In the midst of all the irons I have in the fire, (of course) I made time to design a quilt block for AccuQuilt's 2018 Quilt Block Contest...and it is time to vote!! Here is a link to my entry titled Slice of Summer: http://wshe.es/0cshMgXL
If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know how much I enjoy designing quilt blocks and projects - I just love working with shapes, design, and color...and I have fun putting together an entry for this contest every year. The voting for the contest is now live...and I am hoping you will check out my entry for this year...and if you like my block, throw a vote my way. The criteria for the contest is to design an original block that can be created with available AccuQuilt dies (plus it really should look good enlarged to fit the 17' x 17' sign displayed at AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE). My entry follows these guidelines and was inspired by the sunshine and joy quilting brings to my heart...
This year, you can vote for your favorite(s) once every 24-hours - now through August 15th. You can view my block entry by visiting: http://wshe.es/0cshMgXL
...there are some GREAT prizes up for grabs, so I would really appreciate it!
I have been hanging out in my studio all week (still feeling a bit worn out - thank you for all the well wishes), working custom project bags...lots of them. I have a tall stack cut and ready to assemble (and more orders arrived today), so I am looking forward to a few solid days at the sewing machine. I've also been preparing materials for a large needlework finishing order - choosing Christmas fabrics for ornaments...so those on are the table, as well. In my spare time, I've been listing more cross stitch stash items in my Etsy shop and doing some freelance design work too...the list is LONG (as usual).
In the midst of all the irons I have in the fire, I decided to design several quilt blocks for AccuQuilt's 2017 Quilt Block Contest. If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know how much I enjoy designing quilt blocks and projects...I just love working with shapes, design, and color...and I have fun putting together my entries for this contest every year. The voting for the contest is now live...and I am hoping you will check out all the entries for this year...and if you like my blocks, throw a vote my way. The criteria for the contest is to design an original block that can be created with available AccuQuilt dies...plus it really should look good enlarged to fit a 17' x 17' sign displayed at AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE. My cheerful and colorful blocks all follow these specific guidelines and were designed especially for this contest.
This year, you can vote once a day for one block - now through September 5th (so make sure you pick your favorite). You can view all 107 entries by visiting: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/contest All three of my entries are on page 3.
...to vote for one of my blocks, simply click on the link below your favorite image below...there are some great prizes up for grabs, so I would really appreciate it!
It is fun to look through all the entries and see the diverse group of talent this contest attracts....even the entries that don't follow the guidelines are interesting. So, go check out all the design inspiration and cast one vote for your favorite each day...and if that happens to be one of my entries, I would be thrilled!
Have you watched my Video Story Contest Entry yet? It tells you why the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic is #sewworthit using elements from my daily life - I hope you will take a moment (it is only a minute long) and watch it and maybe it will make you smile! I'm not the best saleswoman or good at asking for help/votes, but I am good at being creative and persistent. I am currently in second place and could use your help to win the sewing/embroidery machine of my dreams - if you could view my video, then place a vote for me, I would be greatly appreciative! Visit: http://woobox.com/eyk7zi/gallery/DvLFOHRtQis to view and vote...it only takes a second and you don't need to sign-in or sign-up, just click the word VOTE above my video. Thanks!
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 "Freeze Frame Mug Rug", perfect for holiday gift giving...
This project is perfect for a beginner...and the entire project was cut on my GO! Fabric Cutter (project is GO! Big, GO!, and GO! Babycompatible) using:
My winter mug rug is created with both traditional piecing and machine appliqué...and with the small size, it can be worked up rather quickly. This project is great for scraps or fat quarters...and while I used cotton print fabrics, it would look great in solids or batiks...and one of my favorite things about this design - once you build the house, you can embellish it with any of your favorite motifs - I chose pine trees, but it would look great with an assortment of snowflakes, reindeer, or even a Santa! You could also change up the scenery and make it for any season. Using the 6" Qube and Companion, it finishes a nice size (9”W x 6”H) - but you can adjust it to any size Qube/Qube Companion to make it larger for a runner, candle mat or table topper.
I know they may look a bit complicated, but I show step by step how to create them...a beginner could have several created before Christmas!
Finally, I would like thank everyone who has voted for my video in the Husqvarna Viking #sewworthit Video Story Contest (see the prevous post for more details)! I truly appreciate your support. The competition is heating up and I only have a slight lead (several people have even copied my video idea - using images, think bubbles, and music - GRRR!). I hope you will visit the following link and view/vote for my video....you don't have to sign-up or sign in or leave any personal information - simply click on the link, then click vote - easy peasy! ...and to those who have shared my link/details in their groups and on social media - I appreciate you more than you know - you are AMAZING! Thank you for helping me try to win my dream sewing and embroidery machine... http://woobox.com/eyk7zi/gallery/DvLFOHRtQis
Wild turkeys having a feast at the bird feeders in the backyard on Thanksgiving...followed by a drink from the bird bath...
