Coming Soon - "Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit"

Today's new Blue Ribbon Designs release spotlight is on BRD-111 "Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit". This new design, along with "Botanical Blessings" (shown yesterday), will start shipping to needlework shops on Friday, August 2nd...and will begin shipping to distributors on Wednesday, August 7th...so look for this design to be available in needlework shops in mid-August.

"Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit" is one of my signature style samplers along with two needlework smalls - a scissor fob and a snippet receptacle. For those of you are not quite sure what a "snippet receptacle" is, you may call it an "ort box" (ORT = Old Ratty Threads)...you know, a place where you put all those little snippets/scraps/cast-off ends of thread when you are stitching...

The models are stitched on 30-count Parchment hand-dyed fabric from Weeks Dye Works with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss (DMC equivalents are provided)...and the chartpack contains charting for each of the three pieces, stitch diagrams, stitching instructions, complete finishing instructions for the needlework smalls, and an alphabet/numbers for personalization.

For more details and a complete supply listing, visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/BRD111%20Specifics.html

For additional photos, visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/Feathers,%20Flowers,%20and%20Fruit.html

I hope you are excited about my two new releases...they should be available at your favorite needlework shops in just a couple short weeks! Look for two more new releases the first week of September...and there will be two more new releases the first week of October, as well...

Excuses, Excuses...

I know I seem to be "missing in action" lately...but I do have a good excuse...here is just a taste of what I have been working on....

....and here is what the floor of my design studio looks like right now...yep, new designs are coming soon! Expect more details over the next several weeks...

Ocean City Stitcher's Jamboree

"Feather, Flowers, and Fruit" (Class Project)

I had a wonderful time meeting new needlework friends and reconnecting with many members of my stitching family while in Ocean City, MD for the Salty Yarns Jamboree! Salty Yarns is an extensive specialty needlework shop located on the Ocean City Boardwalk...nestled in with a hotel, apartments, and several other specialty shops, all owned by Sara and Sally (the hosts for the weekend). It is a great venue for such a large event, as there is an ocean view and three miles of boardwalk businesses/restaurants to keep just about anyone happy. The weekend event started on Friday evening with a dinner and reception...and classes were held on Saturday and Sunday. There were 54 fun and talented needleworkers in attendance and three teachers (myself, Theresa from Shakespeare's Peddler, and Donna from By The Bay) - the large group of 54 was split into three smaller groups...each group was in it's own classroom and each teacher rotated classrooms, having a half a day to spend with each group. This was a little different than my normal 1 1/2 to 2 day classes, so it was like Blue Ribbon Designs fast forward. My class project was titled "Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit" and included a framed sampler, a scissor fob, and a snippet (ort) receptacle. During class time we talked about finishing the small pieces, making twisted cord, a lots of my special tips and tricks...and the time flew by! During lunch breaks and after classes, attendees were free to shop, eat, relax, and stitch...and a big bonus was having tons of rocking chairs outside with an ocean view - perfect for stitching in the evening. In the morning, attendees gathered in the hotel lobby for breakfast...and after dinner each night, everyone would return to the lobby (and a special stitching room) to work on their favorite projects....food and beverage were readily available and everyone seemed to be relaxed and carefree.

Boardwalk Entrance to the Hotel

Hotel, Apartments, and Shops (including Salty Yarns) - my view standing at the ocean shore...

Rocking chairs in front of Salty Yarns...

More rocking chairs at hotel entrance...

View from the Lankford Hotel lobby window...

Attendees enjoying the hotel lobby...

 ...and I know many of you are interested in the needlework shop - here are photos taken in/of Salty Yarns (thanks to Sally and Sara who allowed me to photograph the shop)...this is just a few select photos - this shop is floor to ceiling charts, models, supplies, yarns, fibers, gadgets, you name it - it is a tad overwhelming to walk in the first time - my jaw hit the floor....

Salty Yarns Entrance

Blue Ribbon Designs Trunk Show on display....

So there you have it...a little tour of Salty Yarns and the Lankford Hotel...and I will try to be back later today with some of my favorite photos from the Ocean City Boardwalk...

"Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit"

I am finally ready to share a photo of the class project for the Salty Yarns October event (Ocean City Stitcher's Jamboree - October 12-14, 2012)...it is titled "Feathers, Flowers, and Fruit"...and I am just tickled with how it turned out! In this class, the project focuses on a framed sampler design and two coordinating needlework smalls (a scissor fob and a snippet receptacle). The project is stitched on 30-count linen (Parchment by Weeks Dye Works) with WDW cotton floss...and the class will cover the stitching of the sampler and needlework smalls, working the specialty stitches, tips and tricks for Cross Stitch over-one linen thread, finishing techniques for both of the needlework smalls, personalizing your smalls, and making twisted cord. Stitches in the project include: Cross Stitch over-two linen threads, Cross Stitch over-one linen thread (minimal - personalization only), Back Stitch, Smyrna Cross Stitch, Satin Stitch, Ladder Stitch (finishing), and Whip Stitch (finishing). I am so happy with the "snippet receptacle", which many of you may call an "ORT box"...it measures 3.5" H x 4" W x 2.75" D...this piece just makes me happy! The class kit will be all-inclusive, with the exception of framing materials...and will include (as usual) my extensive project binder with color photos and finishing tutorial. For more information about this special event visit:
http://www.saltyyarns.com/ or http://www.saltyyarns.com/pages/saltyyarnsevents.php
As with all Blue Ribbon Designs class projects, this design will not be available to the general public until approximately one year after the event.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this special class project and seeing the photos...and for those of you attending, I hope this project exceeds your expectations!