Beaches and Birds

Hello friends! I am still busy playing catch-up and getting used to the new schedule in our household...however, I promised I would do my best to make time to visit with you more often, so here I am, doing my best to find a balance. I know this particular post is long overdue, but I just had to share some of my favorite photos from our trip to Florida. We traveled down to see my parents at the end of February for a little family time, along with some rest and relaxation. While the extremely heavy traffic and the large crowds really took away from the relaxation, we did enjoy our time and visit some of our very favorite places...plus, I really cherished the time with my momma and second dad. We visited the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the National Seashore, Disney Springs, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach and the Circle B Bar Reserve, to name a few. Here are an assortment of my favorite photos...

For me, any time at the ocean helps me find my center and refreshes my spirit. Today, I will leave you with a video I took at Daytona Beach...I hope it will give you a few moments of calm and serenity...sound on...

Welcoming the New Year

Season's Greetings! Happy last day of December 2022. In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2022 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2022 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers/creators out there...and a vast amount of needlework and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2023, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion!

First news of this post - the final Blue Ribbon Designs newsletter for 2022 has been posted and emailed to subscribers - you can read it here: https://mailchi.mp/b2514819d23d/blue-ribbon-designs-newsletter-dec2022

Second - EXCITING NEWS!! - I can now officially share that I am a Design Educator for ThermOWeb (you know, the makers of HeatnBond products). I will be creating projects and tutorials for their blog. Expect to see a project almost every month...and each project will have a tutorial with color photos and all the details and instructions. ThermOWeb has sent me a plethora of products to play and design with...and some other amazing goodies that I will be sharing over the next few months. If you have not visited their blog before, be sure to check it out - there are TONS of incredible projects from top designers. My fist post has been uploaded and will be live next week on Tuesday, January 3rd...it is a heartfelt Valentine project, so be sure to check out the ThermOWeb blog on the 3rd...
You can find the blog here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/
...and you can see the list of Design Educators here: https://blog.thermoweb.com/designers/

I have been busy working on new designs and you can expect to see new cross stitch and quilt designs in the near future. Unfortunately, my fancy sewing machine is in the shop for repair (it was stuck in reverse - seriously😒) and the day after I took it in, my back-up machine decided to stop working, as well - you can't make this up! Anyway, a very kind and dear friend loaned me a machine to use for my upcoming deadlines, but the entire situation has messed with my schedule quite a bit...so I am still playing catch-up. I did manage to get all my custom client orders for Christmas shipped in time and get most of my gifts made before the "black cloud" arrived. Here's hoping my fancy machine is easily repairable and will be back in my studio soon. Until then, I have MANY things to keep me busy. I will also be helping my local quilt shop with fabric inventory the upcoming week, so I will be out of my studio for a few days. 

Here are a few creative photos of things I completed before the sewing machine fiasco...

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas holiday and have plans to celebrate the New Year this evening, as well. We will be heading to the Plaza in downtown Kansas City for a dinner reservation and then make our way to a neighbors house, where we will ring in the new year with friends.

As we start a new year, I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my artistic journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2023, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2023, filled with joy, laughter, and creativity!

FlossTube Episode Nine and 2021 Reflection

Happy last Friday of 2021 (almost the new year!) friends... My latest FlossTube video has been posted. This video is a holiday wrap-up, a general update and shows some holiday and personal sewing/quilting/stitching...I talk about my upcoming quilt class and show a couple sneak peeks of upcoming new cross stitch designs. Thank you to those who have subscribed to my channel and to those who have liked and commented on my videos - I appreciate the kind words! 

You can find my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/BelindaKarlsNace and I will post the latest video (https://youtu.be/LVbobG3ddoA) below:

In just a matter of hours, we will be welcoming the new year...and as 2021 comes to a close, I am reflecting on the last 365 days...it sure has been another busy and artistic year...2021 was full of achievements, challenges, advancement, self reflection, and new directions. Thank you for contributing to the success of Blue Ribbon Designs and for your support, encouragement, and loyalty - there are many talented designers/finishers/teachers out there...and a vast amount of needlework, sewing and quilting patterns to choose from - I sincerely thank you for welcoming my designs and allowing my dream to be a reality. I truly love sharing my creativity and I hope you will continue to receive my designs/patterns with open arms and share in my passion for all things done with needle and thread. As we move forward into 2022, I have many goals (too many to list) and a good amount of projects in the works...a pile of creative design ideas and (as always) exciting plans for the future. Thank you for allowing me to pursue my passion...

