Berries, Birds, and Blooms

As promised, I am back today with the details for my other new release "Berries, Birds, and Blooms". This is another cheerful, sunny design that I hope will brighten your winter days!  This chartpack contains charting for the sampler and four needlework smalls - a scissor fob, pinkeep, floss ring tag, and needlebook....it also includes stitching instructions, stitch diagrams, complete finishing instructions for all four needlework smalls, and an alphabet/numbers for personalization. The models were stitched on 32-count Chantilly Creme hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss (a DMC conversion is provided). I am very happy with the set of needlework smalls and plan to find a small basket to hold them - I want to place it on the table next to my stitching nest. As always, I have put all the details on the Blue Ribbon Designs website - here are a couple direct links...
Complete materials list and specifics:
www.blueribbondesigns.com/BRD108%20Specifics.html
Additional photos:
www.blueribbondesigns.com/Berries%20Birds%20and%20Blooms.html

 Automatic shop orders (for both "Berries, Birds, and Blooms" and "Sunflower Serenade") start shipping today and distributor orders will be shipping next week - so look for this new design to arrive at your favorite needlework shop (or online at your favorite webshop) very soon!
(NOTE: before you comment/post "I don't have a local needlework shop" - contact the shop where you purchase your stitching stash (charts and supplies)...it can be a local shop OR an online needlework shop...OR visit the "Locate" page on my website for a list of shops that will be able to assist you.)

Needlework Smalls (clockwise from top left: scissor fob, pinkeep, needlebook, floss ring tag) - Front View

Needlework Smalls - Back View

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you like the two new releases! I am now off to bag and prepare charts for shipment...and of course I have more details to finish for the Mystery Sampler...I would LOVE to do a little holiday sewing, but my sewing/embroidery machine is still waiting for the replacement parts to arrive (boohoo!)....

Pillow Talk

Earlier this week, I finished several pillows to send to my mother for her birthday...I had fun working on three pillows for her...and I am so glad I got them completed before my sewing machine needed to go in for repair.

SIDE NOTE: yep, my sewing/embroidery machine experienced a little hiccup yesterday and had to make a trip to the doctor today - she needed a little TLC...it turned out to be a simple belt issue and I was extremely relieved - I made it home and managed to sew for about 10 minutes before the exact same thing happened again...ugh. My dealer is about an hour and a half away, so I couldn't be more discouraged - the sewing machine tech will not be in until Monday morning, so Monday we have an appointment to head back and have the belt put back in place. Boohoo...my whole weekend without my fancy schmancy sewing machine...good thing I have a big cross stitching deadline to keep me busy!

Okay, enough about that whining - back to the pillows. The one in the top right photo with the tree button is a small pillow - maybe 3" x 3"...my mother has an adorable tiny rocking chair that belonged to my grandparents, so I thought it would be cute to send her a little patchwork pillow to display with it for the holidays. The two larger pillows (below) are 9.5" x 9.5" - the Redwork stitching is actually machine embroidery from an older Inspira Redwork Collection with the cutest designs (I just love them!). After the embroideries were completed, I cut them into 6.5" blocks and added 2" dark red print border strips....then backed them with a fun red and white print (hearts) and stuffed them firmly. I thought they finished up extra cute...and turns out, they matched my mother's living room perfectly. I figured she could use the one with the ice skating mouse during the winter...and the one with the rabbits gathering vegetables in the spring/summer....and if she wants, she can turn one around and show the red heart print for Valentine's Day.

I managed to get quite a few snowflakes and ornaments machine embroidered before the aforementioned "belt issue", so look for those this weekend - I just have to get them photographed and added to my Etsy shop...

My two new Blue Ribbon Designs ("Berries, Birds, and Blooms" and "Sunflower Serenade") that are being released in the very near future are at the printer and I will see a proof on Monday - once they are good to go, I will determine the exact release date information and post about the specifics - stay tuned...

It has been an incredibly busy (and somewhat frustrating) week...and I am now off to my stitching nest...I will be having a late night model stitching marathon!

On The Agenda...

It is going to be another busy week here at the Blue Ribbon Designs studio! I have so many projects and activities in the works...but really, when are things ever calm here?? I have a list a mile long...so it is a good GREAT thing my dear friend in California send me an AMAZING journal to keep my thoughts and lists organized...isn't it adorable?! I just love the sentiments, ribbons, and pictures on the cover...and have already filled multiple pages with writing, trying to keep myself on track...

Here is a little bit about what is going on in my world...
I made a trip to the local quilt shop last Friday to pick-up more machine embroidery thread - I have been making all sorts of machine embroidered lace snowflake ornaments to list in my Etsy shop...they are not posted yet, but will be soon - I am finishing up a HUGE batch before listing them. I will post some photos and more details here when I am ready to put them in the shop...

Of course when I visited the quilt shop, a couple other things caught my eye...I just adore the line of fabric Odds and Ends by Julie Comstock of Cosmo Cricket for Moda (the large piece of fabric in the photo)! I have a fun plan for this fabric...and of course I needed a few zippers...and a pattern by one of my favorite designers (Terry Atkinson) called "Popovers" - cute little pouches that will be perfect for the holidays...

My days have been filled working on the printing files for two new design releases - "Sunflower Serenade" and "Berries, Birds, and Blooms". I have finished up the files and the designs are now in printing production. There will be more details posted soon and I will have a release date for you in the near future (patience please). I have also been working on a large new project...and I can't give you any information just yet...but know there is something VERY special in the works and you will be hearing all about it SOON! I also have the class design for the Elegant Stitch Workshop underway...Lois has a "teaser" up on her website, but there will be much more information on this project in the coming weeks, as well....just give me a little more time.

I really wish I had some time for sewing and quilting, but things have been a bit hectic - I do have some fun ideas for holiday sewing and I hope to share some with you in the coming weeks! I am actually going through a bit of sewing machine withdrawal - I am just itching to work on a new project or two....however, that will have to wait while I work on a custom order for twenty-five needlebooks (yes, I really need more hours in each day!)...

So, I am off to tackle more items on my list...and get in my exercise for the day - a power walk (more on that later this week)...plus Simba needs a little attention too...

Giveaway Winners - Just CrossStitch Magazine

Good morning friends and followers! Just a quick post to announce the winners of my latest giveaway....the random number generator helped me pick comment #2 and comment #37....so congratulations to Jacki and Marlene - I have sent you both emails requesting your mailing information....you will both be receiving the March/April issue of Just Cross Stitch magazine featuring my design "Berries, Birds, and Blooms"!

Jacki said...
Love it! I kept meaning to pick up a copy at my LNS, but never got around to it. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

Marlene said...
I would love a copy of the magazine. Thank you...Marlene


I really must thank each and every one you who took the time to post...and those of you who continually follow and leave me encouraging comments - thank you so very much - I read each and every one of them! I do my best to keep up with your blogs...and although I rarely comment, I really do read them....I truly need more hours in each day. There will definitely be more giveaways in the future...so, if you are not a recipient today, don't be discouraged....you know how I like to make things and give them away...

Giveaway - "Berries, Birds, and Blooms"

I have a couple copies of the March/April issue of Just CrossStitch magazine featuring my design "Berries, Birds, and Blooms (shown right) to giveaway! This cheerful, springtime design is mainly Cross Stitch...but does have Smyrna Cross Stitch and Back Stitch....making it a fun, quick stitch. The model was worked on 32-count Chantilly Creme from Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss (DMC conversions are provided). If you have been wanting to pick-up a copy of this magazine for my special Blue Ribbon Designs project, now is your chance to win a copy! Simply post a comment to this post and I will use the random generator to choose two lucky recipients...each reciepient will receive one Just CrossStitch magazine (March/April 2011) featuring the design "Berries, Birds, and Blooms"....and yes, I will sign your copy!

The fine print: make certain you leave an email address in your comment or it must be visible in your profile - entries without a valid email will be not be eligible...and if you enter anonymously, please also include your first name so I have a way of identifying you, should you win. Please leave only one comment - multiple comments will be deleted/disqualified. The deadline to enter will be 11:59 pm CST, Sunday, May 22nd. Recipients will be chosen by random draw and posted on my blog on Monday, May 23rd. I will contact the recipients via email - you will have 48 hours to respond, if I do not hear from you in that time, I will choose a replacement recipient. So, there you have it....all the "details" - good luck to each and every one of you...and thank you supporting Blue Ribbon Designs - I hope to bring you quality designs for years to come...

Berries, Birds, and Blooms...

I finished my sampler for Just CrossStitch magazine this week...and I really am thrilled with how it turned out! Obviously, I can't share a photo with you....you will have to wait until the Jan/Feb 2011 issue is released...but I will give you just a teeny tiny little peek...it is titled "Berries, Birds, and Blooms" and is one of my signature samplers...

As far as home front news...I haven't shared any photos or stories, because nothing is finished...yep, you heard me correctly...as with most home improvement projects (and especially when dealing with contractors) there are always delays and additional issues. The bathroom remodel should have been done a week ago, but we are still waiting on several square feet of porcelain tile to arrive that just happen to be on back-order (go figure!)...so we are still without a master bathroom. I feel like everything is a mess (inside and outside)...and for those of you who know me, I don't do messy well AT ALL...I like everything in it's place and I like to be in control....right now everything is out of place and I have absolutely no control...yes, someone is definitely trying to teach me a lesson. I have slightly calmed down over the last few days, but for the most part, I have been grumpy and frustrated. Good thing I have tons of work and stitching to do to keep me occupied (and sane).

I have started charting and picking materials for four new designs to be released this fall...I have three 2011 teaching designs to prepare....a new complimentary pattern that will be coming soon...and one other special project I was just asked to work on (that I am hoping to find time to fit in this next week). It seems like so much...yet, I feel inspired and ready to create...hopefully I will be sharing some of these creations with you REAL soon....