We’ve arrived at day four of Island Batik week! We’re feeling inspired and we’ve got batiks on the mind! 🙂 We love seeing all of the projects and can’t get enough of seeing our threads involved in such beautiful works of art, but we also love learning about the designers. It’s fascinating to hear their back stories and to learn about what inspired the collections.
We’ll be featuring one Island Batik designer each day this week to showcase new fabric & coordinating Aurifil collections. Each post will offer a fabric + thread giveaway so make sure to come back daily to learn more about our talented designers to enter-to-win some gorgeous prizes!
ISLAND BATIK WEEK SCHEDULE
1/10 – Coastal Mist by Tammy Silvers
1/11 – Glowing Embers by Cheri Good Designs
1/12 – Dotalicious by Claudia Pfeil
1/13 – Surf and Sand by Fourth and Sixth Designs (YOU ARE HERE!)
1/14 – Fresh Catch by Jackie Kunkel
To learn about Island Batik and the batik process, please visit their website. For a peek at the full range of Fall/Winter 2016 releases, in-stores now, click here or on the image below to browse the catalog. To check in on Island Batik’s news, please visit their blog.
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The blues, greens and purples of Surf and Sand by Fourth and Sixth Designs provided the perfect palette for some gorgeous works of art. Mr. T is an underwater masterpiece. The way that the batiks combine with the quilting to create movement in the water is absolutely perfect. Barbara and Mary have outdone themselves with this collection! The coordinating threads come in 12 large spools of 40wt, perfect for piecing and quilting.
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Surf and Sand
12 Large Spools, 40wt (1094yds/spool), 100% Aurifil Cotton
1125 – 1147 – 1243 – 2312 – 2370 – 2525
2783 – 2886 – 2890 – 4644 – 5005 – 5012
To view this info on our website, click the images above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE INTERVIEW
What inspired the Surf and Sand collection and what did you like most about putting it together?
As the collection came together it reminded us of growing up and enjoying time at the Jersey Shore. The calm, tranquility and colors of the beach are all represented in this collection.
What is your favorite project made with the fabric and threads from this collection and why?
We made two very different projects for this collection so it is hard to pick a favorite. In both projects the fabrics did the heavy lifting and helped us create two beautiful quilts but the thread collection really came into play on Mr T. The thread colors coordinated perfectly with the fabric and makes the edge coloring appliqué shine.
How did you go about selecting the threads for your collection?
We choose the colors based on the appliqué project. When you can get the correct color match then the appliqué looks great even if you are a beginner.
This collection includes our 40wt threads — where would you recommend using 40wt over 50wt in your quilting designs?
We use the 40wt for a number of reasons. First, it is our choice when doing our edge coloring appliqué technique because the thread covers the edges quickly and does not have too much bulk. We also use the thread for machine piecing and longarm quilting. So we find this weight perfect for all of our needs. We do find the 50wt to be our preferred choice when doing a very dense quilting fill. When you are quilting this closely you do not want the thread to build up and the fine 50wt thread does a beautiful job.
Do you have a favorite color from this collection?
Our designs have always been inspired by the fabrics, colors, and textures we are using and the bigger the collection the better, this makes it difficult for us to choose a favorite. On any given day our favorite will change. We love them all.
To learn more about Barbara and Mary, how they got started in this business and how they came to start their business, please visit our post for 2016 release, Equinox.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Large Surf and Sand Thread Collection and one Fat Quarter Bundle of Surf and Sand fabrics from Island Batik, click here to head to the Rafflecopter entry page, or simply click on the image above. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Wednesday, January 18! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Thursday, January 19. Good luck!
ABOUT 4TH & 6TH DESIGNS
Website — Blog — Facebook — YouTube — Pinterest
Barbara and Mary are award winning quilt artists and their quilts have been published in many quilting magazines and have been featured in Keepsake Quilting and Clotilde. They were born the fourth and sixth children in a close knit family in south Jersey. Their mother taught these Jersey girls garment sewing at the young age of ten. Skilled in all areas of sewing, Barbara began quilting in 1983 during the long New England winters while her husband attended the University of New Hampshire. She moved to Pennsylvania in 1990 and continued quilting as a hobby. In 2000 she left the corporate world to start her long arm quilting business, Quilted Heirlooms. Mary began quilting in 1992 when she moved to upstate New York. As a stay at home mom, she needed a creative outlet and immediately knew quilting was the answer she was looking for. She began teaching quilting classes in 1993 and eventually opened a quilt shop in 1999. Despite living 300 miles apart, Barbara and Mary began collaborating shortly after the start of their own businesses. This collaboration quickly became a partnership which has grown into the pattern and design company, Fourth & Sixth Designs. In 2008, C&T Publishing released their first book, StrataVarious Quilts. And in 2013 became fabric designers for Island Batik.
