Sunny Sunglass Case

Greetings friends! The BRD studio has been buzzing with new ideas and projects...and my desk is covered in creative ideas, new designs, sketches, piles of paper, product swatches/photos, and a giant planning calendar. All of this has me hopeful, encouraged, and excited for Blue Ribbon Designs. 

Today is new project tutorial day - time to share my May project created for the Therm O Web blog with you. I always enjoy putting on my Fabric Education Designer hat and creating new projects/tutorials using incredible products from Therm O Web. For the month of May, the blog is focused on home decor, garden-themed projects, on-the-go cases and organizers, and gifts for graduates. I created a brand new project that was posted on Monday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "Sunny Sunglass Case." My comprehensive tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos. 

This pretty and protective case for your sunnies is quick and easy and uses minimal materials. It is a perfect afternoon sewing project and works great with scraps and/or your favorite fabric collection. HeatnBond Fusible Fleece makes it soft and sturdy and the HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets make the applique super simple. Print the template shapes directly on the HeatnBond Lite Adhesive using your inkjet printer (no tracing required!). I used some bright and cheerful colors of Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt for the appliqué motifs. A happy summertime project that is easily adaptable and makes a great gift that can be personalized for any recipient.

Visit my YouTube Channel or Instagram page for a video that follows along as I create my Sunny Sunglass Case.

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/sunny-sunglass-case-featuring-heatnbond

You will be surprised how quickly this pretty and practical project comes together. It is perfect for using up those scraps and small pieces of fabric - I opted to use the Keep Shining Bright Collection by Anne Rowan for Wilmington Prints and Chambray Tonals from Connecting Threads for the cases and Benzie Design Wool Blend Felt for the appliqués. For this post, I used the following Therm O Web products:

• HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets, 8.5 in x 11 in
• HeatnBond Fusible Fleece
• HeatnBond Fabric Fuse Liquid Adhesive

Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list. 

To find the exact tools and supplies listed, visit my Sunny Sunglass Case List on Amazon (full disclosure: as an Amazon Influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases - I only share products I actually use - and I truly appreciate you shopping from my links, thank you!). 

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

I hope this project gets you excited to create a Sunny Sunglass Case to keep your favorite sunglasses protected and stored in style!

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web Blog and I will be sure to post here when I have a new tutorial available. My next project is scheduled to be on the Therm O Web blog on June 17th. Plus, I am taking part in the Frost and Flurry Fabric Tour for Poppie Cotton on June 18th....and my first tutorial post for Benzie Design will be live on their website on June 3rd! 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing my projects with you. Have a great week and make time to work on something creative...

Fun with Felt

Greetings, friends! I am gearing up for my first Benzie Maker Team post that will be live on their website on June 3rd...but I had to stop by and share a few recent makes and the welcome package that Benzie Design sent me...along with a personal order I placed.

First, I have to tell you about the welcome package I received. This package was a beauty! If you are new to Benzie Design, you should know, they package everything impeccably - every package from them arrives like a present. The welcome box was full of Benzie Design favorites:

• Bellwether Swatch Chart (72 Colors of 100% Pure Merino Wool) 
• Bellwether Felt (Cutting Table Palette)
• A Selection of Benzie's Favorite Threads
• Felt Scissors
  
• Linen Embroidery Fabric
• Sequins and Beads
• Stuffing Tool
• Needle Felting Tool
• Corriedale Roving Bundle
• Felting Pad

I posted a video on my Instagram and YouTube Channel, should you want to see each individual product. Here are a several images - one of the packed box (minus the welcome letter) and a couple photos of the contents.

Since the announcement that I made the team, I have been itching to play with some of the welcome products, along with the supplies I have purchased from Benzie Design over the years. I decided to create several adorable felt donuts using the Valentine Treat Trio Tutorial by Mollie Johanson of Wild Olive. I already had all the supplies for this project, including the Circles & Scallops, Deep Etch Die, making the cutting easy! I had been wanting to make some of these since I first saw them...and I am so happy I finally did. I normally don't have much time to play in my studio for fun...but this project made my heart happy. I have already gifted the few that I made.

I also placed a personal order for a few things I needed and a few things I wanted...oh, how difficult it was to decide what to order...I would take at least one of everything they sell, if I could afford it! I narrowed my order down to a couple pairs of scalloped shears, a couple more deep etch dies (Daisy Flowers Small and Daisy Flowers Large), some super strong small magnets, a pair of metal snips, and a screw punch. These are all tools that will make my creative life easier. I may need to get a part-time job or rob a bank to start paying for my Benzie Design addiction...

Finally, I wanted to share a project I finished yesterday...a Graduate Pennant! This tutorial was posted on the Benzie website by one of my fellow team members (Happy Camper). It was posted at the perfect time, as we have a high school graduation party to attend this weekend for the daughter of dear friends. I already had all the supplies and her tutorial made it easy! I chose the colors of our local high school (purple and yellow) and of course, I chose the option to sew all the pieces in place. I was so happy with how it turned out...and the mother of the graduate was impressed too, so WIN, WIN!

