Winter seemed to fly by, and I am so happy it looks like spring is here to stay for a while. The last couple of months have been a whirlwind. We're still on a "night schedule" in our household, which continues to make life interesting. Even after all this time, I find myself adjusting to this upside-down schedule, but there are far fewer interruptions when I work from 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
I've been catching up on needlework finishing and custom orders that are long overdue. I'm down to one last order, which is amazing, as I have a pile of original designs I want to focus on. I've been keeping busy with fun projects for Therm O Web and Poppie Cotton. Plus, I've been planning something really exciting that will be announced tomorrow! I'm itching to get some pattern writing done. Design work brings me the most joy and is my favorite part of my job, so I'm looking forward to finalizing some original designs very soon.
This weekend, we're heading up to Iowa to see dear friends (who are family to me) and attend the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. I have a long list to complete beforehand. Then, at the end of May, we'll be taking a road trip to Bentonville, AR, for several days to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary (which was at the beginning of April). I'm trying to stay as focused and productive as possible to meet all my deadlines and still have time to travel and play.
Today's photos showcase some of the needlework finishing I've completed for customers (not my stitching, just my finishing) and custom project bags and sewing I've sewn with customer-supplied fabrics. Enjoy the eye candy.
My own design - Needle and Scissor Keep
INSIDE: My own design - Needle and Scissor Keep
Tote Bag Pattern: My own design - Focal and Four Tote Bag
Tomato Season Mat by Notforgotten Farm (Punch Needle)
BACK: Tomato Season Mat by Notforgotten Farm (Punch Needle) Backing fabric: vintage - Nell’s Flower Shop by Blackbird Designs
Garden Morning Drum Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs from the Sewing Club Booklet finished as a pincushion/bowl filler.
BACK: Garden Morning Drum Pinkeep by Blackbird Designs from the Sewing Club Booklet finished as a pincushion/bowl filler.
Happy Thursday friends! It is another early morning (4:01 AM) and I thought I would quickly stop by for another visit. Today, I thought I would share with you a plethora of recent sewing projects for clients - project bags, zippered pouches and a large quilted retreat mat. It is always enjoyable to work with the fabulous fabrics my clients supply for their custom orders. I have been busy getting client orders complete, so I can focus on new design work...and sewing for my Etsy shop. I will have some new patterns and designs coming out over the next couple months and I need to make time to sit down at my desk and work on layouts and instructions....plus, I want to do some extensive design work for a few ideas floating around my sketchbooks. I have multiple upcoming fabric collections to work/design with for Poppie Cotton (collections for remainder of 2024 and into 2025!) and several Therm O Web Blog projects for the upcoming months. AND...a very dear friend recently sent/gifted me yardage (like ten plus yards!!) of Blackbird Designs sampler fabric (yes, I truly have incredible friends in my small circle!), which I am itching to create with for my shop...but some other things on my plate are taking priority for the next week or two. I am hoping to cut into it this coming weekend (if I am lucky!). Alright, I will stop babbling and get to the photos, so I can get back to my sewing studio...
While I am here, I just have to share this zipper photo I took - I order zippers by the hundreds (like 500 at a time!) several times a year - and here is a colorful photo I took of some of the latest order (the other bunches were of single colors, so not as exciting). I had to stock up, so I could work on more project bags and items for my Etsy shop...
Finally - here is another colorful photo I took of some hot air balloons flying over our small, rural neighborhood this past weekend. We have lots of large fields and open areas around us and hot air balloons can be seen often on postcard days. When I posted this photo on my Instagram story, one of my close friends said that the patterns on the balloons looked like quilt designs...I think so too! 💕
Greeting friends! Thank you for stopping by to visit with me today. I find myself sitting down to write this post shortly after midnight. Yes, we are still on a night schedule at our house - and yes, it is still challenging. Really (if I am being honest), life as a whole is extremely challenging right now. These late nights have been hard on me mentally, but good for my productivity - no interruptions in the middle of the night is definitely good for getting things done. In fact, I have been so productive, that I finally made the tough decision to start selling many of my one-of-a-kind sewing creations and models. I have been slowly adding single pieces to my Etsy shop...this will give me room to create more! I have a few favorite items that I am holding on to, and I have gifted MANY pieces over the years, but my pile has been steadily growing...and in this difficult economic climate (running a small business isn't always the best financial decision, as my husband has been reminding me), I decided it was time to part with some of my special pieces. Many of the totes and zipper bags have sold (but there are still a few, as of this writing) and I have now started posting my one-of-a-kind pincushions. I am still thinking on my pillows and quilts. I just know I can't use them all...and the joy is in the creating, not the storing...so it is time to do a little spring summer cleaning...and I am hoping I can find good and loving homes for my creative works. If you are interested in any of my special "made with love" pieces, keep an eye on my Etsy Shop: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com - I am adding pieces as time allows.
