A Moment of Reflection

In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2015 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2015 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2016, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

Here's a look back at a sampling of the projects I designed/created/finished in 2015 - a combination of needlework and quilting/sewing...and my studio tables are covered with new things for 2016...

As 2015 comes to a close, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blogging journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2016, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2016 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Snow Buddies

It is always a real treat when a design in my head works out well in fabric...and that is exactly what happened with my "Snow Buddies" design! This fun table runner design is featured on the AccuQuilt Blog today - and yes, I shared a complete tutorial with all the details.

When I requested the GO! Big Snail's Trail-12" Finished (55460) cutting die and the GO! Big Circle-4", 6", 7", 8" (55462) cutting die to use for my monthly guest blogger post, I'm pretty sure AccuQuilt thought I was crazy and wondered what the heck I was going to create that used those two dies in combination...but I had a plan (a plan that I really hoped would work well in fabric). You see, every time I would come across a completed Snail's Trail quilt block, my brain would see two stocking caps (or Santa hats) twisting together (see die packaging below) - so I thought it would be adorable to have a snowman on either end, with their hats meeting in the middle. I couldn't wait to try out my idea...and I must say it worked out even better than I had planned and made the perfect gift for a dear friend this holiday season. This project makes me happy and I hope it brings a smile to your face too!

So make your way over to the AccuQuilt Blog today for all the details and a step-by-step tutorial that will have you creating your very own "Snow Buddies" table runner with ease. Choose your favorite fabrics and have fun embellishing/dressing your snowman - I listed the exact cutting dies I used, but you could use actual buttons or alternate shapes to make the snowmen your own...how about a little fringe on the scarf ends?...or a pom pom at the top of each hat? There are so many ways to dress these cheerful snowmen - be creative!

You can find the complete tutorial here:
http://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-project-tutorials/snow-buddies-table-runner-quilting-tutorial/

My hope is, you will try making a "Snow Buddies" project...and when you do, please share a photo with me. Personally, I think the design would make an adorable bench pillow...maybe I need to get started on another one....

"Qubed" Diamond Stars

Right before the fall quilt market, I was busy working with the four new (extremely versatile) AccuQuilt GO! Qubes (these are sets of cutting dies for the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter). I designed a simple Diamond Star Quilt that works well with each size of the GO! Qube and then made a sample of each. Today I am showing you each of these quilts...and telling you a bit about each one...

Before we get started - here is a little recap about the GO! Qube...  Each GO! Qube contains eight geometric dies that make cutting a wide variety of quilt blocks extremely easy...there is a GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block (creates 6" finished quilt blocks), a GO! Qube Mix & Match 8" Block (creates 8" finished quilt blocks), and of course, a GO! Qube Mix & Match 9" Block that creates 9" finished blocks and a GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Block that creates 12" finished blocks. The geometric shapes in each set include: two squares (one larger, one smaller), two half square triangles (one larger, one smaller), one quarter square triangle, one square on point, one rectangle, and one parallelogram; you mix and match these basic geometric shapes to form an endless number of quilt blocks. For more details and a to see a selection of quilts blocks the GO! Qube can make, visit my post Quilt Block Heaven in a Qube.

Now on to my quilts...
The GO! Qube 6" Diamond Star Throw Quilt measures 48" x 60"...and the pattern includes instructions for a full size quilt (84" x 90") and king size quilt (108" x 96") as well. It uses three fabrics, the GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block, and a GO! Strip Cutter die for the binding. For this pattern in the throw size, you make 80 diamond star quilt blocks....

The GO! Qube 8" Diamond Star Throw Quilt measures 48" x 56"...and instructions are included for a full size quilt (88" x 88") and king size quilt (104" x 96"). It uses three fabrics, the GO! Qube Mix & Match 8" Block, and a GO! Strip Cutter die for the binding. For this pattern in the throw size, you make 42 diamond star quilt blocks....

The GO! Qube 9" Diamond Star Throw Quilt measures 45" x 63"...and it includes instructions for a full size quilt (81" x 90") and king size quilt (108" x 99"). It uses three fabrics, the GO! Qube Mix & Match 9" Block, and a GO! Strip Cutter die for the binding. For this pattern in the throw size, you make 35 diamond star quilt blocks....

...and finally, the GO! Qube 12" Diamond Star Throw Quilt measures 48" x 56"...and the pattern includes instructions for a full size quilt (88" x 88") and a king size quilt (104" x 96"). It uses three fabrics, the GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Block, and a GO! Strip Cutter die for the binding. For this pattern in the throw size, you make 20 diamond star quilt blocks....

