Quilt Designer News

Larisa Bland
Piece in the Hoop™

Q:  What exciting quilt pattern will you be sharing with us today? Please provide the name of the pattern, an image of it and where we can obtain the instructions.

A:  I’d like to share a design I created a block called Ella’s Choice.

I have both embroidery machine format and traditional paper-piecing available:
http://www.pieceinthehoop.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=30

Larisa Bland
Piece in the Hoop™

Q:  Is there a special time of the day, day of the week or emotion that you find yourself in when you sit down to design a quilt block or quilt? Can you tell us about it?

A:  I seem to be most creative just before I fall asleep at bed time, when I stop and process all the days events or early in the morning as I barely become awake. I like to totally “think” out my design because if I can see it finished in my mind, then I’ll know it’ll be a good design that someone could follow.  I come up with some neat projects when I’m cleaning too.  My mind is constantly wondering, creating & hungering for more!

Larisa Bland
Piece in the Hoop™

Q:  If you could pick any ONE quilt block (old or new) that you’ve either made or designed that exemplifies how you feel toward quilting, what block would that be – please name it and show us a picture (drawing or photograph) of it.

A:  Since I created Piece in the Hoop, I love the more intricate blocks now because even though they look hard they’re not with Piecing in the Hoop!  I can get nearly perfect pineapples and they stitch out SO FAST!  I love instant gratification, especially since being a mom of a 2yr & 9yr old takes so much of my time.

Larisa Bland
Piece in the Hoop™

Q:  If you were to describe your quilt designing style by comparing it to food, what “recipe” would you say your quilt designing is made up of?

A:  I’d have to say a comfort food like cupcakes or spicy pork-chop & potato stew.  It’s something I always want, never get tired of and I get so much gratification from my ole taste buds just like I do once my project has completed.

Larisa Bland
Piece in the Hoop™

Q:  Please tell us a little about yourself … your name, your website, some of the names of your recent quilt designs.

A:  My name is Larisa Bland and I’m the owner of Piece in the Hoop™ Home of the REAL Quilt Block in the Hoop!  I’m a single mom of 2 wonderful children and we live in Texas.  I’m very thankful that the Lord has blessed me with talents so that I can work from home and still provide our everyday needs.  I’m an artist, digitizer, photographer and web designer.  What you see on my website, I do it all and love every minute of it.  You can find us at www.pieceinthehoop.com.  I love to post behind the scenes and family stuff on our blog: http://pieceinthehoop.blogspot.com/

Larisa Bland

Piece in the Hoop™ is basically paper-piecing but with an embroidery machine.  All you do is add fabric and flip back.  I have blocks digitized with 1/4″ seams built in so that once you’re done, you have a nearly perfect block and it only takes a fraction of the time to stitch out vs. conventional sewing.   Our new book came out Jan. 2010 and will hit the local stores like JoAnns, Hobby Lobby etc any day now.  Hopefully your local quilt stores will carry it too.  The book has many quilt patterns and lots of embroidery designs to make quilts or all in the hoop projects.  My book comes with a DVD that Nancy Zieman and I taped at her studio in WI; a day I will NEVER forget!