Note: All products in this post were given to me by Island Batik as part of their Ambassador program.
This month, half of the Island Batik Ambassadors participated in the
Beat the Heat blog hop to showcase fabrics from the Spring 2019 collections that will be available in quilt shops soon. The other half were asked to create a lap-sized or larger quilt using any star block.
I designed this quilt to show my involvement in Girl Guides. Its name, Make New Friends, is taken from the song of the same name:
Make new friends, but keep the old.
One is silver, the other gold.
A circle's round, it has no end.
That's how long I want to be your friend.
The friendship stars were made using fabrics from
Island Batik Foundations (Spring and Summer), with the red from the
Freedom collection. The colours mimic the Guiding colours as best I could with the fabrics I received in my Ambassador box:
- Pink - Sparks
- Brown/Orange - Brownies
- Blue - Guides
- Green - Pathfinders
- Red - Rangers
- Yellow - Cadets (former branch prior to Rangers)
- Purple - Trefoil Guild (for adult members not active as leaders)
- Teal - just because it was pretty and I needed an 8th colour
The stars are set in a circle to signify that Guiding friendships are forever. The colours are arranged clockwise from Sparks (youngest girl member) to Trefoil Guild (adult member).
The flying geese are in the same colours as the friendship stars in the north, east, south, and west positions on the quilt. These signify compass points (camping) and showing the way. Adult (volunteer) members provide programming to assist girls to explore new challenges, develop skills, and empower each other. Fun. Friendship. Adventure.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
~ John C. Maxwell
I used
Hobbs Heirloom Bleached 100% cotton batting in this 60-inch quilt. Hobbs batting is the only batting I use, and I often forget to mention it in my blog posts. It's a great batting. This was my first time using the 100% cotton, and I really like it.
The free-motion quilting was done with
Aurifil #2024 White. I quilted loops (to signify circles with no end) and stars (showing/lighting the way) in the white background. And there was a lot of background...it took me two weeks to make a final decision on a quilting plan. I quilted wishbones in the friendship star points as dreams/wishes come true in Guiding. Because of Guiding, I have been to places, met people, and done things that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to do. I've travelled to England, Scotland, Switzerland, Mexico, and India. I've stood guard inside the gates of Buckingham Palace and was part of the greeting party when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited our city. The list goes on and on.
I quilted Girl Guide Trefoils in the centre...it is a Girl Guide quilt. 😊
The quilting gives this quilt a lot of texture. The colours in the scrappy binding are arranged from Sparks to Trefoil Guild.
I had so much fun designing and making this quilt. I couldn't figure out how to design it in EQ8, so I resorted to paper and pencil. I'm looking forward to taking a class at QuiltCon with Cheryl @
Meadow Mist Designs. I think next up is to make a mini version to hang on my wall.
Are you (or have you been) a Girl Guide/Scout? I'm sure you have wonderful memories.
As since it's the end of the day:
Softly Falls
Softly falls the light of day
As our campfire fades away
Silently each Guide should ask
Have I done my daily task?
Have I kept my honour bright?
Can I guiltless sleep tonight?
Have I done and have I dared
Everything to be prepared?
Taps
Day is done
Gone the sun
From the sea
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh
