awesome tools and accessories for quilting that you can’t do without.

To shoot my videos I enlist the help of my daughter. Together, we gather quilts and pin them to my design wall, set up the studio lights, and ready the camera. Then we gather the items in the boxes and prepare them to be presented one by one during the video.

We’ve also planned a surprise or two to liven things up.

After we shoot the video, Katerina edits it all together and adds little fun flourishes. The result is below. Go ahead and watch! I’ll wait. <grin>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtatuCujRFk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Now wasn’t that fun? The generosity and support I’ve received from Island Batik and the program sponsors is overwhelming. I’m humbled and so very grateful.

Let’s take a closer look at what I got!

Stash Busters

Island Batik included two Stash Builders in my box. Stash Builders are an easy way to build your stash is a wide selection of batiks. They are also an easy way for you to create a scrappy batik quilt. Each Stash Builder contains a mix of batiks in a particular color, such as green and violet.

A Stash Builder roll includes four 5” x WOF strips; there are 5 rolls in each pack giving you almost 3 yards of batiks! To see how I’ve used these strips in the past, take a look at my January challenge and my March challenge.

Want a chance to win a few Stash Builder rolls? Be sure to enter my giveaway at the end of this post.

Featured Spring Collection

My featured Spring collection is Midnight Dazzle. I’ll be designing a quilt for the August blog hop using this beautiful collection.

I was sent two fat-quarters of all the fabrics in the collection. In the background here you can also see the coordinating fabrics Island Batik sent from the Foundations (Solids, Basics, Blenders). I received half yards of each of those. In addition, I was sent 2 yards of two coordinates (one light, one dark) also from the Foundations to use as possible backgrounds for the quilt I design.

Neutral

Island Batik always sends along a lovely neutral batik that I can use as a background in my quilt designs. This time they sent Doughnut—a lovely creamy tan.

Solids

Island Batik has been making solid batiks for a few years now, and I simply love them! Lovely rich colors that are deep and solid—no show-through here! If you are a lover of solids for your quilts you really need to try these solids!

Island Batik included some lovely solids with the Spring and Summer Coordinates (scroll down to see) plus neutral solids in grey, black and white—the perfect background for a modern quilt.

Studio 180 Ruler

Studio 180 Design is a challenge partner. Our August challenge is to create a quilt using the Studio 180 Design ruler we were sent. I got the Rapid Fire Hunter’s Star ruler. They also sent the book Hunter’s Star Hidden Treasures to fill my head with ideas on how to use a Hunter’s Star. I’ve been wanting to make a Hunter’s Star quilt for quite some time so I can’t wait to get started!

Deb Tucker from Studio 180 Design creates clever rulers that help you make over-sized blocks fast, and to trim them to perfection for show stopping quilts. Check out her other rulers here.

Aurifil Threads

Aurifil is a program partner and they sent a box of coordinating threads for a thread challenge later this year. I love the quality of Aurifil—how little lint it produces, how strong a stitch it makes and how precise.

The box they sent is from their Color Builders program, a thread of the month that you subscribe to. They sent a 40 wt. collection called Red Panda, inspired by the fur of that endangered animal.

BYANNIE

ByAnnie is another challenge partner. Like last year, we’ll be challenged to make a ByAnnie bag or tote using Island Batiks from a Spring 2021 collection.

For the challenge, we selected a ByAnnie pattern and batiks from a specific collection we were assigned for this challenge. ByAnnie then selected zippers, mesh, hardware, batting, strapping, and fusible for the bag we chose.

THE SURPRISE BUNDLE

Also included in my box was a surprise bundle from a Summer 2021 collection. The bundle is wrapped so I can’t show you what’s in it just yet. The Summer 2021 collections will make their debut during our second blog hop in November.

Be sure to mark your calendar for November so you don’t miss the parade of Summer 2021 collections across the Ambassador’s websites and my quilt, made with my Summer 2021 collection. And yes, there are no purples this time so that’s a challenge for me I guess except not really because the collection they sent me is yummy! (even without purple <grin>)

Coordinates for Spring and Summer 2021 Collections

Island Batik typically sends a grouping of half-yard coordinates for each of the collections in our boxes. These coordinates are pulled from the Basics, Blenders, and Solids collections. Batiks in these collections are designed to be useful staples in your stash because they go with so many designer batik collections. Also, you should have no problem finding Basics, Blenders, and Solids at quilt stores that carry Island Batiks.

The bundle on the right with yellow, orange, browns and blues coordinate with the Surprise fabrics from the Summer 2021 collection I was sent and your only clue as to what might be inside. Twist my arm and I’ll tell you that the browns and blues go more closely with the collection than the pop of yellow and orange. I can also tell you that the collection is absolutely gorgeous and I’m super lucky to be tasked with the joy of designing a quilt with it.

The bundle on the left with the greens and blues coordinates with the featured Spring 2021 collection I was sent. Again, that collection (Midnight Dazzle) is simply stunning. Scroll back for another view.

Hobbs Batting

Hobbs is a program partner, and they always send a selection of their high quality battings. I truly love using Hobbs—lovely drape, easy and smooth to quilt, and washes like a dream!

Hobbs included one Queen-size Thermore batting, one Throw-size Tuscany Cotton Wool batting, one Queen-size Heirloom Premium 80/20 Fusible Cotton Poly Blend batting, one Queen-size Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton Poly Blend batting, and one set of 2-1/2” Fusible Batting Strips.

Each batting has it’s own particular use. The 80/20 batts are my go to since they blend cotton with polyester for a soft, drapable, easily quiltable quilt. The fusible type saves time with pin-basting.

Thermore is a polyester batting created through a patented process that results in a super thin light weight quilt. Originally developed for garment making, it’s the perfect batt to use when looking for something light weight and soft to the touch such as a wall hanging, garment, or baby quilt.

