Fun with Felt

Greetings, friends! I am gearing up for my first Benzie Maker Team post that will be live on their website on June 3rd...but I had to stop by and share a few recent makes and the welcome package that Benzie Design sent me...along with a personal order I placed.

First, I have to tell you about the welcome package I received. This package was a beauty! If you are new to Benzie Design, you should know, they package everything impeccably - every package from them arrives like a present. The welcome box was full of Benzie Design favorites:

• Bellwether Swatch Chart (72 Colors of 100% Pure Merino Wool) 
• Bellwether Felt (Cutting Table Palette)
• A Selection of Benzie's Favorite Threads
• Felt Scissors
  
• Linen Embroidery Fabric
• Sequins and Beads
• Stuffing Tool
• Needle Felting Tool
• Corriedale Roving Bundle
• Felting Pad

I posted a video on my Instagram and YouTube Channel, should you want to see each individual product. Here are a several images - one of the packed box (minus the welcome letter) and a couple photos of the contents.

Since the announcement that I made the team, I have been itching to play with some of the welcome products, along with the supplies I have purchased from Benzie Design over the years. I decided to create several adorable felt donuts using the Valentine Treat Trio Tutorial by Mollie Johanson of Wild Olive. I already had all the supplies for this project, including the Circles & Scallops, Deep Etch Die, making the cutting easy! I had been wanting to make some of these since I first saw them...and I am so happy I finally did. I normally don't have much time to play in my studio for fun...but this project made my heart happy. I have already gifted the few that I made.

I also placed a personal order for a few things I needed and a few things I wanted...oh, how difficult it was to decide what to order...I would take at least one of everything they sell, if I could afford it! I narrowed my order down to a couple pairs of scalloped shears, a couple more deep etch dies (Daisy Flowers Small and Daisy Flowers Large), some super strong small magnets, a pair of metal snips, and a screw punch. These are all tools that will make my creative life easier. I may need to get a part-time job or rob a bank to start paying for my Benzie Design addiction...

Finally, I wanted to share a project I finished yesterday...a Graduate Pennant! This tutorial was posted on the Benzie website by one of my fellow team members (Happy Camper). It was posted at the perfect time, as we have a high school graduation party to attend this weekend for the daughter of dear friends. I already had all the supplies and her tutorial made it easy! I chose the colors of our local high school (purple and yellow) and of course, I chose the option to sew all the pieces in place. I was so happy with how it turned out...and the mother of the graduate was impressed too, so WIN, WIN!

Graduate Pennant Tutorial by Happy Camper: https://www.benziedesign.com/blogs/tutorials/graduate-pennant

I can't share my first project for the Benzie Design website just yet...but look for a sneak peek photo real soon. It is a very fun summery project...and just makes me smile! It is due to them next week and will be live on June 3rd.

For now, I am back to work - I just finished my Therm O Web project for this month and I am working on posting all the details. It will be up on the Therm O Web Blog on Monday, May19th.

I hope you will stop back and visit with  me again soon!

Jenny's CTC Box: December 5th - 10th

Greetings friends! It will be a short post today - I just wanted to drop in and share the last five days from Jenny's Countdown to Christmas Box with you. It has been such a special treat to have a small present to open each day...it really has put me in more of the Christmas spirit this year. I must say, I have been really impressed with the items this year - so far, all things I will make and use. If you are not familiar with this box, it is a sewing advent calendar from the Missouri Star Quilt Company with 25 numbered and wrapped presents. I shared the first five days last week. Today's post includes days numbered six through 10. Before I go any further, this is not really a spoiler, as everyone who has this box should already have the gifts from the 6th - 10th opened - but if you do not want to know what was in each of these packages, stop reading/looking now... Click on images, if you want a larger view...

Day 6: A wooden clapper (pressing block) and/or ruler and template holder
with spindles for spools/bobbins.

Day 7: A Charm Pack of Strawberry Lemonade by Sheri & Chelsi for Moda.

