Thursday, January 16, 2020

It's a To-Do Thursday!

I love figures of speech, and there's a double entendre in my title for you. The first to-do meaning is a 'to-do' list:
http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-23-weekly-progress-update/
This is a Linky Party hosted by Roseanne and Sue of Home Sewn By Us, and I thought I'd try to join in here and there throughout the year. I always have a to-do list for each week in my planner, so this is just an extra step.

The second to-do meaning is 'it's a big deal'.
I know everyone has surmised since my last post on my om coasters, but this is my official announcement post, and it's a big to-do: I was chosen to be an Island Batik Ambassador again for 2020! I'm very honoured; they cut the ambassadors down to half the numbers, so I'm also very proud to have been selected, but also I want to send accolades to Island Batik for being inclusive. So many fabric companies are 'US only' whether it's ambassadors, prizes or free shipping with x amount of dollars spent, but not so Island Batik. We have ambassadors from mainly the US, but also from Canada, the UK and Greece!

Here are all 25 of us:

Some familiar faces, some new, lots of talent and inspiration ahead!

So back to the To-Do List for a moment. This is for the week of January 16.
1. Write my Ambassador 2020 post (you're reading it!)
2. Finish my January Challenge quilt (see where it's at in the photo below)
3. Write my Q1FAL Post

Should be do-able. You've been perhaps seeing a couple of sneak peeks of my candles quilts on Instagram?
Not the final layout, just a way to keep track of colours, shapes and backgrounds


Just as with the ambassadors, some regular sponsors are back, and some are new. Click the graphic below to check out the each site.




Accuquilt has once again supplied us with a die for a future challenge project. Mine is a block I've wanted to do for, like, EVER! Storm at Sea!

Aurifil is with us again this year, and has sent a couple of gorgeous collections of thread, one of which I'm using in my current challenge quilt.

Hobbs Batting once again has sent us some lovely batting to work with.

Schmetz Needles is new to sponsorship, but definitely NOT new to me. I have used their needles exclusively since I bought my first Elna in 1979. I just ADORE them, even took a fancy threads and needles course about 10 years ago where we used some specialty needles like a double one.

New this year is Studio 180 Design. My RSC project from 20... um 2017(egad) Migrating Geese, is one of Deb's designs. We will be working with her rulers.

And another new sponsor is By Annie, where you can find ALL things related to bag making! I love making quilted bags, small ones, medium and large; one can never have too many IMHO!

We have some new jobs this year, one of which is four blog hops! The first one is coming up in February. We'll be showcasing collections releasing in February. Mine is all kinds of wonderful. We also have to make a video showing our unboxing, which I have made, but you won't get to see it until January 31, which is my day to 'go live'. We can do our videos on FaceBook or YouTube, and you'll see mine on YouTube. If you're interested to see other ambassadors' videos, be sure to head to either Island Batik's blog or their FaceBook page.

I just adore Island Batik's fabrics. Take a closer look at my scrappy candles, poor night time lighting and all, and be WOWED, as my friends I sew with at the library once a month were, by the incredible depth, the different 'chops' (they aren't called prints), the variation within a 4.5 x 6.5" rectangle!

Speaking of the library, I was asked to be the artist of the month once again. I popped in earlier this week to see what kind of display they did with the quilts I took. It struck me how many are Island Batik ones I made in 2019:
They will switch these out tomorrow to display the others. From left to right the Island Batik ones are Bear Paw Dance, The Kelpie's Star, and Cheerio. Beneath Cheerio is Moody Blues.

Even the shells table runner that they pinned to the bottom of The Kelpie's Star is all batiks, though this was from several years ago, and collected in a few quilt shops, so I'm not sure on whose they are. What's clear is my love for batiks goes deep! I must say it's quite a rush to see one's work on display. Every one but the shells runner is an original design. Even the quilt whose back is shown (ouch), the front is my own design. Sewing for Island Batik, and working through the challenges each month has been such a rewarding activity; it has pushed my creativity, pushed me out of my comfort colours and comfort zone, pushed my designing love.

That's it for my Island Batik post; I'm off to get my second project for the scrappy quilt challenge done!

