My Wish For You...

As we welcome the new year, I am taking a look back at the last 365 days...it sure has been a year of ups and downs...2012 was full of triumphs, challenges, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers and teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs into your stitching rotation and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love the needlework industry and I hope you will continue to receive my designs with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we jump into 2013, I have many goals and a good amount of projects in the works - a pile of design ideas, multiple classes across the US, and exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion...

As 2012 comes to a close, I would like to thank all of you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blog journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without each and every one of you. In preparation for 2013, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2013 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity!

From The Studio...

Today's post will be a short one...just a few photos to show you what I have been creating for Christmas...these gifts have all been delivered, so I thought I would share them with you. Although my sewing machine is still waiting to be fixed, I managed to get quite a few pieces quilted and sewn before it broke down (or I used my old machine). Each year, I try to make the majority of my gifts - and this year was no exception...

Pincushion Tuffet and Needlebook Scissor Case
My own patterns.
Fabrics: Polka Dot Stitches by Lori Holt of Bee In My Bonnet for Riley Blake
Wee Play by American Jane Patterns Sandy Klop for Moda

Strippy Table Runner
Pattern: "Strippy Table Set" by Patterns by Jean Boyd
Fabric: Sent With Love by Deb Strain for Moda

Machine Embroidered Flour Sack Kitchen Towels
Machine Embroidery:  Vintage Kitchen Set, digitized by Splinters and Threads

Quartered Nines Table Topper
Pattern: Quartered Nines - my own variation...
Fabric: Wiscasset by Minick & Simpson for Moda

Willow Tree Candle Mat
Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop pattern by Debbie Lazarski
Fabrics: Unknown - Kitted Scraps

Of course I made a few other presents...and purchased some special things too - this is just a sampling of the personalized gifts I have been creating in the studio....

I hope your holidays have been filled with handmade and heartfelt gifts!

Cross Stitch for Christmas

It was a peaceful Christmas holiday in our home. We hosted Christmas dinner at our house - and I cooked a huge feast...and although it was only for four people, it was devoured, leaving little room for dessert. I had planned to take some photos of the meal for you and share some recipes - but the only photo I managed to get was of the table before our guests arrived (and it was taken with my smartphone - sorry). After a big meal and a small gift exchange, we enjoyed an afternoon of conversation in front of the fire...and then had dessert. It was a comfy, cozy, and quiet holiday...and when I say quiet, I mean it - I even turned off the phone and the computer for the day - something I need to do more often. After my husband's parents left - I walked Simba to the park (in the snow, ice, and bitter cold), cleaned up the kitchen, then spent the evening watching movies with my husband.

I did finish opening the Christmas package from my dear friend Robin in Virginia...and I just *had to* share the contents with you...because it included not one, but TWO cross stitched gifts! A beautiful ornament...and a gorgeous framed sampler - aren't they both treasures?! I feel so blessed to have these on display in my home...both exquisite reminders of  our friendship across the miles! Robin has a knack for making the perfect stitched gifts...she always picks colors that match my style - and designs that match my personality...and her work is superb. I love that the framed designed is personalized by having the letter "B" and the letter "R" stitched in black...it is so very special! I will be hanging this in my stitching nest, along with the lovely friendship piece my friend Mary gave me a couple weeks ago - two gorgeous stitched samplers from two amazing friends. I am proud to hang their heartfelt gifts among my personal stitching and BRD models. I must say, I am so very blessed....my heart is full. Robin - thank you for sharing your beautiful talent with me and for giving me so much to be thankful for this holiday season!

*UPDATE* from Robin:  the chart for the framed piece is called "Sew Sew" by iStitch Designs - the fabric is 32-count Vintage Buttercream from Lakeside Linens and the floss is HDF silks in Primitive Barn Red and BeGrimed.  I stitched the letters ‘B’ and ‘R’ in BeGrimed (they are my initials, they are your first initial and my first initial and they also stand for Blue Ribbon which was how our friendship began). The ornament details:  the chart is called "Merry Virginia" by Homespun Elegance - the fabric is 32-count Flax and the floss is Weeks Dye Works and DMC.


