Wrapping Up 2025: A Year of Creativity and Collaboration

As we close the chapter on 2025 and welcome the new year, I can’t help but smile at all the incredible projects that came to life this past year. Working with Poppie Cotton, Benzie Design, and Therm O Web has been nothing short of inspiring. Each collaboration brought its own unique flair—whether it was cozy cotton prints, vibrant felt textures, or innovative interfacing and adhesives, these brands helped turn my ideas into tangible works of art and a plethora of project tutorials. I also released new cross stitch and quilting patterns, created Etsy items, made almost all my gifts throughout the year, and managed to fit in some needlework finishing and custom projects! Here is a quick look back...

Therm O Web Project Tutorials

Visit my Therm O Web Tutorials Page (link under my profile) for a direct link to each tutorial. 

💕January: Jar of Hearts Valentine Card

☘️February: Lucky Charm Mini Quilt

🐰March: Mr. and Mrs. Cottontail Snack Mats

🧵April: Floss Folio

🌞May: Sunny Sunglass Case

🇺🇸June: Sparkle Bouquet Banner

☃️July: Cross Stitch Ornament Tags

🐦‍⬛August: Wish and Wonder Wall Organizer

🌻September: Sunflower Pinkeep

🍁October: Fall Napkin Rings

🎄November: Merry Maker Needle Books

🎁December: Nifty No Sew Gift Bags

Benzie Design Project Tutorials 

Visit my Benzie Design Maker Team Tutorials Page (link under my profile) for a direct link to each tutorial.

🍉Scissor Sheath and Fob

🎄Cross Stitch Ornament Tags

🌼Flower Pinkeep

🎃Halloween Treat Bags

❄️Winter Mug Rug

Poppie Cotton Fabric Tours and Projects

Visit my Poppie Cotton Fabric Tours Page (link under my profile) for a direct link to each tutorial.

🧵January – Serenity Blooms by Ginger Deverell 

🪡February – Wildwood Dwellings by Sheri McCulley

✂️March – Stolen Moments by Lori Woods

🧵May – Elise by Terri Henson

🪡June – Frost and Flurry by Sheri McCulley

✂️July – Rosy Cheeks by Lori Woods

🧵August – Granny’s Sewing Room by Sheri McCulley

🪡August – Lakeland Blues by Samantha Walker

✂️September – Flower Market by Elea Lutz

🧵October – Unicorn Dreams by Ginger Deverell

🪡November – Farmhouse Fancy by Elea Lutz

✂️December (Holiday Post) – Rosy Cheeks by Lori Woods

If you loved what I did in 2025, get ready—2026 is shaping up to be even more exciting! I’ve got fresh ideas brewing, new collaborations on the horizon, and plenty of creative surprises planned. Think bold designs, innovative techniques, and projects that will make your crafting heart sing. Look for my first tutorial of the year on January 13th (think Valentine's Day!).

Thank you for being part of this journey! Here’s to more making, more sharing, and more joy in 2026. Stay tuned—I can’t wait to show you what’s next.

Welcoming the New Year

Season's Greetings! Happy last day of December 2022. In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2022 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers/creators out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2023, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

First news of this post - the final Blue Ribbon Designs newsletter for 2022 has been posted and emailed to subscribers - you can read it here: https://mailchi.mp/b2514819d23d/blue-ribbon-designs-newsletter-dec2022

Second - EXCITING NEWS!! - I can now officially share that I am a Design Educator for ThermOWeb (you know, the makers of HeatnBond products). I will be creating projects and tutorials for their blog. Expect to see a project almost every month...and each project will have a tutorial with color photos and all the details and instructions. ThermOWeb has sent me a plethora of products to play and design with...and some other amazing goodies that I will be sharing over the next few months. If you have not visited their blog before, be sure to check it out - there are TONS of incredible projects from top designers. My fist post has been uploaded and will be live next week on Tuesday, January 3rd...it is a heartfelt Valentine project, so be sure to check out the ThermOWeb blog on the 3rd...
You can find the blog here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/
...and you can see the list of Design Educators here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/designers/

I have been busy working on new designs and you can expect to see new cross stitch and quilt designs in the near future. Unfortunately, my fancy sewing machine is in the shop for repair (it was stuck in reverse - seriously😒) and the day after I took it in, my back-up machine decided to stop working, as well - you can't make this up! Anyway, a very kind and dear friend loaned me a machine to use for my upcoming deadlines, but the entire situation has messed with my schedule quite a bit...so I am still playing catch-up. I did manage to get all my custom client orders for Christmas shipped in time and get most of my gifts made before the "black cloud" arrived. Here's hoping my fancy machine is easily repairable and will be back in my studio soon. Until then, I have MANY things to keep me busy. I will also be helping my local quilt shop with fabric inventory the upcoming week, so I will be out of my studio for a few days. 

Here are a few creative photos of things I completed before the sewing machine fiasco...

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas holiday and have plans to celebrate the New Year this evening, as well. We will be heading to the Plaza in downtown Kansas City for a dinner reservation and then make our way to a neighbors house, where we will ring in the new year with friends.

As we start a new year, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my artistic journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2023, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2023, filled with joy, laughter, and creativity!

FlossTube Episode Nine and 2021 Reflection

Happy last Friday of 2021 (almost the new year!) friends... My latest FlossTube video has been posted. This video is a holiday wrap-up, a general update and shows some holiday and personal sewing/quilting/stitching...I talk about my upcoming quilt class and show a couple sneak peeks of upcoming new cross stitch designs. Thank you to those who have subscribed to my channel and to those who have liked and commented on my videos - I appreciate the kind words! 

