Blog

Hello Everyone!

It has been a busy couple of months!  Cindy Foose and I held our annual Traditions and Transitions Retreat in August.  Our original facility has closed, so we were at a new facility in Columbia, Missouri, and it was lovely.  Everyone had a wonderful time and we are looking forward to next year!

I have just returned from the Smocking Arts Guild of America (SAGA) 2021 Convention in Oak Brook, IL.  What a lovely time – it was wonderful to see and to teach on person!  I won a great raffle basket filled with goodies from Maryland. 

Read more: SAGA Announces their Next Virtual Class  »

We are so happy to announce that we will be hosting our school August 20-22, with our optional pre-day Pressing Pretties class on Thursday, 8/19, and our Stay and Sew Day on Monday, 8/23. We have a few spots left, and hope you can join us for a nice relaxing weekend of sewing fun.  It will be held in Columbia, IL, which is right outside of St. Louis, MO.  The school fee includes the class, kit, lodging, and meals.  You have the option of a single or double room.  Our dress and jacket is designed specifically to debut at our school (on hold from 2020).

Read more: The Cindy and Vaune School is coming this August!  »

The Sewing and Stitchery Expo, usually held in Puyallup, WA, (about 30 minutes from Tacoma) is a wonderful sewing and stitching event that has something for everyone!  It is one of my favorite shows – so much to do, see and learn!  This was THE original sewing event, starting in 1984 (yes that is 37 years).  Run by Washington State University, it has numerous classes, both lectures and hands on.  The Clothing & Textile Advisors area the volunteer force that helps keep everything going!

The class format is:

1 Needle (45 minutes) – $6
2 Needle (1 hr 15 min) *** Not offered this year.

Read more: (Virtual) Sewing and Stitchery Expo Registration Starts Today!  »

Hello everyone and Happy new Year!
I have been going over my slides for my Embroidery of Madeira lecture on Sunday, to make sure they were in order.  I love going through these pictures – they bring back so many wonderful memories!

 

I am including a link here, in case you want to take a virtual ride on the Monte Toboggan (they called it a sled ride, when we were there).  The link is NOT of me!  When I went, it was way before the time of cell phones with cameras! 

Read more: A Peek At Madeira – Riding the Monte Toboggan  »

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful January 1st, and here is to a safe, healthy, and happy 2021.

Pantone has announced their color(s) of the year for 2021. Pantone is a standardization system for color.  Each color has a name and a number.  There are about 1000+ colors, with another 3000+ variations.  They are referenced through CMYK numbers, so manufacturers can get the same color without having to actually see a product.  You can buy chip books,

 

but these are a bit expensive for the home sewer.  They are meant for businesses to be able to hone in on the perfect color. 

Read more: 2021 Pantone Color(s) of the Year  »

Hello everyone!  I want to sneak this in, in case you have a chance to read this in the morning.  12/31 is the last day of the Bernina Feet and Accessories sale, and one of my sewing buddies emailed and asked for a list of feet.  I thought I would pass this along, in case you are interested.  Seems like we all have been delving into sewing over the past 9 months, and maybe you are going to expand your sewing machine feet collection!

 

I am going to start with my 5 Must Have feet!

Read more: (Sewing Machine) Feet Feature… Bernina Accessory Sale Ends on 12/31  »

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to you all!  Christmas week is here, and while I am not quite ready, I am working on it.  I have heard from several of you… I can smell the wonderful aroma of your coffee cakes!  I hope you have enjoyed them, and remember, you don’t have to limit to baking at Christmas – they are wonderful any time of the year!

I have my a new Christmas present for my sewing room – a new embroidery machine (and no I am not defecting to the dark side!).  I am adding this to my toolbox of hobbies,

Read more: Christmas Presents – for Me and for You, along with some Mask Musings  »

Hello everyone!
The countdown to Christmas is here – only 12 more days as I write this.  2020 is unique, to say the least, but I am trying to keep to most of my traditions.  I have started my Christmas baking:

 

I have written about this before, and I will admit I am re-using an older picture (I have been giving my coffee cakes away as soon as I bake them, so I don’t have my usual load on my table), but it is worth sharing again.  The recipe is below, and I am including a link for the ‘better’

Read more: A Slice of Coffee Cake with Your Fashion Films!  »

Hello Everyone,
December is here and I hope you are all enjoying the Holiday Season.  As I write this, only 18 days until Christmas!  I am starting on my Christmas baking tomorrow, mmmmm!

A month or so ago, I wrote a bit about DOVO, and I want to give you an update.  I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but they have been sold, which is better than being closed down.  Unfortunately, the new owners are only going to keep the razor line in production.  If things go well, in the future, they may bring back some of the manicure line,

Read more: Last Call for DOVO Scissors and Registration is Open for Embroidery of Madeira Lecture  »

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 

This past year has seemed to go on forever, and yet it has flown by!  I want to express my gratitude to you all.  I am so blessed to be able to teach, design, and sew, and to meet new friends while I am doing something that I love.  I have been able to travel and see so many wonderful places.  The people that I meet are gracious and kind and are so inspiring.  I truly am thankful for all of you!  I hope to run into many of you when we are back to traveling again.

Read more: Embroidery of Madeira Lecture will be Sunday, January 3, 2021 (a date change)!  »