Batiks By Design

Visitors to our booth in Paducah

It’s been more than a month since Paducah’s quilt show and I’ve sat down several times to write in my blog, but it obviously didn’t get done.  Where does the time go?  Paducah was WONDERFUL and I want to thank all of you that stopped by to see our beautiful fabrics!  We love meeting each and every one of you and apologize if we were so busy we didn’t get a chance to really talk to you.  We sold a lot of fabrics, including a lot of our Bali batiks and have replaced some and ordered some new fabrics!  Shopping for the fabrics is half of the fun of running a quilt store . . . all those fabrics to choose from . . . !

One of the reasons I haven’t been more in touch with you, is that I started a temporary job at Wal-Mart working on the remodeling team.  I felt that this would give me some extra money to put into my store for advertising.  It has helped and I’ll be advertising in both Quilter’s Newsletter and McCall’s Quilting for the next 3 issues!  Please look for the ads and show them to your friends.  I have now gone to part-time with Wal-Mart working in Ladies Wear, which now gives me some extra income and the time to work with Batiks by Design.

Jelly Bags

If you check our home page, you will find some wonderful purse patterns that are perfect for those rainy summer days when you want something quick and easy to do.  I wish I had taken pictures of all of the wonderful bags and purse we saw at the Paducah quilt show.  Wow is all I can say!  We made 2 versions of Jelly Bags pattern.  What do you think?  We sold kits for the strips to make them both.   They went very well and I was wondering if you thought that they would sell online just as well?  Give me your feedback.

BQ2

We’ve also add a few new patterns that are easily made in a weekend – or less!  Check out Afternoon Delight, a truly delightful quilt that is quick, easy, and oh so beautiful!  Another one we had a lot of fun with is Love That Print.  This is a great pattern to play around with some of those fabrics that are hard to cut and need larger pieces to really show off the fabrics.  Stir Crazy (right in greens and purple) from Strip Therapy 2 was made in a weekend using the KiwiBerry Bali Pop strips and an added background and border fabric.  I’m very pleased with it.  Another quick and easy quilt that is perfect for showing off your favorite fabric or fabrics is BQ2 (far right) by Maple Island.  I made one using a variety of Asian fabrics for my daughter and we made one with a wonderful Bali fabric for Batiks by Design.  It is pictured to the right.  Isn’t it pretty?!

Join us for the Quilt Dash starting on June 15th and you could possibly win a kit to make the blue and white version of the Jelly Bag.  On our home page is a link for you to join the Dash.  It’s a lot of fun with great prizes and a limited number of shops to visit. 

Until next time, happy quilting!  Patti

Have a few more people on your list and you just don’t know what to get them?  We found a quick pattern for a purse from Lazy Girl Designs blog that is FREE on their blog.  It is called Noriko and it is very pretty.  I’m hoping to get one done in the next couple of days, but thought you might want to get started.  To make these bags, raid your stash and find a fabric that you want to show off.  I think I’ll use one of the traditional batik designs with a large design.  We want to thank Lazy Girl Designs for allowing us to pass on this wonderful pattern to you – just in time for the holidays!  Send us pictures of the bags you make – and any unique ways that you used them.  We’ll post them on our blog!

Get sewing!

Patti

Yes, we finally got the garage doors put on the new building and although I unpacked my trailer from the last quilt shows into it, I’ve been working between there and my family room where I’ve been located since I started my business.  That was reallyfrustrating because I never knew whether something was here or there and I was contantly going back and forth.  Well now the fabrics and its shelving is all moved to the new building!  It was not a fun job . . . and it isn’t totally done since it isn’t all nice and pretty and organized yet, but it is a start.  We did most of it on Saturday, but in the process I hurt my lower back (ouch!) and have been trying to give it a chance to heal before bending and lifting the bolts of fabrics to get things really organized.  Today it is feeling a little better, but I might just give it another day.  Besides, it is raining and a good day to work on the computer!

