The talented Maryellen McAuliffe joined the Island Batik Ambassador program back in 2014 and it has been great to see her grow as a quilter with our monthly challenges and events, that sometimes pushed Maryellen out of her creative comfort zone!

Maryellen started sewing when she was a little girl, by hand, and got her first machine, a kid’s Singer, when she was 6: “I got Mom’s machine when I was 7 and she got a new one. I made clothes for my dolls, and started making clothes for me when I was 6. I mostly made clothes, including wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses, and did alterations after moving to PA, and then went back to quilting, because it was more fun to make what I wanted and then see if I could sell it. I decided to make it a business once every person I knew had a quilt, and all the tables had runners”.

Quilt, made for the 2020 Island Batil Log Cabin Blog Hop. Maryellen used the fabric from Island Batik Primo collection, designed by Ebony Love of Lovebug Studios, AccuQuilt GO! cutter and Aurifil thread. To learn more about the quilt, please visit: http://www.marymackmademine.com/2020/02/island-batik-log-cabin-blog-hop-and.html.

Maryellen has been quilting for over 30 years: “I made a lot of raggy style quilts, and enjoyed using different stitch patterns on my Viking Sapphire 850 to quilt the layers. Later on, I started machine quilting, using a walking foot, and progressed to free motion, using a stencil. I’ve used a domestic machine to quilt even king size quilts. I’m thrilled to have been able to get a Handi-quilter Amara long arm, and I’m enjoying learning , and ability to quilt with ease. I have the Prostitcher computer, as well. I’m blessed to have a good studio space and room for the long arm. “

Quilt, made for the 2018 July Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Pattern Play. Maryellen used Island Batik fabric and Aurifil thread. To learn more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.marymackmademine.com/2018/07/island-batik-pattern-play-challenge.html.

To Maryellen, quilting is not just a hobby, but a business that she loves: “I’m also a designer, and hope to start long-arm quilting for others. I’ve taught quilting to others, and did my first trunk show last year. I hope that my business continues to grow. My degree is Art and Education. My plan when I was in high school was to be a fashion designer, but my college choice didn’t have that as an option. I also wanted to be a teacher, and I’ve taught all levels, including college. I think quilting and teaching others to quilt is the fulfillment of those early dreams.”

Quilt, made for the 2018 Island Batik Four Seasons Blog Hop. Maryellen used the fabric from Island Batik Paisley Dot collection, designed by Kathy Engle and Aurifil thread. To learn more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.marymackmademine.com/2018/01/four-seasons-blog-hop.html.

Maryellen prefers more traditional designs, but being an Ambassador has challenged her to make things more modern: “It’s fun, and I know it makes me a better quilter and designer, when I play outside of my comfort zone.”

When it comes to color, Maryellen loves a cool palette: “Purple is my favorite, but not many of my quilts actually have purple. As an Ambassador, most times the colors are picked, because the collections are already coordinated, but I do enjoy mixing things up, when I can. I do get to pick the designs and background, and that’s always fun. For non-batik fabric (yes, there is some of that in my stash), I pick a main fabric I want to use, and then pick out coordinates based on that. When in doubt, I check the selvage and pick fabrics based on the color dots.”

Quilt, made for the 2016 Island Batik Seaside Summer Blog Hop. Maryellen used the fabric from Island Batik Red Tide collection, designed by Kathy Engle. To learn more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.marymackmademine.com/2016/08/island-batiks-seaside-summer-blog-hop.html.

Maryellen loves piecing, and enjoys foundation piecing, fusible appliqué and embroidered appliqué; “I also love quilting, and adding the binding. It’s so satisfying to start a project, cut it out, sew it, and quilt it, and see the finished item. It’s even more fun if I’ve designed it, too. I love the whole process!”

Make sure to follow Maryellen on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Facebook: Mary Mack Made Mine

Instagram: @marymackmademine

Website: Mary Mack’s Blog

Etsy shop: Mary Mack Made Mine

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

We are excited to introduce another Island Batik Ambassador – the talented Suzy Webster of Websterquilt! For Suzy, it is the fifth year in the program and we are so happy to have her continue creating beautiful projects and sharing her passion of quilting with the 2020 team!

Based in Minnesota, Suzy Webster has been a quilter since age eight when she arranged some scrap triangles and told her mother: “You should sew it like this.” One of the things Suzy loves about quilting is that the design possibilities and fabric choices are endless. She has been entering competitions since college and has many quilt show ribbons to her credit including Road to California, Machine Quilter’s Exposition, The American Quilter’s Society Shows, and International Quilt Festival.

