Back to School – Island Batik Blog Hop And Giveaway!

Beautiful Diner Days collection by Island Batik
Island Batik Ambassadors

September is back to school month and for a lot of us, back to quilting after a fun-filled action-packed summer!

Welcome to The Quilt Rambler, I’m sew happy you have joined me in the Island Batik Ambassador Blog Hop. The Ambassadors have been diligently working to showcase the newest fabric lines from Island Batik to assist you in your fabric shopping list while inspiring you for those fall projects!

So grab that cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy….they don’t call me The Quilt Rambler for nothin’.  Be sure and read to the end for a special giveaway!

Diner Days Collection By Island Batik

Days gone by, Diner Days Fabric collection
So many beautiful designs in a soft sweet color range

The collection I was given to work with is Diner Days. The hues are so soft that they almost reminded me of pastel Easter eggs. Indeed among some of the designs, there were eggs…and kitchen gadgets…and apples with apple cores!  Such imagination and potential!

Blog hop Back To School With Island Batik
A few of my favorite things – fabric, composition notebook, pens and pencils, and a fabulous quilt pattern

I love back to school time. I’m always ready to replenish my school supplies. Elmer’s Glue for glue basting, composition notebooks for jotting down quilt designs or fabric shopping lists. Pencil boxes make great containers to store bobbins, rotary cutters with extra blades or small sewing supplies. And what about file folders or binders to store quilt patterns! There’s plenty of things for quilters when it comes to back to school shopping!

The Perfect Pattern to Showcase Diner Days

One of my favorite block design is the Lemoyne Star, and my all time favorite method to make the block is using Deb Tucker’s Rapid Fire Lemoyne Star Ruler and technique.  I recently returned from Certified Instructor training with Deb, but that’s a ramble for another time….PS I did graduate and am available for workshops, lectures, and demos at quilt shows….

Beautiful Diner Days collection by Island Batik
Back to School Blog Hop

Back to Diner Days….I quickly decided I wanted to use Deb’s pattern Sugar and Spice with this collection. Not only did it mimic her color pallet on the original pattern but it would be perfect to use the majority of fabrics in the Diner Days collection therefore truly showcasing the fabric. Not to mention I would be making my favorite stars!

Back to School Project – Sugar and Spice

Deb’s method calls for strip piecing the background fabric to the “star” fabric and is quickly done with chain piecing.

Colorful Fabric from Diner Days Collection
Strip piecing method for constructing Lemoyne Stars is fast and fun
Units come together quickly with Studio 180 Design method
I prefer to press my seams open – I like the way it makes my blocks lay flater

Before long I had the star point units together and was ready to assemble the 8 pointed star blocks.

As simple as sewing together a four patch! Look ma’ no Y seams!
Using my Tucker Trimmer from Studio 180 Design I then square up my Lemoyne Star blocks
27-star blocks later….the layout is coming together on my design wall

Next Technique

Also using the Tucker Trimmer tool by Studio 180 Design I made the half square triangles and the quarter square triangles to use in the setting solution. I love Deb’s techniques of oversizing the cuts, sewing together, then trimming to perfection. Makes me look good when my blocks all come together!

Studio 180 Design tools
More favorite tools, The Quilter’s Magic Wand and Sewline marking pencil to help mark the quarter inch seams for making the half square triangles and quarter square triangles
The lines on the Tucker Trimmer aid in the squaring up of the quarter square unit

Once all the units were made I played around with switching the scrappy star blocks to make them pleasing to my eye. I am so loving these fabrics!

The interior blocks are all completed, next up add the narrow border and scrappy border

On To The Longarm

As the old saying goes, it’s not a quilt until it’s quilted! It’s hard to say what I enjoy the most, making the quilt tops or quilting the quilt tops. My husband is always telling me “enjoy the process” so I guess in reality I do just that, enjoying each step that I’m on, from the planning stages to the binding. It’s all a joy for me.

Such a happy little quilt under the needle of my longarm
Little by little the fabrics are being covered with hand guided stitches
Sneak peak close up of the quilting and the beautiful fabric collection
Don’t you just love these fabrics!

Presenting Sugar and Spice Showcasing The Diner Days Fabric Line From Island Batik

Admittedly I am pleased with the way this quilt turned out. I’ve had the pattern on my bucket list for a couple of years – ever since I quilted the original one on the pattern cover for Deb Tucker.  At one time my thought was to make it in more tropical colors since that’s my usual color preference, but the moment I saw Diner Days I was smitten. This is a beautiful collection that is currently in stores now – so please ask for it by name! So many design possibilities!

Back to School Blog Hop
Perfect Back to School project

But Wait! There’s More!

In case you have missed the beginnings of the Back To School Blog Hop here’s the schedule. There are lots of giveaways so be sure and visit each of the Ambassadors blogs. We all love to have comments on our blogs so don’t be shy!