In the process I found that I have a lot more of some fabrics than I realized (some of my extra bolts have been in a storage locker for a while) and even found a bolt of a fabric that I thought we were out of.  The inventory is off from the quilt shows and as much as we tried to keep a record of what was sold, it didn’t always get updated online in a timely manner – remember, this is still a one person operation with me wearing all of the hats most of the time.  Yes, Shirley is a BIG help, but she has been busy since the last show making quilts for all of her close family members for Christmas (she does this every year).  She makes one for each, wraps them and then they have a Chinese Auction.  Sounds like a lot of work AND a lot of fun.  I asked her to adopt me, but she just rolled her eyes.  It was worth a try!  Her brother also has colon cancer and she is busy helping him as well since he is single with no children.  Keep her and her brother in your prayers.

I’ve added a lot of new fabrics to our site in the past couple of weeks.  We’ve received a lot of traditional and Bali batik fabrics.  I am not a “brown” person, but I love the fabric to the left, which has a brown background with fuschia, pink, and tan flowers.  It has a large dotted border in brown that we used as a coordinating fabric when making this bag called __________ (right) by New Beginnings Designs.  Many of the new traditional designs have large borders that are fun to play with as a complimentary fabric. 

Another 2 fabrics that we love together are the two to the left and right.  They look very elegant together in a purse or jacket.  They are black with creamy white and tan.  Both have large orders that add another “fabric” or trim that can be added to your project.  I put the pictures in with the borders so that you could see them.  Aren’t they just wonderful?

For new patterns, check out our version of Fan Dance II.  It is rich and chocolatey!  We also love Zen Garden, Walk About, and Blue Bayou, which was designed for Timeless Treasures and I can’t wait to make it in our blue and white traditional designs with a few Bali batiks thrown in for good measure!  I made the Mandarin Jacket pattern and just love it.  I need to get some better pictures to put online – maybe without ME in it this time!

Gotta go and update my inventory, eat lunch, and wrap some Christmas presents.  I figure if I do a few a day it won’t be so bad!  I love the shopping and hate the wrapping!  If you need a gift certificate for a friend for a gift, just contact me and work with you to get ‘r done!

Keep quilting,

Patti

Wow!  It’s been a wonderful 2 years.  It went by so fast and I’ve learned so much.  I started with an idea that came from a quilt class that I took in 2006 in Paducah.  I had used some of my traditional batik from my stash for the class and everyone loved it.  Then someone asked, “Where did you get it?  Can you buy it here?”  I didn’t know.  I was going to Indonesia that summer since my DH was there working for 14 months and my daughter and I had stayed home in Kentucky.  I decided it was a good time to do some research online and only found 1 site with it in the US and they didn’t carry a lot of patterns.  So I went shopping in the textile markets and bought a bunch of 10 meter pieces, took them home, and put them online.  I guess the rest is history!  I’m on my second website, which I really love and I hope it makes your visit enjoyable.  We’ve done 7 large quilt shows to date and are heading to 2 more in the next few weeks.  The 2 comments I hear the most from people at the shows are, “Wow, isn’t this beautiful” and “Finally, something new!”  I loved the fabric when I lived in Jakarta for almost 2 years and I’m so happy that I can bring it to you.

The building that will house BBD is coming along.  they are working on the inside, putting up the walls and ceilings, as well as the lights and ceiling fans.  I can’t wait to move in!  We’ll have so much more room.  I started with a corner of our basement family room, and now I am crowded into 2/3rds of it.  After I move out, a pool table gets moved in there with some workout equipment.  We’ll keep a TV and couch down there with our Wii. 

We recently did a quilt show in Harrisburg, PA, my home state.  We really enjoyed meeting all of the people who stopped by.  It took us about 13 hours driving time to get there and we stayed in a wonderful Bed & Breakfast called The Canna Inn that is in Etters, PA.  They made some wonderful breakfasts and it helped us make it through our long day.  We had 2 booths across from us that had no quilts on the walls, so we decorated them too!  We never have enough space to put up everything we have.  They were grateful and we were thrilled!  My friend Cindy that I’ve know since we were born 3 days apart came and spent 2 nights with us at the Inn and we had a great time catching up on what’s going on in our lives and just laughing ourselves silly!  I really enjoyed that and I’m thankful that we have remained friends through all these years.  Shirley, who is my right hand, fit right in with us.  We need to learn some new sign language, Cindy!  Cindy also helped in the booth, mostly oohing and ahhing over the fabrics. 

