Storm At Sea Blog Hop

This month, Island Batik challenged the Ambassadors to make a storm at sea quilt with a surprise fabric bundle. AND there is a GIVEAWAY! Scroll down for the link.

I received the fabric collection Celestials By Kathy Engle.

This is not my normal color wheel. So, challenge accepted!

I have to say, I worked my design and coloration for a pretty long time! It was not easy, but I think I came up with a design that is SO MUCH better because it was not as easy. Easy does not always mean fabulous. I think what I came up with is SO MUCH BETTER because it was a challenge.

I worked with EQ8 for my design. It is always where I start.

I may have colored and twisted the blocks and started over about 50 times.

This is what I finally came up with:

I chose 7 of the gold fabrics and 5 of the navy to get a bit of a color progression.

I was able to download the palette of fabrics so I could realistically see what the quilt would look like finished. I set the quilt on point, which does give it a different look than traditional.

Here are my fabrics:

I printed out paper piecing templates from EQ8 to get pretty accurate points.

After rough cutting the pieces, I began stitching.

I had a pretty strict list of the colors needed for each piece so I could get the color progression down correctly.

Once I got all the units made, I started piecing them in rows.

I like my Juki sewing machine for paper piecing with a new microtex Schmetz needle for extra piercing power.

I used some number pins to keep my rows sorted.

They are pretty cute and kept it organized.

I laid the strips over my Longarm bars before stitching them together.

I used Navy on the outside to float the blocks. I really love the setting of this quilt.

Ready to quilt!

I chose a design that was swirly and complemented the piecing and used a bright gold thread. I quilted my Storm at sea on my Handi Quilter Longarm with Pro-Stitcher.

It is SO pretty! I am using Hobbs Cotton Wool blend, my new FAV batting.

The whole quilt is just stunning in person. The colors are so very rich and just plain Gorgeous. The quilt finished at 58" square, perfect lap or throw size.

When you are faced with a challenge, be it in quilting or in life, embrace the challenge! This is what makes us better at everything. It is so worth it to accomplish something that seems hard.