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Investigating and exploring things in the quilting and creative industries. I focus on the processes in batiks and using them in projects!

2/3/2022 0 Comments

Big Impact Batiks!

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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.
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Banyan Batiks skus 81600-29, 80743-28, 80741-23
For the small quilt in American Quilter, I chose these three batiks. Remember, I am making smaller blocks, mini sized projects, so I need the batiks to be impactful. The first month I talk about color saturation and how it impacts your choices. Make sure to check it and grab the directions for the first project. Because these are small projects, it gives me the opportunity to play around a bit with some quilting techniques to give just a little bit more flair to a block or project.
What if you just love the first block?!? Wouldn't it be great if there was a lap size version? With maybe a little bit bigger block? Well there is! I've designed a larger quilt project that uses the block technique found in American Quilter, but with a different fabric selection. As blocks get bigger or smaller, batiks will work in different ways, so I did a fabric pull of batiks I thought might work well in the project I designed. 
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This batik is a special one showcased in the collection Flower Power for Banyan Batiks. It's a handpainted batik that I thought would be fantastic to feature in this block. If you'd like to see how it's made, click the link to my Youtube for the video!
Flower Power: How it's Made
After you pull the fabrics you like, do you make up one block first to see if you really really like them as you thought? I do. When you do your own fabric selection, you have to allow yourself to make different choices. Things don't always go as you thought. Maybe the values are different, maybe the handpainted stripe you like looks amazing in triangles--who knew! Give yourself freedom to like it or not. Really take the time to look at those batiks and have fun with them!! The lap size quilt uses the same techniques shown in January issue of American Quilter. 
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60" x 60" lap size quilt
Click here to request fabric requirements and layout info
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5/26/2021 1 Comment

Batik Challenge!

We've had two challenges over on Facebook Live so far: Projects and a Fabric Pull!
Kick off Weekend is Coming.....!
Our first challenge was: Pull Your Project!
Pull together project ideas you might like to create with batiks! Here’s an excuse to go find a new project at your Local Quilt Shop, to grab something you’ve been meaning to try, to pull out a favorite tried and true pattern. But show us!! We want to see all the fun projects you are thinking of working on! Maybe you can’t decide and need some help! Take a poll! We all have great opinions!
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Colored this Lacy Bloom runner with my Kaleidoscope Collection! Due in stores in December
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Fat Quarter Gypsy patterns!!
So here's a question?! Do you have a color palette in mind before you pull your pattern? Or do you get inspired by the pattern?
My answer to the above?? I have a group of batiks I want to use and then go find something to make with them!
I chose to do one of the Lacy Table toppers or runners by Fat Quarter Gypsy. I wanted to try something new and this definitely is outside my wheelhouse!
They have something for spring/summer, fall and holiday so need to determine which one I think I will finish for!! Click the link to head over to their website to check them out!
Fat Quarter Gypsy Website
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Colored this Lacy Leaf tablerunner in my Kaleidoscope Collection, due in stores in December
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.
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How do you go about choosing the fabrics to fit within that project then? Do you choose similar colorations that are shown on the project? Do you make your own palette?
Our second challenge was: Pull Your Fabric!
​Show us your palette! Whether it be from your batik stash (omg! I would love to see batik stashes!!), maybe you’re taking a shopping trip to your LQS—well then I want a photo! Or a video! Shout out to your favorite store! Maybe you can’t decide what colors to use, or you’re trying something outside your comfort zone and just want some support!
So you found a project, but you've got to pull some fabrics to fit, right? From the comments on Facebook Live, Karen Gibbs: For the Love of Batiks, it seems we respond first to color when choosing our projects. 
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!
Sign up for my newsletter!
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4/27/2021 0 Comments

Batik Challenge!!

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?
​​Let’s put those thoughts into this Batik Challenge.
Kick off the summer with the memories of previous summers, maybe a favorite summer vacay, maybe a favorite summer party, maybe remembering those we’ve lost in service, to also remember not all heroes wear capes.

Since when we think of batiks, we think color, almost anything can be translated into this challenge.

Let’s have different stages of creating with this, different opportunities to chime in, different opportunities to post.

So even if you know you won’t finish, you can participate in the thought processes of a project. We will do a drawing for each creative stage, so if you post something you’ll be entered to win.

​I’ll announce the creative stage during the Facebook Live, usually every other week, but feel free to post when you have an opportunity.
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This week, Thursday April 29th will be the first creative process I thought would be fun for this challenge! I'll make sure to post some photos here on the blog of what I'm doing, but will also send some video to those that have joined the newsletter! So make sure you sign up!
Newsletter
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4/27/2021 0 Comments

Quilty Box Project: Let's put this together!

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!
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Take Your Time and Pin!!

Once your background pieces are cut, lay them all out with the diamonds on a flat surface.

Find the centers for the diamond edges as well as the centers for your setting pieces and line them up. PIN!!!

Any excess from the setting pieces can be trimmed off later.

Choosing Background fabrics!
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Finished Olivia's Star!!!
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:
Are you a teacher? Quilt Shop? Want to run a Madison's Star Marathon quilt weekend? Reach out to me on the contact page and let me know. I have a teachers guide prepared to run a successful weekend!
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Madison's Star
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4/8/2021 0 Comments

Quilty Box Project: Using the template!

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!! 
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Olivia's Star diamond
Line the bottom of the traingle up at the center pieced line.
Adjust the top point of your triangle to be centered on the strip set 8.
Mark on the two sides. Flip the triangle and repeat.
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Trimming the bargello piecing to sized diamonds
I created the triangle template to use with this since it's a lot easier to use and store for your next one than the full diamond. Grab your favorite marking tool and let's get trimming our diamonds!

​Please make sure your diamonds are pressed really well as described in the last step. Use that spray starch!! That will make cutting these much easier!
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!!
Next up, choose your setting fabric and let's put this together!!!
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    Hello! I'm Karen Gibbs, the Design Director for Banyan Batiks, a quilter, a Momma,  crazy about food, cultures and an active lifestyle.

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