Eye masks are the perfect project for using up some of those precious scrap fabrics you have been saving!  They only use a small amount of fabric and look adorable.  AND, they work really nice too . My newest Youtube video tutorial will give you all the detail on how to make one! To download the pattern piece, click on the blue letters below.  Enjoy your sewing! Easy-Eye-Mask-Tutorial This Funny Eye one was made using fabric markers!  Cute,...

Head over to my newest youtube video to see how to make this cute Sun Glass case! Click on the blue letters below to download the pattern piece! mother’s day sun glass...

Last week Marion finished preschool!  Kindergarten here she comes!  So, I rushed around and made her 3 teachers quilted fabric frames.  You know that is my favorite gift to give, right?  I love how you can give it with a cute saying or special picture and then the recipient can then hang it as is, OR put their own saying or picture in there.  Thus, the perfect gift for your favorite teacher! Alas, in my rushing, NO PICTURES!  but I did make new...

I love summer and going to the pool, beach and lake with the kids.  They splash around and I relax (sorta) and it is really nice.  But, I admit that sometimes I feel  a bit like a pack mule lugging all the towels and chairs and snacks etc.  Yes, the older ones carry their own towels and chairs.  Yes, my husband helps me when he comes along!  But, I am often the one doing the majority of the carrying.  THUS, a new beach BAG! This one was made...

This is one cute chicken!  I don’t know about you, but tons of my neighbors and friends have chickens now.  It may be that I live in a rural area that is still pretty close to Pittsburgh and lots of people around here love the whole hobby farm thing, but I know that chickens are super popular all over the country, right? So, just in time for those hens to start laying again (and for my sweet neighbors to give me some fresh eggs!), I...

I am so excited about my newest sewing pattern, Seraphina Swan!  Swans are a favorite of mine and to bring this idea to life has been a really fun sewing journey.  The original pattern version has wings made from cotton or felt stacked together.  I love that version since you can mix favorite fabrics and give your personal style to your swan. But I was also interested in making a dressed up version.  I came up with this gorgeous gal with her...

Thanks for all the interest and comments on my Booth tips last week.  I decided to follow up with some talk about pricing!  A much debated topic but I hope I can help you by sharing my thoughts and ideas. The first thing to understand about pricing handmade items to sell is that your time and effort are THE biggest factor in the process when you are sewing.  YES, material costs are something to think about but they really only add pennies...

You know how I keep blathering on about how much I like giving quilted fabric frames as gifts.  Well, here I go again!  I made a new frame and a set of mother’s day quotes to share . Above is the one I am sending my mom.  But I made 2 more for you to choose from!  These will make great mother’s day gifts for you too!  If you don’t want to sew the frame, you could buy a 5” x 7” frame and still use the printables...

I was asked to make another round of Katie Birds for Blend Fabrics!  These fabrics, called Flutter & Float, are perfect for bird pillow!   Very pretty and whimsical The Katie Bird pattern is fun for showing off pretty prints since it is simple and not too busy.  But is also adds some character that a simple square pillow can’t possible offer!  I  hope you will try it out sometime When you use nice high quality fabrics like these from...

  I can’t resist making Modern Folksy Bunny Sewing Kits!  It’s something I look forward to every spring.  My youngest, Marion, loves the Peter Rabbit stories.  My others were only moderately interested but she loves them.  Something about being naughty I think!  Although she is interested in the stories about Peter, Benjamin, (and that very naughty Squirel Nutkin), she likes how the very sweet Flopsy Mopsy and Cottontail look....

  Have your purchased your Classic Bowling Bag pattern yet?  Well, get off that fence and get your pattern already!  It’s only $5 (until 3/17/2017) AND now you will be entered to win 3 half yard cuts of fabric from Bloomerie Fabrics!  YAY!  That means you are entered simply for buying the pattern!  AND, if you win, you can choose from 100s of gorgeous designer fabrics and make one AWESOME bag for yourself...

The classic bowling bag look great with pockets on the end!  Here are instructions to show you how to add end pockets  and make them look really nice. First, take a piece of fabric, in the same direction as your end piece, that measures 8” wide by 12” long.  Pay attention to fabric direction.Fold in half with wrong sides together so the piece is now 8” wide by 6” high.  Cut a piece of stabilizer (I am using non fusible...

Every time I say “New” classic bowling bag I cringe a little inside thinking, “Can I call my pattern a new classic??”  But I do love this new pattern and I am so excited to share it with you all!  Here it is!  A sewing pattern to create the classic bowling bag… I have spend most of my work days over the last month working on this bag.  It has been fun to create- the quilted sides, the simple materials, and the easy...

My bloggy friend Hayley of Welcome to the Mouse House and her daughter Ainsley have a wonderful fundraising happening!  They are working hard to sew up Lucky elephants to raise money for the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennesee.  Have you ever heard of the elephant sanctuary?  Be sure to go check it out!  They are doing a wonderful job with one of earth’s most fascinating and beautiful creatures. Hayley was yesterday’s stop on the...

Do you all see the Penguins made by Amanda of Jedi Craft Girl last friday?  Love them!   Thank you so much to Amanda for participating in the Gingercake Holiday Gifts Sewing Series.  You can read more about her cute penguin pair by visiting the Jedi Craft Girl Blog.  She made these gifts using the very popular Annie’s Penguin Pillow Pattern. I have never tried to use minky before at the belly but it looks so soft!  She used a basting...

This is my stop on my own Gingercake Holiday Gifts Sewing Series!  I knew immediately that I wanted to share the Quilted Fabric Frame pattern!  It is my new favorite gift to give When I created the new frame pattern this past summer, my oldest was immediately smitten.  She is into decorating her room and accessorizing (like many 12 year olds I know!).  Giving a frame can be a little tricky since you either need to have a photo already in it or...

Sara Soares of Made by Sara is a talented sewer and makes the most beautiful children’s clothes!  She just had her 4th baby (a little boy!) and wanted to make his first made by mama gift.  She chose the Lucky the Elephant pattern. Sara made him at 75% size (better for little hands!), added a rattle while stuffing and made a grabby t-shirt tail (you have to visit her blog to see it!). Less than 24 hours are left to enter the Week 1...

My 2nd daughter Anne likes things BRIGHT and FUN and LOUD!  She saw these birds (again from Belnd fabrics!) and knew right away that she wanted her binder to be covered in this fun fabric. Anne is going into 5th grade this year.  She is ready to rule the school!  Her last year of elementary is going to be her best for sure (according to my positive and bright middle child!) Go ahead and get your your pattern on sale to make your own Binder...

My 12 year old still likes a new binder cover made by me.  YAY!  She is finally over the lunch bag but still gets excited for this  I used the Notebook Slipcover Sewing Pattern of course.  On sale right now for only $5! We used the same binder from last year and picked out these very pretty new fabrics from Blend Fabrics.  The fabric line is called Season of Love.  Blend fabrics are always a pleasure to work with- their quality is so nice! Very...

Unlike the last frame I shared a few days ago, this frame was super quick!  My girls went to camp last week and had a great time with their cousins and new friends too.  My sister in law, Maureen, took this photo of them on the steps of the dining hall on the last day. Camp is all about being yourself and I think this photo sums it up  To make the Laurel logo, I used my printer and Lesley Riley’s TAP paper.  You can get some here.  My...