Diamonds and Blooms and a Giveaway!

Paper piecing: you either love it or hate it. I have found that my students don't have a middle ground! It certainly can be confusing, having to work with a piece of paper between you and the fabric. But, if you want really sharp points without hand piecing, then sometimes this is the only alternative.

CONTEST IS OVER: #5 was my first pick, but she is "unknown." I'm so sorry I had no email to contact you. Then Random Number Generator selected #7, Sherry.

Here is my very first Diamonds and Blooms quilt, made in 2008. As you may remember from previous posts, I sew first and pattern later. I do NOT design in EQ and then try to flesh it out in fabric. I like to say: "I do what the fabric tells me to do!"

Diamonds and Blooms: 34" x 34"

It wasn't the paper piecing units that gave me grief. It was the patterning of those center diamonds! I went on to make 2 more quilts using my workshop samples (minus those diamonds!) I decided to retire this class and those sample blocks did not want to stay in the box unfinished!

Here is one block and then the subsequent quilt I created. I had to use two different background prints in order to finish the quilt! (This is one of my leftover blocks which is a giveaway!)

Diamonds and Blooms block (7" finished)

I decided to use 7 blocks and got creative with the assembly! And I had to introduce a 3rd background print. Fairly low contrast between some of those blades and the BG print, but it works and it's finished!

Diamonds and Blooms in my "descending" assembly

I had a second set of class sample blocks done in these awesome Benartex prints (Floribunda). (This is the 2nd block of the giveaway!)

Diamonds and Blooms block in Floribunda fabrics

And the quilt. It's a little hard to see, but I used 3 different pink background prints. I ran out of the one you see in the block above and I HAD TO squeeze out a few more blocks to get another small quilt. Also, notice the borders: two different prints in two different widths. That's all I had, folks!

Diamonds and Blooms

I doubt I'll make this again. But, I just discovered I have two blocks left! One in the black and colors and one in the Floribunda! And they should be given away, right?

Here's your chance to win those 2 blocks. They weigh one ounce, so it's open to EVERYONE (and not just USA residents). AND, you will receive one pdf copy of the pattern via email.

Leave a comment and make sure I have your email. Many folks come through as "no reply" commenters.

I will pick a winner on Monday, August 2 and announce it on August 3rd. The blocks will be mailed later in the week (since I'm out of town teaching in Raleigh, NC).

Good luck!