Floss Folio

Greetings friends! The BRD studio has been singing with new ideas and projects...and my desk is overloaded in correspondence, designs, creative ideas, contracts, piles of paper, product swatches/photos, and a giant planning calendar...which truly is incredible, but it also means I have overdone it and have a terrible upper respiratory infection. I'm sure that this is my bodies way of telling me to slow down a bit; between the night schedule and my heavy workload, I have been burning the candle at both ends. Currently, I am trying to nurse myself back to health and get back on track for a very busy year.

For now, it is new project tutorial day - time to share my April project created for the Therm O Web blog with you. I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials using incredible products from Therm O Web. For the month of April, the blog is focused on embellished apparel, bags and pouches, HeatnBond Sparkle Paste, machine embroidery, and foundation piecing. I created a brand new project that was posted on Monday - it is a complete project tutorial for my Floss Folio. My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with quilt block foundation, and step-by-step directions with color photos. 

As an avid needleworker with a busy schedule, I am always searching for easy ways to keep my projects organized and ready to take on the go. With my Floss Folio, you can easily take sixteen floss bobbins on the go in your favorite project bag. It is a perfect afternoon sewing project and works great with scraps and/or your favorite fabric collection. Therm O Web interfacings make it soft and sturdy and their StitchnSew EZ Print Foundation Piecing Stabilizer is the best when it comes to foundation piecing the quilt blocks.

Tomorrow, you will be able to visit my YouTube Channel to follow along as I create my Floss Folio (longer version)...or visit my Instagram for a shorter Reel video...it should be posted on Wednesday (that is the plan anyway, we'll see how I feel).

You will have to visit the Therm O Web blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:
https://blog.thermoweb.com/floss-folio/

You will be surprised how quickly this pretty and practical project comes together. It is perfect for using up those scraps and small pieces of fabric - I opted to use fat quarters from Stolen Moments by Lori Woods for Poppie Cotton. For this post, I used the following Therm O Web products:

• StitchnSew EZ Print Foundation Piecing Stabilizer
• HeatnBond Craft Extra Firm Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing
• HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse PeelnStick Fabric Adhesive Tape 

Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list. 

To find the exact tools and supplies listed, visit my Floss Folio List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!). 

Let's talk about the StitchnSew EZ Print Foundation Piecing Stabilizer. We all know, I love the foundation piecing method (I have taught several classes on this technique and I have several patterns that use this technique). StitchnSew EZ Print Foundation Piecing Stabilizer sheets provide great stabilization/support and are easily removed by tearing away, up to the stitches, without distorting stitches/embroidery. These sheets are super soft and tear easily....and they are made to fit your inkjet printer, so you can print directly on the stabilizer! I can't tell you how much I love these sheets compared to regular foundation piecing paper - they are a stapple in my sewing studio.

If you have questions on any Therm O Web or HeatnBond/SpraynBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

I hope this project gets you excited to create a Floss Folio to keep in your project bag or with your sewing machine...or, if you have a fun idea for use, please drop me a comment - I would love to hear what you would store in your folio.

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project is scheduled to be on the Therm O Web blog on May 19th. Plus, I have a couple a special projects in the works for upcoming Poppie Cotton fabric tours...and a very exciting announcement to share on May 1st.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing my projects with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...

Stolen Moments Fabric Tour

Greeting friends - happy Monday! Welcome to the Poppie Cotton Stolen Moments Fabric Tour. I am thrilled to be today's stop on the tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. You are here on a great day, because this month, my fabric tour post coincides with my Therm O Web blog tutorial post! I have a three special projects to share, created with the new Stolen Moments Fabric Collection designed by Lori Woods for Poppie Cotton. I was super excited to put on my quilt designer hat and work with these soft, elegant prints. This brand new collection (shipping to quilt shops  now) has lovely rose, lace, swan and bird motifs, gorgeous florals, wallpaper-look blender fabrics, and a fancy swan panel...all done in a soft color palette of pinks, blues, and creams. Let's take a close-up look at my projects...

