Samplings from the Studio

It's been a productive week in the studio and I am steadily working through piles of overdue client orders. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind, but I am finally back in my studio and getting through my bins of projects, one by one. It is feels good to actually start crossing things off my to-do list. Today's post contains sewing, quilting and needlework finishing...all for one very special (and very patient) customer (and dear friend). I started this order before we unexpectedly headed up to Iowa and it is finally complete - eight pieces of needlework finishing, two project bags, and a quilted stitching mat. I shipped these beauties to Virginia earlier this week and they are now safe and sound in their new home. I have since finished a couple more orders (which I will share soon) and I am ready to start cutting the next project bag order this evening. It feels so good to be creative during this "stay-at-home stretch"...

Quilted Stitching Mat
Fabric: Heritage Reds & Blues by Dover Hill  Studio for Benartex Fabrics

Backing was from another collection - found in my stash.

Two Large Project Bags

Autumn Leaf - from a kit by Heart in Hand

Snow Bird from Tiny Tidings XIX by Lizzie Kate

Berry Thief by The Gentle Art/Catherine Theron

Hayride Happenings - Blue Ribbon Designs

It's You I Like - Itiskismet Stitches and Bendy Stitchy

Regal Red Christmas - Milady's Needle (2010 JCS Ornament Issue)

Stitched Together by a Common Thread from Petal Pusher Designs

...and here is what one of the new masks I have been working on looks like...the  Face Mask Templates (small, medium and large) that I ordered from Claire at Shop Stitch Buzz work really well and save a lot of time...I cut around them with my tiny (18mm) rotary cutter. This is one of the medium size masks...

Thanks for stopping by today - I hope you have the chance to work on something creative this weekend! I will be back real soon with some more gorgeous finished projects to inspire you...

Under My Needle

In twelve years of blogging, I'm pretty sure I haven't blogged on Leap Day - I'd have to go back and do a little research, but I'm pretty sure this is my first Leap Day blog post...and, side bar: did I just say twelve?...twelve years of blogging...WOW!, where does the time go?!

Before I jump back into needlework finishing mode, I thought I would stop by and share some recent finishes from my sewing machine. I tend to work in batches...a batch of project bags, then a batch of needlework finishing, then a batch of quilting - this seems to make me more productive. I also tend to cut and prepare a pile of projects, work on them until complete, then prepare the next batch...kind of like an assembly line process for my studio work. Right before we left for vacation, I was in sewing and quilting mode, so here are just a few pretty client projects that were under my needle...

Pieced Large and Small Project Bags...

Stitching Retreat Mats

Large and Small Project Bags

Large and Small Project Bags

Hands On Design "Love My Stitching" Project Bag, finished "my way"....

With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Lingo" and "Heart & Hand"
project bags that are created from a printed panel by Brenda Gervais
and finished "my way" with a boxed bottom...

With Thy Needle and Thread "Heart & Hand"
project bags that are created from a printed panel by Brenda Gervais
and finished "my way" with a flat bottom...

With Thy Needle and Thread "Stitcher's Lingo" and "Heart & Hand"
project bags that are created from a printed panel by Brenda Gervais
and finished "my way" with a boxed bottom...

This past week, I have been working on a HUGE batch of needlework finishing...I've finished fourteen pieces over the last couple days, with a few more in this grouping...so, I will share those with you soon. I have also done a couple special projects...and by "special projects", I mean garment sewing - not in my usual wheelhouse, but since I know my way around a sewing machine, I get asked to do things like that quite frequently...and let me be clear, I have to really like you to take on a garment project!...I much rather be quilting or working on home decor sewing. Right now, my client project bins and counters are full - in fact, it is a little overwhelming...but I am steadily working through each order and doing my best to meet all my deadlines - a BIG thank you to my customers for keeping me extremely busy and for being so patient (some of you have been kindly waiting quite a while for your orders - you know who you are, and I truly thank you)....and that is my cue to wrap this up and get back to work! Thanks for stopping by...

