Stitch Starter Rulers

Greeting friends - thanks for stopping by to visit with me today! Just a quick update today, to let everyone know that my popular Stitch Starter Rulers are back in stock in my Etsy Shop and on my website. They are packaged and ready for shipping. The cross stitch charts that come with charting/directions for making the sleeves (each includes one ruler) are available, as well.

Stitch Starter Ruler: 

• It is 1/8" clear acrylic plastic, making it durable (these are slightly thicker than original version).
• It has marking lines for both 1" and 2" seam allowances, so you only need one tool.
• It is clear, making it easy to see your fabric placement.
• It has 1/4" and 1/2" markings on three sides.
• It has complete 3" ruler markings down the left side - these can be used for: finishing work measurements, measuring between stitched designs, counting threads to figure fabric count.

Instructions for using the Stitch Starter Ruler can be found here:
http://www.blueribbondesigns.com/PDF/USING%20THE%20STITCH%20STARTER.pdf

I have contacted everyone that was on my wait list via email and Etsy message - thank you for being so patient!

I will be making more quilted pocket sleeves that make up my "Stitch Starter Ruler and Ruler Pocket Sleeve Set" in my Etsy Shop, but it could be several weeks before they are ready for listing.

Currently, you can find single Stitch Starter Rulers and the companion cross stitch charts "Blessed Beyond Measure" and "Holiday Helpings" by visiting:

Website: https://blueribbondesigns.com/stitch-starter-ruler/ OR

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=11683865

Humming Along

It's a quiet Friday night and I thought I would take break from a stitching marathon to post an update. I have been working on more cross stitch projects for Just CrossStitch Magazine and a new AccuQuilt design, so things are humming along. I've been trying to clean up my counter of customer projects, so there are piles of project bags cut and ready to sew, along with a couple small quilts and a wall hanging...and multiple piles of needlework finishing, all in various stages of completion...there is also a tray of Stitch Starter Ruler sleeves and several project/tool bags prepped and ready to sew for my Etsy Shop. I'm still trying to find a balance with the puppy requiring quite a bit of attention while my husband is traveling.

...and since when it rains, it pours, there were a few challenges this week. My web host tried to move my website to a new server and (of course) my e-mails are tied to my website, which caused a bit of an issue - no e-mail for a couple days, then it all started pouring in my inbox in large batches...and when a new batch would arrive, the old batch would disappear (poof!) - it seems to be fixed now and I think we recovered everything, but if by chance you sent me a message that needed a response and didn't receive one, please re-send it! I managed to get my 2017 sales taxes completed this week and started preparing our income tax paperwork for the CPA - something I dread all year, even though I am quite organized. It was just one of those super busy weeks where it doesn't seem like anything was accomplished. I got back on track yesterday and the to-do list is starting to look manageable....hopefully this coming week will run smooth (fingers crossed)!

Last Friday, I was able to have lunch with my dear friend Mary - it felt great to get out of the house and just breathe. Since the puppy arrival last October and then the holiday rush, I have been on scheduled autopilot - I really only make it out to go to the gym and to run errands, so "me time" has been pretty much non-existent - to be able to relax, even if only for a couple hours, was pure joy. After lunch, we walked over to a local quilt shop and picked fabrics for a couple small projects....and I felt refreshed and ready to tackle more of what life has been throwing at me. I have been doing quite a bit of needlework finishing for Mary and was able to return some of her beautiful stitching (these photos showcase her stitching and my finishing):

This piece has been getting quite a bit of social media buzz and we are trying
to figure out the designer/title - the consensus is that it was in a magazine,
 but I don't have specific details - if you know, please leave me a comment!

Don't you love it when seams line up perfectly!

This shows the back and the side seams...

...and for those who have been patiently waiting, I was able to get another 50+ Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve Sets listed in my Etsy shop...they have been selling out very quickly (thank you!!!) and I am always trying to keep them in stock. I have another 50 ready to sew...

