Cherished Moments Sneak Peek

Greetings creative friends! I wanted to stop by today to visit with you about the Poppie Cotton Cherished Moments Fabric Tour that is happening right now... 

For those of you who may not be familiar with Poppie Cotton...it is a fabric company formed by Jina Barney (quilting and clothing designer and instructor) and Lori Woods (illustrator, artist, and designer)...and together they create some of the most beautiful and happy fabrics on the market! Many of their fabrics are nature inspired (and that is a HUGE reason they speak to me)...plus each print is filled with teeny tiny details, making each one so very special. I have fallen in love with each and every fabric collection they have released...and I am super excited to be involved in several upcoming fabric tours (which is a dream opportunity for me!). I have been busy designing and playing with some gorgeous upcoming releases, including Cherished Moments...

Cherished Moments is their newest fabric collection and it is currently arriving in quilt shops (be sure to visit your favorite quilt shop to find these joyful prints!). Throughout the month of August, you can visit the websites below to see some incredible uses of this endearing fabric line: 

CREATOR	DATE	WEBSITE
Danielle Kessler	3-Aug	https://www.instagram.com/thegoldilocksshoppe/
Anna Dineen	5-Aug	http://mywanderingpath.com/
Debbie Homick	7-Aug	http://happylittlecottage.blogspot.com/
Jess	10-Aug	https://www.sallietomato.com/blogs/blog/poppie-cotton-cherished-moments-fabric-tour
Lisa Garlick	12-Aug	https://www.nannygoatquilts.com/
Belinda Karls-Nace	14-Aug	https://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/
Erica Arndt	17-Aug	https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/category/quilting
Dori Troutman	19-Aug	http://theredfeedsack.blogspot.com/
Lindsay Weight	21-Aug	http://www.primrosecottagequilts.com/

Plus, click on the Cherished Moments link to see swatches of each print. I will be posting here and on my social media accounts on August 14th - so be sure to stop back then to see what I created with this drool-worthy collection. For now, I will leave you a couple sneak peaks....

Beyond Blessed

A couple weeks ago (right before our vacation), I celebrated a birthday...and while I am still adjusting to life in Kansas and feeling a bit out of the loop, my close friends and family certainly made my day extra special - they made what was an ordinary day (a doctor's appointment, a trip to the pharmacy for a vaccine, a WiFi outage at home, and my husband working long hours) a joyous occasion. I received the sweetest messages, notes and cards...and several packages from my loved ones. Although "my people" are all far away in distance, I felt loved and special. I wanted to share a few of the gifts I received - especially the creative ones...my friends and family showered me with the perfect gifts and cards...they spanned my loves of cross stitch, sewing, quilting and gardening...and they were all wrapped beautifully (in fact, some were almost too pretty to open)!

One of my friends wrapped my gift in owl fabric
and tied it with vintage sewing tape...
How cute is that?!

Inside the owl package was a gorgeous hand crocheted
market bag and a kitchen towel...now I am SUPER excited for
farmer's market season!

Another dear friend sent the most amazing pile of
pretty wrapped packages...

Including all this gorgeous fabric!
A fat quarter stack - Home by Kathy Schmitz for Moda...
and three colorways of adorable squirrel fabric:
Bramble by Gingiber for Moda

Plus, three wonderful needle minders!

...AND this gorgeous cross stitch piece...seriously - it is incredible!
It is on display in my studio where it brings me joy daily!!
Design: Oktober Feast by Brenda Gervais

Another special friend - send my gifts in this fun project bag...
that included fun sewing bandages (plus a plethora of presents not shown)...

...and this fabulous camp mug!! Isn't it perfect?! I have received a TON
of questions on this - it is from Stitched Modern...

My momma sent me two gardening books from my Amazon wish list...
they are two of her favorites that she had recommended to me - she
is a prolific gardener with a remarkable green thumb! She also sent me a
VERY generous gift certificate to our favorite online plant nursery:
Bluestone Perennials

...and Travis's parents sent me a lovely botanical box with a special
bath and body gift set inside...which will definitely be put to good
use after my stressful days!

Yes, I am blessed with an extremely thoughtful circle...and while they aren't located in Kansas, they are all close in my heart.

For now, I am headed to my studio - I will spend my afternoon working on needlework finishing - the piles are growing - five packages arrived yesterday and three more today...my clients are keeping me busy and I couldn't be more grateful...what a joy to be creative every single day!

