Island Batik Ambassador Program - June Challenge

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For the June challenge, the Island Batik Ambassadors were given the assignment to create a quilt or table runner using the traditional quilt block known as Flying Geese. For those who are not familiar with this block, a single unit looks like this:

Now, I will be the first to admit that while I love the look of flying geese projects, I have had far more disasters than successful projects when it comes to this block. But despite this fact, a few years ago I dreamed up a pretty awesome quilt design featuring (you guessed it) flying geese. I knew I had to make the dream a reality one way or another.

One type of quilt piecing I *am* pretty good at is foundation paper piecing. But going about things that way would mean drafting my own pattern for the first time. I set to work!

At the time, Quilt Con submission time was drawing close, so I used that as additional motivation and used fabric that had been chosen for one of the Quilt Con challenges. There were several failed attempts, many bad words, and more than a few tears and cocktails. Eventually, though, I got the design to work! I was so relieved and actually cried when my quilt top looked just like my dream. But then (cue Jaws theme) I had to quilt the darn thing.

I am sad to report that I ruined it with my quilting.

The combination of being a (very) novice quilter and putting way too much pressure on myself proved to be disastrous. I shoved that quilt in a plastic bag and put it in time out on a shelf in our basement. If you want to see it, you'll have to move two cases of toilet paper (it was on sale at Costco). Perhaps someday I will take it out and attempt to fix it, but that won't be anytime soon. I'm not ready.

So this challenge provided the spark I needed to give one more attempt at bringing this design to life. I remade the foundation paper piecing templates and created my quilt top successfully on the first try. It looked just like my original dream and I was so relieved, I cried. I don't know why this design has become so important to me, but it has. Accept my weirdness or go away. I am too old to care about being judged.

Part of this challenge was to use one of the gorgeous packs of precuts that we received back in December, so I chose a stack of 10" squares called Tantalizing Teals *swoon*. I used all 20 of these gorgeous skews. I did have to use a little yardage for the larger triangles. The non-teal fabrics you'll see on my projects (yes, there are two- I'll explain in a moment) are Champagne and Slate, both also from Island Batik, of course!

This time I thought long and hard before attempting the quilting. I actually meditated before I started. I did not want a repeat of The Incident. Eventually I decided to have some mathy fun (after all, I was a math teacher). I quilted in the ditch along the sides of each center triangle, and then extended each of those quilting lines across the entire quilt. This approach produced some really interesting secondary patterns- hooray, geometry! This time I did NOT ruin my project with my quilting!

So, finally, I present to you a quilt so important to me that she has two names. Amplified Geese/Day Geese:

Here's another picture just because I am so very relieved that this quilt exists outside of my own mind:

And here are some images where you can see the quilting a little better:

As I mentioned a moment ago, I actually created two projects for this challenge. I am afraid the second project, Night Geese, doesn't have much of a story to it. The idea popped into my mind, I created foundation paper piecing templates, and I made the quilt. All in one day. No failed attempts. No drama whatsoever. Sorry it's boring, but at least the result is pretty cool... ?

In my mind, Day Geese shows the geese obediently lined up for work, probably wearing suits. But in Night Geese, it's party time! Is there a goose night club? What kind of music would they dance to? (I told you I'm weird!)

I used Aurifil 50 weight cotton for piecing and quilting on both projects. My Color Builder set in Capri Teal was a match made in heaven for this fabric.

And, of course, I used my trusty Schmetz Needles. I never use anything else! 80/12 microtex needles are perfect for batik fabrics.

A million thanks to the sponsors of the Island Batik Ambassador Program, and cheers to you if you read this entire crazy post. See you soon...

Please be sure to check out the projects by all of this year's Island Batik Ambassadors:

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs

Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting

Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts

Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany

Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts

Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts

Reed Johnson ~ Blue Bear Quilts

Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ Quiltery – For The Love Of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine

Anorina Morris ~ sameliasmum.com

Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion

Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique

Claudia Porter ~ Create with Claudia

Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts

Elita Sharpe ~ Busy Needle

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt

Make sure to follow Island Batik on Facebook and Instagram, so that you always stay updated on the beautiful quilts and home decor items from the talented Island Batik Ambassadors and Designers:

Facebook: Island Batik

Instagram: @island_batik

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