The Island Batik Blog Hop is happening this month and today is my stop!

"The products featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik"

#islandbatik #thebestfrombali #islandbatikambassador #apeaceof #bloghop #giveaway #sandbarcollection #sandbar #aurifil #aurifilthread #hobbsbatting #batik #quilting #longarmquilting

Before I even start to talk about my quilt I want to FINALLY show my surprise bundle (yes the shinny package on my Island Batik Ambassador's box from January!) Sand Bar collection designed for Kari Nichols of Mountain Peek Creations by Kathy Brett Engle.

When I opened the package it was a "wow" moment. All my my favorite colors plus the under the sea motives and... the octopus! It's magical, isn't it?!

In 2015, I designed a collection of quilt patterns. The first to come to live was "Amsterdam View" part of The World of Beauty exhibition on the International Quilt Festival Houston 2016. The second one is on my quilting line, waiting to be loaded on the frame. And the third one was "The Fisherman's Tale".

When I started to design the quilt, it reminded me of sailor's knots, "hatches" shapes, submarine windows (probably not the formal name for them), it was for me an under the sea quilt for sure. I was not sooo sure about all that curved piecing and to be honest how much of my piecing plan would be successful...

I started piecing from the center using Aurifil thread 50 wt color 2610, and adding blocks around the center. Can you guess who is the "big star" on the center?! You can follow the piecing progress throw the images below:

For the quilting, I used 2 layers of batting: Hobbs Tuscany 100% Wool on the top and Hobbs Heirloom Premium 80/20 Cotton/Poly Blend Batting on the bottom. Free motion quilting and ruler work with Aurifil 50wt colors 2908 and 2785, same for the bobbin. Now some quilting highlights!

A piece of... imagination! A Fisherman's tale with mermaids, turtles, giant octopus, adventure and fantasy direct from under the sea!

See you on Sunday and happy quilting ;)

And here we go! Sunday 17th, 8pm (NY time) my giveaway is closed. Thank you for all the lovely comments bellow and for join the fun!

The lucky winner of 8 fat-quarters of Seedlings collection plus the coordinate Aurifil 40wt color 6726 is: Kelly D!

Thanks again and see you in December ;)