Welcome to the Butterfly Haven Blog Hop! I’m so excited to help Jennifer Thomas launch her new signature fabric collection from Island Batik! This collection is so lovely – feminine and frilly with butterflies and flowers.
Check out this color palette. Isn’t is perfect?
I love the different patterns in these fabrics! I think this is my favorite print. I love the moodiness and motion it has.
One thing I always appreciated when I was working with Island batik is that they provide an “inspiration board”. I believe it is what helps drive the development of the fabric line. You can see the photo on the right, the palette they pulled from it, and the way they worked with colors to bring the emotion of the photo to life in fabrics.
I decided to pair it with Mocha, an Island Batik basic that is warm cream tone.
I’ve been wanting to make a big block quilt recently, and I wanted to keep it really simple. I worked out this sketch, and I really liked it.
When I started working out the math – I realized I could do a different option. I decided to make my first quilt using a slightly different block layout – more like a courthouse steps block. With a collection of 20 prints, it is too complicated to try to go scrappy like the above version. I decided to do three prints and keep the background consistent with the block centers.
Of course, it will have more fabrics, because this isn’t enough for me! I often design with a simplified palette, just to get ideas solidified. But, I’m too lazy to try to get a zillion colors into the software. I can only tolerate so much computer playtime before I need to get my hands on fabric.
This is how far I’ve gotten on it so far.
The beauty of this pattern is that with such large blocks, things come together very quickly. Not quickly enough, though, as I haven’t gotten the top finished yet. Things have been chaotic in my home for the past few weeks with some medical problems. Every time I sit down to work, something pops up to distract me.
I’m planning to write this up as a pattern – I’m making no promises on release date, though. Things are way too complicated right now for me to make solid plans. Hopefully I will have time to stitch Saturday and Sunday, and have a finished top for you this weekend.
If you want to get some Butterfly Haven for yourself, you should first check your local quilt shop. If they haven’t ordered it, you can try these shops.
Creekside Quilts-OR
TotalFabric and Quilting Delights-HI
Fabric Square-OH
JellyRollFabric.Net-IN
Roosters Mercantile-UT
Mike & Mollys-CO
Villa Rosa Designs-CA
Be sure to check out my fellow Butterfly Haven Blog Hoppers – their projects are spectacular! Plus, Jennifer is hosting a giveaway, so make sure you go to Curlicue Creations and enter to win!
December 2: Curlicue Creations
December 3: Bobbin with Brittany
December 4: Lisa’s Quilting Passion
December 5: The Darling Dogwood
December 6: Dizzy Quilter <– You are here!
December 7: Quilting Gail
Looking forward to seeing the quilt, when you have a chance to do it.
Hello Jennifer. Thank you so much for participating in the hop. I love the fun, modern looking design you are working on. I look forward to seeing the finish. I hope whatever you are going through works itself out in the best way possible. Sending hugs!
Jennifer, your quilt will be beautiful. When I first looked at your post, I thought you were making placemats. They would be awesome! I hope all your problems are gone very soon. My husband and I have been going through so many health problems since August. I got an infection in my legs, then got really sick and ended up at the hospital twice. Then my husband had a stroke. So things have been hectic here. Being able to spend a little time in my sewing room has been a life saver for me. Wishing you the best.
It promises to be a gorgeous quilt!!! Like another person, I first thought you were making some cool placemats!