You can find my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/BelindaKarlsNace and I will post the latest video (https://youtu.be/LVbobG3ddoA) below:

In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2021 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2021 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework, sewing and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2022, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion...

I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blogging journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2022, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2022 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Fortitude and Finishing

As we welcome the new year, I am taking a look back at the last 365 days - 2017 was a challenging year - full of triumphs, tests, and restructuring. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and loyalty regarding all avenues of Blue Ribbon Designs - there are many talented designers, creators, finishers, and teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework/sewing/quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs into your creative space and allowing my dream to be a reality. I hope you will continue to receive my creations with open arms...it is a blessing to share my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we jump into 2018, I have many intriguing goals and objectives...a pile of design ideas and exciting plans for the future - plus a good amount of projects in the works. Thank you for following me on my creative journey...

In my last post, I mentioned I have been keeping busy with all sorts of needlework finishing - I thought I would share some of the fabulous pieces my stitching clients have trusted me with...these were stitched by one of my very talented customers - only the finishing is my work...

Design information:
"Snow for Christmas" by With Thy Needle and Thread

Design information:
"Very Merry Winter" by JBW Designs

Design information:
"Snowman Trio" by Stitchy Kitty

Design information:
"Santa Knitting" - 2007 - Prairie Schooler

Design information:
"Bernard's Snow Day" by Kaniki's Prims & Whims
Winter 2016 PNPS Magazine

...and finally - I shared this stocking finish in my last post...but today, I have more to add. A very dear friend stitched this Christmas stocking for her (gorgeous!) first granddaughter and asked me to finish it. I was so pleased with how it turned out...and was overjoyed when she sent me a photo of her granddaughter holding it (isn't she precious?!)...this made me smile instantly!

Design information:
"Snow Bears Stocking" - Counted Cross Stitch Kit by Dimensions

As we start the new year, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my artistic journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2018, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2018, filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! 

Holiday Wrap-Up

While I tend to spend my time looking forward and adjusting to new challenges, I always find the start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on accomplishments and dream for the future. The year 2016 was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me - starting off slow...lots of ups and downs...and calmly coming to a stop. I definitely learned some life lessons this past year...I also reached some personal goals and did some big planning/dreaming for the future. With the arrival of the new year, I feel refreshed, hopeful, and ready to tackle what life has in store for me!

The last couple weeks leading up to the holiday were a bit of a whirlwind, filled with all the traditional year-end tasks, including: keeping up with all my various work projects...while trying to make all my Christmas gifts and send cards and packages...and decorate, clean house, bake, shop, wrap, and prepare a large Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. I will be the first to tell you - my holiday spirit wasn't really in full-swing this year - I got everything done and did enjoy the preparations, but truth be told, this year I was a bit "bah humbug" - that is until my mom decided to lift my spirits. Knowing I was a bit down, she arranged for a gift to arrive each of the six days before Christmas - and the first surprise was a beautiful fresh floral delivery...a gorgeous bouquet featuring carnations (my favorite), chrysanthemums, holly and pine - and it smells so good (I say "smells" because after 2-weeks, it is still thriving). The following days, multiple gifts arrived to pamper me (and boy, oh boy, did I feel pampered)...on one particular day, I even received a box full of retro candy, which was quite the treat! We talked on the phone each day, sharing our holiday joys...and she gave me her list of favorite holiday movies, which I promptly recorded.

 

In the end, I finished making all my gifts and they were wrapped and shipped (ON TIME)...the cards were sent (some a little late, but BEFORE Christmas), the house was clean, and the Christmas dinner went off without a hitch....yes, I am truly blessed. It was fun to receive cards and packages from faraway friends - some were a complete surprise. The holiday movies reminded me of the true meaning and reason for Christmas...and a big holiday meal with family was one more blessing to add to the list. My heart is full....

So in love with these little cross stitch sled ornaments…

my dear friend Robin makes me one each year... 2014 was the squirrel, 2015 was the quilt,
and this year she stitched the monogram... 💗

Some of my wrapping...

From Instagram - my "best nine in 2016" (photos with most likes)...

Binding a floral table runner for a gift...

One of my fabric baskets with a matching pin cushion and a few stitching treasures
to tuck inside...a gift I sent to a dear friend...

My Accuquilt blog post tutorial for December features these
fun fabric baskets - there was some confusion at AccuQuilt, but I have been
assured it will be posted soon - if not, I'll post it here on my blog
this week - thank you for your patience!

An Americana wall hanging I made for a very special friend...
my own design...

Another fun thing to share...
In a package from my fabulous friend Terri, I received a lovely engagement calendar, that I am already putting to good use. I use a calendar in my iPhone for daily appointments and deadlines, but I am using this beauty to keep a list of everything I create in 2017 - I already have notes on several dates. This will be tracking all my creative activity and to-do lists...
Inside this spiral bound calendar, the year is conveniently broken down by week...with seven days per page...along with color photos of prizewinning quilts...perfect to have open on my desk!

As we start a new year, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my artistic journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2017, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2017, filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! 

A Moment of Reflection

In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2015 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2015 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2016, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

Here's a look back at a sampling of the projects I designed/created/finished in 2015 - a combination of needlework and quilting/sewing...and my studio tables are covered with new things for 2016...

As 2015 comes to a close, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blogging journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2016, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2016 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Welcoming the New Year

 As we welcome the new year, I'm taking a look back at the last 365 days...it sure has been a year of ups and downs...2014 was full of triumphs, challenges, growing pains, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we advance into 2015, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

Here's a look back at just of few of the designs and items I created in 2014...and my studio tables are FULL of new things for 2015...

As 2014 comes to a close, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blogging journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you. In preparation for 2015, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2015 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity!