Arbee Designs' official blog - all blog posts are written by Ruth Blanchet and often include guest quilters, teacher's quotes, tips and tricks, free patterns and more! We have more tip, 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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Crafty vision board for 2025 includes quilting, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, and spinning

Crafting Goals for 2025

Like many crafters, I have a passion for multiple hobbies—quilting, knitting, spinning, crocheting, and more. Yet, there’s never quite enough time to tackle all the projects I dream of. This...

Crafting Goals for 2025

Like many crafters, I have a passion for multiple hobbies—quilting, knitting, spinning, crocheting, and more. Yet, there’s never quite enough time to tackle all the projects I dream of. This...

5 of the 7 photos for the last week in the December photo challenge

Sharing Your Progress: Connecting Through the P...

You can hashtag #DecemberQuiltChallenge on social media or just email me your favorite few if you joined the Challenge, if not, then I encourage you to start in January... this...

Sharing Your Progress: Connecting Through the P...

You can hashtag #DecemberQuiltChallenge on social media or just email me your favorite few if you joined the Challenge, if not, then I encourage you to start in January... this...

Challange week 4 - photos include flowers, pinecone, fir trees, dry grass and water

Sketch, Scribble, Stitch: Journaling Your Creat...

The week before Christmas and I'm still snapping photos, check out this week's inspiring photos for quilt making.

Sketch, Scribble, Stitch: Journaling Your Creat...

The week before Christmas and I'm still snapping photos, check out this week's inspiring photos for quilt making.

Challenge week 3 - a theme this week of colorful photos from yellow red hot pokers to pohutukawa flowers and crochet baubles

From Photo to Quilt: Turning Snapshots into Stu...

Time flies when you are having fun and I'm certainly having fun with this Challenge. You'll find Benefits of Taking Photos and Tips for Inspiring Topics in the previous weeks.

From Photo to Quilt: Turning Snapshots into Stu...

Time flies when you are having fun and I'm certainly having fun with this Challenge. You'll find Benefits of Taking Photos and Tips for Inspiring Topics in the previous weeks.

Challenge week 2 - a collection of photos with a border design sketched

Finding Beauty in the Everyday: Photo Inspirati...

This week I will share some tips for choosing inspiring topics to photograph for your quilts... then I will share my photos and this week's sketch.

Finding Beauty in the Everyday: Photo Inspirati...

This week I will share some tips for choosing inspiring topics to photograph for your quilts... then I will share my photos and this week's sketch.

photo challenge week 1 sees a selections of just 3 photos and a sketch

Kickstart Your Creativity: December Photo Chall...

Before I share my first three days of our December Photo Challenge, I'll add some benefits on why this is a great idea to do.....

2 comments

Kickstart Your Creativity: December Photo Chall...

Before I share my first three days of our December Photo Challenge, I'll add some benefits on why this is a great idea to do.....

2 comments
snap a photo challenge of beautiful landscapes, flowers and nature, objects, construction and everything in between for quilting inspiration

Capture Creativity: Join Our December Photo Cha...

Start snapping with us this December in our Photo Challenge. You’ll end up with a collection of ideas and sketches to jumpstart your 2025 quilting projects!

Capture Creativity: Join Our December Photo Cha...

Start snapping with us this December in our Photo Challenge. You’ll end up with a collection of ideas and sketches to jumpstart your 2025 quilting projects!

adding embroidery to your quilt - how to make French Knots

Adding Hand Embroidery To My Quilts

Hand embroidery adds texture, dimension, and intricate detailing. Simple stitches like French knots, running stitches, and chain stitches can create highlights or a sense of movement across the quilt. Let's learn...

Adding Hand Embroidery To My Quilts

Hand embroidery adds texture, dimension, and intricate detailing. Simple stitches like French knots, running stitches, and chain stitches can create highlights or a sense of movement across the quilt. Let's learn...

learning how to enlarge quilting and applique templates with Posterazor

Changing the size of your applique templates or...

Have you ever wanted to change the size of your quilting or applique templates in a pattern? It is very easy with this free software with multiple ways to enlarge.

Changing the size of your applique templates or...

Have you ever wanted to change the size of your quilting or applique templates in a pattern? It is very easy with this free software with multiple ways to enlarge.

A Christmas Jigsaw

A Christmas Jigsaw

The fun thing about my Christmas quilt puzzle is you can change the settings to suit yourself. The default is for 100 pieces but you can make it less, or...

A Christmas Jigsaw

The fun thing about my Christmas quilt puzzle is you can change the settings to suit yourself. The default is for 100 pieces but you can make it less, or...

blanket stitching on Anemone flower block - just one way to stitch this flower block

Anemone Flower Block - an alternative way to st...

I was thinking how easy it would be to blanket stitch applique this anemone flower and leaf so tested it out. Would you use blanket stitch too?

Anemone Flower Block - an alternative way to st...

I was thinking how easy it would be to blanket stitch applique this anemone flower and leaf so tested it out. Would you use blanket stitch too?

Anemone flower block being made - one of over 60 BOW flower blocks

Anemone Flower Block

The trickiest part on the Anemone flower block is cutting the leaf out however there is a little trick I like to use to make that easier. 

Anemone Flower Block

The trickiest part on the Anemone flower block is cutting the leaf out however there is a little trick I like to use to make that easier. 

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