Quilt, made for 2017 Island Batik New Beginnings Blog Hop with the fabric from Island Batik Drizzle collection by Kathy Engle. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.websterquilt.com/2017/01/island-batik-ambassadors-new-beginnings.html.

Suzy likes both modern and traditional quilting styles, but she prefers to put her own twist on every quilt she makes. When picking colors for a new project, only one thing matters to her : “They have to be bright! I usually pick a fabric I really love and then work from their choosing coordinating fabrics”.

Quilt, made for the 2017 Island Batik Back to School Blog Hop. Suzy used the fabric from Island Batik Batiks Go Retro collection, designed by Tamarinis, and Aurifil thread. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.websterquilt.com/2017/09/island-batik-ambassadors-back-to-school.html.

Suzy loves to piece, appliqué, and free motion machine quilt as well as teach and give trunk shows of her quilts.

Quilt, made for the 2019 March Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Vintage Reimagined. Suzy used Island Batik fabric, batting by Hobbs and Aurifil thread. For more information about the quilt, please visit: https://www.websterquilt.com/2019/03/island-batik-ambassadors-vintage.html.

Quilt, made for the 2019 June Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Try It. Suzy used Island Batik fabric, AccuQuilt cutting die, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://www.websterquilt.com/2019/06/island-batik-ambassadors-try-it_28.html.

Make sure to follow Suzy on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Instagram: @websterquilt

Website: Websterquilt

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

We are happy to introduce the talented Sally Manke, whose mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. Sally enjoys crafting traditional quilts, coiled rope baskets and all forms of fiber art, but her passion is art quilts.

Sally and her Dandy and Dejavu art quilt, made for 2019 July Island Batik Ambassador challenge. To learn about Sally’s process of creating the quilt, please visit: https://www.sallymanke.com/blog/2019/7/6/dandy-and-dejavu-art-quilt.

Sally particularly enjoys confetti quilts that unite color and texture using precise quilting skills and artistic creativity. Thousands and thousands of bits of batik fabric are “painted” on quilt batting and backing before quilting to stabilize and add fine details. Sally’s beautiful patterns present art quilters with another way to use their fabrics. Teaching and speaking on the national level, she conveys her contagious love of fiber art. She possesses boundless energy and an electric spark of creativity that comes across to quilters at all levels.

Mini Whimsical Bicycle, made for 2019 February Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Magnificent Minis. Sally used Island Batik fabric, AccuQuilt cutter, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.sallymanke.com/blog/2019/2/8/mini-whimsical-bicycle-for-island-batik.

Sally has been been sewing on the machine since she was a little girl (she held the foot control pedal in her lap as she couldn’t reach the floor). She made a doll quilt when she was seven years old, but it wasn’t until she turned 21 that she created her first bed-sized quilt. She has been seriously quilting for about 20 to 25 years, and today her hobby has lead to a successful Etsy Shop, national quilt contests, pattern design and teaching.

Arbor Gateway quilt, made for 2019 December Island Batik Ambassador 3D Challenge. Sally used Island Batik fabric, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on Sally’s quilt, please visit: https://www.sallymanke.com/blog/2019/12/11/arbor-gateway-for-island-batik.

Her fabulous patterns have been featured in numerous magazines, including Fiber Art Now, Machine Quilting Unlimited, Art Quilting Studio, Quilt & Textile Patchwork Professional (German), Northern Express Weekly, Traverse Magazine, and books – American Cotton, Farm to Quilt.

Pineapple quilt, made for 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Log Cabin Blog Hop. Sally used Island Batik Kismet fabric, designed by Tamarinis, AccuQuilt cutter, batting by Hobbs, Aurifil thread and a needle by Schmetz Needles. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.sallymanke.com/blog/2020/2/14/pineapple-quilt-for-island-batik-log-cabin-blog-hop.

In her art quilts, Sally uses a versatile range of techniques and loves about anything that fits under the art quilt category. These include confetti, painting, thread sketching, couching, raw edge appliqué, Inktense art. She often uses photos to create an art quilt, so color selection is often related to those colors with a bit of artistic interpretation thrown in.

Couched Landscape art quilt, created for 2019 June Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Try It. Sally used Island Batik fabric, batting by Hobbs and Aurifil thread. For more details on her quilt, please visit: https://www.sallymanke.com/blog/2019/6/8/couched-landscape-art-quilt-for-island-batik.

