Showing posts with label Quiltmakers Magazine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quiltmakers Magazine. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Weekly Wrap-up and Winners

Things have been a bit of a whirlwind this week, as I have taken on quite a few freelance jobs and custom orders...plus I have been completing more needlework finishing jobs in time for the holidays. I am knee deep in several large projects - including more designs for AccuQuilt (yay!), a new design model for a quilting magazine, several cross stitch designs/models for Just CrossStitch magazine (woohoo!), and several unique custom sewing and quilting projects for customers...oh, and the needlework finishing too! I feel very blessed to have a list of creative jobs to keep me busy...I have a prioritized list and I am steadily working through each item...and if I plan things out just right, I can make a little time for new Etsy projects (I have some really cute ideas for my shop). Someone please wave the magic wand and give me just a few more hours in each day! Here is a little peek at some of the custom needlework finishing I completed this week...

"The Sowing Sampler" designed by Lori Brechlin/Notforgotten Farm
for The Prim Sister's Club/Country Sampler
Finished into a 14" pillow...

"Warm Hearts" by The Trilogy
Finished into a hanging pillow with pom pom trim....


"Christmas Trees II" (#87) by The Prairie Schooler (thanks for the info Robin!)
Finished into a large project bag...


...and let's end today's post with a little good news for a couple of my blog visitors! My Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour Giveaway has ended and the two recipients have been contacted...

The recipient of the copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 10 magazine coming directly from my friends at Quiltmaker magazine is:
Lee Ann L., who commented:
Besides quilting/sewing, I enjoy cross-stitching and making beaded ornaments and jewelry. I also enjoy camping and reading.
Your block is awesome! Congrats!

The recipient of the "pre-cut block package" with all the pieces needed to make one "4 Corners of Happy" block in the same fabrics as my magazine submission, along with one copy of the magazine is:
Rachell, who commented:
oh my, right up my alley! Stars and traditional blocks, with a twist! I'm always looking to learn new skills, so adding applique to a block is great for me. I would be lucky indeed to win your prize!
I learned how to cross-stitch at a very early age, before I could use a sewing machine. I've done latch-hook rugs, a bit of toll painting, painting ornaments, and lots of other things. I sew clothes and home dec items, cross-stitch, bake, love to read, and of course I'm obsessed with quilting! I love to dance, like ballroom and latin and country.

Congratulations to the recipients....and thanks to everyone who visited my blog during the 100 Blocks Blog Tour and left a comment - I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your hobbies, pastimes, and creative endeavors!

Lastly, I thought I would share a little slideshow of some of the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks (including mine!) that Quiltmaker Magazine posted on Instagram...enjoy!

A video posted by Quiltmaker Magazine (@quiltmakermag) on

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Four Corners of Happy:
Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour

Greetings friends, fans, and blog hoppers - I am thrilled to be one of the stops on day four of Quiltmker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour. This quilty blog hop is celebrating the release of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 10...and if you are doing the math (10 volumes x 100 blocks), then you know this collector's edition marks the milestone of 1,000 original quilt blocks! To say I am excited to be a part of this special issue for the first time would be an understatement - I am such a HUGE fan, collecting the 100 block issues over the years...and I am honored to be in the company of so many quilt designers that I admire.

If you are visiting my blog for the first time - welcome! Let me introduce myself...my name is Belinda Karls-Nace (don't let the little typo in the magazine fool you, as they misspelled my last name) and I am a counted thread needlework 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 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 enormous AccuQuilt fan, proudly owning three 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!

"4 Corners of Happy"

My original quilt block for this special issue is called "4 Corners of Happy" - it is block #944 and can be found on page 40 (and on the cover!!). My regular readers know I love to combine traditional piecing with machine appliqué, so creating this cheerful 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:


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 and creating several pieces to show it off...here is how it would look in a table runner...


Since this is a 12" finished block, I decided it would make a great bright and cozy pillow...I simply added 2 1/2" strips on all four sides and added an envelope back...perfect for a 16" square pillow form...







Thank you so much for visiting my blog and sharing in my enthusiasm...and as a reward, I have a couple giveaway prizes!
  • Quiltmaker Magazine is giving away a copy of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 10 magazine to one of my lucky readers...
  • I have put together one "pre-cut block package" with all the pieces needed to make one "4 Corners of Happy" block in the same fabrics as my magazine submission, along with one copy of the magazine. I die cut all the pieces on my AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter and the applique shapes even have paper-backed fusible web attached for quicker piecing...the recipient of this prize can have their block put together in no time!


