Welcome to my Island Batik Blog Hop day…

This month is all about ‘The Storm at Sea block’ a block which vividly depicts the rolling waves of a stormy sea with its simple color palette and wave-like imagery.

Storm at sea block

A few interesting facts about the block… The illusion of waves is created by a few geometric shapes with very simple dimensions. The large center square is twice as big as the small center square. The rectangle is the height of the small square block and the length of the large square block.

Changing the color palette could emphasize different elements within the design, creating stunning stars or wavy lines – creating a new look for an old design.

Such an exciting block… I designed my blocks using the EQ8 program, which enabled me to play around with designs and colours.

My surprise bundle of fabrics was now ready to be torn open, to reveal the new collection ‘Sea Glass’ a beautiful collection a sea greens, blues and purples, with super cute sea shells and fish prints

My quilt is made up of 624 pieces, all hand cut and sewn together…

I used Aurifil thread with Schmetz needles in my Brother sewing machine

Aurifil thread

I was also super excited to try the new fusible cotton batting from Hobbs – wow!! its a game changer!!

No more pins, or basting spray – this you NEED to try

Hobbs fusible batting

I completed my large lap quilt, with some hand sewn binding in a gorgeous dark purple

I absolutely love the backing, it captures all the stunning fabric colours from the top quilt.

My finished lap quilt

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I hope you’ve loved seeing my progress and finished quilt.

To enter this week fabulous giveaway and be in with a chance of winning these,click the link below…

Giveaway Prize

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d463e29d35/

Be sure to head over to https://www.facebook.com/islandbatik to see all the other gorgeous Island Batik Ambassadors quilts

October’s endangered animal awareness challenge…

The 2021 Aurifil Color Builders are a capsule of 12 mini-collections dedicated to an incredibly worthy cause that falls in line with Aurifil’s goal to increase sustainability and positive environmental impact — Endangered Species. Each collection contains three large spools of their supple and strong 40wt thread — a warm, a medium, and a dark.

For the October challenge, Aurifil asked the Island Batik Ambassadors to create a piece inspired by the endangered animal featured on their assigned Color Builder box.

I received the Sumatran Elephant…

The Sumatran elephant is native to the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and are one of the smallest of the Asian elephants, and known for their bright skin. Sadly there are are only between 2400 and 2800 Sumatran elephants left in the world, which puts them on the critically endangered list.

There has been a huge decline recently, largely due to habitat loss and illegal killing of the elephants for their ivory.

WWF Indonesia aims to protect the sustainability of the Sumatran elephants through collaborations with the government and other organizations. They have established elephant patrols, that serves to prevent hunting and dismantling of traps that can endanger the elephants.

Auriful thread have drawn their color inspiration from 12 magnificent animals, currently in dire need of attention, advocacy, and compassion. They are dedicated to highlighting their stories, helping to educate on their struggles, and working to create valuable change via awareness and fundraising. To help achieve these goals, Aurifil are collaborating with Earth League International and are looking forward to a strong and effective partnership, to read more about their work, head to

https://www.aurifil.com/2021-color-builders

I’ve created a wall hanging, using some gorgeous Island Batik fabrics, and the 3 Aurifil threads from my pack

I love the effect of the Island Batik blue fabrics

The light thread added a lovely shimmer to my project

Using the other two thread colours, I added some thread painting details to add depth and shading

Be sure to check out all the other Ambassadors projects, by heading over to the Island Batik Page

This wall hanging was quilted with Hobbs cotton batting and I added some hanging hoops to complete my project

I’ve really enjoyed reading about these elephants along with all the other Ambassadors projects, I hope you have too.

Michelle x

spreading love and joy with my summer vibes lap quilt…

Welcome to June’s Island batik challenge, this month is all about using our Accuquilt ultimate cutting machine, and combining the 8” or 12” finished BOB dies, with the GO! Qube 8″ Mix & Match Block and create a whole new pattern by combining the two.

I decided to combine the Hattie Choice block with the Go! zero pattern block to make a 31″ square lap quilt. I’ve used some super bright orange and yellows from my stash buster collection, along with some gorgeous Marbles from the basics range and Almond from the neutrals collection

I wanted this lap quilt to give off some summer vibes

I used Hobbs cotton batting inside, along with a super bright yellow Auriful thread to quilt this blanket.

I added a really bright orange binding, to make this summer vibe quilt pop

I couldn’t resist taking this quilt on a little photo shoot around my garden in the beautiful sunshine…

Head over to Island Batik Facebook page to see all the other amazing quilts that have been designed by the other Ambassadors

Enjoy the beautiful sunshine, and spread some love and joy today

Michelle x

its all up to you…

The months Island Batik Challenge, was left down to us as ambassadors to decide what to make. Head over to the Island Batik page to see all the amazing creations from this month

www.facebook.com/islandbatik

I’ve been busy over the last few months completing the first of three modules of a surface pattern design course, so I was keen to bring some of my designs to life…

I used Jewel Quest fabric collection, along with some bright green and purple threads from Aurifil to create my cushion covers

Jewel Quest fabric from Island Batik

I really love free motion quilting, its just like drawing but with your machine, and I get a real buzz from it, here are some close ups, each cover is quilted using Hobbs 80/20 cotton mix batting.

16″ x 16″ cushion covers

If you love these cushion covers, I have some exciting news… I’m currently taking orders, so please get in touch as I’d love to make something that fits your living room or bedroom decor. These cushions covers are made to order, which means they are available in all sizes and colours, prices start from just £20.

These two cushions are already looking stunning in their new home, and look brilliant on their new owners snuggle sofa

Thanks so much for stopping by to read my blog, happy Monday!

Michelle x

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

Its here, its here… my blog hop day

I’m so excited to show you my ‘Blackberry Vine’ Quilt, here is a sneak peek while I tell you all about it, and the best news is, you could win it for just £2… keep reading to see how!

This months Island Batik Ambassador challenge was ‘Create for a Cause’. See details below on how you can enter the raffle to win this quilt, and raise money for the www.pyjamafairies.org/

My chosen fabrics are from the new collection called ‘Mystery’, designed by Claudia Pfeil for Island Batik – here is a close up of them…

A collection just bursting with all my favourite colours.

I used 8 beautiful fabrics from this collection, combined with some stunning Aurifil thread, Hobbs black Cotton batting and Schmetz needles.

My pattern is available to purchase from my ‘Patterns’ page.

Click the direct link below.

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

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Please rest assure that all purchased PDF’s will be emailed to you within 48 hrs of payment.

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Be sure visit all the Ambassadors in this blog hop month, especially my blog hop buddy Gail, who is using the same collection. https://quiltinggail.com/.

Did I mention the giveaways… there is not one but two!!

First Giveaway…

Island batik are giving away A 2.5” Strip Pack or 10” Stack of Island Batik Mystery collection fabric – enter using the link below – good luck

www.rafflecopter.com/rafl

Second giveaway…

I’m giving away 2 beautiful Island Batik tone on tone stash builders, enter using the link below – good luck.

UK entries only.

www.rafflecopter.com/

This quilt, as you know is part of the ‘Create for a Cause’ blog hop, so I’ve decided to donate this quilt to be won in a raffle to raise money for the ‘Pyjama fairies’, a charity I have previously made hospital gowns and pj’s for.

Enter the raffle, by clicking on the link below to win. Its just £2 a ticket

(open to UK residents only)…

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https://www.peoplesfundraising.com/raffle/win-blackberry-vine-quilt   

To see all the brilliant work they do, head over to www.pyjamafairies.org/

Pyjama Fairies is the only UK charity to make pyjamas and surgical gowns specially designed for babies and children up to age 16 having surgery or any other associated medical test.

Each garment is made in colourful, age-appropriate fabric and is designed to minimise discomfort when medical intervention is necessary. Your child can remain fully dressed, safe and warm whilst being examined and throughout their stay in hospital.

While other great organisations focus on research and finding a cure, we work to improve the quality of life of children and their families as they undergo surgeries and treatment.

Pyjama Fairies mission is to make hospital stays easier for children and their families”

Thanks for stopping by to read what I’ve been up to, good luck in the giveaway.

Lets see how much we can raise for the pyjama Fairies

Here is where your money will be used

“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

Take care, and stay safe

Michelle x

My Island Batik Ambassador boxes are open, lets take a look inside…

I’m thrilled to be an Island Batik Ambassador for the forth year running, and I cant wait to show you all the beautiful fabrics and products I will be using throughout this year… so grab a cuppa and enjoy

We receive boxes twice a year, filled with beautiful batiks and other goodies from our program partners, so be sure to hit the follow button, so you don’t miss anything. There will quilts, bags, home decor item to see, along with patterns, blog hops and prizes to be won along the way.

First up is this beautiful new collection ‘Melody’ designed by Claudia Pfeil of Claudia Pfeil Designs.

I have some gorgeous light and dark Blenders to use with the pre-cut strips

Aurifil Thread is one of the Island Batik program sponsors

They have sent 7 spools of thread in two weights

50 wt and 40 wt. – colours are listed below

50 wt is a general all-purpose thread, for quilting, piecing and machine applique.

40 wt is a slightly thicker thread, for machine applique and embroidery

I have some more beautiful fabrics to show you… I think these are my favourite so far, a collection called ‘Jewel Quest’ designed by Kathy Engle for Nan Baker of Purrfect Spots.

Another program sponsor is Hobbs Batting, and this year we received 4 Queen size wadding bundles.

Heirloom premium 100% natural cotton batting.

Heirloom premium 80/20 cotton/poly blend in natural

Heirloom premium 80/20 cotton/poly blend in black

Poly down batting

Some beautiful stash builders, just love those oranges

Next up is Schmetz Needles, they are another program sponsor, and they sent a selection of their Chrome Professional grade needles, along with some other goodies.

Solids are great for making your prints pop, and we received 4 yards of Island Batik black, white and grey

AccuQuilt are another program sponsor, and they sent me a new Die for the AccuQuilt cutting machine ‘ Hattie’s Choice’.