Make sure to follow Sally on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Facebook: Sally Manke, Fiber Artist

Instagram: @sallymanke_fiberartist

Website: Sally Manke

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

It is time to introduce another talented member of 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Program! Say hello to Leah Malasky, a self-taught talented quilter behind Quilted Delights! Leah enjoyed her first year as an Ambassador in 2019 and is happy to continue in 2020, showcasing the gorgeous fabric and helping others love the craft!

Leah started quilting 20 years ago when her children were very young. She taught herself through books, online tutorials/videos, and through lots of trial and error. What started as a hobby has turned into a passion. She loves all things quilt-related, and enjoys sharing her passion with others! Leah started a Beginner quilt class in her area hoping to help others find their quilting passion.

Turtle Tots quilts, made for 2020 January Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Let’s Get Scrappy. Leah used Island Batik fabric, a pattern by Southwind Designs and Aurifil thread. For more details on the quilt, please visit: http://www.quilteddelights.com/2020/01/lets-get-scrappy-january-island-batik.html.

Leah is right down the middle, when it comes to Modern or Traditional: “I love traditional blocks done in bright fun colors with a little bit of modern twist thrown in”.

Quilt, made for 2019 July Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Artsy Fartsy. Leah used Island Batik fabric, batting by Hobbs and Aurifil thread. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.quilteddelights.com/2019/07/artsy-fartsy-island-batik-ambassador.html.

When picking colors for a next quilt, Leah usually starts with one fabric she loves and adds colors to go with it: ” I tend to go for lots of different shades of a color but all in the same tone. When choosing lights and darks, I take a black and white photo of my fabric picks. Some colors make look on the darker side at first, but a black and white photo always helps me see if one of my lights is too light or too dark”.

Tweet quilt, made for 2019 Island Batik Piece of Blog Hop. Leah used Island Batik Tweet fabric designed by Barbara Persing, pattern by Elizabeth Hartman, batting by Hobbs and Aurifil thread. For more details on the quilt, please visit: http://www.quilteddelights.com/2019/11/a-piece-of-island-batik-blog-hop.html.

One of Leah’s favorite techniques is paper piecing: “It is fun for me to create images I couldn’t normally create with traditional pieicng. It also gives such nice fine points. String quilts are also a fun way to use up scraps and create such wonderful looking blocks. Strings also make great backgrounds for appliqué. For my quilting, I do mostly free motion quilting without marking the quilt. I like to use the points in the blocks as my reference points instead of marking and if I am quilting long lines I go for slightly wavy lines instead. Wavy lines are easier to quilt and less stressful when it comes worrying about everything being perfectly straight”.

3D Cubes quilt, made for 2019 December Island Batik 3D challenge. Leah used Island Batik Steam Engine fabric, designed for Studio 180 Design by Kathy Engle, and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.quilteddelights.com/2019/12/3d-island-batik-december-challenge-3d.html.

Make sure to follow Leah on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Instagram: @quilteddelights

Website: Quilted Delights

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

Please, meet Jennifer Thomas of Curlicue Creations, who has been with the Island Batik Ambassador program since 2018! Jennifer is a quilt pattern designer in love with color. Her patterns can be found in numerous quilt magazines and books including Quiltmaker, Modern Quilts, Love of Quilting, Modern Patchwork, American Quilter, McCall’s Quilting and many others! She spends her days quilting in a vintage farmhouse in the rolling countryside of North Carolina with children, cats, and nature all around.

Jennifer started quilting 25 years ago, and with time her passion grew into a flourishing business! Her Curlicue Creations shop sells patterns, quilting books and magazines and a lot more!

Flea Market quilt, made for the 2020 January Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Let’s Get Scrappy. Jennifer used a mix of Island Batik fabric, a needle by Schmetz Needles, batting by Hobbs, Aurifil thread and AccuQuilt GO! cutter. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://curlicuecreations.blogspot.com/2020/01/lets-get-scrappy-featuring-flea-market.html.

Color and design are Jennifer’s passion! Although there are a few favorites, she tries use a different color combination with every project. We love the burst of color in Cabin Crossing quilt that Jennifer made for this year’s Log Cabin Blog Hop!

Cabin Crossing quilt, made for Island Batik Log Cabin Blog Hop. Jennifer used the fabric from Island Batik Bloomers collection by Kathy Engle, a needle by Schmetz Needles, batting by Hobbs, Aurifil thread and AccuQuilt GO! cutter. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://curlicuecreations.blogspot.com/2020/02/log-cabin-blog-hop-featuring-cabin.html.