Day 8: Hexie Cellphone Clutch pattern, with hardware, templates and
interfacing. Pattern uses fabric from day 7.

Day 9: Two paper star lanterns with fairy light strings. One has snowflake
cuts and the other has sewing item cuts.

Day 10: A pair of "Chuck" embroidery scissors with a tassel and MSQC
quilt block charm. Chuck the Duck is the MSQC mascot. You can see
him on the red wrapping paper in my images.

There you have it, the next five gifts unveiled - 15 more to go...Christmas is coming in quickly this year. I need to hurry up and finish my gifts and get them shipped!

Saturday Samplings...

My design studio has been overwhelmingly busy this past week...and unfortunately, I can't really show you much just yet...I finished a Christmas ornament for the 2014 Just CrossStitch Ornament Issue and a Halloween ornament for the 2014 JCS Halloween Issue...and super exciting - I am finishing up an original quilt block submission for a very fun quilting magazine...I'm also just finishing up the stitching on a few small items I designed for the Elegant Stitch annual breast cancer kit...plus there are new designs that I need to prepare for release...and I am slowly, but surely, rebuilding the entire Blue Ribbon Designs website...yep, I've been burning the candle at both ends.

Another thing that is keeping me busy, is training for the Komen 3-Day in Dallas this coming November. I have received questions from several of you wanting to know if I am walking again...and the answer is ABSOLUTELY, 100% "YES" - in fact, my airline travel was booked this week! Team Twinkle Toes will be meeting up in Dallas to walk the 60-miles for breast cancer awareness/fundraising and I can't wait to get together with my teammates and lace up my shoes again...and yes, I will be asking for your help with my fundraising again this year. I have continued to train throughout the winter months, even with the bitter cold and snow/ice/wind...and with a little help from my treadmill...I just have to get back in the habit of logging each of my walks, so I can keep track of my mileage....having two dogs that need daily walks also gets me outside every single day. There will definitely be an exclusive design again this year for those who make a donation on my fundraising page - I am in the charting process now and there will be more information and photos in the coming months.

Mama Twinkle Toes has also been SUPER busy working on fundraising ideas/projects for our team expenses (which add up extremely quickly)...and the first one has been released and is a HUGE success! See the beautiful scissor holder in the upper photograph? - isn't it GORGEOUS?! It is made from an antique wooden weaving spool, polished from years of service and a lot of thread running over it....the bottom is wrapped with a black strip of 100% wool and then a little black and white gingham ribbon tied in a bow with 2 keys attached...and the bottom of the spool is covered with a circle of brown wool to protect your furniture...and little black scissors are the perfect accessory. This very unique scissor holder is the first fundraiser for our expenses - it is called "Key to Everything" - and is in very limited supply - I know the first scissor holders have sold out, but Mama Twinkle was able to get a few more of the antique spools and is now waiting for more scissors to arrive. If you would like to purchase one (or more) to help support our team, visit: http://www.elegantstitch.com/what%27s%20new.htm for all the details. The price is a very reasonable $20 + postage (and this includes a pair of those cute black scissors)...I am not sure exactly how many are still available, so if you are interested, be sure to promptly visit the link and follow the instructions for ordering. Team Twinkle Toes is so very grateful for your support - we truly are!

...and with permission (my blog readers are seeing this first!)...here is a little peek at the next fundraiser...an antique wooden domino pincube - seriously, how cute is this?!...

It is just the sweetest pincube, with needle felt sandwiched between two antique wooden dominoes, tied with a black ribbon bow, and adorned with pearlized pins...so fun!! I don't have all the details or pricing for these just yet...they are still in the works...but I will post more details when they are ready...this is just a little teaser of things to come...

I'm off to finish up my quilt block project and possibly get in a little more quilting before heading back to my stitching nest for more model work...I hope you are having an enjoyable weekend!