ABOUT ISLAND BATIK
Website — Blog — Facebook — Pinterest — Twitter — Instagram
Island Batik is a manufacturer, importer and distributor of cotton batik, rayon batik and hand-printed cotton from Indonesia. Originally established in 1997, Island Batik’s mission is to share the ancient cultural art of batik and hand-dyed fabric with our many valued customers around the world.
I would live to do some table top items to bring the beach into my dining room!
A table topper to brighten my day.
I think I would create a table runner from these beautiful colors.
I think I would make a wall size hanging.
What heavenly colors! They shout: we are ready for spring and summer!!
I have always wanted to create a quilt with a sea tortoise. The new batiks would be perfect.
I love the calming colors. Just what I need to get. Thank you.
I’d love to make a storm at sea quilt with these colors.
Our front room is ocean themed. I would love to make a lap quilt for our front room.
A quilt for summer vacation.
It would be fun to create a small French braid wall hanging with this line of fabric.
LOVE the quilts-congrats to you both for great work!
I would make a table topper for summer.
I think those fabrics would make a wonderful ocean waves quilt or a storm at sea. My favorite color palette.
I think a beautiful drunkards path quilt…gorgeous colors!
This is my favorite group—just my colors! I would make a quilt but not sure of the design yet.
I absolutely love the colors! I would make a table runner and Mr T for my grandson!
I would like to make a summer bag. I also think it would make a beautiful shower curtain.
I think I would like to make a small wall quilt with these soothing colors.
I would make a beautiful wall hanging for our family room. Those colors are glorious!
I would love to make a Mr. T quilt! Both my daughter & DIL love turtles. Beautiful colors!
this collection has all my favorite colors and the turtle applique in mr.t is amazing.
That is my favorite color palette. I would love a lap quilt, perhaps flying geese.
Beautiful colors for a summer quilt.
I would like to make a couch quilt for my 5 year old grandson.
I would create a small wall hanging. I absolutely love these colors. My favorite!
I’m all about turtles, so I think I’d have to make a turtle quilt!
I love how the fabric looks like it belongs in nature.
I love this color grouping. My granddaughters are all surf rats. This would make an awesome quilt for one of them. I just finished two batik quilts and love working with batik fabrics.
The fabric is so gorgeous I’d have a hard time cutting it, so a large wallhanging or lap quilt that has a modern feel, big blocks so the fabric is highlighted. Then have loads of fun freemotion quilting with all the different Aurifil colors!
I would love to create a wall hanging for my family room!
I would make a quilt that I would keep for myself. I love the colors.
These colors are so beautiful. I would love to make a wall hanging from this line. I love wearing these colors, so I would also make a top with trim and pockets in contrasting colors.
After getting better a sewing curves, I would love to make Strips, Stacks and Stones.
I would make a tote bag for the beach. x
Love,these colors. I would make a wall hanging for my friend who winters in Venice FL.
I would love to make a table topper with these beautiful colors. I would love to be reminded of the sunny beach and ocean.
I love love love these colors! They would make a perfect summer quilt for my home away from home at the Jersey Shore! Thanks so much for the chance to win 🙂
Great job girls! – Loved having you at Love Apple Quilters last year!!
I’d like to create a wall hanging. I love those blues and greens!
I would make a table runner for my kitchen table and some accessories to go around the table. This is beautiful fabric. Great for when spring arrives! ( can you tell i am OVER winter). Or, I may make a quilt for MY husbands home office to go over to big chair in the corner where he often falls asleep. These are his favorite colors.
What a gorgeous collection of batiks and thread. Total #CreativeGoodness. I definitely want to make a quilt with these, but a bag would also be fun.
QuiltShopGal
http://www.quiltshopgal.com
Beautiful fabrics! I would make a quilt for my son!
I would love to make a wall quilt of on underwater scene for my scuba diver husband.
I would like a wall hanging for my office, so I could get away any time I wanted to just by looking at it!
Would probably make a throw for my daughter. She loves anything to do with the beach!
Such beautiful colors. I would make a quilt for sure.
Beautiful Threads+Fabrics! I think I’d create a sofa throw from these beautiful colors.Thank You for sharing!
I would make a quilt.
I so want to do some landscape quilts and work on my FMQ so need to have some small projects. Love these colors – even the pop of purple.
What a wonderful collection of batiks! And the thread colors are just fabulous. I would make a wall hanging of the turtle for my son.
