Studio Snippets

Greetings friends! My studio has been a buzz since we returned from the Dominican Republic and my sewing machine has been humming along. I am back today to show some of my latest needlework finishing projects (the ones I can/have permission to show). I am headed up to northern Illinois to visit my mom and second dad next week and when I return, I am on jury duty...so, I am doing my best to get all the customer orders I have on hand completed. I have some special projects that need my attention upon my return and patterns to write - I'm just trying to find a balance and fill my time with happy, creative work. I'll keep the chatting to a minimum today and let the photos do the talking. These are not my stitching or my designs, just my finishing work - I will post the designer details I have with each image. These projects are from two different stitchers/clients.

Mountain Cabin by Lucy Beam Love in Stitches
Quilted Wall Hanging

Love 2 Stitch (Love Bits) by Hinzeit (Needlebook Outside)

Love 2 Stitch (Love Bits) by Hinzeit (Needlebook Inside)

Serial Bowl Collection - Sampler Lessons - Lesson One
by Plum Street Samplers
Bowl Filler/Pin Pillow

Merry Olde Christmas by Notforgotten Farm
Quilted Finish for an Ackworth Mini Quilt Stand

Autumn Quaker by Primrose Cottage Stitches
Quilted Finish for an Ackworth Mini Quilt Stand

Friendship Quilt by Told in a Garden (Needlebook Outside)

Friendship Quilt by Told in a Garden (Needlebook Inside)

A Christmas Pin Pillow by Kathy Barrick
Bowl Filler/Pin Pillow

Thanks for visiting today - I hope you are inspired to create something special. I am signing off to finish a few more tasks (we are still on the dreaded night schedule, so I am writing this at 1:10 AM) - I still have a pile of Christmas ornaments to finish that are calling my name. I will be working on my June projects for Poppie Cotton and Therm O Web this weekend, before taking time off to visit my family next week. So many projects, not enough time! I look forward to visiting with you again soon...

Songbird Wisdom - New Cross Stitch

Greetings friends - I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit today!

First of all, thank you so much for the super sweet comments and messages regarding my ThermOWeb designs - I am so thrilled you like my project tutorials! I look forward to sharing more pattern tutorials with you in the coming months...

My new overnight schedule means less interruptions, so I have been working on all sorts of creative projects...and today, I am here to tell you all about one of those projects....yes, it's a new cross stitch design alert! I just released a brand new cross stitch design called "Songbird Wisdom" and it is available in both paper pattern and digital format in my Etsy shop. This design contains charting for both the Green Tree and the Singing Bird designs – each with TWO lettering options (one lettering option is Back Stitch with Cross Stitch Over-Two and the other lettering option is Cross Stitch Over-One), stitching instructions, stitch diagrams, and comprehensive finishing instructions. 

Long time fans may recall a similar design I did for The World of Cross Stitching Magazine ten years ago. I gave the design a facelift, made some charting changes and additions, and finished it in my personal style (years ago, the magazine finished the pieces to fit their particular look and gave it a generic name). I have always loved this Chinese Proverb that offers joyful words of encouragement and hope - I wanted to release this design in my catalog with my own personal vision.

Here are a few more details...

Songbird Wisdom (BRD-132)

This pattern includes two designs that fit together. I opted to stitch each on a different color of linen, but it would look great with both on the same color of fabric. I chose two different finishing options (instructions for both are included in the pattern). 

The first finishing option is a quilted wall hanging (would look great in a frame, as well). For this option, I stitched the "green tree" on Zweigart 28-count Cashel Summer Khaki (3281-323) and the "singing bird" on Zweigart 28-count Cashel Antique Ivory (3281- 233). This options shows the Back Stitch lettering for the verse. I used two fat quarters of cotton quilting fabric for the finishing, along with Hand-Dyed ½” Rick Rack from Lady Dot Creates (Chianti). 

