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 over 10 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 some 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!
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| "Sunshine and Daisies" - Block #1051 - Page 37 |
My original quilt block for Volume 11 is called "Sunshine and Daisies" - it is block #1051 and can be found on page 37. 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:
- 55000 (Square - 6.5")
- 55006 (Square - 3.5")
- 55002 (Triangle 4 7/8")
- 55009 (Half Square - 3" Finished Triangle)
- 55327 (Daisy)
- 55045 (1" Strip Cutter) - used for stems - 1" WOF strip was put through a Clover Bias Tape Maker (Art No. 464/12) and sub cut to make four 1/2" x 6" stems or simply cut four 1/2" strips (6" long), if preferred.
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 few different color schemes and how it would look adding borders for a table topper or wall hanging....
Since this is a 12" finished block, I decided it would make a fun, bright, and cozy pillow. For a change, I chose to work it up in shades of blue and green, using Robert Kaufman fabrics for the the blues and a fun older Island Batik for the green. I simply added 1" strips (1/2" finished) on all four sides...and then 2" strips (1-1/2" finished) and 2" square (1-1/2" finished) cornerstones on all four sides... and added an envelope back...perfect for a 16" square Pellon pillow form...
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!
- Quiltmaker Magazine is giving away a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 11 magazine to one of my lucky readers...
- ...and I have two copies of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 11 magazine to give away...
Yep, THREE of my blog readers will receive a copy of the magazine!!
For a chance to win one of these prizes, simply leave me a single comment telling me about the hobbies you enjoy - I would love to hear about your creative endeavors...
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, May 7, 2015 and the three prize recipients will be announced on Friday, April 8, 2015. No prize substitutions. Good luck...
Make sure you look for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 11, on newsstands tomorrow (Tuesday, May 5th)...it's the issue with the orange 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/
http://www.quiltmaker.com/blogs/quiltypleasures/
A BIG thank you to Quiltmaker Magazine for including my original block in Volume 11...and thanks to YOU for visiting my blog - I hope you have been inspired and will return again soon! ...and one more thing...be sure to check out my quilt "Kites in Flight" in the May/June issue of Quiltmaker Magazine on newsstands now too...
