Six Bats and a Black Cat - New Cross Stitch

Greetings friends - I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit today!

First of all, thank you so much for the super sweet comments and messages regarding my Poppie Cotton fabric designs and my Therm O Web projects - I am so thrilled you like all the patterns, projects, and tutorials I have been working on! I look forward to sharing more patterns and tutorials with you in the coming months.

My overnight schedule has me pretty much upside-down (and truthfully, a bit cranky), but it means less interruptions, so I have been working on all sorts of creative projects...and today, I am here to tell you all about one of those projects....yes, it's a new cross stitch design alert! I just released a brand new cross stitch pattern called "Six Bats and a Black Cat" and it is available in both paper pattern and digital format in my Etsy shop. This "merry not scary" Halloween design contains charting for the framed design (in both color and black & white), stitching instructions, and stitch diagrams. 

Long time fans may recall a similar design I allowed Just Cross Stitch to publish over ten years ago. I always maintain all my design rights and I have wanted to release this pattern in my print/digital catalog for quite some time...with my own branding, in my own style, with my specifics and details. Magazines always make changes for space and adjust wording, finishing, photography, and even provided details - this drives me a bit crazy, as I am very particular about my brand and my artwork. I have a pile of classic designs that were published in magazines, that will be added to my design catalog, where they belong...with my personal vision and attention to detail!

Here are a few more details...

Six Bats and a Black Cat (BRD-133)

When I created this design, I planned it square, so it could not only be put in a frame, but it would look good in a tray, or on a box top, or as a pillow. The motifs around the border and throughout the design were created to work well for Halloween feather tree ornaments. It is in my usual Halloween style, which means it is more classic and happy, versus scary and gory....I am definitely a "Merry Halloween" girl!

The model was stitched with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads and DMC conversions are included.

I stitched it on 32-count Sand Dune (Standard) from Lakeside Linens, but it would look great on any orange, brown, gold or natural linen - any linen dark enough to show the white ghosts. On 32-count fabric, the design measures 7.5" x 7.5".

Stitches include: Cross Stitch over two linen threads, Back Stitch, French or Colonial Knots, Satin Stitch, and Smyrna Cross...diagrams are provided...and the specialty stitches can easily be converted to cross stitch for those who are working on Aida or shy away from specialty stitches.

Paper pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1575848945

Digital pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1575851785

I truly hope you find the new design a great addition to my catalog and my vast array of Halloween designs!

Next up, I will be adding a couple new sewing/quilting patterns to my catalog, so stay tuned for that...

...and, I have needlework finishing and custom work to complete for clients...piles of sewing to complete for my Etsy shop...another project tutorial for the Therm O Web Blog that will be available in October...plus my blog will be a stop on the Hide and Seek Fabric Tour for Poppie Cotton in a few weeks, so I will be back to visit with you again before you know it! 

Also - by popular demand, I have added more sets of wool felted acorns to my Etsy shop - this time they are in brighter, cheerful colors. Stop by my shop to see what is currently available...

Thanks for stopping by today and for always being so supportive of my creativity...💗

Wool Felted Acorns

Greetings friends - I'm stopping by today to share a little bit about my latest creative project for my Etsy shop - wool felted acorns! If you keep up with my blog, then you know I recently returned from northern Illinois, where I visited my momma and second dad - they have a lovely lakeside property with quite a few oak trees. While I was visiting, I helped clean up piles and piles of acorns...and I had the idea to collect and bring home some of the caps. I brought home three large Ziploc bags full. I had a master plan to make wool felted acorns for my Etsy shop. I explained the idea to my parents, who I am pretty sure thought I was a bit crazy...but after seeing the final product, I think they were impressed. I washed and roasted all the caps, to clean and preserve them...then added 100% New Zealand wool for the "nuts". Aren't they just the cutest?! You can find them here: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com

I have started listing them in my Etsy shop in sets of ten. Colors and sizes vary per listing – see listing images for more specific details. Most acorns have an average size of ⅝” – 1” in diameter and/or height, but as you can see in the images, some may be a bit smaller or larger. Due to the handmade nature and the natural acorn caps, there will be some minor variation in size.

Packages may contain single acorns, double acorns, or triple acorns – again, see images for the exact acorns in each listing. Created by Mother Nature, each cap is unique.

These are great for tiered trays, bowl fillers, nature/fall table decor, fall weddings or gifts. Can be used as a special pin or needle keep (my favorite use!). Perfect for seasonal decor through fall and winter… even year round. Use these wool felted acorns throughout your home to welcome the season, decorate for a wedding or special occasion, or give as a gift. Use them from year to year.

Each set of these delicate acorns is packaged carefully and boxed for shipping. Ready for gift giving.

I will continue to add more sets, as my schedule allows...visit my Etsy shop to see what is currently available...

2-in-1 Pumpkin Patch Wall Hanging

Greetings friends - happy Wednesday! It is new project tutorial day - time to share my September post for the Therm O Web Blog with you! As a Fabric Education Designer for Therm O Web (they are the makers of all those wonderful HeatnBond and SpraynBond products), I create projects and tutorials for their very popular blog each month. I share a fun, new project and give you my tips and tricks for using their products. For the month of September, the blog is focused on fall and Halloween designs (and we got bonus points for creating a project that can be used for Halloween AND transition into fall). I created a brand new project that was posted yesterday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "2-in-1 Pumpkin Patch Wall Hanging." This seasonal quilted wall hanging contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with templates, a layout diagram, and step-by-step directions with color photos. The model uses cotton quilting fabric (autumn prints) and wool blend felt from Benzie Design (my favorite), but I encourage you to use fabrics you have on hand, to make this small quilt your own. I hope you will stop by the Therm O Web blog and check out my project and tutorial...

About this design and what makes it a special "2-in-1" project:

The base quilt is traditional quilt blocks - created using the foundation piecing method. The wool felt pumpkins are appliquéd in place, but the wool felt jack-o-lantern faces naturally adhere to the pumpkins for a little Halloween charm (wool felt naturally adheres to itself)! This makes this project perfect for decorating all autumn season…and a great project for kids, as the facial pieces are interchangeable and can be moved around…then, simply remove the jack-o-lantern faces for fall decorating…

This is seasonal sewing project that is perfect for fat quarters or a jelly roll or scraps. I foundation pieced the quilt, using StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets (oh how I love these sheets for foundation piecing!!). For this post, I also used HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets, HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, and SpraynBond Pattern & Stencil Spray...plus, I give you tips for using each item! Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list.

Let's talk about the StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets. 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 Quilt Block 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 material! I can't tell you how much I love these sheets compared to regular foundation piecing paper - they are my new favorite thing!

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

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/pumpkin-patch-wall-hanging-featuring-stitchnsew/

I hope this project gets you excited to create something special and unique...

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web blog and will be sure to post here, when I do...my project for October is scheduled to be posted on October 17th...and, as always, I am working on a very fun, seasonal idea!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing with you. Enjoy the rest of your week and make time to work on something creative...

Inspiration Along the Journey

Greetings friends - happy weekend! I am back from my quick trip up to northern Illinois to visit my momma and second dad...and I thought I would quickly drop in to share some photos of my journey. It was a good trip, minus the standard (extensive) train delays. They live in a lovely lakeside home with incredible wildlife, birds and gardens. We spent most of our time at the house, working/playing outside...but we did make a trip up to Wisconsin to a favorite apple orchard (Ten Eyck Orchard). We also took the pontoon boat out for a trip all around the lake....and I did a little painting at my mom's artist easel. It was a good, quiet, artistic week...and here are a plethora of photos I took...

Thanks for stopping by for a visit - I hope you feel happy and inspired! I will be back on September 20th with my latest project tutorial for Therm O Web (you can see it on the Therm O Web Blog on Tuesday, September 19th)...it is an autumn/Halloween project with a bit of magic. I hope you stop back soon...

Garden Party Fabric Tour

Greetings friends, happy Monday! I am thrilled to be today's stop on the Garden Party Fabric Tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I had so much fun playing with this sweet, delicate garden collection and have a selection of projects to share...all created with the new Garden Party Fabric Collection designed by Sheri McCulley for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed being creative and playing with these adorable prints. This brand new collection (shipping to shops this month) has the cutest bunnies, bluebirds, strawberries, gardening tools, and fabulous florals…all done in a cheerful color palette. This
Poppie Cotton collection brings me happiness and I knew a brand new wall hanging for my studio was going to be in the works. This month, for the quilt, I didn't use a pattern - in fact, I just started playing, using Sheri's design motif of a bunny in a watering can as inspiration. I also whipped up a patchwork zippered bag using my Pretty Posies Pouch pattern...and a couple cube pincushions...

To start, I created a wall hanging with a large, center, appliqué focal block...then I built on it with "square in a square" traditional blocks, fussy cutting the centers. The center block was created by adapting one of Sheri's motifs in her fabric collection and making it my own - I am calling it "Bunny Bouquet." It measures 30" x 30" and has hanging pockets on the back to make it easy to display. I used a fat quarter stack of Garden Party, along with several Farmhouse Favorites (Country Confetti in Marshmallow White and Cotton Candy)…plus a small amount of fabric from my stash for the stems and bunny appliqué). I quilted it myself on my domestic machine (stitch in the ditch and around the appliqué) and it turned out even better than I envisioned. "Bunny Bouquet" is currently hanging in my studio above my sewing machine table. I don't know if I will write a pattern for it, as I adapted some of Sheri's artwork - I would have to check with her, but leave a comment or send me a message if you would like to see me release a pattern for it (and yes, a pattern for my last Poppie Cotton quilt "Farmstead Finds" is forthcoming)…

Next, I made the cutest patchwork box-bottom pouch with wrist strap! I used my own pattern (Pretty Posies Pouch) and fussy cut some of the focal motifs in this lovely fabric collection. I used a light pink zipper with a white zipper pull tab...and the wrist strap and backing fabric are in the "Lovely Lattice" print from this collection. 

Finally, I created a couple cube pincushions. These measure 3" x 3" x 2" and are so much fun to make! I love finding the perfect fabrics for the tops and sides. They are stuffed with crushed walnut shells...and the pins are from Puntini Puntini (my very favorite!).

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 Garden Party fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop - Garden Party is shipping this month.

I am already working on my project ideas for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in October - it is using the fabric collection "Hide and Seek" (click on the link to see a preview!). Plus, I will have a new Therm O Web project tutorial posted on September 19th, as well (think autumn and Halloween - it is a FUN one!)…so, be sure to stop back soon...