Tuscany Cotton Wool is my go-to when I want a light weight warm quilt. And oh the softness and lovely drape! By blending cotton with wool you reduce the shrinkage and problems associated with a pure wool batt. The result is perfection.

The 2-1/2” fusible strips are perfect for small projects requiring strips of batting, such as woven projects, strip rugs, and tote straps. Oh so easy to use and a real time-saver.

The Unboxing Schedule

The Island Batik Ambassador unboxing videos are scheduled so you won’t miss a thing! The fun begins today (July 21st) with the first three Ambassadors sharing their boxes (including me!) Here’s the rest of the schedule.

Every Ambassador receives a different collection of batiks in their box, so be sure to visit each Ambassador in turn to watch their videos. You won’t believe the beauties you’ll see!

Note: The videos each day are released throughout the day, so the link may not work at first. Each day a video is released at 8 AM PST, 12 PM PST and 3 PM PST. I’m in the Eastern time zone so my video will be released at 3 PM PST or 6 PM EST.

Also I’ve been told that there may be some last-minute changes to the schedule so I’ll be updating the links as needed each day.

Wednesday, July 21st

Megan Best @ Best Quilter Pamela Boatright @ Pamela Quilts Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!)

Thursday, July 22nd

Preeti Harris @ Sew Preeti Quilts Jane Hauprich @ Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting Emily Leachman @ Darling Dogwood

friday, July 23rd

Denise Looney @ For the Love of Geese Leah Malasky @ Quilted Delights Sally Manke @ Sally Manke Fiber Artist

Monday, July 26th

Maryellen McAuliffe @ Mary Mack Made Mine Claudia Porter @ Create with Claudia Gail Renna @ Quilt Haven Threads

Tuesday, July 27th

Brianna Roberts @ Sew Cute and Quirky Andi Stanfield @ True Blue Quilts Jennifer Thomas @ Curlicue Creations

Wednesday, July 28th

Jennifer Eubank @ Archipelago Quilting Suzy Webster @ Webster Quilt Janet Yamamoto @ Whispers of Yore

Thursday, July 29th

Elizabeth DeCroos @ Epida Studio Connie Kauffman @ Kauffman Designs Gail Sheppard @ Quilting Gail

Friday, July 30th

Joanne Hart @ Unicorn Harts Mania Hatziioannidi @ Mania for Quilts Michelle Roberts @ Creative Blonde

Every month, the Island Batik Ambassadors are challenged to design and make a quilted project. The July challenge is to make holiday projects. Mine is underway and will appear here soon.

Don’t miss any of the other monthly challenges and the goings on here at Inquiring Quilter! You’ll find ways to follow me at the top of my sidebar.

Be Sure to Enter My Giveaway!

For a chance to win these 2 Stash Builder rolls, use the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like batiks? Like to share your wips and finishes?

Each Ambassador answers the monthly challenges in unique ways—be sure to follow my fellow Ambassadors too! You’ll find them all listed on my Island Batik Ambassador page.

In the meantime, thank you so much for stopping by! Be sure to click over to my Wednesday Wait Loss linkup to share your current quilty projects!

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs, Studio 180 Designs, and ByAnnie.

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[inquiringquilter]

My Second 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Box!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve received a whopping three boxes from Island Batik and it’s program partners.

Each box is chock full of goodies that I’ll use to complete the Island Batik monthly challenges through the rest of the year.

Before I reveal the contents of my boxes, remember that a lot of beautiful batik quilts and tons of interesting challenges will soon appear right here on the blog. Be sure to follow me on social media if you don’t want to miss any of the fun

Even if batiks are not your thing, you won’t want to miss the new patterns I’ll be creating this year and the blog hops and challenges I’ll be participating in. I often have giveaways as well! You’ll find the ways to follow at the top of my sidebar.

Now back to my boxes. I bet you can’t wait to see what’s inside!

Watch my video to find out. <grin>

Wow! Wasn’t that amazing? Let me slow things down a bit and take a look at my goodies one by one.

Let’s take a closer look at what was inside my box

The Island Batik Ambassador program has several industry partners, and they generously include goodies in our boxes to use in our monthly challenges.

The first to arrive was a box from AccuQuilt Go!

Inside was a Go! Me The perfect fabric cutter for people who quilt in small studios. It’s also perfect for taking to class or going on quilt retreats. The Go! Me uses a lot of the same dies my larger Accuquilt Go! cutter does. I highly recommend buying a compatible Qube set in a block size you like (6”, 8” or 9”).

And it’s on sale for $99 right now!

Be sure to watch for my daughter’s adventures with the Go! Me this month as she designs and makes a quilt using the two dies that come with it.

The next box to arrive contained quilt batts from Hobbs, a program partner.

Hobbs graciously included three quilt batts—one Queen size Heirloom 80/20 Fusible batting (I mispoke on the video—this batting is 80% cotton and 20% polyester, which is perfect because their 80/20 blend is so soft and drapable) and one Queen size Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend batting (this is my go-to batting and shows off my quilting nicely).

Hobbs also included one Throw size Tuscany Silk batting (this batting is so light and soft, with a luxurious feel and a wonderful drapablity.) I can use it in a quilt or a garment easily.

Hobbs also sent along their new Heirloom Premium 80/20 Fusible Batting Strips, perfect for jelly roll projects. I can’t wait to try it out!

The last box to arrive was chock full of batiks and other goodies.

Included were solid batiks in black, white, and grey. These batiks make great backgrounds especially in modern quilts. I was sent 4 yards of each so I will have plenty for my designs. If you haven’t used a solid batik yet, you should really give them a try! I find them superior to regular solids because of their high thread count.

Tucked inside the bundle was a specialty ruler from Deb Tucker Studio 180 called the Square Squared. Her rulers are awesome I hear, and really help you create accurately pieced blocks by sewing your units slightly larger and trimming them to a perfect size. With this ruler, I’ll be able to make perfect square in a square units!