Side bar - I spoke a little too soon yesterday - I am still feeling the effects of the stomach flu and not at my best today (last night was rough!)...the nausea continues...I truly appreciate all the well wishes...💓

Smiles and Surprises

I'm feeling quite inspired after a long lunch with my dear friend Lorrie yesterday. We met at a local cafe and chatted for several hours over salads and raspberry iced tea - it was the perfect pick-me-up...we were having such a great chat, we completely lost track of time and when we finally checked our watches, it was 3 1/2 hours later...terrible for my work to-do list, but wonderful for my spirit - I departed feeling happy, refreshed, and full of inspiration.

Lorrie totally surprised me with a gift bag full of birthday pressies - the theme was "her favorite things", which was totally awesome, as I really admire her taste and sense of style. Included in the lovely wrapped treasures: a stack of fat quarters she picked up at a quilt shop on her trip to California (aren't they FABULOUS!); a large vintage wooden spool - which are all the rage - and after reading about some she found on a trip to the antique store and seeing some fun finishing ideas in "blogland", I had mentioned I really wanted (thanks for sharing Lorrie!); and two adorable snack mats (mug rugs) that she made herself - I LOVE THESE!

Some of the other fun "favorite things" she included were several OPI Avojuice lotions (which are so smooth and smell "out of this world"...a jar of Red Chile Jelly and a jar of hot habanero salsa - YUM-O! She also made me a soft beautiful black scarf (in my opinion, a girl can never have too many scarfs). Finally, there was a Flameless LED Battery Pillar Candle (Night Light w/Timer) featuring iron heart images - this candle is actually really unique - it even smells like vanilla and the light flickers. It is from the "Where Sisters Gather" Etsy shop - and there is even one available with a needlework sampler design (I may just have to order another!).

It was such a treat spending a couple hours with Lorrie - catching up, talking about our creative endeavors, and sharing about our lives. Suddenly all the stress I was feeling melted away and I couldn't remove the smile from my face - her friendship truly enhances my life....Lorrie, thank you for the special afternoon!

Tomorrow I am meeting my dear friends Merry and Kimber for lunch and (hopefully) a visit to Valley Junction and the cupcake shop - we planned this months ago and I am super excited to see them both...so you know I will have more to share in the next couple days!

Fabric Infatuation

It's true, I will be the first to admit it - I love quality cotton quilting fabrics...the feel, the colors, the patterns, everything about them - it's an addiction...let me loose in a specialty quilt shop and I am in sheer heaven. Sometimes I shop with a project in mind...other times, I let the fabric pick me, then I find a project...in either case, my stash drawers are overflowing - so much fabric, so little time! In my perfect world, I would be designing fabric that would incorporate and complement my needlework designs - I would be "over-the-moon"!

Today I was able to spend the afternoon with my girlfriends visiting a couple local quilt shops - and of course, I found amazing fabric! There are certain things I always look for - I adore fabric with birds, trees, owls, or fruits (especially apples and pears)...and of course, any fabric featuring needlework samplers...so when visiting shops, I am always on a quest for fabric lines that include any of these items. Today I hit the jackpot - thanks to one of my very favorites: Riley Blake Designs...this line is Hoo's In The Forest by Doohickey Designs...and I just love it...it truly makes me happy. I was immediately drawn to the apple and cherry fabric...but then I saw the yellow fabric, featuring whimsical trees, owls, hedgehogs, deer and skunks (yes, fun little skunks) - so cute! The florals and coordinating fabrics just spoke to me...and I had to get a few Riley Blake charm packs, as well. See, it is an addiction!

I also found these fabulous fabrics - yes, I know, I'm out of control...but did I mention the quilt shop was having a sale?! I was tickled to find the pink and light blue birds on brown fabric (Love Nest by Carina Gardner for Northcott Fabrics)....and the abstract trees, birds, houses, and bicycles (Spring Street by Carolyn Gavin for P & B Textiles). Then, the last two I picked up are from a great line called Tree Huggers by Julie Dobson Miner for Studio e Fabrics - I just couldn't resist fabric with owls, birds, insects, and beavers...yes, beavers...I thought it was adorable! Do I know what I am going to do with it??...well, no, not yet...but I promise you, it will all be put to good use...

