Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Lavender Waves - Create for a Cause with Island Batik

Welcome to my stop on Island Batik's Create for a Cause blog hop!  This hop highlights Island Batik's newest collections that are available in stores now.  I was sent the absolutely beautiful Lavender Fields collection, a gorgeous array of purples and pale blues.  

 


Lavender Fields was designed by Kathy Engle and is a signature collection for Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis. 



The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik, Accuquilt, Aurifil, Schmetz, and Hobbs.  

photo by K. Mellnik

I've had bargello on my quilty bucket list and I decided that Lavender Fields would be perfect for a bargello.  I've mentioned that I'm learning to use EQ8 and that I've been doing the lessons Tech Know Quilters with Kari Schell of On Point Quilter.  One of the monthly themes was bargello quilts and I used the lessons to create what I am calling Lavender Waves.  I am happy with how it turned out and definitely think I'll make more bargello style quilts in the future!

photo by Kate Mellnik

It's been cold for North Carolina here but I had a date to meet my friend Kate to go walking and take quilt pictures last Friday.  It ended up being a little rainy so we stayed local instead of going to a state park, but there were some lovely spots on the greenway.  Kate has photographed several of my Island Batik projects and her photos are always amazing!

photo by K. Mellnik

I used my Accuquilt and the 2 1/2" strip die to cut strips from 19 of the 20 fabrics.  I originally had all 20 in the bargello itself but decided that one was a little too dark and stood out too much, so I swapped it for a repeat of a lovely dark purple with poppies. I used that 20th fabric as the binding, so all 20 are in the quilt and visible. This measures 47" x 49".

Before I started piecing my strip sets I put a brand new Schmetz chrome needle in my machine.  I did my piecing with Aurifil 6732 Earl Gray and the quilting with Aurifil 5003 Wine.  For the quilting, I wanted to mimic the motion of the quilt so I did straight lines that swept up and down on each fabric, hoping to convey the Lavender Waves feeling I named the quilt for.  The batting is Hobbs Heirloom 100% cotton.

photo by K. Mellnik

The theme for this hop is Create for a Cause, so we are charged to create a quilt to donate to the organization of our choice.  This will go to one of the organizations in North Carolina that supports survivors of human trafficking.  I hope it brings hope and comfort to someone.

Bonus Donations

I've had this quilt done for a few weeks, and last Thursday I was starting to think about my quilt guild's current charity project.  This year we are making placemats to donate to Friendship Trays (a Meals on Wheels organization) so recipients will get something pretty along with their meal.  I remembered that I had some of my strip set left over, so I got it out to see if it could become a bonus donation.  I guessed that I could get 3 placemats out of strip set, so that became my Sunday sewing project.  I figured out the best way to separate the strips into smaller groups and added Island Batik's gray solid.  It was fun to play around with the leftovers! It's a modern guild so two of these are intentionally off-center and I used a different quilting design for each.

 

Giveaway

And now for a giveaway!  I've put together a small prize package with 2 fat quarters from an older Island Batik collection called Petal Party (the rest of the collection will be in my April project), a package of Schmetz chrome needs, a Schmetz pocket guide, a Schmetz luggage tag for when traveling is ok again, and a magnetic wand for pins.  Island Batik has a giveaway each week during the blog hop, you can enter this week's contest for a precut of Mystery, which will be featured this Thursday on the hop.

prize package

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to visit Jennifer from The Inquiring Quilter and check out what she made with Lavender Fields.  And you can find the full blog hop schedule here

photo by K. Mellnik




 


 

58 comments:

  1. Such a pretty quilt, Emily!!! Great idea to hold out the dark strips and put them on as binding. Kate takes lovely quilt photos. One thing I don't understand--why does it say Kathy Engle designed this line for Tammy Silvers??

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  2. I’ve also had a Bargello on my list for a long time; yours is lovely!

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  3. Your quilt is stunning. I make donation quilts for Victoria Quilts that are given to people with cancer.

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  4. That is a really lovely quilt, someone is going to be really happy.

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  5. So very lovely. It makes me want to run in and start sewing one of my own.

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  6. How pretty, and what a great way to put your learning EQ8 into practice!

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  7. A beautiful quilt Emily! The colors are so pretty in this design.
    I made some quilts and baby items for an organization in my neighborhood. They give these items to women that need help. It is called TINY STITCHES.

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  8. For quilting, for a large handful of years it has been family and friends. I have other charities that I give to also quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

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  9. So pretty. And to get the bonus placemats is a win-win!

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  10. I like that your guild makes the placemats for the Meals on Wheels organization. Sometimes a simple gift can make someone's day a little brighter.

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  11. I have donated to Project Linus. I have a bunch of quilts ready for donation - I am looking for our quilt group at where to donate - thinking of local homeless shelter, or the respite house.
    This is a gorgeous fabric collection! I just made my first bargello project - a table runner, but I really like your quilt!!!

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  12. There is a small group of us who gather to make quilts that go out to the community once a year thru the local Soroptious Club. . We average about 120 quits a year to goes out to 5 to 8 different groups.

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  13. Lavender Fields is gorgeous. I have no place I donate quilts to, yet. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  14. I love your quilt!!!!!!!!!!
    It looks even better than the EQ mock-up!!!
    AND the photo shoot! Perfect!!!!!
    And the placemats - a bonus! Sew cute!
    Happy Quilting! :-)

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  15. Gorgeous collection, purple always has a place in my heart. I donate to whatever cause needs helping hands.