We have a challenge next month to design a quilt using Studio 180 rulers so stay tuned!

ByAnnie is a challenge partner for September, and we’ll each be making a different pattern from them. I chose the Back At Ya 2.1, a sort of small backpack/purse. I have something similar and I love this type of thing. And now I’ll have one in batiks!

ByAnnie sent along everything I’ll need—two double slide handbag zippers; fold-over elastic and fabric mesh for the inner pocket; polypro strapping for the handles; flat rectangle rings and flat widemouth sliders for the straps; two magnets for the closure; and Soft and Stable to make my tote stand up on its own.

Although I’ve made some ByAnnie patterns before, this one is certainly challenging but I’m not afraid. Not only does ByAnnie have the best online videos for basic bag construction, they also include a special coupon in the pattern for accessing Add-On Videos that show you how to complete the hardest parts of your bag!

Included in the ByAnnie package were four coordinated batiks from Island Batik’s Peacock Galore collection by Claudia Pfeil of Claudia Pfeil Design, from the Spring 2020 Collections.

These collections debuted at Spring Market (well, they would have if Market had happened) and it was at that point that shops began ordering them. Precuts from the Spring 2020 collections are in quilt stores now; yardage from these collections will arrive in September/October so be sure to look for Peacock Galore then!

Island Batik also likes to include Stash Builders in our boxes. Stash Builders are a great way to increase the variety of batiks in your stash without spending a lot of cash. Each Stash Builder roll includes four 5” x WOF strips; there are 5 rolls in each pack giving you almost 3 yards of batiks! I was sent 2 Stash Builders, one in lovely shades of light blue and the other in yummy light to medium greens.

Next out of the box was a fat quarter pack from the Northern Lights collection by Kathy Engle, from the Island Batik Winter 2019 collection. This collection debuted at Fall Market last year, and it arrived in quilt stores in May 2020. Be sure to look for it at your local quilt shop!

I love purples as you know, and this collection is full of them, along with lovely coordinating blues. Yum!

Island Batik always includes a nice neutral we can use for a background in a quilt or quilts.

I was sent 4 yards of Almond, a lovely cream batik with an overprint of tan and purple dots. Almond is part of the Neutrals Foundations collection.

Next I received 6 half-yard Foundations cuts that coordinate with the Spring 2020 Surprise collection I also received. Included were BE34-C1 Round Petal Floral Cantalope and BE32-C2 Bubbles Salmon from the Blenders collection. Blenders are also part of the Island Batik Foundations and they are tone on tone, but stamped with a lovely design.

The pack also included two Solids - Fuschia and Amethyst.

The last two half-yards were Basics - tone on tone batiks: Chameleon and Tied Dye.

Here’s the Surprise Spring 2020 Collection bundle that coordinates with the Foundation bundle shown above. I’m afraid that’s the only hint I can give you!

The Spring 2020 collections will debut during the It’s in the Bag! Blog Hop next month. I’ll be using Peacock Galore as you know, so you’ll see that collection in all it’s glory in September.

I can’t tell you what’s in the Surprise package below, but you’ll see one of the Island Batik Ambassadors use some part of it in their bag in September. I’ll be able to use the contents of my Surprise package in a project sometime after September.

I received another 6 half-yard Foundations cuts that coordinate with the Summer 2020 Surprise collection I received. Included were two Solids - Yellow and Orange.

The pack also included 2 Blenders - BE26-B1 Mini Flower Carnation and BE27-C1 Large Netting Nasturtium.

The last two half-yards were Basics - Peacock and Aubergine.

Here’s the Surprise Summer 2020 Collection bundle they sent. It coordinates with the Foundation bundle shown above, and that’s your only clue to its contents!

The Summer 2020 collections will debut during the Inspired by Nature Blog Hop in November because that’s when they will start arriving in quilt shops. I’ll be using whatever’s in this purple package then.

A second precut collection was included in the box—this time a 2-1/2” strip set and two 2-yard cuts from coordinating fabrics (one light and one dark). This collection is called Lemon Grass and it’s from the Spring 2020 collection arriving in stores in September. Precuts like this strip pack are in stores now.

Lemon Grass is a signature collection by Kathy Engle for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs. I can’t think of a more perfect name for this gorgeous blue and green collection than Lemon Grass! I think it’s absolutely gorgeous!

Last but not least were the lovely threads that Aurifil, a program partner, sent. Their 50 wt thread is all-purpose and perfect for piecing, quilting, and applique. It’s a wonderful thread and once you try it, you’ll want to use it for everything!

Look at all the lovely threads they sent! We’ve got a thread painting/machine quilting challenge in October and I hope to use a lot of these then. They sent #4093 Jade, #4030 Plum, #2245 Red Orange, #2582 Dark Violet, #4182 Dark Turquoise, and #1133 Bright Orange.

By the way, whenever I present one of my monthly challenges, I strive to include not only the names of the Island Batiks I used and the Hobbs batting type, but also the Aurifil thread color numbers so you can match your threads to mine if you want.

Wow! I’m overwhelmed by the gorgeous batiks and other goodies I received! I’m simply overwhelmed by the generosity of Island Batik and its Program Partners. I hope you’ll continue to follow my creative journey as I create quilts, table runners, wall hangings, totes, and other items with the contents of my boxes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a great quilty week!

Before you go, share what you’re working on in my weekly linky party, Wednesday Wait Loss. Here’s a link to this week’s link up.

Don’t miss the Christmas in July Pattern Parade and my free Christmas table runner tutorial.

If you like free patterns, check out my Quilt Block Mania for July!

And you have to check out my upcoming quilt along, By the Sea!

If you like quilt retreats, I have a weekly one on Facebook every Saturday beginning at 8 AM EST. Come join us in my private Facebook group as we share, laugh, and get to know each other.

Don’t miss a thing!

Here’s the Island Batik Ambassadors unboxing schedule. Be sure to visit each Ambassador to see which batiks each Ambassador received.