I would like to thank you for supporting Blue Ribbon Designs and my blogging journey. You continue to inspire me with your creativity, kindness, and generous spirits - BRD would not be possible without you and your patience as I explore new creative avenues and ideas. In preparation for 2022, take a moment to reflect on the past year and the many blessings bestowed upon you...and be sure to take a look at all the beautiful stitching, sewing, quilting, and crafting projects you have accomplished. I wish you a happy, healthy 2022 filled with joy, laughter, and creativity! HAPPY NEW YEAR....

Keeping It Real...

Greetings friends...I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post...and that is really unlike me. I have had things to share and pictures to post - but the words just weren't coming...

Do you ever have those days/weeks when you question life and what it's all about? I seem to be lost in thought lately - completely "in my head"...which is great for my creativity and getting things done - but not so good when it comes to expressing myself. I've been working on me - mentally and physically...and it's ALL good. Many of you know that I am a complete control freak...and sometimes it takes situations being totally out of my control to help me find clarity and remember what is really important. I'm finding out that sometimes those circumstances/relationships that I thought were most important are weighing me down or not as they appear. I am learning some of life's great lessons...for better or worse...and growing in the process. Speed bumps are inevitable and I have determined it is how you deal with them that truly shows your character...I am proud of how I handle adversity and change...and how when my faith, trust, and hope are tested, I can react calmly and logically (that hasn't always been the case). So, I am moving forward, one step at a time, and learning more about myself daily....hanging out in my head, which seems to be a place of refuge at the moment...knowing there is a plan for me and that things will work out (maybe not how I want, but) for the best. That sure doesn't mean that things are quiet here - I have been designing, creating, finishing, and making plans for the future...yep, I have no less than four lists going at once on my desk - things to do, things to simplify, things to organize, and things to let go...all in an effort to find that elusive "balance."

This prize package from Husqvarna Viking that I recently received for my #sewworthit
video entry has been helping me create - thank you to everyone who voted for my video!

Needlework has always been the heart and soul of Blue Ribbon Designs and I am trying to decide how to move forward in an industry that has drastically changed over the past three years. After just a few more hours of stitching time, I will have another needlework design model completed...that will make a pile of sixteen finished models...and I have sketchbooks that are full of ideas and drawings. I may release these designs on my website and in my Etsy shop...or I may release some to shops and distributors...or some I may use some as class pieces for teaching...and there are several other options I haven't even explored yet. They may be printed or they may be digital or both. I know my loyal fans have been patiently waiting for new releases and I keep creating them - I am just trying to figure out the best and most economical way to get them in your hands in an ever-changing business climate. Regardless of what many may think, It is not easy being a small business owner and many times tough decisions have to be made to keep afloat - there are countless times I have to set aside what I want to design, create, and accomplish to do jobs that pay the bills - it is a very fine balancing act that can leave me feeling unfulfilled and/or wondering if doing what I love is really more beneficial than financial security. If you would like to share your constructive/positive ideas and insights with me - I am listening - feel free to send me an e-mail or private message.

BRD-026 Valentine Wishes

BRD-064 Small Tokens of Affection

BRD-045 Sealed With A Kiss

I have been working on new sewing and quilting ideas, as well...and again, I have a file folder of over 40 project designs I have created/photographed to be put into pattern form for sale or distribution....and sketchbooks and EQ7 files of hundreds (yes, hundreds) of design ideas/patterns. I find it really hard to turn off my creative mind - everything seems to be a source of inspiration and creativity...so when those ideas hit, I grab a sketchbook or post-it or scrap of paper (whatever is handy) and draw/write. So, while I haven't necessarily been expressing myself verbally, I have been expressing myself creatively. 

I have been working on custom orders, freelance jobs, and needlework finishing for customers - any work that comes my way....plus trying to sew at least one item for my Etsy shop every single day. I may not have financial security, but I do have a passion for each and every project that finds a way into my studio. Perhaps the perfect job is out there in the world for me, where I can have a steady paycheck and be creative on a daily basis...and if you know what that opportunity is, please do share with me! 

Winter months make me yearn for organization and cleanliness...it is still January, yet I find myself wanting to spring clean and simplify. I have been making piles and organizing...and getting ready to list a bunch of needlework stash that I will never get to in my lifetime. I have piles of kits, charts, books, limited edition pieces, etc. that need new homes where they will be loved and put to good use. I've been going through closets/cabinets/drawers/boxes and letting go of things that I/we don't need or use frequently....all in hopes to find that "balance" I am searching for...it's a process...and like most things, it is moving way too slow for me (a few more hours in each day would be nice...).

I guess what I am trying to say is - I'm still around and I'm keeping busy. My creative side is hard at work...and as my path becomes more clear and I can articulate things better, I will be here - keeping it real - doing my best to share my joy of all things positive, creative and artistic...until then, please be patient with me, we all need a little personal reflection once in awhile...