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!