Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Blog Tour and Giveaways Galore

All aboard! What a fantastic week this is! Quiltmaker has done it again with showcasing 100 unique blocks from today's designers. I can hardly believe the beauty and creativity shown in this issue - number 16, if you want to know!

The latest issue of Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine
Today's stop is at my house in Fairfax, Virginia. Come on into my studio to see some of my work and the fabric that inspires me!

I think this is the fourth time I've had a block featured (maybe 5; I don't know). It's always a thrill! What? You want to see the block? Of course! But first, the fabric I chose from Benartex.

All the blocks in the magazine are 12" finished. I had been playing with two of Paula Nadelstern's recent collections - Kismet and Chroma Zones (Benartex). These kaleidoscope designs are so fabulous and I knew I wanted to use one as the center of something. (That was my first step!)

Kismet Fabrics by Paula Nadelstern
 And let's see another colorway in the panels!
Kismet Fabrics by Paula Nadelstern

I have enjoyed English Paper Piecing (EPP) with these fabrics. I fussy cut the small motifs on the selvedge edge of the panels . . .

Fabricadabra panel

and incorporated them into Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks for the workshops I teach.

Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks made with EPP
Now, I went beyond the hexagon to other shapes. How about a pentagon?

How about this combo? This is my block which appears in this Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks issue.
Pentagon Wreath using Paula Nadelstern's fabrics
The background square is one of the several blenders in Kismet (Alchemy Yellow). I also used Flashdance Fuchsia and Alchemy Blue for those pentagon shapes.

My first attempt at joining the pentagons
I decided I didn't like a single color, so I took those pentagons apart and pulled out my fuchsia.

Getting my fuchsia pentagons ready to EPP

Wow! That looks like a lot of applique. How long did it take? Yes, it was hand work, but I selected a new shape (to me) for English Paper Piecing (EPP). I teach EPP workshops and I wanted to go beyond the 60 degree shape. I chose the 72 degree shape of the pentagon. These are the 1-3/4" size.

My favorite papers are from Paper Pieces. I've been using their laser cut papers for over 15 years.

Pentagon papers (not THAT Pentagon!) from Paper Pieces
I had no idea where I was going with the pentagons. But once I stitched 10 of them, I realized they would make a very nice wreath/ring. Why not have something beautiful in the center!

Once I hand stitched the pentagons together, everything else was done by machine. A simple zigzag stitch with monofilament thread in the top. Quick and easy!

I've made other beautiful things with Paula's kaleidoscope motifs. My most recent was this banner for my favorite youngest daughter.

My Double Star pattern featuring some of Paula's motifs
And do you remember last December with my Winter Solstice blocks? Check out this link for an innovative way to piece this block with NO y-seams either.

Winter Solstice Block
I made another one for myself. (The yellow one above goes to one lucky winner as a prize). Let me show you the second one I made.

Pentagon Wreath in a second colorway
All sorts of prizes are available at the Quiltmaker site. I donated a dozen of my own patterns for the pool of giveaways which Quiltmaker will give away DAILY! And there will be so many other things, including copies of this magazine. One of my blog visitors will win a copy, so make sure you leave a comment AND your email!

Check out the prizes DAILY

Hope you're still with me. I will pick one lucky winner to receive a copy of this issue. Contest is over Friday, November 17 at midnight. Check out all the beautiful blocks from all the designers. You will have a fabulous week of inspiration, I know!

Comments

  1. These are fantastic blocks!
    laboroflove3@earthlink.net

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  2. it's wonderful, cut up beautiful fabric into little tiny pieces and come up with something even more beautiful than before!!!
    s5821140@gmail.com

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  3. Wow, love the fabric, love the block. Am piecing a GFG in 30's right now, am intrigued with a pentagon shape! fuzzyacres1 at msn dot com.

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  4. Your blocks blew me away. Funnylady93@comcast.net

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  5. I love your block! I've never done EPP but seeing your block gives me motivation to try it.

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  6. Wow! Your blocks are amazing, such talent and inspiration. I very much enjoyed reading your blog.
    Smiles, Sue
    Parkssueellen@gmail.com

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  7. You always chose the right combo of fabrics to come up with dazzle! Hugs, Marie mtrichka@windstream.net

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  8. Hi Debby,
    I can only imagine how thrilling it is to get your block selected for inclusion, and that it would never get tiring. Benartex has some great fabric lines with which to be inspired as well, which certainly helps. I have been obsessed with their Burlap line - so many colors, so many options. ~smile~ Roseanne

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  9. I love these blocks, especially the pentagon wreath!
    fkmsc@comcast.net

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  10. What a great addition to a quilting repertoire. So many great ideas.

