Simple Ribbon Flower Tutorial ~ All our wire-edge ribbons are on sale at Close-out prices!
etsy.com/Ribbonsmyth

Supplies ~
18" wire-edge ribbon - 5/8" or 7/8"
embroidery needle, thread, scissors
Fabric-Tac Glue
Assorted crystals for flower centers
Velvet Leaves - one branch of 12 leaves

Velvet leaves, wire-edge ribbon, ribbon embroidery needle pack, crystals, 
all available at our etsy site.


These wire-edge ribbon flowers would be great added to cq blocks.

These flowers top a plain, satin covered hard-case, evening purse, with magnetic closure. Shoulder strap inside the purse. 

Flower ~ 1. 18 " of 5/8" or 7/8" wire-edge ombre ribbon. 2. Tie a knot in one end. Pull a bit of the wire at the opposite end, to gather. Secure gathered ribbon end by wrapping several times, with thread. 3. Encircle the gathered ribbon around the knot. 4. Secure the two ribbon ends, in place, with with several stitches, on the back of the flower. 5. Glue the flower to the purse with Fabri-Tac glue. Glue a crystal in the center of each flower. Randomly glue velvet leaves beneath the flowers. Easy Peasy.

Block #5 of Nine-patch crazy quilt wall-hanging

 Block Number 5 of the 9-patch wall-hanging. The stitching was not planned to create "hearts" around the block. However, wanting movement in a static block, I had previously stitched, with silk twist, "swirls" among each block. Now embellishing each one, adding more stitching,  I created several heart "outlines".

Nine-Patch crazy quilt block ~ block #4

I'm working on nine blocks, using the contents from 4 zip lock bags. The little package has traveled with me for the past two years. Now I want to get them all stitched and assembled into a wall-hanging, before Spring. Once the weather improves, no time for stitching. It's been a great exercise! I love using the  bits I've gathered. The center of each patch is from a pair of my jeans. The velvet patch is cut directly from the blue jeans legs and if the placement of the velvet flower looks odd, it's due to working with the arrangement of the motifs on the jeans.

New Fabric Packs $12,  New Doupioni Silk Grab Bags, Beads, and fabric pack assortment now on the Etsy Site at www.etsy.com/shop/Ribbonsmyth

USE Coupon Code RS1231 on any order of $20 or more, and receive 10% discount automatically.

Place an order of $100 domestic, and receive Free Freight (Frieght credited after order is placed)

Hibernate and Create!

New 9-Patch Crazy Quilt for 2018

A collection of nine 10-inch blocks that have lived in a plastic bag, traveling in my suitcase for several years. The center patch of each block, is from a pair of my blue jeans. I salvaged the embroidery before tossing the jeans. I have 4 little zip lock bags that lived with the blocks. Each trip, never saw embroidery, so after unpacking them from my latest trip to Texas, these blocks are going to be finished, before I start my taxes and I start my next session of oil painting. I'm working strictly from what I had gathered for the zip lock bags. Mostly silk twist for the stitch work. I want lots of movement in the blocks and am not concerned with fancy stitches or that my stitches be perfect, which I can't do. Instead, I'm always interested in the finished vision, imperfection included!

I did a temporary lay-out of the blocks. The blocks will be butted together. I have a Scalamandre damask in gold and in crimson drapery panel, and one of those will be used for the backing. Scalamandre is known for their reproduction fabrics and wall coverings loomed for the White House. I was able to purchase some of those remnants when they closed the Queens manufacturing operation.  The edging will be a one-inch wide velvet. Can't wait to get to the assembly.

The quilt will hang in the front stairwell, where it will not suffer daylight exposure.

Happiness and Health to each of you for 2018!

It's 9 degrees here as we get ready to go into the country for a warm meal, wonderful music and a bit of sparkling something.

Wonderful day to review our blessings and gifts from 2017.

This is an oil painting I did in November,  of the family farm bell and our side yard. The photograph was taken last year in February. I used the painting for this year's Christmas card. Oil Painting, what a wonderful challenge!

A big thank you too, to each of you, that visited our Etsy site in 2017. Thousands of yards of silk ribbon found new homes, all over the world! Grateful!

Use Coupon Code RS1231 on  $20 or more when you place your Etsy order and receive 10% off your order!

We have 50% off closeout on an assortment of trims, perfect for Halloween and crazy quilting too! Silk Twist is on Sale at 50% off

100 yard ribbon grab bags are  ONLY $25

 

Lots of new vintage, fusible images for $1.50

 

Lots of new hand-painted rayon lace trims affordably priced!

Click on to my esty shop in the right hand box for one-click ordering!

www.etsy.com/shop/RibbonSmyth

Find an assortment of 4mm and 7mm silk ribbon, as well as vintage items, and an assortment of embellishments at my Etsy site at www.etsy.com/shop/ribbonsmyth !  The  above small collage is a section of a crazy quilt block using satin silk ribbon dyed with my RibbonSmyth rayon dyes. Beautiful non-toxic dyes for cotton, rayon and silk. Beautiful, vintage results guaranteed!

