My first challenge as a 2019 Island Batik Ambassador is: Magnificent Minis. The rules were to use any technique, using any fabric (except the Surprise fabric) to make a maximum 24 x 24 inch mini during the month of February. An easy task I thought...until I sat down to design something. 😊
As I was looking for inspiration, I found a book in my sewing room that I didn't know I had and have no idea where or when I got it -- The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. When I picked up the book, it fell open to a brightly coloured pattern called Confetti, using batik fabrics.
Here is Tumbling Triangles -- my version of the pattern. I printed the templates at 85% to get a 18-inch mini.
Once I decided on which fabrics to use, I only cut fabric for a couple of blocks to see how piecing went and to see what size block I'd end up with. I used the Snowman print from the Icicle fabric collection for the triangle centres.
Piecing went quickly, so I cut more fabric and continued sewing. And before I knew it, there a quilt top. And then I realized I hadn't taken any in-progress photos. Oops.
I used the Island Batik Stash Builders for the background. These are rolls of 5-inch strips of fabric. There are so many awesome prints and colours. It was difficult to choose which ones to use. I can't wait to play with them again.
I did a loopy stipple in the background and a wishbone motif in the triangle centres using Aurifil thread #5008 Sugar Paper.
I used Hobbs Thermore batting. It's a thinner batting used for clothing and miniatures.
I was feeling pretty good about my efforts...until I saw what other Ambassadors had made. Wow! The talent is amazing. I generally don't compare myself to others, but I felt my mini was inadequate and didn't come close to the skill level of the other Ambassadors. I encourage you to check out some of the fabulous projects -- see the Ambassador list at the end of this post.
So I decided to make another mini. The end of the month was quickly approaching, but there was still time. I decided on floating triangles using the black solid fabric as the background. And then on Sunday, the theme for the next Project Quilting challenge was announced -- Pixel Play. So I decided to use floating squares instead of triangles to complete two challenges with one project.
I was travelling on Monday to attend my aunt's funeral, and we stopped to have something to eat. We ended up at McDonald's, and this was their wallpaper. I decided to re-create a part of the wallpaper (as shown in the green box) for my mini.
As we continued driving, I was thinking that the wallpaper reminded me of roads. And then I started thinking of the times in the summer I spent with my cousins and being at my aunt's house. It's a small town, and we walked everywhere (not that there was a lot of "everywhere" to go LOL). The term running the roads was commonly used. I remember walking down the road to Blueberry Hill to pick blueberries with my aunt and cousins.
Here is my fabric pull. And once again, I forgot to take in-progress photos. I need to put a note on my sewing machine that says: Stop and Take Photos!! 😊
This mini finishes at 15.5 x 19 inches, and it's called Running the Roads.
I'm linking up at:
Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday @ Alycia Quilts
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts
Needle and Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
2019 Island Batik Ambassadors:
Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina
Asmussen
Gene Black ~ Gene
Black
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts
Connie K Campbell ~ Freemotion
by the River
Anja Clyke ~ Anja
Quilts
Tina Dillard ~ Quilting
Affection Designs
Becca Fenstermaker ~Pretty
Piney
Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring
Quilter
Barbara Gaddy ~ Bejeweled
Quilts by Barb
Dione Gardner-Stephen ~ Clever
Chameleon
Sarah Goer ~ Sarah
Goer Quilts
Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied
Quilts
Lori Haase ~ Dakota
City Quilter II
Joanne Hart ~ Unicornharts
Mania (Magdalini) Hatziioannidi ~ Mania
for Quilts
Carla Henton ~ Creatin’
in the Sticks
Stephanie Jacobson ~ Steph
Jacobson Designs
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman
Designs
Joan Kawano ~ Moosestash
Quilting
Kim Lapacek ~ Persimon
Dreams
Emily Leachman ~ The
Darling Dogwood
Leanne Parsons ~ Devoted
Quilter
Bea Lee ~ BeaQuilter
Toby Lischko ~ Gateway
Quilts & Stuff
Bill Locke ~ Studio
Bill Locke
Denise Looney ~ For the
Love of Geese
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted
Delights
Sally Manke ~ Sally
Manke
Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary
Mack's Blog
Kathleen McCormick ~ Kathleen
McMusing
Carol Moellers ~ Carol
Moellers Designs
Karen Neary ~ Sew
Karen-ly Created
Lisa Nielsen ~ Lisa
Lisa and the Quilt Jam
Jackie O’Brien ~ If
These Threads Could Talk
Laura Piland ~ Slice
of Pi Quilts
Michelle Roberts ~ Creative
Blonde
Vicki Schlimmer ~ Vicki's
Crafts and Quilting
Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting
Gail
Sherry Shish ~ Powered
by Quilting
Anita Skjellanger ~ Quilt
in a not-Shell
Laticia "Tish" Stemple ~ Tish's
Adventures in Wonderland
Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy
Quilter
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue
Creations
Terri Vanden Bosch ~ Lizard
Creek Quilts
Alison Vermilya ~ Little
Bunny Quilts
Sandra Walker ~ mmm!