WEEK 1

Monday, September 4 – Beaujolais
Quilting Affection DesignsFunThreads Designs

Tuesday, September 5 – Country Dozen
Cheryl Lynch QuiltsInspired Layers

Wednesday, September 6 – Bonsai
Little Bunny Quilts

Thursday, September 7 – Sakura
Masterpiece Quilting

Friday, September 8 – Empress Garden
Dessert Bloom QuiltingSlice of Pi Quilts

WEEK 2

Monday, September 11 – Fresh Pick’ins
KISSed Quilts

Tuesday, September 12 – Lotus Blooms
Kathys Kwilts and More

Wednesday, September 13 – Olivera
Moose Stash QuiltingVicki’s Crafts and Quilting

Thursday, September 14 – Rise & Shine
Den Syende HimmelSally’s Quilting Corner

Friday, September 15 – Diner Days
Ark Angel CreationsThe Quilt Rambler (you are here! Thank you!)

WEEK 3

Monday, September 18 – Seas the Day
KISSed QuiltsWhispers of Yore

Tuesday, September 19 – Vineyard
The Inquiring QuilterInchworm Fabrics

Wednesday, September 20 – Abalone
PamelaQuiltsYellow Cat Quilts

Thursday, September 21 – Batiks Go Retro
Adventures in Applique and Quilting

Friday, September 22 – Captain’s Anchor
Purrfect Spots DesignsBeaquilter

WEEK 4

Monday, September 25 – Cherry Berry
Freemotion by the RiverMary Mack Made Mine

Tuesday, September 26 – Lobster Bake
Seams to be Sew

Wednesday, September 27 – Solstice
Bejeweled QuiltsheARTs Creations

Thursday, September 28 – Sour Apple
Seams Like a DreamKauffman Designs

Friday, September 29 – Zen
Lizard Creek QuiltingQuilt’n Party

Good Things Come To Those Who Read Until The End!

Use the link below to register to win this autographed copy of Sugar and Spice by Deb Tucker

As promised – I have my own special giveaway and it’s not limited to just those in the United States! During my recent visit with Deb Tucker and the gang at Studio 180 Design, Deb was gracious enough to offer the “blog prize” for my post. An autographed copy of her Sugar and Spice pattern so you can make this beautiful 45″ x 62″ for yourself.  The pattern calls for 12 fat quarters plus background, but I didn’t limit myself to just 12! The more color the merrier! I highly recommend fabrics from Island Batik! In fact, I’m going to include a few samples of Island Batik fabrics as a bonus…

To register to win:

Click on the link below to register to win. There are multiple ways to have chances of winning – from commenting to following on social media – but you must click on the link to do so. Random drawing on Sept 30th. I will contact you via email to get your shipping address!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

News Flash:

Here’s the giveaway sponsored by Island Batik for more fabulous fabrics!

a
Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, sew happy to have you join me in this quilting journey!

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78 thoughts on “Back to School – Island Batik Blog Hop And Giveaway!

  1. Barb K. says:

    My favorite back to school memory is getting my new school supplies ready (box of crayons and new tablet–sometimes a new pencil box) and anxiously waiting for the first day!

  2. Nancy says:

    I am actually working on a 11 year old UFO trying to get it quilted this fall. Your quilt is beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Susan L. says:

    My fall project is a wedding quilt for my BIL. I love your version of the Sugar and Spice pattern. Your quilting is amazing too!

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Family occasions make the best excuse for quilting – as if we need an excuse to quilt! I know that your wedding quilt gift will be cherished for a lifetime! Thank you for the compliments on my quilt, it was a joy to make and share with you.

  4. Linda W says:

    I remember those first day jitters that disappeared as soon as I saw all my friends again. grinnie1961 at gmail dot com

  5. Allison Evrard says:

    I heard of you through Island Batiks. But I don’t really remember how or when I heard of Island Batiks. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful! My quilts are almost always autumn colors but I love the pastels in this quilt! It looks so soft and soothing.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      I’m so glad you found us – Island Batik has fabulous fabrics and the people in the “home office” are equally special (I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several). The ambassadors are a good group to be associated with also – hope you will keep up with all of us. Isn’t it funny how we are all drawn to different colors – you, autumn – me, tropical – yet a pleasing arrangement in a totally different colorway can truly catch our eye. That’s what I love about Island Batik – the collections make me get out of my comfort zone and try different colors! And they work so well together!

  6. Monica R says:

    The first day of Junior High School. My sister and I (twins) had to ride the bus to school for the first time. We wore the Blue slacks and white and blue tops (Garanimals).