"Through The Trees"

This coming Wednesday I start shipping the two new Halloween designs to shops that participate in my automatic program...I am super excited to have two very unique Halloween pieces ready for you! Today I will tell you all about "Through The Trees" (BRD-112)...then we will talk about "Mischief at Midnight" in the next couple days.

"Through The Trees" is a framed design and two coordinating needlework smalls (a pin pillow and scissor fob). This spooky design with an original verse contains an assortment of specialty stitches, including: Cross Stitch over-two linen threads, Back Stitch, Four-Sided Stitch, Long-Armed Cross Stitch, Smyrna Cross Stitch, Nun Stitch, Tent Stitch, Cross Stitch with Bar, Point Croise Stitch (Double Back Stitch), Long Straight Stitch, French or Colonial Knots (minimal) - stitching diagrams and instructions are included in the chartpack. The charting also contains complete finishing instructions for the scissor fob and pin pillow with place for scissor attachment. The models were stitched on 32-count Tundra hand-dyed fabric from Lakeside Linens...but I would also suggest Weeks Dye Works Dolphin (a little darker grey) or Weeks Dye Works Dove (a little more green) for a good Halloween look. I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss, but as always, DMC conversions are provided....and those cute little scissors you see attached to the pin pillow model (which are NOT included with the chart) are Primitive Little Gems by Kelmscott Designs.

You can find a complete supply list and all the details on my website:
http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/BRD112%20Specifics.html

Expect this new Halloween design to start arriving in needlework shops the first week of September!

Beautiful Button Box

It is a lovely sunny day here in central Iowa and I am getting ready to do a long walk in the sweet sunshine....by the time I finish this quick post, it should be about 40 degrees and I am ready for some fresh air! Yesterday I walked 6.5 miles in 30 degrees and that was a bit chilly - I had some very rosy cheeks....but today we are supposed to hit 47 degrees and I am excited to do a 10 mile training walk outdoors. I want to do a special thank you to those of you who have made a donation supporting my Komen 3-Day (60 mile) walk in  November - I am almost to $900.00, which is AMAZING (15% of my goal) - and I truly appreciate your support! This is such an important cause and I thank you for your encouragement and very generous hearts...

Today I have a couple fun tings to share with you - I received a lovely birthday package from my dear friend Terri - inside was a gorgeous Shaker button box (and you all know how much I love and treasure my Shaker items). This beautiful button box was filled with tiny wrapped presents (shown top right) - including a wonderful embroidered wool pincushion and some very fancy scissors (which I have never seen before!). I have already started filling the button box with various vintage buttons and trims and have it sitting in a place of prominence in my stitching nook. Terri also included a lovely scarf she knitted herself - isn't it great?! I do not do any knitting or crocheting to speak of, so I feel very blessed to have friends that are so talented and gift their yarn creations to me (again, I'm a very lucky girl)!

Also to share today - I managed to get quite a bit of sewing done over the last few days - finishing up some fun St. Patrick's Day items! I have been working on wool applique pincushions and several L.U.C.K. pillow sets. These have all been listed in my Etsy shop. I also cut up several yards of special sampler fabrics and I am working on new needlebooks, stitch starter sleeves, and stitching pockets....so look for those to be posted in the next week or so...

For now, I am off to do my lengthy walk...enjoy the rest of your weekend...I hope you have a chance to get outside and/or be creative!

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!

My Christmas...

“Friends are the family we choose for ourselves” - this quote by Edna Buchanan comes to mind as I type this post today. I am so very blessed to have an amazing small circle of friends to call family. Today was Christmas with my two very dear friends, Merry and Kimber...we had such a wonderful afternoon. We met at a local cafe for lunch to celebrate the holidays - and what a marvelous time we had! If you are a regular reader of my blog, then you know the three of us tend to go "overboard" each time we get together...and Christmas gives us yet another excuse to spoil each other with gifts! Lunch was delicious and filled with conversation and giggling...and I enjoyed every minute of it...Merry and Kimber truly inspire me and always lift my spirits and encourage me. After lunch, Merry ordered a trio of desserts for us to share that was "sinful" to say the least - it was a lovely sampling of sweet treats...and then it was time for our annual Christmas gift exchange. I have to tell you, this post might be a little long, as there were so many gifts to open...the restaurant host was wise to put us in a corner booth, as it seemed we were there for hours!

