Flutter and Flower - New Pattern Available

Greeting friends! Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response to my "Flutter and Flower" sewing machine cover design - to those who commented and contacted me with such kind and positive words, you made my heart happy. I have written a pattern and it is available in my Etsy Shop in both paper and digital format...

“Flutter and Flower - A Sewing Machine Dust Cover & Sewing Machine Mat" has two paper foundation blocks (moths) with traditional piecing and assembly. Pattern contains basic paper foundation instructions, the moth foundation blocks, and comprehensive/detailed instructions with all sorts of color diagrams. This 17-page pattern is designed to use your favorite fabric collection and fits machines up to 18” in width (and the size can be easily be adjusted, if needed). 

The model was created with a fat quarter stack of Moonbeam Dreams from Poppie Cotton and 1-1/2 yards Country Confetti (Heavy Cream Cream) from Poppie Cotton, plus HeatnBond Fusible Fleece, and 1/4" hand-dyed twill tape (Old Tutu) from Lady Dot Creates.

Digital pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1607789751

Paper pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1607784455

I can't tell you how much joy this sewing machine cover/mat brings me every time I walk into my sewing studio...it is so calming and it makes me smile immediately. I hope you will make a beautiful sewing machine cover for your machine...and be sure to share a photo when you do!

Moonbeam Dreams Fabric Tour

Happy Tuesday - welcome to the Poppie Cotton Moonbeam Dreams Fabric Tour! I am thrilled to be today's stop on the tour - thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. I have a very special sewing machine dust cover to share (and a little pincushion too!), created with the new Moonbeam Dreams Fabric Collection designed by Amada Grace Design for Poppie Cotton. I was thrilled to put on my quilt designer hat and work with these magical prints. This brand new collection (shipping this month) has lovely moth, firefly, star, moon and floral prints...all done in a calming color palette.

 Let's take a close-up look at my project...

"Flutter and Flower"
A Sewing Machine Dust Cover & Sewing Machine Mat

I used a Moonbeam Dreams Fat Quarter Bundle and 1 1/2 yards of Country Confetti in Heavy Cream Cream (lining/backing/binding) to create my cover/mat. The moth blocks are foundation paper-pieced and everything else is traditional piecing. Together, the moth blocks create one large pocket on the front of the cover - perfect for the machine pedal, power cord, quilt patterns, and/or the machine manual. The smaller pockets on the reverse side are made for sewing/stitching tools - such as a seam ripper, scissors, rulers, marking utensils, tweezers - you know, all those tools you need close at hand. I wanted to make the cover useable at all times, so when it is not acting as a dust cover, it can be placed under the sewing machine as a mat/pad and the pockets hang down with all my tools handy. I used HeatnBond Fusible Fleece to give my cover good padding and stability. For the side ties, I used hand-dyed twill tape (1/4") in color Old Tutu from Lady Dot Creates. I can't believe how much joy this new dust cover/mat brings to my sewing studio...it makes me happy the second I walk in the room!

I have written a pattern and you can find it in my Etsy Shop in both paper and digital format.
Digital pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1607789751
Paper pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1607784455

After finishing up my sewing machine cover, I was compelled to work with some of my leftover fabric pieces and made the sweetest little pincushion with a fussy cut center. I found some lovely decorative pins in my collection to add. Perhaps I will make a coordinating thread catcher in the future.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Moonbeam Dreams fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop - Moonbeam Dreams is shipping this month. 

I hope you will stop back and visit with me soon. I have a new ThermOWeb project tutorial to share with you next week...and it is a FUN holiday project...plus I have some fun creative finishes to share very soon! Be sure to stop back over the next couple weeks to see these fun projects...

"Peppermint Pressie" - my 2023 Cross Stitch Christmas Ornament

Greetings friends - thank you for stopping by for a visit. Today is a very special day - it is my 2023 Christmas Ornament release day! I hope you will take a moment and actually read this post and about the sentiment behind this design...then follow the link to my website for the chart...

A quick history for those who are new to my blog and/or designs...
For fifteen years, I was one of the featured designers in the Just CrossStitch Special Christmas Ornament Issue. This magazine is a fan favorite and is highly anticipated every year. For fifteen years, I was invited and participated in this special issue without payment - the issue that Just CrossStitch Magazine always boasts is their "best-selling" issue of the year. In 2020, I received my 16th invitation to design an ornament for 2021 and I decided to stand up for myself and my fellow designers by publicly calling out JCS magazine on their outdated policy. I asked them start paying designers fair compensation for their work...for without designers, there would be no needlework industry.  You can read about my thought process and the letter I submitted to them (along with their response) here:
https://blueribbondesigns.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-end-of-era-finding-my-worth.html

Keeping with tradition, I still wanted to create a cross stitch Christmas ornament each year, but I wanted to do it on my own terms...and today I am excited to share my 2023 design with you!