    Thanks for participating in the Blog Hop although you’re dealing with the flooding. Your quilt is beautiful and thank you for all the techniques and tools. I’m going to visit Studio 180.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Thanks for hopping along Monica! What happy memories you have of you and your twin sharing the first day of school together! And yes, we are dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and all the flooding…we are coming back stronger than before, just going to take a little time to find a new normal . Concerning Studio 180 Design – you will not find a better method of making block units than Deb Tucker’s techniques. Her designs are top notch, and I can truly say she and her entire family/team are the real deal. It’s nice to be associated with such nice people! Tell’em Karen O in TX sent ya’

    • thequiltrambler says:

      It is a fun quilt….and yes, no mention of Harvey – today it’s all about my love of quilting with Island Batik fabrics and Deb Tucker tools from Studio 180 Design. Tomorrow I may do a recap of our recent accomplishments in the Harvey cleanup….for anyone interested you can also follow my personal FB page and see lots of photos and comments about our experiences. thanks for asking Bea! Can’t wait to see your Lemoyne star quilt, you are such a fast quilter I bet you have it done in no time at all!

    • thequiltrambler says:

      Thank you Sally, it was a joy to make. Perhaps you will win the pattern, if not you know where to get it! I am pleased to say that I have more fabric from this line and am eager to make something else – Island Batik fabrics are like candy to me….I want more more more!

  7. Christi says:

    Absolutely beautiful quilt. I don’t know how I heard but glad I did. Honestly no favorite memories except I always liked science classes.

  8. Teri says:

    My fall project is a quilt for my brother-in-law who is recovering from surgery. Love the star quilt;thank you for sharing the process.

  9. Maryellen McAuliffe says:

    This is so pretty! I really need to get some rulers and patterns for Studio 180. I’m also an IBA. Thanks.

  10. Lisa Marie says:

    I’ve been following the blog hop and found you through that. Love your quilt and the fabrics! I’ve seen Deb Tucker do demos at quilt shows and she has amazing ways of doing things.

  11. Carmen R Wyant says:

    My Mom made a lot of our school clothes. With 6 kids to dress, it was a must. But we always got a certain amount of store bought too. Today it is the homemade clothes that I remember best.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      I was blessed by a mom who sewed too. My favorite memory is a dress she made me for the 1st day of 8th grade! Thanks for visiting with me Carmen both here and FB – good luck in the giveaway!

  12. Verna says:

    Your quilt is really beautiful! I am usually drawn to bright colors, but I really like yours! I am working on a row by row quilt right now, which I hope to have done by the end of October.

  13. Michele T says:

    I try to keep on top of my UFOs and am pretty good for finishing projects…. but if I’m not happy with how one is going, it’s put aside for a bit.

  14. Cecilia says:

    I love these colors and the cute prints! This quilt is on my to do list and I like using Deb Tucker’s rulers. I always loved the smell of new books and crayons at the beginning of the new school year.

  15. Kathy E. says:

    I found you through the Back to School Blog Hop! One of my favorite school memories is learning to read in 1st grade. I was sure my teacher was a magician because I never thought I’d learn!

  16. Susan Spiers says:

    Found you on Island Batik newsletter-blog hop! Very pretty pattern – love your colors! Starting school- the smell of paper, pencils & new notebooks! Thank you for sharing, Susan

  17. Sharon Denney Parcel says:

    Oh my! This is gorgeous! You have mad quilting skills, I love the quilting you have done. Very inspiring and I have thought about trying to do the 180 certification, I am a sucker for Deb’s rulers. Love using them…everything is so easy and accurate!

  18. Dawn F. says:

    Wow! This has to be one of my favorite Island Batik lines to date. I also tend to use more tropical and bright colors, but I love the more muted tones. My favorite fall memory is raking leaves out in the yard with my dad. I always loved raking more than mowing grass and shoveling snow.

    • thequiltrambler says:

      I agree with you Dawn, I was equally surprised at loving this line since I too like bright colors. I hope you will seek it out at your local quilt shop. Raking fall leaves is indeed a wonderful memory. We raised our boys in Tennessee and I’d forgotten about that as we now live in the gulf coast of Texas and the fall leaves aren’t quite as colorful. I don’t miss the snow ???? thanks for joining in the fun. Hope to visit again soon????

  19. Pat says:

    Back to school memory…a rebellious youth…after 8th grade I asked to go to school early. That meant I got to leave home! They packed me up that June and sent me to boarding school for the next 4 years! Being independent was important then…and I guess still is as I enjoy the freedom of quilting with no rules!! Scrap piecing is a joy! Thanks for your inspiration!

  20. Allison Evrard says:

    I am a retired teacher and, believe it or not, I always looked forward to the beginning of the school year. Of course, I always looked forward to the end of the year as well!

  21. Pingback: Still Kickin' After Harvey - The Quilt Rambler

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