Graduate Pennant Tutorial by Happy Camper: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/graduate-pennant

I can't share my first project for the Benzie Design website just yet...but look for a sneak peek photo real soon. It is a very fun summery project...and just makes me smile! It is due to them next week and will be live on June 3rd.

For now, I am back to work - I just finished my Therm O Web project for this month and I am working on posting all the details. It will be up on the Therm O Web Blog on Monday, May19th.

I hope you will stop back and visit with  me again soon!

Rosebud Manor Small Quilt

Greetings friends! It's NEW pattern day...so let's talk about Rosebud Manor. I had so much fun designing a creating my new pattern "Rosebud Manor" - a small quilt perfect for a wall hanging or table topper. This mini quilt has foundation pieced quilt blocks around the perimeter and a machine appliqué block in the center.

Rosebud Manor measures 28.5" x 28.5" and is great for showing off a favorite fabric collection. The simple foundation pieced quilt blocks around the perimeter lend themselves to fussy cut centers - putting a spotlight on a favorite print. The center machine appliqué block uses a touch of rick rack for embellishment and a tiny 1/4" button for the doorknob.

For the model, I used HeatnBond Lite Iron-On Adhesive for the fusible web and I used HeatnBond Fusible Fleece instead of batting (choose your favorite!). I added two little ribbon hanging tabs for a wrought iron hanger, but your could add corner pockets or a sleeve for hanging.

I used gorgeous fabric prints from the Elise collection by Terri Henson for Poppie Cotton - this fabric collection is brand new and is shipping to quilt shops in June. The background and binding are Country Confetti - this basic collection is also from Poppie Cotton.

The pattern is extremely detailed with foundation blocks provided I even include instructions for foundation piecing and machine appliqué. The pattern is 27 pages and full of color images and photos for every step. You can find it in both paper and/or digital format in my Etsy Shop.

Rosebud Manor Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303985658
Rosebud Manor Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303983188

I posted a short behind the scenes video of putting this small quilt together on my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@BlueRibbonDesigns

I hope this new pattern inspires you to create a Rosebud Manor small quilt of your very own, using your favorite fabric collection...and if you do, I hope you will share a photo or two with me!

Sweet Sewing Book

Greetings friends! It's NEW pattern day...so let's talk about my Sweet Sewing Book. It all started just playing around in my Studio in March...I was working with the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Collection from Poppie Cotton and I wanted to show off the detailed motifs. I decided to create a log cabin quilt block that would work for a large needlebook cover and show off a fussy cut motif in the center. The project grew from there, adding several pockets and embellishments...and my Sweet Sewing Book was born. I shared photos and a video of it during the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour and the response was so great, I decided to write a pattern.

My Sweet Sewing Book measures 8.5" W x 6.5" H when closed and 17" W x 6.5" H when open. It has a plethora of specially designed pocket to hold all sorts of hand stitching tools. It has wool blend felt needlebook pages for needles, pins, and a needle minder...and a pocket with ties for embroidery scissors. The largest pocket holds a Nurge Extra Small Square Embroidery Hoop. Dividers in the left side pocket are designed to hold embroidery scissors, a pack of needles, a Stitch Starter Ruler, and a pencil or seam ripper...and there is a hidden pocket behind the largest pocket. A triangular pocket holds thread bobbins or spools or any small tool needed close at hand.

A shank button and elastic provide a secure closure for the book and I enjoyed searching through my vintage buttons for the perfect match. For the models, I used a Goody Colored Hair Elastic to coordinate with the fabrics, but a regular piece of elastic would work just fine. I used Wool Blend Felt from Benzie Design for the needlebook pages and Hand-Dyed Twill Tape from Lady Dot Creates for the scissor ties. If you want to add the sweetest pins, as I did, you must check out Puntini Puntini - they are my favorites! I also used fussy cut motifs from my fabric choices to embellish the inside front cover and needlebook pages.

To give my Sweet Sewing Book softness and stability, I used HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, adhesives, and Stabilizers. The Fusible Fleece makes the cover soft and perfect for quilting. HeatnBond Craft Extra Firm Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing gives the lining stability and strength to hold the pockets. All of the pockets are strengthened with HeatnBond Medium Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing. I used HeatnBond Lite Fusible Adhesive to add the fussy cut fabric embellishments, then stitched them in place.

The pattern is extremely detailed with foundation blocks provided for the cover and I even include instructions for foundation piecing. The pattern is 15 pages and full of color images and photos for every step. You can find it in both paper and/or digital format in my Etsy Shop.

Sweet Sewing Book Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303984363
Sweet Sewing Book Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303974342

Here are photos of the original Sweet Sewing Book, using the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Collection...and you can visit my YouTube Channel for a video tour: https://youtube.com/shorts/So5FGt-2xfM?si=hpujO6eTllbciGC4

...and here are photos using the House and Home Fabric Collection by Michal Marco for Poppie Cotton...