For my first project, I created a "Floss Folio" and you can find a complete pattern and tutorial on the Therm O Web Blog to create you own! I used my favorite fabric in the collection (Vintage Vines Bleu) and a simple Log Cabin Quilt Block to create the cover. The inside has sixteen pockets, perfect for embroidery floss bobbins or sewing machine needle packs. Visit my blog again tomorrow, when I will share more details. 

Next, I created a "Patchwork Project Bag" that shows off all the lovely prints in this collection. It measures 15" W x 12" H and is perfect for a full size pattern and materials. I embellished it with a wool felt flower using Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt and a floral button. The flower layers were stitched in place loosely by machine, making it 3D. I finished it off with a pink zipper and matching coordinating zipper pull.

Finally, I created a large tote bag to hold my "Patchwork Project Bag" and "Floss Folio." I used my "Focal and Four Tote Bag" pattern. I featured two prints for the focal fabrics: the Alexis prints and the Lace & Roses prints. This time, I added an elastic closure with a vintage button to keep the tote contents neatly inside. There are two large patchwork pockets inside this tote bag and to pointed pockets on the outside (that hold an iPhone Pro Max easily). I used the Tossed Roses Rose print for the pointed pockets. For the handles and linings, I used Country Confetti fabrics.
Focal and Four Tote Bag Digital Pattern
Focal and Four Tote Bag Paper Pattern

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Stolen Moments fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog and/or their social media. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Stolen Moments is shipping now.

I already have my project in progress for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in May - my day is May 12th. That tour will be showcasing the lovely, upcoming "Elise" fabric collection by Terri Henson (click to see a preview). I also have a very exciting announcement coming on May 1st (wait until you hear!). Plus, I will have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog on Monday, May 19th…so, be sure to stop back soon for more creative inspiration...

One final note - I am suffering from a terrible upper respiratory infection as I write this post...please excuse any typos and/or mistakes...my brain is in a medication fog. Hopefully it subsides soon and I can get back on track...

Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour

Greeting friends - happy Friday! Welcome to the Poppie Cotton Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour. I am thrilled to be today's stop on the tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I have a couple special projects to share, created with the new Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Collection designed by Sheri McCulley for Poppie Cotton. I was super excited to put on my quilt designer hat and work with these soft, nature-filled prints. This brand new collection (shipping to quilt shops this month) has lovely deer, quail, fox and squirrel motifs, gorgeous florals, vintage-look blender fabrics, and fancy flower pots...all done in a soft color palette of pinks, blues, teals, and yellows...and you all know I LOVE a good nature-inspired collection! Let's take a close-up look at my projects...

If you stopped by yesterday, then you have already seen my Dresden Plate Table Runner. This runner measures 42.5" x 14.5" and is embellished with 3/4" rick rack around the center circles and perimeter. I didn't use a pattern, I just made it up as I went along...

Next is my "Sweet Sewing Book" (again, my own design, no pattern - just me playing in my studio). I created an oblong Log Cabin Quilt Block for the front and the back to feature the Deer Meadow Light Teal fabric print in the centers. It measures 8” x 6.5” when closed. It has an elastic and button closure, with five pockets inside and Benzie Design wool blend felt needle pages (color is Blush). I used hand-dyed trim (inside) and twill tape (scissor tie) from Lady Dot Creates to add a special touch. I also added fussy cut/appliquéd fabric accents. I inserted specialty pins from my very favorite Puntini Puntini and an ink on wood needle minder from Michelle Palmer. The spool thread bobbins are from my friend Ellie at TheBitsyBrocanteShop. Background and binding are Country Confetti (also from Poppie Cotton).

Front Cover

Inside Sewing Book

Back Cover

Inside Close Up

Inspired by my Dresden Plate Table Runner, I decided to create a large Dresden Plate project bag. This is one of my signature projects bags and it measures 14" x 14". I fussy cut the center circle and trimmed it with yellow rick rack. Background fabric is Country Confetti. I used a yellow zipper and zipper pull for a pretty accent.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Wildwood Dwellings fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog or their social media. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Wildwood Dwellings is shipping now.

I already have my projects in progress for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in April - my day is April 21st. That tour will be showcasing the elegant, upcoming "Stolen Moments" fabric collection by Lori Woods (click to see a preview). Plus, I will have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog on Monday, April 21st (it's going to be a busy day!)…so, be sure to stop back soon for more creative inspiration...

