Happy Friday! Old habits die hard, and I did sew something for myself this week, spurred by the need to create a sample for a class I'm teaching next month. I'm going to be frank -- initially I wasn't crazy about this dress once I sewed it up in this khaki linen-blend (I might have mentioned that I planned to create a slipcover with this fabric, so it's a touch on the heavier side and I have yards and yards and yards of the stuff). I thought, "Oh no! What I have I done? I chose an awful dress to ... Read more
Origami Pocket Tutorial
I can't believe it, I've actually created a tutorial within one year of saying I would! Since several of you seemed interested in how I made the origami pocket for this dress, I went about trying to re-create the pocket yesterday. It required a few tries, but I think I got it. Below, you'll see step-by-step instructions. I didn't serge/zig-zag the edges because they would all be hidden, but it's probably not a bad idea to do so. One other note: in the original pocket, you can see fold ... Read more
Secret Valentine Exchange Updates + Valentines Download
Ute and I are thrilled with the response we've gotten from the Secret Valentine Exchange! We have 39 participants (quite the international group, I might add), and the creative energy is palpable! Ute and I told each other that if we got close to 10 people, we'd be totally happy, so the turnout is above and beyond expectations. Huzzah! So, just a few updates and housekeeping info in response to inquiries and things we realized we didn't mention: 1. If you received a partner information ... Read more
Kind of Reeling Over Here…
Well...how shall I start this? I've been sitting on this unexpected turn of events for so long, it stopped feeling real a good while ago. Friends, I am publishing a book. There. I wrote it. It feels a tiny bit more real. I bet you think it's going to be a sewing book, but nope. Even better. I am going to be writing and illustrating my very own children's book!!!! When I was a kid, and had to go through the usual rigmarole of answering the question, "What do you want to be when you ... Read more
Monday Outfit: Roots – An Origami-Inspired Dress
Good morning! Apparently all of Seattle was caught up in football fever yesterday, but I managed to spend the entire day blissfully unaware of this fact (I actually asked someone late in the day, "Is it the Superbowl?" and he looked at me like I was insane. Not a sports fan, I'm afraid...). Instead, I was working on creating this here post, having a grand old time. Let's talk about the Monday outfit, shall we? Heidi of Elegance and Elephants contacted me a few weeks ago and oh-so-generously ... Read more