Everyone is a winner!

I'm a little behind because I've been working a new temp job as well as Saturdays at the fabric store, and block testing for Quiltmaker Magazine's 100 Blocks Volume 16 has also begun! But since I only had three total entries for my giveaways, I'll give everyone who commented a free issue of Volume 15!  The catch is that I need to figure out who all my commenters are.  I'm guessing my old neighbor Tammy is number one, and I know guild friend Daria is two ... but number three will have to send me an email or Facebook message.  As for the apron ...

If you aren't who I think you are, comment and let me know, and I'll figure out how to get you your goodies!  Same goes for you, Number Three!

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Volume 15 - my block and second giveaway!

I'm so excited to share my very first published quilt block design (even if only a handful of people out there read this!).  I've been testing for Quiltmaker Magazine's 100 Blocks issues off and on for some time; Volume 15 was my third for which I was a tester.  About halfway through testing I received an invitation to contribute a design, and, inspired by the latest collection by one of my favorite designers - "Brighten Up!" by Me & My Sister - I worked up Paper Doll Dress.

This was inspired by the vintage paper dolls I used to play with as a kid and still strike me nostalgically when I see online.  I love that Vogue used to create paper dolls and dresses to match their season's offerings!

I originally worked this up two ways:  one was done by hand applique with freezer paper templates, and the other as fusible.  I put the two options to my family for voting and the fusible version is what was sent to Quiltmaker.  However, this is the hand applique version here:

I used 3/8" white satin ribbon for the "tabs" to the dress and found that, with the hand applique, it was easiest to machine stitch these down onto the background before sewing on the dress templates.  With the fusible version, I could just place them under when fusing, but did want to quickly blanket stitch the appliques after fusing so nothing went askew!  The rickrack trim just pulled it all together in such a cute way, and, with the ribbon tabs, helped give the block more of a three-dimensional feel.

I had the idea of morphing this into a child's play quilt by creating a cardboard or fabric doll body, and then making the appliques double sided and removable from the quilt with velcro, but I haven't gotten quite that far yet.  I'm still noodling the idea around and talking with people more artistic than me to create the doll image!

Sadly, as I mentioned earlier this week, I did not see the blog tour email from Quiltmaker in time to participate, so this blog post may have few to no views.  But if you are one of the few who already follows me or managed to come here from a link somewhere, I'm giving away this adorable apron from Quiltmaker which features images of all 100 blocks in Volume 15! 

I received two, one for being a designer and one for being a tester, so the second one could be yours.  Just comment as to whether you use Instagram (and if you care to, share your user name!  I'm tenquilt5 if you'd like to follow me.).  The giveaway will stay open until midnight on Saturday, May 6.  I'll randomly pick a winner on Sunday - assuming I have any entries at all! - and contact you by email.

Quiltmaker 100 Blocks Giveaway!

It's finally time for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Volume 15 Blog Tour!  This issue's tour theme is "Block Tour Road Rally" ... which is perfect, because since I did not see the invitation to participate formally in time, this is something of a detour!

The main event is happening at Quilty Pleasures all week, and I'm as excited as anyone else to see what's in store ... I hear that some of the posts will include some of the block testers' designs so I may see my own handiwork featured there!

I will be posting later this week about my own block design which was included in this issue, but the good stuff is that I'm also participating in the giveaway.  I'll be giving away five copies of Volume 15 to lucky winners, as well as a bonus prize which will be offered on my block post.  To enter to win one of five issues of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks, Volume 15, leave a comment on THIS POST telling me about your favorite type of block assembly.  Do you like fusible applique?  Foundation paper piecing?  English paper piecing?  As you know if you have previous volumes of the magazine, it's divided up into pieced, applique and mixed techniques (and my block falls into the third category).  I'm noodling around ideas for a future block design so I'm curious to hear what you love!

The bonus to my missing the opportunity to formally participate in the block tour means you probably have a better chance of winning here ... heck, I may not even get five comments to be able to give away issues, so I will leave the giveaway open until Friday, May 5 at midnight EDT for entries.  Just be sure that you choose a commenting identity which is linked to an email address so that I can let you know if you're a winner!