Ribbon and Christmas trees.  Sigh…the perfect combination.

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Ideas for adding ribbon to your tree are endless.  Only one thing is a must, you must make sure that you have May Arts ribbon on your tree.

• Ribbon as garland around the tree is popular and so is using your ribbon as streamers. This year for my home tree, I decided to go with the green checked KB15 ribbon streaming down my tree.  This ribbon is 1.5 inches wide and the green solid check seemed a bit traditional yet, fun and whimsical at the same time.   Red beaded garlands are also streaming down the tree near the ribbon.  By using this ribbon I was able to hang the fun, bright, children’s ornaments and the more elegant crystal keepsake ornaments together on the same tree.  And none seemed out of place.

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• Instead of tying bows on my tree, I attached ornaments with ribbon and then tied the bow.  Looking at the ornaments tied on with a bow makes me happy!

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• People frequently have a large bow on the top of the tree, I opted for a smaller bow around the topper that we had - the best of both toppers!

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• You of course can make ribbon ornaments.  Even hang the ornaments on your tree with ribbons instead of hooks.  Knot, loop, tie…my tree uses just about every way to hang an ornament with ribbon!  SJ string/metallic - The amazing metallic string will keep your ornaments attached to the tree and they won’t fall off!

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Blog Posted By:  Leah Farrar-White

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Be sure to check out our "Sneak Peek"!

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As many of you may know, we come out with two new seasons of ribbon every year.  In about six week’s time, we will be ready for January’s releases!  We are very excited to show you everything we have been working so hard to create & bring to all of our loyal May Arts Ribbon fans.

On this week’s contest, we wanted to have a little fun with next season’s ribbon!  Pictured below are two sneak peeks of our upcoming releases.  Tell us what you think! 

Here are the details:

• To enter: Post a comment. 

• Start date:  Monday, November 30^th, 2009.

• Deadline: Sunday December 13^th, 2009. 

• The prize:  6 - three yard spools of May Arts Ribbon.  Your choice!

• We will select one entry.  The winner’s name will be posted on Monday December 14^th. 

• The winner will have 2 weeks to contact us & claim their prize.

• Domestic & International entries are all welcome.

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Thank you for your posts this week!  We hope you all found a bit of inspiration when decorating your table this Thanksgiving.  This week’s winner is Denise Bryant:

"I am visualizing a gorgeous tablerunner embellished with ribbons.... Stitch lengths of ribbon on a plain store-bought runner to dress it up and add some interest. Use colors that would complement your serving pieces and dinnerware."

Denise, congratulations!  The table runner was a great idea!  We’d love to see photos when you finish dressing up your table!  Send them in to sales@mayarts.com & we will post them.  Forward your shipping information & your ribbon selections to the email address above! 

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Remember sewing cards or lacing cards? I had them as a child.  My children have them now.   They were pictures with holes that you “sewed” a shoe string in and out of to outline the image.  I LOVED THEM.  They were entertaining, helped with hand-eye coordination and kept me busy.  That childhood activity was my inspiration for today’s projects.  I laced ribbons through paper.  That is it!  Easy-peasy with a nifty result!

 
Directions: Punch, pierce, poke, or cut paper and lace your ribbon!

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For the HAPPY HOLIDAYS WREATH simply lace ribbon through 2 circles and sew buttons in the space between the ribbons.  Tear the edges around the wreath and matte it on patterned paper and again on a raw chipboard square base.

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This ribbon lacing idea can be used on any paper crafting project!  I used it here on the following scrapbook pages

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MAY ARTS RIBBONS used in today’s projects:

TS 3/16 solid stitched center (orange)

NV46 faux suede ruffled edge (celery green)

DD46 grosgrain dots (light green/white dot)

TS 3/16 solid stitched center (fuchsia)

EM net (fuchsia and light blue)

XR44 solid plaid wired (red/green/yellow)

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Blog Posted By:  Leah Farrar-White

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In medieval times pomanders, clove-studded fruits cured with spices, played an aromatic role in civilizing civilization.  Their lasting fragrance was a foe to unpleasant smells, in the home and even on the person.

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They’re here in the MayArts Ribbon blog because the prettiest pomanders are tied with decorative ribbons.  Some ribbons are tied around the pomanders, allowing them to hang in closets and other musty places, while others add bits of color and design to pomanders grouped in bowls and baskets.

Here’s a refresher course in Pomander Prep..