I think a Surf and Sand lap quilt for my family room.
I want to make the Mr T!!!
Thank you.
GORGEOUS colors!!! My favorite colors!! I would make us a Throw…would look nice on our couch!!
Thank you soooo much for chance to win them!! 😀
Wow, these make me just want to be laying on a beach!!! Maybe a nice beach blanket in the future!
The colors are so beautiful! I would make a table runner and maybe some pillow covers.
Oh my, how gorgeous
this fabric and thread
are! I’d like to make
some bags with it.
Carla from Utah
I love the designs showcased so I’m thinking that it’s time for me to venture in batons and applique. Those blues and green take your mind to a cruise!
Batiks no batons! 🙂
I’d love to make a duvet cover!
Caltexgal@aol.com
Blues and greens are my favorite I would make a quilt with all this gorgeousness!
I would love to make a wall hanging with this set!
Love the colors of the Surf and Sand collection. Would definitely like to make Mr T — super swimming quilt!
LOVE the fabrics in this line, the colors remind me of happy times at the beach. I would make a couch quilt to keep that feeling with me year round.
My husband wants a new beachy quilt for our bed and this fabric is my favorite so far! Fingers crossed!!
I have a wonderful quilt pattern that I’d make with these beautiful fabrics!
These colors are a combination of my husband and I’s favorites. I’d love to make a quilt for our bed with these as the base—probably a star of somekind. Hmm thinking…..
These colors are so pretty. I would make Mr. T and other under sea creatures for quilts.
I would love to create the Sea Turtle quilt.
a small quilt for my sister-in-law’s seaside retreat
I would make a very beachy wall hanging.
I would love to use these to make “Mr T” , reminds me of our trip to Hawaii!
Well, I love Mr. T and can see a baby quilt or a wall hanging with these lovely fabrics. Love the thread collection colors and am eager to try the 40 wt for applique.
I would love to make a throw from these fabrics. That way when it’s cold and I cover up with it, it will remind me of the beach and warmth!
I think I would make my Hubby a huge quilt. He is disabled and watches a lot of tv with our cat & dog on his lap. I think all three would appreciate a new quilt 🙂
Love the colors. Placemats would be fun.
I would make a quilt and pillows for my living room. These are beautiful, thank you for the chance to win.
I would like to make a wall hanging based on the drunkard’s path block, similar to “strips, stacks and stones”, but my own improvised design. If I still have fabric left I would try making an under water scene.
I would love to use these fabrics for a new beach bag – they are just gorgeous colors!!! so tropical!!!
I loveee this line, so pretty, I would make a quilt for a cancer patient, something I love to do.
I would use these fabrics in a Hawaiian style sampler quilt! They are lovely.
I would make some summer tote bags with these colors.
oh yes.. I have some turtles to do this summer.. love the fabric..
A table runner from these beautiful fabrics. Love those colors
I would love to win and make a beautiful throw, with applique to show off the Aurifil!
I would make a quilted throw
I might make a quilt or wall hanging for my parents’ good friends who live near a beach.
A quilt for the beach house! Thanks for the chance to win!
I might need to make a bed quilt for my room out of these, they would look great in there!
I’d make a table topper for my dining room table.
My favorite colors, love the turtle. I think I would make a table topper or lap quilts. Thanks
I live in the pacific northwest and these fabrics are asking to be turned into an ocean themed wall hanging of my own design.
I have been waiting to find the perfect collection of Blues to do the 2016 Aurifil Designer BOM! This is it! Love the colors and how they blend together. Perfect for the quilt. Thanks.
I’d make a baby blanket!
Love your turtle, and would love to make that quilt. I’m intrigued with animal portrait quilts, and this looks like something doable to start this with.
I see some bathroom accessories like trimming out hand towels, tissue box cover, and shower curtain
I absolutely love the colors from this collection. I would work on Sun, Sand, and Sea BOM. They would be the perfect thread and fabric collection for it.
Something islandy related to water or something living in the sea or shoreline would work with this fabric!
I’d love to make 2 wall hangings with this sand and surf fabric line using the aurifil threads. One I’d make a baby turtles scurrying for the water and the other I’d love to make my Arcadia Park memory wallhanging.
The fabrics would have to sit there until they told me what they want to be.
I would love to make a quilt with these fabrics.
Oh my goodness that turtle! I love the beach theme and would make a much simpler but fun water and boat applique wall quilt. Beautiful design thanks so much for sharing!
These colours are amazing! The threads glow! They would make a fabulous tote bag for the beach, or wishing I was there.
