I Hit The Jackpot!

I was so happy when I was chosen to be an Island Batik Ambassador. I wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but I knew I would get some Island Batik fabric to make a few projects. But I had no idea what that really meant. Leave it to me to jump in with both feet!

Our packages do not come directly to our place. Instead they are delivered to our management company. The fellow that brought it over for me wanted to know what was in the package because it was so heavy!

Words cannot express how I felt when I opened the box and started going thought it. I was flabbergasted. This was the most exciting package I have ever received. It was filled with batiks in every color and every size.

I have to say these 10" squares are my favorites. The fabric line is called Sweet Nectar and they are definitely sweet. It's going to be hard to open this amazing arrangement and actually cut it up.

And thread! I had no idea that Aurifil thread was part of the deal. And a few spools of Superior's Fantastico too. The Fantastico is a variegated 40 wt polyester. I can't wait to try it for blanket stitching my Curvalicious appliqués.

There is even fabric I can't show you because it won't be available in shops until the Fall! But let me tell you that if you know anyone that likes to cook, you'll want some. This fabric is perfect for my DIL who loves to be in the kitchen and even has chickens that lay eggs.

As an IsLand Batik Ambassador, we have a monthly list of projects to make and share. So you'll be seeing what I do with all these batiks along with a bunch of other Ambassadors. Here's a peak at my first "assignement" with these gorgeous batiks.

This whole experience reminds me of the saying "Will work for fabric". Obviously, I will.

Stay tuned for this exciting experience.

 

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Good Bye Bali

This will be my last psot about my trip to Bali.  I want to share the process that we used to make our own batik fabric.  These were the photos that were orphaned on my new camera.  I borrowed an adapter and was able to transfer the photos to my computer.

On our first day we hit the ground running and visited this batik "factory".  It was very hot and we needed the fans that were given to us as part of a welcoming gift.  I saw headers for Princess Mirah, a brand that you can find in some of our local quilt shops.  There are lots of these independent factories all over Bali.  They are considered subcontractors.

Walking down the driveway, we saw this prepared batik drying in the sun.

 Then we entered the shed and saw these rows of beautiful batiks hanging to dry.

We chose a pre-dyed piece of fabric and a chop to stamp our design.

Our chops were created from strips of metal swirled and bent into designs.  Of course I chose a circle design. The first step is to dip the chop in melted wax and stamp the fabric

to cover the entire piece of fabric.

This is what it looked like completely stamped.

The next step was to dye it with another color. This was not my fabric.
I chose orange. My fabric would remain pink where it was stamped with wax.  .

The wet piece is being scrunched before it is sprinkled with the mordant.
They added a third color, green to my piece.

The next step is to remove the wax with hot water.  Sometimes this is the last step and sometimes they add another layer of dye starting with the wax resist.

You may be asking how they create  consistent product.  That is exactly my question
Here is my finished batik

and here is Don's.  He started with a light blue piece of fabric.

And today is the day to pick the winner of the batik giveaway. There were many comments left here, via email and on facebook, I have picked a random name.  The winner is: sewcalgal
Congratulations!  Hope you make something fun.

My Bags Are Unpacked And I Have A Giveaway

I have finally unpacked my bags.  Since it was hot in Bali, there weren't very many clothes to unpack.  Just shorts and t-shirts.  So, the majority of the contents of our 4 suitcases was fabric.

How much fabric did I buy? Lots.  Fabric shopping WAS the highlight of the trip.  I did go fabric shopping twice.  OK, I'll admit it.  I bought over 65 yards of batiks.At $2.50/meter,who could resist?

 Plus some jelly rolls, pre-cuts and fat quarters and the white fabric that they are all displayed on is the blank white fabric that is used to start the batik process.

My favorite batiks that I have not yet seen here in the US are these animal themed batiks

And I even found an adorable shirt covered with lizards for Henry

And most of my other purchases were made of fabric too

Bags and pouches, sarongs and other assorted goodies
But my favorite purchase was this umbrella

Umbrellas were always displayed in the shrines along the road.  Was their purpose to provide shade for the gods? I just know I loved them.  I would have brought home a full size one if I could have, but I was just happy to find this table topper.

To lessen my guilt, I want to share some of my loot.  Leave a comment letting me know that you have signed up to follow me on Bloglovin or that you already are following me and I will choose someone to receive these batik fat quarters including that adorable giraffe fabric, on Friday.  If you can't leave a comment here, e-mail me or FB me after signing up with Bloglovin.

Beautiful Batiks

We headed to the Hoffman Batik factory today. We had unlimited acces to see how these amazingly beautiful fabrics are made. It's a process of dyeing and waxing and overdyeing, sometimes as many as 4-5 times. Hoffman is definitely the premiere batik manufacturer. All of the dyeing and stamping and sorting is all done by hand. There was also a table of workers folding and packing the fabric into assorted bundles. I am still scratching my head about how they achieve consistency in the designs of their fabrics from bolt to bolt.

I did find this YouTube video of the process, but I'll share my photos.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPHwuI_GHHo

Quality Control

Piecing the lengths together

Packaging fat quarters
The chops that are used to stamp the fabric.

Slabs of wax that are melted for the resist.

STamping the fabric with a chop that has been dipped in the melted wax.

Rinsing the excess dye out of the fabric.

Overdyeing and setting the colors in the field.

 

Finished fabric ready to ship

And some roadside photos

 

 

 

 

There was a religious ceremony, as there are on many days.

The women bring their offerings to the temple to be blessed by the priest.

 

Can you name the fruits on my breakfast plate?

 

Bali Day #2

Today was not a day about batiks. It was a day about Balinese culture. Believe it or not, it was just as fabulous as the day I spent immersed in Batiks. The spirituality and tributes to their gods are pervasive. We were treated to scenes of village rituals and Balinese Temples and we ate lunch with one of the most breathtaking views I have ever scene. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.