Note: The videos each day are released throughout the day, so the link may not work at first. Basically, the first videos were released at 12 AM PST then 3:00 AM PST. Then each day a video is released at 6 AM PST, 10 AM PST and 2 PM PST.

Also I’ve been told that there may be some last-minute changes to the schedule so I’ll be updating the links as needed each day.

thursday, July 16th

Carolina Asmussen @ Carolina Asmussen Designs Megan Best @ Best Quilter Pamela Boatright @ Pamela Quilts

Friday, July 17th

Jennifer Fulton @ Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!) Vasudha Govindan @ Storied Quilts video Carla Henton @ Creatin in the Sticks

Monday, July 20th

Connie Kauffman @ Kauffman Designs Emily Leachman @ Darling Dogwood Denise Looney @ For the Love of Geese

Tuesday, July 21st

Leah Malasky @ Quilted Delights Sally Manke @ Sally Manke Maryellen McAuliffe @ Mary Mack

Wednesday, July 22nd

Carol Moellers @ Carol Moellers Designs Gail Renna @ Quilt Haven Threads Sharon Riley @ Sew Riley Designs

Thursday, July 23rd

Jennifer Strauser @ Dizzy Quilter Jennifer Thomas @ Curlicue Creations Alison Vermilya @ Little Bunny Quilts

Friday, July 24th

Suzy Webster @ Webster Quilt Janet Yamamoto @ Whispers of Yore

Monday, July 27th

Sandra Walker @ mmm! Quilts Gail Sheppard @ Quilting Gail

Tuesday, July 28th

Joanne Hart @ Unicorn Harts Mania Hatziioannidi @ Mania for Quilts Michelle Roberts @ Creative Blonde

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs, AccuQuilt GO! and Schmetz.

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tell me...what surprises have you gotten lately?

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[inquiringquilter]

My 2019 Island Batik Ambassador Boxes!

First, let me make my official announcement! I’m going to be a 2019 Island Batik Ambassador! Congratulations to my fellow 2019 Island Batik Ambassadors—-what an inspiring group of quilters I get to work with!

I’m so excited to share another year of beautiful batiks with you. There are many cool Ambassador challenges this year and lots of surprises so fasten your seat belts and hop on board!

If you like batiks as much as I do, be sure to follow me so you don’t miss the eye candy. Even if batiks are not your thing, you’ll love the challenges, new patterns, and dazzling quilts on display. Not to mention the giveaways! You’ll find the ways to follow at the top of my sidebar.

The Island Batik Ambassador year begins in February and runs to January the next year. Sometime in January, we receive our Island Batik box which is filled to the brim with the latest batiks, Aurifil threads (they are an Island Batik Ambassador partner), and Hobbs batting (another generous partner).

So January is like Christmas, waiting for Santa to arrive (in his Fed Ex truck).

This time, the postman rang twice! <grin>

Let me tell you, when two boxes showed up instead of the usual single box, my heart skipped a beat! I mean, Island Batik is always so generous what else could they possibly have included?

Watch my video to find out!

Wow! That was overwhelmingly awesome! Let me slow things down a bit and take a look at my goodies one by one.

First out of the box was my set of Surprise fabrics, in two bundles. The Surprise fabrics are not in general release just yet—they will debut at Spring Market in May and will be featured in the August Island Batik Ambassador Beat the Heat blog hop. Mark your calendars now because the blog hop will be filled with new batiks, gorgeous quilts, and tons of batik giveaways!

Up next was Aurifil thread—four 50 wt spools and one 28 wt spool. The Island Batik Ambassador program is privileged to have several partners, and Aurifil is one of them. What that means is that there are always several spools of Aurifil thread in our biannual boxes, so there’s always just the right color to quilt our Island Batik quilts. I’m a big Aurifil fan from way back, so I piece, quilt, and embellish my quilts using their threads. I feel so lucky that they are a part of the Ambassador program.

The thread colors they included in my box coordinate with the fabrics they sent. Aren’t the colors lovely?

Island Batik generously sent several buttons I can use to spread the word about Island Batik. Aren’t they pretty?

Besides the Surprise fabrics, I also received a set of 2-1/2” strips and coordinating yardage from another collection, one that’s available now. The collection I got is called Twilight Chic. Love the rich colors!

Island Batik always includes yardage from their Foundations collections in the box. Foundations are available all the time, which makes them easy to find in your local quilt store. Just look at these rich purples, blues, and greens!

Island Batik also included 2 yards of a lovely batik rayon and a gorgeous rayon scarf! Batik rayon is perfect for sewing up a drapey shirt, dress, or skirt. I wonder what I’ll make?

I also received 5 yards of a lovely creamy batik called Almond that has light touches of purple, perfect for use as a background. Almond is part of the Neutrals collection. It goes well with the Foundations bundle, and with other batiks I’ve received in the past.

Island Batik also makes solid batiks, in black, white, and grey. They pair up wonderfully with other batiks for a modern, crisp look. They included 3 yards of each color in my box. I love using these!

Island Batik also included two sets of Stash Builder rolls. Each roll contains four 5" x WOF strips. The set includes almost 3 yards of batiks! I really love working with these strips because you can cut 5" charms, 2-1/2" squares, and lots of other pieces from each strip. If you have these at your local quilt store, snatch them up! They are awesome for building up your batik stash.

Hobbs is another partner in the Island Batik Ambassador program, and they sent several of their incredible batts in the box. Hobbs generously sent two 80/20 batts (80% cotton and 20% polyester), one all cotton batt, one silk batt, and one Theremore batt (which provides awesome drape to garments or quilts).

I’ve used Hobbs for years in my quilts and I love the quality. I can’t believe they sent five batts! I’m ever so grateful since I’ve used up almost my entire stash of quilt batts. Awesome timing, Hobbs! Thank you so much.