For the past couple years, I have struggled with how to release my holiday ornament, as I have tried to put more value in myself and my artistry. I didn't want to provide my ornament design for free to a publication/corporation that was profiting from it, as I truly believe that artists should be compensated appropriately for their work. However, the last couple years, I found myself wanting to provide it directly to my fans and needleworkers for free...and this year, my feelings have not changed. In a year full of challenges, unrest and divide, I want to do something positive and share some joy - after all, sheer happiness comes from giving. These last couple years have been rough - many have needed love, hope, positivity and strength to overcome challenges, loss, and anger - and during this season of giving, even with my own challenges and struggles, I have an abundance of blessings. Today, I want to thank YOU for a multitude of things: for allowing me the opportunity to continue to pursue my passion - for your kind support of my needlework and quilting designs - for making purchases in my Etsy Shop - for inspiring me - for your uplifting comments, notes and e-mails - and for sharing your enthusiasm of all things needle and thread with me. 

My 2023 Christmas ornament is called "Peppermint Pressie" and is available as a complimentary pattern. It complements my previous ornaments and is in the same style as my 2020, 2021, and 2022 ornaments (Rejoicing Reindeer, My Frosty Friend, and Bundled Up Birdie). I continued in my flat-finish tradition (if you stitch it on 32-count fabric, 3 1/4" circles work perfectly) and used DMC floss (321 and 505) to make two-tone twisted cord. I decided to attach a 3/8" red gingham ribbon bow with a couple 1/2" red jingle bells. I used hand-dyed 32-count fabric this year....search your stash for a darker neutral fabric...just make sure the white floss will stand out. I used Weeks Dye Works cotton floss for the model and provide DMC conversions with the chart, if you prefer. I truly hope this happy squirrel, wearing a scarf  and gifting a candy cane will bring you joy - please stitch it with a happy heart. 

You can find the printable PDF chart here:

https://blueribbondesigns.com/free-charts/

I kindly ask you do not post the actual chart on the Internet/social media or on Pinterest - instead, post a photo of the finished piece and/or direct users to this post or my website.

For those who have kindly asked if they could purchase this ornament design in the spirit of valuing my work (your messages make my heart happy!), I ask you talk about my designs with your stitching friends (spread the word about Blue Ribbon Designs) and/or visit my Etsy Shop to make a purchase...or you can Buy Me a Coffee or shop at Amazon via my link...it is definitely not required or necessary, but truly appreciated - thank you for supporting my creativity and valuing my artistry!💕

To be fair, I want to note, Just CrossStitch Magazine has since changed their policy going forward (starting with the 2022 Christmas Ornament Issue) - they are now compensating designers for submissions. I should also note - they have not invited me to design an ornament since I sent them the letter in December 2020 and posted about it publicly online. I want to thank each and every one of you who spread the word regarding my blog post and called out Just CrossStitch Magazine for their outdated non-compensation policy (my message truly went viral!). Thankfully, we did make a difference!..and while they did not reach out to me for the 2022 or 2023 publication, I am proud of myself and everyone who stood with me to make this change that benefits all cross stitch designers working with them in the future. Thank you for helping me find my voice and make a difference.

Finally - if you plan to stitch "Peppermint Pressie,"  I hope you will share an image of your progress or finished ornament on social media and tag me, so I can see it.

Enjoy and stitch it with joy in your heart!

Pick of the Patch Kitchen Towels

Greetings friends - happy Tuesday! It is new project tutorial day - time to share my October post for the Therm O Web Blog with you! As a Fabric Education Designer for Therm O Web (they are the makers of all those wonderful HeatnBond and SpraynBond products), I create projects and tutorials for their very popular blog each month. I share a fun, new project and give you my tips and tricks for using their products. For the month of October, the blog is focused on fall and Halloween designs. I created a brand new project that was posted yesterday - it is a complete project tutorial for my "Pick of the Patch Kitchen Towel." This quick and easy fall project contains a complete supply list, printable pattern with templates, and step-by-step directions with color photos. The model uses a standard cotton dish/kitchen towel found in home or discount department stores and cotton quilting fabric (autumn and solid prints); as always, I encourage you to use fabrics/scraps you have on hand, to make this kitchen towel your own. I hope you will stop by the Therm O Web blog and check out my project and tutorial...

About this design:
The base towel is a standard cotton kitchen towel found pretty much any place you can purchase home goods (mine measure approximately 20" W x 28" H, but directions work for the size you have on hand). It is embellished with a focal fabric print across the bottom and several autumn appliqué motifs. This project can easily be completed in an afternoon and is suitable for a beginner. It also makes the perfect hostess gift - simply use a pretty ribbon to tie it up with a cookie cutter and/or potholder and a wooden spoon - you can even add a favorite recipe card.