Happy day after Thanksgiving - I hope you had a wonderful celebration with family and friends! My husband and I actually made a trip to Lake Summerset, IL, so I could spend Thanksgiving with my mommy for the first time in over 20 years. It was a quick, but special trip...and it was so nice to see my mom and Dan and extended family. We left yesterday morning - made the five hour drive and arrived an hour before dinner - then, spent the night and returned home bright and early this morning, as my husband had to work this afternoon (many of you know, my husband is in management for UPS and we all know how much shipping is happening this time of year!). In any case, we had a lovely trip, family time, and a delicious meal...and Schatzi even tagged along and spent time with some new friends (Daisy and Wilson).
Thank you to everyone for your love and kind words regarding Simba...I found comfort in many of your messages. I also have to thank those who have checked in with me since my oral surgery - it went as expected and I am healing - all is well. I feel very blessed to have so many caring people in my life - my heart is full.
On to the creative part of my post...
We all know how passionate I am about anything created with a needle and thread - by hand or machine....and many of you know there are two things I can't live without in my sewing studio - my Accuquilt products and my Husqvarna Viking Designer Diamond sewing and embroidery machine/Huskylock s25. I'm pretty sure everyone knows how much I love my sewing machine and how hard I worked to get it years ago - it brings me joy every single day. Over the years, they have released new and improved versions of my machine...but the most recent, the Designer Epic, is truly extraordinary - oh how I have been drooling over this machine for months. Obviously a machine of this caliber is not in my budget, so when I saw Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines was have a video contest with an Epic as a grand prize, I had to put on my thinking cap to think of a video idea that would be worthy of submission. My idea grew slowly and turned into the contest entry you can view below - I am an amatuer videographer, but I had so much fun making it...and I knew I had to give it a shot! I'm not a big fan of contests that require you to solicit votes - many times it is a popularity contest and the entry itself (no matter how good it is) isn't a factor...but I had to make an exception in this special case and at least TRY. I hope you enjoy my short video testimonial about why I love the Husqvarna Viking Designer Epic sewing and embroidery machine and why it is #sewworthit...and if you feel so inclined, please place a vote for my entry.
To vote, simply visit the following link- and click on VOTE - NO sign-up, e-mail, or personal information is required - yep, just visit the link and click VOTE:
It only takes a second and I would appreciate it "sew" very much! Contest rules state: you can vote once per IP address.
You can see the video in it's entirety by visiting the link above, or my YouTube page, or for those who have a browser that support it, I am posting it below (note: you still have to visit the link above to vote):
I hope it makes you smile and you can tell how much I enjoyed putting it together...and, of course, a squirrel made the final cut (after all, it is "my video story"). My fingers (and toes) are crossed, as I am sure there will be some GOOD competition (at the time of this post, my video was the only submission - along with two Epic videos from Husqvarna Viking)....maybe that is good luck!
It's a sunny afternoon here in Iowa and the winds have started to calm...maybe, just maybe, spring is around the corner! If I have my way, soon I will be mowing the lawn and planting new flowers...and I can finally do my long training walks outside.
I have been hanging out in my studio all week, still working on a huge freelance job...but it is almost complete and I am excited to move on to new projects! I have a nice pile of custom project orders ready to assemble, so I am looking forward to a few solid days at the sewing machine. Plus, I am really enjoying my latest model stitching and can't wait to share a new cross stitch design with you soon.
In the midst of all the irons I have in the fire, I decided to design a handful of quilt blocks for AccuQuilt's 2016 Quilt Block Contest. If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know how much I enjoy designing quilt blocks and projects...I just love working with shapes, design, and color...and I have fun putting together my entries for this contest every year. The voting for the contest is now live...and I am hoping you will check out all the entries for this year...and if you like my blocks, throw a vote my way. The criteria for the contest is to design an original block that can be created with AccuQuilt dies...plus it really should look good enlarged to fit a 17' x 17' sign displayed at AccuQuilt Headquarters in Omaha, NE. My cheerful and colorful blocks all follow these specific guidelines and were designed especially for this contest.
This year, you can vote once a day for one block - now through April 21st (so make sure you pick your favorite). You can view all the entries by visiting: http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/contest ...or if you have a favorite block below, simply click on the link below it to cast a vote - I would greatly appreciate it. You can also visit the contest link and type "Belinda" in the search bar to see all eight of my entries.
It is fun to look through all 149 entries and see the diverse group of talent this contest attracts....even the entries that don't follow the guidelines (and I was surprised to see quite a few) are interesting. So, go check out all the design inspiration and cast one vote for your favorite each day...and if that happens to be one of my entries, I would be thrilled!
These blocks all bring me joy and I hope you see something special in one (or more) of them. With your votes, I have the opportunity to win some AMAZING quilty prizes (including a feature in Quiltmaker Magazine), so thank you for taking the time to look!