Jennifer gets a lot of joy from viewing a variety of quilt styles. Most of the designs she creates are traditional with a twist: she likes to take a traditional block and change it into something new and fun to sew.

Star Sweeper quilt, created for the 2019 April Island Batik challenge, Ready Set GO! Jennifer used the fabric from Island Batik Winter Park collection by Kathy Engle, batting by Hobbs, Aurifil thread and AccuQuilt GO! cutter. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://curlicuecreations.blogspot.com/2019/04/ready-set-go-baby-quilt-featuring-star.html.

When it comes to techniques, Jennifer has a favorite: “I love to do fusible appliqué with a tiny zig zag edging. It’s time consuming, but I really enjoy stitching around all the appliqué patches!”

Diamond Pillow, made for the 2019 December Island Batik 3D Challenge. Jennifer used the fabric from Island Batik Quiet Shades collection, designed for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs by Kathy Engle, and Aurifil thread. To read more about the pillow, please visit: https://curlicuecreations.blogspot.com/2019/12/3d-challenge-featuring-diamond-pillow.html.

Make sure to follow Sandra on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Facebook: Curlicue Creations

Instagram: @curlicuecreations

Website: Curlicue Creations

Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/curlicuecreations

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

We are very excited to introduce to you a talented quilter from Ontario, Canada, Sandra Walker of mmm! quilts! It is Sandra’s third year in the Island Batik Ambassador program and we love all the gorgeous projects she has created so far! The majority of those beautiful quilts and home décor items are Sandra’s original designs – her patterns have been published in such magazines as Modern Patchwork, McCall’s Quilting and Modern by the Yard eZine.

Sandra has loved handwork since she was a little girl: she learned to knit at the age of 6 and sew at the age of 10! Quilting had always intrigued her, but dressmaking and sewing for the home were her passions until she discovered a rotary cutter… 20 years later, quilting occupies the majority of her day!

Ripples quilt, made for 2019 Island Batik Ambassador Beat The Heat Blog Hop. Sandra used the fabric from Island Batik Electric Desert collection, designed by Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.mmmquilts.com/2019/08/beat-heat-island-batik-blog-hop-ripples.html.

When it comes to style, Sandra has an appreciation for traditional and modern quilting: “I love both, but I am really enjoying the brighter colours these days, and so I guess you could say I’m a ‘modern-itional quilter.”

Cheerio quilt, created for 2019 March Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Vintage Reimagined. Sandra used the fabric from Batik Foundations line, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.mmmquilts.com/2019/04/cheerio-finished.html.

Picking color for a new project, Sandra doesn’t have a go-to: “It depends on for whom the quilt is or the occasion. Sometimes it is something I’ve seen in nature, real life, in a magazine, or a serendipity of seeing two fabrics together in my stash that starts a colour scheme. Basically, pretty much anything can start the choosing!”

Centered quilt, made for the 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Log Cabin Blog Hop. Sandra used the fabric from Island Batik Prairie Skies collection by Kathy Engle, needle by Schmetz Needles, AccuQuilt cutter, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.mmmquilts.com/2020/02/centred-log-cabin-blog-hop-with-island.html.

Sandra’s favorite quilting techniqués include patchwork and paper piecing… without sewing through the paper! For those of you, who swore to never paper-piece again and have never heard of this fantastic method, Sandra has a wonderful step-by-step tutorial on her blog: https://www.mmmquilts.com/2017/02/paper-piecing-without-sewing-through.html.

The Kelpie’s Star quilt, made for 2019 November Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Tool Time. Sandra used the fabric from Island Batik Mermaid Cove collection by Kathy Engle, needle by Schmetz Needles, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: https://www.mmmquilts.com/2019/12/the-kelpies-star-november-island-batik.html.

Make sure to follow Sandra on social media and subscribe to her blog for great quilting ideas and inspiration:

Instagram: @mmmquilts

Website: mmm! quilts

Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/sandrajanequilts

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

Please, say hello to Vasudha Govindan of Storied Quilts, who became a member of Island Batik Ambassador family in 2019! We love the unique perspective she brings to quilting and quilt design, and the gorgeous modern projects she created for the program!

Vasudha started quilting about 16 years ago making baby quilts and gifts for family and friends. Trained as an engineer, Vasudha brings aspects of math and science into her quilt designs. Her fabulous quilts have been exhibited at numerous events including The International Quilt Festival and QuiltCon.

Circular quilt, made for 2019 May Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Make It Modern. Vasudha used Island Batik fabric and batting by Hobbs. For more details, please visit: https://storiedquilts.com/2019/05/30/circular-may-make-it-modern-project.