quilts
Suzy Webster ~ Adventurous
Applique and Quilting
(Debora) Anne Wiens ~ Seams
like a Plan
Geraldine Wilkins ~ Living
Water Quilter
Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore
I love the playfulness of Confetti and the inspiration behind Running the Roads is so sweet :) Congratulations on a great first challenge as an ambassador!
ReplyDeleteTwo wonderful quilts - they are both perfect! I love them both :)
ReplyDeleteI think both your minis are great!
ReplyDeleteI know your "angst" at being a first year person in the Island Batik Ambassadors. Some of the Ambassadors are crazy talented and I feel like a kindergarten child in a high school class.
ReplyDeleteYour two minis are great. There is a special beauty in simplicity.
I love both minis Anja! And I love how you got your inspiration for the 2nd one!
ReplyDeleteI like them both! The confetti one is so cute and whimsical - and the other has more depth and introspection - nice job on both!!
ReplyDeleteOh--the inspiration for Running the Roads brought tears to my eyes!! I have had 2 aunts pass away in the last month!! Oh the memories that surface up when meeting with cousins you haven't seen in years--even if it is at a funeral. Love the way you used fabric to bring that memory to life!!! Keep it up--those make the best quilts!!
ReplyDeleteWhoa woman!! #1: Comparison is the thief of joy. Remember that ;-) #2 You had me at your first triangles mini! Like it's just all kinds of awesome! (and so are those stash builders which I've used for my mini - and I only made one! I love how we find inspiration everywhere and WHO IN THE WORLD would've thought that inspiration would be found at Mickey D's?! LOVE the second one too (but that first one is still my fave). I did something with squares and rectangles too! Took photos, haven't written up the post yet. I do love the story behind Running the Roads - I could just imagine you and your cousins!
ReplyDeleteYou did two! I love it! I love the bright colors in the background of the confetti squares. I love the story behind Running the Roads. Beautiful inspiration and loving memories all stitched up to make an awesome wall hanging.
ReplyDeleteI love your two mini quilts, especially that one inspired from the wall at McDonald's. Creative and gorgeous.
ReplyDeletethese are both fantastic! I love them both ;)
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about the loss of your aunt, Anja.
ReplyDeleteThese are both beautiful! Nothing inadequate at all! I love the triangles, and it's one of those that you see more in it every time you look at it. I especially love the snowmen in the centers, I didn't notice that they were snowmen the first time I saw it. The colors are great--Island Batik has such great saturated colors. And I like what Sandra said, comparison is the thief of joy. Something for me to remember, too.
ReplyDeleteI like the remake much more than the triangle one - I think it's a stronger design.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm so sorry about your aunt. It sounds like you have great memories of her.
Of course you were inspired by some random design on a wallpaper. That is the obvious part but what is extraordinary is how you elevated it in your design. I was completely happy with the Tumbling Triangles Tango :-) but hey you do you. I am just happy that I get to see TWO cuties when I came to see just one :-)
ReplyDeleteI love your minis
ReplyDelete