Category: featured

First Make of 2018, Goals and a Few Reflections

.Reading time 6 minutes.

It feels good to be back to blogging after the holidays! I love the parties and fun but I’m very ready to move on, to get back to the routine and back to the sewing room. So, I’m happy to welcome 2018 with a new make, a few goals and some reflections too. I took […]

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Top Five of 2017 – The good, the bad and the ho-hums

.Reading time 6 minutes.

This year, I did alot of sewing, way more than my 2016 crystal ball predicted. I’m very happy about that, as I find a week without sewing to be a bit grim.  Although I didn’t keep a spreadsheet, I can tell by looking at my blog photos that I made roughly a garment a week, […]

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One for you, one for me…A reversible fringed scarf to give or keep

.Reading time 5 minutes.

Well, it’s almost too late to pull off a DIY gift for a friend, but here’s a last minute gift you can sew in an hour – – A fringed scarf that’s so versatile! It’s cozy and lovely as a scarf, but also wide enough to wear as a shawl. When I saw a version […]

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A Bomber Jacket Inspired by Philip Lim

.Reading time 4 minutes.

  I thought I was over bomber jackets until I saw this plaid version by Philip Lim. When I found McCall’s 7636  by Beaute’ J’Adore, I knew it was the perfect match for my designer inspiration. There’s alot about this pattern that sets it apart from the bomber jacket patterns that are available. My favorite detail is […]

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A Peplum Jacket For Layering

.Reading time 3 minutes.

A love the four Helmis I made this year, so much so, they might make it into my Top Five Hits for 2017!  But unfortunately, those shirts aren’t warm enought to wear alone at this time of year. So, my Helmis became the perfect excuse to sew a new jacket! As you all know, I […]

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A Top That Could Go to a Party

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Last week, I had the pleasure of singing at a holiday event in the beautifully decorated Pittock mansion here in Portland. It put me in a holiday mood, so much so, one of my requirements of any sewing project this month is, ‘can it go to a party?’ I can happily answer ‘yes’ for this […]

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About the Jacket my Husband Hates

.Reading time 3 minutes.

  Hi All – – My husband is usually quite generous with compliments when I finish a make. But this coat got a strong, very negative reaction out of him! It caught me so off guard, I had to run to my girlfriends for reassurance. Yes, this coat isn’t the classic style I usually gravitate […]

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‘Tis the Season for Flannel

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Hi All! I’ve been traveling on the East Coast this week, where the below freezing temperatures have encouraged me to think about the benefits of a wardrobe dominated by flannel.  It’s certainly not a bad thing as there’s nothing more comfortable to wear! This plaid flannel has been hiding in my stash for a couple […]

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A Fall Top with Linen and Stripes

.Reading time 2 minutes.

We’re in full-on Halloween mode over here (skulls, ravens, you know….the usual). In a typical year, this would mean the season for linen tops would be long past. But in Oregon, our Fall has been extraordinarily warm, a fact that has kept me from moving my summer fabrics into storage.  This top is another remnant […]

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Remnant Busting Tops Inspired by Anthro

.Reading time 3 minutes.

Peplum tops are still in style! I swear it’s true. Just when I thought they were ‘out’, Anthropologie added a category under ‘tops’ called ‘peplums and swing tops’. That’s where I found this inspiring photo. What caught my eye was the fact that the bodice fabric did not match the peplum. In fact, it’s not even […]

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