Vasudha grew up in India in a family immersed in traditional Indian folk art, such as Tanjavur paintings, Kalamkari and rangolis. She brings in many of the influences of her Indian heritage, and the arts and crafts of India into her beautiful modern quilt designs. To make the elegant peacock in the Mayuri quilt, Vasudha was inspired by the motifs of such ancient Indian folk painting styles, as Kalamkari, Madhubani, Warli and Gond.

Mayuri quilt, created for 2019 July Island Batik Ambassador challenge. To make the quilt, Vasudha used Island Batik fabric, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details, please visit: https://storiedquilts.com/2019/07/25/mayuri-the-artsy-peacock.

Most of Vasudha’s recent designs are modern: “I strongly identify with the modern quilt aesthetic. Looking back at my earlier quilts, even though they are traditional patterns, I’ve often used modern quilting elements like large negative spaces, asymmetric layouts and variations in scale.”

Lost Canoes quilt, made for 2019 September Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Child’s Play. Vasudha used Island Batik fabric, a cutter and dies by AccuQuilt and batting by Hobbs. For more details, please visit: https://storiedquilts.com/2019/09/30/lost-canoes-childs-play-island-batik-challenge.

When it comes to choosing color, Vasudha falls back on a few favorite combinations: “I like saturated colors with good contrast. When I want to push myself beyond my usual choices, I use a photograph or any image as inspiration. Mother Nature is often a great source of inspiration as are many commercial packaging items like Kleenex boxes or book covers. No matter what colors I choose, I like to use multiple fabrics that are a similar color. This provides rich texture even within a limited color palette.”

Precarious quilt, made for the 2020 January Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Let’s Get Scrappy. Vasudha used Island Batik fabric and batting by Hobbs. For more details, please visit: https://storiedquilts.com/2020/01/30/precarious-island-batik-scrap-challenge.

Vasudha’s favorite techniqués include regular piecing with rotary cut pieces and others: “I do use templates, paper-piecing and machine appliqué as needed but not very much. For quilting, I love free-motion quilting. I find FMQ liberating and relaxing, and it has taken my creativity to the next level.”

Winding River quilt, made for 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Log Cabin Blog Hop. Vasudha’s quilt was made with Island Batik Sunset Blooms collection, designed for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs by Kathy Engle, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. For more details on the quilt, please visit: http://storiedquilts.com/2020/02/27/winding-river-island-batik-blog-hop.

Make sure to follow Vasudha on social media and subscribe to her blog for inspiration and quilty tips!

Facebook: Storied Quilts

Instagram: @storiedquilts314

Website: Storied Quilts

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors

Carol Moellers joined the Island Batik Ambassador program in 2019 and we were incredibly happy when she applied for the 2020 season! Not only is Carol a talented quilter and pattern designer, but she also teaches piecing, machine appliqué, binding, and design classes. Her patterns have been featured in such publications, as McCall’s Quilting, Quilter’s Newsletter, Sew Iowa, and IQA Festival Newsletter.

Carol made her first quilt in 1982; she did not have a rotary cutter or mat and used cardboard cereal boxes! Fabric was very limited back then, too: lots of calico prints but not like today with all the fabulous array of colors. Nevertheless, she fell in love with quilting and her love has grown through the years!

Harvest Rose wall hanging, created for 2019 October Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Top It Off. Carol used the fabric from Island Batik Soil & Seeds collection by Kathy Engle, AccuQuilt cutter and dies, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://carolmoellersdesigns.com/2019/10/23/harvest-rose-october-top-it-off-island-batik-challenge.

For Carol, quilting started out as just a hobby, but with time it became much more than that: “For years I dreamed to enter in competitions like IQF and AQS. In 2009 I entered 5 quilts in the Iowa State Fair and all 5 won ribbons. I was awarded by American Patchwork and Quilting the Sweepstakes winner award. It was my first time at entering any thing that I did not even know what that was. I quickly learned from people in the industry that it was what some people call a “big deal”. I was encouraged to enter my quilt in some of the national and international shows. I made my dream happen in 2010 and entered my 25th wedding anniversary quilt in IQF. It was my very first time doing something like this. It was scary and a little intimidating but I had a great support group behind me. I was thrilled when I got the email that my quilt was juried into the show, but then about a month later I got a call that it had won an award. I started crying. I was thrilled to say the least. I went to the award ceremony and received my Honorable Mention award. I was on top of the world! This was the beginning of what I what I hoped that some day I would be able to do, turn my love for quilting into a business.”