I always make a special gift or two for both Merry and Kimber...and then I like to give them some small purchased items...and I always like to give each of them a nice hardcover book to add to their shelves. This year, I made Merry a knitting needle case (which was much more labor intensive than I anticipated, but I was thrilled with the results when it was finished) and a matching large, lined drawstring bag (both were made from the retired fabric line Madeira by Blackbird Designs for Moda - one of her favorites). For Kimber, I made a personalized quilted journal cover and a matching large, lined drawstring bag out of some pink/brown owl fabric that I know she loves (Life's A Hoot by Tammy Anderson for ADORNit). I had so much fun filling their drawstring bags with wrapped goodies (I brought each of them items back from CA and NH) and choosing the books for this year's exchange!

Now - get ready to be inspired, as I share with you the unique items they gifted me this year!

I started by opening Kimber's gifts - and first, I have to share her wrapping paper and decorative box with you - both were adorned with owls! I had to carefully open my presents to save the paisley owl Christmas paper...and the LARGE Chinese takeout style box is one of the cutest I have ever seen - I have to find a fun use for it...

Kimber has the very best taste and finds the most unique and personal gifts - I was just blown away when opening the packages from her! The box was filled with tiny treasures - a special Fiskars paper punch, decorative adhesive tapes, vintage wooden spools, a charm pack of fabulous fabric (Full Circle by Kathy Schmitz for Moda), a lovely notepad, and a package of pretty floss bobbins!

In the large bag, there were several incredible gifts - check out this FABULOUS sewing bird - I LOVE him (or her). This pincushion is about 6.5" H x 9.5" W...and the wings are pockets. Kimber put a package of vintage rick rack in one of the pockets...and the other had vintage look needle packaging. The tag tied on the side says "The Early Bird Gets The Pins!"... and there is a round tag on the front that says "Sew Prim"...isn't it just the coolest??! Oh how I adore this...can't you see me with an entire flock??

Over the past months, I have been asking Kimber all sorts of gardening questions (after-all, she is an expert)...now that all the outdoor work is done on our home, I am ready to start planting this spring. Kimber was thoughtful enough to give me a book on perennial gardening - which is perfect, as she knows I want to plant perennial flowers!

And look what else - this wonderful holiday scrapbook of sorts - it is a canvas covered journal with blank brown paper pages, perfect for writing down my Christmas memories....

Merry did her absolute best to spoil both of us, as well. You all know how multi-talented Merry is...she can stitch, sew, bake, cook, knit, crochet, and just about any other creative thing you can think of...and she does them all SO WELL! Many times you have seen her stellar kitchen skills on my blog - I really am blessed - she makes me goodies all year long - for absolutely no reason - she takes very good care of me. Here is a photo of some holiday treats she made for me....five (yes, FIVE) bags of homemade Biscotti -plain (anise), gingerbread, snickerdoodle, chocolate, and almond chocolate....and see the little house in the photo - it is filled with her homemade Butterfinger Bites (I put a couple in front of the house for the photo) for my husband (and I will definitely be trying one!)...and in the back is a large bottle of homemade Black Raspberry Liqueur (which she "forced" me try and it is delicious)!

...and although that was more than enough - Merry had piles of other special presents for me...she makes me the best pressies....like these gorgeous socks she knitted especially for me....

and this unbelievable beehive pincushion/tape measurer with homemade pins (yep, she made the pins using Shrinky Dinks!)...this seriously brought tears to my eyes. It is so adorable and very tiny - it is only about 2" tall...and it is incredibly detailed...plus Merry knows my grandfather was a beekeeper and the sentiment this gift would have for me. It is amazing...

