Quilting and Cupcakes

Continuing on our "day to play" in Franklin, TN - our next stop was The Quilting Squares Quilt Shop & Knit Emporium. This cozy quilt and knitting shop had a a nice selection of fabric and notions...a wonderful wool room...and for those who knit and crochet, a lovely yarn room. The staff was delightful and helpful - and we all had a pile to purchase! I had been searching for a special binding tool (The Binding Tool by TQM Products), that they actually had in stock...and I found some adorable fabric with my favorite motifs - birds, owls, trees ("Let The Sunshine In" designed for Exclusively Quilters)....along with a couple fat quarters, a couple patterns, a pair of scissors, and a tomato pin cushion kit. While we were there (not to name drop) - we ran into several of my favorite designer friends - Cathy and Theresa from CherryWood Design Studios and Tracy from Ink Circles - which was so much fun - always a special treat spend a little time with such creative and talented people!

After leaving the quilt shop, we were on a mission to find "Bead City"...and we did, but it was disappointing and not photo worthy...but it did lead us to a Chinese/Japanese Restaurant next door, where we had a good lunch.

After lunch, it was time for cupcakes - we visited Gigi's Cupcakes...and oh my goodness, it was spectacular! I know they have multiple locations in the south...and they are welcome to open one here in West Des Moines, IA....what a TREAT! It took me a while to decide - they were all so beautiful and decadent. We picked up a box of six...one for each of us and several to deliver. In the box you see: (top row L to R) Chocolate Salted Caramel, White Midnight Magic, Miss Princess (bottom row L to R) Scarlett's Red Velvet, Lemon Poppy Seed, and Carrot Cake....can you guess which one is mine?...I know, too easy...mine is the Miss Princess (white cake with fresh strawberries baked in, topped with a cream cheese frosting, pink sugar crystals & a pink fondant crown)....and yes, I was in sugar shock after finishing this amazing sugary confection! Seriously - this was one delicious cupcake and my "sugar high" lasted for hours (but it was oh so worth it!).

It really was a marvelous trip and I am so glad I got experience the Nashville Needlework Market and Franklin, TN...I couldn't have asked for better traveling/shopping companions...and I learned so much and met so many wonderful people in the needlework industry!

A Stroll Down Main Street

What a treat it was to have a "day to play" in Historic Downtown Franklin, TN with a couple of my very dear friends! It was great weather for this time of year (a little cloudy in the morning, with comfortable temperatures...and the sky turned blue later in the day) - perfect for strolling down Main Street and visiting the quaint specialty shops.

My favorite place we visited was called The Iron Gate - it was filled with stylish home furnishings and accents - and is one of the most unique shops I have visited. My jaw dropped the second I walked in the front door - and I immediately asked if I could take some photographs. This shop was so stylish and classy, yet shabby...vintage, yet fresh and new...and I adored the neutral and white color pallet. There was an abundance of unique and creative items - with chandeliers hanging throughout - and two adorable (very friendly) rescue dogs (Sophia and Bentley) perched on a sofa keeping an eye on the place. I absolutely LOVED everything about this establishment and was very inspired by the atmosphere! Here are a few of the photographs I snapped...

First view when walking in the front door...

LOVE the branches hanging over this large birdcage...and look at one of the dogs posing...

Sophia and Bentley (so sweet)...

I adored this crown...

A spoon chandelier - so unique!

Another great home decor shop we visited (across the street) had an upstairs area filled with warmth and character! Here are some photos from Rebecca's Furniture and Design - the brick walls and paper lanterns made this showroom so inviting:

It was a marvelous morning perusing Main Street and doing some window shopping...and we all found a few goodies to bring home (shocking, I know). Tomorrow I will share our afternoon with you - which included a trip to the local quilt shop and a delicious visit to Gigi's Cupcakes!