An impressive list of goodies, don’t you think? But the biggest surprise this year was awaiting me in Box Number 2—a complete Accuquilt Go! cutting system!

The box includes everything I need to quickly cut the fabrics for any quilt I might design that uses 8” finished quilt blocks. Included in the Cube are dies that cut 2-1/2” squares, 4-1/2” squares, HST and QST that finish at 4”, 2-1/2” x 4-1/2” rectangles, square in squares for 4” finished squares and parallelograms for 2” x 4” rectangles. Accuquilt Go sells lots of other dies so I can expand my capabilities as needed.

Accuquilt also included their 2-1/2” strip cutter in the box. I plan on using it first on my rather large fabric stash, which I would prefer to store in basic usable units such as 2-1/2” strips, 5” squares, 2-1/2” squares and other common units.

But first things first—-to unpack the system and learn how to use it. I’ll be sharing what I learn as I go along, so be sure to follow me if you’re interested in a fabric cutting system.

Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to make something with my new batiks. The Ambassador challenge for February is to make a Magnificent Mini. My personal challenge is to post my December challenge quilt (it’s been done for a while, just haven’t posted about it yet.) and to finish my January challenge quilt.

Have a great quilty week! Come back tomorrow when I blog about my December Island Batik challenge, and on Wednesday to share your current quilty projects on my weekly linky party, Wednesday Wait Loss.

Disclosure: The products featured in the post were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik and their program partners, Aurifil, Hobbs Batting, and Accuquilt.

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tell me...what surprises have you gotten lately?

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[inquiringquilter]

Celebrating 100 Weeks of Wednesday Wait Loss!

Welcome to Wednesday Wait Loss. I can’t wait to see what you’ve been working on! But first I need to scream with joy because WWL is 100!

Can you believe it? Wednesday Wait Loss is celebrating its 100th week! I can’t tell you how much your support has meant to me, especially when (like this last month) you keep coming back even though I haven’t been able to post much on my blog lately.

Really. Your love and support are the fuel I need to keep going. Thank you!

First let me tell you what I've been up to

Good news! I got that last quilt done, bound and shipped off to Island Batik. So that three quilts this month, designed, patterned, cut and sewn, bound and shipped off to be featured this Spring in the Island Batiks Spring Market booth.

Woot!

Here are the colors for each, side by side. Again, I can’t show actual details of the fabrics because they haven’t been released to the public yet.

I didn’t get my Island Batik December challenge done however, but I’m working on it. There’s a reason I’m behind on that and without oversharing, I can tell you that a member of my family was diagnosed with cancer and it’s not good. So my head’s been elsewhere. On the plus side, my family is large—I have eight siblings, sixteen nieces and nephews, seven great nieces and nephews, and tons of cousins all doing their part to support this person so none of us is facing this alone.

Thanks in advance for your love and support! Really, it does keep me going. If you know me personally, you can reach out with questions, but I don’t want this to fill my blog or my social media. I debated whether to share this at all, but in the end decided that my Wednesday Wait Loss group can handle it because you guys are the best. And I wanted you to know why my blog has been so barren lately. I promise I’ll have more content up soon as I get my feet back under me.

Before we find out what you did this week, let’s take a look at who made this week’s feature.

Let's see who made this week's feature

First up is Laura @ Slice of Pi Quilts, who shared a memory from her childhood—a peak a boo Santa toilet seat cover! Laura made a new one to replicate the one she had as a child. Read the full story on her blog.

Next is Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting, who shared several recent finishes. What I loved most about her post was the closeups of her quilting. Here are a few of them. Jump over to her blog to see all the quilts.

Gail @ Quilting Gail shared the cool gift she got from her quilting cousin. I love Angela Waters so this would be a great gift for me as well. What a nice cousin!

You must visit Gail’s blog to learn what her cousin sent to Gail’s husband! Too cute.

Next up is Melva @ Melva Loves Scraps, who shared her version of the latest block in the It’s a Wild Life BOM—Midnight Picnic. I've really enjoyed watching this quilt come together.

Finally, Susie shared her latest project—Caribbean Village. I got to see her start this one at the last quilt retreat. Isn’t it wonderful? I love those Caribbean colors she’s chosen.

Congratulations ladies! Here's an I Was Featured badge for your blogs or to simply print out and wear with pride! Thank you for supporting my blog!

Let’s Celebrate the100th week of Wednesday Wait Loss!

This week is the 100th anniversary of Wednesday Wait Loss and I think we should celebrate with a big giveaway!

So I’ve got three prizes to give away! Here’s how we’re going to do it.

If the total link ups is ten or below, I’ll give away one prize—an Island Batik Stash Builder (five 2-1/2” x WOF strips).

If the total link ups is 11 to 25, I’ll give away an additional prize—a bundle of fabric scraps from Island Batik!

If we get over 25 linkups, I’ll give away one more prize—five fat quarters from Windham Fabric’s Isadora collection.

So work together and link up as many blog posts, Flickr/Facebook/Instagram photos, or direct photo uploads from your computer/cell phone as you can! Let’s make this the biggest Wednesday Wait Loss ever! Spread the word through social media and link directly to this page.

You can link up any kind of quilt project—finished or unfinished. I only ask that you not link up something you’ve linked up before. Let’s see some new photos even if they are old projects (or old blog posts).

You’ll get a chance to win a prize for every linkup you do. I’ll announce the winner next week. I’ll keep this one open to everyone, even International. (Crossing my fingers this doesn’t end up costing me an arm and a leg. <wink>)

I’m not sure how to link up

Need help? Click the Wednesday Wait Loss tab above to get step by step instructions on what to do. You can link up a blog post, a photo from Flickr, Instagram, or Facebook, or a photo direct from your cell phone provided it is low resolution.

Time to link up!

Now it’s your turn to link up your works in progress and recently completed quilts! Here are some quick reminders about the linky party:

This linky is all about encouragement, so please visit a few of the links and leave a comment.

