Nancy Zieman's Fall Table Runner Challenge

Those of you who follow my blog regularly may remember (last spring) when I entered Nancy Zieman's Pillow Challenge and your votes helped me win first prize...well, a couple weeks ago, I was SUPER excited to see a new challenge was posted...this time for fall table runners. Table runner entries could feature any fall occasion, color palette, or size that fits on a kitchen or dining room table and you could enter up to four different table runners that have been sewn within the last year.  We all know how much sewing and quilting I get accomplished...so, of course I entered the maximum of four projects by uploading photos and details on the Nancy Zieman blog with a chance to win some FABULOUS prizes!!

I hope you will support my entries by voting...it truly only takes a second - you don't have to register - all you have to do is find my four images on the voting page (they are shown randomly)  and click on the "heart" in the top right-hand corner of each one - it is that easy - and you can cast up to FIVE unique votes (which means you could vote one time for each of my entries) during the voting period! Here are the images/titles of my entries:

Harvest Home

Pumpkins and Spice

Halloween at the Cabin

Pick of the Patch Table Runner

There are MANY wonderful entries that deserve your votes, but I hope you will take a moment and vote for my four table runners (click on the title below the image above for individual details and more images). Here are the simple voting instructions:

1. Visit: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/quilting-2/table-runner-challenge-voting-begins/
2. Find the images of my table runners shown above (they are in random order on the voting page).
3. Simply click the "heart" in the upper right hand corner of your favorite thumbnail image(s) to cast your vote (I hope you will vote for each of my four entries).
4. You may vote for up-to five different entries.
5. Voting is open September 15th - 19th.

Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to vote for my entries! While you are visiting the voting page, I am sure you will be inspired - there are tons of images showcasing a wide variety of skills!

About Nancy Zieman:
I'm sure most of my visitors are familiar with Nancy Zieman - she is the host and driving force behind the popular sewing program "Sewing With Nancy" (the longest running sewing program on North American television)...she is also an author, designer, and founder of  Nancy's Notions, a direct mail company specializing in sewing notions, supplies, and accessories. I am one of many that grew up watching Nancy on PBS, learning sewing skills and techniques from her extensive catalog of Sewing With Nancy programs...her books are in my collection...her catalog is one of my favorites...her sewing notions are in my studio...and her blog is in my daily reader...I am a fan!

Sunday Samplings

Happy weekend friends! It is a quiet Sunday and I am finishing up the piecing on four sampler quilts with music playing to lighten my mood. Schatzi and I just returned from a training walk at the lake and a visit to Starbucks...she was restless and I needed to get out of my studio and clear my head for a bit. The temperatures were in the mid-fifties this afternoon, but the wind was insane with 40-45 mph gusts...there were moments when I thought we were going to be blown away. This week has kept me busy working on some not-so-fun deadlines and juggling my schedule to fit everything in...I'm thrilled to almost be caught up with everything and I'm REALLY looking forward to working on a few projects that I personally enjoy and some sewing for my Etsy shop...plus some spring cleaning (I wish I could afford to take a few days off and just scrub away the winter months).

Here's a few photos of what's happening in my world...

Part of my prize package from Nancy Zieman's Pillow Challenge arrived...
a nice reference book and DVD...can't wait for the box from Pellon to show up on my doorstep...

Completed four GO! Hovering Hawks Blocks for four sampler quilts...finally
all 48 - 8" blocks are complete...it was a magical feat to fit these quilts into my schedule...
and after piecing hundreds of them, I am completely SICK of half square triangles (2" finished
square)...I can't wait to finish these four quilts and move on to something fun
(the 1st one of these quilts was enjoyable - these four, have been a challenge)...

Completed four GO! Flying X Blocks...

Completed four GO! Pinwheel Blocks...

Completed four GO! Mosaic 22 Blocks...
this block is probably my least favorite from the project...

Funny (true) story - my dear friend Mary called me yesterday and wanted to know if I
 had done anything for myself recently or taken some time for me...my response -
"I bought a new ironing board cover"...that got a good laugh...it's the little things...

A little personal stitching...Blackbird Designs monthly stockings...
two of the three for March done...and the third is started...

