Welcoming the New Year

Season's Greetings! Happy last day of December 2022. In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2022 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, 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/finishers/teachers/creators out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2023, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

First news of this post - the final Blue Ribbon Designs newsletter for 2022 has been posted and emailed to subscribers - you can read it here: https://mailchi.mp/b2514819d23d/blue-ribbon-designs-newsletter-dec2022

Second - EXCITING NEWS!! - I can now officially share that I am a Design Educator for ThermOWeb (you know, the makers of HeatnBond products). I will be creating projects and tutorials for their blog. Expect to see a project almost every month...and each project will have a tutorial with color photos and all the details and instructions. ThermOWeb has sent me a plethora of products to play and design with...and some other amazing goodies that I will be sharing over the next few months. If you have not visited their blog before, be sure to check it out - there are TONS of incredible projects from top designers. My fist post has been uploaded and will be live next week on Tuesday, January 3rd...it is a heartfelt Valentine project, so be sure to check out the ThermOWeb blog on the 3rd...
You can find the blog here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/
...and you can see the list of Design Educators here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/designers/

I have been busy working on new designs and you can expect to see new cross stitch and quilt designs in the near future. Unfortunately, my fancy sewing machine is in the shop for repair (it was stuck in reverse - seriously😒) and the day after I took it in, my back-up machine decided to stop working, as well - you can't make this up! Anyway, a very kind and dear friend loaned me a machine to use for my upcoming deadlines, but the entire situation has messed with my schedule quite a bit...so I am still playing catch-up. I did manage to get all my custom client orders for Christmas shipped in time and get most of my gifts made before the "black cloud" arrived. Here's hoping my fancy machine is easily repairable and will be back in my studio soon. Until then, I have MANY things to keep me busy. I will also be helping my local quilt shop with fabric inventory the upcoming week, so I will be out of my studio for a few days. 

Here are a few creative photos of things I completed before the sewing machine fiasco...

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas holiday and have plans to celebrate the New Year this evening, as well. We will be heading to the Plaza in downtown Kansas City for a dinner reservation and then make our way to a neighbors house, where we will ring in the new year with friends.

As we start a new year, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my artistic journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2023, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2023, filled with joy, laughter, and creativity!