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  16. Love those purples - bargello is beautiful!!!! I have donated to Habitat for Humanity but sometimes I just give to people I know recovering from illness.

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  17. That quilt is gorgeous, Emily! I think that is one of their best collections IMO!! Of course it helps that those are my go to colors!! Great job designing your bargello! I started the EQ classes in January and though I've used EQ for a long time and taught myself, I am learning SO much from Kari! I think it was a great investment! And I love your two charities. My charity quilts go to our guild who supports several places, including Children's Hospital and UAB Mother/Baby unit.

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  18. I donated one quilt to a veteran at a nursing home. I have a lap almost ready to donate. I want to find someone in our area who really needs it for warmth. I'm checking with a friend at the fire department.
    Your quilt is so gorgeous!

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  19. Your quilt is eye catching. It will be a great snuggling quilt for whomever receives it. Thank you for sharing your work.
    Connie

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  20. Pretty quilt, love the color combination. No special place for donation. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  21. Your bargello quilt is stunning! I often make quilts for my guild who gives them to a variety of local charities. I like that I can make all sorts of quilts and styles and everyone is happy to receive them!

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  22. I have not donated quilts to charity yet. Usually, when I've made quilts they are made specifically for someone or given as a baby gift. I haven't made enough of them to donate yet! I have given fabric to church when they make quilts to send overseas.

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  23. Your quilt is gorgeous! No, I don't have a favorite cause as there are so many worthy causes. I like to start local as there are so many needy folks and families in one's own community. The churches in our area try to provide help through donations of all kinds.

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  24. I have a friend who is part of a group that all kinds of charity quilts and items, so I donate to her group.

    Sandy A

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  25. Beautifully made quilt
    and I love the colors!
    I don't quilt so no
    carity.
    Carla from Utah

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  26. Our guild makes quilts for foster kids ages newborn to 18. Before covid we would have sew days and make 15-25 tops in a day. Sewers cutters, pressers, team approach assembly line.

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  27. Your quilt is lovely, and I like both charities you picked.

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  28. I make baby quilts and donate them to Options, a nonprofit that helps young moms with their new babies.

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  29. I love Bargello quilts. Your color placement is perfect. I donate around 50 quilts a year. Half go to Women's Shelters and the other half go to flood, earthquake, fire victims. It is an honor to sew for all these people.

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  30. I love your quilt and your bonus project! It's wonderful that both the quilt and the placemats will provide comfort to people who need it. I have made quilts for our local first Responders.

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  31. Beautiful. Bargello quilts are some of my favourites. Thahnks for sharing. I typically donate to local women and or childrens charities. Thanks

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  32. Your quilt is beautiful! Making a Bargello quilt has been on my bucket list for a few years. My charities of choice are homeless shelters and animal shelters. Thanks!

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  33. Talk about 50 shades of exquisite. Lavender Fields is a beautiful collection and your Bargello Quilt highlights their gorgeous colors in the best possible way. Kudos to you Emily. You tried a new technique, made a fabulous quilt and supported a worthy cause. WIN WIN WIN!!!

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  34. I do project linus in lansing michigan ....But there are baby pantrys,people geting burned out if there homes every winter, You really dont half to look fare from home to help out your comunity with your gift... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  35. I have a lot of causes, but the ones for kids are my happiest donations. Right now I do a lot for Jack's Basket and Welcome Baby! I do love your quilt and so pleased that EQ came to your aid! Isn't it fun to preview it and make it all work.

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  36. Love it! Such a gorgeous color way. I sew for local charities in Indiana with my Guild.

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  37. Most of my quilts are donated. I donate via a lot of different avenues Local ones go to a group that makes for vets. I am gearing up now for Sarah's yearly challenge, Hands 2 Help, on her blog Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Mine will go to Little Lambs.

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  38. Emily your bargello is beautiful. I love purples for bargellos. I do a lot of quilts for various local non-profit organizations here in my valley for their fundraisers. My favourite national organization to donate quilts to is Victoria’s Quilts Canada

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  39. I love love love your bargello quilt! It looks like a field of flowers in the natural setting.

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  41. Love that quilt - my favorite colors!

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  42. No favorite cause yet as I'm new to quilting. But looking forward to donating in future.

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  43. Beautiful quilt! My favorite organization for quilts is Project Linus.

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  44. Most of my quilts are donated to my church quilt ministry or the local children's hospital. The bargello is stunning.

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  45. 35 years ago my niece was born with a congenital heart defect. This was before they were doing heart transplants for babies with her condition, so tragedy was essentially built into her story from the beginning. The Ronald McDonald House was a haven for her mom and big sisters during Beth Anne's many hospital stays. I like to make quilts for our local Ronald McDonald House as a way to say thank you for their kindness at a time when it really mattered. Our local Ronald McDonald House gives a quilt or blanket to each family that checks in--isn't that lovely? So they need quilters, or people who will tie fleece blankets, or willing learners/givers.

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  47. Our local guild donates to a womens' safe house shelter. Your bargello is stunning in lavender!

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  48. Your lavender bargello is beautiful! And done in time for Easter.

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  49. Beautiful! It’s been a long time since I’ve donated a quilt, but I want my next one to go to quilt of valor.

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  50. I have not donated quilt previously, but am enjoying seeing the many causes that quilts can be used for and hope to donate in the future.

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  51. My guild donates quilts to local hospitals, hospices, children's charities, etc. Pillowcases are my favorite to make because I can turn them out faster than quilts. -- soparkaveataoldotcom

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  52. Beautiful colors in your bargello!!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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