This seasonal sewing project is perfect for fat quarters or scraps. I used HeatnBond FeatherLite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets and SpraynBond Basting Adhesive Fabric Spray...plus, I give you tips for using each item! I also used a Pressing Paper Fabric and Craft Sheet to protect my work area. Visit the tutorial post for a complete and detailed supply list.

Let's talk about the HeatnBond FeatherLite EZ-Print Iron-On Adhesive Sheets. HeatnBond EZ Print FeatherLite is a paper backed, iron-on, sewable, double-sided adhesive for bonding fabric without extra weight or stiffness. This lightweight formula is great for this particular project, as it gets even softer after laundering. It comes in 8.5" x 11" paperbacked sheets that fit an inkjet printer - simply load a sheet into your printer to print the applique templates provided in my tutorial - no tracing necessary!! 

If you have questions on any Therm O Web 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 Therm O Web blog for my complete tutorial and pattern, but I am posting a few photos here...

Here is a direct link to the project tutorial:

https://blog.thermoweb.com/pick-of-the-patch-kitchen-towel-featuring-heatnbond/

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

I am creating monthly projects for the Therm O Web blog and will be sure to post here, when I do...my project for November is scheduled to be posted on November 16th...and, as always, I am working on a very fun, seasonal idea!

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...

Hide and Seek Fabric Tour

Greetings friends, happy Wednesday! I am so happy to be today's stop on the Hide and Seek Fabric Tour; thank you so much visiting with me. I really enjoyed playing with this whimsical, colorful fabric collection and have three projects to share with you. These were all created with the new Hide and Seek Fabric Collection designed by Kenzie Kae Elston (Snippets of Whimsy) for Poppie Cotton. I enjoyed putting on my creative hat and playing with these joyful prints. This brand new collection (shipping to shops this month) has the cutest bunnies, turtles, gnomes, butterflies and chickens playing "hide and seek" under a cheerful sun amongst fabulous florals…all done soft blues, corals, yellows and sage greens. 

This Poppie Cotton collection brings me so much joy - it has a lovely Scandinavian feel to me! I knew a large table runner for my farmhouse table was going to be in the works, along with a couple smaller projects. This month, for the runner, I didn't use a pattern - in fact, as usual, I just started playing around in EQ8 and made it up as I went along. I also whipped up a patchwork project bag and pincushion scissor keep.

To start, I created a table runner with a large flowering bloom on either end. This runner is basic, traditional piecing with two focal blocks featuring machine appliqué. I am calling it "Big Blooms," which really says it all. It measures 64" H x 24" W and I specially placed the fussy cut blocks to be right side up, depending on your viewpoint from around the table. I also fussy cut the centers of the large blooms (see enlarged image below). I used a fat quarter stack of Hide and Seek, along with a Farmhouse Favorite (Country Confetti in Heavy Cream Cream) for the appliqué background. I quilted it myself on my domestic machine and it turned out even better than I envisioned. My "Big Blooms" table runner is currently adorning my dining room table and is making the room happy and inviting. I don't know if I will write a pattern for it - it depends on demand - leave a comment or send me a message if you would like to see me release a pattern (and yes, a pattern for my Poppie Cotton quilt "Farmstead Finds" is forthcoming)…

Next, I made the cutest patchwork zippered pouch. I used the I used the "Honey I'm Gnome" print in  natural (see below) as the focus across the bottom of the bag...along with a coral colored zipper and a baker's twine zipper pull. This is a medium-sized project bag,  measuring 11" H x 9.75" W - perfect for a half sheet pattern and materials.

Finally, I created a pincushion with a twill tape tie to attach my scissors. I also added a wool felt flower in the lower left-hand corner, attached with tiny pins in the center. This pillow pincushion measures 8.5" H x 3.5" W and was made by strip piecing leftover scraps onto fusible fleece. It is stuffed with fiberfill and sawdust shavings.

I hope you have enjoyed this stop on the fabric tour and are feeling inspired - thank you for visiting with me today. For more creative projects using the Hide and Seek fabric collection, visit the Poppie Cotton Blog. If you love this fabric collection, be sure to check out your favorite quilt shop and request it - Hide and Seek is shipping this month.

I am already working on my project ideas for the next Poppie Cotton Fabric Tour in November - it is using the fabric collection "Moonbeam Dreams" (click on the link to see a preview!). Plus, I will have a new Therm O Web project tutorial posted on October 16th, as well (it is a fun kitchen project)…so, be sure to stop back soon...

Six Bats and a Black Cat - New Cross Stitch

Greetings friends - I'm so happy you stopped by for a visit today!