Our newest sample is for Circles.  You are going to love it.  I still have to put our picture online.  Roxanne, my super-quilter friend who makes a lot of my samples has once again put together a bunch of wonderful fabrics for an eye-catching quilt.  Check it out to the right.  We’ve also bought some new jacket patterns that we’ll show in Des Moines.  Once we get a couple samples done they’ll go online.

I can’t thank you enough for your business over the past 2 years.  You’re all thinking outside of the box and I think it’s wonderful!!

Patti

Roxanne’s Star

Designed by Roxanne Ferguson for Batiks by Design

As featured in Cotton Spice’s Blog as part of their Summer Workshop 

Block size: 6” finished
Fabric and Cutting Requirements:
• Colored Scrappy Fabrics:
o Cut 8 – 6 ½” x 2” pieces from various scraps
o Cut 4 – 3 ½” x 3 ½” squares from scraps, mark diagonal line
• Neutral Colored Fabrics:
o Cut 8 – 6 ½” x 2” pieces from various scraps
o Cut 4 – 3 ½” x 3 ½” squares from scraps, mark diagonal line
Please read all directions before starting.
1. Take 2 colored scraps (6.5” x 2.0” pieces) and sew together with a ¼” seam.
Repeat 3 more times with remaining scraps.
2. Repeat above with neutral scraps.
3. Take a 3 ½” neutral square and place it on top of the colored strips. Place so
that the diagonal line goes from the upper left to lower right. See diagram
below.

4. Sew on diagonal line. Trim to ¼”. Press.
5. Repeat 3 times.
6. Take a 3 ½” color square and place it on top of the neutral strips. Place so
that the diagonal line goes from the upper left to lower right.
7. Sew on diagonal line. Trim to ¼”. Press.
8. Repeat 3 times.
9. Press.
6.5 inches
10. Sew a dark and light rectangle together with triangles at opposite ends as
shown.

11. Sew 4 blocks together, turning them to make either a neutral star or colored
star (as shown).

Sample of quilt -

Yes, we found the perfect house, or so we thought.  Guess what?  We can’t get high-speed Internet service and we are going to have to sell it.  No, I couldn’t believe it either.  This house is 7.5 miles from a small city with a state university.  Isn’t this 2008?  We can’t even get DSL through the phone company.  After almost 2 weeks of searching and many phone calls, we have found out that we can get dial-up or 2 way satellite.  Dial-up was definitely out.  We researched 2 way satellite and even the company in Murray that sells the systems told me that for running an online business, it wasn’t fast enough on the uplink and on secure sites.  We’ve put 6 weeks of work into the house – painting, putting in new light fixtures, taking off wallpaper, getting new countertops for the kitchen, etc.  We would researched this earlier, but the information on the house said that cable tv was available.  Next time we’ll check first – if there is a next time.

I’ve been providing kits for a mystery quilt by Kimberly Einmo in The American Quilter magazine from AQS.  The mystery has been revealed and the quilt is beautiful.  Kimberly creates such wonderful designs.  Check out her site at http://www.kimberlyeinmo.com/.  Kimberly’s Hokey Pokey pattern has sold well on our site and features our blue and white traditional batiks!

We’ve added a couple of new patterns.  Check out Calypso, a pattern that we think will look fantastic in Bali batiks!  We also added Borealis which is gorgeous with the black background and bright Bali fabrics, but would also be fantastic with a white background and our blue and white traditionals.  Both of these patterns are from Mountaintop Quilting Studio.  Time to Dine just caught my eye and said make me from traditional batik fabrics!  What do you think?  This beautiful table runner is 18 inches wide and almost 5 foot long!  What a great accent to a long table!.

Ah, I finally got the graphic to insert.  Had to kind of go in through the back door, but it seems to have worked!! 