MATERIALS:

• Fruits that will dry well - oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines, apples

• Whole cloves – good quality with heads still in place

• Ceramic or glass bowl

• Small sharp metal skewer or knitting needle for puncturing fruit skin

• Spice mixture for curing approximately 4 – 5 pomanders

             powdered cinnamon  -   8 Tablespoons

             powdered cloves       -    4 Tablespoons

             powdered allspice     -    1 Tablespoon

             powdered nutmeg     -    1 Tablespoon

             powdered orrisroot   -    2 Tablespoons

• Ribbons  - about 2 yards for tying and/or hanging each finished pomanders (note: When selecting ribbons, remember that they will be surrounded by cinnamon brown dried clove-studded fruits- not the fruit’s pre-dried natural color)

Don’t limit your selections to holiday colors because pomanders are always in season, and May Arts many two-sided ribbons add an extra, unexpected touch.

For my project, I used the following 3/8” May Arts Ribbons that play nicely together:

• MN 28    (yellow/orange checks)

• SB  28    (gold/green reversible)

• 333-16    (green)

• AKN 27  (plaid)

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Select fruit and ribbons

• Have a design in mind for the clove “landscape” you are creating.  This includes distinct un-studded avenues that will house the ribbons after the curing is complete.  It is helpful to lightly mark the design with a soft pencil.

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• Masking tape or even strips of paper or fabric can mark the ribbon-pathways – but must be removed after the cloves are stuck in place.

• Using a small sharp metal instrument, like a turkey skewer, make only a few punctures at a time in the fruit, according to your plan.  These holes should not be too close together, as the fruit will shrink as it dries.  Insert cloves in pre-made holes.  Continue making 3 – 4 holes at a time until the job is completed. Try to complete each pomander on the day you start so there is less chance of rotting.

• Make a batch of at least 4 to 5 pomanders at one time.

• Mix the curing spices together, place 1/3^rd in the bottom of a ceramic or glass bowl.  Arrange the pomanders on top and cover them with the remaining mix.  Rotate the pomanders often and keep them covered with the spices.  It may take from two to four weeks for the drying/curing to be complete.

• When the pomanders are ready, tap the excess spice mix back into the bowl- to be saved for more batches as well as refreshing these after time.

• Place the ribbons onto their pathways, securing with a dab of glue if necessary.  Finish the creation with a bow, baubles, small cones, or any other decoration that seems like a good idea.

• If the pomander is to be used as a hanging sachet, create a ribbon hanger – or pair of ties.

• A bowl or basket of be-ribboned pomanders is a subtle and practical “object” in many locations.

• The pomanders can be refreshed by a sprinkling of water, then submerging for a week or two in the saved spicy curing mix.

True Story:  The basket of pomanders in my living room just celebrated their 35th birthday, so I can honestly say that all that punching and sticking and curing was worth while a long long while ago.

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Blog Posted By:  Ellen Highsmith Silver

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Be sure to check out this week's contest: A Thanksgiving Feast

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Materials:

• 4x4 squares of cardstock

• 2x4 rectangles of patterned paper

• edge distresser

• ink

• stickers

• vintage buttons

• May Arts SM string/burlap natural

• May Arts XL faux suede leaves brown

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Directions:

• score cardstock at 2” and fold to create place card base.

• distress and ink the edges of the patterned paper and apply to cardstock.

• glue one leaf and attach the button with the burlap string.

• spell out names w/ the letter stickers.

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*Other place card creating tips…

For adding the names to your cards you can try some of the following:

• pull out your typewriter

• use AMERICAN TYPEWRITER (or any other font) and print out the names

• (gasp!) Your own handwriting

• have a young child write the names

• small stickers or rub-ons

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(May Arts XT Ivory Twill/ Print brown flowers used on cards above)

Ways to attach ribbon to your cards:

• use glue or tape.

• tie a bow or knot.

• cross stitch 2 x’s on ends of ribbon. 

• sew ribbon to cardstock with a sewing machine

• cut a slit on top fold of card and thread ribbon through, tie on front of card.

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During this Thanksgiving Season, we at May Arts give thanks for all our wonderful customers and readers who have followed our blog.  We hope you all have a happy & healthy holiday!

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Blog Posted By:  Leah Farrar-White

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Be sure to check out this week's contest: A Thanksgiving Feast

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It seems as though we sometimes jump straight from Halloween to Christmas, leaving out a very important holiday: Thanksgiving!  So this week, we are going to ‘rewind’ our themes a bit. 

One of our favorite parts of Thanksgiving is, of course, dinner!  We are gathered around our dinner table with good food & good company.  And while presentation isn’t everything, we do like our tables to look their best!

In what ways do you incorporate ribbon when decorating your Thanksgiving table?  Whether you use ribbon as napkin rings or on your centerpiece, we want to hear your ideas!