Simba waking up from a nap in Schatzi's bed today...he sleeps, I sew...

Miss Schatzi and I at Raccoon River Park this afternoon during a training walk...
I couldn't get her to look at the camera, but I did get a big kiss...

Thanks for visiting today - for now, I am back to work on the sampler quilts - the sooner I get all four of them done and off my plate, the better - I am ready for a fresh, new project!

Saturday Samplings...

Happy weekend friends and followers! It has been a productive week in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio and I am running myself a bit ragged trying to finish up a few fast approaching deadlines. I have been having a "stitching marathon" each night...and designing, along with sewing/quilting during each day. My heart longs to be spring cleaning, but that will have to wait just a little while longer. The weather has been lovely and I am hoping that the winter months are behind us (fingers and toes crossed). I have been getting in daily training walks with Schatzi, preparing for the Komen 3-Day in November - we have been getting in 5 - 8 miles daily...it is truly amazing how a daily training walk can put things into perspective and keep me focused.

I have a few things to share today...

First...it's that time of year again friends - voting is live for the AccuQuilt Quilt Block Design Contest...and this year I have 4 blocks eligible for your votes (and I may work on a few more in the future, should time allow). So, once again, I am asking for your help. Please take a moment and vote for my quilt blocks - they have made the voting process much easier and better this year (no registration!). You can vote once daily for all your favorites...meaning, you can vote for each of my four blocks once a day (plus any other favorites you may have). 

• Simply visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/contest
• Click on "View Entries"
• Find my blocks - the easiest way to do this is type "Belinda" in the search bar...OR you can scroll through the entries.
• Click on the block - and then click on the word "VOTE".
• You can leave comments, if you so choose.
• You can vote once daily for all your favorites! Easy peasy.

Here are my entries for this year:

I really enjoyed working on my entries again this year...and they are all so very me...I love to combine piecing with appliqué.  I also like to design blocks that stand alone or work good in multiples or in combination with other blocks...and of course, I think about what would look good as a displayed quilt block. This year, entries must be made from AccuQuilt shapes, so I can actually quilt up each one...and if my blocks do well, I will share all the details with you on how to make them yourself (a tutorial or two may be in the future). I hope you will support my quilt blocks again this year and place your votes for my designs! You can also enter your own original quilt block designs by visiting: http://www.accuquilt.com/contest.

Next...I would like to thank everyone who voted for my pillows in Nancy Zieman's 2015 Pillow Challenge! My pillows received 1st, 3rd, and 16th place (not bad for over 220 entries and over 8,300 votes)...and I will receive some prizes for 1st and 3rd, so I truly appreciate your support and encouragement! For my 1st place pillow, I will receive a bundle of Pellon products (valued $115)...and for my 3rd place pillow, I will receive The Absolute Easiest Way to Sew book & DVD from Nancy’s Notions (valued $34.98)...plus a Pellon pillow insert with each. So thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for voting for me! You can see the five winning pillow entries and the prizes for each by visiting:
http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-2/pillow-challenge-winners/

I have been updating my website and Etsy shop this week, too! My website has new tabs and features...so please stop by and take a look (it is best viewed on a desktop/laptop or in landscape view on a tablet or mobile device)....and I am working on new cross stitch designs and sewing/quilting patterns to add in the future. My Etsy shop has springtime items and I will be adding more vintage needlework books very soon...

Finally, here are some photos from my week (you can see these and more by following me on Instagram)...

In am off to my sewing machine - it is going to get a workout today...so much piecing to do, so little time! I will, of course, get in a training walk this evening....then it will be another late night in my stitching nest. Wishing you a wonderful weekend, filled with all the activites you enjoy!

Nancy Zieman's Pillow Challenge Entries: Please Vote For Me...

I'm sure most of my visitors are familiar with Nancy Zieman - she is the host and driving force behind the popular sewing program "Sewing With Nancy" (the longest running sewing program on North American television)...she is also an author, designer, and founder of  Nancy's Notions, a direct mail company specializing in sewing notions, supplies and accessories. I am one of the many that grew up watching Nancy on PBS, learning sewing skills and techniques from her extensive catalog of Sewing With Nancy programs...her books are in my collection...her catalog is one of my favorites...her sewing notions are in my studio...and her blog is in my daily reader...I am a fan!

