Especially For You

Today, I want to start by thanking all of my blog followers, friends, and fans; thank you keeping up with my blog, your comments, your support, and your encouraging words! Although I don't leave comments for all of you, I want you to know, I do keep up with your blog posts and find so much enjoyment reading about your projects and creativity. Over the last several months, I see I have quite a few new followers - WELCOME - I am so thrilled you found my blog.

If you are a regular reader of my Blue Ribbon Designs monthly newsletter, then you may have caught the fine print towards the end of the December message...it said I would be posting a new complimentary cross stitch chart soon...and to show my appreciation to all my wonderful/creative/unique needlework fans, followers, and friends, I just posted it on my website a few minutes ago! This ornament design (shown right) may look familiar to some of you - it is called "Cardinals For A Cure" and was designed last year for Attic Needlework (Mesa, AZ) for use in the fundraiser cookbook "Recipes For A Cure" with net proceeds being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To those of you who supported this fabulous cause and made a donation for the cookbook, you are appreciated! I never did receive my copy of the cookbook, so I have no idea how it looked in print - but I certainly hope those of you who donated to receive this special recipe book were pleased. Since it has been over a year since the release, I thought I would share this complimentary chart with all the Blue Ribbon Designs fans - it is my holiday gift to you! I hope you have someone special to stitch this design for...or maybe you will splurge and stitch this design for yourself...you still have time to complete it before Christmas.

So, how do you get this complimentary cross stitch chart?? Simply visit my website: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/ and click on "Freebie" in the left-hand menu - you will see a photo of the "Cardinals For A Cure" ornament at the top of the webpage - click on the statement "CLICK HERE FOR CHART" (directly under the photo) - a new window will open containing the design in PDF form (you will need Adobe Reader to view/print the chart). Please do remember, this design is protected by copyright law - thank you for respecting my copyright.This is a large quality file and will take a moment to load. If you are receiving an error message when trying to open the chart, most likely, you are using an older version of Adobe Reader - you will need to update to the newest version to open the file. Still having difficulty? - make sure your virus protection software recognizes blueribbondesigns.com as a "safe site".

I hope you enjoy this special design - my holiday gift to you for your continued support, friendship, and encouragement...and if you haven't stitched any of my designs before, I hope this complimentary chart will entice you to purchase some of the larger designs in my catalog from your favorite needlework shop...

Thank you for bringing me joy - your support means the world to me...

Incredible Handwork For A Cure

Hello faithful followers! First of all, thank you all for entering my latest giveaway - I am thrilled to meet so many new stitching and sewing friends...and for those of you who haven't had a chance to enter yet, there is still time...see my November 11th post.

I have missed all of you the the last several days, as I have been suffering from a terrible migraine - it has finally started to subside and I am actually able to do a little model stitching...in fact, I will be finishing a teaching model this evening - then I will be start stitching the model for the New England Stitcher's Retreat next October (I know many of you are waiting on the photo and it will be coming soon - and I am thrilled so many of you have signed up!). I have also been extended another teaching opportunity in the fall of 2011 and I can hardly wait to tell you about it....I am super excited!...all the details aren't ready yet, but as soon as they are, I will be sharing them here....

I know many of you are aware and have ordered your copies, but for those of you who just might have missed it, Attic Needlework & Collectibles has been shipping their very special cookbook "Recipes For A Cure". This cookbook includes charts and recipes from some of your favorite designers...and most importantly, all net proceeds from the sales of the recipe book are being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I designed a special chart for the cookbook and even sent Jean some of my favorite recipes - the chart for my ornament titled "Cardinals for a Cure" (seen below right) is published in the cookbook...which will be the only place you can find this design for at least one year. This unique cookbook is available directly from Attic Needlework & Collectibles for a $14.95 donation (or more)...just click on the link to be taken to the Attic's website for contact information.

I have also donated my ornament model to the Attic's Annual Silent Auction for Breast Cancer Research - the exact one seen right....yep, stitched and finished by my own two hands (the back is stitched, as well, to personalize the event)! The 2010 BCRF Breast Cancer Benefit, is scheduled for Saturday evening, November 20, beginning at 6 PM. All of the items up for auction have been posted on the Attic Needlework website...on the newsletter page...simply click on the link, then click on "SILENT AUCTION PART I" and "SILENT AUCTION PART II" to see all the items up for bid (there are some AMAZING pieces). There are brief descriptions along with item numbers, and even though you may not be able to be there in person, they still welcome your bids. You may bid either by e-mail or by phone: toll-free: 1.888.94-ATTIC (1.888.942.8842). They are not set up to do online bidding, so if you see an item that you love, it is suggested that you make your best bid, knowing that the proceeds all go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. My ornament (seen in the photo) is listed as item #89 and has a minimum opening bid of $40.00. You can read all the details by visiting the links above.

To the many of you that have (and will) generously contribute - thank you - you are appreciated!

Cardinals For A Cure

Today I want to share some information on a very special project with you. Recently, Jean at Attic Needlework & Collectibles contacted me regarding her Annual Silent Auction for Breast Cancer Research. This year her already AMAZING fundraising efforts are expanding to include a published recipe book - this special cookbook "Recipe for a Cure" will also include charts and recipes from some of your favorite designers...and most importantly, all net proceeds from the sales of the recipe book are being donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. How can you help?? - share your favorite family recipe! They are still wanting more recipes and have extended the deadline until July 31, 2010. To learn how you can easily submit a recipe, check out the Attic's Latest Newsletter for details. I have submitted several recipes..and I have designed an ornament especially for this very worthy cause. The chart for my ornament titled "Cardinals for a Cure" (seen below) will be in the published cookbook...which will be the only place you can find this design for at least one year. Obviously since they are still gathering recipes, this unique recipe book is not available yet...but I will be sure to update you when it is! ...and even more special news - I have donated my ornament model - the exact one seen below - to be auctioned off at the Annual Silent Auction in November....yep, stitched and finished by my own two hands! The auction (held each year - the last Saturday evening before Thanksgiving), raised approximately $20,000 last year from donations, mostly handmade ornaments. I will be sure to keep you updated on this spectacular fundraiser later this fall - but I wanted you (my blog readers/followers) to see my ornament design first! So, for now, take a moment to send in your recipes...and later this year, make sure to support this very worthy cause by purchasing a copy of "Recipes for a Cure"....