Let's Build A Birdhouse

Hello creative friends! Be sure to head over to the AccuQuilt Blog today for my latest guest blog post...there you will find a complete tutorial for my "Let's Build a Birdhouse" machine appliqué  pillow with all the details, so you can make one of your very own...

This colorful pillow is created with machine appliqué and can be worked up rather quickly. It uses the following cutting dies:
GO! Qube Mix & Match 8” Block (55776)
GO! Simple Shaps by Edyta Sitar (55178)
....along with the GO! Fabric Cutter (55100S) or GO! Baby Fabric Cutter (55600) or GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter (55500).

This project is great for scraps or fat quarters...and while I used batik fabrics on a linen fabric base, it would look great in a variety of color pallets...and one of my favorite things about this design - once you build the birdhouse, you can embellish it with your favorite flowers and outdoor life - I chose yellow daisies and birds, but it would look great with an assortment of flowers and bees, butterflies, or dragonflies! It finishes a nice size (15”W x 15”H) - perfect for summer 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/?p=14929

...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!

"An Umbrella for Two" Table Runner

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 "An Umbrella for Two" table runner with all the details, so you can make one of your very own...

This April showers table runner is made with some basic piecing and machine appliqué and can be worked up rather quickly. It uses the following cutting dies:
GO! Qube Mix & Match 12” Block (55778)
GO! Dancing Umbrella by Edyta Sitar (55178)
GO! Birds (55324)
GO! Strip Cutter-2” (1½” Finished) (55025 or 55164) (Binding)
....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 cheerful primary colors, it would look great in a variety of color pallets! It finishes a nice size (36”W x 12”H) - perfect for springtime 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/an-umbrella-for-two-table-runner-a-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!

Bring Me Luck

Hello friends! I am guest posting on the AccuQuilt Blog today...go take a look and read all about my "Bring Me Luck" mini quilt. This mini quilt (measuring 30" x 30") is a fun twist on a St. Patrick's Day project...I say "fun twist" because it uses four leaf clovers instead of the traditional three-leaved shamrocks. It is the perfect size for a wall hanging or table topper...and the four leaf clovers are created using hearts and a curved stem...yep, another creative way to use your AccuQuilt cutting dies! I provide a full detailed tutorial with images that will have you sewing up your own "lucky" project in no time! So, stop by the AccuQuilt Blog for all the details...you have plenty of time to finish up this seasonal project before March 17th....
http://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-product-tutorials/bring-me-luck-mini-quilt-a-quilting-tutorial/

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....

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!

Autumn In Iowa

Can you believe autumn is upon us already?? - I feel like the months are rushing by...pretty soon it will be Halloween...then Thanksgiving...and then (dare I say) Christmas...whew - where does the time go?! Signs of fall are everywhere here in Iowa - the tree leaves are turning lovely colors (I've already had to rake my front yard) and I am hoping sweatshirt weather is here to stay for a while...plus, there have been a plethora of autumn projects on my to-do table lately - which is perfect, as I really like working with fall fabrics. One of my most recent projects is a quilted table runner tutorial (titled "Autumn in Iowa") that I designed and created for the AccuQuilt Blog...you can find my guest post/tutorial with all the details here:
https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-tutorials/autumn-in-iowa-table-runner-quilting-tutorial/

For this project, I used my AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter and these four AccuQuilt GO! cutting dies:

• GO! Rustling Leaves #1- Sweetgum and Poplar (Large) (55389)
• GO! Rustling Leaves #2- Maple and Oak (Large) (55390)
• GO! Square-6 1/2″ (6″ Finished) (55000)
• GO! Strip Cutter-2″ (1½” Finished) (55025 or 55164) or your favorite width for binding

After using a blanket stitch to machine appliqué each of the leaves on a base block, I used a straight stitch on my machine to create all the leaf veins and stems....you can read about this step on the AccuQuilt Blog and see close-ups and the backs of my leaf blocks. I stitched them freely and organically (it was quite enjoyable) or you could draw lines to follow...or you may choose not to have stems and veins.

My runner is 24″ x 48″, but you could easily be adapt the size to your needs by changing the number of blocks per row…or simply by adjusting the number of rows.

The tutorial for my design includes fabric amounts, instructions, and additional photos...that way, you can make one of your very own! Stop by the AccuQuilt Blog and check out my guest blog post for all the specifics: https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-tutorials/autumn-in-iowa-table-runner-quilting-tutorial/

...and be sure to check out all the guest blogger tutorials happening this month - each one is full of creativity! For a list of contributors and links to their blogs, see my earlier post here:
http://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/2015/09/meet-team.html
My next AccuQuilt guest blogger post and tutorial will be in November...and it will be another holiday tutorial...it is already in the works!

For now, it's back to my daily to-do list - I finished up 72 quilt blocks this week (a very large project, which is why today's post is a couple days later than anticipated) and I am on to three more GO! Talk to the Animals quilts and a pile of custom projects, plus some model stitching and designing...you know me - there is always something creative happening in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio!

Meet the Team

Things have been humming along in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio and as usual I have a plethora of projects in the works...including one HUGE job that includes 72 quilt blocks (yes, I said 72...and yes, my work space looks like complete *organized* chaos!). Last week I finished a seasonal project and tutorial for the AccuQuilt Blog, which will be posted on September 30th...and I will be back to share more with you on Wednesday (it will be worth the wait)...

Recently, AccuQuilt assembled a group of 12 bloggers for their official AccuQuilt Guest Blogger Team and I made the list, along with 11 other amazingly talented sewists/quilters/designers. This month, our assignment was a holiday project tutorial...and the creative posts will start this week. I chose to work on an autumn/Thanksgiving piece using the large Rustling Leaves dies...and the photo in the upper left gives you just a hint...

I wanted to give you a chance to get familiar with the other 11 members of the AccuQuilt Guest Blogger Team - their impressive blogs are all full of fabulous inspiration (I follow each and every one of them)....so take a few minutes and visit these links - you won't be disappointed....

• House on Hill Road (Erin Harris): http://www.houseonhillroad.com/
• Avery Lane Designs (Erin Hentzel): http://averylanesewing.com/the-blog/
• Beaquilter (Bea Lee): http://www.beaquilter.com/
• Freemotion by the River (Connie Kresin Campbell): http://www.conniekresin.com/
• Gem Hill Quilts (Gina Gempesaw): http://gemhillquilts.blogspot.com/
• Ray's Sew Crafty (Diana Ray): http://rayssewcrafty.com/
• Samplings from a Blue Ribbon Girl (Belinda Karls-Nace) http://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/ (that's me!)
• Sew Fresh Quilts (Lorna McMahon): http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/
• The Whimsical Workshop Studio (Heidi Pridemore): http://heidipridemore.blogspot.com/
• A Quilting Life (Sherri McConnell): http://www.aquiltinglife.com/
• Simple Simon and Company (Elizabeth Evans and LiZ Evans): http://www.simplesimonandco.com/
• Blue Feather Quilt Studio (Marjorie Busby): http://b-quilts.com/blog/

Be sure to watch the AccuQuilt Blog in the coming weeks for all 12 project tutorials!

For now, I leave you with a little sneak peek of a photo from my upcoming post...