A Spoonful of Sugar: Joyful Journal Jacket

Greetings, friends! Happy Monday! You’re in for a happy treat today—it’s the A Spoonful of Sugar Blog Tour on the Therm O Web blog.

🪄If you’ve ever believed that creativity is just a little more fun with a dash of imagination (and maybe a spoonful of sugar), then today’s project is sure to make you smile. I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the A Spoonful of Sugar Blog Tour, celebrating the brand‑new A Spoonful of Sugar fabric collection by Jennifer Long of Sew A Story for Riley Blake Designs—and yes, it’s inspired by the timeless magic of Mary Poppins.

🫖One of the things that makes this collection extra special is that it was designed by a fellow Therm O Web team member, Jennifer Long of Sew A Story for Riley Blake Designs. Jennifer truly has a gift for creating the sweetest, most imaginative fabric collections, and A Spoonful of Sugar is no exception. Her designs are filled with storybook charm and playful details, and if you have littles in the house—or grandchildren—you’ll absolutely love the creative ideas she shares. If you’re not already following her, you’ll want to fix that right away! You can find Jennifer on Instagram at @sewastory_jenniferlong and explore her wonderful world of storytelling through fabric at www.sewastory.com.

🌂This enchanting collection features beloved characters, storybook text, graceful florals, parasols, kites, and the sweetest teacups and teapots, all wrapped in a soft, cheerful palette of blue, gold, peach, white, green, and pink. It’s practically perfect for projects meant to hold memories, ideas, and creative dreams—which is exactly why I chose it for my Joyful Journal Jacket.

💮I’ve teamed up with Therm O Web to create a special tutorial showing how to use their products to achieve beautiful, polished results when making a journal cover sized for a standard composition notebook. The blog post featuring my Joyful Journal Jacket pattern (available in my Etsy shop)—including tips, techniques, and all the Mary Poppins charm—is live over on the Therm O Web blog, and you won’t want to miss it!

🪁 Hop on over to the Therm O Web blog to see all the tips and tricks here:

👉 https://www.thermoweb.com/blogs/blog/a-spoonful-of-sugar-blog-tour-joyful-journal-jacket

🥄For my Joyful Journal Jacket, I rely on a handful of trusted Therm O Web products to achieve a polished, professional finish. Each of these plays an important role in the construction of the jacket and is listed in the pattern for easy reference:

• HeatnBond® Fusible Fleece
• HeatnBond® Medium Weight Non‑Woven Fusible Interfacing
• SpraynBond® Basting Adhesive Spray
• Pressing Paper Fabric & Craft Sheets
• HeatnBond® Fabric Fuse® Peel ’n Stick Fabric Adhesive Tape (⅝″)

🕮You can find the Joyful Journal Jacket in digital and/or paper format in my Etsy shop:

• Digital: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/928107884
• Paper: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1232489096

✐Whether you use your journal for writing, sketching, planning, or creative play, this project is designed to protect your notebook while making it a joy to reach for every day. And if you’re following along with the A Spoonful of Sugar Blog Tour, be sure to visit the other stops for even more inspiring projects using this charming collection.

✨ Mark your calendars! Here are the upcoming dates to visit the Therm O Web blog and see even more projects featuring A Spoonful of Sugar:

• Belinda - Blue Ribbon Designs — February 23
• Julia - Inflorescence Designs — March 9
• Therm O Web — March 16
• Dori - The Red Feedsack — March 23
• Deb - Sprouting Jube Jube — March 30

☂️As always, if you make your own Joyful Journal Jacket, I’d love to see it! Tag me on social media when you share your project—I truly enjoy seeing how you make Blue Ribbon Designs your own. Until next time, may your stitches be neat, your ideas plentiful, and your creativity sprinkled with just a bit of everyday magic.

