Island Batik Ambassador Box Arrival and Unpacking!!!

 Sqeeee!  It's finally here!  My first goody box as an Island Batik Ambassador!  As you can see in this photo ~ it's quite large and luscious!  That is a lot of exclamation points, but I'm really, really excited!  First I have to thank Island Batik, Aurifil, and Hobbs, as all items in this box have been generously given to me at no cost.

 My first peek inside the box ~  I see batting.  I see thread.  I see fabric.  Gorgeous eye popping colors assaulting my senses.  Oh yes.

 Here is what else was inside of my box:  Aurifil thread and Hobbs batting brochures.  I'm sure these will be handy and informative.

 Two packages of two different types of Hobbs Batting, one twin size, and one queen size.  I've never tried their batting before.  I'm looking forward to the experience.

 One huge white cone of Aurifil thread (that will certainly come in handy!), plus six more spools of Aurifil in colors that coordinate with my fabrics.  Yay!

 A fabulous cut of Midnight Black rayon fabric.  Solid black ~ always useful!  I'll have to sew something sleek and mysterious with this...hmmmmm...wheels churning....

 Red, white, and pink fat quarter bundle for my Galentine's Day project.  I'll be sewing that this weekend.

 A large piece of this neutral fabric.  This fabric is titled "Whip Cream".  I love it.  Love the fabric ~ Love the name.

 A useful bundle of fabrics to blend with.

 This super black batik rayon scarf.  What a surprise!  I wonder how this would look tied up in my hair at the beach this summer?

 Alpine Jingle 10" squares stack with coordinating fabrics.  Quite Christmas-y.  This should be fun to play with.

 Five rolls of quilty goodness in many fabulous colors.  Perfect for when I need a little punch of color for this or that.

This is my personal favorite ~ Sunflower Serenade fat eighth bundle with a coordinating fabric.  Look at these yummy sunset colors!  It's like I'm at the beach right this minute.  Ahhhh!

 That's all for now folks ~  Looks like it is time to go and sew.

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

Related Posts:

I'm an Island Batik Ambassador for 2018!

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Log Cabin Top ~ Quilt Block Classics

Log Cabin Top ~ Quilt Block Classics

Here is the finished top I made with the Log Cabin blocks I sewed from the Quilt Block Classics tutorial posted in November 2017.  I made nine blocks and simply set them all in the same direction.  I like the way the zippy pink border pulls it all together.  Now to quilt it.  Do you have any quilting suggestions?  Please leave a comment below.

Related Posts:

Quilt Block Classics ~ Log Cabin Tutorial

Log Cabin Progress

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

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My Pioneer Rose Quilt is on the Love of Quilting Television Series!

 My Pioneer Rose quilt is featured on the Love of Quilting television show this season.  It is on episode #3105.  This episode already aired in some areas, but check your local PBS listings to see when it will be on in your area.  Due to family obligations, I was unable to appear on the episode with my quilt, but I am confident that the Fons and Porter staff did an excellent job presenting it. 

The Pioneer Rose quilt is an heirloom style quilt featuring many different quilting techniques. It was the cover girl for the September/October 2017 issue of Love of Quilting magazine.

The above video shows a preview of the episode featuring the Pioneer Rose quilt.

If you watch the episode, please let me know what you think.  And if you sew your own version of Pioneer Rose, please share a photo.  I would love to see it!

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

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Pioneer Rose Quilt

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I'm an Island Batik Ambassador for 2018!

 I'm so excited to announce that I've been chosen as an Island Batik Ambassador for 2018!  This means I will be part of an amazing group of talented quilt designers who will be presenting fabulous creations for your inspiration all year through a series of sewing challenges.  The fabrics, thread, and batting for these projects will be generously provided to me at no cost by Island Batik.  Thank you, Island Batik.

 To become an Island Batik ambassador, I had to submit an application about myself and send in a block.  This is the block I submitted.  The fabrics in this block were pulled from my stash and are not necessarily Island Batik fabrics.  I hope to present a design and pattern based on this block sometime in 2018.  I have a few ideas already swirling around in my brain.

I've long been a fan of Island Batik fabrics and usually have a few bolts in stock in my Etsy shop.  This is my current favorite, Purple Buttons Batik.  Swoon worthy!  Island Batiks fabrics are all individually hand dyed by talented batik artists in Bali, Indonesia.

