Needlework Finishing - Ornament Edition

Hello friends! Just a quick post this early morning (yes, our household is still on a night schedule, so it is almost 3:30 AM). I have been cutting project bags for a special order this late night and decided to stop by for a visit before I start sewing. I am back today to share some of my recent needlework finishing with you - this is just a sampling (I have way too many photos to share them all). These pieces were all for a client - not my stitching or designs, just my finishing work. I will post designer details with corresponding images for those who are interested (if I have them). Fabrics that are in the images were used for backing...and all the perfectly matched trims and rayon ribbons are from the incredible Lady Dot Creates (she has the very best finishing supplies!). As you can see, I have been doing quite a few Christmas ornaments this week....with my super full schedule the next few months, I am trying to get everything I have on hand completed. Enjoy the creative eye candy and I will be back to visit with you again soon!

Santa Angel by Teresa Kogut

2022 Fragments in time No. 2
by Summer House Stitche Workes

Santa's Sleigh Ride by Dames of the Needle

Glitter House 9 by Country Cottage Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #15 The Needlework Shop
by Little House Needleworks

Gingerbread House 8 from Country Cottage Needleworks

I Believe In Santa by The Primitive Hare

All Dolled Up - He's a Flake by
Little  House Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #24 Ice Cream Shop
by Little House Needleworks

Hometown Holiday #23 The Music Store
by Little House Needleworks

Carnation Cottage Mini Quilt

Greetings friends - it is time to share my latest ThermOWeb Blog project tutorial with you! By now you know I am a Fabric Education Designer for ThermOWeb (they are the makers of all those wonderful HeatnBond products - adhesives, interfacings - all sorts of "must have" products for fabric crafts, paper crafts, and sewing). I create projects and tutorials for their very popular blog and give you my tips and tricks for using their products. It is Houses Make a Home Week over on the ThermOWeb Blog and I created a new project that was posted yesterday - it is a full project tutorial for my "Carnation Cottage Mini Quilt." This tutorial contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with applique templates, a layout diagram, and step-by-step directions with color photos. The model uses an assortment of fabrics from Poppie Cotton, but I encourage you to use fabrics and supplies you have on hand, to make this "cottage" your own. I hope you will stop by the ThermOWeb blog and check out my project and tutorial...

This is a small appliqué project that is perfect for fat quarters or scraps. I used some trims and buttons I had on hand (including some CUTE wooden bee buttons)…and an Ackfeld Stand or split hanger for display (see the official post for a complete supply list and details). For this post, I used HeatnBond Lite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive, HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, HeatnBond Heavy Weight Non-Woven Fusible Interfacing and SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Fabric Spray.

Are you familiar with the SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Fabric Spray? SpraynBond Basting Adhesive is a temporary bond spray adhesive for fabric. With this versatile product, you can temporarily hold templates, stabilizers, embellishments and backing fabrics in place for sewing without using clips, pins or glue. I like using it to hold trims or rick rack in place without pins and to baste my quilt layers together for small projects. It can be repositioned, won't gum up your sewing machine needle, and is acid-free/solvent-free.

If you have questions on any ThermOWeb HeatnBond products or would like to see a specific type of product in one of my projects, drop me a comment or email.

You will have to visit the ThermOWeb blog for my tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial: 

https://blog.thermoweb.com/carnation-cottage-mini-quilt-featuring-heatnbond-products/

I hope this project gets you excited to create something special and unique...

I am creating monthly projects for the ThermOWeb blog and will be sure to post here, when I do...I don't have the schedule for May yet, but I will let you know as soon as I know when my next project will be available.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit today - I always enjoy sharing with you. Enjoy the rest of your week and make time to work on something creative...

Oodles of Ornaments

It continues to be a finishing frenzy in the Blue Ribbon Designs studio...client orders are still piled across my counters and my list continues to grow. I have been super focused and productive, working around the clock to finish up the projects on my to-do tables along with preparing new designs. I have a plethora of finishing clients to take care of for the holidays (and into the new year)…and I am trying to balance it all and keep my sanity. I have been working on a variety of creative activities, including: lots of needlework finishing, pattern writing, custom sewing, custom quilting and freelance designing…plus making some gifts for the holidays…the to-do list is almost overwhelming. Of course, this time of year, I'm asked to keep many of my client finishes a secret...here is a picture album of needlework finishing that I completed over the last few weeks that I have the "okay to show" (not my designs or stitching, just my finishing work)…

Fabric shown with each was used for the backing...and the gorgeous hand-dyed ribbons, velveteen, pop-pom trim and twill tape are all from Lady Dot Creates (visit her Etsy Shop for the very best pretties and finishing materials)…

I hope you are inspired to finish some of your own holiday projects! I am headed back to the studio momentarily to work on more client (you guessed it) Christmas ornaments...it seems like the piles are never-ending. I just took advantage of the Audible Black Friday Sale (a girl can never have too many books) and have a wonderful assortment of new titles queued up and ready for listening...  