Studio Scrapbook

It is late Wednesday morning (although this will post on Thursday) and I thought I stop by for a visit, before sitting down at the sewing machine. It has been a productive week and I am steadily working through needlework finishing and project bag orders after taking a vacation at the end of September. My needlework finishing deadline for the holidays was September 30th (contact me if you missed the target date) and quite a few orders rolled in at that time...plus I already had some large orders logged in. I will (hopefully) be finishing up three project bag orders later today, then a needlework finishing frenzy will ensue.

So, here is a peek at a few of the finished items that have been shipped off to their respective homes...lots of ornaments, project bags, a few special pieces of finishing and some stitching mats...

For project bags that are ready to purchase - visit my Etsy Shop (assorted bags are listed when available): https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueRibbonDesigns
For custom made project bags - send me an e-mail for details (e-mail link is located in my profile - top right corner).

Well, time to head to the sewing machine - I have a goal in mind, so I can start needlework finishing orders tomorrow.

This coming weekend, I will be headed up to Illinois to visit my mom and Dan - I am taking the train for the first time (Amtrak runs from Kansas City, MO to Mendota, IL), so it should be interesting. We are headed to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin on Sunday to walk around the lake (which Dan completes every year) - the website says:

The Geneva Lake shore path is a public footpath created by early settlers of the region.  It provides a glimpse into the rich history of the area and some of the Midwest's most beautiful homes and gardens.  The shore path meanders along the lakeshore, crossing the front lawns of lakefront estates, association beaches and public parks.  The terrain is meant for walkers and varies from grass to dirt to brick and concrete. The entire shore path is just over 20 miles in length and takes 8 to 10 hours to walk. 

I'll do my best to take photos and tell you all about it upon my return....

Fourteen Fabulous Finishes

Hello creative friends - Garin is on a short time-out in his kennel (hopefully taking an afternoon nap), while I catch up on some pressing work/chores. I just finished packing up a few orders and answering some correspondence, so I thought I would quickly stop by and share some needlework finishing with you. These pieces were all stitched by the same incredible needleworker and I just did the finishing. I will put designer names/titles in the photo captions, just in case you are interested. This great group of items was quite fun to work on and several pieces definitely challenged me...some were limited edition kits that included finishing materials...and others, I chose the supplies, doing my best to make the pieces resemble the model images. I am really happy with how each and every piece turned out...and I think the stitcher was quite pleased too. I put them all in a large box when complete and it was like Christmas day watching my friend and customer unpack each one! I still have well over fifty needlework pieces to finish for clients, so I will have more fun photos to show you soon. For now, enjoy these images...and I hope you will be inspired to pull out your most recent cross stitch piece and do a little needlework finishing yourself...

Threadwork Primitives - Vintage Mini Pinwheel (2)
Threadwork Primitives Stitcher's Mat
Threadwork Primitives My Work

Threadwork Primitives - Stitcher's Mat

Threadwork Primitives - My Work

Scattered Seeds Samplers - Happy Hearts Rejoice (round)
Scattered Seeds Samplers - Harvest Waiting (left)
Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket (right)

Scattered Seeds Samplers - Happy Hearts Rejoice (round)
Scattered Seeds Samplers - Harvest Waiting (left)
Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket (right)

Blackbird Designs - Sewing Bird Pocket

Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)

Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)

Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)

Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)

Little House Needleworks - Friendship (left)

Little House Needleworks - A Stitcher's Heart (right)

Lizzie Kate - Be Silly (top left)
Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe (top right)
Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion (center)
Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure (bottom left)
Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine (bottom right)

Lizzie Kate - Be Silly (top left)
Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe (top right)
Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion (center)
Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure (bottom left)
Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine (bottom right)

Shepherd's Bush - Bless Ewe

Shepherd's Bush - Ewe are my Sunshine

Elegant Stitch/Blackbird Designs - Buttons and Bloom for a Cure

Shepherd's Bush - Poor Robin's Pincushion

Lizzie Kate - Be Silly