The Septemeber Island Batik Ambassador challenge is to make something with stars. Oh my! This is talking my language! I love star quilts. There’s my all time favorite the Lemoyne Star block, I love the Carpenter’s Wheel which has the Lemoyne Star in the middle – I even love the Snow Crystal which is the logo for this month’s challenge (I actually thought about making that!), and of course, the biggest and bestest is the Lone Star or Broken Star – I am from Texas after all…then there’s the Ohio Star, wonky stars, whirling stars, friendship stars – stars galore! How’s a starstruck quilter going to make a decision? Actually, I had made a decision to work on one of Deb Tucker’s patterns that has some very unique stars in it for an upcoming class I will be teaching next year- had it all cut out and in line to be the next quilt when something else caught my attention (can you say “squirrel!”)
I enjoy listening to audibles when I’m working in the studio. My most recent “book on tape” is Just In Time, by Marie Bostwick. This is a story about three women who meet and become friends sharing the joys and grief each experience in their lives. One of the ladies, Grace, is dealing with a husband in a coma. She’s a quilter after my own heart as she “keeps her hands busy.” While visiting her husband she is hand piecing a quilt made with his clothing. I’m that way, I like to work on something while I’m talking (or listening to “my story”) believe it or not, it helps me focus.
As I was working and listening I had a design change and a new idea for my monthly challenge quilt!
Starstruck
I guess you could say I’m sorta starstruck with Marie Bostwick – I had the privilege of meeting her earlier this year while at Paducah when she came into the Studio 180 Design booth to visit with Deb Tucker.
The quilt in the background is called Stormy Stars designed by Deb Tucker as a companion quilt to Marie Bostwick’s book The Promise Girls. It is made with Jackie Kunkel’s fabric line called Blue Moon by Island Batik. Well, let me tell you! This gal fell in love with that quilt and I have made one for myself (still waiting to be quilted, but it’s pieced!). Deb and Marie have collaborated on several quilt patterns throughout the years…AND!!!! That’s when it hit me! While listening to Just In Time I remembered that there was a new quilt pattern to go with this new book…
New Beginnings
Sure enough, I went to Marie’s website to check out the quilts that went with her books and lo and behold! The quilt for Just in Time is called New Beginnings AND it has stars!!! Yep! New plans!!!
Deb’s pattern again features a line of fabric by Jackie Kunkel called All A Flutter from Island Batik but that line of fabric wasn’t in my Island Batik Ambassador box…ah, but a beautiful stack of 10″ blue squares called Indigo Morris was! AND, I still had some neutral background fabric left from a previous project. Time to start sewing!
Just in Time
While enjoying Marie’s book, Just in Time, I started stitching away with the main character Grace, enjoying every minute of the process – who wouldn’t! Aren’t these blues fabulous! Oh, and I know I have mentioned before about being starstruck with Deb Tucker, and then through her met and became starstruck with Marie Bostwick, but I neglected to say I’m starstruck with Jackie Kunkel too – I have been fortunate to meet her in the Island Batik booth at the Houston Fall Market last fall – she’s a lovely person and great pattern designer herself. I guess I was thinking of her as I pulled out my Aurifil thread to begin this project.
Okay! On with the project!
Don’t you just love these blues! Talk about chasing away the blues! Who couldn’t help but think of endless summer, the ocean, the blue skies…an ocean cruise with a starry night. See, I told you that this month’s challenge was right up my alley! The hardest part was trying to decide which fabric to use in the center!
I then needed to find more fabric for the outside setting triangles. This time I pulled from my stash – and guess what I found! Fabric from the Blue Moon collection I had purchased to make my Stormy Stars earlier this year. I think the soft hue is perfect around the outside, don’t you?
Always An Opportunity For New Beginnings
I really like the way this quilt turned out, truly representing the theme of Starstruck not only with star blocks but my favorite stars in the quilting world – Island Batik, Deb Tucker, Marie Bostwick, and Jackie Kunkel! I can’t wait for my own “new beginnings” – that of finally getting my studio back together – so I can quilt this beauty and hang it in my home. New Beginnings, indeed! What a blessing!
I hope you will read or listen to Marie’s book, Just In Time – I thoroughly enjoyed the story! If you would like to make your own New Beginnings quilt designed by Deb Tucker you can download the PDF instructions here, and purchase the Tucker Trimmer tool here. Be sure and ask your local quilt shop about the All A Flutter fabric line by Island Batik.
As always, visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors to see their interpretation of this month’s Starstruck challenge. You can find the blog links here.
This is Karen Overton, The Quilt Rambler, thankful for new beginnings
What’s your favorite star block?
I also enjoy Marie Bostwick’s books and I think it is perfect that you made the quilt to go with the book you were listening too!! It is beautiful!!
I’m playing catch up on Marie’s books as I haven’t read them all YET!
That is a fun star quilt and always fun to meet those personalities you admire.
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Its always fun to meet Sewlebrities!
You did a beautiful job, Karen. Love your fabric choices. Hope our paths cross again very soon!
Thank you Marie! Perhaps we shall run into each other at Market or Festival!!
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Dear Karen, It was so nice meeting you in Houston. You are such a Lovely person and thanks for the nice gifts and your pattern, which we received on the tour to the two quilt shops outside of Houston. It was my first visit to the Quilt Market and Quilt Festival, and that was such an overwhelming experience. Hope to meet you some day again. Christl Richter Frohm
The pleasure was all mine! Quilters speak the same language and therefore have an instant bond! I do hope you will be able to come to Houston again, and if so, please let me know so we can visit!