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!

Big-hearted Blossom

I had to drop in today and tell you about one of my latest creations: "Big-hearted Blossom" (a quilted wall hanging or runner). Recently, my dear friend Mary was celebrating a birthday and I thought I would go through my fabric stash/scraps and pull her favorite colors to make a beautiful bloom as a gift for her special day. This project was aptly named after her HUGE and loving heart.

I am always looking for alternate ways to use my AccuQuilt GO! cutting dies, and that is exactly what I did with the GO! Orange Peel-4 1/2" (55455) in this project. Instead of using it for the popular traditional Orange Peel 4-Patch quilt block, I decided to use it for appliqué leaves along with a GO! Fantasy Flower. I purchased GO! Fantasy Flowers by Robbie Joy Eklow cutting die quite some time ago and I was excited to put it to good use!

The orange peel "leaves" were super easy - I just ironed fusible web on the back of eight assorted charm squares from the Sunkissed Collection by Sweetwater for Moda (the GO! Orange Peel-4½" die works perfectly for charm squares!). Next, I went through my fat quarter stash to find fabrics for the stem and flower petals. The stem was originally cut with the GO! Strip Cutter-1" (1/2" Finished), but I thought 1" was a bit wide, so I trimmed it down to a ¾" width. After seeing the approximate size of my Big-hearted Blossom, I cut a piece of neutral fabric (Natural Kona Cotton by Robert Kaufman) approximately 18"W x 35" H. I was able to easily center, fuse, and machine appliqué my flower on my neutral background - I used a blanket stitch for the machine appliqué, but a zigzag stitch, blind hem stitch, or satin stitch would work very nicely. Once the quilting was complete (I simply quilted about 1/4" out around the perimeter of each shape), I trimmed the piece to 15"W x 34" H and added a pretty floral binding that coordinated with the backing fabric.

The GO! Fantasy Flowers die is quite versatile with multiple fun petal shapes included. Plus, it was fun to dig through my fabrics...I just used what I had on hand, giving it a scrappy look. If you are anything like me, you have a scrap bin (or two or three) filled with fabulous floral colors perfect for this project.

This entire design truly came together in one afternoon and I was extremely pleased with the results! It could be used as a wall hanging or a runner...and additional flowers could easily be added...I can see it with a patchwork border too....hmm, I can certainly see more of these fabulous flowers in my future...

Visit the AccuQuilt blog later this week to read my guest blog post about this project...

All-Star Team Quilt

Hello and welcome - thanks for stopping by!

Today, I have a very special project to share with you...my All-Star Team Quilt. Recently, I was contacted to make a quilt out of Ohio State fabrics - now before you ask, YES, I am still a HUGE Michigan fan (GO BLUE!), but this was to be a gift for the customer's husband and I am always thrilled to have custom work...so of course, I took on the challenge. She allowed me to design the quilt and sent me five different Ohio State fabrics to use at my discretion - I just love it when my customers trust my artistic abilities and let me design and make the project my own. Of course, I thought the Ohio Star block would be perfect for this project, so I decided to alternate Ohio Star blocks and Nine Patch blocks to create a good size throw/lap quilt. I chose to use four of the Ohio State printed fabrics, a coordinating gray fabric, and a coordinating black fabric for the quilt top…and the fifth Ohio State printed fabric was used for the backing. I finished this quilt up last week and sent it on it's way...and I was happy to hear that the recipient is already enjoying it!

Would you like a FREE tutorial for this project?? Visit the AccuQuilt Blog, where I am a guest blogger and you can check out my pattern tutorial...I give you all the details to make an All-Star Team Quilt of your very own!
https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-tutorials/easy-quilt-blocks-for-football-fans/
Simply pick your favorite team fabrics and you are well on your way...you can have it completed in time for this coming football season...

The quilt I designed measures 68" x 68", but you can change the size simply by adjusting the number of blocks. I was able to quilt this project (with a little bit of patience) on my domestic machine (oh how I wish I could afford a longarm machine - in fact, I actually dream about it!). I used my AccuQuilt GO! Big Fabric Cutter and three cutting dies to cut this entire quilt (including binding):

• GO! Ohio Star-12″ (Finished) (55174)
• GO! Strip Cutter-4½” (4″ Finished) (55054)
• GO! Strip Cutter-2″ (1½” Finished) (55025 or 55164) or your favorite width for binding
  

As an extra treat, I made a coordinating standard pillowcase and placed the quilt inside for shipping. I also printed out washing instructions and placed the card inside the pillowcase - that way the customer knows how to care for the quilt.

Now, I will have to be on the lookout for yardage of five Michigan fabrics (not so easy to find in Iowa), so I can make one of my very own...and I hope my blog post will entice and inspire you to make one too...and if you do make an “All-Star Team Quilt”, I would LOVE to see your version!

Talk To The Animals

Today, I am back to share the fourth GO! Owl design I recently created for AccuQuilt...the "GO! Talk To The Animals Baby Quilt"...this fun, unique quilt has created quite a bit of excitement.  Just a note, before we get much further - to me this isn't necessarily a baby quilt - I think it is fun for all ages, and at 41" x 41", it is a great lap quilt, throw quilt, or wall hanging (don't let the word "baby" throw you off!).

A little bit about how this design was born...
If you have seen the packaging for the GO! Owl die, then you know there is an image on the back where the owl shapes are used to create a cow (I didn't design the cow and can't take credit for it...I'm not sure who did...). AccuQuilt asked me to come up with a small design that used the cow that was created with the owl shapes...but then that idea grew and they asked for another animal or two that could be made with the owl die....well, in usual Belinda fashion, I came up with not two, but SEVEN more animals. Each one is made using only shapes cut from the owl die, along with a few hand or machine stitches...making the owl die extremely versatile! Have I lost you yet?? Well here is an example (my favorite block)...my regular readers know "it's all about the squirrel", so of course, I used the owl shapes to make a squirrel holding an acorn. You can see I used the wing shape to help make the tail, ears, and arms...the beak is used for the feet and the acorn...and the eyes and mouth are machine or hand stitched - I machine stitched the mouth, then hand stitched French Knots for the eyes.

With my seven animals - a rabbit, a raccoon, a mouse, a frog, a pig, a koala, and the squirrel...plus the cow and the owl...we decided to put the smaller projects aside and use all the animals in one quilt. Each animal block is framed with sashing and cornerstones and a border was added. To me, what makes this project fun and extra special is: you can use only your favorite blocks, you can embellish each block, you can come up with your own animals, you can play with fabrics...you can truly make it "your own"! This model uses fabrics from Riley Blake Designs...and I finished it in time for AccuQuilt to take it to Quilt Market, where it caused a little bit of buzz (which made me smile).

The pattern gives images and instructions for each individual block, so you can make your own zoo...and you only need a few cutting dies - the owl and several squares and strip cutters...

• GO! Owl (55333)
• GO! Square-2" (55022)
• GO! Square-2 1/2" (55059 or 55018)
• GO! Square-3 1/2" (55006)
• GO! Square-6 1/2" (55000)
• GO! Strip Cutter-2" (55025 or 55164)
• GO! Strip Cutter-2 1/2" (55014 or 55017)
• GO! Strip Cutter-3 1/2" (55032)

....and, once again, the good news...for a very limited time, this pattern is available to download for FREE on the AccuQuilt website...simply visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-talk-to-the-animals-baby-quilt-pattern.html.

It was quite creatively fulfilling for me to design and create this project and I hope it brings you as much joy as it brings me! I would love to hear about your owl projects and see your finishes!

You can read more about my four owl designs on the AccuQuilt Blog, where I recently did a guest post. I hope you have enjoyed seeing all four of my GO! Owl creations this week...and the many ways you can use one single cutting die. I will be back again tomorrow to share some needlework finishing...I have been very busy this week!

Hoot Hoot Hooray! Wall Hanging

On day three during this week of owl projects, we are going to take a look at the GO! Hoot Hoot Hooray! Wall Hanging. The focus of this particular project is the machine embroidery...yep, all those owl pieces are stitched down and embellished using digitized files for machine embroidery...so your sewing embroidery machine does all the work for you! I designed the layout for this GO! Owl wall hanging and made the quilted sample...and the machine embroidery files (GO! Owl Embroidery) were created and digitized by V-Stitch Designs.

