This month's Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is sponsored by Deb Tucker and Studio 180 Design. Each of us is working on a "Tool Craze" project using a new Island Batik Collection and a ruler tool from Studio 180 Design.  The brief was to use the assigned new collection: Maple Island (a beautiful grouping of pinecones and maple leaves and aspen trees) and the Studio 180 Design ruler. I received the  Four Patch Square Up Ruler which makes 4 patch blocks  in 12 different sizes from 1/2" finished to 6" finished. I needed to make at least 30 units and at least 2 differe ..read more

 This month's Island Batik Challenge: "It's All Up To You" meaning everything about the new project was up to ME! The pattern, the size, which fabric, etc., it was totally open. SEW many choices and options. I decided to use the awesome new collection Royal Crown to remake an antique quilt made by my Great Grandma. Here's the antique inspiration Rocky Road to Kanosh and the new remake Rocky Road Rocky Road 22" x 22" Sandra Starley March 2023 Foundation Paper Piecing - 6" blocks Original Design, Antique Inspired Fabrics: Royal Crown Collection - every fabric (20 pieces) Backing a ..read more

This month's challenge for Island Batik Ambassadors is making a puff or biscuit or pillow (poofy) quilt. I've never made one before and it was an interesting challenge. More about that in a minute. Rainbow Trip Around the Garden 55" x  55" Traditional and Original Design Sandra Starley February 2023 Fabrics: Garden Delight Collection - every fabric (20 pieces) Backing: Island Batik Linen  (Naturally Neutrals) Batting: Hobbs Poly-Down Batting and  Piecing Thread: Aurifil #50 weight Quilting Thread: Aurifil #50 weight 80/12 Microtex Needle: S ..read more

 Hi - Look at this fun block with fabulous fabrics. Welcome to my stop on the Chickadee Blog Hop introducing the new Island Batik collection designed by Kathy Engle for Heidi Pridemore of Whimsical Workshop. Don't forget to scroll down to the end of this post for links to visit the other stops and get the patterns on the blog hop.  I love Heidi's collection of fun chicken patterns and patchwork hearts. Plus great dots and other cheery textures including chicken wire.  I was able to use each of the 20 fabrics from the the group for my block. I really like to recreate ..read more

I've been selected to be an Island Batik Brand Ambassador for 2023 - my 2nd year! Today, I'm sharing all the wonderful treasures that I get to create with this winter and spring but before I do that, I just had to share my favorite new collection f\rom my new Island Batik Ambassador Box - Garden Delight. This new collection - shipping to stores now: Garden Delight by Kathy Engle. As the name indicates it is garden themed with lots of veggies and fruit. It is like a yummy slice or taste of summer in the snowy winter! Here's the link to watch my official unboxing video as an Isla ..read more

   This month's Island Batik Ambassador assignment was definitely a true challenge - designing and making a Lone Star Quilt.  A classic traditional pattern and one that requires precise piecing. Sewing lots of 45 degree diamonds even with strip piecing is not for the faint of heart but ... it does reward the brave quilter with an amazing quilt. And it really helps if you have beautiful fabric to sew with like the Modern Opulence Collection designed by Deb Tucker of Studio 180 Design. Such an elegant palette with lovely flowers and triangles and diamonds in rich indigos ..read more

  Christmas Joy! 8" x 19" Original Design Sandra Starley 2022 Foundation paper pieced blocks -fabrics by Island Batik:  Lining:  IB Bubble Hole (Basics) Batting: Hobbs Bleached Cotton Batting Piecing Thread: Aurifil #50 weight Quilting Thread: Aurifil #50 weight Needle: Schmetz Quilting Needles                               Pieced and quilted by Sandra Starley  ***Fabrics provided by Island Batik, batting by Hobbs, thread by Aurifil, and needles by  ..read more

 This month's challenge with Island Batik's Brand Ambassador Program is a partnership with fellow Utahn Annie Unrein of ByAnnie.com. I picked the Contain Yourself pattern and paired it with the Beehive Buzz Collection by Kathy Engle to create 3 cool containers. *I was harvesting my pumpkin patch and I think there may have been a garden stowaway. From our partner By Annie -I received the Contain Yourself basket pattern and this generous kit with everything needed to create 3 baskets: Annie's own's Soft and Stable stabilizer, Fusible Interfacing, and Vinyl (for label pockets). And Island ..read more

 This month's Island Batik Ambassador Challenge is sponsored by Deb Tucker and Studio 180 Design. Each of us is working on a "Tool Talk" project using a new Island Batik Collection and a ruler tool from Studio 180.  My new collection is the delightful black/white and YELLOW bee themed collection: Beehive Buzz. The perfect collection for a quilter like me from the Beehive State of Utah. The bees, hives, honeycomb hexagons, and flowers are super fun. And there are polka dots too, a guarantee of joy. I used all 20 skus in the Beehive Buzz Collection and only added one fabric - an Isla ..read more

I LOVE working small so this month's challenge was perfect for me! I decided to update one of my favorite past quilts using my sister's Scrappy Colorplay/Mix and Match technique and pattern. The secret of the quilt is making the same pattern look totally different by careful color placement. I made 6 different sets of blocks - 2 of each pattern. Can you figure out the matches? Try to find each set of blocks that are made with the same pattern. I'll share the answers further down in this post.  **Note - the blocks are only 3 inches finished and some have 28 pieces in a single block ..read more