Holiday Sewing Projects - Embellished Kitchen Towels

Another holiday gift I worked on this season - embellished kitchen towels. These are quite fun and easy to make....and you use purchased kitchen towels (which can be found at any home store, grocery store, and many quilting/sewing stores at reasonable prices). I then picked coordinating fabric especially for the recipient - and you don't need a lot of fabric, a fat quarter will be more than sufficient for a couple towels. I simply cut a band of fabric to fit one end of the towel - then used my serger to do a 3-thread rolled edge around the cut ends of the fabric band to keep it from unraveling and give it a nice finished look (you could zig-zag the edges or do a basic hem if you do not have a serger)....I then used a small amount of fusible web to hold the fabric band in place on the towel - and attached it with a tiny zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine. To make it even more fun and unique, you can add trim, rick rack, piping, or buttons. Pair it with a cookbook and you have a perfect gift for those who like to spend time in the kitchen....

A Little Rest and Relaxation

Seems like the last few months I have been running non-stop, with very little time to spend with my husband...so as a little treat, he planned a few days away for us in Kansas City this week. We left early Wednesday morning and just got back this evening...and it was definitely good to have a couple quiet days away (even though I was worried about the work piling up on my desk). He was kind enough to take me through Liberty, Missouri on the was down, so I could visit Old Mill Stitchery - a cross stitch shop I had never had a chance to visit before (and had always wanted to see) - this little gem was SO worth the drive...it is a wonderful shop filled with gorgeous models and unique items...and they had beautiful yarns and a framing area too! It is located in Corbin Mill Place, which also houses a wonderful gift shop, a restaurant, a beading shop....and the best little place to buy wool I have ever been to called "American Whatever" - I was blown away by the most phenomenal selection of hand-dyed wools I have ever seen! I picked a wonderful assortment of unique wool fabrics to bring home...many autumn colors...a few picked especially for Oliver Owl - one of my friend Kimber's patterns featured in the current issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting magazine (November/December 2010)...which I really hope to start tomorrow. If that wasn't enough, my very sweet hubby also took me to Leavenworth, Kansas so I could visit Quilter's Quarters (a quilt shop on my must see list) - there I found a few wooden spools of Moda trim, some great buttons, and a few fall fat quarters. It was a leisurely drive down and I got to do some great shopping.

Thursday we made a visit to the Kansas City Zoo which was VERY impressive! If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know how much I love animals and visiting zoos wherever we travel. Although it was windy beyond belief, we still had a very good time....and most of the time we felt like we were the only people on the property. With it being the "off season", some of the animals were not on exhibit, but many were out and about and quite active in the cooler weather. The acres and acres of zoo grounds were incredible - and all of the animals seemed to have large, spacious areas, with all sorts of water, trees, and natural habitat. One of the largest attractions at this zoo is Nikita, the Polar Bear...who was quite entertaining - he actually did a back flip into the water and did a little swimming for us! There were so many highlights - a family of Guinea Baboons (with a baby) playing....a mob of Red Kangaroos hopping right past us...beautiful lions basking in the sun....along with a a herd of elephants, a clan of Meerkats digging burrows, an adorable baby zebra (who's stripes were still brown), and the cutest little Blue Duiker nestled in the grass. The grounds also had a fabulous African bird exhibit where I took a photo of the Superb Starling (my favorite photo)....and I was also able to get a close-up of the East African Crowned Crane which was quite stunning in person. We loved this zoo and definitely plan to return next year in warmer weather.

After the zoo, we made a trip to Country Club Plaza to take in the sights and do a little window shopping...it is such a beautiful area, but it was WAY TOO WINDY for us to thoroughly enjoy. We also enjoyed delicious dinners and some light gambling at Harrah's Kansas City (where I learned to play Pai Gow Poker!). It was nice to get away just for a few days and spend some quality time with my husband...and he was right, the work was still here waiting for me upon my return.

So, now it is back to designing, model stitching, and preparing classes for 2011. I am also working on a couple giveaway prizes and will be posting the details in the next few days (thank you for being patient with me!).

My Saturday Sewing

I'm not sure where this last week went...seems it was hijacked and I didn't get the message. While working on about six different BRD projects and trying to keep my sanity, I somehow misplaced the last several days. I did make a trip to my fabulous framer and dropped off "Sweet Simple Samplings" and "Liberty Stitchery"...and I did make time to do a little playing with my new Accuquilt GO! Fabric Cutter. I managed to cut 138 tumbler blocks out of black and brown fabrics I have been collecting for over a year (I used 23 different fat quarters)....then yesterday I got them all placed and pieced...now to find time to machine quilt it...it is 48" x 72"...and I am TOTALLY thrilled with the results! Here is a photo of my quilt top (not the best, but you get the idea - it looks so much better in person, really, it does) and an image of the backing fabric (from the fabric line Iced Mocha by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass)...