If you’re uploading a photo from your phone/computer, leave a comment below that explains your project. And for the rest of us, please reply to a few of these comments leaving words of encouragement for a quick finish.

Please link back to my post somewhere in your blog post or use @inquiringquilter and #wedwaitloss to tag me in your Instagram/Flickr post.

If you link a photo from Facebook, please mention @InquiringQuilter and my Wednesday Wait Loss.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to several fun quilty linky parties.

you might also like

Tell me..what have you been Working on this week?

#WIPs

[inquiringquilter]

Wednesday Wait Loss 90

Welcome to Wednesday Wait Loss! I’d love to see what you’ve been working on!

First let me tell you what I've been up to

Last week I officially released my new pattern, Berry Cross, to my online store!

To celebrate, I’m having a sale. From now until the end of October, enjoy 25% off all patterns in the Quilt Patterns category in my shop! Patterns in the Table Runner and Mini Quilt categories are $1.00 off.

Enter OCT2018QP at checkout for 25% off quilt patterns. Enter OCT2018TR for $1.00 off table runner patterns. Enter OCT2018MQ for $1.00 off mini quilt patterns.

Click here to visit my store.

I also started work on this month’s Island Batik challenge, which is paper piecing. Here’s my fabric pull.

Well, that was my week!

Before we find out what you did this week, let’s take a look at who made this week’s feature.

Let's see who made this week's feature

Last week was a special Halloween link up! I was over whelmed by the number of wonderfully spooky quilts that were linked up! Here are a few of my favorites.

First, Alice linked up tons of Halloween quilts. It’s no surprise that Halloween is her favorite holiday! Here are two of my favorites from Alice—a Baltimore Album Halloween quilt and a paper pieced skeleton quilt. There are so many more quilts from Alice you must see! Click here to revisit last week’s link up so you can view Alice’s great collection of Halloween quilts!

Since Alice does not have a blog, if you enjoyed her quilts, please leave a comment here for her.

Next up is Chris @ Chris Knits Sews, who finished this awesome Pumpkin Patch quilt just in time to link it up.

Lisa Marie linked up several quilts on Flickr—a super cute mini quilt and an adorable table runner.

Lisa also linked up a quilt she made for her sister. The quilt was so beautiful I just couldn’t think of not featuring it even though it isn’t Halloween. Isn’t it gorgeous?

Next, Karrin @ Karrin’s Crazy World linked up two beautiful pumpkin quilts from the book, Collection Two. I’m not sure what it is about pumpkin quilts but I really love them! I think a pumpkin quilt is in my future!

Anita @ Domestic Felicity shared this pumpkin pot holder she made from scraps. What a great way to celebrate the season!

Karen @ Tuna Quilts, Travels, and Eats linked up her owl block from the Fall into a Quilt Along. What does an owl have to do with Halloween? Visit last week’s Wednesday Wait Loss and read her comment to learn how. It’ll make you smile for sure!

Last but not least was someone who was only identified as Works4Me on Flickr. If this was you, please let me know who you are! Works4Me linked up the cutest Halloween quilt ever, called Wanda’s Wicked Wearables. Works4Me is new to our group so let’s give her a great big Wednesday Wait Loss welcome! If you can, please visit her on Flickr to leave a comment. If you can’t visit Flickr, leave a comment here for her.

Congratulations ladies! Here's an I Was Featured badge for your blogs or to simply print out and wear with pride! Thank you so much for supporting my blog!

So who won the giveaway?

Last week on Wednesday Wait Loss, if you linked up a Halloween quilt then you got two chances to win. If you linked up any other quilt, you got one chance. Up for grabs was an Island Batik Stash Buster roll—-a roll of several 2-1/2” x WOF strips.

As usual, I assigned numbers to each entry and then let Random.org select the winner.

Congratulations Karrin! Send me an email with your postal address and I’ll get your prize in the mail to you.

Our next special link up is next month

Our next special Wednesday Wait Loss will be on November 21st and we’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving and harvest quilts. Thanksgiving is celebrated here in the states, and to us it is a celebration of food and family, featuring turkeys, corn, bread stuffing, cranberries, pumpkins and other foods harvested in the fall. We also celebrate the American Indian at Thanksgiving, without who’s help the first pioneers would never have made it through those difficult first winters in a new land. Most cultures celebrate harvest time with some kind of festival, and I’d love to hear stories about that as well!

As usual, if you link up a quilt that somehow reminds you of Thanksgiving or harvest time, it’ll count as two chances in my giveaway. Other quilts linked up will count as one chance.

Time to link up!

Now it’s your turn to link up your works in progress and recently completed quilts! Here are some quick reminders about the linky party:

This linky is all about encouragement, so please visit a few of the links and leave a comment.

If you’re uploading a photo from your phone/computer, leave a comment below that explains your project. And for the rest of us, please reply to a few of these comments leaving words of encouragement for a quick finish.

Please link back to my post somewhere in your blog post or use @inquiringquilter and #wedwaitloss to tag me in your Instagram/Flickr post.

If you link a photo from Facebook, please mention @InquiringQuilter and my Wednesday Wait Loss.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to several fun quilty linky parties.

you might also like

Tell me..what halloween memories have you saved in a quilt?

#WIPs #Featured

[inquiringquilter]

Wednesday Wait Loss 86

Welcome to Wednesday Wait Loss, where we share photos of quilty projects we're working on. It's my hope that here at WWL, you'll get the encouragement you need to stop waiting and to finish your quilt projects!

First let me tell you what I've been up to

Last week I finished two blocks for the Queens of my online bee, Bee Inspired. I’m not caught up yet, but I’m at least out of the dog house a bit. <grin> You can read all about my progress here.

I also made some progress on this month’s Island Batik challenge, which is to make a quilt with stars. My journey to finishing this quilt has not been easy but I can tell you that at least I’ve sewn all the blocks! You can read all about it here.

