Saturday, February 9, 2019

I'm an Island Batik Ambassador Again!

I am thrilled to announce that I am once again an Island Batik Ambassador. Last year was an amazing year of challenges, that pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it helped me spread my wings as a pattern designer.
This first box arrived a few weeks ago, but due to the Getaway Blog Hop, we were asked to wait to share all our goodies until the hop ended. Within this post is the announcement of the winners of the giveaway I hosted on my blog for that hop, so read on! One favour I am asking of my readers who subscribe via email: can you let me know if the link that says "Continue reading..." works for you please, or if the way it comes in has changed at all? I am having some extremely annoying issues with blogger and gmail.

All of the products were supplied to me to try out by Island Batik, Aurifil, Hobbs Batting, and AccuQuilt.

So! I made a short little video of me opening my box for the first time...after Canada Customs had opened it, but 'nuff said. Next box I will turn the camera on myself, I promise. I had to wait an extra two weeks to look inside because we were in Mexico. (First world problems I know...)


Needless to say Canada Customs was not that careful; they ripped the wrapping paper of one of my Surprise! packages. Don't worry; I taped it up, and here it is:

I will get to show you my project using this not-yet-released collection in August. I know! It's a while off!

All right so let's take a closer look at the stuff I can show you that was inside. Lots of pictures ensue!
Last year I got a lovely piece of turquoise rayon, and I even picked a probable pattern to make, but it didn't happen. Hopefully I will still make it, and then figure out something to make with this beautiful  piece. I don't wear a lot of red, so I'm not sure I'll make a wearable piece.

Here are my Batik Foundations. We use these as extra fabrics to possibly fill in holes within a project. I am in LOVE with these colours! Like just WOW.


Destined for a little big larger quilt methinks. 'Twilight Chic' is the name of this line, and those are 10" squares. Great name right?
And I just. 
Can't. 
With that teal. Beside the gold? Lick. Slurp. (and that's not Rufus's tongue either)

We get basics now too, such a much-needed item we ambassadors found. Island Batik is such a wonderful company to work for; they listen to their ambassadors, and deliver, in spades! That spool of Aurifil kind of 'landed' on there... I do love black and pink together...hmmm.

This pack is resting on another beautiful blue rayon scarf which I've already worn twice! I love their scarves.



This run of photos is actually two sets of strips called Stash Builders. Within each roll are four 5" strips that coordinate. Just two sets, yes, but look how different they look from one side of the package to the other! You can see the variety of colours and chops (not prints) you get within each set.

Island Batik sends us a neutral to use as background. This is called Mini Dot - Hemp Blossom. It's a pinkish yellow. I'm thinking it will probably have to work with the Stash Builder rolls, or perhaps as a backing. It's all part of the challenge, right?!

Hobbs Batting came through in spades this box. Just. Wow.
Last year in our first box we got Thermore and I was a little unsure of it; it was just so thin! I could see it for small projects, those where I'd used flannel as the batting. It was love at first use! This stuff I cannot say enough about: it is lightweight, thin, flexible, perfect for runners, wallhangings, placemats, and best, and most surprising and gratifying of all? It shows up your quilting so well!! I love it and if that had been all in the box, I'd have been very pleased.


That bunch was under the Thermore! A closer look...



I'm pretty sure the only one I haven't ever used is their silk blend. Every other one here I have used and there hasn't been a one I wasn't impressed with! Yay, lucky me.

Five spools of varying weights of Aurifil thread. I used their floss on my suitcases quilt 'Oh! The Places You'll Go!' and really liked it. I've done a lot of quilting with 12 and 30 weight Sulky, so the 12 and 28 weight Aurifil will be welcome. I used the 28 weight Aurifil last year and liked it!

Last year I didn't get any buttons, so I'm very happy to have received these this year!
But there is more, a huge surprise for all of us this year:


AccuQuilt has partnered with Island Batik and sent us this accuquilt Go! system. Like I am at a loss for words (and you know that rarely happens to me!)... There is the cutter in the lower right, a cube of 8" dies in the middle, and in the upper centre/right is a cutting mat and another die to cut 2 1/2" strips.
I. Can't. Even.
I've never used a cutter like this, but have ogled them from afar, and not so afar...at a retreat a couple of years ago one of the women had a different brand and I was really intrigued. I've seen a couple of other bloggers use of them, and thought, okay, that's next on my need-to-have tools list. I promise it is just serendipity with Christmas recently done, but see the pink, mint, silver and black kaleidoscope quilt peeking into the photo frame on the right? When I set up the photo, I hadn't planned to catch it in; rather, I was trying to not catch in the bags of puppy and dog food that sit in our spare room where my design wall and books live, and I can shut the door to keep said puppy out... Anyhow, I realized it was a perfect shot because that is a Stack 'n Whack quilt à la Bethany Reynolds, where I cut, by hand, with my rotary cutter, a stack of eight identical repeats to get the twirling effect. This cutter will slice through six layers like butter! Can't wait to give it a whirl, though I'll admit, as with all new-to-me tools, I always have a bit of trepidation with the first use. I have no doubt those flutters will morph into flutters of over-the-moon-ness in no time. 😁