This week, I will be heading to Rockford, IL to visit my mother - which also means FUN trips to The Needle and I, Quilter's General Store (oh, how I love this place!), Quilter's Haven, and a new quilt shop called Acorn Quilts (can't wait to visit this "new to me" shop). I am looking forward to seeing my mother's gorgeous gardens (if it doesn't rain the entire time I am there) and her adorable dog (a miniature Schnauzer named Wilson)...and I will try to get some good photos to share with you. It also means, I get to spend some time with my dear friend Terri - we are doing a little road trip to Welcome Stitchery in Crystal Lake, IL (can't wait to see this needlework shop!)...and I am hoping to drag her along to Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop in Fox River Grove and A Touch of Amish in Barrington, IL (both places I have been wanting to visit for quite some time). We always have fun together and it will be wonderful to see her and catch up! It will be a busy and eventful week and I am sure I will have fun things to share with you when I return home...

New In The To-Do Pile: A "Garden Fresh" Quilting Project

Happy Sunday Stitchy Friends!

It has been several days since my last post...and mainly, it is because I have been focused on model stitching...I have lots of new designs in the works - for teaching, for magazines, and for releases this summer. I have a list of deadlines and I am stitching my little fingers off to obtain all of those goals. I will have a sneak peek picture of "Liberty Stitchery" for you soon - it is over half completed...

I haven't had much time for sewing or quilting lately...and I am truly going through withdrawal...seems like ages since I last turned on my beautiful Diamond machine...well, really it has only been a couple weeks - but to me, it seems like years. I have promised myself that this week, I will make time to sew! ...and I just had to share this fabric and project with you! If you read my blog regularly, then you know I love vegetables...I truly eat a spinach and fresh veggies every day...so this fabric line is right up my alley - not to mention my kitchen colors are black and white with sage accents, so it matches perfectly. I first saw this fabric line ( "Garden Fresh" by Gail Kessler for Andover Fabrics) in the March/April 2010 Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting magazine, and I'm totally "in love" with it. I had been looking locally for this fabric line for quite some time and had not been able to find it....so when the Fons and Porter online store recently had a sale, I just had to purchase the kit for the Garden Fresh magazine quilt while it was still available. This fabric is so beautiful in person...and I love that there is a panel (shown Below), a border print, and fabulous coordinates...I can't wait to start this project!...hopefully this week....

Saturday Sewing

This morning I made time for a little Saturday sewing. My days have been filled with Blue Ribbon Designs and I needed a little creative intervention.

My sewing pile (or should I say stack) is heaping...so I picked an older project I had packaged up with fabric and ready to go - it is called "Foldover Bag" and is by Renee Plains of Liberty Star. I really liked the front and back pockets with buttons...I used some great flower-shaped shell buttons from Moda. I am always on the lookout for black/brown cotton prints - I have been collecting fat quarters of black/brown fabrics for quite some time - hoping to one day make a large quilt. I absolutely adore the floral focus fabric I used in the this tote (it is also the lining) - I bought yardage of it specifically for this project and pulled a couple of my black/brown fat quarters to work with it. The photo on the right shows the bag without being folded over for closure - the photos below show the top folded over - front (left) and back (right). This bag took about 2 hours to make...and that includes all the ironing, cutting, and piecing. This is a great size for carrying my favorite stitching project...and has a nice size pocket on both the front and the back...along with a generous inside pocket. It was the perfect Saturday Sewing distraction...refreshing me for my current workload. For me, it is always fun to take a break and do a little sewing and quilting...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend...find time to take a break and relax...work on a project that brings you joy!

Picking Perfect Fabric

Today, while Simba was being groomed, I made my monthly trip to Quilter's Cupboard in Ankeny...I was on a quest for some perfect fall fabrics. Last week, I machine embroidered some wonderful autumn designs with the plans to make several seasonal pillows and I wanted to find some great accent fabrics. Like many other quilters, I have a large fabric stash and multiple fabrics that would work...but I just couldn't resist a trip to the quilt shop to see "what's new"! There were so many great fabrics, I had a hard time narrowing down my selection...4 yards and 7 fat quarters later (obviously, not all autumn themed), I was ready to head home with my adorable, freshly groomed dog and enough fabric to make a heaping pile of pillows. Now I just have to find the time to put the pillows together....maybe tomorrow...Sunday seems like a good sewing day...hopefully I will have some finished projects to share with you soon...