Remember the fabulous winter scene fabric Robin sent me?? Well, her package also contained several other beautiful cuts - including this unique bluebird panel from the Tend the Earth collection by Deb Strain for Moda...I haven't decided how I will use this unique panel yet - but it will be used for something special!

....and I have one more stitched gift to share with you...this beautiful cross stitched stocking was given to me back in October at the New England Stitcher's Retreat. It was stitched by one of the hosts - my sweet, sweet friend Gail. I met Gail at the very first New England retreat in May of 2010 and we have kept in touch ever since...she has attended all three retreats and is such a joy to be around! This year, when I arrived at the Shaker Dwelling House, she had a placed a fantastic gift bag in my room filled with treats - including this gorgeous stocking (it is about 6.75" H) - complete with a couple presents inside. Many of you know I just adore stockings and teeny tiny packages, so this LOVELY gift touched me deeply! I have been admiring it the entire holiday season and I just had to share it with you...

I hope you are having a magical and heartfelt holiday - filled with family, friends, food, and festivities!

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve to my family, friends, and followers! It is a quiet holiday in our home...I spent the day running errands, cleaning, and doing a little preparation for Christmas dinner tomorrow (my husband's parents will be joining us for a celebratory meal). I plan to spend this evening in my stitching nest - with a fire in the fireplace - a movie - and a nice glass of wine (I'm hoping my husband will make it home to join me!).

To the right you see a photo of me as a little girl opening a Christmas present..this makes me happy and fills my heart with the Christmas spirit!

Below is a little Christmas collage that includes many Blue Ribbon Designs holiday favorites....

Merry Christmas to those celebrating - wishing you a blessed and magical holiday! May you find joy in the celebration, beauty in your surroundings, and love in your heart...

A Snow Day...

Just as predicted, winter weather arrived in central Iowa yesterday evening...it started as a rain/sleet mix, then quickly turned to snow (and thunder snow). We received 12" to 14" of snow (on top of a layer of ice) and blizzard-like conditions with winds gusting up to 50 mph...yes, winter has definitely arrived! With the heavy snow, our power was knocked out last night...but we are blessed, as our electricity was restored early this morning. With most of the city shutdown this morning and travel not recommended, today was an official snow day. I made it outside to do a little snow removal and take Simba for a brief walk...he was quite irritated by the harsh weather and I had to force him to go further than the end of our driveway....but who could blame him - with the snow so high, he must feel like he is walking in a tunnel...and with the winds so extreme, he must feel like a little kite. I must say, even with the cold, wind, snow, and ice, it was still beautiful outside - looks like we will be having a white Christmas this year!

View from our deck....

Sunshine trying to peek through....

...and speaking of winter weather and snow...several days ago, I received a FABULOUS Christmas package from my dear friend Robin - I have only opened one of the enclosed gifts....and it was this WONDERFUL winter fabric, which reminds me of our current weather situation...it is Winter Wonderland by Ingrid Slyder for Moda...isn't it marvelous?! 

It was a very quiet day and I decided to do some cooking (a big pot of homemade chili), some baking (molasses cookies), and some sewing (more Etsy shop items and a couple last minute gifts). I finished up the last six Blueberry Crumb Cake Needlebook Scissor Cases...then decided to pull out some bright cheerful fabric (Fresh Flowers by Deb Strain for Moda) and work on some more Stitch Starter Ruler Pocket Sleeves....these will be listed in my Etsy shop soon.

I have just a few more things to finish up in my studio and at my desk...then I will be headed to my comfy stitching nest to work on some model stitching (I think a fire in the fireplace and a hot beverage will be a nice touch)...I have several large projects to get completed in the next few weeks...

I hope you are staying warm and cozy...and enjoying this winter holiday season....

Stocking The Shelves...

Finally, I have some Etsy shop items to share with you! Remember months ago when I told you I was working on more Needlebook Scissor Cases for my Etsy shop?? - well, here I am posting a LONG overdue update. I had quite a few requests for some made with fabric from the Blueberry Crumb Cake collection by Blackbird Designs...and at that time, I got them all cut and prepared for sewing...then life, traveling, teaching, designing, "you name it", got in the way...and then my sewing machine had to go in for repair. My sewing machine is still waiting for parts - but I dusted off my old machine and got to work last week. I managed to get 26 of the needlebooks completed - along with 24 new Stitch Start Ruler Sleeves - all in the Blueberry Crumb Cake fabric....and I have 6 more needlebooks ready for assembly this weekend. These items are all ready to ship and would make perfect holiday gifts for stitching friends (or yourself!)...

The "Needlebook Scissor Case" is my own pattern which I have perfected over time - each one is approximately 3.5" W x 5.5" H. They are padded with fusible fleece and the pockets/cover are structured with interfacing - making them quite sturdy and durable. The covers are embellished with rick rack, trim, or ribbon...and the closure is an elastic loop and button. Many of the buttons are vintage from vast collection - and the rick rack I used is hand-dyed. Inside you will find wool felt needlebook pages with one pretty stick pin and pockets for your stitching/sewing tools. Each Needlebook Scissor Case is different and unique...

I also added a new batch "Stitch Start Ruler Pocket Sleeves" - these pocket sleeves measure 3.5" x 3.5" and hold the 3" square ruler perfectly - they are fully lined with no raw seams...and they use fusible fleece to give them a bit of padding and stability. Each Stitch Start Ruler Pocket Sleeve comes with a Stitch Starter Ruler (single Stitch Starter Rulers without a sleeve are available, as well). To read more about my Stitch Starter Ruler, visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/USING%20THE%20STITCH%20STARTER.pdf

Orders placed this weekend will ship Priority Mail on Monday, December 17th and should arrive in time for Christmas gift giving....and all of my Etsy items are wrapped in GiftGloss and tied with tulle bows.

For those of you needing affordable gifts for a small group of stitching friends - check out my Decorative Pin and Button Packs! I used pretty papers and cardstocks to fold holders with a pocket on the front and and a pocket on the back...and then tied them together with fancy coordinating ribbon. The front pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized heart straight pins...and the back pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized leaf straight pins...and attached in the center is a poly bag of 24 matching buttons. The holder is tied with approximately a 1/2 yard of decorative ribbon and is placed in a transparent bag tied with tulle. Each package is different and unique...and I still have a nice assortment listed and ready to ship.

I have an impressive pile of pieces cut and ready for assembly this weekend and hope to have more fun items listed soon!

Today, I am finishing up some last minute handmade gifts - then this evening, I will be working on the model for the Elegant Stitch Workshop taking place in April...and I have a project to complete for AccuQuilt this week, as well...lots of creative work to do in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blue Jeans and Daisies

Today I have a fun little teaser to share with you...this is a little peek at the mystery sampler, which I have titled "Blue Jeans and Daisies". I originally shared a few details with you about the Mystery Sampler Club at the end of November - now I have a special "teaser" photo to entice you a little bit more!

Still keeping you in "suspense", here are a few details I can share with you about the Mystery Sampler Club...

• The title is "Blue Jeans and Daisies"...
• It has a "springtime" theme...
• Each chart will contain a fun finishing idea...
• Collect all three designs to unlock a mystery bonus on my website when the 3rd and final part is released...
• The first part is set to be released on January 21, 2013...
• Stitch count for the entire sampler is 150H x 300W - each installment will be approximately 150H x 100W...

For additional details or to sign up, visit your favorite needlework shop or stitchy website (you can only get it through a needlework shop - your shop of choice - LNS or ONS) - they will have all the details for the program. There will be three parts to the "mystery sampler" - the first part is scheduled to be released in January - the second part in February - and the third part in March....together all three parts make one large sampler...with a photo of the entire project to be released with the third and final installment (hence the "mystery"). 

(NOTE: before you comment/post "I don't have a local needlework shop" - contact the shop where you purchase your stitching stash (charts and supplies)...it can be a local shop OR an online needlework shop...OR visit the "Locate" page on my website for a list of shops that will be able to assist you.)

So without further ado, here is just a taste to whet your appetite!

Clarity and Perspective...

I was given a much needed boost of holiday spirit yesterday. I've been a little "bah humbug" this year (who am I kidding - I have been extremely "bah humbug" this year)...I have been slow to get my gifts ready and I am yet to start sending my holiday cards - completely unlike me...I'm not sure if it is my heavy workload, the unseasonable weather, financial constraints, or my sewing machine being on the fritz (I'm usually sewing up a storm this time of year)...I've just been in a bit of a funk....but leave it to my dear friends Mary and Lorrie to give me a gentle attitude adjustment. We met for lunch yesterday and had the most enjoyable time...in fact we were having so much fun, we completely lost track of time - I checked my watch to find we had been chatting for over two hours - it was an extended (and much needed) break!

Although I was planning to see each of them again for our Christmas gift exchange (I just don't have everything ready yet), Mary brought my Christmas gifts to lunch - a gift bag full of special goodies. I started  opening some of the smaller packages first - they included a adorable little notebook, a glass ornament, and a squirrel cookie cutter...and there were two larger packages to open too! She gifted me a wonderful book - The Gentle Art of Stitching: 40 Projects Inspired by Everyday Beauty by Jane Brocket - Mary knows I absolutely adore sewing/quilting/stitching/crafting books...and this book is the perfect addition to my library. The projects range from Sashiko to Crazy Quilting to Vintage Embroidery to Stitching on Felt (to name a few) - it is a great collection of handwork projects with lovely photos...and full of inspiration. As I reached for the final package, I immediately realized I saved the best for last - Mary had stitched and framed a BEAUTIFUL cross stitch piece for me - it is absolutely perfect and I had to choke back tears when I removed the tissue paper. So much thought went into this gift - from the colors and frame she chose - to the design (which contains many of my favorite things...and of course squirrels!)...I couldn't wait to get it home and hang it (close to my stitching nest where I can admire it daily)...it is so very special to me. The design is "A Sheltering Tree" by All Through The Night...isn't it fabulous?! I am so very touched by this heartfelt gift - it is the first framed cross stitch that I have ever received...and knowing all the hard work and love that went into this piece warms my heart.

Spending a few hours with my dear girlfriends was just what I needed and I finished my day feeling happy and blessed (even with a migraine that arrived late yesterday afternoon). The gift of friendship provided me with a little clarity and a new perspective.

Today I will get to work on my Christmas list - better late than never - Christmas cards and stamps are on the table, ready to go...and I will try to work on a few more of the gifts I am making (provided my headache subsides)...

On the sewing machine front, I do have a little update...I took it back to the tech last Monday and had the belt put back on, hoping it would hold for regular sewing....and yep, it was the exact same belt problem...the parts are on backorder (of course they are)...but she was kind to put the belt back in place. I have been able to do some sewing (no embroidery until the parts are replaced) - I managed to get a special order of 25 needlebooks completed (that was a HUGE job). I am being extra gentle and trying to keep the belt in place as long as possible, as there is no estimated arrival time for the parts needed (of course there isn't). I am hoping to finish a small pile of Etsy items and a couple Christmas gifts...and if I am super lucky I can work on a special project for AccuQuilt. I do have a back-up machine, but it doesn't have all the "bells and whistles"...and this little experience has definitely taught me that I am a sewing/embroidery machine DIVA!