All the best,

Patti

Shirley made this wonderful bag!  It’s the Diva Essential Designer Bag, which converts to a backpack when you find that you need both hands.  The bag has a center zipper right) and velcro holds it together when it is a purse.    There’s lots of room inside and two large outside pockets.have escaped and fixed them, but I think he’ll still be able to get through the 4 inch squares in the fence. 

Janis from Michigan made Kings Corner (below) for us, a Stone Cottage Quilts pattern.  I really like the way it turned out.  Thanks Janis!  I was going to make this a blue and yellow only quilt, but I love the addition of the other colors (thanks to my friend Roxanne).  She has an eye for what really works. Quilts pattern.  I really love the way it turned out.

I have several other samples started and hope to get them finished and on our website in the near future.  We get such positive feedback from our samples when we attend shows.  I hope having them on the website is almost as good as seeing them in person.

Happy Summer!

Patti

Batiks by Design

www.batiksbydesign.com

866.447.9211 

I’m sure you find it hard to believe that I have so little time to sew with a home based business that is quilt and sewing related.  But it is true.  Since business was not my major, I spend a lot of my time pulling my hair out and trying to figure things like accounting and payroll out when I would be doing other things like making quilts.  It’s the nature of the business for now.  I’m hoping that will change, but I’m not holding my breath.  Last Friday I was diagnosed with a throat and ear infection and spent the day sleeping.  Now I can just here you saying to yourself – she could have sewn then.  Frankly, I just didn’t feel like it!  I felt pretty bad.  But after a day and a half of sleep, I started to perk up and decided to sew instead of work.  And I did.  I started a sample quilt from a book we carry called Bodacious Quilts by Colleen Granger.  I spied it at Quilt Market in October and was intrigued by the number of designs that could be made using this one block.  Peggy Welchert, my assistant and pattern designer, helped me pick out fabrics for several samples last week.  We decided to try black and white for this quilt with accent colors of fuschia and purple.  I’ve added a picture of the blocks layed out to see how they look.  What do you think?  I used a mix of traditional batik designs and Bali batiks.  I plan on only making a wallhanging size because we have so little room in our quilt booth at shows to display all of our quilts. 

On Thursday – yes, on Valentine’s Day – I am going on a quilt retreat to Kentucky Dam Village which is not far from where I live, but it gives us a chance to sew and sew and sew!  There are 21 members of our guild going for the weekend.  I can’t wait!  I haven’t been on a retreat in years.  We are renting 3 cabins with 7 of us in each cabin.  I plan on making a quilt called Five of Diamonds while I’m there – another one of our patterns.  I think this quilt has a lot of potential with our fabrics and I hope it will turn out as great as I hope it will.  I’ll fill you in on the retreat – and the quilt – when I get back.

This afternoon, Peggy and I are taking a break from the business to make baby quilts.  She’s coming over around lunch time and we’ll sew all afternoon!  Yeah, another chance to sew!!  We both need baby quilts for special people who are adding to their families in April.  In my case, I am making this quilt for people who have been very special in my daughter’s life.  They’ve been her teachers, both at school and at church, and Academic Team coaches.  They have also helped Kristen to believe in herself, which is so important in a young girls life.  They are wonderful role models for her and I hope they’ll continue to be a part of her life even after she moves on to high school.

 Gotta go.  I need to workout and do a few other things before Peggy arrives.  Yeah, I need to read more on doing payroll.  The IRS has too many rules and regulations, and then you add the State rules on top of that! 

 Bye for now.  I hope you get some time to sew too!!

 Patti Oakley

Batiks by Design

www.batiksbydesign.com

We woke up to snow – about 1/4 of an inch.  And they cancelled school so my 13 year old daughter is at home.  Not that I mind her being here, I love having her around, but  it’s supposed to get up to 40 degrees today and the roads are already clear.  I don’t get it!  Tonight we are supposed to get some freezing rain and more snow – more than 1/4 of an inch.  My guess is that they won’t have school again tomorrow.  I grew up in the northeast and we might have had an hour delay this morning, but we would have had school.  I guess they feel it is better to play it safe.