Just so very grateful and honoured to have been chosen again to represent this terrific company with their beautiful fabrics that are soft, not stiff, can't say that enough, as well as Hobbs Batting, Aurifil, and now AccuQuilt.

Finally, I have drawn and emailed the winners of my own giveaway prizes from my stop on the Getaway Blog Hop. It always 'intrigues' me how many entrants claim they follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, bloglovin' or by email, but they actually do not. How do I know? Well, I check. It isn't hard to check your lists, and I'm not about to give a prize to a person who does not follow me, and lies about it to boot! Anyhow, the winners are displayed on the Rafflecopter widget in my blog hop post, but here they are:

5" charm squares pack: Anita J who follows me on Pinterest
A copy of each of my patterns, as well as one of the suitcase quilt once it's published (nearly there, just need a good shot for the cover, and a couple of diagrams):Susan M who follows me on Pinterest
A copy of American Patchwork & Quilting Jan/Feb 2019: Janie M who follows me on Instagram

Thank you to all who left such kind and thoughtful comments; I enjoyed reading each one!

And now, I have a puppy to watch, a grandson and daughter to do things with until they leave (sniff) tomorrow, and a couple of quilts to get made and shipped/posted about before the end of the month!



36 comments:

  1. How wonderful to be returning as an ambassador again this year, Sandra. Congratulations! It looks like you have a lot of wonderful tools and fabrics to create with and I look forward to seeing what you make.

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  2. Looking forward to seeing the new creations for this year. We will see what new talents you learn. Congratulations!

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  3. Your Foundations collection is amazing. And that red rayon...awesome. I can't believe someone would lie about following you. Unbelievable.

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  4. I can't wait to see what you make this year, Sandra! You certainly knocked it out of the park with all of your creations last year :)

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  5. Looks like another fun year for you using all those goodies.

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  6. Wow, what a lot of goodies. I have no doubt that you will be turning out some amazing creations this year. I have a feeling you are going to be head over heels in love with that Go cutter. Congratulations on continuing to be an Island Batik Ambassador - a well deserved honor.

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  7. Just to let you know the “continue comment” works for me. Have to love Canada Customs. Every Christmas we see that all the boxes are opened and checked. X- rays don’t work anymore? What a job!

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  8. Such a fun box and you will love the cutter - those 2 1/2” strips and triangles - so worth it. Now I have one in both my places - Sizzix in Maine and Accuquilt in Mass. So glad you have your grandson and your wonderful new puppy! I look forward to Rufus updates and pics!

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  9. Lucky you! That Twilight Chic palette makes my heart race! Can't wait to see what you make with all these goodies. Enjoy!

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  10. Hello Sandra! Your blog posts come to me via email into my gmail box. I did not see a "continue" link at all in the email I received. For goodness sakes, email is a tool and is just supposed to work! Of course I'd always just click on the blog post title to read more of your wonderful words. You will have fun with all of these new goodies. Look forward to seeing all of your wonderful creations.

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  11. Christmas all over again! You are going to LOVE the Accuquilt! I get your blog posts via e-mail and there was not a "continue reading" link at the end of it. I do get mine via gmail. I had to click on the title to get to your blog which worked fine. Also, the text font is still very tiny compared to most other blogs that I follow. How frustrating for you!

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  12. Sandra
    Love your blog. Just wanted to answer your question. Continue works fir me but the post only fills about half the screen. I just enlarge it. Thank you.

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  13. I did not see a "Continue Reading" link in my email. I just clicked on the name of your blog in my email and it took me right to your blog and I was able to read your post. Good thing, too, because you had so much to share!

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  14. hopoe you totally enjoy being an ambassador again, iknow i will look forward to seeingwhat you create this year. there was no choice to continue reading, i just clikced on the header and it took me to the post.