Wheel of Fortune quilt, created for 2020 January Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Let’s Get Scrappy. Carol used a variety of Island Batik fabric, a needle by Schmetz Needles, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://carolmoellersdesigns.com/2020/01/26/lets-get-scrappy-lets-play-in-the-scrap-box.

As far as style goes, Carol likes both traditional and modern quilting: “I actually like to combine the two. I like to take the time treasured traditional shapes and add a spin to them. In my class, where I share with quilters how to take traditional block and make a modern style quilt, I teach them the principles and elements of design to understand the importance of value, shape, line, scale, and direction can have in the making of a quilt.”

Pythagoras quilt, created for 2020 February Island Batik Log Cabin Blog Hop. Carol used the fabric from Island Batik Sunset Blooms, designed for Chris Hoover of Whirligig Designs by Kathy Engle, a needle by Schmetz Needles, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. To read the full post, please visit: https://carolmoellersdesigns.com/2020/02/27/island-batik-log-cabin-blog-hop-meet-pythagoras.

Choosing the right color combination for a new quilt can seem intimidating to some, but not to Carol: “I love color! I go in phases, sometimes I like bright color, and sometimes I like soft colors. I choose my colors based on what I like and would make a quilt I have design glow with just the right color combinations. My favorite is to use tertiary colors on the color wheel. I feel that combining primary and secondary colors really gives a quilt interest and character. Using the color palette is so fun to play with! A quilt design can totally change simply by changing the colors.”

Strawberry Stars quilt, created for 2019 April Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Oh Baby, Let’s GO! Carol used a mix of Island Batik fabric, AccuQuilt cutter and dies, Aurifil thread and batting by Hobbs. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://carolmoellersdesigns.com/2019/04/30/oh-baby-lets-go-april-2019-island-batik-challenge.

Carol takes classes each year to grow as a quilter and designer. One of her favorite methods is paper piecing: “There are so many possibilities to create designs with paper piecing! I love the accuracy that paper piecing offers. The more pieces in a quilt the more fun I have! I also like to mix appliqué and piecing together. I do invisible machine appliqué: if done right, it is hard to tell the difference from doing it the traditional needle-turn way. I prepare my appliqué using a turned edge method, but then I stitch it on using the sewing machine. The secret is in the way you stitch it to the top that makes this a favorite technique, and I like to use it when I add appliqué to my quilts. I am recently developing a fondness for English paper piecing. I have a method for doing this by machine, which makes doing English paper piecing quick and easy!”

Make sure to follow Carol on social media and subscribe to her blog for inspiration and quilty fun!

Facebook: Carol Moellers

Instagram: @carolmoellers

Website: Carol Moellers Designs

2020 Island Batik Ambassadors on our website: https://islandbatik.com/2020-ambassadors/

We are happy to introduce another talented member of the 2020 Island Batik Brand Ambassador team! Please, welcome Jennifer Fulton, a quilter who is passionate about color, fabrics, and design! Jennifer loves to share what she learns with other quilters, which is why she named her blog The Inquiring Quilter.

Jennifer made her first quilt when she was 36: ” I’d taken a class to make a sampler quilt but hadn’t finished it when I got pregnant. I immediately got the urge to make a baby quilt and selected a rather complicated pattern without knowing how hard it would be to make even with a class! As a result I didn’t finish it until she was 5. I consider it my first quilt even though in those five years I did make other quilts (simpler ones) to learn the craft. The baby quilt sample was quite scrappy, so before the class I spent several hours selecting scraps for the baby quilt from a scrap barrel at my lqs. We were taught to cut our scraps using a template we were provided so the process was tedious. The quilt was basically HSTs and square in square blocks, so it didn’t take me long to discover that there was an easier way to make the blocks. But I learned over time how to piece properly and to square up my blocks and eventually I finished the top and even quilted it myself using straight line quilting. Although the result is not perfect, it’s a lovely quilt all the same and my daughter loves it.”

Please, welcome Connie Kauffman of Kauffman Designs! She is a talented quilt designer, whose patterns have been published in numerous popular books and magazines, including McCall’s Quilting, Love of Quilting, Quiltmaker, American Patchwork & Quilting and many more. Connie has been an Island Batik Ambassador since the program started back in 2014, and we are very happy to have her in the 2020 team!

Connie has been quilting for almost 39 years. She made her first “real” quilt when her son went from the baby bed to a twin bed. Guess what Connie used to make it? Blue jeans!