Welcome to the March Island Batik Challenge!
We were given an Italy-themed color builder box by Aurifil, one of Island Batik’s industry partners, and we were to create a quilt inspired by our challenge destination, using all three of the threads in the box! I was so excited to receive the Amalfi set! Y’all know I love purple!!! Aren’t those colors luscious??!!
My Italian destination is Amalfi, Italy. Amalfi is a town in the region of Campania, Italy on the Gulf of Salerno. It is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and coastal scenery. It is the main town of the coast on which it is located and a big tourist destination. After viewing many photos of the area, I decided on this one, which showed part of the city, set in the mountainside on the coast.
Utilizing a little artistic license, I decided my design would be set right around dusk when the sky was still bright in places and including the sun about to set over the ocean in the distance, I digitized this idea using my Bernina Artista Version 9 software. So without further ado, I present The Amalfi Coast! This is a combination of applique, object digitizing, thread painting, and quilting – all done in my 10-5/8 x 16″ hoop.
All fabrics used were all from Island Batik. For the sky I used a basic – Sky, and for the water, another basic – Bluebird. The mountainside was created with a basic, Iris Marvelous Multis. Basics are available year round, so check them out at your local quilt shop! For the city set on the mountainside, I used a black/gold geometric fabric from one of my stash builder bundles.
A total of 21 Aurifil threads were used for this design. I used the three color builder threads, Lilac 1562, Violet 2520, and Medium Purple 2545, in the villa on the right, in the sky, and the reflections in the water. I use Aurifil thread exclusively for piecing, but it works great in embroidery machines too!
Many thanks to Aurifil and Island Batik for the thread and beautiful fabrics! I had so much fun working with these fabrics and the threads! Also, thanks to Schmetz needles. I used an 80/12 needle for stitching this design. I hope you all have a great week. Keep an eye on my Facebook group as I share other ambassadors projects as they post them. Have a great week!
Oh Brenda, the thread painting is exquisite. I love how you used thread (light sewing in sky and dense sewing in the reflections) to convey the effects of light and shade. It is a gorgeous representation.
So beautiful, Brenda! I love what you did with the purple thread. Have a great weekend!
This is beautiful! My favorite part is the quilting in the sky – wonderful way to depict clouds!
Amazing! I have been there and you really captured it! WOW WOW WOW !
Brenda, I love the Amalfi coast! I watch The Positano Diaries on Youtube and just love Nicky & Carlo and the beautiful place they live in Positano, Italy on the Amalfi coast. They do have to climb 500 steps to get home or to leave their home and after a while that might be stressful on the knees and hips, but I love their garden and view. Your quilt is stunning and the quilt enhanced it so well.
Hi again! Amalfi, Italy!! My ex-boyfriend, George Clooney lives there. (JK) It is a place I’ve always wanted to visit and not just to spot GC. What a great likeness you drew from the photo. Holy moly!! Great job just isn’t enough kudos for this amazing piece. LOVE IT!! {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Oh, my goodness! What a work of art! Thanks for sharing that.
Gorgeous!