Dresden Plate Table Runner

Greetings friends! I am gearing up for my day on the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour (I am scheduled for tomorrow) and I had so much to share, I decided to pop in early with one of my projects today. Wildwood Dwellings is a brand new fabric collection designed by Sheri McCulley for Poppie Cotton and these prints are chock full of nature motifs in Sherri's signature style. 

When this collection arrived on my doorstep months ago, I knew right away I wanted to do a project with Dresden Plate quilt blocks...the Flower Pot focal prints stood out to me as being perfect for the center circles. This particular print comes in three colorways - cream, light teal and blush - and I knew fussy cutting some of the pots of flowers would add to my project.

In typical Belinda fashion, I didn't use a pattern, I just started playing with my vision and the fabrics. I decided to adapt my Dresden Plate blocks to have some points and some flat blades. Once I got started, I opted to make a table runner - I started with a fat quarter stack of fabrics and I didn't know if I would have enough to make a full size quilt. I played with a couple layouts, but ended up using two full plates and two half plates (one on either end). I used Poppie Cotton's Country Confetti for the background fabric and binding. For some added embellishment, I trimmed the center circles and the perimeter of my table runner with 3/4" yellow rick rack. This table runner measures approximately 42.5" x 14.5", with each of my finished blocks measuring 14" square. I am super happy with how it turned out and the soft, springy colors make it a lovely addition to my kitchen table.

I created two more very special projects with the Wildwood Dwellings fabric collection and I will be sharing them tomorrow (Friday, March 21st) on my designated tour day, so be sure to stop back and read all about this new fabric collection (and see my makes!).

Until tomorrow, I am back to work - the project piles are large, and my parents will be here on Friday to spend the weekend with us. They are traveling through Kansas City on their way home from Arizona, so I will have some quality time with them. We are headed to the Overland Park Arboretum to see the new signs of spring and take in a bird watching event. I cherish the time I get to spend with them, so I am working hard to get my gigantic to-do list in order before they arrive. Enjoy the rest of your Thursday and I will visit with you again tomorrow...

Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail Snack Mats

Greetings friends! There have been some very exciting things brewing in the BRD studio...and my desk is swimming in correspondence, designs, creative ideas, contracts, piles of paper, product swatches/photos, and a giant planning calendar...but it is all great and I will have some SUPER FUN news to share in the next couple months. Currently, I am trying to get organized and on track for a very busy year.

For now, it is new project tutorial day - time to share my March project created for the Therm O Web blog with you. I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials using incredible products from Therm O Web. For the month of March, the blog is focused on home décor, kitchen refresh, HeatnBond Sparkle Paste, machine embroidery, and appliqué. I created a brand new project that was posted on Monday - it is a complete project tutorial for my Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail Snack Mats. My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos. 

With the spring season officially starting later this week and Easter right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to make a pair of snack mats to freshen and brighten up my late night snack (which is an afternoon snack for all of you that are not on my crazy night schedule 😉). I have had a sketch of these bunnies in my idea book idea for quite some time and I was excited to execute my plan. I am really happy with the results - AND I applied HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl to make them waterproof and stain resistant. 

You will have to visit the ThermOWeb blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:
https://blog.thermoweb.com/mr-and-mrs-cottontail-snack-mats/

You will be surprised how quickly this seasonal project comes together. It is perfect for using up those scraps and small pieces of fabric - I opted to use bright and cheerful solid color fabric scraps. For this post, I used:

• HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl Gel Coating
• HeatnBond Pressing Paper
• HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse PeelnStick Fabric Adhesive Tape 
• Optional: HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Interfacing

Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list. 

Tomorrow, you will be able to visit my YouTube Channel to follow along as I create my mini quilt (longer version)...or visit my Instagram for a shorter Reel video...it should be posted on Wednesday.

To find the exact tools and supplies listed, visit my Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail Snack Mats Supply List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!). 