I have a pattern for sea turtle applique in my stash, and have never had the courage to tackle it. Seeing darling Mr. T and how great he looks in these batiks has inspired me! I would definitely use these fabrics to make the three turtle in my pattern: Mr. T, Mr. U, and little Ms. V 🙂
I would make a quilt, something beachy because I love the ocean!
I would make a baby quilt for my best friend who’s having a baby boy!!
I would make a baby quilt for my best friend who’s having a baby boy!! Thanks for the chance to win!
I would like to make a lap quilt with the bundle. That way I can imagine to be on the beach each time I use it.
Love how calm and cool these colors are!
Who doesn’t love ocean colors? Especially in batiks!!! Love, love!!!
I live on a lake, so this line would be perfect to make a table cloth, placemats, and cushion covers for my patio furniture. Thanks!
I think I would make a wall hanging from this beautiful line, those colors are gorgeous.
Love the turtles…maybe something aquatic
I would make a quilt for my summer porch….
Not sure what I would make but definitely would be for me, love the fabric.
I’d make a quilt. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
This fabric collection would be perfect for a queen quilt for my son and his wife. They’ve already bought the pattern. I’d love to win it. Thank you for the generous giveaway.
I would love to make a quilt for my mother in these colors — she would love it!
A brother recently moved to the shore. I’m sure he’d appreciate a quilt made with these colors.
I would love to use some of the beautiful blue threads in some embroidery pieces and make a great summery beach quilt with the fabrics!
A beautiful quilt!
I love the turtle quilt!! When I saw the thread collection, I could feel the rusty wheels starting to turn! Such a beautiful collection of color. I have a Storm at Sea quilt on my list that I could definitely use the thread on, but I do love that turtle quilt….hmmm.
I would try and re create that turtle quilt….it is amazing!
These are my colors–so beautiful! I would make a beachy quilt for my lake home!
I’d make some home decor!
I love the colors of this collection. I would make a quilt!
I’d make a quilt for my brother and sister-in-law.
My mom loves turtles, these would be great to make a quilt for her!
these colors would be perfect for the grandsons quilts. They live in the pacific northwest coast so these are the perfect colors.
These greens and blues are perfect for a summery, lightweight quilt for my bed. I get cool just seeing these colors.
i HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MAKE A STORM AT SEA QUILT. THESE COLORS WOULD WORK FABLOUS
Would love to create a country river and mountins wall hanging, using the amazing range of greens and blues
WOW! I love these colors. They would make a beautiful ocean themed quilt, maybe a mermaid with some starfish and a seahorse or two.
What absolutely gorgeous quilts! Love the colours of fabric.
A quilt for my son’s new house!
I would try making a quilt!
I would love to try to make my own Mr. T, he’s so cute and the colors are gorgeous!
I would love to use this fabric and thread to applique a beach scene that I designed all by myself
Beautiful, would love to make the Turtle quilt, Mr T by Fourth and Sixth Designs, I love turtles!
I think I would try to make a bag to carry things around. This fabric is so gorgeous it should be shown off all the time!
I would like to use this collection to make a block or 2 of UlasQuiltsite’s Ray of Hope 2016 BOM. It is beautiful, and these fabrics would be perfect for it. (lynnstck[at]yahoo.com)
I would like to make the turtle quilt.
What glorious colors and quilt designs. I would love to make a sea and beach quilt.
I envision some lovely Hawaiian appliqué, or maybe a fat quarter quilt like a Thimbleblossoms pattern.
reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com
I would like to make my husband a quilt with this fabric. He loves being on the beach. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.
These colors are gorgeous. I grew up around the ocean and now live i the desert. I miss the ocean and these colors definitely bring back wonderful memories and I have several quilt ideas that these would be perfect in!
Ii would start with a bag.
A small wall hanging to bring the feel of the ocean into my home.
These are my favorite colors
I love these colors! I would make an art quilt that reminds me of the California coast.
I love the colors and would use them to make a quilt.
I’d love to make a lap quilt.
I would like to make the Mr T quilt.
I, too, am completely smitten by Mr. T and would love to make a quilt with a gorgeous turtle like him.
Love, love, love the collection. The colors are so calming to me. I’d love a quilt out of them. Thanks.
I would make a quilt for my nieces 21st birthday. Kerry-ryan (at) att (dot) net
Beautiful colors, would have to give this some thought how to use it.
I *love* blues (and greens)!!
These are MY colors!!
I’d love to make a quilt like Fourth and Sixth Designs’ Strips, Stacks and Stones!… Wonderful quilt!
Pat T.
I’d love to make up some placemats and a table runner, love thses prints.
I need new placemats for spring and the colors in this collection are perfect.