An Extra Special Giveaway

On occasion, I receive a message from a blog friend/follower telling me that my posts and projects gave them motivation and/or inspired them to expand their creativity...those are messages I am thrilled to receive! Recently, I heard from Rina - she is an avid cross stitcher who has followed my blog for a few years - she told me a wonderful story about how my blog and Etsy shop inspired her to take a sewing class. You see, she had be admiring my sewing/quilting projects and had ordered one of my project bags...when her new project bag arrived, she decided she would like to be able to make them for herself in different sizes and she would like to be able to finish some of her cross stitched items into pillows...so she decided to take a sewing class. She proceeded to tell me - "one three-week course was extended into a nine-week course...my husband bought me a Pfaff sewing machine for my birthday, and I was on my way!!"...she told me "sewing was fun....and quilting was a natural progression - super-fun! How had I lived this long without my sewing machine?? And fabric, well, fabric was, and is, downright addictive!" - I think many of us can agree with that statement!! Rina told me how quickly her tastes have changed and how she still enjoys cross stitching, but right now her passion is for quilting and she even shared a couple photos of her beautiful quilt blocks with me.

So what does all this have to do with a giveaway?? Well, Rina still had that project bag she purchased from my Etsy shop (click to see more photos and details)...and it is still brand new...and since her taste in fabric has changed and she was not going to be using it, she wanted to know if I would like to give it away to one of my blog followers. Well, of course I would! I know many of you are going to be excited about this giveaway, because this particular zippered project bag uses popular sampler print fabric from the Rhubarb & Ginger Collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda for the outside and a floral print from the Madeira Collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda for the lining - and both of these fabrics are long retired! The zippered project bag is approximately 14" W x 10.25" H and is the perfect size for taking your entire needlework project on the go...it will easily hold a standard pattern/booklet (8.5" x 11"), along with fabric, threads, and tools.
...and since Rina was generous enough to supply the zippered project bag, I thought I would add a couple charts to the giveaway, as well...how's that for a BRD prize??!

I am so thrilled Rina decided to message me and share her story (and allow me to giveaway her zippered project bag to one of my blog readers) - I have a feeling we are going to be great faraway friends, as we share a passion for many of the same things. Rina has an Etsy shop called Stitcherina that specializes in quilting fabrics (many of which are retired) - check it out, you may find something you have been searching for...

Giveaway Fine print:
As this giveaway relates to those inspired/motivated by my blog, only followers (current and new) are eligible - after you tell me how you follow, you will have four more entry opportunities! One winner will be chosen randomly and will receive the zippered project bag shown and two Blue Ribbon Designs charts of their choice from my current catalog. International entries are welcome. You must use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter - no e-mail entries will be accepted. The giveaway is open until 11:59 PM CST Saturday, February 22, 2014 and the recipient will be announced on Sunday, February 23, 2014. No prize substitutions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have been inspired by my blog, I would love to hear from you...I always enjoy getting messages from my readers!

A Stitching "Update"??

April is a full month for me, with multiple scheduled events...I have been keeping quite busy preparing class kits, teaching materials, and my mini traveling shop. A little over a week ago, I spent an evening of much needed stitching time with a few close friends - it has been months since I have been able to make time for stitching with friends, so it was a real treat!

I was super excited to pack my stitching tote and get out for an evening with the girls! I rarely have time to stitch on any projects that are not my own designs; therefore, it always seems to take me years to complete anything that is not Blue Ribbon Designs related. Well, you should have heard the comments when I pulled out a project I started last September that didn't look like it had been touched in months...it was quite comical. The last stitching update I posted for this project was October 11, 2010...and since then, it has been in my project bag, folded neatly, waiting patiently for me...funny how time has gotten away on this one...and I would really like to have it done before Christmas of 2011. The particulars (since it has been a while): it is "Winter Wonderland" by Blackbird Designs - which I feel in love with the first moment I saw it!...this is Loose Feathers Pattern 39...I have been collecting the LF patterns since they started and I have actually (*shockingly*) completed quite a few of them (at least I did years ago when the series started).

So, the roof of the house is now stitched...and I have actually started the white of the house and the windows...hmmm, how long it will it take me to even come close to finishing the house...a couple years maybe...?? I guess the lesson I have learned from this is: I need to make more time for stitching with friends....especially if I want to have this project finished before I reach retirement.

Stitcher's Hideaway Here I Come...

Tonight will be a short post, as I am leaving in the morning for my teaching engagements at Stitcher's Hideaway. I am headed to Mystic, Connecticut first thing in the morning and will be gone for just over a week. Lucky me, I am flying out a day early to spend some quality time with Sue, the retreat coordinator at her lovely Connecticut River cottage - I just can't wait to see New England in the fall - it is going to be gorgeous! We have some fun things planned for my "day to play", including a river cruise and a needlework exhibit at the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, CT...and possibly a trip to the local quilt shop...so I should have plenty to share upon my return...I am sure I will be taking lots of photographs.

