Thursday, September 9, 2010

"Blessed Beyond Measure" - Stitch Starter & Sleeve Designs

Today I want to share with you a sneak peek of my new design "Blessed Beyond Measure". I am both excited and nervous to share this with you - this design has been a dream of mine for almost 10 years....and I hope you will be as excited about it as I am! First off all...the tool...it is called a "Stitch Starter" and is a 3" square ruler for marking your seam allowance when starting a new project. Here are a few details that make this ruler special:
  • It has marking lines for both 1" and 2" seam allowances, so you only need one tool.
  • It is clear, making it easy to see your fabric placement.
  • It is 2 mil acrylic plastic, making it durable.
  • It has complete 3" ruler markings down the left side - these can be used for:
    - finishing work measurements
    - measuring between stitched designs
    - counting threads to figure fabric count
  • It has 1/4" and 1/2" markings on the other three sides.

I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of this product - it seriously has been a dream of mine since before I started designing. To go along with this special tool are five sleeve designs - these sleeves are designed to hold your "Stitch Starter". The chartpack will contain: one stitch starter tool, charting for all five "Stitch Starter Sleeves", stitching instructions, complete finishing instructions, and an alphabet/numbers for personalization....it also contains instructions for using your stitch starter (which I will be posting on my website soon...so if you are confused, please be patient - answers will be forthcoming). The sleeve designs would also work great for ornaments, small framed pieces, needlework smalls...you name it. The designs are stitched on 32-count Strawflower from Lakeside Lines with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss....and the finishing is quite easy. In this industry, it can be a struggle to keep needleworkers excited, intrigued, and happy - I am always striving to come up with designs that are unique....designs that will interest and challenge you - I hope this design does the trick! "Blessed Beyond Measure" will be released later this month at the TNNA St. Charles Needlework Market....meaning it will be available from your favorite needlework shop at the end of September/beginning of October....and you, my friends, are seeing it here first!


46 comments:

  1. Ooh! I love it! But course I love all your stuff! :) I tried to click on your website link and it didn't work...(just to let you know!)

    I had commented on a random post, but was wondering if you could tell me a good contact ONS to buy the Lakeside linens. Seems like all the patterns of yours I have call for 18 by 27 and I can't ever find anybody that sells that size!

    thanks! Sara

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  2. Very Cool Belinda! I'll put it on our list of must haves for market!

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  3. Oh I love it! What a great product -- a must have for sure! And I love the designs to stitch for a pocket for it too! I'm in trouble.... lol!

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  4. Awesome, Belinda! Thank you for coming up with such a practical version of this needlework tool! I'll definitely be purchasing this one!

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  5. Oh my goodness, Belinda! What a practical and fun tool you have created! And the sleeves are simply precious!

    I want it now, but will be very patient!

    Robin

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  6. lovely = I hope you will have lots of them with you at the Mystic Two retreat in October... thank you, Martha

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  7. I've already picked out which pattern I want. Can't wait for this to come out.

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  8. I absolutely love this project! I already know which one I want to stitch first. Cam't wait for it to come out.

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  9. I have been anticipating this tool since the retreat. I can't wait to get my hands on one!!!

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  10. OH MY GOODNESS! I'm definitely intrigued and I want one!!! I love the peacocks.

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  11. This is just lovely and a definite must-have!!

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  12. What a wonderful idea!!! Definitely will be ordering one of these!

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  13. What a perfect tool! And making a sleeve for it makes it pretty perfect!..

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  14. That is a great idea, and lovely designs for the pocket cover

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  15. Love it and can't wait until you offer it on your website......thanks for sharing.....maybe it is the incentive I need to finish your A Little Quakeresque!

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  16. Oh wow, Belinda, I have to have this!!!! Lol! It is gorgeous and what a fantastic tool.

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  17. What a great thing! Will there be an option to buy extra packs of stitch starters separately once one already has the patterns? I can see this being a great exchange piece for people this coming season!

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  18. Wonderful idea--love that it's clear! I'm also interested if the "starters" will be available separately once you have the chart. They'd make great gifts for stitchy friends.
    Stasi

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  19. I love this! The tool is such a convenience, and the charts for the sleeve are all so pretty! This would make a wonderful gift too.

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  20. I just LOVE it! This is definitley going on my must have list. :)

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  21. Oh boy - I can't decide if I like the birds with alphabet or peacocks better!
    I love it1

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  22. love it!!! Must have it....time will tell!
    The designs for it are great!!!!

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  23. Love it, love it, love it. Have to have it.

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  24. What a great idea! Hope I'll be able to get one here in the UK!!

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  25. Very clever idea! Something we can all use, that's for sure :)

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  26. What a great idea. I HAVE to get one of these!

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  27. I have one very similiar to this but not clear - and that is absolutely going to make it easier - gotta have this. And no case for it...so nice and very clever. Hmmmm maybe even use for a gift or two for my stitching buds that don't have even a solid one!

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  28. Great tool! I need one of these and I love all the sleeve designs too!

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  29. I can't wait to get one of these. I currently have a wood square that has a flower cut out at the 1" and 2" mark but you can't see through it and it doesn't have the ruler markings which makes this one the best I've seen. It is also the perfect square cut for a lap size quilt that I make and it will make cutting my pieces for that a breeze now. Thanks for this new tool. Lorrie

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  30. I just LOVE these! I need one too ;o)

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  31. That is Way too cool and I NEED one too. Can't wait to see this on the market! Thanks.....I will def use it as I'm ALWAYS wondering if I'm starting far enough over or not far enough :-)

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  32. What a brilliant idea - and I love the keeper patterns! Definitely on my list of cool stuff to acquire!

    @ saras (the first commenter) - Try ABC Stitch Therapy (see http://www.abcstitch.com). I buy Lakeside Linens from Traditional Stitches (see http://www.traditionalstitches.com and check out both the regular priced fabrics AND the sale items) - however, they are in Alberta, Canada, which may not be as convenient for you as ABC Stitch Therapy.

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  33. What a great idea and I am definitely going to need one of these.
    I love the designs for the sleeve.

    Margaret

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  34. Absolutely WONDERFUL!
    Love the bunny design :)

    Raggedystitches,
    Louise

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  35. Oh Belinda! I just love your new Stitch Starter! I cannot wait to have my own...what a fabulous idea! It will make starting a new piece soooooo much easier and I can make a neat little sleeve for it to boot! LOVE IT!

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  36. I got mine today at the Salty Yarns in Ocean City Maryland. I was at my semi annual retreat with my guild and an effort to be frugal, this was the only thing on my shopping list. The first perusal of the shop on Friday resulted in not finding the pattern and ruler. However, when taking my 'laps' around the shop Saturday I spied it on the new arrivals display, swooped it up and put it in my back for check-out today! All the girls in my group loved it and at last count, I think 4 other than me bought it as well. Even the shop owner commented how nice it was for you to include all five designs. It is one of my next stitches!!!!

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