...and the GREAT news is, if you would like to make a GO! Qube Diamond Star Quilt, all four patterns are FREE to download for a limited time...simply visit one of the links below to download your favorite size(s)!

• GO! Qube 6" Diamond Star Throw Quilt
• GO! Qube 8" Diamond Star Throw Quilt
• GO! Qube 9" Diamond Star Throw Quilt
• GO! Qube 12" Diamond Star Throw Quilt

I hope you will make a GO! Qube Diamond Star Quilt of your very own - they work up quite quickly (especially the 12" block version, which only needs 20 quilt blocks!). Although I was working on a quick turnaround deadline with these quilts, I was able to make all four within two weeks...so you could easily make one in just a few days! Play with your favorite fabric colors and prints...and be sure to share your finished quilt(s) with me - I would love to see them...

Sunday Samplings

Season's Greetings! I can't believe it has been several weeks since my last post...and quite a few of you have checked in to make sure I am okay. I have been so wrapped up in work projects, holiday projects, and life, that I haven't really had time to catch my breath (or write a blog post)...but the Christmas packages were sent - a few cards made it to the post office - the Christmas dinner went smoothly - the house is clean - and my pre-holiday work deadlines have been handled...so here I am to do a quick wrap up.

Let's see...on a personal note: I have been trying to stay healthy (but not exactly successfully), many of you know I had the flu when I returned from the 60-mile walk in Dallas...then I contracted a terrible upper respiratory infection that lasted what seemed like months - and the cough has been lingering for a few weeks, but getting better each day. I have been going to the gym daily - still weight training, with several days of cardio a week - it is my quiet time (my only "me" time) - I feel healthier and stronger - and my cardio consists of lots of stairs and incline, preparing for 60-miles in San Diego next year. The weather here is unusually manageable for December, but we are getting TONS of rain...in fact, the grass was still green a few days ago. I have been able to walk the dogs to the park almost everyday (don't get me wrong, I have to bundle up - there just isn't the usual snow/ice on the ground). Although, we did just get a couple inches of snow, in time to celebrate Christmas (and it looks like quite a bit of snow is forecasted for the upcoming week). Simba and Schatzi are both well and have become best friends. Travis and I stayed home for Christmas again this year - but you can't make any holiday plans this time of year when your husband is in management for UPS (they even worked Christmas Eve). We hosted his parents for a Christmas dinner on Friday and that was pretty much the extent of our holiday celebration. All in all, life is good...and we are looking forward to early February when we are leaving the Iowa winter and heading to Florida for a week of vacation with my mother and her husband.

On the creative front...there has been quite a bit happening in the Blue Ribbon Designs Studio. I finished up more designs and samples for AccuQuilt - this time for Valentine's Day...and I can't wait to share them with you (a couple sneak peeks below). I completed a handful of custom orders and managed to make gifts for nine packages...and they were all delivered BEFORE Christmas! I also made gifts for two of my local close friends...and gifts for family...so my sewing/embroidery machine and stitching fingers have been busy. I also finished the cutest winter project and tutorial for the AccuQuilt Blog that will be posted next Wednesday, the 30th - I will post a reminder about in the coming week - you won't want to miss it. Plans are underway for my January AccuQuilt project tutorial - it uses the new GO! Qube and I am having fun working on the design (think Valentine's Day). In the evenings, I have been cross stitching a couple ornaments for Just Cross Stitch Magazine that will published in 2016....and I have been working on a couple new design ideas - including one for my 2016 Komen 3-Day fundraising piece (Twinkle Toes will be walking in San Diego in 2016!). Last, but not least, I have been working on new pieces for my Etsy Shop - I am working on a BUNCH of Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeves and a pile of zippered pouches and project bags...plus I have a couple new ideas that I worked up that I will be trying in limited numbers. Then, in my "spare time", I am working on custom customer projects. Busy is a blessing...

I hope you have been enjoying this holiday season. As we quickly approach the new year - may you find joy in the celebration, beauty in your surroundings, and love in your heart...happy holidays!

Quilt Block Heaven in a Qube

Today's post is a fun one...at least for me...it's all about the new AccuQuilt GO! Qubes. I have been wanting to share this with you for quite some time, but I was sworn to secrecy until they were released...and then when they were finally released, I couldn't find time in my schedule to tell you all about them. I was lucky enough to work on several detailed projects using the GO! Qubes before their BIG debut at the International Quilt Market in Houston last month. First let's talk about the GO! Qubes, then I will share one of the extensive projects I worked on with you...

I have to admit, when I was first given the details of the GO! Qube, I was working with test dies and information on paper...and I was kind of skeptical. I have been a long-time AccuQuilt GO! user/fan/designer/blogger and have accumulated many most of the GO! cutting dies over the years and I thought to myself, "aren't these just the same geometric dies I already own?"...but I thought I would wait until I saw the actual product before making a judgement. When the actual GO! Qubes arrived on my doorstep, I floored from the moment I opened the box - my initial thought was "they are spectacular"! Seriously, I was stunned...and let me tell you why...

Yes, these may be the some of the same geometric cutting dies you already have in your collection, but the packaging is incredible, and all-inclusive...let me explain - let's start with the basics...

There are four GO! Qubes:

• GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block
• GO! Qube Mix & Match 8" Block
• GO! Qube Mix & Match 9" Block
• GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Block
  

Each boxed set contains eight geometric dies that make cutting a wide variety of quilt blocks extremely easy...what this means is: the GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block contains eight geometric dies that create more than 72 - 6" finished quilt block combinations (the 8" set makes the same plethora of quilt blocks, only with a finished size of 8"...and of course, the 9"set makes 9" finished blocks and the 12" set makes 12" finished blocks). The geometric shapes in each set include: two squares (one larger, one smaller), two half square triangles (one larger, one smaller), one quarter square triangle, one square on point, one rectangle, and one parallelogram - mix and match these basic geometric shapes to form an endless number of quilt blocks...and, get this, the dies even have a numbering system that makes it easy to know which shapes you need for each block pattern.

Now to the FUN part - each set also contains the proper cutting mat, 13 block patterns, and a "getting started" DVD...then to top it off, it is all packaged in a sturdy self-contained storage system! Yep, no more trying to figure out how to store the dies upright or having to purchase an additional storage system - it is all ready to put on your shelf. So, to work on a sampler quilt of 9" finished blocks, all you need is the GO! Qube Mix & Match 9" Block and your GO! Fabric Cutter....and of course fabric and time. I found it extremely convenient to have all the dies needed for a specific size quilt block in one place...

The self-contained storage system from the GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block.
The first folder contains the cutting mat, pattern book, and DVD. The other two folders each contain
the four cutting dies shown on the spine.

....and here is an image showing a couple of the GO! Qube Mix & Match 6" Block folders
open, so you can see more of what is inside to Qube box...

Now for some quilting inspiration - here is where one of the projects I worked on comes into play...each GO! Qube has a coordinating 72 Mix and Match Quilt Blocks pattern booklet available...and AccuQuilt had all 72 quilt blocks on display in their booth at Quilt Market...and guess who pieced those 72 quilts blocks?? - yep, you are right...me! I created samples of all 72 quilt blocks in the 9" size...and yes, it was quite the project! I actually took a photo of each block when they were finished, so here is a little "eye candy" slideshow...

Created with flickr slideshow.

Now, for those of you who rather see individual images of the blocks I created, here are a couple mosaics, showing all 72 blocks...and if you want to know the name of a particular block or see a larger image, the names are listed and linked (they are numbered left to right, row by row, top to bottom).

1. GO! Airplane Block, 2. GO! Blockade Block, 3. GO! Boat Block, 4. GO! Broken Dishes Block, 5. GO! Broken Sash Block, 6. GO! Clay's Choice Block, 7. GO! Depression Block, 8. GO! Diamond Star Block, 9. GO! Double Cross Block, 10. GO! Double 4-Patch Block, 11. GO! Double X No. 1 Block, 12. GO! Double X No. 2 Block, 13. GO! Dutchman's Puzzle Block, 14. GO! Flashing Windmills Block, 15. GO! Flock of Geese Block, 16. GO! Flower Basket Block, 17. GO! Flying Birds Block, 18. GO! lying Triangles Block, 19. GO! Flying X Block, 20. GO! 4-Patch Block, 21. GO! 4-Patch Star Block, 22. GO! 4-Patch Variation Block, 23. GO! Frayed 4-Patch Block, 24. GO! Free Trade Block, 25. GO! Freezer Jam Block, 26. GO! Hourglass Star No. 1 Block, 27. GO! Hourglass Star No. 2 Block, 28. GO! Hovering Hawks Block, 29. GO! Jewel Bock Block, 30. GO! Louisiana Block, 31. GO! Magic Pinwheel Block, 32. GO! Magic Triangles Block, 33. GO! Mill Wheel Block, 34. GO! Mosaic No. 6 Block, 35. GO! Mosaic No. 10 Block, 36. GO! Mosaic No. 13 Block