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  11. Congratulations on having your block included in Quiltmaker’s 100, Vol. 16! Love your block! I have several EPP projects going and now I have another to add to my to-do list. ;-D

    Super giveaway! Thanks for the chance to play.

    usairdoll (at) gmail (dot) com

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  12. You have an amazing talent for pairing the perfect fabrics into your projects. Thanks for sharing your genius! guwood at yahoo dot com

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  13. Beautiful! I haven't worked with anything other than hexagons with EPP. Now I want to find the pentagon shapes to try.

    Sandy A
    Scotty4me39(at)yahoo.com

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  14. Congratulations on having your block included in Quiltmaker’s 100, Volume 16! I love those blocks. Thank you for hosting a great giveaway.

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  15. Beautiful blocks. Thanks for a chance to win. Hard to believe Quiltmaker is up to 16 - don't know how you keep coming up with more ideas.
    Becky Gilliam
    bmgilliam@bellsouth.net

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  16. I love your pentagon wreath block! That might just get me into trying English PP'ing....maybe.....lol. Don't enter me for the magazine because I've got a block in the magazine as well.

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  17. Great wreath block! Love to see all the great designers on this blog hop.

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  18. What great blocks! I especially love your Winter Solstice blocks. Thanks for the chance to win one.

    Judy W.
    jjaw(at)verizon.net

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  19. These are beautiful blocks and I have the Kismet fabric, thanks.

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  20. A very unique block! Congrats!

    dlk3265 @ gmail . com

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  21. I have tried EPP and love it for traveling by car.
    juliebailey52(at)gmail.com

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  22. Gorgeous! Love how you framed the kaleidoscope prints!
    ktyoung1(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. WOW! Debby, your block is simply amazing. I love every one that you shared. Just gorgeous!. Congratulations and thank you for the giveaway.

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  24. Great fabric choice for your block. Maybe will add English Paper piecing to my list of projects. prycek(at)mymts.net

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  25. What a great block! I think the Kismet fabric is even prettier in person.

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  26. I love your blocks! Thank you
    sgreen07(at)atlanticbb(dot)net

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  27. Gorgeous block, and thanks for sharing your creations

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  28. I love your block -- was thinking instead of EPP, maybe it could also be done dresen-plate style.

    Pat K
    yfg3749@yahoo.com

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  29. Very pretty! Thanks for sharing and the giveaways!!
    cork@pa.rr.com

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  30. You've done it again. Another fabulous block. I just learned EPP last year and tired of the hexagon mighty quickly. The pentagon looks great. Thanks for the chance to win some great prizes. You are always so generous.

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  31. Stunning fabric and amazing block. Thanks for sharing the story of the block.
    djcutting2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  32. Wow, that is an amazing block...good use of the specialty fabric. Thanks for sharing all the great giveaways!

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  33. I love this! Beautiful use of the fabric too!

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  34. Awesome blocks! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your day! angielovesgary2 atgmail dotcom

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  35. Fantastic block for fussy cutting fabric!

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  36. beautiful! I've been wanting to learn EPP

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  37. Super A really nice Block with fussy cutting. Gorgeous!!

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  38. I've done a bit of EPP and look forward to trying more. Love the centers of your blocks!

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  39. Pentagon Wreath is a gorgeous block!

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  40. I love EPP, but haven't tried pentagons yet--sure makes a beautiful block!

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  41. What a beautiful block! I have not done any EPP but your design has inspired me to give it a try.

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  42. You do beautiful work. Thank you for sharing. rita_l_39212@yahoo.com

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  43. Love the fussy cutting! It makes such a beautiful block.

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  44. So neat how you used the motif from the fabric for the block. Beautiful! Thank you, peterstankovich@comcast.net

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  45. Congratulations on being in the magazine. 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  46. I love how you did your block! okruhlik6 at aol dot com

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  47. I love the fabric you chose for this one. Perfect! Jmikebalou (at) aol (dot) com

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  48. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.netNovember 15, 2017 at 3:00 PM

    I love how you used the fabric. I enjoy EPP and have a 6 pointed star project going right now. Love how you have done the center.

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  49. I enjoy EPP as well, focusing at this time on the Patchwork of the Crosses pattern. Looking forward to trying the pentagon shape some day.

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  50. Your block is beautiful!
    barbkaup(at)(yahoo)(dot)(com)

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  51. One of my favorite blocks-love your fussy cutting-and what beautiful fabric! Thank you for your wonderful giveaways, Susan spierssusan52@gmail.com

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  52. What a beautiful block and such wonderful fabrics. Fairfax, Virginia...I lived there from the time I was born until I was 10. We lived on a small farm that was just outside of the town...yes, it was a town with rural areas all around. I am 71 now, and you can do the math to figure out how long ago that was. Our farm is now gone, a subdivision but I remember that country living with fondness. Thanks for sharing.

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  53. Paula Nadelstern fabrics are always fun to play with. The block is beautiful.

    Caryn
    caspharm@yahoo.com

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  54. So beautiful! One day I hope to learn EPP.
    jklmengland at windstream dot net

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  55. Your blocks are stunning! Thanks for being part of this blog tour.