I felt like a pioneer woman the other day.  I was cooking dinner around 6 pm as a cold front was coming through the area.  Winds had picked up to about 35-45 mph, but the rain had stopped.  It had been 60 degrees that day and was forcasted to get down to 19 that night.  The lights flickered and I thought, oh no, let me finish cooking before you go completely out.  The flickering happened a few more times before they totally went out at around 6:15.  I had just put the chicken into the pan to stir fry it to add to the zucchini tomato mixture that I had already cooked.  Now what was I going to do?  I thought about finishing it on the gas grill, but the wind was way too strong.  I lit candles and placed them in strategic places around the house, hoping all the time that the lights would come back on.  That didn’t happen.  After 30 minutes, I put the food back in the frig and tried to figure out what we could eat and not need electricity.  I also didn’t want to spend time rooting around in the frig in case it was out for a long time.  My daughter, Kristen, decided to have cereal, Gary, my husband, had ice cream, and I had a protein bar and potato chips.  Great dinner!  Kristen spent some time on her laptop (she thanked God for her battery), Gary and I talked for a while (not something we get to do every day), then I worked on my laptop for a while before shutting it down to read by flashlight.  I then remembered my Mighty Bright lite and clipped it to the headboard as I read my novel.  We all went to bed early after realizing there wasn’t much to do without electricity.  Ours came back on around 10 pm, but I heard from others that they were out most of the night.  I woke up the next morning to find lights on throughout the house and the TV blaring from downstairs.  Oops!  I know now why the pioneers rose with the sun and went to bed shortly after it went down.

Since opening Batiks by Design, I’ve pretty much been a one woman business, hiring either my daughter-in-law or my friend Peggy to work before shows to help me get ready.  Peggy has also done the quilt shows with me.  I finally have gotten to the point where I just couldn’t keep up with everything on my own, so now Peggy is a part-time member of my team.  Yeah!  Peggy and I have known each other for about 10 years and she used to own a quilt shop in town.  We are not only good friends, but we work together very well.  I thank God for placing Peggy in my life and my business.

At Quilt Market in October we ordered some new Bali fabrics from Hoffman, Timeless Treasures, and Island Batiks.  Many of them have arrived in the last week or so and I have finally gotten them online.  You can look at all of the new Balis in the NEW category of our online store.

Keep those lights on and get a Mighty Bright light in case of emergencies!

Patti

Let’s go to Bali!!  Well, we aren’t really going to Bali, although I’ve been there several times and just love it.  It’s beautiful, the people are wonderful (well, except for the hawkers), and there are many places to see, wonderful beaches, great shopping, and fantastic places to eat.  Yes, I do love Bali and the fabrics produced there.  What I had in mind is to show you some of the wonderful Bali batik fabrics we’ve added to the site in the last few weeks. 

‘Tis the season for Christmas trees and Bali 607 Green is perfect for any project that needs a little bit of pine needles.   I’m thinking about using it as the background for our Poinsettia pattern.  Wouldn’t it be perfect?  We have several colors that would make perfect flowers for my project, including Bali 511 Garnet, Bali 545 Flamingo, and Bali 515 Wine.  And lots of great greens.  Just take a look.

 We love the Diane’s Garden pattern and bought some Balis with that in mind.  What do you think about Bali 573 Pommegranate, Bali 593 Amethyst, and Bali 598 Mango?  Bali 600 Hydrangea is perfect too.  As are several others.  Check them out.  We’ve included many of them in our Diane’s Garden Kit.  The kit includes the pattern and the flower fabrics.  You add the sashing and border fabrics, plus the black fabric and fusible web.

I can’t wait to try the book Bodacious Quilts.  I found this at Quilt Market and fell in love with it.  Eight Bodacious projects to get you started on an unlimited number of layouts – all from one block. Step by step instructions – even a beginning quilter can be very successful!  We would love to see what you do with this block!

It’s cold here today and I’m going to make a nice hot cup of tea and go back to work on my latest project – the Pumpkin table-round for my sister.  Yes, I’m a little behind.  It was supposed to be for Thanksgiving . . .  Better get busy or I won’t get the Snowmen table-round done for my mom (she loves snowmen, like me!).  How many days left before Christmas?

Have a blessed holiday season.

Patti Oakley

www.batiksbydesign.com