Island Batik Ambassador Unboxing #2

There are a lot of really awesome things about being an Island Batik Ambassador: the monthly challenges and the creativity they inspire, the fabulous group of ambassadors and how well we support each other, the chance to see fabric before it's available in stores.  The best, though, is probably the amazing twice-a-year ambassador boxes.  These boxes are stuffed with gorgeous Island Batik fabrics and various goodies from industry partners.  My second box for 2021 did not disappoint!  

Want to know what was inside?  Check out my unboxing video!  I didn't know what was in the box and this is a true unboxing in that I opened the boxes on camera, which means some thinking on my feet.

https://youtu.be/iIWJ3q_8v0M

Don't feel like watching the video?  Let me show you what was inside!

 

First, the fabric!   In the lower left you will see *TWO* fat quarter bundles of Fancy Feathers.  Fancy Feathers is a Spring 2021 collection designed by Kathy Engle and will be shipping to quilt shops in September.  I just cut into this fabric yesterday and it's soooo pretty! Above the fat quarter bundles are two yards each of a dark and a light from the Foundations line, which are fabrics that are always available.   The middle row features six cuts of a half yard each of more Foundations that coordinate with Fancy Feathers.  Not pictured is my surprise collection from Summer 2021, which I can't show you yet, and the row on the right are half yard cuts that coordinate with that collection. Spring 2021 collections will be featured in August and Summer 2021 collections will be featured in November.  There is also 6 yards of the neutral Milkshake plus 4 yards each of solid white, gray, and black, all great for backgrounds.  And last but certainly not least, there are two packages of stash builder strips, which are 5" by width of fabric.  These are super versatile and you can see that my packages are predominately my favorite purple!

Hobbs batting was particularly generous in this box, sending FOUR different batts plus fusible batting strips perfect for jelly roll rugs or fabric baskets.  I was particularly excited to get more of the Thermore batting; I had some in my very first ambassador box and I absolutely love it for small projects. I've used all of my first package and had trouble finding it at my local quilt shops.

Aurifil sent me one of their Color Builder 2021 sets.  These feature 3 spools of 40 weight thread in one of twelve colorways, and this year's color builders are inspired by endangered species around the globe.  I was sent the purple color builder, inspired by the Cross River Gorilla.  The color builders will be featured in a really fun challenge this October.  

Deb Tucker's Studio 180 Design is sponsoring the August challenge and sent each ambassador one of her tools.  I got the Wing Clipper tool, plus bonus Quilter's Magic Wand.  I used the Wing Clipper for the first time yesterday and it sure is slick!  Perfect points on my flying geese!

By Annie is sponsoring the September challenge.  Each of us was asked to choose a By Annie pattern to make and we got to pick out our fabric!!!!  This is the first time I got to pick out fabric for an ambassador challenge!  I chose the Ultimate Travel Bag 2.0 and picked out fabrics from the Butterfly Blooms collection, another spring 2021 collection by Kathy Engle.  My bag kit features everything I need for the bag: By Annie hardware, strapping, elastic, Soft & Stable, base stabilizer.  By Annie patterns have really changed how I think about bags, I've been obsessed with her patterns since making Running With Scissors last year.

Aren't all the goodies amazing?!!  I'm so excited to play with everything and show you what I make.  Thanks again to Island Batik and industry partners Aurifil, Hobbs, By Annie, & Studio 180 Design!