Barcelona: A Colorful Finale to Our Journey

Mediterranean Travel Series - Part 3

Barcelona - View from the National
Art Museum of Catalonia

After days of exploring Italy, Monaco, and the south of France, our Viking cruise arrived in Barcelona—a city where art, culture, and energy seem to radiate from every corner. We checked into the charming Hotel Roger de Llúria, our home base for the next few days, and set out to experience the best of this vibrant Catalan capital.

Day One: Montserrat’s Serenity & Gaudí’s Whimsy

Our Lady of Montserrat

We began our Barcelona adventure with a journey outside the city to the breathtaking mountaintop monastery of Montserrat. The winding drive and dramatic rock formations made the approach feel like entering another world.

At the monastery, the air was peaceful and cool, and the views stretched endlessly over the Catalonian landscape. Inside, we visited the famed Black Madonna, surrounded by golden light and hushed reverence. Sharing this spiritual and scenic experience with my parents made it even more meaningful.

Park Güell

From mountain peaks to Gaudí’s playful imagination, our next stop was Park Güell. With its mosaic-covered terraces, curving benches, and candy‑colored details, the park felt like stepping into a living piece of art. We wandered its twisting pathways, paused to take in sweeping views of the city, and admired the architect’s whimsical style.

It was the perfect contrast to Montserrat—a reminder of how diverse and dynamic the region truly is.

Day Two: Masterpieces & Markets in the Heart of Barcelona

Walking Las Ramblas

First, we made our way to Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s iconic pedestrian boulevard that’s usually known for its flower stalls, lively cafés, street performers, and nonstop energy. Unfortunately, this part of our trip turned out to be a letdown. Much of the area was under heavy construction, and the crowds made it difficult to enjoy what little there was to see. Instead of the vibrant atmosphere we had hoped for, we found clutter, noise, and more tourist traps than charm. It was disappointing, but we reminded ourselves that every trip has its imperfect moments—and the rest of Barcelona more than made up for it.

La Sagrada Família

No trip to Barcelona is complete without seeing La Sagrada Família, and walking up to it feels like approaching a cathedral carved from dreams. Its soaring towers, intricate facades, and dazzling interior are unlike any other church in the world.

Inside, colored light from the stained‑glass windows bathed the space in blues, greens, and ambers. Taking in Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, was one of the most memorable moments of the entire trip.

Day Three: A Tuk Tuk Adventure & A Musical Jewel

Tuk Tuk Tour of the City

For our final day, we hopped into a Tuk Tuk for a unique, open‑air tour of the city. It turned out to be a great way to see the city. Our guide was quite knowledgeable and shared unique history and views with us.

With the breeze in our faces and the city unfolding around us, we zipped through neighborhoods, along the waterfront, and past famous landmarks. It was a refreshing way to see Barcelona from a different perspective.

Casa de les Punxes

Venetian Towers

National Art Museum of Catalonia

National Art Museum of Catalonia

Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium

Columbus Monument

Casa Milà

Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló

Casa Amatller

With our Tuk Tuk and Guide

The Face of Barcelona

Castle of the Three Dragons

Castle of the Three Dragons

Arc de Triomf

Palau de la Música Catalana

Our last major stop was the stunning Palau de la Música Catalana, a modernist masterpiece filled with stained glass, ornate sculptures, and rich mosaics. The concert hall’s skylight—shaped like an inverted drop of sunlight—was absolutely breathtaking.

It was the perfect farewell to Barcelona: a celebration of creativity, craftsmanship, and the city’s deeply rooted artistic soul.

We ended our final day with dinner and dessert at Ginos Ristorante.

A Perfect Ending

Our days in Barcelona were the ideal ending to an unforgettable Mediterranean journey. From sacred mountaintops to Gaudí’s fantastical creations, from lively boulevards to elegant concert halls, the city welcomed us with beauty, energy, and warmth.

Traveling with my parents through Rome, across the Mediterranean, and finally into the heart of Catalonia gave this trip a richness I’ll carry with me. Barcelona wasn’t just our final stop—it was the perfect crescendo to our adventure.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the Mediterranean through my camera lens...and if you are over the travel posts, don't worry I'll be back to regularly scheduled creative content soon!