Needlework Finishing - Ornament Edition

Hello friends! Just a quick post this early morning (yes, our household is still on a night schedule, so it is almost 3:30 AM). I have been cutting project bags for a special order this late night and decided to stop by for a visit before I start sewing. I am back today to share some of my recent needlework finishing with you - this is just a sampling (I have way too many photos to share them all). These pieces were all for a client - not my stitching or designs, just my finishing work. I will post designer details with corresponding images for those who are interested (if I have them). Fabrics that are in the images were used for backing...and all the perfectly matched trims and rayon ribbons are from the incredible Lady Dot Creates (she has the very best finishing supplies!). As you can see, I have been doing quite a few Christmas ornaments this week....with my super full schedule the next few months, I am trying to get everything I have on hand completed. Enjoy the creative eye candy and I will be back to visit with you again soon!

Santa Angel by Teresa Kogut

2022 Fragments in time No. 2
by Summer House Stitche Workes

Santa's Sleigh Ride by Dames of the Needle

Glitter House 9 by Country Cottage Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #15 The Needlework Shop
by Little House Needleworks

Gingerbread House 8 from Country Cottage Needleworks

I Believe In Santa by The Primitive Hare

All Dolled Up - He's a Flake by
Little  House Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #24 Ice Cream Shop
by Little House Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #23 The Music Store
by Little House Needleworks

Striking Stitches

It's been a finishing frenzy in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio over the last few weeks. I have been super focused and working round the clock to finish up the projects on my to-do tables, while trying to manage all the curve balls that life is throwing my way. I am SO ready to work on some of my own design ideas (I have a sketchbook full of ideas that I *need to* make reality and a pile of newly finished cross stitch models), but I am forced to make paying jobs my top priority. I have a long list of finishing clients to take care of before the holidays, along with piles of customer orders that arrived after my holiday finishing deadline (and keep arriving daily) for project bags and custom pieces - it is a balancing act to get everything accomplished. I have been working on a variety of creative activities, including: lots of needlework finishing, custom sewing, custom quilting and freelance designing...along with trying to get in a wee bit of personal sewing/quilting in each day for my own sanity. This time of year, I'm asked to keep many of my finishes a secret...but here is a picture album of some of the needlework finishing (that I can show off) that I completed over the last few weeks (not my designs or stitching, just my finishing work)…

Shepherd's Bush - Liberty

Foxwood Crossings - First Noel

 Threadwork Primitives - Kringle's Crow

Design by: The Blue Flower
From: 2020 Nashville Neeelework Market
"Happiness Is Homemade" Cookbook 

Homespun Collectibles - Star Santa

The Drawn Thread - Joys of Christmas Ornaments

Elizabeth's Designs - Old Fashioned Rounds II

Prairie Schoolers - 2019 Santa (sheep) and 2017 Santa (polar bear)
Flat finishes for easel display (no hangers)

Threadwork Primitives - Quaker Clover Pinwheel

I have some wonderful sewing and quilting projects to share soon...and don't forget, I will be showing off my latest Poppie Cotton quilt finish on October 28th during the Poppie Cotton Woodland Songbirds Fabric Tour...and it is a BEAUTY! I hope you will stop back again soon...thank you for visiting with me today...

Creative Week Wrap-up

Happy Friday readers! It has been another creative week in the studio. With my holiday finishing deadline in just over a week (September 1st), orders that need to be returned in time for Christmas have been pouring in and keeping me on my toes. I had a nice mixture of projects to complete this week - both needlework finishing and sewing/quilting. The needlework finishing photos featured today (I'll share the sewing/quilting finishes with you in a future post) were all stitched by one very talented needle-artist and dear friend -  and it was such a lovely grouping of pieces (again, these are not my designs or stitching, just my finishing work). I have provided designer details with each photo...and the gorgeous hand-dyed chenille, tape measurer trim, and lace are all from Lady Dot Creates...fabrics shown in individual photos were used for backing/lining. 

La D Da - Gentle Words

Scattered Seed Samplers - Little Berry Thief Pinkeep

Heart In Hand - Stitching Bird

Little House Needleworks - Rose Sampler

Heart In Hand - 2018 Collector's Heart
This chart contains both cross stitch designs shown (the stitcher
asked to have one on the front and one on the back)...

Threadwork Primitives - Life's Sweetest Flower

Ink Circles - This Heart of Mine

Little House Needleworks - Saltbox Village

Little House Needleworks - Season of Love

I also can share a piece of personal stitching I completed as a birthday gift for my super sweet friend Mary. This is Blackbird Designs "Small Token" (Reward of Merit Pincushion). I stitched it on 32-count Sand Dune by Lakeside Linens, with the called for Crescent Colours threads (now Classic Colorworks). For finishing, I used the fabric in the photo (from a retired Blackbird Designs collection) for the backing and hand-dyed cotton lace by Lady Dot Creates. Cross stitching, personalizing and finishing this small design was a nice break from my workload, as I don't have a chance to stitch gifts as often as I would like...

