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