Oh... I am so happy! I finally replaced my old cutting table, after weeks of looking high and low for an affordable solution. I needed something that was 36" high, about 36" wide, and 60" long. My friend Diana had seen at someone's house two bookshelves with a door as a top. Finding the bookshelves would not be difficult, and the door I could get at Home Depot or Lowes (plain door). However, they would not saw it down to size for me. After many trips to IKEA to check out the various … [Read more...] about Cutting table and ruler organizer
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4-petal flower tutorial
Here is a quick way to add dimension to wall hangings, table runners, bags, and other quilting projects: make a flower using two contrasting 5" squares. I whipped this one up yesterday in about 15 minutes. Not bad for when you are pressed for time and need a final touch on a gift! Here is what you will need: 2 - 5" squares of contrasting fabrics button needle and thread sewing machine With right sides together, sew around the squares leaving a 1.5" opening so you can turn fabrics inside … [Read more...] about 4-petal flower tutorial
The ONE thing I cannot live without
My friend Diana made this carrying case from Atkinson's Designs (I found it here). After all these years quilting I have decided this is THE ONE thing I cannot live without. When you are packing to go on vacation, to a retreat, or for a day of sewing at your girlfriend's house, you can fit into this carrier everything you need. Fabric, thread, needles and pins, pens, small templates... I had everything I needed to use during my two-week vacation, stowed away into one package! It … [Read more...] about The ONE thing I cannot live without
Turning your passion into business – Part Two
You read about Woolin Rouge - an online store selling hand dyed wool and quilt patterns - and their creators, Traci and Sylvia, on my previous post. Now you have a chance to read my interview with Sylvia Gauthier and to find out, from her perspective, what it is like to start a business based on something you really enjoy doing. Sylvia brings her own strengths to their new business venture: a passion for sewing and quilting, and her ability to turn Traci's drawings into very cool wool … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part Two
Turning your passion into business – Part One
Sample hand dyed wool pack from Woolin Rouge Many years ago I was a freelance translator, working with marketing materials and ad copy from English into Brazilian Portuguese. Since I loved what I was doing, was very good at it, was reliable and fast, clients were abundant. After a few years I decided to open my own translation agency. Within two years the agency was profitable, and by the time I sold it to a competitor - some 10 years later - we were translating into over 150 languages, … [Read more...] about Turning your passion into business – Part One
Second knitted baby hat
This time I made it exactly as the pattern with ribbing, decreasing the stitches every other row, and I loved making it! It was good practice with the circular needles, and using DPNs (double pointed needles) definitely made it easier to finish it. Casting on stitches using the knitted method ensures the edge is not too loose. Youtube helped give me courage (whatever did we do before it?) when I wasn't sure what to do. One ball of yarn was enough for two hats, with some to spare which I will … [Read more...] about Second knitted baby hat