Showing posts with label magnet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label magnet. Show all posts

Friday, September 2, 2011

Cute Creative Embellishments

Back in July, my dear friend Kimber did a review/tutorial on her blog (Heirlooms by Ashton House) of the Imaginisce "i-top tool"...and I just had to get my hands on one and play with it for myself! This slick tool easily creates buttons, brads, magnets, pins, and badges...even bobby pins, rings, and headbands...it is WAY COOL!! The i-top tool is pink handled with rubber and metal heads...and although it may look confusing, it works easily and makes much more sense when you have one in your hand - it even comes with a Demo DVD to help you get started. You decide what type of item you want to make and the size, then purchase the hardware separately (these pieces are called "daddies" - button daddies, brad daddies, magnet daddies, etc.). The daddies come in three sizes: small (16mm), medium (22mm), and large (28mm) - the large size requires a large head set (purchased separately) to accommodate the size of the hardware. I played with making buttons, brads, magnets, and pins - all with fabric (you know I like to find fun ways to use my scraps)! If you use paper, Imaginisce has punches for all three sizes to easily cut the shape needed...there are also templates you can purchase to help you easily cut fabric and other materials to the correct size. In the top photo, you can see an array of the fabric covered daddies I made - then below, a photo of the backs. If you are into crafting gadgets, I found this to be quite a useful tool and easy to operate - but beware, it is addicting - I couldn't make just one button!...and how cute is my little owl pin??! For those of you on the lookout for this creative gadget, I found the i-top tool and several styles of daddies at my local Archiver's store....I also saw them the other day at my local Michaels store...no affiliation, no incentives - just sharing what I feel is a fun product/gadget with you! I have already looked through my scrap box of fabrics and picked out a bunch of pieces I want to fussy cut for buttons and pins...you will definitely see me using more of these creative embellishments in the future!

Saturday, July 23, 2011

"Moonlit Midnight" - Coming in August

Over the next couple weeks, I thought I would do several blog posts featuring my new designs being released at the TNNA Fall Needlecraft Market. This fun Halloween design is item BRD-101 and is titled "Moonlit Midnight". The models are stitched on 32-count Tundra hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss. This whimsical piece is perfect for taking sections and making Halloween ornaments, needlework smalls, and holiday decorations! The chartpack contains charting for the sampler and needlework smalls shown below, stitching instructions, and complete finishing instructions for the ornaments/fobs and pins/magnets. I had a lot of fun working on the small pieces; the ornaments/fobs are made with 2" Finishing Forms by Flying Needles (http://www.flyingneedlestx.com/)...and the pins/magnets are made with Half Ball Cover Buttons by Dritz (http://www.dritz.com/) mounted on cotton fabric yo-yos....the chartpack gives you easy step-by-step instructions for making each! I will be posting all the specifics and a complete supply list on my website in the next couple weeks...and stay tuned for feature posts on two more new designs coming out in mid-August...

Monday, January 31, 2011

Coming the Fall of 2011 - "Moonlit Midnight"

Okay, I do know it is a little early to release a Halloween design...but here is a sneak peek at a new design that will be coming in August of 2011. It is called "Moonlit Midnight" and the chartpack will contain charting for the entire sampler - along with finishing instructions for making the ornaments (or scissor fobs) shown below....and finishing instructions for making the pins/magnets with yo-yo backs, also seen below. The pieces were stitched on 32-count Tundra hand-dyed linen from Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dyes Works cotton floss. This piece was originally designed for a special Halloween event, but the coordinator didn't think it was a good fit for their group - so their loss is your gain - I will be releasing it to the general public later this year! You will have to be patient for the release...it won't be available until the fall needlework market...but since the stitching is complete, I thought I would share it now - a little something to look forward to...







A couple more things to share...
I have updated my website with details and supply lists for the two new designs being released in February at the Nashville Needlework Market... http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/blue_ribbon_coming_soon.htm

Exciting news - I will be releasing my 100th design at market (can you believe it?! - and that is not counting magazine or teaching pieces)...so I will be having a giveaway in the coming weeks to celebrate....

One last thing - I see my blog has reached 400 followers - WOW! - thank you so much for reading, commenting, and encouraging me! I will be having a milestone giveaway for my faithful followers in the very near future....check back soon!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Art From The Heart

Hello friends and followers - I'm glad you are here! Thank you so much for entering my current giveaway and spreading the news about my blog - you are all amazing - the response has been incredible - I sincerely thank you for your lovely compliments! I have been having the best time visiting/reading your blogs and seeing all the creativity!

...for those of you visiting my blog for the first time (or if you haven't visited in several days), there is still time left to enter my milestone giveaway - just check out Saturday's post...

Today I received the most special package in the mail....it was from Karen at Purplecatscorner (I hope she doesn't mind me sharing it here - I just couldn't resist!)...I found Karen on Twitter through a mutual follower - I visited her Etsy shop and immediately fell in love with her art....then I found her special blog and I was hooked! Karen is a mixed media artist and seeing her original work automatically brings a smile to my face....you can tell each piece is definitely "art from the heart"...to me, her artwork is full of joy. Last week, to celebrate 300 followers and 100 Etsy sales, she had a blog giveaway....I shy away from any blog giveaway related specifically to cross stitch/needlework, as I am blessed to have many projects and a stash to last a lifetime....but Karen's giveaway was not needlework related, so I took a chance and left a comment....sure enough, I was a runner-up (I feel so extremely lucky)! I received both a magnet (approximate size 2.5"W x 3.5"H - seen right) and a mini print (approximate size 3.5"W x 5.25"H - seen left), both of her original work - both truly WONDERFUL!...and of course, after getting her package, I *had to* go order several more pieces from her Etsy shop. :-) I just had to share a photo of the pieces I received today with you - hopefully they will make you smile too...



















To see more artwork from Purplecatscorner, you can: