All Hallows' Eve

Happy Halloween to all my friends, family, and followers! A while back, I mentioned I would post an early photo of me dressed up for Halloween...well, yesterday I was sent a gentle reminder of that statement...so here I am making good on my promise. This is an early childhood photo of me dressed up for Halloween (well actually two photos I scanned and edited to make one)...don't I make an adorable monkey??! Truth be told, these are the only two photos I have of myself dressed up for Halloween...and seeing them always makes me giggle...
My sister and I loved to go trick-or-treating each year...and our goal was to go to every house in our small town...we would run from door to door and collect as much candy as possible...plus, back in the day we would get all sorts of homemade goodies (popcorn balls, caramel apples, cookies, etc.). I remember helping my mom pop popcorn all day and filling small Halloween paper treat bags...we would add candy corn and small sweets to the popcorn bags and hand them out to children who visited our house in costume. I also have vivid memories of my mother placing our bags of Halloween treats on top of the refrigerator, so we couldn't "fill-up" on candy....the day after Halloween, my sister and I would trade candy with each other, so we each would have our favorites...and I'm sure mom and dad got some of our goodies too!

Over the past ten years or so, I have celebrated my love of Halloween by designing quite a few needlework charts and patterns especially for this time of year...I thought you might enjoy seeing a collage that includes many of my spooky pieces...you can find additional information on each of these pieces by exploring my website...enjoy!

May Jack-o-lanterns burning bright
Of soft and golden hue
Pierce through the future's veil and show
What fate now holds for you.
                                                           -Author Unknown

A Quilted Bag with a Twist...

I am an analytical learner...I always have been...great when reading instructions and looking at diagrams...not so good when someone tries to "show me how". I was put to the true test with my most recent sewing project! A prototype of a design a friend is working on - I only had paper instructions...no model, no photo of the finished item...just written directions. A little bit of mystery not knowing what the quilted bag was supposed to look like...but I was up for the challenge. The pattern called for five coordinating fat quarters, fusible fleece, and a button...so I went through my stash, grabbed five fat quarters and a matching button...and the bag in the photo was the end result. There is an outside pocket on both sides of the bag and the entire inside is lined with various sized pockets. It measures approximately 14 1/2" L x 7" H x 4" D - a nice purse size. I was very happy with the results...and hopefully it turned out the way my friend envisioned...it will be interesting to see if my analytical skills passed the test....

A note about Blue Ribbon Designs:
I have updated my website with information on the three new designs for September - visit http:www.blueribbondesigns.com and click on "Future" in the left-hand menu to check out new photos, design specifics, and material lists!

Another You See It First...

A couple days ago, I posted a little preview of the "Afraid of the Dark" needlework smalls before finishing. I put the pieces together later that day and had planned to keep the finishing work a secret until I updated my website with the cover art photography (sometime next week)...but the response was so overwhelming, I decided to post a photo here to give my blog readers a little "peek". Thank you to all for following my blog...and for your comments and encouraging emails....because of you, I have the best job in the world! So, here is your sneak peek...the photo was not shot in perfect conditions...and there is stitching on both sides of each piece, but you get the idea....again, thank you all for your enthusiastic notes! I am working extra hard to get the new designs to needlework shops as soon as possible...

Crunch Time

It is that time again...crunch time...the time when I am pushing hard to get the new designs completed and to the printer....last minute finishing touches, print layouts, proofing, finishing instructions, and color conversions. This is the time when I eat, sleep, and breathe Blue Ribbon Designs. When I get in this mode, I always have to remind myself to take a break. Last night, after finishing the "Afraid of The Dark" needlework smalls (which turned out even better than I could have imagined)...instead of going to bed (which would have been the smart decision), I rewarded myself with a little sewing machine time! Right now hand stitching "for myself" is out of the question...but who says I can't let my embroidery machine do some for me! I found these wonderful vintage kitchen designs on the SwakEmbroidery.com website - it is the Vintage Kitchen Set, digitized by Splinters and Threads. I machine embroidered the 5" x 7" designs on 100% cotton white flour sack towels. This project was just what I needed to maintain my sanity and spruce up my kitchen...I now feel rejuvenated and ready to continue preparing the new designs for release...a little sewing time was just what the doctor ordered. Remember to find time to do the things you enjoy...it is the best medicine!

Finishing Touches

On the agenda today...finishing the needlework smalls for "Afraid of the Dark" (one of my new designs coming out in September). The cross stitching is all complete...now to put each of the pieces together; there is a needlebook, a pinkeep, a floss ring tag, and a scissor fob to match the framed design. You can see some of the supplies I have chosen to put the smalls together - fabric lining (black) and wool felt (dark orange) for the needlebook, black pins for the pinkeep, along with black grosgrain ribbon and black floss for twisted cord. I enjoy the finishing process...I like to figure out how to put things together...must be my analytical side coming out! There will be complete charting and finishing instructions for these needlework smalls included with the pattern for the sampler. I will be posting a photo of the finished smalls on my website in the coming weeks, leading up to the release of this design in September...

You See It Here First!

As many of you know from following my updates on Twitter, I have been diligently working on the the needlework smalls that coordinate with some upcoming designs (tentative release - 1st of September). Today, I finished the smalls for "Black Cats and Flying Bats" and you are seeing them here first...along with a photo of framed design....just a little something special for those of you who follow my blog. I have had so much fun working on the new Halloween designs! I am currently working on needlework smalls for "Afraid of the Dark"...they should be done in the next week. I am also putting the final touches on the matching pieces for "A Sampling in the Square". Keep an eye out here and on my website for the latest information!