Books and Blessings

I have gotten a bit behind on my blog posts...and I have so many creative and inspiring things to share with you! I have been doing more stitching and sewing - having lots of fun in my studio...plus I am celebrating a birthday this month and I have received some really artistic and crafty gifts I can't wait to tell you about...each and every day has been full of beauty and surprises.

Last Thursday, I received a bright and cheerful gift in the mail from my fabulous friend Elizabeth - a lovely needlepoint scissor case! This triangular, pink and orange poppies scissor case was just what I needed to see during this long, hard winter. Inside, there is a ribbon to attach a pair of scissors - and I found the perfect pair in my collection...I just love this...

Then I got to start off my weekend right with "Friendship Friday"...yep, it was time for lunch with my BFFs Mary and Lorrie...and this time Kimber was able to join us too! We met at a local restaurant for a little food and fellowship (always my favorite Friday of the month). I had no idea the girls planned to celebrate my birthday, so when they showered me with gifts, I was a bit emotional and overwhelmed. I feel so blessed to have these three beautiful, strong, inspiring women in my life - they are all truly incredible. We enjoyed a long lunch and it was exactly what I needed. I have to share just a few of the creative gifts they had for me...

Lorrie made me tear-up with a unique stitched pocket watch...I just adore the little woman with a crown (Give Love by The Little Stitcher) that is Cross Stitch over-one...and the two vintage buttons are a great accent. I placed it on a piece of Valentine fabric my friend Mary gave me...

Lorrie also gifted me with an incredible book that she just knew I would love - The World of Wooden Bobbins: The Story of Old Wooden Textile Bobbins by Graham Fellowes (Editor), David Harban (Photographer) - ISBN 10: 0964672006 / ISBN 13: 9780964672000. This book is an excellent resource for bobbin collectors, as it contains extensive history and particulars...plus, there are more than 300 images (many color). It is extremely detailed, while remaining easy to read...and I have found it quite interesting to look up the bobbins in my collection and read about their history and uses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in wooden bobbins...

I also received a wonderful book from Mary - Sonoran Borders: Threads of Friendship by Vickie LoPiccolo Jennet. This beautifully illustrated book follows the fictional journey of two young girls, Feliciana and Emily, who met in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Territory more than a century ago. Although their time together was brief, their friendship spans a lifetime through correspondence and a shared love of needlework. The book includes 11 inspiring projects with unique finishing ideas...and now that I have had a chance to look through this fabulous book, I must have the author's newest release A Schoolroom Alphabet: 12 Cross-Stitch Projects Based on an Antique Handkerchief...it is definitely going on my wish list!

Mary also gave me a Thirty-One Round-About Caddy filled with tons of treasures and goodies...yes, she spoiled me, as she always does! I really like this sturdy caddy with numerous pockets - it is extremely versatile and I can think of a half a dozen uses for it...plus it is black and white polka dot...too fun!!

I have so much more to share - but I will save some for another day...just wait until you see what my extremely talented friend Kimber made for me...and I received two more packages in the mail today (which I will save and open later in the week). My heart is full - I am feeling extremely blessed and beyond spoiled....

Happy Birthday Simba!

It is hard to believe we rescued our little king Simba ten (yes, I said TEN) years ago...and to think I was furious when my husband called and told me he adopted a dog...now I can't live without him...

We adopted Simba from the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, here in Des Moines. To be honest, at the time, I really didn't want a dog - I just felt they were a lot of work and responsibility and my plate is usually quite full...but my husband was very adamant about bringing a dog into our household. He actually wanted a larger hunting dog and had been (unsuccessfully) trying to talk me into one for several years. I'll never forget the phone call I received from him the day after Thanksgiving telling me he just rescued a dog - of course I was at work (typical "do it now, ask for forgiveness later"). He told me he was picking me up from work and he would have our new dog with him....and to my surprise it was a Shih Tzu - a much smaller dog than I expected. At that time, Simba wasn't in the best of shape - you could tell he had not been well cared for - but as soon as I sat down in the vehicle, he curled up in a little ball on my lap and just looked up at me with the most amazing eyes - I was done for! Poor baby was completely shaved, micro-chipped, fixed, and got an array of tests and shots within about 24 hours - plus a brand new home...but he never lost his sweet, calm, and loving demeanor. When we adopted him, the ARL thought he was about a year old, so we celebrate his birthday every (day after) Thanksgiving...so today (Friday) he turned 11 (wow, how time flies!)...and although he came to us in pretty bad shape, he now lives like a KING (yes, my friends and family will tell you how much I spoil him)...just look at that happy face in the photo above!

Simba is definitely a lap dog and is his happiest when he can be on mine...in fact, he gets quite frustrated when I am working or in my studio. He has two beds that he will sleep in when a lap is unavailable...and one is right at my feet at my work desk...he is always by my side. Here he is perturbed that I am working...I just love that face...

....and in other dog news...we pick up Schatzi (our German Shepherd puppy) in Minnesota next weekend...yep, her two months of formal obedience training are almost complete and we are picking her up on December 7th. She is now nine months old (can you believe it?)...we can't wait to see her and see how much she has learned! We worked with her extensively before she left for boot camp, so we hope she had a great foundation for the last two months of training (which included: confidence building, obedience training, proper etiquette, field trips, running on a treadmill, and socialization with other dogs). I'm sure I'll have a very good update for you when she is home. Here is a photo we received this week (she is with Josiah, one of the trainers at  Neuman K-9 Academy) - she went on a field trip to the local strip mall in White Bear Lake, MN, where she practiced obedience in the presence of distractions like people going in or out of stores, dogs walking with owners, traffic, delivery trucks, and overall obedience in a new place...she also practiced holding a down stay on the sidewalk next to traffic, auto sitting and focusing before the crosswalk, waiting to get out of a vehicle, and impulse control....she also worked on good etiquette when meeting and greeting people...

On the creative front, I have been focused on the two new winter designs I will be shipping in a few days..."Woodland Tree Farm" and "Quilt Block Christmas"...both are in the final stages of printing production and I am hoping to start shipping them to shops by mid-week - I will do a blog post that focuses on each design in the next day or two, so you will have all the juicy details. I have also been working on a pair of designs for The World of Cross Stitching magazine...and a special video project for Annie's Publishing...plus a pile of other Blue Ribbon Designs deadlines and ideas. Busy is a blessing and I am finally getting back in the swing of things after my trip to California and the Komen 3-Day walk. I'll be back soon to tell you all about "Woodland Tree Farm"....

St. Patrick's Day Greetings

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
                                   - An Old Irish Blessing

Happy St. Patrick's Day to those of you celebrating today...I hope you are wearing your green and you have a chance to enjoy a nice cold green beer or margarita...or maybe a cup of green tea....or even better, a Shamrock Shake! I truly hope you are having a happy St. Patrick's Day - filled with the gift of friendship, good luck, and life's blessings...

BRD-065 Letters, Leprechauns, and Luck

Sunshine on St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day friends, family, and followers! I received a beautiful Marjolein Bastin Hallmark card from my dear friend Robin yesterday and thought the sentiment would be perfect to share today...

Wishing you -

sunshine round your shoulders,

shamrocks at your feet,

a rainbow in your pocket,

and friendship ever sweet...

Yesterday was a challenging day for me, but my close friends made it better - I am very blessed to have super special people in my life that listen, support, encourage, and inspire me (you all know who you are). Amazing how when things seem rough, true friends sense it and send you a note, give you a call, or lend a hand (even when it is not asked of them).

I truly hope you are having a happy St. Patrick's Day - filled with the gift of friendship, good luck, and life's blessings!

A Look Forward To 2011

In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2010 comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the last 365 days. This year has been a good year for Blue Ribbon Designs - a year of triumphs, challenges, and rewards. Thank you for making this a special year for me and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers and teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs into your stitching rotation and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love what I do 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. Looking forward to 2011, I have many projects in the works - a pile of design ideas, multiple classes across the US, and exciting plans for the future. Thank you for following me on my creative journey...

