Anastasia James of Spring, Texas, transformed her years of 4-H experience with horses into a unique craft during the spring of 2020, creating intricate wreaths and animal cutouts from prize ribbons she had saved. Inspired by a long-held desire to honor her “heart horse,” James developed a distinctive “fish scale” or “dragon scale” ribbon-folding technique. Her talent quickly gained attention, leading to a popular Facebook page, For the Love of Ribbons, with 21,000 followers and custom requests, including pieces that match the fur of customers’ pets.

James’s favorite creations are detailed animal cutouts, especially horses and cows, designed to reflect the individual animals that earned the ribbons. She values the hard work behind each ribbon and aims to preserve and showcase that effort rather than letting the awards gather dust. Armed with her trusty childhood safety scissors, James continues to craft meaningful keepsakes that celebrate the dedication and care involved in 4-H competitions.