This is not the best photo, but my Silhouette quilt was sewn with all Island Batik fabrics.  This quilt was made to showcase my block, Shadow Play, featured in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 8 waaaaay back in 2013.

My first goody box of fabrics from Island Batik should be arriving soon.  I'm trembling with excitement.  When it arrives, I'll share the box opening with you.  Stay tuned for more!

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

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New in the Curlicue Creations Shop ~ Week of January 31, 2018

Log Cabin Quilts

Log Cabin Quilts is an outstanding quilting book, and part of the Rodale Quilt Book Library. This book is filled with techniques and tips regarding all aspects of making log cabin quilts.

This book is softcover, in excellent condition. Color photos and diagrams throughout. 138 pages. Vintage 1997.

This book includes Acknowledgements, an Introduction, Patterns to make 12 Log Cabin Projects, Log Cabin Basics, and Quilt making Basics.

Quilting Arts Magazine June/July 2017 Issue

Quilting Arts Magazine, June July 2017, Issue 87. 

This magazine features Take a Break 10 Tips for an Artful Staycation, Mix it Up! with Playful Mixed Media, Surface Design, Marbling on Wool, Paint and Stitch on Canvas, 8 Ways to Enhance your Quilts, and more.

This fabulous issue of Quilting Arts magazine is in very good condition. 88 pages of great ideas for quilting.

Quilting Arts Magazine December 2016/January 2017 Issue

Quilting Arts Magazine, December 2016 January 2017, Issue 84. 

This magazine features Art Quilting at it's Finest!, Tell Your Story in Cloth, 25 Inspiring Art Quilts, Master a New Skill, Dye Fabric with Confidence, Learn Fine Finishing Techniques, Stitch Feathers Like a Pro, Create a Compelling Story Quilt, Plus! Quilts from Dinner @ 8 Artists!, and more.

This fabulous issue of Quilting Arts magazine is in very good condition. 88 pages of great ideas for quilting.

For all these, and more, Click here to visit the Curlicue Creations shop!
New items added weekly.

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

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Soldier's Sewing Kits in History

 My family enjoys visiting museums and historic sites.  My boys especially like the military displays.  Living in North Carolina, there are a lot of opportunities for patriotic day trips.

In 2017 the North Carolina History Museum in Raleigh had a special WWI exhibit.

 I am always on the lookout for sewing related items in history!  The soldiers had to carry sewing kits so they could make their own repairs while they were in the field.  Number 15 shows a German "housewife" sewing kit.  

 We also visited Fort Fisher in the Wilmington area of the North Carolina coast over Independence Day week.  This is my son, Levi on top of one of the fort's mounds.  There is a cannon you cannot see to his right.  The Atlantic Ocean is in the background of this photo.

Inside the Fort Fisher exhibit, I spied these bone buttons the soldiers used.  Neat-O.  A little bit of sewing history.  I can't wait to see what we discover in our explorations this year!

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today.

Jennifer Thomas

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The Making of the Grow a Little Love Quilt

The Making of the Grow a Little Love Quilt

I made this quilt to highlight the "Grow a Little Love" quilt block I contributed to Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 16.  

 The quilt block and pattern appear on page 12 of the magazine, in the applique section.  It is block #1509.

 This block is fusible appliqued.  All the applique pieces were traced onto Heat 'n Bond Lite, ironed onto the fabric, and cut out.

This is the block before the zigzag edge stitching was applied around the edges of each patch.

A peek at the back of the block during the zigzag process.

Close up of the leaves during the zigzag process.

Next, I paper pieced little green striped rainbows.

And more little green rainbows.

The rainbows were sewn onto curvy rose patches.  I think they look like little watermelon slices at this stage.

Then the watermelon slices were sewn onto the blue backgrounds.  If I had to do this again, I would applique the watermelon slices onto a solid blue strip of fabric.  The tiny curves were tough to sew on this edge.

The curvilicious borders were joined to the quilt.

The final, solid green border was attached.

I quilted little back and forth lines in the blue backgrounds, swirls in the green borders and a wavy flower design in the watermelon slices.  I outlined stitched the applique pieces and did a loopy meander in the block background.

Fuzzy helped me with the binding.

The completed Grow a Little Love quilt.

The pattern for the block is available in the current issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 16.

Related Posts:

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Calendar

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Road Rally Blog Tour Winner

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 16 Road Rally Blog Tour

Be Creative ~ Sew Something Beautiful Today!

Jennifer Thomas

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