Practical Bag for QuiltCon

This is my second time making Tanya Whelan's Practical Bag pattern. I love this pattern, as it's an easy sew and the size and shape of the bag is perfect for a sweater, water bottle, and notebook....all the things I needed to carry around for my QuiltCon lectures.  Lightweight interfacing, fused...

Habitat Quilt Top Complete!

Two winters ago Jay McCarrol and Free Spirit Fabric donated fat eighths to each member of the Modern Quilt Guild, in each local chapter's colorway choice. At the time, I lived an hour and a half away from the Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild and attended their meetings. Our goal was to finish our...

Simplicity 1690 + Dobby Dot Voile

I used up the last of my 'greige' dobby dot voile to make this top. The pattern is by LeAnne Marshall, a fashion designer from Portland, OR, who also happened to win season 5 of Project Runway. I just love her patterns. Her lines are so clean and modern! This top was a breeze to sew up since there are no...

Gardening in the Desert

I must say...this gardening in the high desert stuff is not easy. I was lucky enough to have my garlic, herbs and radishes survive. Everything else I planted from seed, sprouted and died from the heat. This fall I plan to try again and plant broccoli, lettuce and radishes. If any readers have tips for high...

My Favorite Dress Pattern and Self Drafted Variations

I have to say, these Anna Maria Horner Museum Tunics are just addicting! I dare you to make just one! The first one I made, I used an organic gray dobby dot voile. I cut it to the specifications of the Little Folk's panels used in Anna's tutorial. This was sort of my practice dress, as I did not want to ruin...

2012 is in the Bag Baby

This has been a great year, despite some serious struggles. I learned I could either see these challenges, as challenges, or an opportunity for growth.....I decided on the later. My biggest blessing this year is Andy not renlisting in the Navy. He got a wonderful civillian job as a Technical Writer for an aeronautical...

First Project of 2012

I finished up these pillows on New Year’s Day using Anna Maria Horner’s Drawing Room Fabric (which I have been collecting and hoarding for years!). Using this fabric symbolizes not waiting for the perfect moment to enjoy something (whether it be fabric or life), but rather just diving in and cutting right to...