Whirlwind Weekend

It was a wonderful weekend at the Nashville Needlework Market. This was my first attendance at a market and it was kind of a whirlwind - and although it was a fabulous learning experience and I met so many "greats" in the industry, it was a bit overwhelming and intimidating for this Iowa girl. Luckily I made the trip with dear friends who were kind enough to show me the ropes and let me tag along on their adventure. The Nashville Needlework Market is an industry trade show - it is held at an Embassy Suites Hotel, where designers and manufacturers set up their own suites as merchandise booths. It was wonderful for me to visit with Norden Crafts and Hoffman Distributing, both who distribute and showcase my designs...and a real treat to visit with Weeks Dye Works, The Gentle Art, and Crescent Colours - who all supply me with quality materials...I even had a chance to talk with the girls from Just CrossStitch Magazine - after almost ten years of designing, it was about time I got to meet all of these creative people in person! I had a long list of shop owners I wanted to search out in the crowd, which proved to be a bit more of challenge - they were all on a mission...shopping to fill their establishments with new and exciting designs and materials - I spent most of my weekend looking at name badges and trying to put faces to the wonderful shop owners who support my design work - I ran into many, but unfortunately, there were some on my list I did not cross paths with...it seemed I blinked and the weekend was over. It was also a dream come true to meet many of the designers who had their work on display - I am such a "fan" and was almost starstruck meeting some of the designers I have admired over the years. Some of my favorite booths were SamSarah (and Patti had some of her GORGEOUS quilting, as well - my jaw dropped in her room!), Just Nan (who's new pieces were fresh and fabulous - especially in person), Blackbird Designs (they never disappoint and I was so thrilled to be able to take a look at their suite and the new designs), Summer House Stitche Workes (it was very fun to meet Beth Ann and see her designs in person), Praiseworthy Stitches (amazing, AMAZING models) , Shepherd's Bush (so beautiful, so fun - and so friendly), and The Stitching Parlor (Clara was delightful!)....there are just too many to mention them all - in fact, I didn't even have a chance to visit some of the rooms. Make sure to check out your favorite needlework shop and see all the new releases - including three from Blue Ribbon Designs - in fact many online shops already have market reports posted!

Although photography is pretty much prohibited at market, below is a photo that includes a small selection of the exhibitor banners...exhibitors took up four entire floors of the hotel.

Tomorrow, I will share a bit more from my trip...including some great photos from shopping in downtown Franklin, TN....

A Perfect Afternoon...

Last Friday I had the most fabulous birthday celebration with my dear friends Kimber and Merry. We met for lunch at one of my favorite local restaurants called Fire Creek - enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the relaxing ambiance and spent a couple hours just catching up. I always enjoy chatting it up with Merry and Kimber, as they are full of creative inspiration - we always talk about cooking, gardening, sewing, crafting, and homemaking...and I always get lots of tips, advice, and encouragement...

After lunch and opening my birthday presents, we headed down to Valley Junction - a historic district in West Des Moines that was founded during the development of the railroad line - there are more than 120 specialty stores and antique shops (many of them housed in buildings constructed at the turn of the nineteenth century). It is always a treat to head down to main street and we definitely have our favorite store fronts to visit! Our first stop was Sisters, a quaint shop filled with home decor, vintage treasures, stationery, jewelry, and charming gifts - one of my favorite gift shops in the city.

After leaving a few dollars at Sisters, we headed to Carefree Patisserie (in their new FABULOUS location), where they bake the most delicious cupcakes...they had a great assortment of flavors on Friday (see the cupcake counter upper right) - I decided to go with White Almond - Kimber picked up Chocolate Mint - and Merry had a special Butterscotch Bacon...yes, I said Butterscotch Bacon (made in honor of the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival held on Saturday), which she said was YUM-O! The new location also has a unique assortment of baking supplies and gifts. I decided to be nice and bring home a cupcake for Travis - for him, I picked up a "Muddy Farmer" (a caramel cake filled with chocolate fudge - topped with chocolate buttercream, honey roasted peanuts and pecans...and a few pig sprinkles on top!)...needless to say, he devoured it!

After enjoying our cupcakes and tea/coffee, we headed over to The Quilt Block - a great little fabric shop, where I found yardage of the new French General line "Rouenneries Deux" and a few sewing notions (have you ever known me to go to a quilt shop and leave empty handed?).

You would think we would be all worn out/shopped out by this time - but no - we had one more stop to make - we left Valley Junction and headed over to Archiver's to do just a bit more economy enhancement. I found a pile of special embellishments and pretty papers...and even purchased a paper trimmer (an American Crafts Cutup - which is WAY cool).

After our day together, I returned home feeling completely inspired and itching to work on a bunch of new projects! It was a perfect afternoon and I felt so blessed to celebrate my birthday with my dear friends.

Once again, Merry and Kimber spoiled me with the most AMAZING birthday gifts...and they had Valentine pressies for me too...

Kimber brought me an adorable owl writer's block with matching pen....the most awesome fat quarter stack of fabrics (aren't they adorable! - I love these!!)...and a decorative pedestal plate with bird and a glass cloche (which was difficult to photograph) - I absolutely adore this - my mind is swimming with ways to display it! Kimber has impeccable taste and I am always delighted with the gifts she finds for me...