Details are as follows:

• To enter: Post a comment.

• Start date:  Monday, November 16^th, 2009.

• Deadline: Sunday November 29^th, 2009. 

• The prize:  6 - three yard spools of May Arts Ribbon.  Your choice!

• We will select one entry.  The winner’s name will be posted on Monday November 30^th. 

• The winner will have 2 weeks to contact us & claim their prize.

• Domestic & International entries are all welcome.

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Thank you Kristin for sending in photos of your work!  Congratulations!

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Thank you for your comments this week!  No matter how you dress up your cards & gifts this year, we hope May Arts Ribbon helps make them all a little bit more beautiful!

This week’s winner is Kristin Perez:   

"Ribbon is fun because it's easily made into different embellishments for cards or layouts. Stitch up one side and tug into a yo-yo flower, sew up the middle tug and you get a ruffle, lay out on project and make loops as you go - so many ways to use ribbon!
Thanks for the chance to win!"

Kristin, congratulation!  If you have any photos, send them on in!  We will be happy to post them!   Please forward your shipping information & your ribbon selections to sales@mayarts.com! 

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The projects below was sent to us by Jennifer Hadder:

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This Christmas Tree was sent to us by Michelle Bopp:

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This luminaria was sent to us by Rebecca of Eclectic Endeavours:

She also forwarded us a link to a tutorial, in case anyone is interested in trying this project!

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This card was sent to us by Denise Bryant:

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These cards were sent to us by Denise from Stamping With Denise:

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This gift can was sent to us by Donna from Purple Lion Paper:

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These designs were sent to us by Dorota all the way from Poland:

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This ornament was sent to us by Mary of Sew Dear To Me:

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Our first entry from our Christmas challenge is here:
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This Jester Ornament was submitted by Robin of Outside The Box Primitives.

Be sure to keep checking back, more entries are coming...

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Sounds like fun?  It's not to late to enter!   Click here for details!

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In college, my professor, Dr. Jacobson asked the class, “What is something that you have taught yourself how to do?”  We went around the room and answered his question.  While the others were answering, I racked my brain to think of something, anything.  My turn arrived, and I half answered,  “I know that I would like to teach myself to play the guitar, but I haven’t taught myself anything-yet.”  

This question of his has stayed with me for 18 years.  Sure, once I borrowed my Aunt’s guitar, and tried to teach myself how to play.  I really did try. I just didn’t get anywhere.  Even after signing up for lessons-I got nowhere even faster.  Bored, calloused fingers, guitar sounding really bad, I decided maybe this instrument wasn’t for me. 

Quilting.  Another thing I have always wanted was to learn. My Grandmother was a quilter, she made the quilt top my daughter sleeps under every night.  She also had a quilt on every bed in her home.  Something about quilts reminds me of her and my childhood.  Quilts seem to symbolize comfort, coziness, connections and love.   My Mother-in-law is an amazing quilter who can create anything she sets her mind to.  A few years ago, I mentioned to her that I was interested in learning.  For Christmas she gave me every quilting tool you need to get started.  My gift contained: a strange pizza cutter type object; a nice really long, wide, clear grid ruler thingy; a very large, green flexible mat; and a book filled with plastic templates.

I didn’t dive in right away.  The gadgets really were a bit intimidating.  While trying to use the pizza cutter on something I learned that it was sharp. VERY sharp.  Unsure on how to proceed, I went to the sewing store deciding that a lesson might be in order.  Unfortunately, the next beginner quilting class was 3 months away and it already had a waiting list. A bit discouraged, I ended up putting the supplies away.

Last month our family went on a get-away weekend and I happened upon two fabric stores and a quilt show.  The spark was re-ignited!  I bought a charm pack.  I discovered that meant the squares are already cut for you! 5 inch squares. ( I figured that meant I wouldn’t have to use my dangerous pizza cutter!!! )  I played with my new fabric squares as if I were a child rearranging puzzle pieces.  My own children were under the table w/ blocks playing a game they called “let’s make quilts.” It was magical!

So I just did it…like the old Nike commercial.  JUST DO IT.  I borrowed a few magazines,  let myself play and I created this quilt.  I did have to ask the Home Ec teacher at the school where I work, how to cut straight.  She thought I was joking at first,  after realizing it was a serious question she showed me how to use the rotary cutter.  The rest…I taught myself!  Dr. Jacobson would be proud.  I am proud.  Now,  it is your turn.  Teach yourself something!

sashing between the fabric is May Arts ribbon: HA-02 in Champagne.

Blog Posted By:  Leah Farrar-White

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