Blog

Happy (almost) May to everyone!
The weather here is still fickle, but today and tomorrow brings a taste of spring.  I hope you all had a wonderful April with some wonderful stitching time.  I have several things to share today – they have been adding up!  In addition to the DOVO and RSN info, I have some new printed vinyl (for bags), some tiny silicone cleaning tools, and the beginning of my Burp Cloth Tutorial.

I am going to start off with DOVO embroidery scissors.  As many of you know, several years ago, DOVO was bought by another company. 

Read more: DOVO Embroidery Scissors and a Royal School Virtual Exhibit  »

Happy Leap Day everyone – one extra day to stitch!

Cindy Foose and I have been working on getting things ready for our 2024 Traditions and Transitions.  This year our project is a lovely dress that uses a luscious Ulster linen and the focus is on design and technique.  This carries through to our Bonus Day class, Fashionable Finishes, which is a notebook class that will leave you with a sample notebook of finishing techniques that you can apply to your garments in the years to come.  Fashionable Finishes is an optional add on class that is Monday,

Read more: Join us August 16 – 18 for the 2024 Traditions and Transitions with Vaune and Cindy!  »

Hello Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know you are all in the swing of Holiday festivities.  We put up our 3 trees today.  We have our main tree (live), that goes in our entry way.  Lights are on today, ornaments will go up tomorrow!  I have a small, 3 ft artificial tree that goes on the counter behind my kitchen sink.  I put all kinds of small food and kitchen ornaments on that one, since it is in the kitchen.  I also have another artificial tree that goes in our bedroom, and it has all silver ornaments. 

Read more: Join me for my Texas Tote – A Virtual Class through SAGA!  »

Hello Everyone!
I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving and were able to spend some time with family and loved ones.  We made our annual trek to Phoenix and had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner.  Smoked turkey and brisket was a hit and the mashed potatoes this year were a new recipe – Robuchon Potatoes.  I think these were the best mashed potatoes I have ever eaten.   My nephew is a chef, and all I can say is hat’s off to him!!!

I want to talk about stranded floss for a bit.  My go to stranded floss has been Anchor. 

Read more: Cosmo Floss – A New Club of the Month!  »

Hello everyone!  It was wonderful seeing some of you in Greenville, SC, at the classes that I taught for the Palmetto Pleaters, and at the national SAGA Convention in North Charleston, SC.  I was able to do a little sight seeing in Charleston and it was wonderful to catch up with friends at the convention.   One of the things that I love about my stitching friends is that even though we may only see each other once or twice a year, we fall right into conversations as if we had seen each other last week.

I just received an email from the Stella Lighting Company announcing their sale of the Stella Two lamp. 

Read more: Through 10/31 – Stella Two Lamp on Sale – thought I would pass this along!  »

Hello Everyone!
This summer has flown by!  I taught at the Long Beach Quilt Show, had grandkids visit for 2 weeks, taught the amazing women in the Huntsville SAGA Chapter, taught our school with Cindy Foose, visited grandkids on the Cape, and capped it off with my nephew’s wedding last weekend.  I need a rest from my vacation!!!

I am getting ready to visit the Palmetto Pleaters in Greenville, SC.  I am teaching there right before heading to Charleston for the SAGA Convention.  I am so excited – I have not yet been to Charleston, which I know is lovely. 

Read more: Ann Lowe Exhibit. New Sewing Advent Calendar and Pre-order for Convention!  »

Happy May to you all!  I can’t believe that April is over.  It has been such a busy month!  I went to Houston and was so fortunate to stay with Carol Ahles and have a lovely visit.  She and her husband are always so gracious!  After our visit, I taught for the Midnight Oil Smockers and had a wonderful time.  The members are so enthusiastic and share their love of smocking and heirloom sewing with everyone they meet.

The next week was the Stitchin’ in the Foothills Retreat,  I was fortunate to see many of you there, as well as seeing Trisha Smith and Judith Adams. 

Read more: Cindy and Vaune School Registration is Now OPEN! and Guo Pei Exhibit Recap  »

Happy Easter Everyone!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  We have gone a whole week without rain and the temps are getting warmer. – it looks like spring is finally on its way.  I am leaving this week to go to Houston, where I will be teaching for the Midnight Oil Smockers.  I used to live in Houston many years ago, and I am always amazed at how much things have changed and grown.  When I lived there in the early 80’s, they had just had a massive building spree.  There were so many new empty apartments,

Read more: Join Me Virtually for Button Bits – A Basic Yoke Dress with Smocking and Construction  »

Hello Everyone!
I hope this finds everyone safe and dry.  It has been a busy couple of months topped off with some much needed crazy rain here in Southern California!  Cindy Foose and I ventured to NYC in January to attend a textile show, work on our designs for our August school, and source fabrics for our projects.  We had a wonderful time and had the added bonus of going to a taping of the Stephen Colbert Show and The Late Show with Seth Meyers.  We had a blast!

Grandbaby #2 (Rocky) arrived in February, so I spent 3 weeks on the Cape,

Read more: Cindy and Vaune’s August School Registration is coming soon!  »

 

The Smocking Arts Guild of America has just announced its next Sew-Along, and I am the ‘teacher’!  The is the Perfect Petite Piping Thread Catcher – A Study of 3 Different Piping Techniques.  It is free to all SAGA members!  Click HERE to go the SAGA website, Log in, and then go to the Education Tab at the top, and select Smock Along.  You have to be signed in to access the notes.

The Supply list is posted and Lessons 1, 2, and 3 will be posted on February 14th, 21st,

Read more: New Sew-Along at Smocking Arts Guild of America!  »