Arbor Gateway for Island Batik

December 3-D Challenge

The last project for 2019 instructs ambassadors to bring 3D into our project by any method.

Materials for this project have been provided to me by Island Batik and it’s industry partners, Hobbs Batting, Aurafil Thread in my roll as 2019 Island Batik Ambassador.

(A) Selection of many greens from my Island Batik Stash. (B) Layering silk batting with 100% wool Hobbs Quilt Batting. Batting layers were secured Odif 808. This a 'new to me' product I picked up at the Houston International Quilt Festival Odif DIY (C) Beginning sketches on paper. (D) Transferring design to batting.

Confetti quilting uses teeny tiny bits of batik fabric to create a fiber painting. A tunnel of vines create a 3D using perspective.

Continuing the confetti quilting process by building up layers and layers. This is just like creating a painting using fiber as the pallet. (A) Arbor structure created with shadows on the path. (B) Greenery added to the left side of the path. (C) Purple flowers lining the path.

The goal in this step is to quilt the confetti into place while adding depth and texture to the “painting”. (A) Tulle pinned in place to secure confetti. (B) Quilting to outline and secure. (C) Quilting to add color, depth and texture completed. (D) Readying to quilt with move to Handi-Quilter Amara. (E) View of step B outline quilting on long arm.

With the confetti arbor in the quilt center completed, it’s on to creating the brick wall surrounding it. (A) Selecting Island Batik from my stash with a structural feel for bricks, door casings and half wall. (B) Using the original paper drawing, individual pattern pieces are traced and cut. (C) Edges of architectural section are pressed in 1/4”. Edges are stitched with Charlotte’s Web Fusible Thread on the bottom and Monopoly Thread on the top. Both threads by Superior Thread . (D) Beginning assembly of brick arch around arbor.

The architectural surround is constructed to place around the confetti arbor. (A) Selecting Inktense Blocks to add depth and perspective to the brick and stone work. (B) Brick walkway leading in now has actual bricks. (C) Arch kick-plate and half wall take on dimension. (D) Switching over from Inktense Blocks to fabric paints as work continues.

All of the painting is completed along with grout created with both paint and Inktense product. (A) After pondering long and hard about the aged white patina on the old brick, a light finally came on. It might be possible to replicate it with my old stenciling brushes. (B) Bricks stenciled with white and gray fabric paint.

Two of the large components of this work are completed. Fingers crossed that it all fits! (A) Confetti arbor on large backing and two layers of batting. (B) The first peek at the brick structure with nature in the background. (C) Another view of arbor and entryway. (D) IT FITS!!! All is well with the first two sections of this project…only three more to go!

Back to a bit more confetti to finish off the trees over the brick structure. (A) Turned back top of bricks. Guess we wouldn't be able to do that in real life! (B) Moved the entire quilt back to the long arm for this step. (C) More confetti batik bits in blues and greens added. (D) Confetti stitched in place and bricks back in position.

Returning to the Amara Handi Quilter to add more quilting to the art quilt. (A) A variety of gray Aurifil thread are are selected. (B) Free motion quilting to highlight the mortar between bricks. (C) I’m using the Glide Foot 2 with it’s bowl-shape to easily glides around appliqué, embellishments, or other dimensional elements this quilt. (D) Another foot change on the machine to add ruler work.

There is one more area that needs attention (A) The bottom left corner has a patch of batting that needs a bit of nature. (B) With a green foliage batik fabric stitched in place, couching begins. (C) I’m using the Handi Quilter Couching Foot to stitch yarn and sari silk ribbon to the quilt. (D) Grasses and plants now complete this corner.

Ready to add the last layer of dimension in the foreground. (A) Look closely to see the gate opened to welcome visitors at the Tryon Palace garden. Drafting a pattern to capture the perspective. (B) Yarn and novelty threads are placed on Sulky Ultra Solvy Sticky to shape the gate. (C) A layer of regular Sulky Ultra Solve is placed on top to make a sandwich. (D) So sorry…I forgot to take a photo of this on the long arm. Look closely to see the black quilting just on the gate rails. The photo shows cutting away excess stabilizer. (E) Gate has been rinsed in warm water to remove the water-soluble stabilizer. Here it is drying in front of heat register. (F) At last, the gate is stitched to quilt.

Arbor Gateway is FINISHED. The photo was taken last spring Tryon Palace in New Bern, NC had the perfect perspective to use for the Island Batik Ambassadors 3 D Challenge. This art quilt uses these techniques: confetti quilting, turned-edge appliqué, raw edge fused appliqué, Intense Pencils and Blocks, fabric painting, thread sketching, stenciling, couching, free motion quilting, ruler work quilting and creating an object (gate) with water-soluble fibers and yarn.

A huge thank you to Island Batik and each of their industry partners for the last two years of challenges. This opportunity has allowed me to expand to try new techniques and projects. I’m delighted and honored to continue as an ambassador for 2020!