Try A Tool With Studio 180 Design
Try A Tool With Studio 180 Design
Delighted to learn that Redfin Blog featured a quote from me on their delightful blog post titled “From Crochet to Macrame: Experts Share The Best Ways to Incorporate Textile Into Your Home.” Timing is everything and it happened just as my latest art quilt was complete!
Studio 180 Design has partnered with Island Batik for the August 2021 Island Batik Ambassadors Try a Tool Blog Hop. This month’s challenge is to use at least 30 units created with the assigned tool to make a quilt of any size. The Corner Pop III and all materials used in this project were given to me in my role as an Island Batik Ambassador.
This is the fabulous Flutter Fly Collection by Island Batik Designer Kathy Engle I will use in this month’s challenge.
This is the Corner Pop III ruler by Deb Tucker’s Studio 180 Design to be used in the project. This one ruler can be used to make 21 different-sized blocks. I’m going miniature with 2-1/2” blocks.
Paper Birch Art Quilt - Confetti
The first portion of this project is a landscape confetti art quilt. A selection of Island Batik Neutrals representing ‘sky like’ colors are assembled be rotary cutting them into tiny bits. Confetti sky is sprinkled on Thermore Batting by Hobbs. Thermore is the ideal art quilt batting as it lends a bit of stiffness without being heavy or distorting work when quilted.
Layering of confetti colors continues with the addition of every color in the Flutter Fly collection.
Creating confetti with the darkest and most intense colors brings the art quilt to life in photos A and B. Thin slivers of trees with a few larger close-up birch are added over the confetti.
The confetti portion of this art quilt is complete, however a breeze, ceiling fan, or sneeze could be disastrous. Each precious detail is preserved with the addition of nylon tulle in photo B. Look closely at photo three to see how the tulle just disappears into the quilt but secures each piece to ready it for quilting.
The Paper Birch Art Quilt is loaded on the Handi Quilter Amara so free-motion stitching can hold all the tiny pieces in place. Aurifil 80 weight thread becomes invisible after quilting.
Paper Birch Art Quilt - Border
The border colors will repeat the collection used in the confetti portion. Many perfect 2-1/2” squares are cut from the lighter foundation fabric and each of the Flutter Flies colors. The border will need forty mini blocks.
The border rapidly became much more involved than anticipated. An eyelash mini border was added to create separation between the confetti and Try A Tool border. The light color used in the first batch of 2-1/2” blocks were terribly distracting, photo 2. Fewer blocks with the light color still didn’t work for me so they got tossed, too. At last, with all the light colors removed, construction could continue. On a bright note, I have lots of blocks to work into a mini quilt later.
WOOHOO!!!! The binding is being attached as I’m almost at the finish line. 😃 HAPPINESS! This is the first time in four years as an Island Batik Ambassador that I have finished on the day a project was due. July and August were full to the brim with family, friends, and fun that was enjoyed to the fullest. I wouldn’t change a thing but will be back to my usual early finish for the September project.
The Paper Birch Art Quilt finished at 21-1/2” X 28-1/4”.
Giant thank you shout out to Island Batik and these industry partners for their supplies, support and encouragement.
Blog Hop Week 2 Giveaway and Blog Hop Schedule
Don’t miss the Island Batik giveaway for the week. Click on the link below to register to win precuts for Midnight Dazzle or Floral Wonders:
This Weeks Blog Hop Schedule
August 16:
Pamela Boatright, Pamela Quilts - you are here!
Gail Renna, Quilt Haven Threads
August 17:
Denise Looney, For the Love of Geese
Sally Manke, Sally Manke Fiber Artist
August 18:
Brianna Roberts, Sew Cute and Quirky
Suzy Webster, Websterquilt
August 19:
Jennifer Eubank, Archipelago Quilting
Jennifer Fulton, Inquiring Quilter
Published by Sally Manke, Fiber Artist
Sally Manke's mission is to delight others with textile art that exemplifies her passion for joyful, creative expression through color and texture. She is a speaker, teacher, pattern designer, Island Batik Ambassador and fiber artist. Contact her to book a workshop or trunk show at https://www.sallymanke.com/contact