I Want to Get Away with Island Batik

Welcome to my stop on the Island Batik Getaway Blog Hop. In my house, a Getaway means heading south. My family particularly enjoys heading to the Caribbean in the winter – soaking in the warmth and the bold colors helps us survive the grey northern winter. Not this winter, though. A new job and new house means we get to do a staycation. I’ll hang up some bright quilts and maybe a few throw pillows and see if we can dig in and make it to spring.

I was given a bundle of Gypsy Rose fabrics to play with. Aren’t they just so gorgeous? Make sure you read the entire blog to see how you can win some Gypsy Rose of your very own.

This month I decided to use a pattern from a friend I met at work. Justin Stafford, of Keaton Quilts, makes some of the most lovely projects I have seen. His Squareburst pattern is perfect for showing off big pieces of fabric.

All of the materials used in making this quilt were given to me by Island Batik as part of the Ambassador program. Thank you to Island Batik, Aurifil Thread, and Hobbs Batting for supporting my creativity.

My first step was to do a mock up, just to make sure I liked the gradation of fabrics. I snipped off little bits of fabric and glued them to a coloring page. I don’t always do this, but I am rarely disappointed when I do.

If you look carefully, you can see that I am missing two fabrics from the collection of 20. To my shame, I mistakenly used up two of the purples in the collection in my Mariner’s Cabin quilt. Luckily, this pattern worked out perfectly with 18 cuts of fabric in the 36 rays.

The piecing on this project was accomplished during stealthy piecing sessions. I would sneak down to the studio while my family watched movies and relaxed over the holidays. I have no regrets.

Each piece I added just made me more excited. It was very hard to take breaks and go make dinner.

Justin sent me templates to piece the center, but I’m a masochist, so I figured out the size of the square I needed and set it in with y-seams.

The most challenging part for me was mitering the borders. I haven’t done it enough times to feel totally comfortable. I’ve read about it, though, and they came together well enough.

Here it all is, quilted and bound. I am just so happy with the way this quilt came together. I bound it with the same fabric I used for the border.

Quilt Specs:
Size – 61″ x 61″
Island Batik Fabrics – Gypsy Rose collection, Whatnot Double Dots in Eggshell
Quilt Pattern – Squareburst by Keaton Quilts
Quilting Pantograph – Breath of the Gods by Urban Elementz
Batting – Hobbs Heirloom 80/20 Bleached Cotton Batting
Thread – Aurifil 50 weight in Wisteria (2566)

If you haven’t tried quilting with batiks yet, you are missing out. This pattern is all bias. Every darn edge is bias on these pieces. Batik isn’t as stretchy as traditional quilting cottons, and it doesn’t fray as much. This means my piece is flat, and I don’t have to worry about frayed threads causing shadows on my finished quilt.

There are two different giveaways for you to enter. You can enter mine, which is for 18 10″ pieces of fabric from the Gypsy Rose collection. (I used up the other two – sorry!) My giveaway will run until February 2nd. I will chose a winner on February 5th.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also enter the official Island Batik giveaway, which is for a rainbow of 20 fat quarters of batik fabrics. Please, please enter, and show me photos of the fabric you win. Everyone needs to get their mitts on this fantastic fabric. You will need to go to the Island Batik Blog to enter this one.

GETAWAY BLOG HOP SCHEDULE

WEEK 1

MONDAY, JANUARY 7 – CRYSTAL BALL

Maryellen McAuliffe –Mary Mack’s Blog
Sandra Walker- mmm! quilts

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8 – DITTY

Stephanie Jacobson –Steph Jacobson Designs
Michelle Roberts- Creative Blonde

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 – ELK LODGE

Connie Kresin Campbell – Free Motion by the River
Anna Branch –Ark Angel Creations

THURSDAY, JANUARY 10 – FELINE FINE

Bea Lee –Bea Quilter
Sharon Parcel- Yellow Cat Designs

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 – FLEA MARKET

Geraldine Wilkins – Living Water Quilter
Jessica Caldwell- Desert Bloom Quilting

WEEK 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 14 – FORTUNE TELLER

Sarah Goer –Sarah Goer Quilts
Sherry Shish –Powered by Quilting
Jennifer Fulton –The Inquiring Quilter

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15 – GYPSY ROSE

Jen Strauser –Dizzy Quilter <– That’s me! 
Janet Yamamoto- Whispers of Yore

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16 – PAISLEY PARK

Dione Gardner-Stephen- Clever Chameleon
Nancy Scott –Masterpiece Quilting

THURSDAY, JANUARY 17 – SOUL SONG

Carole Lyles Shaw- Carol Lyles Shaw
Toby Lischko –Gateway Quilts & Stuff

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 – TWILIGHT CHIC

Jackie OBrien –If These Threads Could Talk
Tina Dillard- Quilting Affection

WEEK 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 21 – WINTER PARK

Jennifer Thomas- Curlicue Creations
Anita Skjellanger- Quilt In a Not Shell

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22 – BAZAAR

Karen Overton- The Quilt Rambler
Alison Vermilya- Little Bunny Quilts
Turid Bakken- Den syende himmel

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23 – BLOSSOM

Karen Neary –Sew Karen-ly Created
Leanne Parsons –Devoted Quilter

THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 – BOHO

Laura Piland- Slice of Pi Quilts
Suzy Webster- Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Myra Barnes- Busy Hands Quilts

FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 – BROOKVIEW

Vicki Schlimmer –Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
Amy Warner –Sew Incredibly Crazy

WEEK 4

MONDAY, JANUARY 28 – FRENCH BLUE

Pamela Boatright –PamelaQuilts
Joyce Mullis –Hearts Creations

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 – MIDSUMMER NIGHT

Kathleen McCormick –Kathleen McMusing
Connie Kauffman – Kauffman Designs

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30 – OH DEER

Jen Shaffer- Patterns by Jen
Jeanette Jones –Inchworm Fabrics

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31 – SNOW BERRY

Sally Mannke –Sally Manke Fiber Artist
Joan Kawano –Moosestash Quilting

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1 – CANDY CANE LANE AND ICICLE

Icicle
Terri Vanden Bosch – Meanderings along Lizard Creek
Anne Wiens –Sweetgrass Creative Designs
Candy Cane Lane
Mania Hatziioannidi –Mania For Quilts
Barbara Gaddy –Bejeweled Quilts by Barb

Many thanks to Connie, at Freemotion by the River for the link list!

102 thoughts on “I Want to Get Away with Island Batik

  1. When we were younger my favourite place was any National Park here in NZ, peaceful, safe, and isolated. Now we are a lot older, to stay with family either 4 hours north or a plane trip with one stop a lot further south is my choice these days.

  2. My favorite getaway that I’ve been to is Hawaii. I am looking forward to a new adventure going to Europe. Your quilt is lovely. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.

  3. I hope this is not a duplicate as I already tried to comment but I don’t see that it posted. My favorite place I’ve been to us Hawaii. I am looking forward to going to Europe. Your quilt is lovely. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity.

  4. Beautiful quilt and gorgeous fabrics.
    My favorite place to get away is the mountains in N.Carolina. Thank you for your giveaway.

  5. Hi Jen! Your biased border looks fantastic. Good for you for trying something new and just smashing those concerns. Now you’ve got that in your back pocket whenever you want to pull it out again! ~smile~ Roseanne

  6. This is a lovely quilt. I like how it shows off the fabrics.
    For the last few years our favorite vacation spot has been Shipshewana, IN. Amish spot.
    So worth the time. Laid back, but there are plenty of shops and eating places. Live theater and a concert hall. Plenty to do for most anyone.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  7. not sure my post showed up
    lovely quilt. showcased the patterns nicely
    we love to go to Shipshewana, IN Amish area.
    quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  8. We always enjoy vacations to National Parks. The parks of Southern Utah (Bryce, Arches, Zion, etc.) are probably my favorites of the ones I’ve been to.

  9. Jen, I love how this quilt turned out. The quilting pattern is fantastic. I loved seeing the flimsy, but this is incredible. Love your dedication to having a square in the center. My favorite vacation destination is the beach off season. I went to Daytona Beach a couple months ago when it was quiet. I love to walk on the beach even with a winter jacket on. 20-degrees F warmer would also be really nice right now.

  10. New Orleans always calls to me! My staycation starts 1 week from now- Road to CALIFORNIA quilters conference and convention. I live 20 miles from it…and meals for family are already in the freezer. Hope you can also make the most out of yours.

  11. Fantastic quilt, love your arrangement! My favorite getaway is to California to visit my daughter and new grandson!

  12. Fantastic quilt, love your arrangement! My favorite getaway is to California to see my daughter and new grandson!

  13. Love this pattern, Justin (and Diane Keaton) from Keaton Quilts and these Gypsy Rose colors. Thanks for sharing. I love to head to the Maryland shore in the summer.

  14. That is way cool! That pattern and your choice of fabric earns two thumbs up!
    Have you posted an image of your new studio?

  15. What a beautiful collection in my favorite colors! My favorite vacation so far was the Hawaiian islands last fall. Our favorite recurring place to go is camping in the Davis Mountains in west Texas.