As I look forward to the Thanksgiving holiday tomorrow, I have so many things to be extremely thankful for: a loving family, a wonderful husband, AMAZING friends (who accept me, my quirks, and my crazy busy schedule!), two loveable dogs, and a career I find joy in every single day...way too many things to list. I am truly grateful for all of you who share my passions, encourage me with your comments and emails, and support my designs and creative ventures - you all brighten my days!

To everyone celebrating tomorrow - and to my many international fans and friends - take a little time to count your blessings...and a little time to stitch...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finishing Fever

Today's very quick post is all about needlework finishing. My holiday finishing deadline was September 30th, so sure enough, towards the end of September the orders started rolling in...so this week, I am living in my studio, trying to get a large pile complete. The pieces shown today are all for the same client...and again, these are not my designs or my stitching - just my finishing work...

I should also add - all trims and velveteen backings are from Lois at Lady Dot Creates...she has the very best finishing supplies...you can find her products on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ladydotcreates

Design info is listed with the images, if I have it available...

ABC Pinkeep by With thy Needle & Thread 

F is for Friend Thread Board by Heartstring Samplery
(adapted and finished as a pin disk)

Cape Cod Keeps by Plum Street Samplers

Primitive Crow by Threadwork Primitives

Be My Friend by The Scarlett House

Spooky Tin by J. Designs, LLC/Designs by Julie

All is Calm Thread Keeper by Romy's Creations

Those are just a few of the pieces I have been working on in the studio this week...lots of beauties that are ready to ship back to their stitcher! I will be back with more fun and creative finishes soon...

Spectacular Sixteen

Hello creative friends! I just placed Garin on his after-breakfast timeout...that gives me about an hour to catch up on some pressing work. Orders are packaged and important correspondence is answered...so I thought I would stop by for a quick visit and share some needlework finishing, before the day gets away from me (and I get started on a large AccuQuilt project that I need to complete in a very short amount of time). These pieces were all stitched by the same incredible needleworker (and dear friend) and I simply completed the finishing. I will put designer names/titles in the photo captions (if I have the information), just in case you are interested (special thanks to Robin who sent me the details on one that stumped me!). This fabulous grouping was quite enjoyable to put together and several pieces definitely challenged me. One project was a limited edition kit that included finishing materials (Swirly Birds and Flowers from SamSarah Design Studio)...and one had a pre-finished Winter Thread Pal provided (Winter Wonderland by Little House Needleworks)...for the 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 (I hope) the stitcher was quite pleased too! 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(s) and do a little needlework finishing yourself...

Swirly Birds and Flowers from SamSarah Design Studio
Limited Kit from the Silver Needle’s A Little Help From Our
 Stitching Friends Stitching Circle

(additional angle)

Winter Wonderland by Little House Needleworks

The Sister Purse by JBW Designs

Twitter Blue by the Courtney Collection
from the 2009 Just CrossStitch Ornament Issue

Redbird Sampler by Heart in Hand

Mary's Work Sampler Bag by Stacy Nash Primitives

Hedgerow Birds Project Bag by Blackbird Designs (Loose Feathers Pattern 40)
Front

Hedgerow Birds Project Bag by Blackbird Designs (Loose Feathers Pattern 40)
Back

Various Mini Stockings by Blackbird Designs
...details in single images below...

Never Far Apart -by Blackbird Designs
(was a limited edition kit)

Love is in the Air : Three Stockings for February by Blackbird Designs

Crowning the Tree by Blackbird Designs

By the Chimney with Care: Three Stockings for January by Blackbird Designs

Winter Snow Stocking by Heartstring Samplery
Fronts

Backs

Merry Noel Collection: Festive Redbird by Homespun Elegance
Christmas Blessings by Milady's Needle