Just to tease you, here’s a sneak peek at one of my blocks. <grin>

That's it for me! What have you been doing this past week?

Let's see who made this week's feature

Last week was a special Wednesday Wait Loss for School quilts. There were lots of quilts to feature!

First up is Jen @ De Jon Dream House, who shared the quilts she’s made for various teachers and administrators at her son’s school. One quilt really stood out for me, and that was a book quilt Jen made for the school librarian who was retiring.

Jen also shared a quilt for Mrs. Knoch, Mrs. Graves, a Little Learners quilt, and a Milestone quilt for a teacher’s baby. If you missed them at last week’s Wednesday Wait Loss, please visit her blog to see them!

Next up is Lisa Marie, who shared a Schoolhouse block and a quilt she made for a reading challenge. If you can, visit Lisa Marie on Flickr and leave her a comment. (If you can’t, leave her some encouragement here.)

Finally, I want to feature Susie Walden, who shared a Halloween Party quilt. As Susie explained in last week’s comments, the Halloween Party was always the first school party of the year, so it marked a special time for her. Susie is a retired teacher, so show her your appreciation in the comments.

Congratulations everyone! ! Thanks for sharing your quilts with us and making my School Quilt link up so special. Here's an I Was Featured badge for your blogs.

So Who Won the Giveaway and When Can I Enter Again?

If you linked up a quilt project to last week’s Wait Loss Wednesday, you got one chance to win an Island Batik Stash Builder roll (a roll of several 2-1/2" x WOF batik strips). If you linked up a school quilt, you got two chances to win. After numbering all the chances, I let Random.org pick the winner.

Congratulations Jen! Email me your address and I’ll send your Stash Builder batik strips to you!

    Thanks everyone for making last week's link up a success! Our next special link up is October 17th, and we're celebrating Halloween quilts so start gathering them up!

Let’s also share our special Halloween stories! What do you remember most about Halloween? I can’t wait to hear!

Time to link up your works in progress and recent quilty finishes!

Here are some quick reminders about the linky party:

This linky is all about encouragement, so please visit a few of the links and leave a comment.

If you’re uploading a photo from your phone/computer, leave a comment below that explains your project. And for the rest of us, please reply to a few of these comments leaving words of encouragement for a quick finish.

Please link back to my post somewhere in your blog post or use @inquiringquilter and #wedwaitloss to tag me in your Instagram/Flickr post.

If you link a photo from Facebook, please mention @InquiringQuilter and my Wednesday Wait Loss.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to several fun quilty linky parties.

you might also like

Tell me..what have you been working on?

#WIPs

[inquiringquilter]

Wednesday Wait Loss 76

Welcome to Wednesday Wait Loss. I'd love for you to share your quilty works in progress and recent finishes with us!

Let me tell you what I've been up to.

I got a box of batiks from Island Batik! As an Island Batik Ambassador, we get a shipment of batiks from the newest collections twice a year. Recently, I received my box of batiks that are mostly available in stores now, and I can't wait to share them with you in new quilt designs. I also got a package of "surprise" batiks--a collection that will be released at Fall Market.

If you're curious about what I receieved, click here to read my post.

The batiks that arrived were so gorgeous, I immediately started using one of the collections in my July Island Batik challenge. I chose batiks from the Lavendula collection and some matching batiks from my Island Batik stash for my July challenge quilt. The challenge this month is to create a quilt with a secondary design and I have to say the quilt is looking gorgeous!

I've continued working on O Tannenbaum, the WIP challenge at Always in Stitches (the quilt shop where I work). Still have a ways to go!

Finally, I attended a barn quilt painting workshop at Always in Stitches. This was a special workshop just for the staff, and man was it fun!

Can you tell I love purple? <grin>

Yep, it's been a busy week!

Let's see who made this week's feature.

First up this week is Susie Walden. Susie shared a mini quilt she designed on the fly. Susie does this kind of thing all the time--when she gets inspired by a fabric, she buys it and some coordinates then lets it gel. Soon she has a plan, and off she goes! The result this time is an adorable mini quilt.

Because Susie doesn't have a blog, she uploads photos directly from her computer. That means they aren't clickable for us so they are small. So Susie smartly uploaded a close up of that center. I forget how small those HSTs are, but I remember that they are really tiny! Susie is a master of miniatures.

Next up is Melva @ Melva Loves Scraps. Melva shared a quilt finish -- Farmland. This was one of those old works in progress that you finally get around to finishing, so a special congratulations to her! I love it when someone is inspired by Wednesday Wait Loss to finish something they'd put away a long time ago.

In order to find time to sew, Melva makes crockpot meals then pops one into the crockpot when she wants to spend a day in her sewing room. Melva shares these crockpot recipes on her blog. Well worth a visit to download them. We can always use more time to sew! Thanks Melva.

Finally, I'd like to feature Becca @ Pretty Piney. Becca was inspired to create an adorable block based on an Etch-a-Sketch that she calls Sketchy. You can use the block to quilt cute messages and images meaningful to a special friend or relative.

Stop by her blog to get her free tutorial.

Congratulations Susie, Melva, and Becca! Thank you so much for sharing your quilts with us. Here's an I Was Featured badge for your blogs.

Special Link Up This Week and a Giveaway!

This week I'm having a special link up. Followers know that I've been doing this for a few months now. Every month, I choose a special Wednesday to feature a special type of quilt. You'll find a list of special WWL dates at the top of my sidebar. On each of those dates, I'll feature a special type of quilt in the link up and have a giveaway, so don't miss them!

Today, we're featuring red, white, and blue quilts.

Let me start you off with some quilts of mine. First up is Allies, a mini quilt I made as a present for a friend of mine in England. I was inspired by the fact that both of our flags share the same colors. The design is my own and you can read more about it here.

Here is Star Crossed, a quilt that was inspired by my love of Downton Abbey. The fabrics are from the Downton Abbey Mary fabric collection, and the name of the quilt was inspired by her story. The pattern for this quilt is in my book, which is available in my shop.

