The first project for 2020 as an Island Batik Ambassador is a scrappy quilt of any design, technique or size. DO I HAVE THE SCRAPS! I’ve elected to combine this challenge with a Suffrage Small Quilts Challenge sponsored by the Dakota County Historical Society in St. Paul, MN. This quilt challenge commemorates the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

(A) Selection of many Foundation Neutrals in my Island Batik Stash. (B) Drafting the background on paper in a whimsical style (C) The Foundation Neutrals stitching completed.

Do you ever have those fabrics that you LOVE?!?! Mine is the Fall Winter 2017 Island Batik City Culture 2 Collection from my first year as an ambassador. I use sparingly as this was originally a Fat Eighth Bundle but the colors are PERFECT for this quilt. (A) Selection from my Island Batik Stash that were considered but didn’t make the cut for the historical/patriotic look I’m hoping to achieve. (B) Are these colors not EXACTLY what Miss Liberty needs? (C) Adding more patriotic colors from this collection. (D) Getting started on designing the appliqué pieces.

Miss Liberty is taking shape on shades of green from Island Batik City Culture 2 Collection (A) Each bit of pattern is traced on to freezer paper and pressed on to fabric with an iron. (B) Shapes are cut from fabric backed with ©Mistyfuse following pencil lines (C) The pattern is covered with a silicone sheet before each piece is accurately placed. (D) Each fusible webbing backed piece is on the silicone sheet taking care to follow pattern lines.

Continued work on this art quilt to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment required more teeny tiny freezer paper patterns. (A) Patterns ironed to ©Mistyfuse backed fabrics. (B) Woman voter preparing to cast the first ballots in patriotic blue. (C) With all quilted elements completed, the process of bonding to the background begins. I’m using my favorite Oliso iron. (D) Lady Liberty, the ballot and ballot box, a woman voter and her daughter all in place.

Adding verbal message to the symbolic message. The importance of the 19th Amendment is more than just it’s 100th Anniversary. (A) Getting each letter exactly the correct size with the help of my Cutterpillar Glow light table. (B) ©Mistyfuse backed red Island Batik letters bonded in place. (C) With all bonding completed, raw edges are stitched in place. (D) Additional zigzag stitching adds depth and texture.

(A) Using two different fonts in three sizes, words are complete. Angles in the background added to the challenge of keeping words precisely horizontal. (B) Quilting completed on my Handi Quilter Amara in precise half-inch intervals. Hobbs Thermore Batting was used in this quilt. (C) Discovered AFTER quilting that one letter didn’t get stitched with edge finish. It’s the only one completed AFTER the backing fabric was added. (D) A stroke of luck with the placement of the hanging sleeve…it completely covered stitching on the back and doesn’t look any different on the front! SHH!!! Don’t tell!

Here’s the completed Island Batik Scrappy Challenge and Suffrage Small Quilts Challenge sponsored by the Dakota Country Historical Society in St. Paul, MN. I’m hoping to hear within the next few days if this quilt will be accepted for the traveling exhibit celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment.