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Saturday, November 9, 2019

Tool Time with Island Batik


This month "Island Batik" has challenged their ambassadors to use a new tool.
I love it when we are challenged with something new.
It brings out the explorer, in all of us!
:-)
My new tool is the "Prairie Pointer" from Susan Cleveland.
I went to a taping of the "Quilt Show" with Alex Anderson
 and Ricky Tims a year ago.
Susan was one of the quilters, they were taping that day. Besides being 
completely inspired by her, we were treated to the goodies above.
Now, was the perfect time to put them both to some good use!
I started out with this gorgeous strip set.
The fan blades in this project are small, and I was excited
 to actually be able to use strips sets for the Dresden fan blades.
Chain piecing the fan blades created this fun wreath of color.
Oh yes, it melts my heart!
This tool works great on turning the fan blades, as well as Prairie Points.
It's metal, so it conducts heat beautifully,
and the measurements keep your points perfectly centered.
If you look closely, these Dresdens are just a bit different than the
 traditional ones we usually see.
 Both ends are pointed so there is no need to applique circles to them.
This method allows for partial Dresdens, that give you tons of options for playing!
Another tool you might say, is that she has you starch white fabric til it's stiff
 and draw a template onto it. You piece it right to the template and leave it in when
stitching it down to your background fabrics.
 That controls shadowing and allows for perfectly flat piecing.
After seeing my wreath of many colors,
I decided to add a border of "Prairie Points" to my project.
While I mixed up the colors in the Dresdens,
I kept the "Prairie Points" in order as I added them.
The most fun part was making 2 toned "Prairie Points" with the leftover fabrics...
...yes, that was a new technique to me also.
I took advantage of playing with a little bead work, but...
...the proof is in the pudding as they say.
These points come out perfect every time.
Thanks Susan Cleveland for a great addition to the "tool" shed!
:-)
I hope you have been enjoying the "A Piece Of" blog hop.
My fellow ambassadors have done some amazing things with the new lines
of fabrics arriving in your quilt shops.
We continue on to week number 2 on Monday, with 4 more days of inspiration.
The give away is, this set of fabulous "Sand Bar" precuts.
You won't want to miss out, on that chance to win!
The complete schedule is posted
Thanks for visiting my "Tool Time" project this month.
til next time...
Keep on Stitchin!

16 comments:

  1. How fun to be at a taping of The Quilt Show. I watched that episode, but now I want to go back and see if I see you in the audience. I love this Disappearing Dresden quilt. You knocked it out of the ball park.

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  2. What a fun quilt and it will be fun to display it after the holidays during our dreary winters!

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  3. Wow, such a cool Dresden quilt. The icing on the cake are those 2 tone prairie points. Too cool, Joan.

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  4. Joan, that's a truly gorgeous quilt. I love Island Batiks but sometimes, it seems to me, that projects are just 'ho hum'. Your quilt literally dances. That's a great use of the Prairie Pointer - and using it in two different ways was spot on.

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  5. Wow! I love this and the array of colors and batiks in this Dresden is gorgeous! I think I need to try the Prairie Pointer as I really like both ends being pointed on the blades. Thanks for sharing this beauty!

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  6. Love the colors and the use of the tool for 2 things - prairie points and dresden plates. This is fabulous and the colors are spectacular. I do like it when I can use the strips in quilts!

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  7. This is fabulous! The border makes it come alive. I will be seeking out that tool for turning the point on Dresdens, as that's always my least favourite part.

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  8. Beautiful colours, and perfect points - I especially love the prairie point edging, the 2 colours look fantastic. Have to put that tool on my Christmas list. Thanks for sharing.

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  9. I love new gadgets and love what you have done with yours.

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  10. I love this! Great colors, and the tool looks fabulous! I have a Dresden on my long-term quilty bucket list and this may be the tool for me to finally do it. Love the beads on your prairie points!!!

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  11. I have that tool and it is fabulous!!! Love what you did with the Dresdens!

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  12. Great job, and great tool! I love the design, and the border. The colors are great, too.

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  13. Wow! Very unique, and very effective! A lovely way to use up those colorful strips.

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  14. That is a very simple but really useful tool. I like the idea of the dresdens being pointed at both ends, too. Great thinking. Love your quilt and that fabric!!

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Thanks for stopping by today. Your comments really do make me day!
;-)