Blueberry Swirl Quilt…

This months Island Batik Challenge was a scrap busting challenge…

I was keen to use my 2 1/2″ strips from the Crystal Sea collection, as this collection is bursting with all my favourite colours.

The bonus of using pre-cuts strips is the top quilt will come together quite quickly

I used Hobbs 80/20 black cotton batting , as its perfect when sewing with black or dark fabrics, as it helps maintain the fabrics true colours, and avoid light fibre lint transferring onto your quilt top during the quilting process

My gorgeous 10 stone Newfoundland was only too happy to pose for a photo 🙂

You can download my ‘Blueberry Swirl’ quilt pattern by heading over to my patterns page

https://creativeblondeblog.wordpress.com/patterns/

Don’t have time to sew, please contact me via my website here to place an order.

www.creativeblonde.co.uk

To see more of my tutorials or to place an order, you can head over my website www.creativeblonde.co.uk and/or Instagram page www.instagram.co.uk/michelle_creativeblonde and www.facebook.com/creativeblonde66

Happy sewing, thanks for stopping by, wishing you a lovely weekend

Michelle x

Raffle raises £50 for Pyjama Fairies Charity

Huge thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket, it really does mean the world to me. The People’s Fundraising group have randomly chosen a winner from the raffle. The lucky winner has been notified. Thanks again for everyone who purchased a ticket and supported this wonderful charity. @pajamafairies. Huge thanks to @island_batik for running this months challenge.

We raised an amazing £50…

“The average cost of materials for a pair of wrap pyjamas is £10.00. Donations from individuals and businesses have helped defray some of the costs but we have found we cannot continue to meet the needs of the children without additional funding.

By supporting Pyjama Fairies, you can help these children and their families find comfort as they undergo short or long hospital stays and difficult treatments. Your donation, no matter how big or small, helps us fulfill our mission of helping kids feel settled in unsettling situations.

Every pound counts

• £4 pays postage for garments to be sent to a child
• £10 buys supplies for a set of pyjamas
• £20 buys supplies for a set of pyjamas and gown
• £50 buys a roll of fabric”

My Blackberry Vine Quilt is off to be gift wrapped and posted out to its new home.

The pattern for my quilt is available to purchase from my ‘Patterns’page

Thanks again to everyone who supported this raffle.

Do what makes your heart smile

Michelle x

Thread Painting – Aurifil threads…

Welcome to the Island Batik October challenge – Thread painting using Aurifil threads

Island Batik are celebrating art this month. With the fabric as our canvas and Aurifil thread is our paint. we need to create an art quilt or project using Aurifil thread and our beautiful Island Batik fabrics.

The threads I chose were mauves, purples, navy’s and blues, and having just celebrated my birthday which had a purple theme, my project was decided

Inspiration….

My threads and fabrics…

My birthday cake had a beautiful quilt theme in purple, and I wanted to capture the theme, so I decided to make a mini quilt using paper piecing

I had so much fun, drawing with my machine and the Aurifil threads, adding a few decorative stitches into the finished piece.

I even like the reverse …

I love the idea of creating a quilted piece, as it will bring back memories of my special day for years to come.

qrf

I hope you like what I’ve done, be sure to head over to the other ambassadors pages this month, there is some really beautiful work.

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

qrf

Island Batik August challenge…

This months challenge was really exciting, we got to try out our new tool from Studio 180 Design that we received in our second Ambassador box. 

I received the Corner Pop 3 ruler,  the challenge was to make any size quilt.

I used the stunning stash builder packs I received in box 2, purples and teals are my favourite colours

Is used Hobbs 80/20 black cotton batting

Quilted using Aurifil threads and backed with Island Batik Tossed feathers in midnight blue.  I used Mosaic Burst to bind this quilt, as I wanted the teal stars to really burst with their colour

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

 #islandbatikambassador #islandbatik #iloveislandbatik #studio180design

 

Hashtags for industry (only if you are actually using the products): #hobbsbatting #aurifil #aurifilthread #accuquilt #accuquiltgo #schmetzneedles #doyoueq #janome #bernina #juki #dritz #olfacreates #junetailor #brothersews #cloverusa #oliso #omnigrid

Island Batik Ambassador boxes have arrived…

Welcome along to the Island Batik Ambassador unboxing blog, can you believe we are half way through the year… I’m feeling slightly overwhelmed by this years boxes – just wait till you see what inside and the challenges we have been set to see us through to the end of year

Hope you enjoy my unboxing video, my extremely talented son (Jack Roberts Guitar) wrote the melody for the video.. enjoy 🙂

0.5 bundle of Spring 2020 collection + 6 half yards of coordinating Batik Foundations fabric

 

0.5 bundle of Summer 2020 collection + 6 half yards of coordinating Batik Foundations fabric to use for the November Inspired By Nature Blog Hop

A Spring 2020 precut + 2 yards of coordinating Batik Foundations fabric, precuts are available in shops now

1 FQ pack of a Fall/Winter 2019 collection

 

4 yards each of White, Grey and Black Solids

4 yards of a Neutral SKU

2 Stash Builder packs

A pattern, hardware and Spring 2020 collection yardage for the September

‘It’s In The Bag Blog Hop’