Wishing you a fabulous weekend, filled with your own special projects!

A Quilted Bag with a Twist...

I am an analytical learner...I always have been...great when reading instructions and looking at diagrams...not so good when someone tries to "show me how". I was put to the true test with my most recent sewing project! A prototype of a design a friend is working on - I only had paper instructions...no model, no photo of the finished item...just written directions. A little bit of mystery not knowing what the quilted bag was supposed to look like...but I was up for the challenge. The pattern called for five coordinating fat quarters, fusible fleece, and a button...so I went through my stash, grabbed five fat quarters and a matching button...and the bag in the photo was the end result. There is an outside pocket on both sides of the bag and the entire inside is lined with various sized pockets. It measures approximately 14 1/2" L x 7" H x 4" D - a nice purse size. I was very happy with the results...and hopefully it turned out the way my friend envisioned...it will be interesting to see if my analytical skills passed the test....

A note about Blue Ribbon Designs:
I have updated my website with information on the three new designs for September - visit http:www.blueribbondesigns.com and click on "Future" in the left-hand menu to check out new photos, design specifics, and material lists!

An Enjoyable Afternoon...

I decided to take a much needed break today and get out of my office for a short drive. I took a scenic road trip out to Adel Quilting and Dry Goods...I just love this quaint little shop! The drive and the shopping were just what I needed today...it was refreshing. I picked up several new fat quarters...including three new Christmas fabrics...and a beautiful breast cancer fabric I had not seen before...

...and the pattern and the frame for "Be Thou Humble" by Mac-A-Doodles. I just love these embroidery designs with matching frames. They stitch up quickly and the inexpensive frames make them cost-effective to finish. I have several of them on display in my home...they just make me happy!

After returning home, my husband and I enjoyed a late lunch and did a little grocery shopping...it was a lovely afternoon. This evening, I plan to catch up on some housework...then make my way to my stitching nest to work on some new needlework smalls. Wishing you a enjoyable afternoon in the near future...

My First Fabric Flower

I recently read an article in the July/August 2009 issue of Sew Beautiful Magazine on an up-and-coming book called "Kanzashi In Bloom" by Diane Gilleland. I was very intrigued by the article and decided to pre-order the book last month...well, it was released this week and arrived on my doorstep yesterday afternoon. What a fun and fabulous book - I am thrilled with the contents! Kanzashi tsumami is the Japanese art of folding delicate squares of silk into three-dimensional flower petals - used most traditionally as hair ornaments worn by Japanese women. American crafters have made this form of art their own by creating flowers with different materials and accents...and adapting the flowers for a variety of projects. The flowers can be used in so many ways...and the book has TONS of great ideas and instructions. In a short amount of time this morning, I made my first flower...and the instructions were quite clear and easy!! I used eight 3" inch squares of fabric for my first flower (the suggested size for beginners) and made the basic round petal (instructions are included for three petal-folding styles)...for the center, I stacked two buttons. I love how creative I can be building my own flowers...and it is the perfect way to use those favorite fabrics and fat quarters! These are great for "dressing-up" wrapped packages, adorning fashion accessories, or adding to a favorite fabric craft (a quilt, tote bag, or wall hanging). Pictured below is my first flower...and I plan to make an entire bouquet!

Friendship and Fat Quarters

Seems like my life has been insanely busy lately...I haven't had much time to catch my breath or cultivate my friendships. Finally, yesterday I took most of the day off to reconnect with a dear friend...and boy did we have fun! We visited several quilt shops, a bead shop, a stitching shop, and had a wonderful lunch chatting, laughing, and catching up - when I returned home I felt refreshed and rejuvenated - it was just what I needed. Then today, (after a miserable trip to the dentist) I was able to get together with an inspiring little stitching group - what a treat to spend time with this talented group of women - all working on needlework projects that amaze me - all dedicated to their friendships and needlework - it is always a wonderful morning when we get together and stitch. I feel very blessed to have such diverse and creative people in my life.

The shopping trip yesterday found me with several sacks of new goodies...including the fat quarters shown below. Fat quarters of fabric are so addictive and inspiring...and always manage to make their way into my shopping basket. I also picked up some new unique fibers and yarns...a couple great quilting patterns..and three new sets of stationery. It was a day (and dollars) well spent! I hope you find time to cultivate your friendships...make some time to laugh, chat, and catch-up...