23 comments:

  1. Congratulations on working with Island Batik again, Sandra! I always love seeing what you do with those beautiful fabrics. And those candles - I'm still saying, "Ohhhh!!!" everytime I see a new photo of them!

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  2. Island Batik definitely know how to pick their ambassadors! I'm already looking forward to what you'll create, Sandra, and I'm prepared to be wow-ed big time! Fun times ahead for you!

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  3. Congratulations. Those are great sponsor additions. Have fun this year.

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  4. Congrats you will be a great ambassador for them again this year!

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  5. Congrats on being an ambassador again. It was a lot of fun for me last year. Perhaps I will be able to do it again in the next year or two.
    Of course the title reminded me of an acting "tongue twister/diction exercise" that I learned a few years ago. "What a to-do to die today, at a minute or two to two; A thing distinctly hard to say, but harder still to do. For they'll beat a tattoo, at twenty to two, A rat-tat-tat- tat-tat-tat- tat-tat-tattoo."

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  6. Congratulations on getting to have a library display again. It looks beautiful. I don't know what it is about Cheerio that always draws me back to look again and again.

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  7. As I have told you before, I love batiks too, and I am really looking forward to seeing all the wonders you create this year. Congratulations on being the libraries artist of the month, and an Island Batik Ambassador for 2020 . . . can hardly wait for the next post . . .

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  8. Congratulations on being an Ambassador again this year. Looking forward to your projects. Also congratulations on being a library artist again.

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  9. Congratulations, Sandra. So wonderful that you are an ambassador again this year. I so admire your different designs and I've seen the way your confidence has grown over the last couple of years. Looking forward to many more new designs.

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  10. Woo hoo! Woo hoo! It's a really big To-do! Congrats on being chosen for IB again, and for being a Displayed Artiste. And to think I knew you way back when :)

    I'm loving the glimpses of the candle blocks, too. Don't let your light shine under a bushel basket, Sandra!

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  11. Hi Sandra! Well, look at you linking up. I adore double entendres, and then to be a part of one is COOL. Thanks for the shout out - I appreciate it. Oh man - Storm at Sea?!!! Seriously? L.u.c.k.y. I can hardly wait to see your interpretation of that. So many COOL variations and then throw in those pretty IB fabrics. I already know this is going to be stunning. The sponsors - so many great ones. I love Hobbs, and Schmetz needles!! I use them all the time. Aurifil - no need to mention that I have been using them for a few years now, and Deb Tucker's rulers . . . I just found one I want to buy just this week. All of the IBAs must be getting the word out, and showing how useful they are. Thanks for linking up, my friend. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  12. Congratulations, how wonderful to be chosen again. Well deserved, of course.

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  13. Congratulations on being an ambassador and on your artist exhibition at the library! Looks like you're off to a great start with those candles- they're striking. No wonder your sewing buddies were impressed.

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  14. Wow, those candles are so fun--can't wait to see the finished project! Congratulations on another year with Island Batik!

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  15. Can't wait to see what you come up with this year as an IBA. I have a lot of Deb Tucker rulers and have taken several classes from a certified instructor Congratulations on the library display, another 'feather' in your cap (pun intended).
    Pat

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  16. Congratulations on being selected by Island Batiks again! You’ll do them proud!

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  17. Yay! I'm looking forward to all your creations for 2020 ... and beyond!

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  18. Congrats on being an ambassador again!

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  19. Congrats on being an ambassador again this year. Love those candle blocks. Looking forward to seeing all your batik projects, especially your storm at sea project. I have one of those that needs to be finished this year.

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  20. Congratulations!!! So glad you made the cut again. Well done. Love your quilts so much.

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  21. Congratulations on another year with Island Batik Sandra. Your posts are always so thoughtful, fun and inspiring, as are your designs. How great to see your quilts on display in the library! Happy Sewing!

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  22. Congratulations on being an ambassador again, Sandra! You certainly do their beautiful fabrics justice each and every month :) Congratulations, too, on being the featured artist at the library. What a wonderful program they have, showcasing local talent like that.

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