Pink Tulip Quilting

The Island Batik Challenge Parameters:

• Project Type: Ambassador choice
• Size: Ambassador Choice
• Island Batik Collections used:  Local Motion by Kathy Engle for Maryellen McAuliffe of Mack Made Mine
• Technique: Ambassador Choice
• Fabrics provided by Island Batik, batting by Hobbs, thread by Aurifil, needles by Schmetz 

I was introduced to the Island Batik Local Motion in February and I was so inspired by the collection. Perhaps my Detroit origins, my father’s occupation as a machinist and my love of bicycles were all instrumental in the creative attachment to this line. The gears and wheels and bicycles are so fun and very inspiring for me.

Growing up in a suburb of Detroit, we often made trips into the city which was originally a French settlement on the Detroit River. Our Canadian cousins are across the water and I do have French Canadian roots which I write about in my ancestry blogs. Detroit was the cog of the auto industry and it is in our blood. I have read poetry at the Ford Piquette Plant, the birthplace of the Model T where a Great Uncle worked. There have been many visits to Greenfield Village where you can ride in a real Model T and walk through historical homes such as Daniel Webster’s home, and Edison’s laboratory and the Museum of American Innovation, a vast collection of planes, trains, and automobiles.

One project I wanted to do was a fabric collage in honor of my father who passed March 6, 2018 at the age of 100. He proudly owned a 1950 Willy Jeep Station Wagon back in the day; paying about $600 for it. I love fabric collage and always use Aurifil variegated thread in these types of projects. I also put a layer of Hobbs Premium Wool Batting under the top while thread painting. I also used mylar for the windows and the puddles. The Premium Wool Batting was used for all these projects as there was a generous amount provided. Thanks Hobbs!!!

Another project I started right after finishing my February project, Life is Better on a Bicycle. I had scrap pieces left as I worked out the design. I loved the angles and the colorway and just started arranging on the wall. There was a modern presence as the simplicity of the blocks with their various angles were merged. I called it Quilt Hieroglyphics. My passion–working with scraps!! I added a touch of orange from the Stash Builder sets sent from Island Batik in January. There was only minimal quilting on this project–modern angles. Note: I did switch out my Schmetz needle and cleaned out my bobbin casing before starting these projects!! This quilt will be posted to Pink Tulip Etsy.

The bicycle theme from February carried over to March. There is a sweet boy I know who races BMX, he is only twelve and comes in first place most of the time. Sadly, he lost his big sister when he was only 5. I just love this boy and he shares my grandaughter’s birthday of March 3! I created 6 graphic bikes, a spin from the very feminine bike created for the February 2024 Island Batik Ambassador project. Movement was need for this quilt so I made slightly curved sashing. This lap quilt was gifted.

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection!!

See the links below to view the other Island Batik Ambassadors’ completed projects for their It’s All Up to You Challenge this month!

Brenda Alburl ~ Songbird Designs
Renee Atkinson ~ Pink Tulip Quilting
Megan Best ~ BestQuilter
Pamela Boatright ~ PamelaQuilts

Susan Deshensky ~ Lady Blue Quilts Studio
Brittany Fisher ~ Bobbin with Brittany
Preeti Harris ~ Sew Preeti Quilts
Mania Hatziioannidi ~ Mania for quilts

Jane Hauprich ~ Stitch by Stitch Custom Quilting
Kim Jamieson-Hirst ~ Chatterbox Quilts
Victoria Johnson ~ Forever Quilting for You
Connie Kauffman ~ Kauffman Designs

Connie Kresin Campbell ~ Freemotion by the River
Emily Leachman ~ The Darling Dogwood
Denise Looney ~ A Quiltery
Leah Malasky ~ Quilted Delights

Maryellen McAuliffe ~ Mary Mack Made Mine
Lisa Pickering ~ Lisa’s Quilting Passion
Sarah Pitcher ~ Pitcher’s Boutique
Lana Russel ~ Lana Quilts
Julia Schweri ~ Inflorescence Designs

Gail Sheppard ~ Quilting Gail
Carol Stanek ~ Stitch with Color
Sandra Starley ~ Textile Time Travels
Jennifer Thomas ~ Curlicue Creations
Suzy Webster ~ Websterquilt