Today, I am excited to share that I have entered three pillows in in Nancy Zieman's 2015 Pillow Challenge. A couple weeks ago, quilters and sewists were invited to participate in the pillow challenge by uploading photos and details on the Nancy Zieman Blog with a chance to win FABULOUS sewing and quilting prizes. 

I hope you will support my entries by voting...it only takes a second - you don't have to register - all you have to do is find my images and click on the word "VOTE" above each one - it is that easy - and you can cast FIVE votes! Here are the images of my entries:

Garden Girl

Bloomin' Beauty

Equilateral Elegance

There are MANY wonderful entries that deserve your votes, but I hope you will take a moment and vote for my three pillows...

• Visit: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-2/nancy-zieman-2015-pillow-challenge-voting-begins/
• Find the images of my pillows shown above.
• Click the word "VOTE" above my images.
• You can cast FIVE votes.
• Voting is open March 7th - 14th.

Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to vote for my entries! While you are visiting the voting page, I am sure you will be inspired - there are over 200 images showcasing a wide variety of skills!

Happy Dance Day!

My Top 100 Finalist Quilt Blocks
 in the the 2013 AccuQuilt  Barn QuiltDesign Contest
Top: #97
Bottom: #50

Today is a happy day - I just found out I made the "Top 100 Finalists" in the AccuQuilt Barn Quilt Design Contest again this year...so, friends and followers, I could really use your voting help...

If you read my blog regularly, then you know how much I ADORE my AccuQuilt Fabric Cutters...in fact, I use at least one of them pretty much every single day. When AccuQuilt announced the 4th Annual Barn Quilt Contest, I just had to enter again - in fact, I have entered multiple blocks every single year since the contest started. Well, imagine my shock when I checked out the Top 100 Finalists and two of my designs had been selected once again - I was over-the moon with excitement!! I'm sure they had at least a gazillion entries, so to know that two of mine made the first cut makes me giddy... 

So, here is where I need your help - I need you to vote for my two blocks, so they make the Top 10, where celebrity judges Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, Eleanor Burns, and AccuQuilt management will choose the Grand Prize winner. Please, please, pretty please take a moment and vote for my quilt blocks again this year...I would REALLY appreciate it!...and if you ask your friends and family to vote for me too, that would be AMAZING....please help me spread the word...

Since my winning quilt block in 2012 was a star block, I decided to go in a different direction this year. I knew I wanted a geometric block (#50), but I also knew I wanted a block with some floral flair (#97)...and the sunflower seemed perfect addition to a more traditional block - especially since AccuQuilt's headquarters (where the block will be displayed) is located in the Midwest.  I really thought about the history and tradition of the barn quilt when working on my entries...and the type of block I would actually see on a barn when traveling along a country road...

Here is how to vote:

Visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/voting.html

My finalist blocks are #50 and #97

Click on the boxes ABOVE my blocks. You can vote for up to five entries per e-mail address/per device...and I hope my two blocks will be on your ballot...

To learn a little bit more about the barn quilt movement visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/facts.html

Thanks for taking a moment to do this for me...wouldn't it be cool to see my quilt block design hanging at AccuQuilt Headquarters for a second year in a row?! Just think, if I win more AccuQuilt products, I can make more things to share/giveaway... 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and for your votes...I'm sure you all know how much this means to me...

Top 100 Finalist Block #97

Top 100 Finalist Block #50

A Thank-You Note

Today's blog post is a BIG GIGANTIC thank-you note to all my family, friends, and followers who recently voted for my two "Top 100" quilt block designs in the AccuQuilt Annual Barn Quilt Design Contest. Your votes helped get my design(s) to the final round of judging....and I can now share with you...drum roll please...my red, white, and blue quilt block design won the GRAND PRIZE!! Yep - did you just hear me squeal like a little girl?? I am so very excited to be the big winner...and I can't wait until June when I get to travel to the new AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE for the Barn Quilt Unveiling Event where I will get to meet special guest Alex Anderson. It is going be so much fun to see my block enlarged to 17' x 17' and displayed prominently on AccuQuilt Headquarters...seriously, how cool is that?! I also get to take a mini vacation, as part of my prize is  attendance at the 2nd Annual Let’s GO! Quilt Retreat in Fremont, NE...oh, and did I mention I get a $1,000 AccuQuilt shopping spree...can you tell I am just a wee bit excited? I have been giddy since I received the news...I just had to thank all my supporters for the votes...this is a HUGE deal (at least to me)! I will be sure to take my camera on my trip in June and take lots of photos to share with you...thank you all for being a part of my BIG WIN...I heart you...

