The fabric on my sewing table has changed dramatically.
Instead of working with a dizzying view of camouflage, my “to-do” pile is a very serene, zen white.

Instead of working with industrial zippers, quilted nylon and heavy-duty elastic, I’ve switched to soft, fluffy fabrics and lots of different kinds of cotton.
That change got me thinking – how does your attitude change when your project changes?
Even little things like my music preference will change depending on what I’m sewing.  During my last project, I liked upbeat music with a good beat and lots of energy.  At the moment however, I’m enjoying a more …read more

I spent some time going through one of my favorite second hand shops yesterday – which can be a dangerous pastime… especially if you’re trying to keep the clutter to a minimum!
I was surprised by how many pieces of older lace they had for sale.  I restrained myself from adding to my stash, but it got me thinking about how many hours had been put into the embroidered, crocheted or hand-knotted lace by women over the years.

So if you like to give second-hand lace a good home, but aren’t quite sure what to do with it – here are a …read more

I came across a great deal on fabric while browsing through my favorite local shop the other day.
$1 per yard for a stretch cotton waffle weave!
At that price, how could I resist picking up a couple of yards?  No, I didn’t buy the whole bolt – I restrained myself to two yards, thank you for asking

There was a reason why it was marked down so cheap… there are some odd stains running through the fabric.  They don’t smell and didn’t really change with washing.  It almost looks like someone dropped some dye solution on the fabric.
While I don’t …read more

Sometimes it’s fun to follow a fussy pattern exactly – keeping things orderly, clean and exactly as written.
And then some patterns are strictly fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants improvisation!
My hubby has been wanting a particular kind of suspenders for awhile now.  He’ll meekly ask if I can make them, and then patiently wait…  And then ask again sweetly.  It’s a good thing he’s patient
He’s got a few requests for them – they’ve got to sit right there, but not with suspender clips – can we use snaps instead?  How about some elastic so they can adjust as you sit or stand?
I’ve never …read more

What can I say, I’m amused by the little things
I picked up two pieces of fabric a couple of days ago (no, not for my stash – I have projects planned!) and just pulled them out of the bag to be pre-washed.
So why am I amused?  The two fabrics are for completely different projects, for different people – and yet, they coordinate beautifully:
The green fleece is for a bunting bag and car seat cover.  It’s chilly enough here in the winter time that we’re going to need both to keep the little one toasty warm!
The pink is for …read more

For today’s Wordy Wednesday, I’m going to share a piece of fabric that I’ve been holding onto for awhile now…
(Me, hoard fabric?  Perish the though!)
It’s Canada Day today, so I thought it would be appropriate to share   I bought a couple yards of this print years ago, but just couldn’t decide exactly what I wanted to make from it.  The fabric is a nice, crisp 100% cotton – so I’ve got lots of options.
I think I’ve finally decided what it’s going to be.  This is going to be made into a diaper bag – and hopefully it’s masculine …read more

One of the perks of moving has got to be rediscovering my stash!
It’s inevitable that fabric gets pushed down to the bottom of a box, or to the back of the closet.  Reorganizing my fabric has given me a chance to “find” different fabrics that, I must admit – I had totally forgotten about
I’ve got fresh ideas for clothing, decorating and crafts – and all without stepping foot into a fabric store (which is probably sensible…)
So when was the last time you “rediscovered” your stash?
Now if I could only remember which box my scissors and pins are in…

Today’s Wordy Wednesday is about finding inspiration in everyday things.
How often do we go through our houses, without really appreciating all the lovely little details?
I found my favorite fruit basket today, and decided to pop some of my fruits and veggies into it – and then realized how beautiful the colors were together.
See what I mean?

I written posts about getting from photo to finished artwork, so I won’t get into that now – but next time you need some inspiration, why not check out what’s in front of you?
You never know what might happen…
images: C Findlay-Harder

Well, I’m moved into my new house…
The old house has been cleaned and we passed the final inspection.
Of course, I still can’t find my good sewing scissors, I have no idea where my thread ended up and I’m not sure if my camera cord is in the house or in the garage…
This however, puts a big smile on my face:
My sewing table and sewing machine are set up again and ready to go!  Now to go sort through the 15 boxes marked “fabric” to find the project I was actually working on…

I’m dreaming of spring flowers, new fabric to be used, new patterns to try out and a new studio to get in working order…
At least the flowers in my studio are cooperating
My hoya plant is in full bloom and smells glorious at night!  In fact, you can smell the flowers when you walk past my studio – they’re that strong.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to stop daydreaming and finishing priming the walls of my house – just a few more days until moving day!