Are you familiar with the HeatnBond Liquid Vinyl Gel Coating? With this unique liquid product, you can make any fabric stain-resistant, water-resistant and even waterproof....simply paint on a light, even coat - let it dry - and then iron to create a smooth finish. One coat makes the fabric water and stain-resistant...two coats makes the fabric waterproof and stain-resistant...and three coats makes the fabric waterproof and stain-resistant with a semi-gloss oilcloth finish. With my latest project being used with food and beverage, I put on two coats...and it worked perfectly! I like how the project is now easily wiped clean and stain resistant.

If you have questions on any Therm O Web or HeatnBond/SpraynBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

I hope this project gets you excited to create a fun project for springtime or Easter...

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project is scheduled to be on the Therm O Web blog in April. Plus, I have a couple a special projects for the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour that will be shared here on Friday. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing my projects with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...

Saturday Stitching Station

Greetings friends! I'm back again for another late night post. I actually had a few quiet hours this afternoon and sat down for a model stitching session. I have been busy working on a couple new cross stitch models and thought I would give you a sneak peek at the larger one. 

This cross stitch design idea was born from a finishing idea...and I won't give too much away now, but I am excited to complete it and hope it turns out as I envision. I am still wrestling with the title, but rest assured, I will have more details for you in the coming months. I am working with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss on Lakeside Linen fabric. This is a view of my stitching station...complete with a hot cup of tea (Lemon Lift, my favorite!) and my very favorite wooden floss bobbins from The Bitsy Brocante Shop.

Aren't those bunny floss bobbins the cutest?! Even on my worst day, they make me smile. My online friend Ellie (EllieBugMakes on Instagram) and I bonded over our love of Poppie Cotton fabrics and our creative designs/projects...and she makes and sells tons of the most creative things. She has two Etsy Shops - TheBitsyBroncanteShop, which sells fabrics, sundries, and notions....and EllieBugMakes where she sells her handcrafted makes (if you need a sweet gift, please check her out). Her husband makes the wood crafted items in The Bitsy Brocante Shop, including the bunny bobbins and box in my photos. He also makes sheep and spools...and you can get them on rings or in a box...and what makes them even better - the back side of each bobbin is chalkboard, so you can write your floss name/number with a chalkboard marker! I used to always bag my floss to save time, but now I use these wood bobbins for my special projects. I'll add some links to my photos, so you can check them out...

Bunny or Sheep Bobbins with Holder 

Spool Bobbins on a Ring

Sheep Bobbins on a Ring

Bunny Bobbins on a Ring

When I placed a wooden bobbin order, Ellie was kind to include a special handmade gift for me...a pretty and practical pincushion, which is currently in use next to my sewing machine. It lists types and sizes of needles, so if you change your needle often, you can park them in the correct spot and find them easily for use again. I just love this! You can find her handmade items in her EllieBugMakes shop.

There you have it -  a sneak peek of a new cross stitch design...and some of my favorite stitchy products that I just had to share. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and I will be back soon with more creative updates...happy stitching!

Boho Rainbow Stitch Sampler

Greetings friends! I thought I would stop by for a (very quick) late night chat - my workload has been a bit hectic and we are still on a night schedule in our household, so I haven't had much time to blog the last couple weeks. Feeling some frustration the last few days, I need a project to clear my head...and luckily I received a very special one for my birthday from a dear friend. I decided to take a couple hours and stitch up this Boho Rainbow Stitch Sampler by Selah Creative Company. 

This kit was exactly what I needed - bright and cheerful...and it had EVERYTHING I needed to complete the project and put it on display. If you haven't stitched on wood before, here is your sign to try it! It was quick, relaxing, and something new.  I enjoyed each and every stitch. The designer has a step-by-step video available, if you are not familiar with the embroidery stitches. This sampler has the Stem Stitch, Running Stitch, Chain Stitch, Cross Stitch, and French Knots. My kit was packaged beautifully and even had the floss, floss holder, and needles. I am not affiliated with the designer (I just love sharing unique projects from other small business owners), but if you want to check out her cool products, she has a website and is available on Etsy...

Here is a direct link to the kit I received: Boho Rainbow Stitch Sampler by Selah Creative Company

I'll be back real soon with a sampling of my creative projects - my studio has been buzzing! I have new Poppie Cotton projects to show you this month, along with a very cute project for the Therm O Web blog....and several other fun things are in the works. I also need to share an update on my new cross stitch design model.😊 See you soon! 🌈