Crossing My Fingers (and Toes)...

Today is a happy day - I just found out I made the "Top 100 Finalists" in the AccuQuilt Barn Quilt Design Contest!...so, friends and followers....I could really use your help... 

If you read my blog regularly, then you know how much I ADORE my AccuQuilt Fabric Cutters...in fact, I use at least one of them almost every single day. Well, when AccuQuilt announced their yearly Barn Quilt Contest, I just had to enter - in fact, I wanted to win so badly, I designed and entered ten (yes, I said ten) different quilt blocks. Well, imagine my shock when I checked out the Top 100 Finalists and two of my designs had been selected - I was over-the moon with excitement!! I'm sure they had at least a gazillion entries, so to know that two of mine made the first cut makes me giddy...

So, here is where I need your help - I need you to vote for my two blocks, so they make the Top 20, where celebrity judges Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, Eleanor Burns, and AccuQuilt management will choose the Grand Prize winner. Please, please, pretty please take a moment and vote for my quilt blocks...I would REALLY appreciate it!...and if you ask your friends and family to vote for me too, that would be AMAZING....please help me spread the word...

Here is how to vote:

Visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/entry.html/

My finalist blocks are #21 and #24

Click on the boxes UNDER my blocks.

To learn a little bit more about the barn quilt movement visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/facts.html

Thanks for taking a moment to do this for me...wouldn't it be cool to see my quilt block design hanging at AccuQuilt Headquarters?! Just think, if I win more AccuQuilt products, I can make more things to share/giveaway... 

Canvas, Cushions, and a Fabric Cutter

Wouldn't you know it...I am in a rush to complete a huge work project and I run out of a particular color of DMC six-strand embroidery floss. Right now, I am unbelievably swamped, I can't even see straight - I feel like I am being swallowed up by the piles of work that surround me - so, of course, I run out of floss...why wouldn't I??! Thinking fast, I make a quick mad dash to JoAnn Fabrics - it is only a couple minutes from my home...and thank goodness they had the color I needed.

If you are like me, you can't run into a craft store and just grab one thing and go...you have to look around a bit...and look, I did...

Now that we have a brand new deck, we finally purchased a set of patio furniture and a couple benches and they were delivered last Friday. The benches were the last floor models and were at a great price - I had asked my husband to built me several benches for the deck...but we were able to purchase these cheaper than he could make them - only problem - the fabric on the bench seat covers is striped and does not match our patio set (not even close) and it really is not our style. So I figured while I was at JoAnn Fabrics, I might as well look out the outdoor canvas and try to find some that would match the rest of our deck furniture. I like outdoor canvas for a project like this - it is sturdy, water resistant, mold resistant, and retains it's color in the sun...but it sure is pricey. I managed to find a light green I knew would match and a coordinating paisley green and brown for pillows. Finding time to get them all sewn up will be a challenge - but after laying it out with the cushion from one of the patio chairs, I think it is going to work perfectly! I will have to post a photo once I have them complete...

And on a completely unrelated note...while I was writing this post, the local UPS driver paid me a visit...he was delivering my prize from the Feed Dog Designs Quilt Block Design Contest...a brand new AccuQuilt GO! Baby Fabric Cutter and three dies!!! Oh my goodness...I am so excited...a new toy to play with...I can't wait to make time to unpack it and play! I was thrilled to see not only did AccuQuilt include the GO! Baby and the three dies, but they also included the two cutting mats needed...this is the most AMAZING prize. Again, I have to thank all of YOU that voted for my quilt block, Feed Dog Designs Bl0g for hosting the contest, and AccuQuilt for the GREATEST PRIZE EVER! I already know what my first project will be...and I will be sharing it here as soon as I can make a little time to sew...and yes, it will have a Halloween theme...

