I can’t resist the beautiful shapes and colors of mother nature’s foliage, especially early summer. In the Midwest, periodic rains keep everything growing and fresh. While working in the garden or on a walk, I love picking a few of the prettiest ones and pressing them to use in my crafty projects. My “high-tech” way to press leaves is in old phone books I’ve kept for this purpose. If you happen to still have one, they are great to use because the paper is light and absorbent, and of course phone books are big and heavy…
Rick rack with modern fabrics? Rick rack on handcrafted cards? Yes and yes! Rick rack is sturdy, doesn’t fray, and can be easily added to any design or pattern. And it has a certain whimsy like no other trim. Rick rack adds a special cuteness to fabric patterns, especially on children’s and kitchen items. It can create a vintage feel but can also become updated when added to modern fabrics. I keep a stash of different bright colors and like to stitch it inside seams so only one half is sticking out. This adds dainty little scallops to…
This is the first project in a series using the patterns in Virginia Lindsay’s book, “Sewing to Sell.” It has great crafty sewing projects and inspiration for taking your sewing creativity to the next level. Project #1 Craft Apron I have sewn many aprons over the years to sell and give as gifts, but this pattern is a great modern version with lots of pockets and is easy to put together with layered rectangles. I’m looking forward to wearing it while crafting and putting all my crafty tools inside! It could also be a great “uniform” for a…
I ran across Virginia Lindsay’s book “Sewing to Sell” at the library and instantly fell in love with her style and fabric combinations. (You can find her website at Gingercake.org) I love all the fabulous projects she shares because they are the kinds of ideas I love to sew and they are at a similar skill level as I am. She also shows how to get the most out of your fabric. (I have a thing about using fabric efficiently and am always resizing my patterns to have the least amount of scraps!) She has drawings of how…