Time to get Garin out of the kennel for one more play session with Schatzi before bedtime. Wishing you a creative and productive weekend...

Time Limits and Tail Waggers

It is a cool, quiet morning and while Garin is having a much needed timeout in his kennel, I thought I would clear my head. Whew! - what a crazy few weeks it has been...I'm actually a little speechless. Garin is a smart, fun, and lovable addition to our family - but WOW - he sure keeps me on my toes - you can't leave him alone...not even for one minute. So, of course (Murphy's law), my husband was informed he has to be out of town for work until Christmas...perfect timing, NOT...did you just hear my deep (VERY deep) sigh...yeah, I'm not thrilled. Trying to balance my workload and daily life chores/events with a very active puppy is quite challenging - I have to work in spurts when he is in the kennel, which for me is not ideal...so there is not a lot of sleep happening here...and let's face it, there is asbolutely no time for me....and preparing for the holidays is basically non-existent. So, last week, I made a simple decision - I'm cancelling Christmas this year - yep, it's not happening - on my calendar, Christmas 2017 doesn't exist. I like to make 95% of my gifts, and well, there just aren't enough hours in the day. Friends and family, you are reading correctly - if I happen to be on your holiday list, your list just got shorter - please take me off...see, I'm helping you out too - your shopping/creating list just got shorter! If you are a good friend or longtime reader of my blog, then you know, I have terrible "gift guilt" - I am not good at receiving gifts if I can't reciprocate - seriously, I am the worst. Right now, I just really want/need to focus on my clients and make sure each and every one is happy and taken care of...and to be honest, even that is a challenge - but it WILL happen! So, in an effort to make my life less stressful, I'm lightening my load - bye, bye Christmas - see you in 2018....and you know what - it feels great to put that out in the universe and cross it off my list.

Now that my load is slightly lighter, let me share what has been happening in the studio when I am not on puppy duty. Last week and this week, I have been on a project bag frenzy - you heard me right - it has been zippers, zippers, and more zippers in the studio....more orders were shipped out today and the piles are starting to almost look manageable - if I have received fabrics from you, your bags are in progress!  I will be busy cutting and preparing the next several bag orders this afternoon during Garin's afternoon kennel session...I am working in the order received...last count, I had seventeen project bag orders left to complete (each with multiple bags)...and my goal is to get as many done this week as absolutely possible. I have also been sneaking in more Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve Sets for my Etsy shop when time allows (extra special thanks to those who have shared my rulers and sleeves on Flosstube - you helped me sell out quickly and I am busy restocking)...I have a huge pile of ruler sleeves cut and ready to sew, and each time I change thread colors to sew bags, if the color matches any of the sleeves, I sew a few up. Next week is reserved for needlework finishing - I have quite a bit to get done before the holidays - so that will be my focus. Again, thank you to everyone for being patient with my turnaround time during this busy holiday season!

Canines and Creativity

Garin - 10-weeks old - 16 pounds

Where did the last month go?? I usually don't miss an entire month of blogging...but I was preparing for puppy...it's not an excuse, it's just reality. I was trying to accomplish as much of my workload as possible before Garin joined our family. I was doing all sorts of needlework finishing, project bag creating, custom designing, and quilting/sewing...knowing that as soon as this fluffy little GSD joined our household, work time would be limited for a week or two (or twenty!).

My holiday finishing/sewing/quilting deadline passed on October 15th...and I am blessed (and a little overwhelmed) to have tables of work to complete before Christmas. Thank you to all my fabulous, loyal customers! Right now, there are 53 holiday needlework finishing items, over 100 project bags, and a pile of custom sewing/quilting pieces...plus a couple design projects lined up on my studio counter...and all those are the "I need these back before the holiday projects" - there are countless others (a HUGE note of gratitude to my patient clients!), all logged in and dated and needing my attention...yes, I will be keeping busy.