I will leave you with a progress photo of my Winter Wonderland by Blackbird Designs...I found a little time to work on it this past weekend. It will be my travel companion this week, so we will see if I get much done on my trip...

I hope you will be here upon my return...I will have TONS to share...and it looks like a new giveaway is on the horizon, as I am extremely close to my 300th follower...have a wonderful, happy, and productive week!

A Couple More Ornaments...

While I had all my ornament finishing supplies out and I was on a roll making twisted cord, I decided to finish two more ornaments I had stitched a while back...pictured left Joy, Love, Peace by JBW Designs (from Christmas Keepsakes II)...and pictured right Noel Squared by Lizzie Kate. I decided to use the flat-finishing method for both of these ornaments - and they were pretty quick and easy to do - to me, not as labor intensive as pillow finishing. It was nice to complete a couple ornaments that were not for "work", just for "fun"! A few more ornaments for my ever-growing basket full and my "yet to get" tree...yes, I know, I REALLY *NEED* to get a tree this year...the guilt of hundreds of ornaments feeling the need to be displayed is weighing on me heavy...

....and as promised, here is an update on my "Winter Wonderland" by Blackbird Designs....yep, I actually worked on it late at night when I was having difficulty sleeping. I'm not sure why I work downward instead of across....in fact, normally, I would have done all the vine border first, then started working in the center - I guess I just really wanted to get to the reindeer. This is such a fun stitch...and I figure, if I can get in a few stitches each week, I may have it done in the next year. I think this will be my plane project for when I travel to Mystic, CT next week - since it is actually stitched on 30-count (which seems gigantic to me!), it is a good traveling project.

Forcing myself to find a few moments each day to do something I enjoy that is not business related seems to be working out well - I feel a little more balanced....and as you can see, I have something to show for it. My holiday table runner is completely appliqued and is ready for the final piecing - maybe that will be my next update! For now, my printer is humming away - finishing what is left of the class materials for Stitcher's Hideaway next week, so it is time to get back to the grind...

A Sunday Of Serging...

Last week was a whirlwind...I spent almost every waking hour bagging charts, printing invoices, and packaging the new releases for shipment...and the good news is, they are on their way to shops and distributors and should be at your favorite LNS or ONS very soon!

I took a few hours on Wednesday to get together with my local stitching group, who I hadn't seen in months....and what a nice break it was...always fun to catch-up with my stitching friends. Of course I took along good old "Sarah Moon" - you know, my "go to" project that has been in progress for way too long. So, why aren't you seeing a photo of it here? Well, I did get quite a bit stitched, but guess what?...I counted wrong and basically had to cut out all I accomplished - quite discouraging. So when I visited with a couple special stitching friends on Friday evening, I decided to start something new...something on larger count fabric...something that wouldn't require as much "focus"...so I started "Winter Wonderland" by Blackbird Designs - which I feel in love with the moment I first saw it! It is Loose Feathers Pattern 39...and luckily I am auto with one of my most favorite shops Elegant Stitch for all the Loose Feathers patterns with fabric and floss - so everything was ready for me to start - I have been collecting the LF patterns since they started and I have actually completed quite a few of them! So the photo is what little I completed on Friday night...hopefully I can get it done before Christmas (I can dream, can't I?!)....

The last two days have revolved around getting the class kits ready for when I teach for Stitcher's Hideaway in a few weeks. I am so excited to make this trip to Mystic, CT....but I still have quite a bit left to prepare. Yesterday during the Michigan football game (GO BLUE!) I kitted all the threads and finishing materials. Today, I tackled the linen - it was quite the task - it started as a 15 yard cut of 55" linen - now it is in 132 custom cut pieces...and they are all serged and ready to bag up! I am so happy to have this task done - I have been procrastinating because this giant piece of linen was quite unmanageable and heavy. So the class materials are now all kitted up and tomorrow I will finish taking some photos for the finishing instructions and start printing the materials for the class binders. I can't believe how quickly the dates for these classes are approaching....

Tomorrow, I am taking the morning off to spend time with my dear friend Merry - we are going to visit a couple favorite quilt shops and have lunch...and I can't wait! It is going to feel great to break out of my studio and the organized piles of work surrounding me...time with Merry is always fun, encouraging, and refreshing...and it is just what I *need* right now....

On To The Next...

I am SUPER EXCITED...After 4 years and two months, I have FINALLY finished my Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler (The Gift Of Stitching Magazine)! Your comments, encouragement, and compliments really helped motivate me...thank you so much. I can not wait to take this piece to the framer later today. I stitched my sampler on 45-count Pearled Barley hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens with the Vikki Clayton silks it called for...stitch count is 199 x 199, so my piece is about 8.5" x 8.5" (I placed the ruler in the photo to give you a sense of how small it is). Now that this design is complete, I feel a little bittersweet - I truly enjoyed each stitch and it has been my "go-to" stitch gathering piece for quite some time....however, I am ready to move on to my next UFO....





























