Inspired by Nature! And a Raffle!

Scroll to the bottom to sign up for a chance to win some great fabrics.

This month for Island Batik, we were instructed to use a specific collection and create a quilt inspired by nature.

I lucked out TOTALLY with the most fabulous collection of all. This is Just My Type by Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis. This line is in stores now (or on their way) Be sure to ask your local store.

I drew my inspiration from the view from my home and studio:

The birch trees inspired me, along with great poetic license to create a quilt with a background of all the colors of blues to greens, with some birch trees and a bunch of leaves quilted allover.

I started with an arrangement of the fabrics, adding a few light neutrals to balance out all the colors.

Then I picked out some birch trees.

I added a dark from one of my Stash Builder rolls for the birch trunk coloring.

With a 2 1/2" strip cut from each fabric, I built a background. I stitched all this on my Janome M7 with the HP foot/plate and dual feed.

Wow, the strips came out so straight!

Random cuts of the tree fabric mixed with strips of the dark created the tree trunks.

I then cut this chunk into random strips to insert as tree trunks. I also randomly cut the background in semi straight lines to add the trees.

There is a bit of an angle and it is not straight. That is ok!

I cut the background up a bit more, added more trees until I felt done.

I stitched it all together.....

And then I planned out my Quilting.

Birch trees have loads of leaves which have been blowing all over the past few weeks.

I brought a pic of the quilt top into my Pro Stitcher Designer software to audition designs to enhance the fabrics and not take over.

Ogee from Anne Bright is the perfect look I envisioned. I used a very lightweight thread to quilt this piece on a HandiQuilter Forte.

Hobbs heirloom Batting is always my first choice, so that is what is in this quilt. I plan on hanging this in my bedroom.

Once trimmed and squared, I added the dark green for the binding. I use my Juki sewing machine for this. I "may" have another project going on with my Janome. I love having more than one machine.

I machine stitch my bindings to the front of my quilts.

I then press really well and top stitch in the ditch from the front to finish. I don't hand stitch much as my hands hurt too much for hand stitching.

Really close in the ditch is the key to a nice looking binding.

I really love how the quilt turned out. I can't wait to make something coordinating for the bed! It is about 40" by 51".

Now for the raffle!

Sign up here for a chance to win some awesome fabrics!!!!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d463e29d20/

Bliss is just as pretty as Just my type!

Thanks for letting my share some fun with you! Thanks to my sponsors:

Disclosure: The products featured here were provided to me free of charge by Island Batik and Hobbs Batting

Be sure to visit all the Island Batik Ambassadors:

Carolina Asmussen ~ Carolina Asmussen

Pamela Boatright ~ Pamela Quilts

Jennifer Fulton ~ Inquiring Quilter

Vasudha Govindan ~ Storied Quilts

Joanne Hart ~ Unicorn Harts

Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for Quilts

Carla Henton ~ Create in the Sticks

Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood

Denise Looney ~ For the Love of Geese

Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Sally Manke ~ Sally Manke

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack's Blog

Carol Moellers ~ Carol Moellers Designs

Gail Renna ~ Quilt Haven Threads

Sharon Riley ~ Sew Riley Designs

Michelle Roberts ~ Creative Blonde

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail

Jennifer Strauser ~ Dizzy Quilter

Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations

Alison Vermilya ~ Little Bunny Quilts

Sandra Walker ~ mmm! quilts

Suzy Webster ~ Adventerous Applique and Quilting

Janet Yamamoto ~ Whispers of Yore

In the light of current events, we really need to find some joy. The bright colors and act of creating with fabric can bring so much joy in a stressful time. I will continue to create in the next few months while I am at home not traveling and teaching. Follow me on Instagram to find more fun and colorful quilt projects (and some gardening and cooking too!). @bestquilter

#islandbatik #islandbatikambassador #islandbatik #iloveislandbatik #handiquilter #janome #hobbsbatting #juki #annebrightdesigns

#olfacreates #omnigrid