All Bundled Up Fabric Baskets

Greetings creative friends - I have a special treat for you this afternoon! We are all aware of just how crazy the month of December can be - I know, I was a little (actually A LOT)  overwhelmed trying to get everything accomplished...but in that craziness, I did manage to get another AccuQuilt friendly tutorial created and ready several weeks ago...and I know you were all expecting to see it on their blog in December (thank you for your messages asking me about it) - there was a little confusion on their end, but it is finally posted (YAY!) and I am excited to share it with you today...my "All Bundled Up Fabric Basket."

Be sure to head over to the AccuQuilt Blog for this new tutorial...you will find a supply list and complete instructions for these fun fabric baskets, including all the details...and I must warn you, these are very addicting - be prepared to make up a couple (or ten)...they sew up rather quickly, use minimal supplies, and are perfect for gift giving or organizing all sorts of things!

Again this month, I used the GO! Qube Mix Match 9” Block and GO! Qube 9" Companion Set-Classics....but feel free to use your favorite block dimensions - just remember it will change the finished size of your fabric basket. I will walk you through each step and you will find this quilted 3D project is quick and easy to create…in fact, you should be able to whip up several in an afternoon!

I chose winter fabrics, but this tutorial would work well with batiks, prints, or solids...or mix and match to fit your personal style and decor. I see several holiday print baskets in my future...wouldn't one be C.U.T.E. filled with Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day treats?!

...and one more note - for this project, I used the GO! Qube 9" Companion Set Classics-72 Block Patterns Booklet – this FREE downloadable pattern booklet will give you detailed instructions for piecing the quilt block featured in project (along with 71 other choices)...be sure to choose your favorite quilt block(s)!

Make your way over to the AccuQuilt Blog for a materials list and step by step tutorial, with images:
https://www.accuquilt.com/blog/education/go-project-tutorials-education/all-bundled-up-fabric-basket-a-quilting-tutorial/

I was super excited to gift several of these baskets to stitchy friends for Christmas - I created coordinating pincushions to fit inside and added several stitching tools/accessories...they are also great for coffees and teas, make-up or a manicure supplies, stationery, or sewing supplies...the possibilities are endless!

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! 

Warm Winter Wishes

Countdown to Christmas (BRD-077)
Ready to turn the piece for today...

Greetings friends! It is a chilly day here in Iowa - perfect for spending a little time at the sewing machine or curled up with a cross stitch project. It has been a whirlwind of creativity in my studio the last month - finishing up freelance jobs, custom finishing, and special holiday orders...and trying to fit my own handmade gifts in the mix. I am happy to say I finished up all my big deadlines last week and finished up my holiday gifts over the weekend...and I am now down to just a few projects that were not included in the holiday rush (those who are waiting, thank you for your patience)...whew! The last few packages are shipping today...and I am ready to get the house cleaned up and ready for Christmas...and get the last few items checked off my Christmas list. I managed to hang all my framed Christmas cross stitch pieces and place a few decorative bowls with holiday ornaments and smalls throughout the house...yes, I know, I have been saying it for too many years to count - I *need* to get a tree to display my cross stitch ornament collection which has surpassed well-over 100 stitched ornaments (one day, I a tree will be in the budget, but until then, I will find creative ways to display the ornaments throughout the house).

I want to thank everyone who voted for my video in the Husqvarna Viking #sewworthit contest to win a Designer Epic (my dream sewing and embroidery machine). I placed third in votes (VERY close to second place when the contest abruptly ended)...and while they encouraged everyone to make creative videos, the contest was based on the most votes - so, I will be receiving the runner-up prize - a $500 prize package of sewing notions and supplies, which we all know I can definitely use...so a HUGE thank you for voting and supporting my entry - I truly appreciate it! While my dream didn't come true, my heart is full from all the love and support I received...thank you SO MUCH - I may not be blessed with the sewing machine of my dreams, but I am truly blessed to have great people in my life that support my creative passions! I'll be sure to post a photo of my prize package when it arrives.

Here are a few photos of things I can share (including some recent shots of some of my Christmas cross stitch models)...more details on a couple of these will be posted in the near future...

Peppermint Twist (BRD-076)

Just Add Tinsel (BRD-089)

A machine applique Americana design in progress...

Poinsettias and Pines (BRD-059) 

A custom order Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve with my BRD Stitch Starter Ruler...

A new pattern I created for AccuQuilt - the GO! Piece of My Heart Strip Quilt
I will post more details very soon....

My "All Bundled Up" Fabric Baskets
Details coming soon along with a full tutorial on the
AccuQuilt Blog later this month...stay tuned....

I'm off to work on some custom orders and a few new items for my Etsy shop...then some household chores...and tonight I will be in my cozy stitching nest working on a new design model. I hope you are enjoying the holiday season and (if you are in the COLD zone) keeping warm!

Designing, Creating, Organizing

I have an abundance of creative things to share with you this week...be prepared to be inspired! I have been working on a plethora of deadlines - both needlework and quilting...and I am so EXCITED I can  finally share some of my recent projects with you!

In December, I was designing and creating sample models for AccuQuilt...I was asked to design a couple projects to aid in organizing your sewing room...I had a BUNCH of ideas, but the two they decided to use were for fabric baskets and a sewing machine organizing mat. I had so much fun designing and creating the samples, as these types of projects are right up my alley!

I made several prototypes of my Strippy Catch-All Basket Pattern before settling on the construction and fusibles. AccuQuilt wanted them to be a bit sturdier to hold cutting dies, and while that wasn't the original plan, these will hold the AccuQuilt dies, as seen in the photo below. These are simple strip piecing, light quilting, and basic sewing...and can be made in a variety of sizes! They are great for organizing just about anything: rick racks/trims, sewing notions,rulers, threads, and cuts of fabric...and you can make them match your sewing space by choosing fabrics that work well with your decor. If you would like to make some of these fabric cubes for your sewing room, you are in LUCK, as the GO! Strippy Catch-All Basket Pattern is FREE (yes, I said FREE) for a limited time on the AccuQuilt website: http://www.accuquilt.com/go-strippy-catch-all-basket-pattern.html

The sewing machine organizing mat is also the perfect pattern to utilize when organizing your creative space! The blocks and sashing strips are pockets that are the perfect size to hold all your tools...and your sewing machine sits atop the mat to hold it firmly in place. The sashing strip pockets (gray fabric) are 1 1/2" wide, which may seem narrow, but they are perfect for pencils and marking pens, a stiletto, a seam ripper, a quarter inch ruler, and my favorite - small scissors with a fob attached, which I am always misplacing (point of scissors goes in the pocket, the handles sit atop)...those are just a few ideas. I designed a standard size mat, but you could (fairly easily) adjust the size depending on your machine type and the space you have available. Also, as the AccuQuilt photo shows below, you can use it for your fabric cutter - the GO! Big fits perfectly (I love this idea)! I can't wait to make a few of these for my sewing room - or at least one - you know, in my spare time. If you would like to make one for your creative work-space, I am THRILLED to tell you that the GO! Sewing Machine Organizing Mat Pattern is also available for FREE for a limited time (how awesome is that?!): http://www.accuquilt.com/go-sewing-machine-organizing-mat-pattern.html

The AccuQuilt Blog also has a feature on getting organized - so stop by for a visit and read their tips for storing your cutting dies: http://www.accuquilt.com/blog/

I am off to my sewing machine for a few hours, then to my stitching nest - I have more deadlines quickly approaching...but I will be back soon with another update...I have so many interesting ideas and projects to share this week...