Arbee Designs' official blog - all blog posts are written by Ruth Blanchet and often include guest quilters, teachers' quotes, tips and tricks, free patterns, and more! We have more tips, tricks, and free patterns on our lesson pages too.

applique and patchwork quilt block designed by Ruth Blanchet with free instructions at Arbee Designs

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showcasing Ruth's crafting goals during October 2025

Crafting Goals for October

10 months completed and Ruth is making great progress on her crafting goals, but she isn't finished yet and the end of the year is looming...

Crafting Goals for October

10 months completed and Ruth is making great progress on her crafting goals, but she isn't finished yet and the end of the year is looming...

alphabet flowers block without the alphabet

Floral Alphabet Garden without the Alphabet

It occurred to Ruth the other day that some appliquers may not want the letters in these beautiful flower blocks and prefer to create the flower on its own, so...

2 comments

Floral Alphabet Garden without the Alphabet

It occurred to Ruth the other day that some appliquers may not want the letters in these beautiful flower blocks and prefer to create the flower on its own, so...

2 comments
Creating handmade Christmas gifts is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season.

Getting Ready For Christmas

I have made a number of blog posts in the past with creative ideas that may help you achieve your Christmas gift list. Here is a summary with links to...

Getting Ready For Christmas

I have made a number of blog posts in the past with creative ideas that may help you achieve your Christmas gift list. Here is a summary with links to...

African Violet flower applique block

An African Violet

I am not sure why I haven't made this beauty years ago, it has always been a favorite flower of mine with it's dainty wee flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Today...

An African Violet

I am not sure why I haven't made this beauty years ago, it has always been a favorite flower of mine with it's dainty wee flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Today...

Woodland Foxes with additional embroidered appliques

Maxine's Woodland Foxes

We absolutely love it when someone sends us a photo of a quilt they’ve made from one of our patterns. Maxine said that she isn’t very confident with appliqué, so...

1 comment

Maxine's Woodland Foxes

We absolutely love it when someone sends us a photo of a quilt they’ve made from one of our patterns. Maxine said that she isn’t very confident with appliqué, so...

1 comment
crafting highlights for September - spinning, crochet, applique, knitting, toymaking, and embroidery

Crafting Goals for September

Are you keeping up with your goals? Have some slipped by... it doesn't really matter if they have, but it is awesome to look back to see what you have...

Crafting Goals for September

Are you keeping up with your goals? Have some slipped by... it doesn't really matter if they have, but it is awesome to look back to see what you have...

applique animal design (tortoise) was used here to create a zentangle design in textile

Mixing things Up - I tried something new!

As Ruth worked with Lee to get her online workshops for Zentangle installed, she knew this was something she would want to try at some point. Finally, that time has...

Mixing things Up - I tried something new!

As Ruth worked with Lee to get her online workshops for Zentangle installed, she knew this was something she would want to try at some point. Finally, that time has...

framing flower blocks is a great idea to make for gifts

Mounting a Flower Block

Isn’t it funny how shopping often leads to discoveries you never planned on? That’s exactly what happened to me.... I was browsing the art section when something unexpected caught my...

Mounting a Flower Block

Isn’t it funny how shopping often leads to discoveries you never planned on? That’s exactly what happened to me.... I was browsing the art section when something unexpected caught my...

Bring graceful charm to your quilt with the delicate embroidered details of the Camellia flower block

Camellia Block

Ruth had fun with this beautiful applique flower, from start (the drawing stage) to finish (the completed block). Now she needs to think about how to use it in a project!...

Camellia Block

Ruth had fun with this beautiful applique flower, from start (the drawing stage) to finish (the completed block). Now she needs to think about how to use it in a project!...

August 2025 board of crafting updates and highlights

Crafting Goals for August

I feel I may be falling behind a little, but let's see how I got on with August's crafting goals!

Crafting Goals for August

I feel I may be falling behind a little, but let's see how I got on with August's crafting goals!

a simple trick for sewing accurate angled seams

Angled Seams

There is a simple trick to make angled seams match perfectly... explained in this week's blog post.

2 comments

Angled Seams

There is a simple trick to make angled seams match perfectly... explained in this week's blog post.

2 comments
Still Life in textile is a fun and exciting way of creating art - join Ruth's online workshop

How to Set Up A Still Life Display

Taking a look inside Ruth's Still Life workshop includes an excerpt of some valuable hints for taking photos of still life for creating textile art.

How to Set Up A Still Life Display

Taking a look inside Ruth's Still Life workshop includes an excerpt of some valuable hints for taking photos of still life for creating textile art.

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