In true Merry fashion, I was showered with presents to open! She brought me a bag full of Valentine goodies - including beautiful tasty chocolates from Chocolaterie Stam, two snack mats (she made with frog fabric - so cute - see the tutorial on her blog) and some of her homemade jelly. She also brought me the cutest suitcase style box for my birthday that contained a cast iron teapot (which is something I had told her I wanted), a set of three nesting Japanese teacups, two handmade snack mats, a handmade trivet, and a bag of organic kukicha twig tea...I am such a lucky girl!!

I'll say it again - I have the most wonderful, special, generous, kind, and talented friends! I feel very blessed to be surrounded by friends (near and far) who love, support, and encourage me.

Over the next few days, my focus turns to the TNNA Nashville Needlework Market - I am heading to Nashville on Thursday and I'm looking forward to seeing some very close friends...and hopefully make some new ones...

Upcoming Design Spotlight: "Redwork Garden"

I had every intention of waiting until next week to share the final new upcoming release with you - but I have been getting inundated with email requests for information (which is very encouraging), so I decided to share the third design "Redwork Garden" with you today. Look for this new design, along with "Beauty in Simplicity" and "Friendship Blooms" to start arriving in needlework shops following the the Nashville Needlework Market being held on February 25-26th.

"Redwork Garden" (BRD-106) is a framed sampler design with two coordinating needlework smalls that combine my three loves: needlework, quilting, and gardening. It is a companion piece to "Quilted Garden" that was released last fall. This design is stitched with three colors of The Gentle Art Sampler Threads (two reds and a white) on Chantilly Creme hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens (the models use 40-count, but you can use your favorite).

The entire sampler is Cross Stitch over two-linen threads, with the exception of the verse (which is Cross Stitch over-one linen thread); I have included alternate charting of the original verse in Back Stitch for those who shy away from over-one needlework.

The needlework smalls include a scissor fob and a biscornu...and complete finishing instructions are included. For the buttons on the biscornu, I stitched my initials and the year over-one on small scraps of fabric, then used a Dritz Cover Button Kit (found at hobby and sewing shops) to make the buttons...I also included an alternate alphabet/numbers in Back Stitch, if you are not a fan of over-one Cross Stitch.

Additional photos, design specifics, and a complete supply list are available on my website - simply visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com and click on "Future" in the left-hand menu...then scroll down to the photos and information on "Redwork Garden". The chartpack contains charting for the sampler/scissor fob/biscornu, stitching instructions, stitch diagrams, complete finishing instructions for the scissor fob and biscornu, alternate verse charting, and an alphabet/numbers for personalization.

I am excited to share "Redwork Garden" with you...and hope you will look for this design at your favorite needlework shop following the Nashville Needlework Market (February 25-26)....

Needlework Smalls Front View:

Needlework Smalls Back View:

Upcoming Design Spotlight: "Friendship Blooms"

It is time for another upcoming design release spotlight - this design will be released later this month at the TNNA Nashville Needlework Market (a needlework industry trade show for manufacturers, designers, and needlework shops). I will be releasing three new designs - several days ago, I shared "Beauty In Simplicity" with you - today's spotlight will be on "Friendship Blooms". Look for my three new designs to start arriving in needlework shops following the the Nashville Needlework Market being held on February 25-26th. In the meantime, enjoy this special spotlight feature...

Friendship Blooms (BRD-105) is a framed sampler with a fun sixteen square border. This friendship design features an original verse and is perfect for "Round Robin" or group stitching. Each square in the border can be used for an individual needlework small - the chartpack includes finishing instructions for three styles of ornaments/fobs/hook hangers; these three styles include: backing your ornament/fob with linen, backing your ornament/fob with wool or cotton fabric, and using finishing forms. Here are some other creative finishing ideas: magnets, bookmarks, pinkeeps/cubes, needlebooks, and or floss ring tags - there are endless finishing possibilities. The sampler verse is cross stitched over-one, but the chartpack includes alternate charting that uses a back stitch for those of you who shy away from over-one stitching. I also included two alphabets/sets of numbers for personalizing your piece(s).

I have posted all the details on my website - including additional photos and a complete supply/materials list - simply visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com and click on "Future" in the left-hand menu...then scroll down to the photos and information on "Frienship Blooms". All model pieces were stitched on Straw hand-dyed fabric by Weeks Dye Works with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss (DMC conversions are provided). I worked the cover models on 40-count linen, but you can choose your favorite count!