Happy Dance Day!

Thanks to my FABULOUS friends and family, I am THRILLED to tell you I won the Feed Dog Designs "Quilt Block Design Contest"!! I have to share my excitement and extreme gratitude with everyone who placed a vote for me - you all just made my week...no, scratch that, my month...no, scratch that, you made my year! I can't believe I am going to be the proud new owner of a GO! Baby Fabric Cutter and three dies of my choice...I am over-the-moon with excitement. Choosing only three GO! Baby compatible dies proved to be very difficult, as there are an abundance to choose from...but after very careful consideration, I chose: GO! Cat & Bat, GO! Ribbon Twist, and GO! Rick Rack...and I can't wait for them to arrive - you all know I am going to have to make time to play with them immediately. I truly appreciate everyone who made this possible - thank you for voting for my quilt block design - I am definitely doing a happy dance today!! Thank you to Feed Dog Designs for hosting a creative/fun contest and to AccuQuilt for providing such a fantastic/generous prize! I will definitely be sharing my future GO! Baby projects with all of you...

My Fabric Stash...

I recently entered the AccuQuilt "Bust My Stash Photo Challenge"; AccuQuilt fans were asked to send in a photo of their fabric stash (mine is shown below) for a chance to win a GO! Mix and Match Starter Set. Voting started on Facebook today and runs through July 31st. Please take a moment to "LIKE" (vote for) my photo...here's how:

1. Visit the AccuQuilt Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/accuqu​ilt
2. Click on "Contest" under the AccuQuilt Logo in the left-hand menu
3. Scroll down, then go to page 3 - my photo is on page 3 in the second row, far right side.
4. Click on "Like This Entry" under my photo (shown below).

You can vote once every 24 hours until July 31st...tonight I am tied for 2nd place, so I could really use your votes (only the photo with the most votes wins)!...and to those of you who have already voted, thank you for keeping me in the running!! And yes, I know, I am addicted to fabric - I could only submit one photo, so I just fit in as much as possible...

Thanks friends - I heart you!

A New Toy - A New Creative Spark!

A brand new toy arrived on my doorstep this week, courtesy of My Crafter Corner! My Craft Corner is an online community for all types of crafters and artisans - this community with over 1,500 members has all sorts of groups, forums, and member pages, all full of creativity and inspiration. Each year they have a "Meet & Greet" contest where the grand prize is a Cricut Expression cutting machine...and this year, I happened to be the big winner (I can't believe it - I am still in awe)! I never expected to receive such a generous prize simply for meeting other creative people. I actually received two prize packages - one containing two Cricut cartridges and one containing the Cricut Expressions machine (and it had two additional cartridges!). I am not a big scrapbooker, so I wasn't as familiar with this personal cutting system as I probably should have been...but once I watched the enclosed DVD and saw what it's capabilities were, I was blown away by this amazing prize! If you read my blog often, then you know I am a huge stationery fan and love to send notes in the mail - when I found out I could make my own cards and gift tags, I was over-the moon!

After looking at the manual and viewing the enclosed DVD, I jumped in and loaded a piece of white card stock - I just started cutting/trying different shapes and sizes, getting used to how the machine worked...oh my goodness, was I ever impressed...all of a sudden my mind was working overtime thinking of all the creative aspects and how to incorporate this machine into my already overflowing studio...I was inspired more than I ever imagined! After understanding how the machine worked and trying a couple different cartridges, I decided to jump in and make my first card - I opted for a thank you note - cutting a dark brown card and beige envelope...then cutting the letters for THANKS and a couple flowers and a heart - WOW, I made one on my first try - it is not the most exciting and it is far from perfect, but I am learning!

Okay - so now I have another new crafting addiction...I know, just what I needed...I have already purchased some beautiful papers and cardstock...and I have a couple more cartridges on the way. If you have one of these fancy schmancy machines and have any tips or tricks for me, please pass them along...and if you have favorite cartridges, I would love to know what they are, as well...

Thank you to My Craft Corner for such a phenomenal contest prize...and for sparking my creativity...

On The Road *Yet* Again....

I just finished packing up everything for the Heart's Desire Cross Stitch Camp (whew - what a job!) and I will be heading out of town bright and early for another weekend of teaching...this time I am headed to Junction City, Kansas to work with another big group of enthusiastic students. I've packed up a great assortment of models and charts and all the class materials and will be ready to hit the road first thing in the morning for three enjoyable days of needlework. It is storming here with a vengeance, so I am really hoping the weather will calm down for my trip...

I will be making a little pit stop before I get there...I have been told I just *have to* visit Picture This Plus in Abilene, KS, so I will be headed there first (I've also been told there is a good quilt shop in town, so that is on my list as well!).

I hope to be back early next week with a fun blog update from my travels...I also have some fun creative things to post about! I know my posts have been limited the last couple weeks, as preparing for two big teaching events has monopolized my time...but I promise to be better upon my return.

Also - make a trip to my Blue Ribbon Designs website "gallery" to see a couple FABULOUS pieces I got to see in person at the Heartland Stitch Counters Society event last weekend (thank you Pam and Cheryl)...they are definitely worth a view!

Finally - thanks to everyone who has taken a moment to vote for my two quilt blocks in the AccuQuilt Barn Quilt Contest - you are awesome!! I also appreciate those of you who have spread the word and sent tweets or posted on your message boards/blogs for me....every little bit helps. :-) I'm afraid I have fallen way behind in the "popularity contest", so I really hope the celebrity judges see something special in one of my entries (fingers crossed!)....or I have an outpouring of votes this weekend. There is still time to vote - voting ends on April 19th - so please, if you haven't done so already, please visit this link: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt-top100 and cast a vote for me...

My first block is in the second row (below left)....and my second block is in the bottom row (below right)...and you can "like" and/or review both of my entries....both quilt blocks have Belinda K. listed under them.

• If you have Facebook, simply click on "like" under my block(s) to give me a vote.


• If you do not have Facebook, click on the image of my block(s) and rate/review my block to give me a vote....you don't need to write anything fancy, just that you like my quilt block design. I know, a little more time consuming, but you will make my day! :-)

I am going to finish up just a couple more things and then it is off to bed...I'm hoping to get in a few good hours of sleep before my alarm goes off in the early AM....

Wishing you a wonderful and creative weekend....

Crossing My Fingers...

Friends and followers....I would really love your help! (I know, normally, I am terrible about asking for help...but this is a special circumstance...)

Now if you read my blog regularly, then you know how much I ADORE my AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter...in fact, I use it almost every single day. Well, when AccuQuilt decided to have a new Barn Quilt Contest, I just had to enter - in fact, I wanted to win so badly, I designed and entered seven (yes, seven) different quilt blocks. Well, imagine my shock when I received a message stating two of my designs had been selected as Top 100 Finalists in the 2nd Annual AccuQuilt Barn Quilt Design Contest - I was over-the moon with excitement!! I'm sure they had a gazillion entries, so to know two of mine made the first cut makes me giddy...

Now I need your help to gently "nudge" celebrity judges Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, and Eleanor Burns to choose one of my quilt blocks as the Grand Prize winner. Please, please, pretty please take a moment and vote for my quilt blocks...I would REALLY appreciate it!...and if you ask your friends and family to vote for me too, that would be AMAZING....please help me spread the word...

TO VOTE:
Please visit this link: http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt-top100

• If you have Facebook, simply click on "like" under my block(s) to give me a vote.


• If you do not have Facebook, click on the image of my block(s) and rate/review my block to give me a vote....you don't need to write anything fancy, just that you like my quilt block design. I know, a little more time consuming, but think how happy you will make me... :-)

My first block is in the second row (shown here top right)....and my second block is in the bottom row (shown here bottom right)...and you can "like" and/or review both of my entries....both quilt blocks have Belinda K. listed under them.

Thanks for taking a moment to do this for me...wouldn't it be cool to see my quilt block design hanging at AccuQuilt Headquarters?! Just think, if I win more AccuQuilt products, I can make more things to giveaway...