The SewBatik Kit

During the Christmas break, two of my good friends came over for a day of sewing and catching up. We also used Kathy's new Accuquilt to make quilt kits for ourselves. Deb used two different dies and made two different kits from fabrics she had purchased last year. I cut loads of 2 1/2" strips from my batiks so I could make another quilt like my niece Diane made last summer (August 31st post if you want to see the quilt).

Have I made any progress on that quilt? Or on the scrappy quilt I worked on while they were here?  Of course not! I started a completely new quilt project - one I've been meaning to have completed so I can show it when I have a vendor booth. It's a SewBatik kit and I just LOVE it!

I had seen a Mexican Star quilt at the 2010 Cambria Quilt retreat and just loved it. When I saw the SewBatik kit, I had to buy several of them for the Quilter's Extravaganza booth I had last November. Unfortunately didn't get the quilt done in time for the show so didn't sell very many.

Resolving to do better this year, I've just completed the top and am thinking about how to quilt it - ideas abound. Still needed is the topstitching that will result in curved sections.  It's hanging in front of another quilt - best place for pictures.  The border fabric of the quilt behind it actually might work as border fabric for this quilt, too!  I might like that better than the pale mottled pink fabric that comes with the kit.  Or how about using it for a flange?  I've not done that before but it's an idea!

I loved their kit.  They include enough extra fabric so that if you make a goof cutting you've got enough to correctly cut the piece.  And I do love the fabric combinations.  Of course, I just love batiks!

If you like this quilt, check it out on the SewBatik website.  And if you order it or any other item from SewBatik, please use my Longarm Associate Number LA1377 in the Special Instructions field when you order online.  That way they know I've encouraged you to look at their website and they'll continue to send me hangar samples of new fabrics so you can look at them in person if you're in the Columbus, Indiana area.

Cheers!
Margaret

Happy New Year!

Time to get back on the blogging bandwagon. Would you believe that I was exhausted after the guild's UFO Challenge and was gathering strength? I wouldn't but it was worth a shot.

Jamie had the greatest number of UFOs last year and completed the greatest number of UFOs of anyone in the guild. Despite that, she had a few quilts to share with us in January including this beautiful applique quilt. She relayed the story of having her children home for Christmas and letting them select the quilts they wanted to take with them - lucky kids!

Alice's quilt has blocks that are the reverse of one another - you can see a few of them in the second and third rows where the white and red are reversed. Stunning quilt.

Lois shared this rug she completed. I forget the exact name of the technique and forgot to write it down. But she talked about pushing/punching the wool through the backing - different from the normal rug hooking technique. Wonderful colors for being a scrappy rug using the bits and pieces she had left from other projects.

Carol Walp has started a new business called Threads and Pieces. She's specializing in quilt preservation, repair and restoration. She gave our program on caring for and preserving quilts. While I knew most of the basics, I did learn a thing or two about storing quilts, including the new acid-free plastic storage containers that are now available. She recommends that you still line them with aluminum foil to keep the light off of the fabrics. If you're interested in Carol's services or having her give a program, send her an email at carol.walp@hotmail.com.

Great start to the new year.

Cheers!

Margaret