I hope this friendship sampler will speak to you...

"Friendship Blooms" Sampler

Ornaments/Fobs/Hook Hangers (40-count Straw linen by WDW)
Top two - backed with linen
Middle two - back with cotton fabric
Bottom two - finishing forms (2" square)

Ornaments/fobs stitched on 28-count Jobelan (Bone):

Ornaments/fobs 1 and 6 - backed with cotton fabric

Ornaments/fobs 2 and 5 - finishing forms (2" square)

Ornaments/fobs 3 and 4 - backed with linen

A Hug & A Kiss

Keeping with my Valentine's Day theme, over the weekend I managed to finish a new mini quilt for my 12" x 12" tabletop stand. This is a Jacob's Ladder variation ("A Hug & A Kiss") and was a nice challenge to piece (the little squares you see in the design are 1" finished) - it actually went together rather quickly for me and I really enjoyed working with the red, white, and pink fabrics. It measures about 12 1/2" square and fits perfectly on my cute little stand (which was desperately in need of a change). I have 6 or 7 of these little quilts finished for my tabletop stand and try to change them on a somewhat regular basis. I have a fabulous mini snowflake quilt to make for it next - hopefully sometime later this month...it would be great to have it completed to put in the little stand after Valentine's Day...or at least while there is still snow on the ground. I also have a lovely Valentine's Day fabric panel I would like to make into a wall hanging, but I am not sure if that will happen before the 14th - too many Blue Ribbon Designs deadlines to complete before then. For now, I am happy to have this little treasure complete and on display...

This evening, I will be bagging the new design charts and getting them ready to ship to distributors for display at the TNNA Nashville Needlework Market later this month. My printer delivered them today and I am very happy with how they turned out! There are a lot of boxes to deal with, so I will be extremely busy for a few days...and when I am not bagging, I will be stitching on a special framed Halloween design for a Just CrossStitch publication.

Tomorrow's blog post will be another spotlight on an upcoming new release - "Friendship Blooms"...so I hope you will return to read all about it...

Upcoming Design Spotlight: "Beauty In Simplicity"

If you read my February Newsletter or follow me on Facebook, Google+, or Twitter, then you know I have been working hard on the three new releases for later this month at the TNNA Nashville Needlework Market (a needlework industry trade show for manufacturers, designers, and needlework shops). Look for my three new designs to start arriving in needlework shops following the the Nashville Needlework Market being held on February 25-26th. In the meantime, I thought I would do several blog posts featuring each of the upcoming new releases.

Today's design spotlight is on "Beauty In Simplicity" (BRD-104). This special design was inspired by my research on the Shaker culture and gift drawings...and was originally a teaching piece for the New England Stitcher's Retreat. It features charting for an oval Shaker box lid, three needlework smalls (a scissor fob, pinkeep, and needlebook), and a framed sampler design. I have posted all the details on my website - including additional photos and a complete supply/materials list - simply visit: http://www.blueribbondesigns.com and click on "Future" in the left-hand menu. All model pieces were stitched on Navy Bean hand-dyed fabric by Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dye Works cotton floss. The Shaker box lid and needlework smalls are stitched on 32-count linen; please note, if you use a different count of linen, your stitched design will not fit the recommended Shaker box lid appropriately.

If you are wanting to purchase the beautiful Shaker box used in my design, here are a few details:

They are handcrafted by a wonderful woodworking artist in Canterbury, New Hampshire. His workshop is called Canterbury Box Shop - and he handcrafts each oval box with quality woods, utilizing traditional techniques formed by the Shaker community. This special order oval cherry box comes with a 1/4" recessed lid for mounting your needlework - and the box itself measures 3 1/2" x 6 1/8" x 8 5/8". The retail price of the box is $62.00 + shipping; to order by phone, simply call 603-783-0394 and specify the item "custom recessed lid #4 Cherry Box". As each box is handcrafted (and absolutely gorgeous), please allow four weeks for delivery.

Canterbury Box Shop

http://www.canterburyboxshop.com

Phone: (603) 783-0394

info@canterburyboxshop.com

I am so thrilled to finally have this design ready for consumer purchase...and I hope you will look for it (after release) at your favorite needlework shop!

Shaker Box - Lid Design

Needlework Smalls - Front View

Needlework Smalls - Back View