I hope this new pattern inspires you to create a Sweet Sewing Book of your very own or as a gift for a very special friend...and if you do, I hope you will share a photo or two with me!

Elise Fabric Tour

Greeting friends - happy Monday! Welcome to the Poppie Cotton Elise Fabric Tour. I am thrilled to be today's stop on the tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. You are here on a great day, because this month, my fabric tour post coincides with TWO new quilt patterns! I have three special projects to share, created with the new Elise Fabric Collection designed by Terri Henson for Poppie Cotton. I was super excited to put on my quilt designer hat and work with these charming prints. This brand new collection (shipping to quilt shops in June) has lovely rose, daisy, and trellis motifs, and a gorgeous quilted-look multi print...all done in a lovely color palette of reds, pinks, blues and whites. Let's take a close-up look at my projects...

For my first project, I created "Rosebud Manor" and you can find this NEW quilt pattern in my Etsy Shop in digital and/or paper format! This small quilt is perfect as a wall hanging or table topper. It measures 28.5" x 28.5" and uses foundation piecing for the Economy Quilt Blocks and machine appliqué for the "manor" in the center. I added some rick rack and a tiny button for embellishment.  Visit my blog again later today or tomorrow, when I will share more details. 

Rosebud Manor Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303985658
Rosebud Manor Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303983188

Next, I created a "Pretty Patchwork Pouch" that shows off the Quilted Roses Multi print. It is a very sweet size, measuring 8” x 5.5”. I quilted over the lines on the fabric print to give it a pieced look. It is lined with Country Confetti, and I added a “handmade” wooden button and special red zipper pull. No pattern for this little zippered bag, I just made it up as I went along...

Finally, I created a "Sweet Sewing Book" (you may remember this project from the Wildwood Dwellings Fabric Tour). This project was so well received, I decided to write a pattern for it! You can now find the pattern from my "Sweet Sewing Book" in my Etsy Shop (paper pattern and/or digital pattern).  It measures 8.5” x 6.5” when closed. It has an elastic and button closure (I used a vintage rose button for this one!), with five pockets inside and Benzie Design wool blend felt needle pages (color is Icicle). I used hand-dyed twill tape (scissor tie) from Lady Dot Creates to add a special touch. I also added fussy cut/appliquéd fabric accents. The binding is Country Confetti (also from Poppie Cotton). More on this NEW pattern and additional photos will be posted later today or tomorrow.

Sweet Sewing Book Digital Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303984363
Sweet Sewing Book Paper Pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/4303974342

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 Elise fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog and/or their social media. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Elise is shipping in June.

I already have my project in progress for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in June - my day is June 18th. That tour will be showcasing the wintery, upcoming "Frost and Flurry" fabric collection by Sheri McCulley (click to see a preview). Plus, I will have a new project tutorial posted on the Therm O Web Blog on Monday, May 19th (think summer) and my first new project tutorial on the Benzie Design Blog on Tuesday, June 3rd (more summery goodness!)…so, be sure to stop back soon for more creative inspiration...

17th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival

Greetings friends! I though I would stop by this early morning and share a few FUN photos from the 17th Annual Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. This past weekend, we took a road trip up to Iowa to see the BEST of friends and attend the 2025 Bacon Festival. Over the the last 17 years, we have made it to almost every Bacon Fest...and even though we made the move to Kansas City, we still make the annual trip back "home" for this event each year. This year the bacon festivities were held indoors at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Agriculture Building. Our group had a VIP table/tickets for the event...and we were able to attend an hour earlier than the general public. We made so many memories over the weekend...we arrived in Des Moines on Friday evening and our Iowa friends (I call them family) had a big party and we were able to see almost everyone (including two new additions - babies that were born the last year!). Then, we spent all day Saturday at Bacon Fest. The theme this year was The Bacon Boat - and the costume contest was filled with characters from the original Love Boat television show - the winners were a group that included Captain Stubing, Julie McCoy, and Isaac Washington (there's a throwback cast list for you). There was axe throwing, all sorts of photo ops, my yearly photo with the bacon belt, a silent disco, lots of live music (Yachty by Nature!), all sorts of bacon food dishes, tasty beverages, a bacon eating contest, and the best people watching around...and did I mention, all the bacon you can eat! We finished the day by visiting two local bars and laughing into the wee hours. It was the BEST two days with my Iowa family...including ending day two by cramming nine adults into one Traverse (last time is was 10 adults into one Suburban). I couldn't have asked for a better road trip and I am already looking forward to next year! Sadly, Sunday we made the drive back to Kansas City...but the whirlwind trip was so good for my soul. We made it back home just in time to head out to Children's Mercy Park for a Sporting KC MLS soccer game (it was Star Wars night!)...it was a jam packed weekend. Here are a few favorite photos from the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival...