Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog Hop - September 2024

    

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon September Blog Hop! Our hop theme this month is Halloween Themes and Colors! Each of the design team ladies is going to be creating a project in an Halloween theme or using colors of the season, PLUS ribbon!

You should be coming to my blog from Ginny's Blog. After visiting me hop on to Kathy's Blog next! (The full blog list is at the end of the post.)

At the end of the hop, comment on the RRR Blog post, answering the question listed, for a chance to win a $10 Gift Card to the RRR Shop, plus one digital stamp set of your choice from Bonnie Garby Designs. The Design Team appreciates your comments, too!

I have a stack of cross stitching projects that I have finished over the winter, spring, and summer. I am finally getting around to fully finishing them into...something. I have another one for you this month!

This design was a freebie from The Wishing  Thorn (Birgit Tolman). It turned out quite small because I used a 16 count Aida fabric. I originally thought to turn it into a little pillow to use as a bowl decoration, but....I just didn't have the mental bandwidth to figure out how to sew a pillow! (Sewing is NOT one of my strengths!)

Full confession: My husband surprised me with a new sewing machine over a year ago. I FINALLY set it all up and taught myself how to sew around the edges of my cross stitch fabric - to keep the cloth from unraveling! (Ok, so I YouTubed how to set up the machine and to zigzag sew the fabric edges!) I do want to stitch a little pillow, but I am afraid of messing up a stitched piece! My sewing skills are limited to a horrible experience in the 7th grade! I am an accomplished and confidante woman...surely I can DO THIS!! {grin}

I have a stash of small, bamboo hoops and used one of those to finish the project. The  hoop is 5 1/2" across. It is perfect for a table or shelf decoration, or this could be hung on the wall. 

I gave the piece a more Halloween flair by adding all the wonderful ribbons! I have a nice stash of Halloween-themed ribbons. Bonnie used create a Halloween ribbon pack every year for Really Reasonable Ribbon. I don't make a lot of Halloween items, therefore, yes...I have loads of ribbons to choose from! 

I started out with a large bow made from 3/8" Grosgrain Swiss Dots ribbon. I used the orange with black dots, which is out of stock, however there there is a version with white dots HERE. I then created another bow made from 3/8" Black Grosgrain with spider webs. Again, this one is out of stock, but there is a reverse print, white ribbon with black webs HERE. 

I then tied a loopy bow from Halloween Baker's Twine and attached an orange button to the bow. I glued all the bows together at the top of the embroidery hoop. I dangled a jack-o' lantern charm from the button. (I found the charms on Amazon for a great price.)

I topped the bow stack with a 25mm Black Rose. Super spooky cute!

I used some scrapbook paper to cover the back of the hoop. This hides the stitching and my finishing "mess." I used a large Spellbinders die to cut the 5 1/4" paper circle.

I am simply  loving my return to cross stitching! It was my "first craft love" in 1988 and after putting it aside for over 20 years when I was homeschooling and raising three kids...it is so nice to come back to it! I have to do things a bit differently to accommodate arthritis in my hands and my ageing eyesight, but...it is going well and I love it! 

I am attending my FIRST cross stitching retreat next week! A four day weekend here in Temecula, CA (about a 40 minute drive) with 50+ other stitching folks! I don't know a single person, but I am looking forward to meeting new friends, having a full long weekend to stitch...and of course there will be some vendor shopping! 

On another note: we are having a lot of smoke and ash from the fires around the area, but my town is not threatened at this time. The air quality is terrible, which is bad for my allergies, but we are safe, praise God. My prayers go out to those in the danger zones and to all the firefighters and rescue personnel. It is so very hot here and I know their job is made worse by the extreme heat. 

Thanks for joining me today! Hop on and see the other projects from the other ladies! 

Here is the RRR Blog Hop Order in case you get lost!
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings
Ginny
Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!
Kathy
Cheryl
Bonnie
Misty
Karen
Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings

Really Reasonable Ribbon Supplies Used:

Trims: 3/8" Grosgrain Orange with Black Dots Swiss Dots (alternate version with white dots HERE), 3/8" Black Grosgrain with Spider Webs (reverse print, white ribbon with black webs HERE), Halloween Baker's Twine 

Flowers: 25mm Black Rose. 

Bow making tools: Zutter Bow-it-All

Other Supplies Used:

Cross stitch pattern: Harvest Moon by The Wishing Thorn

Fabric: 16 Count Cosmo Off-White

Floss: DMC

Hoop: 5 1/2" bamboo (Amazon)

Paper: scrap of Authentique

Die cut: Spellbinders Grand Circles

Charm: Amazon

Butt: my stash

Adhesive: hot glue, Art Glitter Dries Clear Glue

Other tools: scissors, sewing notions