Ribbon Week -- Storage

I've decided to devote this week to ribbon. 
Remember, we started a Ribbon Contest yesterday!

Today I thought that I would show you how I store my ribbon at home.
 

There are probably lots of ways you could store it, these are just a couple of ways.

1. I have a few stacking boxes that are just the right width to hold the cardboard packs of rick rack (you might see them in the center box)
I cut some similar sized rectangles from acid free foam core board and wrap the ribbon around them.

2. Over time, I've collected some wooden spools that are useful and decorative both!  They are often long enough to hold 3 or 4 different ribbons on them.

Sometimes I remember to save empty plastic spools too.  They do the job.
Whatever I wind the ribbon on to, I use a small applique pin to hold the end so that everything isn't unrolling.

And sometimes, I end up with short pieces that I can't throw away.  I just use a little clip to hold them together at one end.  That way they stay all together.

If you have some other suggestions, I'd love to hear how you store yours!  Because it goes without saying that you must have a collection of ribbon --- right Molly?

Ribbon brainstorming

I still haven't worked out what to do for a ribbon based challenge for the store. In the meantime, I did bring home some ribbon because I just had to possess some of it. Now I'm thinking about how to use some in a project and so I returned to some of the photos I took at quilt market in the Renaissance Ribbon booth.
Notebook cover, cushion, tote bag, pincushion, napkin ring, placemats, wall hanging, .....
I'm currently leaning toward placemats....

New Ribbon! and a contest!

We just received more new ribbons from Renaissance Ribbons,
their website is   here
Aren't they amazing?

Black and white zebra

Amy Butler, mosaic

Amy Butler, Blue on Gray Sari Petal

Anna Maria Horner, Spinning wheel, coral and cream

Gold tape with Black edges

Antique Gold metallic tape

Ivory and Gold Greek Key

Kaffe Fassett, Guinea Flower on Black and white

Kaffe Fassett, Plum and Orange Kite tail

Kaffe Fassett, Orange and Purple palm fan

Kaffe Fassett, blue and purple phase stripes

plus, there are 17 other ribbons that came a couple of weeks ago from Renaissance as well! 
It was really difficult to choose which ribbons to order.  Much harder than to order fabric.  There were so many options, and it was hard to envisage how each one could be useful in a project. 


In December, I wrote a post on all the ribbon inspirations that I acquired at their booth at Quilt Market in Houston,   here. 

Now, I am anxious to put some of these ideas into practice.

We should have a contest!  At the store, for using ribbons in a project!  This is a new idea-- I need help brainstorming for this contest, so all input is welcomed! ( including ideas on prizes, categories, parameters, etc,)

Mini Bag with Ribbon Handles

I've started making these little bags to slip things in for gifts-- they are so easy to make, and only take about 10 minutes each.  I think that they are so fast because I'm using felted wool, and so I don't have to worry about finishing the edges or turning them under, plus the felt is thick enough to have enough body for a nice feel to the bag.
So here is the step by step description of how to!:
  gather supplies:
     a rectangle of felted wool, mine is 6" x 13"
     about 45 inches of ribbon for handles
     about 12-1/2" of ribbon for decoration
     optional applique or button to embellish the bag

  place your ribbon about an inch in from one long edge

 lay the ribbon down as a loop, making sure not to get any twists in it

 make sure the handles are equal in size, and then pin down the ribbon

top stitch the ribbon down to the base rectangle, it will look like this on the back

 fold the bag in half and stitch one of the side seams with a 1/4" seam allowance, press it open,
 top-stitch the other ribbon across the place where the raw edges of the handle ribbon meet

 sew the other side seam and press it open
"box" the bottom corners of the bag by stitching a short seam perpendicular to the side seam.  Don't stitch into the ribbon area,

 turn it inside out!
this one shows that I didn't use a second ribbon, but I just sewed a little applique over the raw ends of the handle ribbon.

Now that I've made about 8 of these, I want to try some other sizes, and maybe use a quilted rectangle.... isn't sewing fun?!!!

(update, another good size is: rectangle, 7-1/2" x 17", ribbon handle, 60")

Miscellaneous Stuff from today, the first of December!

Aren't these guys cute?  They are getting me into the December spirit now.  (vintage candles, found in my favorite antique store in Ithaca, NY)

This is the throw rug I acquired on Saturday at the Weaver's Guild Sale.  It is quite lovely, made by Jane Evans of Saskatoon.  I'm not quite sure what the thicker insertions are, but the rest of it is cotton, I think.

Today at the shop, Jean popped in and brought us this lovely hand made Christmas card.  It is really pretty, with ribbon "braided" in a very clever way, and sparkly red berries. 

 It looks great with the Christmas quilt Nancy made out of the Basic Grey fabrics!

 Jean also brought us chocolates last week.  No wonder we light up when she walks in. 

 I downloaded a pattern from the moda Bake shop, here,

The instructions are really good especially for a new quilter, with detailed photos at every step.  It's made from a charm pack so it sews up really fast.
I am making it in 2 colorways:

 and:

 Maybe I'll get the bindings on tonight, who can say.
Can't you just hear them singing Christmas carols?