I'm off to do some design work for the next few hours - then my husband and I have dinner reservations at a favorite restaurant to celebrate our wedding anniversary (we celebrated 16 years this week!). Enjoy the rest of your weekend....
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:
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:
Find the images of my table runners shown above (they are in random order on the voting page).
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).
You may vote for up-to five different entries.
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!
Two 18" pillows I recently completed for a dear friend...
I'm taking a break from my sewing machine to do a little blog update this afternoon....I've been at my machine most of the afternoon and I thought I would sit down for a virtual chat while I get a dose of caffeine and clear my head.
Last night, I finished a HUGE project for Just CrossStitch magazine that will be in the October issue...oh how I wish I could share it with you now, but you will have to be patient - it was A LOT of work, but so worth every minute...and I am just thrilled with how it turned out...
Have you been voting daily for my AccuQuilt Block Design Contest entries? - if you have, then I truly appreciate you! I know I ask for your votes every year...and for some reason, they make the voting process last a lifetime...but I want you to know that I am thankful for each and every vote. I hesitated to enter this year, after some of last year's results and the voting process - I know there was a lot of frustration across the board...but this year it is not just popular vote...and the block entries have to be made from AccuQuilt shapes (not just a fabric panel with a photo or a picture of a quilt)...this year, it seems much more fair and actually as described - a "block" design contest. They do have the direct view links working now, so I will provide them to make voting even easier. If you feel so inclined, you may bookmark them and vote daily through April 19th...every single vote helps - and THANK YOU!
Simply click on the direct links listed and click on the word "VOTE" - no registration is necessary and no e-mail address is collected. You can vote every 24-hours per device for all your favorites (meaning you can vote for all four of my blocks each day, along with any others you like)....
So, today, I am back to working on four AccuQuilt GO! Value Die Sampler Quilts - I have most of the 48 sampler blocks complete and plan to have them all pieced by the end of the day...there are a total of 844 half square triangles (2" finished square) in four sampler quilts, so at this point, I really don't want to see triangles again for at least a few days. I cut all 1,384 pieces before starting, so now I am just putting everything together. I wanted to be done with all of them by now, but there are only so many hours in a day and matching up all the triangle points is taking me quite a bit of time. Maybe in the future I will do a block by block daily tutorial, including my tips and tricks - if you would like to see something like this, send me a message...if there is enough interest, I will see about putting something together.
GO! Simplicity Block Pattern
GO! Boat Block Pattern
GO! Whirlpool Block Pattern
GO! Double 4-Patch Block Pattern
GO! Road to Oklahoma Block Pattern
The original GO! Value Die Sampler Quilt I created....
I am now off for my daily training walk with Schatzi (my German Shepherd training partner) - temperatures are in the mid 40s and it has stopped raining, so it should be a nice evening walk - we will probably do around 6 miles. We have been doing some walks around the lake, but tonight, I think we will stay in the neighborhood...then it will be back to my sewing machine until 11:00 PM (I'm on a schedule and a deadline)...
Schatzi at Blue Heron Lake (Raccoon River Park) over the weekend...
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).
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!
In today's post, I want to quickly share with you my latest design for AccuQuilt - the GO! Awesome Blossom Wall Hanging. Oh how I love this design - partially because I have "spring fever", partially because of the bright and cheerful colors, and partially because I got to work with the GO! Flower Power die by Sarah Vedeler. For those of you unfamiliar with Sarah's work - she combines quilting and appliqué with machine embroidery - three of my favorite things (visit her website to see her AMAZING work). I have most of the cutting dies in her AccuQuilt Designer Collection and quite a few of her machine embroidery collections, as well - I am a fan - so to design a project using one of her specialty cutting dies was a treat!
I hope you are starting to see some signs of spring in your area...it is a lovely evening here in Iowa. After a very frustrating day in my office (yep, we all have them once in a while - you know, where you feel like people are wasting your time and taking advantage of you), I am getting away from my desk and computer and going for a long walk with Scahtzi to clear my head. I have been able to get in a 5+ mile training walk every day this week and it feels good!...and Miss Schatzi turns two-years-old tomorrow (can you believe it?)...
Before I go, I want to thank everyone who has been voting for my pillows in Nancy Zieman's 2015 Pillow Challenge - I truly appreciate you!! Voting ends tomorrow and at the moment, I am in 2nd and 5th place (there are sewing prizes for 1st - 5th). It's super easy to vote and you don't have to register or provide an e-mail address - simply visit: http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/sewing-2/nancy-zieman-2015-pillow-challenge-voting-begins/ and click on the word "VOTE" above my pillow photos (the three shown in the image below)...that's it...so if you have a moment, please place a few votes for me (you can vote for up to 5 pillows). Thanks friends!
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.
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!