She also made me a quilted craft pouch for my paper piecing materials and supplies - how awesome is this?? It will hold my tiny cutting mat, small rotary cutter, my add a quarter rulers, plus all sorts of other supplies!

Before I share the last item she made for me, I just have to share a photo of a special box that was in with my gifts - it looks like a book and is decorated with birds, crowns, butterflies, and birdcages...way cool! The photo all shows additional gifts that she slipped in the gift bag - a couple adorable round magnets she made, a metal reindeer ornament, special lip balm, swankie hankies, and the cutest owl stamp set....

and lastly, I have to share this AMAZING magnetic needlework tray she made...it is a small vintage tray/plate (3.25" H x 6" W) - she placed a very strong magnet on the bottom that holds the gold scissors in place (along with pins and needles) and added a handmade wool biscornu pincushion with a gold vintage button in the corner...then she added three crystal pins. I thought this was ingenious and strikingly beautiful - it is so very special!

I truly hope today's post has inspired you and you have more ideas for gift giving!

I have had the happiest of holidays and feel so very blessed. To my close circle of friends (you know who you are) thank you for being my family - I love you all and thank the heavens above for your friendship.

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine." - Thomas Jefferson

Snowman Love!

The weather here in Iowa has been mild this winter (knock on wood) - temperatures have been cold, but not bitter...and there is not a drop of snow or ice on the ground (totally unbelievable)...in fact, I have still been walking Simba over 2 miles a day - I just bundle up. So, today when this snowman pincushion/scissor holder arrived in my mailbox, it gave me a nice touch of winter! Isn't he adorable??! He was sent to me by my dear friend Terri in IL - Terri and I met over our love of stitching, when she emailed me years ago about a design idea - we quickly found out that I have relatives that live in her hometown (small world) - and we met face to face shortly after...now we are the best of friends and keep in touch weekly....and whenever I visit my relatives, we make plans for a day. Our friendship now goes beyond our love of needlework and I can't imagine my life without her! This week she sent me the most adorable holiday package with a snowman theme - the pincushion/scissor holder, a pair of scissors, a snowman hat pin, a snowman needle nanny, and a snowman trivet...and each item was wrapped and placed in a wonderful Christmas box....very fun! The snowman pincushion was made by Kathleen at Fat Cat Crafts - I was not familiar, so a quick Google search led me to her Etsy Shop and blog. Her pincushions are super adorable...and Terri asked her to add a scissor sheath to the back of my snowman, which is perfect! How is that for a wonderful Christmas surprise??

Also arriving in my mailbox today was a wonderful book that I must share with you. It was sent to me from my dear friend Sue in NY - Sue and I met at a Stitcher's Hideaway Retreat in 2010 and then again at the New England Stitcher's Retreat this past October. Sue's smile is contagious and her loving personality make her a true joy to be around - I love her dearly....in fact, I can't wait to see her again next October! This book was a complete surprise - I had no idea it was on the way...and it is absolutely perfect for me. This book is from The Workbasket magazine and is called "Sewing Workbook"....it is full of handy hints, helpful guides, and place to log all about your sewing projects - kind of like a diary for a seamstress. This workbook provides places to sketch, plan projects, log inspiration, file away fabrics, and keep track of all the projects you make...and it is filled with vintage illustrations and suggestions from vintage Workbasket articles. It is a nice size at 6"W x 8.5" H - perfect for carrying along on a shop hop or quilting trip. I plan to make great use of this handy little book!

So there you have it, several more wonderful gift ideas, brought to you by two more members of my close circle of friends - I hope they spark an interest and inspire you!

I will be getting together with my two BFFs, Merry and Kimber, on Wednesday for our annual holiday get together. I can't wait to share with you the projects I made for them this year and tell you all about our luncheon...