  16. I haven’t been anywhere in years, unless it is to see family! All eight of us kids chose different places to live, so all my trips are to see my siblings. I’d love to make it to Italy someday though.

  17. A warm beach with very few other people – get some sun then inside for some sewing! what a vacay idea!

  18. Your quilt is beautiful!! It is so cold here with another snow storm predicted to begin tonight, I’d like to be on a sandy beach in Bora Bora right now!!!

  19. My favorite getaway has been to Acadia National Park. I hope we can go back. Your quilt is lovely and really shows off these gorgeous batiks.

  20. We don’t travel for vacations but if I were to choose a special place for myself to vacation it would be somewhere in the woods with a stream that has plenty of stepping stones. I love to sit and listen to a babbling brook and chirping birds. I’ve passed this love to my daughter and she always finds her way to a river when feeling stressed.

  21. Nicely done on this one! I’m liking your takes on these Island Batiks. And our favorite get away is Seattle, WA for family and adventure.

  22. Wow, this is beautiful! Gypsy Rose is a delightful collection. I love the colors radiating outwards!

  23. Your quilt is gorgeous and I love those colours!!! My vacation destination would be Europe… where I would visit my French relatives too!!

  24. My ideal vacation destination would be New Zealand, but of the places I have visited, Northern California gets my vote!

  25. Really different quilt…you did great job!! Thanks for chance to win you Give-a-way too 🙂
    My favorite destination is to go to my Daughter’s house! lol In North Carolina…time with her is Priceless ..time to sew together, laugh together, see the Ocean, and just hug her in person!! Miss her so much,,,

  26. I would love to take my grandkids camping somewhere with no internet. (For any of us! I’m just as bad!)

  27. Hi Jen. Your pick of a pattern to showcase Gypsy Rose is perfect. I love this collection! Your staycation should be cheery with your lovely quilts around. My getaway is to sneak in to my sewing space every day, but would love to be able to plan a trip to New Orleans. It’s on my bucket list. For now I will pretend our trip to Vancouver to see specialists is a vacation and try to have fun with it!
    Carol Andrews

  28. Great design, and perfect for this collection. I think I would have grabbed the purples for elsewhere, too. lol I love purple.

  29. My favorite destination of all the vacations I’ve ever taken was New York City. My favorite place to go, where I go much more regularly, is my hometown of Huntington Beach, CA; I moved away 14 years ago and still like to go back to visit friends and family and soak up the sunshine.

  30. Beautiful quilt! I like the Great Smokey Mountains the best! Enjoy your day! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

  31. What a pretty little quilt! You are talented. My favorite get away is to a little town in the Canadian Rockies called Radium Hot Springs. It is absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Thanks!

  32. I love the way this turned out – only missing 2 – no biggie. I met Justin when I went to City Quilter last May. He is a sweet guy and it was fun to talk to him. The quilting on it is perfect and it really does show the fabrics nicely.

  33. I love this fabric and the gradations. I would love to visit 3 states in the northeast. We have visited 47 of our states, and those 3 would make it 50. And I would love to visit them in the fall.

  34. Love how you’ve used this pattern to show of the amazing colour graduation in this collection. Beautiful, and I hope you get a vacation later in the year once you are settled into your new environs. 🙂

  35. Y seams! Yikes, yes you are a masochist! We like to vacation to warm places and have been to Sedona, Arizona several times which always seems to be the perfect weather! We are heading to the Caribbean the first week of February on a cruise!

  36. I love the colour gradation, and thé square in the middle adds a modern touch to the quilt. I also go South for vacation, but from where I live, south means Spain or Italy.

  37. I visited my 50th state this year, Alaska (loved it) so a perfect getaway would be a cabin on a lake where I can sit on the porch (someplace warm) and sew after canoeing or hiking. I adore your quilt, the colors are gorgeous and the design is stunning.

  38. Just beautiful! Both quilt and the fabric! I haven’t used Island Batik yet, but am looking forward to doing so. Still a rather novice quilter, with a tired 1970s sewing machine, so a bit slow going. I’m saving for a new machine and I’m sure that will make a difference. I just love these bright colors. Looking forward to following your blog and to learning from all of you. Thank you so much!

  39. Y-seams and mitered corners? Brave girl wandering into the new territory! Well, that’s what getaways are for, right? To have an adventure? The result is a beautiful quilt! Congrats.

  40. What a beautiful quilt with such gorgeous colours! They remind me of a tropical sunset. My ultimate getaway destination would be anywhere warm and sunny, to escape this coldddd winter …

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