So I have decide the next piece I plan to finish is Sarah Moon's Quaker Sampler (Needleprint)...a project I started in November of 2006. I picked 40-count Light Examplar hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens for this project...and my threads are an assortment of silks - I ordered the Vikki Clayton Silks for this project, but was not happy with about half of the color conversions, so I changed them to other various silks I had in my stash (making it a true sampler). I am excited to get back to work on this piece and stitch these beautiful medallions....and hopefully finish another one of the UFOs I have started over the years. My early apologies to my stitching group, as this will now be the project I will have in hand each time we meet...and if history repeats itself, they may be seeing this sampler for quite some time!

Odds and Ends...

This past weekend was filled with home improvement activities...a birthday party for my mother-in-law...and I actually found time to do a little stitching on some community outreach projects.

As some of you know, I have been doing some major spring cleaning and organizing...and with that I have been picking out little home improvement projects I want to get done. Last week, my husband was out of town on his yearly fishing trip with the boys and I decided to research changing toilet seats and installing them myself (which was super easy)...then when my husband returned this past weekend, he humored me by replacing all of the water faucets in our house (three bathroom sink faucets and the kitchen sink faucet), along with replacing the seals and springs in my shower faucet. I couldn't resist taking a photo of Simba being the plumber's assistant...he is such a good helper! It is nice to do those little jobs that make such a BIG difference...next up, fixing our master bathroom door (which needs the shims replaced)....

You know I love to share with you my favorite things....
This weekend we celebrated my mother-in-laws birthday...I had so much fun "foofing" her present! Many of you know how much I like giving and wrapping gifts...and last fall I shared with you my new love of GiftGloss...I am so addicted to "foofing". The highlight on my MIL's gift - I used a bendable bloom to add a little springtime touch...this beautiful glittery flower has a small alligator clip on the back, making it easy to attach to the gift. If you are not familiar with foofing or the FoofQueens, you should visit the "features" page of their website and check out their products and videos!...it is such a fun way to "spruce up" your gifts and you don't need to have boxes, wrapping paper, and tape on hand. I am inspired every time I visit their website...their community even has great ideas for that special occasion gift. Seems like every week I "gloss" something...and I am going to start sharing some of my unique foofs with you...maybe you will be inspired to give a special gift!

...although my weekend was pretty full, I did find time to do a little cross stitch. I worked on community outreach projects for my local EGA guild (Valley Junction Chapter). I did several kissing pillows (our Chapter just signed on to make 100 more) - these 4” X 4” patriotic pillows were designed to be used as a keepsake for the children and loved ones left behind by the soldiers being deployed for military service - the soldier kisses the pillow and gives one to each of his/her loved ones to hold onto until he/she returns from war. I also worked on a handful of baptismal shawls - these are given to the neo-natal and birthing units at Mercy Hospital. I challenge you to find a local stitching group or organization that has community outreach stitching projects...for an investment of your time (doing something you enjoy), you can make a HUGE difference!

...and finally, I saved my BIG BIG BIG news for last - if you are in my local stitching group, you may want to sit down before you read the next sentence...
I have finished my Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler (can you see me happy dancing?!)...you know the one I have been working on since February 2006...the project I take every time my local stitching group gets together. I put in the final stitches this afternoon and it is ready for the framer. Thank you to all my friends and readers who have given me encouragement, compliments, and gentle pushes to complete this project! Tomorrow I will share the finished photo with you...along with a photo of the next project I need "shamed into finishing"...

Getting Closer...

So, as promised, here is an update on my "forever-in-the-works" project...and TA-DA, I have actually made some progress. As I shared with you previously, this is the project I take to my local stitching group gatherings...it has been in my travel stitching bag since February 2006....so it is about time I get it done!! I am FINALLY on the last page...and have only 9 motifs left to finish...something I should easily be able to attain in the near future (right?!). Maybe I should try to get a "motif-a-day" done...then I could have it done in the next couple weeks...wouldn't that be spectacular and worthy of a party?! My local stitching group got together this week and we were already discussing future plans of what I will work on when this is complete (getting a bit ahead of ourselves, as it has taken me years to get this far)...I assured them, my list of half-finished projects is long and I will have plenty to keep me busy once this is complete. In the started pile to catch-up on next are Needleprint's "Sarah Moon's Quaker Sampler" (1/2 done - Started November 2006), Just Nan's "Silkwood Manor" (1/2 done - Started in 2003), Rosewood Manor's "And A Forest Grew" (a little over 1/2 done - Started July 2006), and Hope's Dwelling Place "Janet Gibson's Scottish Swan Sampler" (border half done - started January 2008)...whew, that is quite the list. So there you have it, my secret stash of half-finished projects...once this Papillon Creations Mystery Sampler is complete, I will have plenty to keep me busy! Please continue to cheer me on and motivate me to get this long overdue project done...after 4 years, I am ready to move on to the next...