Studio Snippets

Greetings friends! My studio has been a buzz since we returned from vacation and my sewing machine has been humming along. I am back today to show some of my latest needlework finishing projects and Etsy creations. This post will be a bit longer than usual, as I have quite a few creative photos to share... rather than break them up into several posts, I am going to share both needlework finishing and sewing projects all in one post...along with details on where you can visit with me later this week...and a couple photos of the kids (our fur children) at the end. I'll keep the chatting to a minimum and let the photos do the talking. First a bunch of beautiful needlework that I finished for a talented client - these are all for the same stitcher....again, not my stitching or my designs, just my finishing work (I will post the designer details I have with each image).

Be Merry and Bright  by The Scarlett House

Merry & Minty by Brenda Gervais/With Thy Needle and Thread

October 31st by Threadwork Primitives

Merry Christmas by Liz Matthews

Cranberry Christmas by Hands On Design

And Rudolph by La-D-Da

Merry Christmas Pinkeep by Stacy Nash

Project Bag Panel by Brenda Gervais/WTNT - Finished My Way

I have also been doing tons of sewing for my Etsy Shop...lots of large project bags, accessory bags, artist bags and small project bags....along with quite a few Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve Sets. These all sold out almost immediately - but don't worry, if you missed this group, more are in the works. I have have yardage of almost every (if not every) retired Blackbird Designs sampler fabric and many coordinates - I have more bags already cut and ready to sew. At the time of this listing, there is one  large project bag in my shop and a wide assortment of Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve sets still available. Keep an eye on my Etsy Shop for more listings soon!!

Another announcement of note...if you are in the Kansas City area, I will be helping out my local quilt shop (The Quilted Sunflower) in Spring Hill, KS with the Jingle All The Way Quilt Shop Hop this week. I will be in the shop on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - so please stop by and visit with me!

Finally today - a few photos of the kids. Last week, I took a couple fall photos of our dogs in the backyard...and I was really pleased with how they turned out. I am also including a photo of Garin that I snapped last night in the kitchen (he was being so helpful)...

Schatzi - October 2021

Garin - October 2021

Garin - momma's little helper...

How was that for a creative post? - as you can see I am keeping busy in my studio (as always). I have several new cross stitch designs in the works and quite a few Etsy items in progress, so I will be back again soon. Thank you for stopping by to visit with me!

Thursday Thoughts

Happy Thursday friends! I thought I would stop by for a quick post this morning, before I head out of town for a few days. We are headed to a wedding in Chicago, so it will be a whirlwind weekend...a day of driving to get there and a day of driving to get home. Today is a day of last minute details before we head out on Friday. 

This week, I finished up a couple gifts and worked on charting for my fall cross stitch releases...I also worked on a couple new sewing/quilting patterns and started a needlework finishing order (Robin, your order is in progress). My never-ending to-do list still has sixteen major items on it and I find it hard to take time away...but it will be good to see friends in Chicago this weekend.

One of the gifts I finished up was a small travel toiletries bag. This was a new to me style of boxed bag and took a bit longer than I anticipated. I am happy with the end result, but if I was to make another one, I would definitely tweak the directions/pattern a bit. It is a great size and has a nice stability. I used three coordinating batik fabrics, to give it a more masculine look and have already shipped it off to the recipient.

In other news - I also finished setting up my Buy Me a Coffee page this week. In my latest FlossTube video, I mentioned that I have no plans of monetizing or adding ads to my blog or YouTube channel...I received several messages that suggested I should add a Buy Me a Coffee link, so fans of my content could support my work. For those who haven't heard of Buy Me A Coffee before - it is an easy way of supporting your favorite content creator(s) - by visiting a simple link, fans can "buy a coffee" and leave a message (they don’t even have to create an account). When I share a post, a video, a tutorial or a complementary chart/design that you find beneficial or helpful and you would like to help support my content and the time involved, you can visit my link. So, if you’re looking for a unique way to give me a little bit of extra support, feel free to Buy Me a Coffee - there’s absolutely NO obligation or pressure whatsoever, but the link is now available if you’re interested. Thank you to those who mentioned that I should set-up an account...I have always shared my ideas, posts, videos, helpful hints and tutorials completely advertisement/subscription-free because of the passion I have for all things needle and thread - and I will continue to do so!

I am off to get ready for our weekend trip. I have the wedding gift wrapped and I have started packing. I still have to finish up the laundry and do a little house cleaning (I like to return to a clean home). The dogs are packed and ready to go to the farm (boarder) this evening. I have plans to leave my website and Etsy Shop fully operational - any orders or correspondence received after 7:00 PM today will be taken care of on Monday evening...thank you for your patience.