The second finishing option is a set of bowl fillers/small pillows (would work great as ornaments or knob hangers, as well). For this option, I stitched the "green tree" on Lakeside Linens 40-count Wood Smoke and the "singing bird" on Lakeside Linens 40-count Pearled Barley. This option shows the Cross Stitch Over-One lettering for the verse. I used a cotton quilting fabric for the backs, along with Hand-Dyed Pom Poms from Lady Dot Creates (Chianti and Ballerina).

All models were stitched with Weeks Dye Works Cotton Floss and DMC conversions are included.

Paper pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1447587816/songbird-wisdom-brd-132-counted-cross

Digital pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1447591256/songbird-wisdom-brd-132-counted-cross

I really hope you like this cheerful, inspirational design - I truly enjoyed creating it!

Now, if you made it this far, you get a very funny TRUE story. We all know our household is on the night shift, so I find myself working into the wee hours...and let's be honest, this schedule has me a hot mess. Last night, I sent my dear friend Terri a text and asked her to proof this design before I listed it (she kindly proofs all my designs). I went to bed at 5:00 AM (and woke up at noon) to a text with just a few things I had to fix - five total typos for fourteen pages, which I was pleased with...until I saw the first correction. It was for the cover page - arguably the most important page...and it was for the title. Somehow, I had typed "Songbird Wisdoom" and didn't catch it (and I was working in Adobe Illustrator, so it does not spell check). I laughed so hard at this - wisDOOM kind of sums up my life perfectly right now. I hope sharing this makes you chuckle...it made me laugh out loud!

Next up, I will be adding a new sewing/quilting pattern to my catalog, so stay tuned for that...

...and, I have needlework finishing and custom work to complete for clients...piles of sewing to complete for my Etsy shop...another project tutorial for the ThermOWeb Blog that will be available in May...plus my blog will be a stop on the Hollyhock Lane Fabric Tour for Poppie Cotton in a little over a week, so I will be back to visit with you again before you know it! 

Thanks for stopping by today and for always being so supportive of my creativity...💗

Halloween Haul

Hello stitching friends! Although we are in the midst of a very HOT and humid summer, it looks like many of you are working on autumn and Halloween projects. I always enjoy checking out creative blogs and social media to see what my fellow stitchers and quilters are working on and I keep seeing fall projects popping up everywhere...perhaps you are all ahead of the game OR perhaps thoughts of autumn and winter are keeping you cool during the heatwave...OR maybe it is the release of the 2020 Just CrossStitch Halloween Special Collector's Issue. This annual issue is quite impressive with 58 spooky designs...and it looks like there is something for everyone - including Blue Ribbon Designs fans - yes it's true, I have a spooktacular design in this issue!

You can find my "Halloween Haul" wall hanging starting on page 36. This "sweet design" is a relatively quick stitch and I provided finishing instructions for the quilted wall hanging...OR this design will fit perfectly in a standard 8" x 10" frame (when stitched as directed on 32-count fabric). The stitch count is 98H x 129W and the finished design size measures approximately 6.125" H x 8.125" W . I stitched the model on 32-count Tarnished Silver from Lakeside Linens with Weeks Dye Works Hand Over-dyed Floss...and DMC Cotton Floss conversions are provided. The linen matches my photo as seen in the upper right-hand corner much better than the image depicted in the magazine and shown below (it is gray, not purple). For some reason, I always lose the lottery with photography in this particular publication (insert eye roll here)...

....AND look for another special Blue Ribbon Designs Halloween project in the October 2020 issue of Just Cross Stitch Magazine (an ornament)...I can't wait for you to see it...

...and of course, I designed a Christmas ornament for the upcoming Just Cross Stitch 2020 Special Christmas Ornament issue!

Things are buzzing along in my studio and I will have quite a few new needlework finishes to share with you soon. This weekend, we are headed to Iowa - but I will be back to visit with you again soon....