Some of you might not be familiar with the machine embroidery process, so I thought I would share just a little insight with you. Some sewing machines come with embroidery capability - this gives the sewist/quilter the ability to embroider and embellish their work. A digitized file is loaded into a computerized sewing/embroidery machine - this file is read by the machine and then stitched out on the desired medium. For the GO! Owl Embroidery, the base block fabric and a layer of stabilizer are placed in an embroidery hoop...then the hoop is attached to the embroidery unit on the sewing/embroidery machine.  My tip for this step is to use a larger piece of fabric than the pattern calls for, so when the machine embroidery is complete, you can trim the block to the exact size needed. Once the hoop is attached and the digitized file is loaded, it is time to start embroidering/stitching. The first color to stitch out is a placement line for the first appliqué piece (in this case, the owl body). The shape is placed inside this guideline and fused (or use a glue stick) to hold it in place. The next color to stitch out will tack the appliqué shape in place. Finally, the appliqué edge will stitch out - this can be as simple as a satin stitch or blanket stitch...or the digitizer may program it to be a fancy embellishing stitch (see photos below - click on photos for larger images). Going forward, placement lines will stitch out for the owl eyes, beak, wings, etc. and each appliqué shape is tacked down and then embellished in place - and in some instances, additional elements such as a bow, heart, feet, or eyebrows are added. Machine embroidery can often appear intimidating, but with a little practice and the correct tools, it can truly enhance your work!

After machine embroidering the appliqué stitches for the six owl blocks included in this wall hanging, it is pieced and put together just like any other project. To keep the focus on the owls and embroidery, this wall hanging uses simple sashing and border strips with cornerstones to frame the blocks....and of course, you can play with the colors and prints to make this wall hanging perfect for your space!

....and, once again, the good news...for a very limited time, this pattern is available to download for FREE on the AccuQuilt website...simply visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-hoot-hoot-hooray-wall-hanging-pattern.html. The GO! Owl Embroidery digitized files are on sale for the month of June and can be found here: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-owl-embroidery-by-v-stitch-designs.html

You can read more about my four owl designs on the AccuQuilt Blog, where I recently did a guest post...and be sure to return tomorrow when I will share one more of my GO! Owl creations...

Owl-rageous Wall Hanging

I'm back again today to talk about the second of four GO! Owl projects I recently designed and created for AccuQuilt...let's take a look at the GO! Owl-rageous Wall Hanging...

This cheerful wall hanging made from adorable Riley Blake Designs fabrics from the Summer Song 2 Collection by Zoe Pearn makes me smile just to look at it! It uses the GO! Owl and the GO! Round Flower cutting dies for the appliqué shapes. Each owl has a different look...and each owl is framed by fabric strips. This wall hanging quilt is also a perfect throw/lap size at 48" x 48"...and you can easily "make it your own" by changing fabrics and owl positions - adjust the wings and eyes, add leaves to the branches, maybe add a flower or two! You could use more traditional outdoorsy colors or I could see this in beautiful batik fabrics, as well.

When working with and centering the appliqué shapes on your base block, my tip is to use a pressing board with blocking and square-up lines – often times, these portable pressing boards are used for heirloom sewing. If you are not familiar with this type of pressing board, it is a portable size padded board for pressing/ironing with measurement/grid markings – I know both June Tailor and Martha Pullen have several on the market (they can be found at your favorite crafting/quilting stores or click on their individual names for more information). Since the base block for the appliqué in these owl projects is white fabric, it is easy to see the gridded lines through the fabric – you can use the gridlines on the pressing board to line up the block and center pieces without difficulty. I should also note, I used (my personal favorite) Pellon SF101 (Shape-Flex) interfacing to stabilize each of my blocks before the machine appliqué  – it is soft and smooth, it is 100% cotton, it adds just enough stabilization to the base block for clean appliqué, and (best of all) it is not bulky…and since it is fusible, it does not have to be torn away.

For the machine appliqué I used a blanket stitch, but a satin stitch or zig-zag stitch would work perfectly, as well...and I like to applique with a thread color that matches the fabric.

This project is very manageable for all skill levels...and if it looks a bit overwhelming, try working on one block a day (or week) and you will have all 16 blocks completed in no time!

....and, once again, the good news...for a very limited time, this pattern is available to download for FREE on the AccuQuilt website...simply visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-owl-rageous-wall-hanging-pattern.html

Just a note about the fabric colors for those who want their wall hanging to look like the model - if you click on the link for the Summer Song 2 Collection by Zoe Pearn for Riley Blake Designs you will see actual color swatches. For some reason these bottom two photos (credit to AccuQuilt) look more red, when it is a bright pink (closer to my top two images)...

You can read more about my four owl designs on the AccuQuilt Blog, where I recently did a guest post...and be sure to return tomorrow when I will share another one of my GO! Owl creations...

Out On A Limb

Hello friends! After (for the most part) taking a week away from Blue Ribbon Designs, I am back and busy as ever in my studio. This week, I thought I would share my latest design creations for AccuQuilt. I recently designed and created four projects for the GO! Owl cutting die, so I thought it would be fun to share one with you each day this week. Today, let's talk about the GO! Out On a Limb Notebook Cover.

This in-an-afternoon project is perfect for a beginner or someone new to machine appliqué. It combines simple piecing of strips and 4-patch blocks with a touch of appliqué. One owl is appliquéd on the front and one on the back...and leaves (which are owl wings in green) are placed on the 4-patch branch. The cover has two inside pocket flaps that hold a standard 7½” x 9¾” composition notebook/journal (easily found where office supplies are sold - I purchased mine at Walmart at a price of $0.88 each) and the cover is tied shut with coordinating grosgrain ribbon. The Island Batik fabrics work wonderfully...however, I can see this notebook cover in an assortment of prints and colors…and it's the perfect handmade gift for a friend or special occasion. I used a blanket stitch for the machine appliqué, but a satin stitch or zig-zag stitch would be a good fit, as well. You can also play with the placement of the owl eyes and wings to make it your own...plus, this is a great scrap project, perfect for experimenting with color and pattern...great for a child, teen, or adult...

....and the good news...for a very limited time, this pattern is available to download for FREE on the AccuQuilt website...simply visit: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/go-out-on-a-limb-notebook-cover-pattern.html

GO! Out On a Limb Notebook Cover - Front

GO! Out On a Limb Notebook Cover - Back

GO! Out On a Limb Notebook Cover - Outside

GO! Out On a Limb Notebook Cover - Inside

You can read more about my four owl designs on the AccuQuilt Blog, where I recently did a guest post...and be sure to return tomorrow when I will share another one of my GO! Owl creations...

Tulip Time Table Runner

It's been an insanely busy week...and I will do a "catch-up" post soon, as I have several fun things to share...but today, I am stopping by to let you know that I am a guest blogger over on the AccuQuilt blog. I am sharing some insights on my latest AccuQuilt pattern design...the GO! Tulip Time Table Runner - perfect for those of us who are experiencing "spring fever". This bright and cheerful runner uses fabrics from the Basically Patrick Collection by Patrick Lose for RJR Fabrics.....and combines Broken Sash quilt blocks with machine appliqué. The colorful tulips are cut easily by utilizing the GO! Tulip and GO! Stems & Leaves cutting dies...simply iron your paper-backed fusible web product to your selected fabrics before cutting your shapes and they are ready to fuse in place in a matter of moments. Be sure to visit my guest blog post to read all about this new pattern...and for a limited time, you can download it for FREE.

Find my guest blog post here: http://www.accuquilt.com/blog/new-quilting-pattern-go-tulip-time-table-runner/

Find the GO! Tulip Time Table Runner pattern here: http://www.accuquilt.com/go-tulip-time-table-runner-pattern.html

For now, I am headed out to walk the dogs...then I have some sewing to do...and if I am lucky I will be in my stitching nest this evening. I am nursing an EXTREMELY sore throat, so I am hoping to possibly catch-up on some rest. I'll be back again soon to share several fun things with you...including my latest magazine feature!

Early To Rise

Be sure to stop by the AccuQuilt Blog today, where I am the guest blogger and "dishing" all the details for the new pattern: "GO! Early to Rise Placemats"...these modern rooster and hen placemats are my most recent AccuQuilt pattern design. I always enjoy a creative challenge, so when AccuQuilt asked me to design a pattern featuring the GO! Folk Art Fowl die by Bill Kerr, I immediately started brainstorming ideas...and this set of GO! Early to Rise placemats was born. At first, I thought this die was quite limiting, but once you read my guest blog post, I think you will find it can be used for a plethora of projects - both for the beginner and the more advanced quilter/sewist.  With all the curves in the feathers, the rooster and the hen are the perfect shapes for fine-tuning your machine appliqué skills....and the look can easily go from "country" to "modern" to match your style. Oh...and did I mention you can download the pattern for FREE for a limited time...so go check out my guest blog post and download this fresh, new pattern...and be sure to share a photo of your new table setting with me!

GO! Folk Art Fowl die by Bill Kerr