1. GO! Mosaic No. 15 Block, 2. GO! Mosaic No. 17 Block, 3. GO! Mosaic No. 22 Block, 4. GO! Old Maid's Puzzle Block, 5. GO! Peace & Plenty Block, 6. GO! Pinwheel Block, 7. GO! Pinwheel Star Block, 8. GO! Port & Starboard Block, 9. GO! Propeller Block, 10. GO! Red & White Cross Block, 11. GO! Ribbons Block, 12. GO! Road to Oklahoma Block, 13. GO! Sawtooth Star Block, 14. GO! School Girl's Puzzle No. 1 Block, 15. GO! School Girl's Puzzle No. 2 Block, 16. GO! Simplicity Block, 17. GO! Sixteen Patch Block, 18. GO! Spinner Block, 19. GO! Spool Block, 20. GO! Stargaze Block, 21. GO! Susannah Block, 22. GO! Susannah Variation No. 1 Block, 23. GO! Susannah Variation No. 2 Block, 24. GO! Trellis Block, 25. GO! Triangles & Squares Block, 26. GO! Turnstile Block, 27. GO! Two by Two Block, 28. GO! Uneven 9-Patch Block, 29. GO! Whirlpool Block, 30. GO! Windblown Squares Block, 31. GO! Windmill Block, 32. GO! Windmill Variation Block, 33. GO! X Block, 34. GO! Yankee Puzzle No. 1 Block, 35. GO! Yankee Puzzle No. 2 Block, 36. GO! Zero Block

If you would like your very own pattern booklet containing the 72 GO! Mix and Match Quilt Blocks, they are available on the AccuQuilt website (links below) and currently, you can download them for FREE!...and yes, there are four pattern booklets available - one to coordinate with each size of GO! Qube....

• GO! Qube 6" Block - 72 Block Patterns Booklet
• GO! Qube 8" Block - 72 Block Patterns Booklet
• GO! Qube 9" Block - 72 Block Patterns Booklet
• GO! Qube 12" Block - 72 Block Patterns Booklet

I hope you enjoyed reading about the new GO! Qubes and seeing the quilt block samples I created. If you are an AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter user, I hope you will check out the brand new GO! Qubes - they are boxes full of inspiration and definitely make quilting life easier...

I also designed and created a quilt that coordinates with each GO! Qube and I will share those quilts with you in a future post...stay tuned - my studio has been buzzing with projects and I have all sorts of things to share with you!

Christmas Cottage Cushion

Hello creative friends! Be sure to head over to the AccuQuilt Blog for my latest guest blog post...there you will find a complete tutorial for my "Christmas Cottage Cushion" with all the details, so you can make one of your very own...

This festive, holiday pillow is made with some basic piecing and machine appliqué and can be worked up rather quickly. It uses four AccuQuilt GO! cutting dies:

• GO! Schoolhouse (55344)
• GO! Rectangle-2½” x 4½” (2″ x 4″ Finished) (55159)
• GO! Triangle-Isosceles-5″ x 6″ (55016)
• GO! Strip Cutter-2″ (1½” Finished) (55025 or 55164)

....along with the GO! Fabric Cutter (55100S) or GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter (55500).

This project is great for scraps or fat quarters...and while I used more traditional holiday colors, it would look great in a variety of color pallets! It finishes a nice size (21½” x 13½”) - perfect for seasonal decorating.

So be sure to stop by the AccuQuilt Blog for a materials list and step by step tutorial, with images:
https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-project-tutorials/christmas-cottage-cushion-holiday-quilting-tutorial/

...and while you are there, check out a plethora of inspiring projects - there are TONS of wonderful ideas to get you in the sewing/quilting mood!

Blooming & Blue:Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

Greetings friends, fans, and blog hoppers - I am thrilled to be one of the first stops on the Quiltmker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour. This quilty blog hop is celebrating the release of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 12...and to say I am excited to be a part of this special magazine and blog tour for the third time would be an understatement - I am such a HUGE fan, collecting the 100 block issues over the years...and I am honored, once again, to be in the company of so many extremely talented quilt designers that I admire...and even more thrilled to have my block on the cover!

