"Through The Trees"

This coming Wednesday I start shipping the two new Halloween designs to shops that participate in my automatic program...I am super excited to have two very unique Halloween pieces ready for you! Today I will tell you all about "Through The Trees" (BRD-112)...then we will talk about "Mischief at Midnight" in the next couple days.

"Through The Trees" is a framed design and two coordinating needlework smalls (a pin pillow and scissor fob). This spooky design with an original verse contains an assortment of specialty stitches, including: Cross Stitch over-two linen threads, Back Stitch, Four-Sided Stitch, Long-Armed Cross Stitch, Smyrna Cross Stitch, Nun Stitch, Tent Stitch, Cross Stitch with Bar, Point Croise Stitch (Double Back Stitch), Long Straight Stitch, French or Colonial Knots (minimal) - stitching diagrams and instructions are included in the chartpack. The charting also contains complete finishing instructions for the scissor fob and pin pillow with place for scissor attachment. The models were stitched on 32-count Tundra hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens...but I would also suggest Weeks Dye Works Dolphin (a little darker grey) or Weeks Dye Works Dove (a little more green) for a good Halloween look. I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss, but as always, DMC conversions are provided....and those cute little scissors you see attached to the pin pillow model (which are NOT included with the chart) are Primitive Little Gems by Kelmscott Designs.

You can find a complete supply list and all the details on my website:
http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/BRD112%20Specifics.html

Expect this new Halloween design to start arriving in needlework shops the first week of September!

A Touch of Autumn

Here are a couple photos of my latest batch of pincushions. The top and bottom of each tuffet is patchwork with rick rack and a button, making these pincushions reversible...the patchwork fabric is Posh Pumpkins by Sandy Gervais for Moda...and the pincushion sides are Jolly Jungle Foliage by The Henry Studio for Makower UK. I dressed up these four-patch tuffets with coordinating rick rack and buttons...and embellished each one with three decorative pins. These are now listed in my Etsy shop...along with several others I posted about in the last few weeks. I have more quilting/sewing projects in the works and hope to have additional goodies to show you soon!

For now, I am off to the Blue Ribbon Designs "warehouse" to bag charts and prepare the new Halloween designs for shipment...I can't believe they start shipping next week...

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...

A Weekend To Remember

I had the most amazing weekend with the Heartland Stitch Counters Society! I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with this accomplished and talented needlework group as the guest teacher at their 18th (yes, 18th!) Annual Stitch-In. What a blessing it was to be asked to teach at this event - it was such an enjoyable weekend. This year was the first time they had a Halloween theme and I had the pleasure of designing a special Halloween piece and needlework smalls especially for them...what a treat!

I arrived on Friday afternoon, met the hard-working committee that puts everything together, and got right to work. The retreat was held at the Elms Resort and Spa in Excelsior Springs, MO...this unique historic hotel was a great venue and very fun to explore. The class was held in the spacious Grand Ballroom - which was a good thing, because there were 70 of us! And thanks to Old Mill Stitchery in Liberty, MO, there was a phenomenal needlework shop set-up downstairs, filled with all sorts stitching treasures....seriously, who could ask for more? It was a dream weekend. I brought along lots of models...and they had their last 17 projects on display....plus a Halloween show and tell....and a contest (where every piece was so amazing, everyone should have won a prize! - REALLY!)....and there were TONS of door prizes. Friday evening was social time with a meet and greet...and lots of stitching going on...I had a lot of fun circulating through tables and meeting each attendee. Saturday morning we all got together for breakfast and then it was time for class (and of course shopping). We had a tasty lunch and then more class in the afternoon. After a dinner break, we all returned to the ballroom for the contest and show and tell....followed by late night stitching (I managed to stay until about 12:30 AM, before heading up to my room for a few hours of much needed sleep). Sunday morning we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the resort and had class until noon...and I managed to take a teaching break long enough to do a little shopping myself (special thanks to the students who let me cut in line in the shop). We managed to get though all my class materials and most everyone had a good start on their project. Sunday afternoon it was time to say goodbye to my new stitching family and pack up for the drive home.

I would like to thank all the committee members, Old Mill Stitchery, and all the attendees - you made this a weekend to remember! It was delight meeting each and every one of you....and you are now part of my extended stitching family. Thank you for your patience with my "red nose", scratchy voice, and occasional cough...and for not putting photos of me on Facebook (you know who you are)...I will definitely be working on my "turtle" for future photo opportunities. :-)

Here are some photos from the weekend - the chandelier yellow lighting was not the best for photography...

Here is a photo of me with the contest winners: (Left to Right) Robin - 2nd place and the People's Choice Award, me (looking who knows where), Cheryl - 1st place, Pam - 3rd place. Aren't the ribbons awesome??! - I know Kathleen stitched the Halloween centers and another attendee (please forgive me for not knowing your name) made the ribbons.

Some of my models on display...with extra "spooky" decoration by the committee members...

Some Halloween "show and tell"....

Finished projects from all seventeen previous retreats....each one was incredible...

Students hard at work...enjoying the weekend...stitching, laughing, and sharing....

Halloween In April

In April, I will be headed to the Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs, MO to teach a class at the annual Heartland Stitch Counter's Society Stitch In. This year, the theme for their event is Halloween, so they asked me to create a Halloween design especially for their group. This special design titled "Through The Trees" has quite a few specialty stitches and some new finishing techniques. In the class we will be covering the stitching of the sampler and needlework smalls, working specialty stitches, finishing techniques for each of the smalls, personalizing the pieces, and making twisted cord. I am definitely looking forward to making the trip to Missouri and meeting this large and talented group. (My understanding is, this event is sold out with a waiting list.)

For you Halloween fans who are not able to attend this retreat and want to know when "Through The Trees" will be available to the general public...well, you will need to be very patient, as I like to wait at least one year from the event to release teaching designs. More than likely it will be released in the fall of 2012.

This weekend, I will be busy working on class kits for this event and the one I am teaching the following weekend in Junction City, KS...two very large groups means lots of materials to prepare! I am very excited to be hitting the road in April and meeting new groups of needleworkers - it is going to be a marvelous time...