This afternoon I am headed back into the studio to work on a pile of project bags, a nice reprieve from all the needlework finishing...and if I can make a little personal quilting time, I would really like to finish my Christmas in July "Jelly Snowflake" quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop Sew Along - I kept up with the weekly block piecing in July, I just need to make time to quilt and bind it. I also have a small hand embroidery design I am working on in my stitching nest that I would like to complete. Wishing you a happy and creative weekend....

Keepsakes and the Kids

Today will be a very quick post, as "my list" is long. My holiday needlework finishing deadline is quickly approaching (September 1st), so sure enough, the orders have been pouring in....and it is actually a bit overwhelming. Now that I have completed my projects for the Poppie Cotton Cherished Moments Fabric Tour (stop back to see what I created on Friday!), I will be living in my studio, trying to get a handle on the huge assortment of piles...especially before we take a vacation in mid-September.

 The pieces shown today were all stitched by the same wonderful client...and again, these are not my designs or my stitching - just my finishing work. She was kind enough to provide me with details for each piece, so I will share them with each image....

I will also share a cute video of "the kids" at the close of this post...

Sweet Strawberry by Cosmic Handmade
Visit her blog for the complimentary chart:
https://cosmichandmade.wordpress.com/

Heart Stocking by JBW Designs

Cardinal by Leisure Arts

Bob Bob Bobbing by Sharon Bennett
Visit her blog for information on this complimentary chart:
https://itsdaffycat.blogspot.com/

Joy by Pineberry Lane

Live Simply Strawberry by Erica Michaels
All About Berries Club - an exclusive club through Dyeing To Stitch

Live Simply Strawberry Cap

Finally today - by popular demand - a video featuring Garin and Schatzi. A little back story...some of you may know that we have a Kuranda bunk bed for our dogs. When Garin was a puppy, we just didn't now how we were going to fit two large Kuranda beds in our living space (this was pre-move). After a glass of wine (or maybe two), I came up with the brilliant idea of "doggie bunk beds" - we googled it - and sure enough we found out it was really a thing! So, when the dogs need a time out (or mom needs a break)...or I need to vacuum or answer the door, I command the dogs to their "place" and they stay there until released. Some of you may also know that I have a TikTok account that is all videos of our dogs...this is a video I posted of the dogs on the their bunk bed with a funny sound bite I found that fits perfectly (not my voice) - make sure your sound is on! If you enjoy this video, visit my page for more: https://www.tiktok.com/@brdgirl 

Sequestered in the Studio

It's another hot and humid day in Kansas and I have been in my studio working on needlework finishing since early this morning. So while I grab some caffeine and take a short break, I thought I would share a few recent client finishes. Thanks to the pandemic and stay-at-home stitching, Blue Ribbon Finishing is flourishing right now - seriously, I have never had so many finishing orders and new clients! First, I will share some cross stitch ornament finishes, then a large cross stitch wall hanging...again, these are not my designs or my stitching, just my finishing work...

These ornaments were all stitched by the same talented stitcher - and each was a joy to finish (lucky for me, this needleworker gave me minimal direction and let me be creative!). This particular stitcher (a new client) asked for both flat and pillow finishes and let me choose all of the materials. All of the cording is custom made with DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss and my Kreinik Custom Corder....and it is hand-stitched in place (I don't use glue on any pieces I finish - just my personal preference) - I also hand sew ribbons, trims (visit Lady Dot Creates for THE BEST trims) and embellishments in place. The fabrics shown with each ornament were used for backing...

Santa's Helper by Mosey 'N Me - 2013 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue

Ewe-le Tide Greetings by Mosey 'N Me - 2013 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue

Deck the Halls by Little House Needleworks

Glitter House 9 by Country Cottage Needleworks

Gingerbread Village by Little House Needleworks

Needlework Shop by Little House Needleworks

Coffee Shop by Little House Needleworks

Finally, here is a large cross stitch piece I finished as a quilted wall hanging. This piece was a bit of a challenge, finishing at 24" x 36"...probably the largest piece I have finished in this way. This is Julian Giraffe from WooHoo Textiles. It was stitched on washable grid aida fabric by a new cross stitcher, who is just learning - I thought this was a very impressive piece for a beginner! I was able to soak out the grid...then found (what I thought were) the perfect fabrics at my local quilt shop (The Quilted Sunflower). I did very small stipple quilting in the border...and attached pockets on the back for a wooden slat with with sawtooth hanger. For the size of the piece, I was extremely pleased with the outcome...

I hope you are inspired to work on something creative...and I'll be back with plenty more cross stitch  finishes in the very near future...

Oh...and stay tuned - I'll show you the cross stitch piece I designed for the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2020 Special Collector's Issue...yes, I designed a special Halloween piece that can be made into a quilted wall hanging or fit in an 8" x 10" frame. This annual publication is just starting to ship to shops and mailboxes, so I will be back with images and all the scoop VERY soon!