This week has pretty much been a lost cause - my husband is out of town again, so I am on solo puppy duty (I forgot how needy/insane Schatzi was as a puppy!)...plus I have been fighting the annual fall head cold and losing the battle. I get small amounts of time to myself when Garin is in his kennel (as he is right now)...and we are outside every 30-45 minutes for house training. So far, he is learning pretty quickly - but I definitely have my hands full. He is teething and everything (I mean everything) on his level is fair game...I need a new set of eyes in the back of my head - if he is alone for even one minute, he can do some major damage (don't let that cute face fool you!). At night, I set an alarm for four hours after he is in the kennel and I am in bed, so we can venture outside - and so far no messes in the kennel - although, I am definitely not sleeping well. He is getting used to his kennel and the whining/crying is subsiding - thank goodness, as it breaks my heart. Schatzi is being a GREAT big sister - she is playing well and sharing all her "stuff" with the puppy...and Garin is copying everything she does and following her around all day long. Yep - it's all the normal stuff that one can expect when they add a puppy to the household. Luckily, my husband will be home Monday morning and will start dog duties, so I can get in a few solid days of work before his next business trip...and hopefully the head cold will be subsiding by then!

For today's creative eye candy, here are a few images of (just a few) sewing/quilting projects I completed in the last month in my attempt to have a handle on things before Garin arrived...I will share some beautifully stitched needlework finishes in my next post...

I'll be back when I can get another moment of quiet time...I have some really fun cross stitch pieces to share (not my stitching, just my finishing work). Thank you for visiting today and I will "see" you again soon....

Stitching, Sewing and Organizing

An original mini quilt in stand - designed and created
 especially for a dear friend's birthday.

Welcome friends! I know it has been a few weeks...and that hasn't been intentional...I've had a lot to share - I've just been on auto-pilot. My workload has been quite heavy since the end of July and I am keeping focused and trying to catch-up on projects before I take a mini vacation in September (I hate to take time away when I have piles on my studio counter). The last few weeks have been filled with customer orders...including countless project and tool bags, stitch starter ruler sleeves, placemats and napkins, machine embroidered Halloween ornaments, even a sampler quilt...several stacks of needlework finishing...a couple birthday gifts...an AccuQuilt blog post project...and a few things I can't share with you quite yet...plus model stitching. I have also been doing some major cleaning/organizing in the studio, thanks to a very dear friend who gifted me bags and bags of FABULOUS quilting and stitching stash. Yep, it has been a busy few weeks and I am feeling accomplished (even though the list is still long). Here are some photos to sum up the last few weeks...

Fabric organization in my studio...

More shelf organizing in my studio...

Project Bag and coordinating Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve...

Special Order - machine embroidered Halloween ornaments...

Project/Tool Bags

More Project/Tool Bags...

More Project/Tool Bags...

Even more Project/Tool Bags...

Halloween Stitch Starter Ruler Sleeve...

Custom Reversible Cloth Napkins

Needlework Finishing - Pumpkin Ornament with pocket on the back...
(see pocket below)

Needlework Finishing - Pumpkin Ornament back pocket...

Needlework Finishing - Ornament

Pile of Project Bags

...and finally here is a teaser for my August AccuQuilt Blog project...I'll be back to share all about it when it goes live on the AccuQuilt website (just be patient a few more days!)...the blocks you see in the photo are 5" finished...and that cute little tin pincushion was a gift from a dear friend that matched the blocks perfectly...

AccuQuilt August Project sneak peek...

For now, I am back to needlework finishing - I have two large orders almost complete...I have fourteen flat-finish ornaments ready for cord/trim and hangers (which I hand stitch - no glue)...then another order for six project bags is on the list for later this evening...

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - it was nice to chat with you. Oh...and one final thing...my husband and I will be heading to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills in South Dakota for a little mini vacation in a few weeks - if you have suggestions for must see/visit places or excursions, please do share - It will be our first time visiting the area and we want to make the most of it...and I am sure you all have some suggestions for us...