Welcome to Island Batik Week!! In this final month of Summer, we are celebrating the vibrant colors of Island Batik’s Spring/Summer releases. We absolutely adore working with this wonderful company and have so much respect for its designers. We’ll be featuring one designer every day this week and each post will offer a fabric + thread giveaway, so make sure to come back daily to learn more and to enter-to-win some gorgeous prizes!
To learn about Island Batik and the batik process, please visit their website. For a peek at the full range of Spring/Summer 2017 releases, in-stores now, click here or on the image below to browse the catalog.
ISLAND BATIK WEEK SCHEDULE
August 21 – Jackie Kunkel (Jackie’s Post — Island Batik’s Post)
August 22 – Tammy Silvers
August 23 – Cheri Good Designs
August 24 – Nan Baker
August 25 – Ebony Love
Fresh Pick’ins is a new collection by Kathy Engle for Jackie Kunkel of Canton Village Quilt Works. This bright, cheerful collection features fruity, citrus designs in yellows, pinks, oranges, and greens. A bright dash of blue is a surprising and stunning accent. Jackie brought the collection to life with a series of show-stoppingly gorgeous quilts constructed of the top-quality batik fabrics + Aurifil 50wt thread. Her coordinating thread collection features 12 Large Spools of perfectly bright colors.
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
Fresh Pick’ins
12 Large Spools, 50wt (1422yds/spool), 100% Aurifil Cotton
3660 – 3320 – 4658 – 4659 – 2440 – 2430
5017 – 2870 – 1133 – 1104 – 1135 – 2132
To view this info on our website, click the image above. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
THE INTERVIEW
What first drew you to to the world of sewing and quilting?
I was first drawn into sewing in my 6th grade Home Economics class. Learning to sew a simple patchwork pillow and onto more intricate garment making is how I first began. Fast forward to 1993, I took my first formal quilting class and really didn’t like it. So I took a second and fell in LOVE! It was all over at that point, the quilting but had bit me and it became a hobby, and then a business… but still remains a hobby.
Who or what has been your greatest creative inspiration?
Now that is a tough question…. I really get inspiration from all over. As far a “what”, I would have to say nature or the environment that surrounds me. I am always looking at things with a different “eye” so to speak. As far as a “who” I would have to say that Judy Niemeyer. I have been following her since the late 1990s and had always admired her designs. Since then I became a Certified Instructor for her.
How did you first get involved with Island Batik?
Well….. I have been using Island Batik fabrics for quite a while, but my first “official” design for Island Batik was launched 2015. It was my pattern “Who’s Got The Button?”. After that Island Batik and I met at Fall Quilt Market 2015 and they asked if I would like to come aboard as a designer. The timing was right and it has progressed from there.
What do you love most about Batik fabrics?
What is not to love?? Batiks are timeless, they don’t go in and out of style. They are not trendy, they mix and play well with other fabrics, they are versatile, and so much more. Each one has such variation in color and can give you a look that no other type of fabric can do. All quilters need to have batiks as part of their stash!!!
Tell us about Fresh Pick’ins. What inspired the designs?
This collection is a Signature Collection designed for me by Kathy Engle. When I selected the collection, I was drawn to the freshness of the colors, and the fruit designs. It reminded me of a Spring/Summer day! The colors are such happy colors, when you look at them you can just help but smile.
Do you have a favorite project or projects made with the collection?
Actually I do! I adore all of them… but my hands down faves are Springtime Desert and Geometrics! They are a great representation of this collection!
When did you first discover Aurifil threads and what do you love most about them?
I know it was a while ago, but I can’t pinpoint the date. Back in 2013, I was an Aurifil Block of the Month Designer and I know it was way before that. What I love most about them is all the colors offered, and different weights of threads too! The variety is phenomenal. I also love that they are low lint too!
How did you go about selecting colors for Fresh Pick’ins and what excites you most about releasing the collection to the world?
Well… I wanted the thread colors to compliment and coordinate with all the yummy colors in the collection. I also wanted to use some variegated threads too! The ones that I chose are subtle but do the exactly what I hoped they would do. They accent, complement, and coordinate with every one of the fabrics that are in Fresh Pick’ins!
FUN LINKS
Fresh Pick’ins
Fresh Catch by Jackie Kunkel
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win 1 Large Fresh Pick’ins Thread Collection, one Fat Quarter Bundle of Fresh Pick’ins fabrics from Island Batik, and one set of 5 new patterns from Jackie Kunkel & Canton Village Quilt Works 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 Thursday, August 31! Winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Friday, September 1. Good luck!
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Becky! (Winner has been emailed 🙂 )
ABOUT JACKIE
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ABOUT ISLAND BATIK
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