It's all about our Furry Friends with Island Batik

As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am always eager to see what challenge we will be given each month. Well, we had two this month - Happy Galentine's Day in the early part of the month and now my VERY FAVORITE CHALLENGE. It has to do with our furry friends and I couldn't be more excited. 

In 2016, Island Batik joined forces with an existing group of industry partners and supporters of the Petfinder Foundation to create the Piece for Shelter Pets (PFSP) initiative. 

 
This initiative supports the Petfinder Foundation, a "public charity that works to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets by assisting animal shelters and rescue groups across North America", through financial contributions made possible by the sale of fabric, thread and other quilting related products. PFSP sponsors include The Quilt Pattern Magazine (which created The TQPM Kennel Quilt program after Hurricane Sandy in 2012), Island Batik, Aurifil Threads, Quilty Box, Benartex and Hancock's of Paducah.

The TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team is a volunteer group (over 1100 volunteers) sponsored by The Quilt Pattern Magazine (TQPM) that springs into action ( or "stitches" into action?) when disasters strike, sewing small Kennel Quilts for animals in need while they are separated from their humans and possibly injured. Creating Kennel Quilts is a way for quilters to help our animal friends in times of need by doing what we love. TQPM Small Kennel Quilt Team supplies Kennel Quilts to shelters across the United States and Canada. To date over 10,200 Kennel Quilts have been distributed. Learn more here  and enjoy seeing these precious Kitties and Puppies!

       GUIDELINES

Dimensions must be 12” x 18” finished. As these quilts will be used by animals, please read the complete list of guidelines here for making safe Kennel Quilts.

 
Island Batik asked us to make some Kennel Quilts for our local shelter or donate to a shelter in need.

I looked through my box of gorgeous Island Batik fabrics and came up with the "Purrfect" colors for my Kennel Quilts.  Do you see the little rolls of fabric in the left of the picture! The fabrics in the rolls are 5" x width of fabric (WOF). I decided to make my "Rails" pattern which is one of the  FREE patterns on the TQPM Kennel Quilt page.

 I chose six colors which looked good together and I started to work.

 I cut each strip into 2 1/2" x WOF. I then sewed three strips together. Next I cut the three strips into six  6 1/2" x 6 1/2" squares.

I placed the squares together in a rail pattern.
This picture doesn't show how vibrant the colors are. They reminded me of Mardi Gras colors which are purple, gold and green! I have been seeing a lot of that lately as we are in Mardi Gras season! Love those King Cakes!

I then sewed the squares together. See how lovely these colors are.

I made four Kennel Quilts using six 5" x WOF rolls plus I had one little piece left over from each quilt. 

See the little piece to the left of the Kennel Quilt. 

 

There are four of those leftover pieces and I will use them to make mug rugs for my friends as they are just the right size. So how much fabric did I have leftover from four Kennel Quilts and four mug rugs? See below. How neat is that?
















  Here are my four Kennel Quilts.

While I was making the Kennel Quilts, there was a call to help a shelter in Florida that had rescued over 56 puppies from a puppy mill. So I knew where these Kennel Quilts were going. 

I added these four to some others that I made (always like to have a stack ready to go and it is a great way to use up my lovely Island Batik fabric scraps). So 35 Kennel Quilts will be delivered to Alaqua Animal Refuge in Freeport, FL. This just happens to be my local shelter so I am delighted to help.

I love making these Kennel Quilts and the shelters love receiving them, particularly our furry friends.  It is so nice that so many Industry professionals have come together to help these animals in need and to help the Petfinder Foundation with their generous donations.

I want to let you know that you can help too. On March 18th and 19th which is National Quilting Day Weekend, The Quilt Pattern Magazine is going to host a virtual Kennel Quilt Retreat. We will be able to all work together that weekend and share our progress with our Kennel Quilts with other quilters and animal lovers at this virtual "online" retreat.

Onyx from Missouri Humane Society

Island Batik, Aurifil, Quilty Box, Benartex and Hancock's of Paducah are going to have some wonderful goodies to give away. If you have never been to a retreat, but always wanted to go, this is your chance. You don't even have to leave home to enjoy this retreat as it is all online. 

You can get all the information on the retreat here. The goal is for the group of quilters/animal lovers to make at least 100 Kennel Quilts or more at this retreat.  I hope to see you there as it is a great way to help our animal friends doing what we love together.

Thank you for stopping by.

Until next time,

Nan

Purrfect Spots: Another year as an Island Batik Ambassador

Purrfect Spots: Another year as an Island Batik Ambassador: I am so excited to announce that I have the privilege of being an Island Batik Ambassador for another year! Woo Hoo!   I received al...

Another year as an Island Batik Ambassador

I am so excited to announce that I have the privilege of being an Island Batik Ambassador for another year! Woo Hoo!
 
I received all my lovely Island Batik fabrics late Thursday night! What do you think? I am so excited. 
 
See the little pink bundle on the right side with the biege tie! That is my "Galentine Bundle". Please let me explain.

We have been given several projects for the month of February and I am just getting in under the wire on the first project.

It is called Happy Galentine's Day! You read it right. I didn't realize there was one, but it is celebrated on February 13th. It is a celebration of our best pals and lady friends. Why shouldn't we celebrate our fellow females who encourage and inspire us?












So I had Friday, Saturday and Sunday to work on this and I thought I can get this done. However since Sunday was my 29th wedding anniversary, my dear sweet wonderful husband had other plans so my plans were changed! 


Because time was of the essence, I decided on Mug Rugs.  I was going to make patchwork hearts, but ran out of time. So I knew these had to be very simple. I just made two sizes of hearts and fused them together and then onto the Mug Rugs. I will do machine applique around the edges plus quilt them when I have more time. Here is my work in progress.

 

Here they are! I made two. They are not finished, but I think my friends will be very forgiving since this was a very special weekend for me and my husband!

When they are finished, I will share a picture, but I will be back with another project later this month and I am so very excited about that one! It is all about animals and you know what an animal lover I am.

Meanwhile I hope you have a Happy Galentine's Day with your good friends and a Happy Valentine's Day too.
Eat lots of chocolate!

Thank you for stopping by and be sure and stop by the other Island Batik Ambassadors sites. The list is below:

Turid from Den Syende Himmel
Stephanie from Quilt’n Party
Pamela from Pamela Quilts
Anna from Ark Angel Creations
Kathy from Kathy’s Kwilts and More
Jessica from Desert Bloom Quilting
Connie from Freemotion by the River
Kate from Seams Like a Dream
Sharon from Yellow Cat Quilt Designs
Tina from Quilting Affection Designs
Jennifer from The Inquiring Quilter
Barb from Bejeweled Quilts
Sally from Sally’s Quilting Corner
Jeanette from Inch Worm Fabrics
Connie from Kauffman Designs
Joan from Moosestash Quilting
Bernadine from Needle and Foot
Bea from Beaquilter
Cheryl from Cheryl Lynch Quilts
Maryellen from Mary Mack’s Blog
Joyce from Hearts Creations
Marlene from Kissed Quilts
Karen from The Quilt Rambler
Marian from Seams to be Sew
Laura from Slice of Pi Quilts
Linda from Inspired Layers
Vicki from Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting
Nancy from Masterpiece Quilting
Carol from FunThreads Designs
Terri from Meanderings Along Lizard Creek
Alison from Little Bunny Quilts
Suzy from Adventurous Applique and Quilting
Jean-Sophie from Sophie Junction
Janet from Whispers of Yore

 

 Until next time,

                     Nan