Celebration Challenge – December 2023

As my second year as an Island Batik Ambassador comes to a close, our final project was to pick a holiday and create something to celebrate that holiday.

At this time of year is the time of celebration for Christmas, so I decided to create a project that would be both a celebration for decorating a Christmas tree, but could be used throughout the year to decorate my Sewing Studio.

Over the past two years, I have made lots of beautiful quilts, bags and other items, so I wanted to celebrate these projects as well.  Many were gifted to friends, family and non-profits, so I don’t have them at hand any more.  I decided to create Quilted Ornaments as a reminder of the quilts.

Quilted ornaments can be a charming and meaningful way to celebrate your past quilting projects and share the joy of the holiday season. Great scrap buster as well.

All of the fabric used in these ornaments was received free from Island Batik as part of my roll as an Island Batik Ambassador.

For each ornament, you need three colors of fabric, 2 1/2″ squares. For the center you need 8 pieces, and 16 for the other two colors. 

At first I just purchased some Pins, but they were longer, so when I purchased more, I decided to get Applique Pins, they are 3/4″ long and worked great.

You will need to get 3″ foam balls.  You can get them at most craft stores.  There are a couple different ones, and I found the smooth foam balls are easier to push the pins in.

You will need a piece ribbon to go around the ball, and for hanging.

I recommend to have a thimble, or something to help push thru.  I couldn’t find mine, so I used several layers of fabric to help push the pins thru, to keep my fingers from hurting.

I decided to use 6 fabrics instead of three and create a different set on each side.   I had some of this Island Batik ribbon, from the fabric pack, so I used it to go around the ornament, and to create the handing ribbon.

The first one I made was done while visiting my mom for Thanksgiving, and it matched her Breast Cancer quilt I gave her last year.  I learned a lot while working on her ornament. While I didn’t need a seam ripper, I did have to pull out the pins and reset and pull out and reset. When I got home, I made another one for me to keep.

Here are some of the Quilted ornaments with quilts that I still have.

Fabric from the Stash Builder sets.

More fabric from the Stash Builder Sets.

Fabric from the Prairie Dreams, a signature collection by Kathy Engle.

Fabric from the Wonderous Collection by Jerry Khiev line.

Fabric from the Bee Kind collection line.  From last year’s Bags by Annie project.

Fabric from the Winged Things by Designer Kate Colleran line. From November’s Bags by Annie Project.

Here are ten of the Quilted Ornaments that I made for myself.

Top row  (left to right)

• Gradations Glorious Greens collection.
• Prairie Dreams, a signature collection by Kathy Engle
• Bee Kind collection

Middle Row (left to right)

• Stash Builder – Reds
• Stash Builder – Blues
• Hope & Heart Breast Cancer Collection

Bottom Row (left to right)

• Cheers! by Designer Colourwerz
• Also from Cheers!
• Winged Things by Designer Kate Colleran
• Wonderous Collection by Jerry Khiev

I think I will continue to at least cut the fabric for these when I make more quilts with the Island Batik Fabric. 

I hope you have enjoyed my 2023 Island Batik Ambassador Projects! I have really had a blast this year! Key an eye out in January to see who will be picked to be Island Batik Ambassadors for 2024! 

If you enjoyed my last 2023 Challenge, make sure to see what the other Ambassadors have created for this challenge.  

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
Randi Jones ~ Randi’s Roost
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

#islandbatikAmbassador, #iloveislandbatik, #islandbatik