Finally, here is Stargazer, another quilt from my book. This one features reproduction fabrics from my stash, and although it is my design, it was pieced and quilted by my friend Mary Strinka.

To encourage participation in this special Wednesday Wait Loss, I'm having a giveaway just like before. You'll get one chance to win one Island Batik Stash Builder Roll for every quilt you link up--two for every red, white, and blue quilt! (A quilt must contain red, white AND blue to count for the extra chance.)

If you don't have any red, white, and blue quilts to share, you can share whatever you're working on and get one chance for the giveaway. I'll announce the winner next week on Wednesday.

A Stash Builder Roll is a roll of coordinated 2-1/2" x WOF strips. Use them in your next jelly roll project!

OK, time to link up! Remember, if you need help linking up, click here for detailed step by steps.

Here are some quick reminders about the linky party:

This linky is all about encouragement, so please visit a few of the links and leave a comment.

If you’re uploading a photo from your phone/computer, leave a comment below that explains your project. And for the rest of us, please reply to a few of these comments leaving words of encouragement for a quick finish.

Please link back to my post somewhere in your blog post or use @inquiringquilter and #wedwaitloss to tag me in your Instagram/Flickr post.

If you link a photo from Facebook, please mention @InquiringQuilter and my Wednesday Wait Loss.

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to several fun quilty linky parties.

you might also like

Tell me..what are you working on?

#WIPs #Featured

[inquiringquilter]

(Un) Boxing Day!

Recently, I shared with you my delight in being selected as a 2017 Island Batik Ambassador. The other day, I was sitting at the kitchen table when I looked over and saw the Fed Ex guy walking up to my door.

Man, I almost had a heart attack I was so excited! His look of surprise as I threw the door open just as he was about to knock was hilarious.

My box was here! My box was here! My box from Island Batik, filled with hidden goodness was here!

I’ll tell you, opening that box was like having my birthday, Christmas, and Valentine’s all at once. And yeah, throw in Easter baskets overflowing with candy too. It was like that.

The box, as you can see, was stuffed to the brim with yummy fabrics and threads. During the year, I'll be using the contents of this box to make quilted lovelies for you that highlight the beauty of Island Batik. To ensure you don’t miss anything (including giveaways), make sure to follow my blog (through my newsletter, Bloglovin' or Feedburner) and my Instagram. I encourage you to also follow Island Batik as well, along with my fellow Island Batik Ambassadors (you’ll find a list of them at the end of this post).

So let’s take a closer look at what Island Batik sent me. Included in the box was 2-1/2” Strips and coordinating yardage from the Pressed Petals collection. This collection is in stores now. I love, love these bright colors and the wonderful combination of orange and blue. I simply can’t wait to design something awesome with this collection!

Also included was this cute Stamp pack of 5” squares from the Sweet Nectar collection which is also available in quilt stores now. The colors in this collection really call to me. Oh the possibilities!

To help us complete our designs, Island Batik included yardage from their Basics, Blenders, and Foundations lines. These compliment so many of the fabrics in my box perfectly!

Wanna add Island Batiks to your stash? One easy way is with these Stash Builders—packs of 5” x WOF strips from various collections.

On end, the Stash Builders resemble pretty candies! To me, they look good enough to eat.

Also included in the box was this lovely fat quarter pack of pinks and reds, just in time for Valentine’s Day! I’ve already got a project underway using these beauties, so be sure to check back soon.

In addition to gorgeous batiks, the box included threads from Aurifil and Superior Threads. I already quilt and piece with both of these brands, so finding them in my box was awesome!

The quilting possibilities of this collection of 50 wt, 40 wt, and 20 wt threads blows my mind and I can’t wait to play with them. Thank you Aurifil and Superior Threads!

Wasn't that an amazing collection of wonderful fabric and threads? Stayed tuned Batman—same Bat Time, same Bat Channel (otherwise known as my blog)—for these February Island Batik events.

Yes, that’s not a typo. Galentine’s is celebrated the day before Valentine’s, and it’s a chance to honor our best girlfriends.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Island Batik Ambassadors are making kennel quilts for charity. So before the end of February, you’ll get to see the pretty quilts I made for pets in need.

Well, I’m off to work on my Island Batik projects for this month! Meanwhile, here are my fellow 2017 Island Batik Ambassadors. Each of us received a specially curated box of goodies just for us so I encourage to get to know the rest of the Ambassadors too.

Nan from Purrfect Spots. Designs

Turid from Den Syende Himmel

Stephanie from Quilt’n Party

Pamela from Pamela Quilts

Anna from Ark Angel Creations

Kathy from Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Jessica from Desert Bloom Quilting

Connie from Freemotion by the River

Kate from Seams Like a Dream

Sharon from Yellow Cat Quilt Desgins

Tina from Quilting Affection Designs

Jennifer from Inquiring Quilter (that’s me!)

Barb from Bejeweled Quilts

Sally from Sally’s Quilting Corner

Jeanette from Inch Worm Fabrics

Connie from Kauffman Designs

Joan from Moosestash Quilting

Bernadine from Needle and Foot

Bea from Beaquilter

Cheryl from Cheryl Lynch Quilts

Maryellen from Mary Mack’s Blog

Joyce from Hearts Creations

Marlene from Kissed Quilts

Karen from The Quilt Rambler

Marian from Seams to be Sew

Laura from Slice of Pi Quilts

Linda from Inspired Layers

Vicki from Vicki’s Craffs and Quiltling

Nancy from Masterpiece Quilting

Carol from FunThreads Designs

Terri from Meanderings Along Lizard Creek

Alison from Little Bunny Quilts

Suzy from Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Jean-Sophie from Sophie Junction

Janet from Whispers of Yore

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Tell me..if you got a surprise box of batiks, what color(s) would you hope were inside?