First of all, thank you so much for the super sweet comments and messages regarding my Poppie Cotton fabric designs and my Therm O Web projects - I am so thrilled you like all the patterns, projects, and tutorials I have been working on! I look forward to sharing more patterns and tutorials with you in the coming months.

My overnight schedule has me pretty much upside-down (and truthfully, a bit cranky), but it means less interruptions, so I have been working on all sorts of creative projects...and today, I am here to tell you all about one of those projects....yes, it's a new cross stitch design alert! I just released a brand new cross stitch pattern called "Six Bats and a Black Cat" and it is available in both paper pattern and digital format in my Etsy shop. This "merry not scary" Halloween design contains charting for the framed design (in both color and black & white), stitching instructions, and stitch diagrams. 

Long time fans may recall a similar design I allowed Just Cross Stitch to publish over ten years ago. I always maintain all my design rights and I have wanted to release this pattern in my print/digital catalog for quite some time...with my own branding, in my own style, with my specifics and details. Magazines always make changes for space and adjust wording, finishing, photography, and even provided details - this drives me a bit crazy, as I am very particular about my brand and my artwork. I have a pile of classic designs that were published in magazines, that will be added to my design catalog, where they belong...with my personal vision and attention to detail!

Here are a few more details...

Six Bats and a Black Cat (BRD-133)

When I created this design, I planned it square, so it could not only be put in a frame, but it would look good in a tray, or on a box top, or as a pillow. The motifs around the border and throughout the design were created to work well for Halloween feather tree ornaments. It is in my usual Halloween style, which means it is more classic and happy, versus scary and gory....I am definitely a "Merry Halloween" girl!

The model was stitched with The Gentle Art Sampler Threads and DMC conversions are included.

I stitched it on 32-count Sand Dune (Standard) from Lakeside Linens, but it would look great on any orange, brown, gold or natural linen - any linen dark enough to show the white ghosts. On 32-count fabric, the design measures 7.5" x 7.5".

Stitches include: Cross Stitch over two linen threads, Back Stitch, French or Colonial Knots, Satin Stitch, and Smyrna Cross...diagrams are provided...and the specialty stitches can easily be converted to cross stitch for those who are working on Aida or shy away from specialty stitches.

Paper pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1575848945

Digital pattern: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com/listing/1575851785

I truly hope you find the new design a great addition to my catalog and my vast array of Halloween designs!

Next up, I will be adding a couple new sewing/quilting patterns to my catalog, so stay tuned for that...

...and, I have needlework finishing and custom work to complete for clients...piles of sewing to complete for my Etsy shop...another project tutorial for the Therm O Web Blog that will be available in October...plus my blog will be a stop on the Hide and Seek Fabric Tour for Poppie Cotton in a few weeks, so I will be back to visit with you again before you know it! 

Also - by popular demand, I have added more sets of wool felted acorns to my Etsy shop - this time they are in brighter, cheerful colors. Stop by my shop to see what is currently available...

Thanks for stopping by today and for always being so supportive of my creativity...💗

Wool Felted Acorns

Greetings friends - I'm stopping by today to share a little bit about my latest creative project for my Etsy shop - wool felted acorns! If you keep up with my blog, then you know I recently returned from northern Illinois, where I visited my momma and second dad - they have a lovely lakeside property with quite a few oak trees. While I was visiting, I helped clean up piles and piles of acorns...and I had the idea to collect and bring home some of the caps. I brought home three large Ziploc bags full. I had a master plan to make wool felted acorns for my Etsy shop. I explained the idea to my parents, who I am pretty sure thought I was a bit crazy...but after seeing the final product, I think they were impressed. I washed and roasted all the caps, to clean and preserve them...then added 100% New Zealand wool for the "nuts". Aren't they just the cutest?! You can find them here: https://blueribbondesigns.etsy.com

I have started listing them in my Etsy shop in sets of ten. Colors and sizes vary per listing – see listing images for more specific details. Most acorns have an average size of ⅝” – 1” in diameter and/or height, but as you can see in the images, some may be a bit smaller or larger. Due to the handmade nature and the natural acorn caps, there will be some minor variation in size.

Packages may contain single acorns, double acorns, or triple acorns – again, see images for the exact acorns in each listing. Created by Mother Nature, each cap is unique.

These are great for tiered trays, bowl fillers, nature/fall table decor, fall weddings or gifts. Can be used as a special pin or needle keep (my favorite use!). Perfect for seasonal decor through fall and winter… even year round. Use these wool felted acorns throughout your home to welcome the season, decorate for a wedding or special occasion, or give as a gift. Use them from year to year.

Each set of these delicate acorns is packaged carefully and boxed for shipping. Ready for gift giving.

I will continue to add more sets, as my schedule allows...visit my Etsy shop to see what is currently available...