We are filling the whole month of June with projects we create with our new dies.

An array of beauty, with these Island Batik Blenders, Basics and Solids

Did you know Island Batik did Rayon?

Super soft, and perfect for clothing that drapes

New collection ‘Mystery’ designed by Claudia Pfeil of Claudia Pfeil Designs.

Don’t miss February blog hop with a giveaway

Look at these stunning fabrics, I cant wait to use them in my February Quilt.

Available in the shops this February

Can you keep a secret???

Come back in May for Island Batik Blog Hop, and I will share with you the new collection designed by Kathy Engle for Sherry Shish of Powered by Quilting.

Be sure to visit all the Island Batik Ambassadors to see the new Winter collections.

Available in the shops from May.

Here is a list of this years Island Batik Ambassadors, be sure to follow their blogs

Megan Best ~ Bestquilter

Pamela Boatright ~ Pamelaquilts

Elizabeth DeCroos ~ Epida Studio

Jennifer Eubank ~ Archipelago Quilting

Jennifer Fulton ~ The Inquiring Quilter

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts

Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts

Jane Hauprich – Stitch By Stitch Custom

QuiltingConnie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ For The Love Of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke, Fiber Artist

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia

Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads

Brianna Roberts ~ Sew Cute And Quirky

Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde that’s me!

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Andi Stanfield ~ True Blue Quilts

Jennifer Thomas ~ CurliCue Creations

Suzy Webster ~ WebsterQuilt

Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore

Thanks for stopping by, here is a little video I put together of all the beautiful fabrics and products I received from Island Batik, Hobbs Batting, Schmetz Needles, AccuQuilt and Auriful Thread.

Island Batik VideoDownload

Follow me here on my blog, and share with friends, you can also find/tag me on Instagram and Facebook with your makes.

‘Do what makes your heart smile’
Happy Sewing

Michelle

Inspired by Nature Blog Hop plus giveaway…

During this month, all the Island Batik Ambassadors have been taking part in the ‘Inspired by nature’ blog hop, using the new summer 2020 collections. Head to www.facebook.com/islandbatik/ to see all the stunning quilts and to enter this weeks giveaway.

Welcome to my day, I have an amazing giveaway to tell you about, plus this gorgeous quilt to show you that I made with the new summer 2020 collection ‘Tread Brightly’ designed by Bella Nonna Quilt Design. Which hits the shops this month.

I took my inspiration from Rainbows and a beautiful windmill I often drive past in Kent…

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This quilt is made up of HST, using a beautiful Island Batik cream, paired with the stunning new ‘Tread Brightly’ collection.

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The finish of this quilt coincided with the return of my cat ‘Roo’, he has been missing for 81 days, and last night he returned. We are over the moon to have him home, and still cant quite believe it.

He was super keen to be in the photos of my quilt, so I thought id share them with you.

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This quilt has Hobbs cotton batting inside, and all sewn together using Aurifil threads.

Island Batik are giving away two beautiful bundles of fabrics, enter below to win…

www.rafflecopter.com

Thanks for stopping by, I hope this quilt has inspired you to make something colourful, or simply to stop and spare a few moments to appreciate the beautiful nature around us.

Here is a list of all the Island batik Ambassadors, please head over and take a look at all the beautiful quilts they have made and the stunning new fabric collections

Week 1:November 9
Jennifer Fulton – Bliss
Carla Henton – Bliss
November 10:
Denise Jackson Looney – Coco Cabana
Carolina Asmussen – Coco Cabana
November 11:
Alison Vermilya – Heart to Heart
Janet Lael Pedersen Yamamoto – Heart to Heart
November 12:
Megan Stanionis Best – Just My Type
Jennifer Strauser – Just My Type
Week 2:
November 16:
Joanne Hart – Love & Kisses
Maryellen McAuliffe – Love & Kisses
Jennifer Schifano Thomas – Love & Kisses
November 17:
Gail Sheppard – Ohana
Mania Hatziioannidi – Ohana
November 18:
Sharon Riley – Sweet Hearts
Sandra Walker – Sweet Hearts
November 19:
Carol Moellers – Tickled Pink
Emily Leachman – Tickled Pink
Week 3:
November 23:
Connie Kauffman – Tiki Punch
Suzy Webster – Tiki Punch
November 24:
Pamela Boatright – Tread Brightly
Michelle Roberts – Tread Brightly
November 25:
Vasudha Govindan – Tropicana Twist
Leah Malasky – Tropicana Twist
November 26:
Sally Manke – Venetian Marble
Gail Renna – Venetian Marble

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

Looking for handmade Christmas items?

Please check out the ‘pages’ listed on my home page (or click the link below), you will find all my quilts which are for sale, most of which have been published in UK, American and Australian quilting magazines.

https://wordpress.com/pages/creativeblondeblog.wordpress.com

During the month of November, I’m including FREE UK delivery.

‘Do what makes your heart smile’

Happy Sewing

Michelle