If you are visiting my blog for the first time - welcome! Let me introduce myself...my name is Belinda Karls-Nace and I am a needlework and quilting designer, teacher, and professional finisher by trade (Blue Ribbon Designs). I picked up my first needle at the young age of six (and made my first quilt around the age of eight) and have been designing professionally in the Cross Stitch industry for almost 15 years. I am completely obsessed with just about anything created with a needle and thread - and when I am not working on my original cross stitch and counted thread designs, I find sheer enjoyment sewing and quilting...and in the very near future, I will be adding my sewing and quilting patterns to my brand (along with patterns that combine my love of handwork and quilting). I am an enthusiastic AccuQuilt fan, proudly owning all four of their fabric cutters and a wide assortment of cutting dies...and I am lucky enough to do freelance designing and sample piecing/quilting for them, as well. My blog follows my creative journey - including needlework, sewing, quilting, and machine embroidery...my handcrafted Etsy items...my original designs and patterns...tips and tricks...pretty much anything that inspires me...I hope you enjoy your stay and visit often!

Without further ado, here is my original block (YAY!!!), which I titled "Blooming Out of the Blue" - the magazine edited  my title (I'm guessing for space) to "Blooming & Blue", which I guess works just as well.  My original quilt block  is #1147 and can be found on page 31. My regular readers know I love to combine traditional piecing with machine appliqué, so creating this cheerful, floral block just came naturally.

This entire block is AccuQuilt GO! friendly...and for those of you wanting to take advantage of the cutting dies I used, here is a complete list:

• GO! Square on Point - 4¾" (4¼ Finished) (55019)
• GO! Half Square Triangle - 3" Finished Square (55009)
• GO! Quarter Square Triangle - 6" Finished Square (55002)
• GO! Pomegranate (55371) - used for small circle 2½"
• GO! 2", 3", 5" Circles (55012) - used for 2" circle
• GO! Rose of Sharon (55045) - used for 3"W x 3"H Rose, 1" Circles, 1½"W x ⅝"H leaves
• A couple notes:
• for flower stems, I cut one GO! Square on Point - 4¾"  (55019), then  sub cut four ¼" strips for stems
• For those wanting to use the brand new GO Qube for the base block - use the GO! Qube Mix & Match 12" Block Set: Shape 4, Shape 5,  and Shape 6.

I like to audition my original blocks in multiples, with other traditional blocks, and with solid blocks to make sure they can be versatile...I also like to design blocks that will work well in a number of colorways. This particular block just happens to be a great scrap buster block! I had fun playing with this design in EQ7 (Electric Quilt 7 Software) and creating color variations to show it off...here is how it would look in a couple seasonal color schemes and how it would look as a 48" x 48" quilt...

For fun, I decided to work up my block with 1930's reproduction fabrics - which is totally out of my normal style/comfort zone...here is my block worked with fabrics  from the new collection Naptime 2 by Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman Fabrics...

Thank you so much for visiting my blog and sharing in my enthusiasm (and for reading this far)...and as a reward, I have a few giveaway opportunities (NOTE: this giveaway opportunity has ended). 

• Quiltmaker Magazine is giving away a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 12 magazine to one of my lucky readers...
• ...and I have two copies of  Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 12 magazine to give away...

Yep, THREE of my blog readers will receive a copy of the magazine!!

NOTE: This giveaway opportunity has ended...
Keep an eye on my blog for future chances to win...

For a chance to win one of these prizes, simply leave me a single comment telling me about your handmade/homemade holiday projects - I would love to hear about your creative endeavors for the upcoming holiday season...

To be eligible, you must include your e-mail address or have your e-mail address visible in your profile - international entries are welcome - you must leave a comment, no e-mail entries will be accepted. The giveaway is open until 11:59 PM CST Thursday, November 19, 2015 and the three prize recipients will be announced on Friday, November 20, 2015. No prize substitutions. Good luck...

Make sure you look for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 12, on newsstands tomorrow (Tuesday, November 17th)...it's the issue with the green band across the top of the cover. To find links to all the other blog tour stops, to read all about the other 99 blocks, and to have the opportunity to win a plethora of fabulous prizes, stop by the Quiltmaker Magazine blog:
http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/

A BIG thank you to Quiltmaker Magazine for including my original block in Volume 12...and thanks to YOU for visiting my blog - I hope you have been inspired and will return again soon!