Blue Ribbon Cross Stitch Designs - Belinda Karls-Nace, Owner and Designer

Company Name and History: Belinda Karls-Nace started Blue Ribbon Designs in early 2004, working on designs in the evenings and on weekends. In mid 2004, she lost her full-time job. Belinda explains her next step. "With my design business already underway and my first eight original designs ready for release, I decided to jump in and try to make Blue Ribbon Designs my career.

How Belinda Got Started Designing - The Early Years: Belinda's story:
"I was never formally introduced to cross-stitch (at least that I remember). I would watch my grandmother do crewel embroidery and crochet. My family always encouraged my creativity and I remember doing many crafts and needlework at a very early age. I have vivid memories of my first crewel embroidery and stamped cross-stitch at the age of six. I remember at elementary age stitching on plastic canvas - I was also taught how to crochet by an elderly neighbor that lived on our street (a skill I have yet to master)."

How Belinda Got Started Designing - Needlework Becomes Her Passion: She continues:
"I really did not start Counted Cross Stitch until I was in high school - and it was self-taught - using kits I found at a local hobby store. As time passed, I began trying more stitches and techniques, working with various types of fabrics and threads. I became entranced with all different types/styles of needlework and mediums. I started attending as many classes and retreats as I could fit in my schedule - soaking in as much knowledge of handwork as possible. Needlework quickly became my passion!"

The Birth of Blue Ribbon Designs: Belinda reminisces:
"In 2003, I stitched the sampler "And They Sinned" by Examplar Dames Design Company entirely over-one on 32-count linen. My stitching friends encouraged me to enter it in the Iowa State Fair. I ended up entering five pieces and took home eight different ribbons (including "Best of Show"). It was a very encouraging and rewarding experience - it made me feel like I was good at something. Having my needlework so well received definitely gave me the confidence boost I needed to pursue needlework as a career. The name "Blue Ribbon Designs" was born from my state fair winning blue ribbons."

Themes of Designs: The influence of antique needlework styles and techniques can be seen in all of the Blue Ribbon designs, but each design has a little contemporary twist. Many of Belinda's designs incorporate specialty stitches and stitching over one. She encourages stitchers to choose colors and materials that suit their personality and skill level. Belinda also tries to provide options for personalization and making each piece unique. Designs often have encouraging or inspirational words and phrases and many are geared towards gift giving.

Finishing Work - On Hold for Now: For many years, Belinda did specialty hand-finishing of needlework under the business name "Blue Ribbon Finishing". In recent years, however, the success of her design business has prevented her from any focus on finishing work. Although designing requires all of her attention at present, in the future she hopes to offer finishing services again. She explains, "I absolutely love hand-finishing of needlework. It must be that analytical part of me - I like to figure out how to put things together - for me, it is personally rewarding. I still finish all of my own small projects - it is one of my favorite things to do!"

How Designs are Packaged / Stitching Levels Required: Designs are presented as charts for Cross Stitch and Counted Thread Embroidery. Designs are available that cater to all stitching levels. All of the designs include stitch diagrams and complete finishing instructions as required. Although all models are stitched on linen (or evenweave fabric), many can be converted to Aida fabric.

Features of Website: The Blue Ribbon Designs website has a wealth of information on the company. On the design page, find images of all the designs in the catalog and view larger, more detailed, photos by clicking on the photo thumbnails. Design specifics (stitch count, fabric, threads, additional ideas) are also provided.

Complimentary Newsletter and Sample Patterns: Blue Ribbon Designs sends a complimentary newsletter each month.

Printable Sample Pattern (.pdf format)

More About the Designer and Information on the Depicted Designs: More About the Designer: "I was born and raised in small town Iowa and it has a special place in my heart; I really can't imagine living anywhere else. Iowa has beautiful (but extreme) and colorful seasons - we definitely have a spring, a summer, an autumn, and a winter. I get the best of both worlds living in West Des Moines - the convenience of the city, but the countryside is only miles away.

I enjoy taking care of my home and yard, cooking, sketching, and reading about historical needlework, antiques, and textiles - I also like to do "girlie" things with my friends - like shopping or having tea. I love to attend/watch sporting events and would be thrilled to spend any free time at a baseball park. Something many of your readers would be surprised to hear about me - I am a "punk rock girl" at heart - I have collected music and autographs since I was quite young - we have what we call a "music room" in our house - it is filled from floor to ceiling with music memorabilia, along with around 5,000 vinyl record albums."

Information on the Depicted Designs

Red Velvet Inscription Sampler "The Red Velvet Inscription Sampler is probably my most popular design. Each square contains a hidden letter of the alphabet (taken from the center of the design) multiplied four times. Starting from the top left corner square (box 1) and reading left to right for each row - box one contains four of the letter "A", box two contains four of the letter "B", box three contains four of the letter "C", and so on."

Belinda explains how to design your own inscription sampler:

1. Choose a word such as your first name, last name, or welcome.
2. Stitch the squares containing the letters of your word.
Postcard from Paradise "This is one of my popular gameboard samplers. I have a series of gameboard samplers featuring different seasons and themes."

A Sampler for Neine and Frump "This sampler was done in remembrance of my Grandparents - their nicknames were Neine (pronounced "knee knee") and Frump. As a child, I spent many summers at their New Jersey home surrounded by brick paths, flower and vegetable gardens, fruit trees and beehives (my Grandfather was a bee keeper)."