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  15. There was no "continue reading" button on my email. Congratulations on another year of ambassadorship (is that really a word!!). You make such lovely projects and I think they are lucky to have you. Can't wait to see what you design this year.

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  16. Congrats!! The fabrics are awesome, the red rayon looks amazing. The Go cutter......great surprise.

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  17. I do see emailed blogs that have the continue reading box, and they seem to work for me, but I didn’t see a box with this post—I just got the whole post. What a fun box for you to open even if it was preopened. I hope whoever had to do that was inspired to quilt! I’m blown away by how many goodies you get AND the die cutter. Of course “to whom much is given, of whom much is expected.” Ha ha! I expect to see great things from you this year (as always). 😂

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  18. I get your posts by email and use gmail. I have never gotten a continue reading message. The title of your post is highlighted and when I click on it, takes me to the full post.
    Looks like you will have fun again this year with your box full of goodies. I'll be interested in seeing what you think of the Go cutter. I tried a friend's Go to cut 2 1/2" squares, cutting 6 layers and not all the pieces came out the correct size. Probably user error, but I decided they cost too much since you have to keep buying different dies.
    Pat

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  19. Hi Sandra. I get the post via email on gmail. Used to get the continue reading button (and it worked) but it now doesn't appear. However, clicking on the title does work. As someone else has already mentioned - when I used to continue the text came up tiny but doesn't now that I just click on the title.

    I can't wait to see what you produce with your box of goodies - I would spend a very long time just stroking them all! Will be interested to hear how the Go Cutter works - I've never tried one.

    Michelle Peet (Email as I think I've managed to go back to being a no reply blogger again is full name at gmail.com )

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  20. I will look forward to all the fun things you create with that amazing stash -- oh, those twilight fabrics!! Wowza. They are gorgeous! First thing I thought when I saw the red rayon was how beautiful that will look on you! Enjoy your time with the kids and Rufus!

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  21. Congratulations on being an ambassador again.
    Have fun with your grandson and daughter.

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  22. I also get your blog delivered via email (gmail for me). I don't see a continue but just click on the title of the post to read the rest.

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  23. Those goodies, I know we will again see some wonderful projects made with the Island Batiks.

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  24. As a recent subscriber, I am looking forward to a year of wonderful projects with all the fabulous batiks in the boxes from Island Batiks. The read more button worked fine on this end.

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  25. Congrats!!!! ❤️ I had to click on your title line to get here but so glad I did!

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  26. What a great box of surprises. Do you get one of these every month?....and a cutter! I had to click on title line to get here. Didn't see a continued.....
    Linda

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  27. Hello Sandra - Congratulations on another island ambassador year! Cannot wait to see what you come up with.

    In answer to your question, for me, your little blog says "Read more..." and you click on that and it opens up to your whole post.

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  28. Congrats on the ambassadorship. What a great hall for you all. I see a lot of fun ahead.

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  29. I can't wait to hear about learning to use the Accuquilt cutter! I've been intrigued by them. What a generous gift to give each Ambassador. And of course I know you'll make spectacular, unique, wonderful projects from all these goodies :)

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  30. Congratulation, Sandra!! You worked so hard and now it's time to have a little fun with these fabulous goodies. I can't wait to see what you create and how you quilt them. As you well know, I LOVE your exquisite quilting :)

    -Soma

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  31. Congratulations on being selected as an ambassador again this year. It's always fun to see what you make from you box of goodies. Happy stitching!

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  32. I am able to follow by going to your blog separately, or picking it up through quilterblogs.com. Not a Facebook user, don’t want yet another email account, so I do it the easier way! Love your designs, so glad to have Canadians involved in the challenge, too. Winter in Arizona isn’t so bad when I check the weather at home in Calgary and your area in Ontario! Jill in Calgary/Phoenix
    Jill McCaughey at Shaw dot ca

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  33. Goodness me, all your Christmases come together at once. That is a parcel and a half! Do you think customs tear the paper just to let you know they were there? I don't have an aqua thingy but I do have a sissix big shot. I have never actually used it for fabric, but I use it to cut my paper hexies. I would like to use it to cut drunkards path circles. I have not seen a sissix diecut, but have seen a acqua quilt die cut. I wonder do they inter change?

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  34. Congrats! you will make amazing quilts with all this stuff!

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  35. Congrats on being selected again. I loved seeing your creations last year. 🙂. My mom got an Accuquilt. I have yet to try it out.

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  36. Congratulations Sandra. You surely deserve the honour of being chosen again.
    Can’t wait to see what you create with that beautiful fabric.

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