Please, say hello to the talented Denise Looney of For The Love Of Geese, who joined the Island Batik Ambassador family in 2019! Denise is a self-taught quilter and pattern designer, based in Illinois.

Denise made her first quilt when she was only 17. It was pieced by hand because she hadn’t yet learned how to use a sewing machine by that time. Since then, her hobby grew into a successful business, as Denise started designing paper pieced patterns!

Quilt, made for the September 2019 Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Child’s Play. Denise used the fabric from Island Batik Islander collection by Kathy Engle, AccuQuilt GO! cutter and die, batting by Hobbs and thread by Aurifil. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://fortheloveofgeese.com/2019/09/19/childs-play-accuquilt-spider-web-die-flying-geese-hobbs-batting-island-batik-fabric/.

When choosing a colorway for her next quilt, Denise has a go-to method: “EQ8 has a great selection of fabrics pre-loaded but I usually only play with the solids. Once I am happy with the quilt I then turn to online quilt shops to match the colors best I can. If I am lucky, my local quilt shop will carry the brand I am viewing online and I can purchase from her. Otherwise I am at the mercy of my computer screen”.

Quilt, made for the April 2019 Island Batik Ambassador challenge, Ready Set Go! Denise used the fabric from Island Batik Stash Builders, AccuQuilt GO! cutter and die, batting by Hobbs and thread by Aurifil. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://fortheloveofgeese.com/2019/04/08/my-first-quilt-using-the-accuquilt-go/.

Denise likes to work in different styles: “Some of my designs are modern while others are modern with a splash of traditional, for instance my pattern Nostalgia Twist. It’s all paper pieced, with no curved piecing in the circling flying geese. If I am viewing quilts though, I am always drawn to traditional and vintage quilts.”

Quilt, made for the 2020 Island Batik Ambassador Log Cabin Blog Hop. Denise used the fabric from Island Batik Mesa Verde collection by Kathy Engle, a needle by Schmetz Needles, batting by Hobbs and thread by Aurifil. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://fortheloveofgeese.com/2020/02/24/log-cabin-blog-hop/.

Denise is all about paper piecing: “I LOVE to paper piece because of the accuracy. However, it can be a little tricky with some designs getting everything to match up. Since Island Batik introduced me to thread painting through one of the monthly challenges in 2019, I have found that I really like that as well.”

Mardi Gras quilt, made for the 2019 Island Batik Ambassador Piece Of Blog Hop. Denise used the fabric from Island Batik Speakeasy collection by Tamarinis, batting by Hobbs, AccuQuilt GO! cutter and thread by Aurifil. To read more about the quilt, please visit: https://fortheloveofgeese.com/2019/11/18/a-piece-of-blog-hop/.

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

Facebook: For The Love Of Geese

Instagram: @fortheloveofgeese

Website: For The Love Of Geese

Etsy shop: For The Love Of Geese

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