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!

Excuses, Excuses....

I know, I know, my posts have been few and far between lately...and I do have (what I feel is) a good excuse...I have been getting the new designs ready for release at the TNNA Fall Needlecraft Market (a large wholesale trade show for needlework shops, designers, and manufacturers) next weekend in St. Charles, MO. I picked up my printed designs several days ago and since then, I have been in a sea of charts, poly bags, and Stitch Starter rulers. Here is a brief look at the floor in my warehouse...keeping in mind some stock has already shipped for display/sales in St. Charles...

I am happy to say, I finished up the last of the bagging last night and now I am on to invoicing, packing, and shipping...so these new pieces will be arriving at your favorite needlework shops soon!

Although time for "me" has not really been an option for the last few days, I did manage to piece the quilt block I mentioned to you in my last post ...it took about 20 minutes to put together, as I had cut it the day before. This is block #4 (September) in the Accuquilt BOTM series I am working on and is called "Hourglass Star". I am super excited to have the first four blocks all complete and will be looking forward to seeing block #5 in October...

I am off to do a little charting tonight - I am working on some teaching designs for 2011...and if I can keep my eyes open, I may do a little prep for my upcoming class at Stitcher's Hideaway. I can't believe I am heading to Mystic, CT in a few weeks to meet two new groups of students...it is going to be a wonderful event...and since this is my first trip to Connecticut, I can't wait to see the area. I still have some work to do on the class kits and binders (and a few surprises), so that will be on the agenda! I will do my best to make time to post this week - I have several things I want to share with you...

"Frolic In The Foliage" Framed & Ornaments

Happy Saturday friends!

Before I left for vacation, I wanted to share some photos with you of my new designs coming out the end of September at the TNNA St. Charles Needlework Market. Today I am showing you "Frolic In The Foliage" now that I have it back from my framer (I love this frame with an autumn look!)...and a couple of matching ornaments. It is stitched on 40-count overdyed linen from Weeks Dye Works (Beige) with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss. Of course, as usual, I designed this piece so each square would be perfect for an ornament, scissor fob, or hook hanger. This design will contain the charting for the entire sampler and finishing instructions for making the smalls backed with either matching linen or coordinating fabric (two different finishing ideas). I am so thrilled with how these new pieces turned out....and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek! Tomorrow I will try to make time to post "Halloween With A 'Y'" with the matching smalls...

Frolic In The Foliage

Happy Wednesday! Today I bring to you a sneak peek of "Frolic In the Foliage"....my new autumn design that will be released in September at the TNNA St. Charles Needlework Market. I have been doing the model stitching on this project for the last week - and I must say, I really enjoyed it! It is my first model on the new 40-count overdyed linen from Weeks Dye Works (Beige) and it was very nice to stitch on...very soft and very easy to handle...and for those of you who I know will ask, it is stitched with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss. I will be taking this to my custom framer tomorrow, which is a treat, as she has been getting in all sorts of new frame molding...it makes it so much fun to pick out something both perfect and unique! So here is a preview photo for you, before framing...and (of course) each square is perfect for an ornament, scissor fob, or hook hanger (photo of smalls coming in the future)! Now I am off to start the model stitching for "Halloween With A 'Y'"....I'm keeping busy; there is so much model stitching I want to do...