6 spools of Aurifil thread for the October Thread Painting challenge

Studio 180 Design tool for the August Try A Template with Studio 180 Design challenge

Hobbs Heirloom Black 80/20 – Queen Size

Heirloom Fusible 80/20 – Queen Size

Hobbs Heirloom Fusible 80/20 Batting Strips – 2 ¼” x 25 yards

Hobbs Tuscany Silk Batting – Throw Size

AccuQuilt GO! Me Fabric Cutter Starter Set and 2 dies

 

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Island Batik February Blog Hop…

Hello… I’m so excited you’ve joined me on this very exciting blog hop, at the end of this blog post you will find an amazing giveaway i’m hosting, head to

https://www.islandbatik.com/log-cabin-blog-hop-and-giveaway

to see all the beautiful quilts so far and to enter the giveaways.

The challenge was to use the classic Log cabin block, but which will we choose… curved, triangle, wonky, star, twisted, classic?

The 25 Ambassadors are showcasing twelve new Island Batik lines that will be available in your local quilt shops this month, and they are all beautiful.

I cant decide if i like the prints or colours better in this collection, they are all simply gorgeous… il let you decide

My collection is called ‘Forget-Me-Not’ designed by Kathy Engle for Island Batik… these fabrics have had me day dreaming of warm days spent at the beach, beautiful golden sands and blue seas… look closely, the prints are stunning…

The cabin log block is simple and fun, perfect for all abilities, and there are so many different designs, the possibilities are endless

The prints in this collection are beautiful, so i wanted to create a design that included some large pieces a well, so i turned my cabin log to enable me to add some HST

Take a look at these beautiful prints up close

My quilt is made up of sixteen 14 1/2″ blocks, so each block really shows off the gorgeous fabrics, sewn together using Schmetz needles and Auriful threads from the Sicily Yellow collection.

To quilt I’ve used Hobbs Cotton Wool Blend, throw size from the Hobbs Tuscany collection

The backing is made up of a piece two pieces from the collection

GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY

I’m giving away 3 x 1/2 yards of Island batik Forget-Me-Not fabrics from this gorgeous collections, I just love the names; Star – Dark Lagoon, Check – Sunflower, and Check – Lemonade.

Enter Here…

 

Good Luck, the winner will be chosen at random and announced Sunday 1st March

Congratulations to Cathy Wilson who was chosen at random and has won this beautiful bundle of fabric

Follow me here on my blog, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Check out all the 2020 Island Batik Ambassadors below…

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Megan Best ~ Best Quilter

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Create in the Sticks

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky~Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~Mary Mack’s Blog

Carol Moellers ~Carol Moellers Designs

Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads

Sharon Riley ~ Sew Riley Designs

Michelle Roberts ~Creative Blonde  that’s me !

Gail Sheppard ~Quilting Gail

Jennifer Strauser ~Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~Curlicue Creations

Alison Vermilya ~Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~Adventerous Applique and Quilting

Janet Yamamoto ~Whispers of Yore

Island Batik Ambassador Unboxing Video…

Its my third year as an Island batik Ambassador, and I’m super excited to of been chosen again…

Every year we receive two boxes of goodies, the first arrives in January and the second have way through the year. Its filled with Beautiful Batik fabrics, and other amazing products from their industry sponsors ; Accuquilt, Schmetz, Auriful and Hobbs.

There are 25 Ambassadors this year, so be sure to follow us all, as we bring you the best from Bali… its sure going to be a year packed full of inspiration and amazing fabrics…

 

Sit back and enjoy my short video – The best from Bali

Check out all the 2020 Island Batik Ambassadors here…

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Megan Best ~ Best Quilter

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Create in the Sticks

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky~Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~Mary Mack’s Blog

Carol Moellers ~Carol Moellers Designs

Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads

Sharon Riley ~ Sew Riley Designs

Michelle Roberts ~Creative Blonde  that’s me !

Gail Sheppard ~Quilting Gail

Jennifer Strauser ~Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~Curlicue Creations

Alison Vermilya ~Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~Adventerous Applique and Quilting

Janet Yamamoto ~Whispers of Yore

Follow me here on my blog, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Island Batik January Challenge…

January’s Island Batik Ambassador challenge is called ‘Let’s get scrappy’

So what do you make when life gives you scraps… A table runner of course, using the beautiful lattice pattern, its a fantastic way to use up all those cute bits and pieces of fabric you couldn’t bare to throw away.

This table runner is 90″ x 18″, its designed for a 6ft dining table. Its made up of 22 blocks made with the four 2″ squares joined together, and 23 blocks made from four 2 1/2″ blocks separated by the 1″ white strips.

I added a point to each end, and a hand made tassel

I quilted flowers on each block using a bold red thread

Some of these reds and purples were taken from my last years Ambassadors box, and some from this years… I cant wait to show you what arrived in Box 1… be sure to join me here on the 29th January to see my un-boxing video

Check out all the 2020 Island Batik Ambassadors here…

Carolina Asmussen ~Carolina Asmussen

Megan Best ~ Best Quilter

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Create in the Sticks

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky~Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~Mary Mack’s Blog

Carol Moellers ~Carol Moellers Designs

Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads

Sharon Riley ~ Sew Riley Designs

Michelle Roberts ~Creative Blonde  that’s me !

Gail Sheppard ~Quilting Gail

Jennifer Strauser ~Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~Curlicue Creations

Alison Vermilya ~Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~Adventerous Applique and Quilting

Janet Yamamoto ~Whispers of Yore

Follow me here on my blog, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

The countdown is on…

Oh my goodness, is anyone else starting to feel the pressure of Christmas…

I’m wonder if you’re a ‘buy early and get everything wrapped, well before the big day’ kinda person, or are you a ‘last minute, fly by the seat of your pants’  type?

Every year I say I’m gonna be organised, and every year I find myself praying my online orders will arrive in time … but somehow it always seems to come together, and it becomes another amazing Christmas full of memories to cherish.

Issue 71 of Quilt Now magazine has just arrived in the shops, its a really packed issue, and inside I’m thrilled to share my ‘Fruit Punch’ quilt, using the stunning bright collection ‘Colour Fun’ by stoffabrics,  using the beautiful Vlieseline Wool Mix batting

Inside this month December issue of British Patchwork & Quilting you can find my ‘Shimmering Christmas kaleidoscope Quilt’ using another stunning collection from stoffabrics. I used the beautiful Hobbs batting inside.

 

Feeling chuffed to of completed the December blocks for the ‘colour challenge’ and the ‘HST BOM’. Both these blocks complete the Quilt alongs, so now comes the exciting part of joining the last 12 months of blocks together and creating two beautiful quilts… il keep you posted, but its definitely on my 2020 list…

For the Purple block I’ve used two fabrics from my Island Batik stash ‘Dandelion Jelly’ and ‘marble Blackberry’ to complete the colour challenge by @patternsbyjen.

The yellow block completes the #modernhstbom hosted by Steph @stephjacobsondesigns.

HST are so much fun to make and sew when using the AccuQuilt ultimate cutting machine, it works a treat and saves so much time.

The two Hospital gowns I made using the very pretty pink fabric from craftcotton, are currently being delivered to Addenbrookes hospital as we speak, this order was for 100 gowns of all different sizes  – all the fairies involved in this charity, really are amazing people, and I’m so proud to be a part of it.

Head over to @pyjamafairies website and see how you could get involved with this beautiful charity and help more children sparkle.

One last pattern I would love to share with you this month is my ‘Ski Resort’ quilt using the brand new Christmas collection from Craftcotton, fabrics are available in Hobbycraft.

FREE PATTERN PDF   CraftCotton Christmas Quilt

I love to see my custom quilts being used, loved and hugged. So today I will leave you with this adorable photo that was sent to me from a happy customer.

Follow me here on my blog, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle

Island batik Ambassador – November Challenge…

Hello… welcome along to the Island Batik November challenge, this month we have been asked to make a lap quilt or bigger using special quilting tools – rulers, templates and dies.

Earlier this year, all the Island batik Ambassadors received a AccuQuilt ultimate cutting machine  – wow… right!! … I know , I couldn’t believe it either… and oh my goodness, it really is an amazing cutting machine…

As an Island batik Ambassador we receive two huge boxes, filled with gorgeous Batik fabrics, Hobbs batting, and Aurifil threads, twice a year. This year AccuQuilt joined in as a sponsor, and I was blown away with the goodies we received – the Ultimate cutting machine and the dies… So couldn’t resist having a go at using the Cleopatra’s Block…

“90% faster than rotary cutters*, the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter is one for the quilters, accurately cutting up to six layers of cotton fabric at a time!

With an easy-to-use design, developed to help reduce hand and arm strain, this innovative machine is portable and easy to store – weighing just 15lbs.

The double roller design provides clean cuts, while the rubber feet grip and hold the cutter in place when cutting. But it doesn’t end there – the comfortable roller handle grip is easy and safe, eliminating the aches and pains often caused by using a rotary cutter“

With my fabrics chosen… to be honest with purple and teal being my favourite colours, they literally leaped into my hands, screaming ‘pick me’…

This cutting machine doesn’t just cut up to six layers at a time, but if you look closely you can see the very clever points, which makes matching up your points, a dream.

With beautiful, clear instructions from AccuQuilt, this pattern wasn’t as over whelming as I first thought it was going to be

The Island Batik fabrics I chose for the top quilt were Mosaic Burst, solid black, Fan Mardigras, and Jelly basic in Lilac.

I love the contrast of the black against the vibrant Fan Mardigras and Mosaic Burst fabrics

I decided to create 4 blocks all the same, to create a bold centre to my lap quilt, framing it with the gorgeous jelly basic in Lilac

The backing  I chose was Opal Escence. Finished off with hand made solid black binding. Inside I used the very cosy Hobbs Tuscany 100% wool batting.

An alternative to hand sewing your bias binding, is to machine sew… but have you tried using Gütermann variegated threads… They add a beautiful finished. I’ve used thread colour 4033.

Follow me here on my blog, you can also find me on Instagram and Facebook

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle