Join me for a fun series in American Quilter magazine called Big Impact Batiks!
First, I'll talk about batiks, how they're made, why they look a certain way and how applications made from color to design can affect them. This will help you look at batiks in a whole different way! Then, you can make a cute little quilt using those batiks. There's a whole layout of where the little quilts fit together, but you may decide to use them separately for different purposes. I'm choosing to use 3 the first month, adding 3 more the second issue, adding 3 more for the third issue, until I get a total of 18. Follow along and do the same if you'd like! I'll make a note of which batiks I use.

We've had two challenges over on Facebook Live so far: Projects and a Fabric Pull!

But just because I know the style of batiks I'm looking to use, doesn't mean I have pulled by fabrics. Just like if you see a wonderful batik wall, you know you just have to use those, you go find something to make right?! And then start to pull fabrics to go with the project you've chosen.

Because of the variety I have in my Color Me Banyan: Kaleidoscope, I think I will be able to have quite a lot of fun doing a fabric pull for either of the two Lacy Tablerunners I've pictured above. I'll be sending out a video link in my newsletter showing my thought process, so join me!

Generally Memorial Day in the US and Victoria Day in Canada are the unofficial kick off to summer. The hotdogs, hamburgers, potato salad, festivals, fairs, family and celebrations.
So here’s the question:
What Does Memorial Day and/or Victoria Day mean to you?

The Olivia's Star  is made up of beautiful purples, blues, aquas and pinks, which lends it all sorts of choices for the setting fabric. I chose to do a dark blue, like a dark sky, to let the lighter and brighter colors pieced into the star to glow! 
Reminder! Grab you kaleidoscope tool to auction off setting fabric options!

Did you know the Olivia's Star has a big sister??! (Just like my Olivia, she has a big sister, Madison) So if you'd like to try the Madison's Star, the big sister version of this, using 2-1/2" strips, hop on over to that pattern here:

The Olivia's Star is composed of 8 diamonds. By using the background fabric on each side of the strip sets, it makes these diamonds so dynamic!! 

Troubleshooting
If your diamond is smaller than the template, here's a couple things to try:
Press, like really press! You will be amazed at how much you lose in seam allowance. I always take a scant 1/4" seam on bargello pieces and press my seams open. If you think of each seam, losing 1/16" in pressing to one side, that can add up quickly. Also, because this is a mini, it's much more important to have less in the seam allowance than showing on the right side of the piece. Trying to avoid sewing the seams into the next segment when sewing it together can be frustrating.
Trace the template onto the non-shiny side of freezer paper, using the 1/4" marking on the template. This will downsize your diamonds a little bit, but no one will notice! Cut the freezer template out and press it to your diamond. Mark as indicated, and use this as your new template. No problem!!

If your piecing of segments is a little wonky, bowing slightly:
Press, like really press! Nudge them back in line:) Lay your triangle on your piece and see if your slightly wonky piecing still can be trimmed off to fit the triangle. If so, start marking!! Because of the way it's pieced, with the background fabric making the bright colors seem to float, once these diamonds are sewn together, you will not see it, I promise!!