Giving Thanks...and a Squirrel Sequel...

With the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, I wanted to do a quick blog post - 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!), a career I find joy in every single day...there are truly too many things to list. I am thankful for all of you who share my passion, encourage me with your comments and emails, and support my designs - you all brighten my days - I am truly grateful for the success of Blue Ribbon Designs.

Today I received a special package in the mail - another reminder of my many blessings - it was a Thanksgiving card (right) from "one of the Enfield squirrels"...and an adorable (let's say) straw squirrel (below). See, it truly is "all about the squirrel". This time I have a pretty good guess who sent it to me - and you know it brought a HUGE smile to my face - thank you dear friend...you are sneaky, but I know where you live! See I am truly blessed with wonderful friends...

After hearing from so many of you about the photo collage I posted for Halloween, I decided to do the same thing with some of my Autumn/Thanksgiving designs. Over the past ten years or so, I have truly enjoyed designing charts and patterns especially for this time of year - I adore the colors of autumn...I thought you might enjoy seeing a collage that includes many these pieces...you can find additional information on each of these designs by exploring my website...enjoy!

To everyone celebrating tomorrow - and to my many international fans and friends - Happy Thanksgiving!

Pair of Precious Pillows

Finally, a beautiful sunny day here in Iowa...I am feeling much better...getting a bunch of work accomplished and deadlines fulfilled...the new designs are finally in printing production...and I have reached 100 blog followers (THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING)...it is a great day!

The last three days have been spent working on getting the new designs published...and this time, there was a bit of a challenge with the covers - but now, the proofs have been finalized and the printing is underway. This was a very large print order, but I am confident my printing company has it under control and I should have the new designs in my hand by the end of the day on Friday...then the *fun* begins...my weekend will be spent bagging thousands of charts, filling invoices, packaging and shipping...all in an effort to get my new charts to your favorite needlework shop as soon as possible.

I finished stitching the model for my SYHO Designer Encyclopedia this morning...it was a bit of a challenge to work with a 50 x 50 stitch count for me...but I am quite happy with this small design and look forward to sharing it with you in the future! I am now excited to work on teaching designs for 2010 and new pieces for the Nashville Needlework Market in February.
(By the way, have you heard - I will be teaching at the first New Endland Stitchers' Retreat in conjunction with ABC Stitch Therapy in June 2010 - I am super excited about this!!)

Yesterday, I took a couple hours to test two new machine embroidery designs for Shelli at Needle In A Haystack Stitchery; two beautiful Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness files - one has the ribbon filled with embroidery - the other the ribbon is applique'. I enjoyed finishing these two designs into a pair of pillows. The applique' was embroidered on wool felt (and the ribbon is wool felt)....and the ribbon fill design was embroidered on quilted cotton with rick rack for an embellishment. The fabric for the borders is one of my favorites (Karen Neuburger - 2006 Pink Ribbon Signature Fabric) and I have been holding on to it for quite some time, waiting for the perfect project! These will make very special gifts....plus taking a couple hours to sew was (again) great therapy for me!

...and although October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) has quickly come and gone, we all still need to be proactive....PLEASE do your monthly breast self-exams and your yearly mammogram - early detection is key!

A Couple VERY Good Things....

First of all - I think I am finally getting over the flu virus...at least I see a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you to those who have sent me well wishes...healing vibes...and cold remedies! I feel better than I have in several weeks...I am down to just a dry cough and very sore throat...and I have actually accomplished some much needed work today...which brings me to my second "good thing"...

I cannot begin to tell you how I excited I am to share this with you...a sneak peek of "Just Add Tinsel"...a new design coming out in the next couple weeks...and you are seeing it here first! I have been doing my best to keep this design and idea a secret for quite some time...and now, here it is, just as I imagined. It is a needlework tree-shaped box (made from/stitched on 32-count Green Slate fabric by Lakeside Linens) and a set of three needlework smalls (stitched on 32-count Sand Dune fabric by Lakeside Linens). This design has been in the works since last fall...and turned out exactly as I envisioned. The lid of the tree-shaped box has a place to keep your threads (mother of pearl thread rings by Kelmscott Designs) and can be attached to the box, if so desired - I left mine unattached, but directions are included for attaching it to the "trunk" of the tree....and the inside base of the box has a stitching surprise - birds decorating a feather tree. The needlework smalls include a star-shaped pinkeep, a scissor fob, and a needlebook tied to look like a present! See, all your tree needs is a little tinsel. Finishing/stitching instructions are included for all pieces. I am finishing up the design files today and meet with my printer tomorrow morning, so if I goes well, I will be shipping the three new designs to automatic shops and distributors late next week...keep an eye on my website for specific details. I will be posting additional photos and design materials/specifics over the next couple days....please be patient...

Autumn Leaves and Sunflower Seeds - Smalls

I promised I would share a peek at the needlework smalls for "Autumn Leaves and Sunflower Seeds" with you soon...and here they are! The charting and finishing instructions for each small will be included with the sampler - there is a needlebook, floss ring tag, pinkeep, and scissor fob. I am hoping to have this design ready for release at the end of October...for the latest information, keep an eye on my website.

Also, there is still plenty of time to enter for a chance to win my "Pair of Pouches Giveaway"...see my blog entry from Saturday, October 10th!

Have a wonderful week....

Harvest Delight Follow Up...

I took a little time late last night and early this morning to finish testing the "Harvest Delight" design for Needle In A Haystack Stitchery. This time I worked on the 5" x 7" design and framed it in an 8" x 10" frame....and yes, I used fabric for the "mat" around the design. This was a very fun project to work on...and a great break from my own designs! Sewing always heps me clear my head...

Now back to work on the upcoming releases...doing hand finishing today! I will have an update for you soon...

Harvest Delight

I just had an immense amount of fun testing out this new design by Shelli at Needle In A Haystack Stitchery...how cute is this pillow?! This design is called "Harvest Delight"...you can find the digitized design for machine embroidery available at SWAK Embroidery.....and for you hand embroiderers, the design will soon be available for you, as well. I enjoyed picking out small scraps of autumn fabric for each of the pumpkins and decided to go with only one fabric for the border (so it wouldn't be too busy). I used the 6" x 10" design file...and made it into a pillow using a 14" x 14" pillow form. I am so excited to have this new pillow ready for display...it is the perfect time of year...plus it just makes me happy!

Now back to official Blue Ribbon Designs work...I am just completing the stitching on the needlework smalls for "Autumn Leaves and Sunflower Seeds" and hope to start the finishing work later today....fingers crossed, I will be able to post a photo for you soon...

Sunday Samplings

It is a beautiful Sunday here in central Iowa...a gorgeous day...finally some sunshine. I spent the morning doing a little yard work and taking Simba for a long walk to the park - enjoying this fabulous fall weather!

This afternoon I found a little "me" time to work on some more machine embroidered stationery. I finished the pocket piece I showed a bit of the other day...and a new envelope. Both of the digitized designs are from the same Husqvarna Viking collection I have been working on (Hoop! Sew! Go! by Lena Mattsson)...I never knew when I purchased this design collection I would enjoy working on these projects so much! These two designs are stitched on dupioni silk fabric with Robison-Anton metallic and rayon threads. These will be kept in my stationery collection until a special event or sent to an unsuspecting recipient.

The rest of my day will be spent working on the needlework smalls for "Autumn Leaves and Sunflower Seeds"...along with household chores, laundry...and baking some cookies (I feel the need to be in the kitchen). Enjoy your day...