For now, I will leave you with two photos I took of the kids yesterday - the first is on their bunkbeds (they have officially switched positions - now that Schatzi is getting older, it is easier for her to use the bottom bunk and our crazy boy Garin is excited to be on the top bunk!) - the second is outside my studio door last night, waiting for me to finish my work (Garin is extra fluffy - yes, he is super-shedding and I have to brush him and vacuum single every day!)…

Some Serious Sewing

Hello all - thanks for stopping by for a visit! This will be a quick post, as I am in the middle of a sewing marathon. I have been catching up on custom project bag orders this week and my sewing machine has been humming along. I have been working on quite a few of my signature BRD project bags in both large and small sizes - all with fabulous fabrics provided by the customers. This batch also includes a few more With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Rule" project bags that are created from a printed panel (purchased from WTNT)...but in true Belinda fashion, I made changes to the panel instructions to make them with the zipper across the top...and I've made several with a boxed bottom. Plus, I had a special request for a vinyl lined zipper bag for a traveler - I made a special pattern for this unique bag that has cotton fabric on the outside and is lined with a coordinating cotton fabric and clear vinyl....along with a boxed bottom. This bag was a bit of a challenge, but I was thrilled with the results and may make more in the future, if the demand is there - it was a bit time consuming, but well worth the end product. So without further ado, here are just a few of the bags that I completed this week...

My signature cosmetic bag - cotton outside and inside
with an added clear vinyl lining...

Inside of cosmetic bag...

With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Rule" project bags
that are created from a printed panel and finished "my way"...

With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Rule" project bags 
that are created from a printed panel and finished "my way"...

It's been a busy week, as I rush to complete as many orders as possible before a trip to Florida in mid-February (yes, I am taking a week of vacation with my husband - headed to the Orlando area to visit my momma and Dan..and to get in some beach time). I have more project bags, a couple stitching mats, a custom quilt order and piles of needlework finishing in my studio bins at the moment...and some cross stitch design work in progress (yes, I am still working on some new designs!). I also just finished up a couple more pieces for Just CrossStitch magazine, so you will find Blue Ribbon Designs in several issues in the coming year. Plus, I would like to make time to get a few more items listed in my Etsy Shop - (EXCITING NEWS!) I am only five sales away from 2,000 which is a HUGE milestone. Things here are buzzing along and I feel so blessed to be able to be creative each and every day!

For now, I will leave you with a photo that Travis took of the dogs on Christmas day - Garin's head tilt is everything...and another one of them being BIG "helpers" in my sewing studio....

Fresh Finishes

My Handmade Needle Minders
Special Gifts for Friends... 

It's been a finishing frenzy in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio the last few weeks. I am doing my best to get all the holiday finishing orders complete and shipped in a timely manner...I am "one of those" who has an extremely hard time relaxing - especially when I have work waiting for me...so, I have been super focused and working round the clock to finish up the projects on my to-do tables. I am down to one large needlework finishing order (that I started yesterday) and then I am back to custom sewing and quilting for a while. I have been working on a variety of creative endeavors lately, along with some handmade gifts for birthdays and the upcoming holidays...and I have been working on some pieces for Just CrossStitch magazine, including my ornament for the 2020 Ornament Issue and a very special Halloween piece for the Halloween Issue. Here is a picture trail of some of the projects I have completed in the last couple weeks (some I can't share with you quite yet)...and again, these are not my designs or my stitching - just my finishing work...designers and titles listed with each photo...

Swirly Birds and Flowers - Sam Sarah Design Studio
(Silver Needle: A Little Help From Our Friends Stitching Circle)

Another view of Swirly Birds and Flowers - Sam Sarah Design Studio
(Silver Needle: A Little Help From Our Friends Stitching Circle)

The Swim Instructor - The Cricket Collection

An 18th Century Stitcher's Pinwheels - The Goode Huswife

No Place Like Home - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Welcome Friends - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe
Scatter Smiles - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Merry Christmas - My Big Toe Designs

Checker Bird - Heart in Hand

Hats Off to Uncle Sam - Blackbird Designs

Pursue Thanks - Tree of Life Samplings

....and just wait until you see what is currently on my finishing table...some more fabulous finishes will be shared again soon...

Finally - for those who have been asking - here are a few photos of the kids. They have been adjusting well to life in Kansas and are doing a great job of keeping momma on her toes!! The builder has just completed some major work in our backyard and replaced quite a bit of sod...fingers crossed they have a great area to run around in the spring. They are still talking to the cows (our new neighbors) - but the cows just ignore them...😊 

Garin - 2-years-old (our little boy)

Schatzi - 6-years-old (our beauty girl)

This last photo needs a bit of explaining...we are still trying to make the furniture from our previous home work in our new house and have rearranged our living room at least ten times. A few days ago, I moved their doggy bunk bed (yes, they have a bunk bed) to a different area - afterwards when I commanded them to go to their "place", they both got on the bottom bunk...not sure the bottom bunk is supposed to support 175 pounds, but it was definitely photo worthy...

Thanks for visiting today - I hope you are leaving happy and inspired! Stop back soon for more creative goodness...