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  56. Love your block being showcased today. I've been trying my hand at EPP and it is addictive.
    Gwen sewgenie2atyahoodotcom

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  57. I have one of those panels. Now I know what to do with it, thank you! ndfromsdatgmaildotcom

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  58. Love those panels and your block, really cute!! Thanks
    odiane79atyahoo.com

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  59. Your block is beautiful! Congratulations on being in this issue.

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  60. I really like your wreath and congratulations on being in the magazine.
    joyecox@yahoo.com

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  61. Paula Nadelstern's fabrics are fabulous. Your block is divine.

    tushay3 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  62. I always love the week of the 100 Blocks. Thanks for your giveaway.

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  63. Great block, wonderful way to focus on the medallion!

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  64. I have not tried EPP, but would love to give it a go with your pretty block!

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  65. Congrats on a beautiful block! I enjoy EPP!!

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  66. Gorgeous block - thanks for sharing.

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  67. This block is beautiful! I really need to try EPP.

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  68. Another beautiful block. I don't do much EPP but will need to try some more.

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  69. Beautiful block and fantastic fabric.

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  70. Such a beautiful block. I think I followed how you made it. Thank you for sharing and congrats on being included in the QM mag....again.

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  71. What a Fabulous Design!!! I have several yards of these exact fabrics and various EPP papers. Definitely, my next project! ~ Blessings
    Lv2stch4u@yahoo.com

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  72. Elaine M.
    I love your block, your colours, and that great fabric.

    remills (at) amtelecom (dot) net

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  73. Love the pentagon wreath, and the printed medallions are gorgeous! I hope I'm lucky. I've admired your patterns and want to learn EPP.
    reillyr2(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  74. Fabulous block, I love the fabrics that you used.

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  75. Your block is creative and lovely.

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  76. I love what you've designed with Paula's fabric!

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  78. I love your design with Paula's fabrics--way cool!
    judyforkneratgmaildotcom

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  79. Caroline in MarylandNovember 16, 2017 at 7:39 AM

    The fabric is beautiful, and your block is the 'iceing on the cake'

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  80. Your designs are awesome! Thanks for sharing.

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  81. I love your pentagon wreath design

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  82. Your designs are inspiring. The blocks are beautiful---I love them!

    andreaatcascadia@gmail.com

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  83. Hello Debby; Your Pentagon Wreath Block is a brilliant design! With the gorgeous fabrics you chose to use in these blocks made me want to make one or two right away! I am really hoping to win a copy of the magazine there are so many fantastic blocks being shared in this blog hop. Thank you for designing and sharing your blocks and so much more with us. Have a great day!

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  84. Its lovely to see a pattern for EPP. Thank you

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  85. Your enthusiasm for quilting - and design is so evident in your blog post. Love your block. Thank you.

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  86. Great block!! I like how creative it is with the pentagon EPP! Thank you!!

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  87. Wow! Fantastic block. I love to EPP and your use of Paula's fabric is brilliant. Love, love it.

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  88. EPP-- never really tried it before. This just might push me in that direction. Thank you.
    kaylace@bellsouth.net

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  89. Very interesting to read your thought process as you made this neat block.
    quiltschon@att.net

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  90. I love what you did with this fabric and EPP! Thanks so much for sharing this!

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  91. Nice block. Thanks for the opportunity to win. quilterkat(at)sonic(dot)net

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  92. Wow, I love this. I had a Passacaglia quilt I was working on when the Flood hit last August and destroyed my house. gone, just too many pieces to save as it all had to be washed. I love that fabric, it makes it easy make beauties!

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  93. I like to EPP once in a while and this block would be great for some striped fabric also.

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  94. I've only tried EPP once. Your gorgeous block inspires me to take a second look. Thanks for the giveway. jskbloomers@gmail.com

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  95. What a gorgeous block!
    nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

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  96. The kaleidoscopes turned your EPP works into true works of art~ quiltlovefordomemsticfelicity (at) gmail (dot) com

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  97. What a fabulous block! I love the modern fabrics with English Paper Piecing. Your creativity is endless. The yellow block is especially striking as a modern twist on the sunflower :) Definitely on my to do list... especially since I can do it on the go, waiting at appts, and music lessons :) Congrats on being part of the issue :)

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  98. Love the blocks and the color combinations!!!!

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  99. I am new to EPP. I've been wanting to find the company that sells the papers but haven't until I read your post. Thanks. That was the one I was thinking of. I bought my fabric for an EPP project but didn't want to print out all those papers because my printer can be touchy at times about getting it the same size as before. Thanks for the link. Love your block!
    kthurn(at)bektel(dot)com

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Thanks for stopping by Debby Kratovil Quilts! If you had a question and don't get an answer from me, please feel free to email me at: kratovil@his.com