SCALAMANDRE SILK THREADS ~stitch with history

I have about 15 colors of Historic SCALAMANDRE SILK THREAD from the historic fabric house in New York. SCALAMANDRE has created carpeting, fabrics, wall-paper coverings for most of the famous historical  mansions in the US. The White House is designed with reproduction pieces from SCALAMANDRE. The silks are selling quickly. Grab a couple of skeins while I have them. Each one yard skein has approximately 130 one-yard silk strands. I do hand-embroidery with 3 silk strands in my embroidery needle, to create beautiful satin stitch work. Currently stitching a denim jacket with large silk flowers, using these threads.  The silk is from Brazil and dyed at the Queens plant.  The luster is amazing. $4 a skein.

www.etsy.com/shop/Ribbonsmyth

Vintage Charm and Tape Measure Statement Necklace

I created this piece using Rollo chain and a vintage measuring tape, with glass beads and turquoise accents. This has a series of small metal "measurement" charms.  Fabulous!

www.etsy.com/shop/Ribbonsmyth

Amethyst rock and Silver Beads Necklace

This is a gorgeous necklace using polished Amethyst stones and silver Native American inspired beads. This is a great statement piece. 32" in length.  All are vintage elements purchased from a jewelry warehouse in New York. They sell vintage stock collected since the 1960's and are currently in the process of closing. Can't resist the finds!

Santa Fe Necklace with rosary beads

Using vintage elements,  this is a new necklace I've designed, using rosary chains, leather cord, rocks and silver beads. This looks fabulous with denim. Jewelry pieces can be purchased at etsy.com/shop/Ribbonsmyth

New Floral Shell Buttons at our Etsy Site

These shell buttons are beautiful in person! 1 1/4" in diameter, each has a floral design. These have always been popular for crazy quilts, fabric books, purse accessories and wearable arts.

And Only $3  at www.etsy.com/shop/Ribbonsmyth

Vintage Ticking Fabric Heart with Silk Ribbon

This 8" heart is heading towards its new home in New Jersey.

Using vintage ticking cotton fabric for the heart, the center image , one of my  RibbonSmyth vintage images is fused to the center of the fabric. Our fusible images are available in our Etsy store. I added one of my floral Mother of Pearl buttons and surrounded the little image with yellow 7mm silk ribbon stitches and small metallic beads,  then finished with 3 small shell buttons. This piece will now be with 4 other hearts. I send a heart annually, to a friend, to honor the passing of her husband.

Vintage cotton heart made with ticking and laces

This is a sweet little heart using one of my fusible vintage images, my rayon dyed tape and lace bits from my Etsy Site - RibbonSmyth. I love recycling old cotton ticking. This little heart is 8" and being send to a dear friend in Connecticut. I have the heart hanging from an old tool box, that is hanging on the stone wall in our loft bathroom. Have to make more! Valentine's Day will be here quickly!

Laundry in the Fog 16"x20" Oil Painting

This is a large oil painting that will be finished by tomorrow. It's from a photograph I took last week of clothing  hanging on the line during a foggy day. Found this scene on an old country road. This oil painting, will be in an exhibit in New Jersey beginning February 4th. Love to paint. The rewards are wonderful!

Vintage Fusible Images with flower beads on my Etsy Site

If you enjoy using vintage images on your Crazy Quilt Blocks, we have my most popular images images packets with beads. My vintage images are printed on fusible white cotton muslin. Simply iron on, and then embellish. These have been a hit. More images are being loaded on to the Etsy site - RibbonSmyth, so you will have plenty for holidays and special occasions.  Image size are 2"x3".

Book Pages created with vintage images and Lace

One of the best collage experiences, is to make a fabric book. Stephanie Novatski helped with the base fabrics and creations of the base pieces, while I had all the fun using some of the collected laces that sit in overflowing tubs, and embellishments that have been gathered for two decades. Stephanie inspires and is very talented. 

The theme was a series of quotes and beautiful vintage women images from the 1920's.

These books are addictive. I'm designing one right now for my sister.

Would you like an heirloom  book of your own, using your old photographs, printed onto fabrics  and my materials?

Contact me for a quote at victoria@ribbonsmyth.com

Felted phone case with vintage rosary bead chain ~ on Sale in my Etsy Shop!

iPhone case! This was great to create. The base is an old wool blanket. Using my Embellisher, I used layers of FiberFusion, lace from an old 1950's dress and then some of my hand-dyed rayon ribbon, to create a flower.  The case is finished with a 1950's glass bead earring "flower center"  with a brass filagree bee, that was once a brooch. I've added vintage copper rosary bead chain for a purse strap. The case was designed to accommodate  the size of an iPhone 6S. One-of-a-kind, small "statement" pouch, on sale at my Etsy shop - RibbonSmyth.

Felting is the best!

Wire-edge lime green ribbon beads

Another selection of beads created for the bead swap. These are one-inch in length. The felt is cut smaller than the ribbon and wrapped around a knitting needle.

The ribbon is wrapped around the felt and stitched into place. I used a vintage, lime green taffeta picot-edge ribbon, that I bought from a ribbon vendor in Lyon, France. The wire-edge ribbons from France are superior to any I've found. I have the few remaining spools in my inventory, listed on my Etsy site at RibbonSmyth.

I then wrapped 11mm bias-cut silk around the ribbon and stitched into place.

Then a piece of 7mm rococo ribbon, in lime green and  teal was tied into a knot. I glued a vintage  Czech glass cabochon on top of the ribbon knot. Beautiful little beads. These would make a great choker. For the photograph, I strung them onto bias-cut silk ribbon.