As promised, here is a sneak peek at an upcoming design titled "Turn The Page" - it is the second in my series of bookmark samplers. As with the first design, you can stitch the entire framed sampler or choose a favorite section for making a bookmark. The model was stitched on 40-count Weeks Dye Works Linen (Angel Hair) with Weeks Dye Work cotton floss. Unfortunately with the winter storm brewing, it is quite gloomy and dark - the light was not ideal for photography - but I promised a photo today...and you get the idea! I have plans to release this design in February at the Nashville Needlework Market.

Wishing you and your loved ones a new year filled with happiness, prosperity, and kindness...all the best in 2011...

Pure Joy - A Holiday Get Together Continued...

When I arrived at Kimber's home yesterday - my place was set with a HUGE holiday gift basket from Merry. From my previous posts, you probably know that Merry loves to bake/cook (and to try new things in the kitchen!)...and I am one of the truly lucky ones who gets to sample all her fabulous treats! This first photo is a shot of what was in the basket...there was so much, it was almost overwhelming - both Kimber and I had to grab a pencil and write down everything as Merry walked us through the items, or else we would never be able to keep it all straight! There were three tins of baked goods (details below), a bottle of Lavender Extract, an adorable bottle of Limoncello, three jars of jelly (Spiced Crabapple, Gooseberry, and Black Currant), along with a bag of White Chocolate Cinnamon Granola - all of which she made herself!! I was truly in awe...

Here is a photo with the tins opened, so you can see inside...and I am going to do my best to tell you what each thing is....

The round tin in the lower left had three different cookies (from left to right) - Lavender Chamomile Shortbread, Sage Shortbread with Peach Jam Filling, and Raspberry Jam Thumbprints (of course she made the jams) - all are delicious...and believe me, my husband and I tried them all! The small treasure chest tin in the lower right was filled with Orange Flower Water Cookies (which are FANTASTIC!)....and the large tin shown in the top right was half Strawberry Madeleines and half Chocolate Chip Brownies with Peppermint Patties (my husband's favorite!). Yesterday I sampled each of these special treats with a cup of hot tea, so a couple extra miles on the treadmill is in order.....each and every one of them is absolutely delectable.

If all that wasn't enough, she also brought us both the most wonderful little lunch bags - yep, she sewed for us too! Seriously, how stinkin' cute is this little tote?! She found the instructions online for this great little bag on the Pink Penguin blog (which is spectacular)...if you want to make one for yourself, see Ayumi's fabulous Lunch Bag Tutorial! I absolutely LOVE the fabrics Merry chose for my little tote (note the birds in the fabric)...and the bottom section (brown flower print with birds) is actually a corduroy! I thought the rick rack on the handles was the perfect touch...and the drawstring cover is super convenient to keep everything safe inside. But wait, there's more! The bag was filled with treasures...can you say "over the top"? I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning pulling open the drawstring cover

to reveal more presents....there was a package of holiday hankies, holiday bandages, a tiny bag of lifesavers candy, two (not one, but two!) pairs of scissors that she knew I had been admiring, and a kitchen towel she made to match my black and white kitchen perfectly. AMAZING!! To say I was "blown away" would be an understatement. I have said it before - I have the most generous, creative, talented, and kind friends!

After we finished opening all out gifts, we headed back to the kitchen for more beverages and snacks...and then made our way to Kimber's sitting room for more chit chat and some needlework. Kimber had the fireplace burning to keep us toasty warm and we all worked on different projects. Merry was knitting, Kimber was hand quilting, and I was cross stitching...but truth be told, I think I did a lot more talking than stitching (what's new?)....

Driving home, I reflected on the our time together and the beautiful friendship the three of us have built - Merry and Kimber both encourage and inspire me...they help me grow and be better...their friendship is truly the best gift they have given me!

My wish for you this holiday season is to be surrounded by good friends and family - to find joy in the little things - to be encouraged and inspired - and to be aware of life's many blessings....

Quilted Cup Cozies

What a blessing it is to have a few good friends who understand me, my quirks, and my hectic schedule....they just "get me". These last few weeks have been quite discouraging for me and I am looking at ways to give myself a boost....or at least an attitude adjustment. Sometimes we are forced to make major life decisions and find a good balance - make new priorities...I have been struggling with this - looking for a change or challenge...second-guessing my artistic abilities and choice of career. Amazing how a few harsh words (or no words at all) can make you rethink all that you thought was true. Luckily, I have a small select group of good friends who can tell when I am down and know just what to say (and do) to lift my spirits! Yesterday, my good friend Merry gave me the sweetest little gift bag "just because" - she knew I needed a lift in spirits...and that is exactly what she did! As many of you know from reading my blog, Merry makes the GREATEST homemade/handmade gifts! This gift was an ECO ONE "The Perfect Not Paper Cup" in sage green (LOVE IT!)....it looks just like an everyday disposable takeout coffee cup, but is ceramic with a silicone spill-proof lid...and it can go right in the dishwasher...and best of all, it is reusable! Of course Merry put her own spin on it by making awesome quilted cup cozies for me out of fabric she knows I love....one is an adorable light blue floral fabric with whimsical birds....and one is a pumpkin fabric, perfect for use this autumn. She also included a very fun card, a tiny tin of vanilla lip balm, and a magnetic bookmark. This TOTALLY UNEXPECTED gift made me feel so very special and completely brightened my day (month)...it definitely put some things into perspective for me.



These quilted coffee cup cozies are a great project for a beginner...and super fun for using that special piece of fabric you picked up without a specific purpose...the supplies needed are minimal...and they (obviously) make a fabulous gift! Here are few links with instructions and tutorials for making your very own...and best of all, these patterns/tutorials are FREE:

How to Make a Quilted Coffee Cup Sleeve (by Cyndee Kromminga - eHow)

Quilted Coffee Cozy/Sleeve Tutorial (Recycled Lovelies) - video

http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-quilted-coffee-cup-cozy/2010/01/21/ - unique pattern and tutorial with images - love the elastic and button!

Feeling So Blessed...

Today was my local stitch group's holiday gathering...and what a delightful time we had! I hadn't been in the most festive of mood this year, but that changed today - there is nothing like stitching and sharing with friends...add to that good food, hot cider, and special gifts...all in a fabulous holiday atmosphere...I feel completely refreshed and much more in the Christmas spirit! I have some of the most talented, creative, and generous friends. You all know I absolutely love opening tiny presents...could be a pencil or a toothbrush, but if it is wrapped, I am "over the moon" - so what a surprise today when we all found out each of us had brought gifts for the whole group...we had so much fun stitching, exchanging packages, laughing, and catching up...what a joyous way to spend part of my day - I am feeling so very blessed! To my stitching friends - thank you for making this day so very special...

Shown in the photos - lovely treasures from our gift exchange: top right - a handmade prairie point (fabric) pine cone ornament...below (L to R) - Red Raspberry Jam, Mill Hill Holiday Pin Kit, Handmade Tapestry Threader, Handmade (by 10-year-old child) Beaded Ornament Hanger, Handmade Scissor Fob, Tweezers (the most unique ones I have seen), DMC variegated floss, and Vanilla Chai drink mix.

Check back tomorrow to see the gift I brought for everyone...and for your chance to win one in a new holiday giveaway!

Thanksgiving Day

To those of you celebrating today, Happy Thanksgiving! It was a lovely day here in central Iowa...and I hosted/cooked the Thanksgiving meal. I have so many things to be extremely thankful for...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...too many things to list...and 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!

The plate photo (on the right), is my husband's first helping of Thanksgiving dinner - his mother and I both admired the artistic layout of his meal and how it could be in a magazine photo shoot - I just had to take a picture! Below is a shot of our dinner table...

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday - filled with family, friends, food, and laughter....take a little time to count your blessings...and a little time to stitch....