NOTE: THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.
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 what types of projects you like to work on.... 
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 Friday, November 21, 2014 and the two prize recipients will be announced on Saturday, November 22, 2014. No prize substitutions. Good luck...

Make sure you look for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Vol. 10, on newsstands now...it's the issue with the purple blue 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/

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you will return again soon!

Friday, November 14, 2014

On The Road Again...

Treasures I gathered on the Dallas 3-Day...
I know I have only been home a couple days, but I am off again...this time to Illinois for my mother's wedding (I am just tickled that she has found love!). I am still busy playing catch-up from my trip to Dallas, so if you are waiting on correspondence from me, please be patient - I will get back to you early next week. All existing website and Etsy shop orders have shipped...and anything ordered today or tomorrow will ship on Monday....thank you for your patience. So, I am out the door again...doing my best to take care of my very sad feet (which is not easy)...I will be back next week with some very fun posts...be sure to stop by on Thursday, November 20th, as I will be one of the stops on Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour (and there will be a giveaway or two - hint, hint!)....

For now, I will leave you with some photos of the items/gifts I gathered on my Komen 3-Day trip to Dallas...and a teaser for the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour...

Team Twinkle Toes head gear...made by our fabulous team stylist, Lois...
The hat was casual wear for Friday and Saturday - the visor was formal wear
for Sunday (don't you just love the pink bird?!)...

Team Twinkle Toes evening footwear...although I must admit, I didn't wear
mine after my showers, as they were too cute to damage and it was muddy,
grassy, and wet...

The most adorable quilted camping pillow made by my tentmate Sandy...
isn't it absolutely GORGEOUS?! I love, love, LOVE it...

Beautiful heartfelt gifts from my teammates...I feel like a princess...

A wonderful handmade gift from my faraway friend Dora...and a touching
card wishing me luck on my 3-Day journey...

On newsstands November 18th! Can you guess which block is mine...
hint: it's on the cover....

Be sure to visit all the stops on the Quiltmakers 100 Blocks Blog Hop...there will
be giveaways each day...and visit me on November 20th when I unveil my block...
I am in a rush to get on the road...but I will be back again soon...enjoy your weekend!

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Saturday Snippets

It is starting to feel a lot more like winter here in Iowa...and the chilly weather is a great excuse to spend more time creating! Over the last couple days, I managed to finish up ten more pincushions with fun fabric stamps...I really enjoyed making these, because the main fabric collection makes me happy (Hoo's In The Forest by Doohikey Designs for Riley Blake) and the fabric stamps give me a chance to fussy cute some adorable prints in my collection...plus the cheerful colors bring a smile to my face. These square pillows measure 5" x 5" finished, which is the perfect size...the base is a patchwork log cabin block...and I added heart and leaf pins as an embellishment. I also managed to get several stitching new wallets cut and ready for assembly. You can find these delicate pincushions in my Etsy shop, as well as a few new historic needlework book listings (and I will be adding more daily)...




In other exciting news - I received my copies of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 10, which will be be on newsstands on November 18th. I am super excited to have an original quilt block in this favorite publication...and even more thrilled that my block made the cover (which almost makes up for the misspelling of my last name). This is the tenth edition of this special magazine (if you are doing the math, that is 1,000 blocks!) and Quiltmaker Magazine has all sorts of fun things planned, including a blog tour November 17 - 21st - so stay tuned for more information - I will share more when I know more. I am such a GIGANTIC fan of this magazine and have collected the 100 Block issues throughout the years, so for me, this is a HUGE honor.


...and another fun thing I have to share...Miss Schatzi and I did a 5+ mile training walk around the lake again yesterday...and for the first time, she did the entire walk with me off leash! I had her e-collar on, just in case she spotted some wildlife to chase after, but I didn't need it - she did perfectly and enjoyed every second. Here she is smiling after our journey around the lake - my little girl is growing up!


For the next few days, I will be focused on Etsy sewing during the day and model stitching and needlework finishing in the evenings...and I am getting everything prepared/packed for my Komen 3-Day walk next weekend - I can't believe I leave for Dallas on Thursday...