Sequestered in the Studio

It's another hot and humid day in Kansas and I have been in my studio working on needlework finishing since early this morning. So while I grab some caffeine and take a short break, I thought I would share a few recent client finishes. Thanks to the pandemic and stay-at-home stitching, Blue Ribbon Finishing is flourishing right now - seriously, I have never had so many finishing orders and new clients! First, I will share some cross stitch ornament finishes, then a large cross stitch wall hanging...again, these are not my designs or my stitching, just my finishing work...

These ornaments were all stitched by the same talented stitcher - and each was a joy to finish (lucky for me, this needleworker gave me minimal direction and let me be creative!). This particular stitcher (a new client) asked for both flat and pillow finishes and let me choose all of the materials. All of the cording is custom made with DMC Six-Strand Embroidery Floss and my Kreinik Custom Corder....and it is hand-stitched in place (I don't use glue on any pieces I finish - just my personal preference) - I also hand sew ribbons, trims (visit Lady Dot Creates for THE BEST trims) and embellishments in place. The fabrics shown with each ornament were used for backing...

Santa's Helper by Mosey 'N Me - 2013 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue

Ewe-le Tide Greetings by Mosey 'N Me - 2013 JCS Christmas Ornament Issue

Deck the Halls by Little House Needleworks

Glitter House 9 by Country Cottage Needleworks

Gingerbread Village by Little House Needleworks

Needlework Shop by Little House Needleworks

Coffee Shop by Little House Needleworks

Finally, here is a large cross stitch piece I finished as a quilted wall hanging. This piece was a bit of a challenge, finishing at 24" x 36"...probably the largest piece I have finished in this way. This is Julian Giraffe from WooHoo Textiles. It was stitched on washable grid aida fabric by a new cross stitcher, who is just learning - I thought this was a very impressive piece for a beginner! I was able to soak out the grid...then found (what I thought were) the perfect fabrics at my local quilt shop (The Quilted Sunflower). I did very small stipple quilting in the border...and attached pockets on the back for a wooden slat with with sawtooth hanger. For the size of the piece, I was extremely pleased with the outcome...

I hope you are inspired to work on something creative...and I'll be back with plenty more cross stitch  finishes in the very near future...

Oh...and stay tuned - I'll show you the cross stitch piece I designed for the Just Cross Stitch Halloween 2020 Special Collector's Issue...yes, I designed a special Halloween piece that can be made into a quilted wall hanging or fit in an 8" x 10" frame. This annual publication is just starting to ship to shops and mailboxes, so I will be back with images and all the scoop VERY soon!

Apple Patch

Hello friends - I am so happy you stopped by for a visit! Today, I thought I would share a recent quilt finish...a small wall hanging quilt I made for my momma. This lovely little quilt pattern has been in my stash for quite some time...I purchased it specifically to create for my mom...and her recent birthday was the perfect occasion to pull some fabrics and start sewing. While this design looks a little complicated, it is actually a paper foundation pattern - Apple Patch by MH Designs. Foundation paper piecing is a quilting technique done by sewing fabric to a printed paper foundation - this method is great when working with tiny pieces and can be used to create extremely precise points and shapes. The finished size of this quilt is 8.75" x 14", so as you can imagine, some of the pieces can be quite tiny. MH Designs has a fabulous selection of paper foundation patterns, that range from beginner to advanced and the instructions are wonderful! I have a small pile of these patterns in my library, several earmarked for specific recipients. The fabrics used in this quilt were all scraps and fat quarters found in my stash - all different collections - just fabrics I thought would work well together for this project. I truly enjoyed working on these quilted apples...and I'm pretty sure my mom was happy with it too! 💗

A day or two after this little quilt was delivered, I had a delivery myself...a gorgeous holiday flower arrangement from my mom...thanking me for the package. It was the perfect arrival at the perfect time. There has not been a lot of Christmas spirit in the new house, especially with being far away from our family and friends...and with my husband working insane hours, holiday excitement is pretty much non-existent. I know, every year, I say I am going to get a tree...but that still hasn't happened....and yes, I know, I have designed and stitched over 100 ornaments and I could easily fill a tree with handmade pieces...so I am not sure what is holding me back (the expense is part of it). I even went as far as measuring the height of the ceiling in our new living room (well, my husband did - who knew we had 9' ceilings?!)...and we looked online at TONS of trees (I knew I wanted a really natural looking tree with white lights)...but in the end, I din't order one (I know, insert eye roll here)...but I did take notes on a few that I liked. However, thanks to my mom and her flower delivery, I have a "mini tree" - it consists of carnations (my favorite), daisies, lilies, and lots of pine...and most importantly, it smells fabulous!! I have moved it around the house three or four times, trying to keep it in my vision at all times. 😊

So, that is my holiday excitement. I do have most of my (minimal) shopping complete...and I have belted out a few Christmas carols while working in my studio...oh, and I have managed to watch a couple Christmas movies/specials on my studio television while working. I'll get myself into the holiday spirit sooner or later...😄

I still have lots of finishing, sewing and quilting orders to complete...so I am spending my days in my happy place...or should I says "nights" - my husband has been working crazy mixed up hours and I tend to keep the same sleep schedule he does. I have also been formatting a few fresh cross stitch designs and researching printing companies in our new area...while my studio is clean, my desk is a complete MESS (I could barely find my keyboard to type this update)!

I'll be back soon with some more gorgeous needlework finishing photos to share with you...until then, I hope you find beauty and joy in the season....

Fresh Finishes

My Handmade Needle Minders
Special Gifts for Friends... 

It's been a finishing frenzy in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio the last few weeks. I am doing my best to get all the holiday finishing orders complete and shipped in a timely manner...I am "one of those" who has an extremely hard time relaxing - especially when I have work waiting for me...so, I have been super focused and working round the clock to finish up the projects on my to-do tables. I am down to one large needlework finishing order (that I started yesterday) and then I am back to custom sewing and quilting for a while. I have been working on a variety of creative endeavors lately, along with some handmade gifts for birthdays and the upcoming holidays...and I have been working on some pieces for Just CrossStitch magazine, including my ornament for the 2020 Ornament Issue and a very special Halloween piece for the Halloween Issue. Here is a picture trail of some of the projects I have completed in the last couple weeks (some I can't share with you quite yet)...and again, these are not my designs or my stitching - just my finishing work...designers and titles listed with each photo...

Swirly Birds and Flowers - Sam Sarah Design Studio
(Silver Needle: A Little Help From Our Friends Stitching Circle)

Another view of Swirly Birds and Flowers - Sam Sarah Design Studio
(Silver Needle: A Little Help From Our Friends Stitching Circle)

The Swim Instructor - The Cricket Collection

An 18th Century Stitcher's Pinwheels - The Goode Huswife

No Place Like Home - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Welcome Friends - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe
Scatter Smiles - Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe

Merry Christmas - My Big Toe Designs

Checker Bird - Heart in Hand

Hats Off to Uncle Sam - Blackbird Designs

Pursue Thanks - Tree of Life Samplings

....and just wait until you see what is currently on my finishing table...some more fabulous finishes will be shared again soon...

Finally - for those who have been asking - here are a few photos of the kids. They have been adjusting well to life in Kansas and are doing a great job of keeping momma on her toes!! The builder has just completed some major work in our backyard and replaced quite a bit of sod...fingers crossed they have a great area to run around in the spring. They are still talking to the cows (our new neighbors) - but the cows just ignore them...😊 

Garin - 2-years-old (our little boy)

Schatzi - 6-years-old (our beauty girl)

This last photo needs a bit of explaining...we are still trying to make the furniture from our previous home work in our new house and have rearranged our living room at least ten times. A few days ago, I moved their doggy bunk bed (yes, they have a bunk bed) to a different area - afterwards when I commanded them to go to their "place", they both got on the bottom bunk...not sure the bottom bunk is supposed to support 175 pounds, but it was definitely photo worthy...

Thanks for visiting today - I hope you are leaving happy and inspired! Stop back soon for more creative goodness...