I have also been working on and listing more Stitch Starter Ruler and Sleeve Sets and I have some patchwork project bags in progress that will be listed later this week.
On the designing front - for quilters and sewists, I am putting the finishing touches on several new quilt patterns (including my Halloween Star Quilt)...and for my cross stitch fans, I have three new cross stitch models in the works. It has been harder to balance it all lately - I find myself working on projects that pay the bills and not the creative endeavors/new designs I want to explore...which is another reason life feels so challenging right now. It is all making me a bit emotional and frustrated.
I do have new Poppie Cotton pieces to share a week from Friday (July 5th) for the Cottage Charm Fabric Tour...here is a peek at this new fabric collection I snapped before I cut into it...
...and I do have a new Therm O Web project tutorial in thought progress for July. I just got the schedule and themes for next month, and my post will be on the Therm O Web Blog on July 17th...
I will finish up this post on a happy note...here is a fun, short video/Reel I created with some of my special pincushions...this is the version I have on my YouTube channel, but for the best version (because of the music and video timing), view my Reel on Instagram. I have to change music for YouTube to follow copyright guidelines.
Greetings friends and welcome. It's another exciting week in the month of April and time for my 2nd giveaway! Friday, April 5th marked the official 20th Anniversary of Blue Ribbon Designs and I am celebrating all month long with a BIG giveaway each week...AND a couple surprises still to come! To everyone that has supported my small business over the last 20-years, THANK YOU!
Simply follow the guidelines each week to enter for a chance to win that week’s prize pack!
✂️This week you will need to enter via the Rafflecopter form below. There are many ways to get entries this week (please know I will be verifying information). One prize pack winner will be selected randomly from all eligible entries.
✂️This week, since I have AMAZING prize sponsors that will be shipping items, you must have a United States address to be eligible (don't worry international friends - next week the giveaway will be open to all!). A HUGE thank you to Poppie Cotton, Therm O Web, and Lady Dot Creates! Please visit and follow these incredible sponsors for creative content!
Everything needed to create a handful of Sweet Sips Mug Rugs...one for yourself and some to give/gift/share...these are the exact items I used to create the model for my pattern...
✂️ One Fat Quarter Bundle of Fabrics (Promise Me designed by Michal Marco for Poppie Cotton) provided by Poppie Cotton.
✂️ One $50 Therm O Web Gift Card (for use on thermoweb.com) provided by Therm O Web.
✂️ One Package of Hand-Dyed Rick Rack (color: Sizzle) from Lady Dot Creates provided by Lady Dot Creates.
✂️ Sweet Sips Mug Rug Pattern by Blue Ribbon Designs (I will include the color quilt pattern, with the foundation block printed on a StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheet from Therm O Web - my favorite base for foundation quilt blocks.
While you won't receive my personal mug rug model, you will get everything listed on the pattern (and more!) to create a plethora of mug rugs for yourself and a friend or two! The Promise Me Fat Quarter Bundle has 21 prints, so you will have all sorts of lovely fabric...and the Therm O Web gift card will cover the StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheets and Fusible Fleece, with plenty leftover for some additional items! Plus you will receive 3-yards of the Lady Dot Creates Hand-Dyed Rick Rack (Sizzle) and I will send you a color printed pattern with the foundation block printed on a StitchnSew EZ Print Quilt Block Sheet...I'd say that is definitely worth entering for....
One winner will be chosen randomly from all eligible entries.
The giveaway will run from 6:00 AM on April 8, 2024 until Sunday, April 15, 2024 11:59 PM.
...and don't be discouraged if you don't win the prize pack - you can download my Sweet Sips Mug Rug pattern for FREE. The pattern can be found here: https://blueribbondesigns.com/free-charts/
