Beautiful Batiks

Here is my completed top sing 100% cotton batiks. It was a challenge and I have to say I am happy with the top. Because of the braid pattern I did have issues with wavy bias, which is why I used my seam ripper. 

When adding the blue strips, I found it very helpful to line up my centers and sew from the middle out and lightened my hand on the iron.

Here's a close up of these gorgeous fabrics! Keio and her mom have started an Etsy store and I encourage you to take a look HERE. 

Thank you Keio for believing I could work with your beautiful batiks and showcase them in a quilt.

Be sure to check out my Around the World Blog hoppers- LIZZIE & JULIANN

Quilters are So Generous!

One of the reasons I love to blog is the connection I make with other quilters. It seems to bring the world in a little closer and allows us to reach one another no matter how many miles apart we are.

Belarmina saw a post of my blue and white collection and she shared with me about the beautiful pottery made in Spain.  Then she sent this gorgeous vase!

Her sister didn't think it would make it, but here it is. :) It is a very precious gift. Thank you again Belarmina.

 If you want to see more click HERE. It is a very old art and so beautiful!

She included this adorable necklace pin cushion! Of course, even if it is around my neck I may not be able to find it! hahaha

Another generous blogger sent me these old blocks to use after I sent her off a little piece of star fabric for our Revolutionary Flag quilt. (how are ya'll coming on that?) I'm going camping this weekend and hope to finish my last tree block for this month. It was quite a lot of hand applique. 

Look how this is coming along. I'm liking it! 

My fall half marathon is tomorrow. It's going to be a tough course- I'm trusting my training to get me to the finish line.  Oh yeah, and we are camping the previous night and the night after. My body is already starting to ache! lol

Have a lovely weekend. 

I am up For the Challenge (Or am I?)

 This isn't something you see often on my blog. BATIKS! Aren't they beautiful?
Back in March I was contacted by Keio asking if I'd be willing to showcase her batiks in my blog.
Here are her words, "This year, I made my dream come true and with the help of my mother I started my own business! Me and my mother are involved directly in the manufacturing process by picking the color and pattern combinations ourselves."

You can see them and purchase them at the Etsy site HERE. 

Isn't that cool? So, this past week I received them in the mail, have them washed up and ready to be made into a quilt. I had an idea (even on EQ) but after seeing them in real life I've changed my design plan. I will start cutting them into strips this week! Stay tuned.....

These two remind me of quilted feathers. Absolutely amazing!

Have you used batiks in your quilts? Edyta Sitar uses them very effectively and I know Jo Morton is using them too. What do you think of that?