Blue Ribbon Designs - Annual Sale

Visit my Etsy Shop or website for my annual sale - going on now through midnight on Monday, November 30th...pick up your favorite single cross stitch charts and pincushions for 20% off.  Plus all orders of $35 or more are eligible for a FREE GIFT.
Thank you for supporting my small business throughout the year!

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns

Website: https://blueribbondesigns.com/

 

Oodles of Ornaments

It continues to be a finishing frenzy in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio...client orders are still piled across my counters and my list continues to grow. I have been super focused and productive, working around the clock to finish up the projects on my to-do tables along with preparing new designs. I have a plethora of finishing clients to take care of for the holidays (and into the new year)…and I am trying to balance it all and keep my sanity. I have been working on a variety of creative activities, including: lots of needlework finishing, pattern writing, custom sewing, custom quilting and freelance designing…plus making some gifts for the holidays…the to-do list is almost overwhelming. Of course, this time of year, I'm asked to keep many of my client finishes a secret...here is a picture album of needlework finishing that I completed over the last few weeks that I have the "okay to show" (not my designs or stitching, just my finishing work)…

Fabric shown with each was used for the backing...and the gorgeous hand-dyed ribbons, velveteen, pop-pom trim and twill tape are all from Lady Dot Creates (visit her Etsy Shop for the very best pretties and finishing materials)…

I hope you are inspired to finish some of your own holiday projects! I am headed back to the studio momentarily to work on more client (you guessed it) Christmas ornaments...it seems like the piles are never-ending. I just took advantage of the Audible Black Friday Sale (a girl can never have too many books) and have a wonderful assortment of new titles queued up and ready for listening...  

As I look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, I have so many things to be extremely thankful for: a loving family, a wonderful husband, AMAZING friends (who accept me, my quirks, and my crazy busy schedule!), two loveable dogs, and a career I find joy in every single day...way too many things to list. I am truly grateful for all of you who share my passions, encourage me with your comments and emails, and support my designs and creative ventures - you all brighten my days!

To everyone celebrating tomorrow - and to my many international fans and friends - take a little time to count your blessings...and a little time to stitch...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Snow Buddies - A Table Runner Pattern

Hello friends - a quick post this evening to let you know my latest quilt pattern is available in my Etsy Shop as a digital download (and will be added to my website in the near future). "Snow Buddies" is available as a high quality PDF that will print on 13 pages of standard letter size (8.5" x 11") paper.

The thirteen page digital file includes:

Page 1 - Cover Page with Color Photo 

Page 2 - Supply Page

Page 3 - Quilt Diagram

Page 4 - General Instructions and Notes

Pages 5 to 10 - Cutting and Piecing Instructions and Diagrams

Pages 11 to 13 - Applique Shapes for Tracing

This fun snowman table runner finishes 36" W x 12" H and incorporates both traditional piecing and applique...and you will want to have some basic quilting and applique knowledge. The instructions/diagrams are very thorough and I think a beginner could definitely tackle it! Snow Buddies is a great stash and scrap buster...the pattern is written to easily adapt the fabric you have on hand. I am super excited to bring this original quilt design to you...and I'm working on several more, along with some long overdue new cross stitch designs. 

I hope this new pattern makes you smile and you will want to make some Snow Buddies of your own! This pattern has been a long time in the making - I actually designed it in 2015 - I had requests for it at the time, but it just never made it center stage. It actually worked out that I had a mini creative meltdown last week - it forced me to step away from needlework finishing orders for a few days and work on something more fulfilling. I am now back in my "happy place" and in my studio working on client finishing projects. 

I do have a small pile of handmade finished items to add to my Etsy Shop, as well - a few miscellaneous (smaller) zipper pouches and a seamstress stocking...a small assortment of items I need to photograph and list in my "spare time"...I just keep adding to the pile.

I also still have that list of things to share with you here - including recent fishes, plus what I have been up to in the kitchen...and a little designer announcement that I need some feedback on...so, stay tuned, I'll be back again soon... 

Singing Under the Stars Quilt Pattern

Greetings friends! I can't believe the list of things I have to share with you - I have been adding to it daily...I will do my very best to get caught up and post several times this week. My studio has been buzzing with all sorts of excitement - I have been doing piles of holiday finishing for clients, I have been working on some new designs, I have been making gifts...and I have been sewing and quilting up a storm. I have also been doing some online learning and working on some new technical skills. Yes, I have been staying quite busy. So let's get to the first thing on my list...

I had a bunch of quilt pattern requests for the "Singing Under the Stars" quilt that I designed/created for the Poppie Cotton Woodland Songbirds Fabric Tour. Yep, you asked for it - so I have written the pattern. It is available in my Etsy Shop for digital download (and will be added to my website in the near future). It is a high quality PDF that will print on 16 pages of standard letter size (8.5" x 11") paper.

The sixteen page digital file includes:

• Page 1 - Cover page with color photo
• Page 2 - Supply page
• Page 3 - Quilt Diagram
• Page 4 - General Instructions and Notes
• Pages 5 to 12 - Cutting and piecing instructions
• Pages 13 to 16 - Applique Shapes for tracing

This whimsical quilt finishes 45" W x 60" H and incorporates both traditional piecing and applique...and you will want to have some basic quilting and applique knowledge. I am super excited to bring this original quilt design to you...and I'm working on several more, including something special for an upcoming Poppie Cotton  fabric collection.

So, if you were interested in this Woodland Songbirds pattern, make your way over to my Etsy Shop! Just a note: this quilt would look great in a variety of fabrics and I have done a breakdown in the pattern that would make it easy to convert to a favorite fabric line or fabric in your stash.

Also - you may have noticed - I have been working on my graphic design skills and have given my blue ribbon logo an overhaul! After sixteen years, it was time for a makeover...and this new quilt pattern is the first to use this new cover design art. 

Working on this delightful quilt pattern reminded me of how much I enjoy the design process and pattern writing. For me, it was the perfect project at the perfect time - just when I was getting completely burned out on holiday finishing and trying to figure out what I want to do "when I grow up", I found that little piece of joy that I have been missing. I have made a promise to myself to work on new designs - both cross stitch and quilting/sewing - each week.

So there you have it - my latest quilt pattern. I hope you will be inspired to work on something creative this weekend....and if you decide to make a "Singing Under the Stars" quilt of your very own, please be sure to share your progress with me!