Thanks, I made them. Sew can you

Thank you so much for your support of my business with your purchases yesterday and today — I truly appreciate it. 🫶🏾❤️ The total sales from orders equate to half of my forfeited QuiltCon fee. I'm also in conversation with a few quilt shops to discuss opportunities to teach with them. ❤️

As promised, here are some brief tutorials on how to use the felt stencils along with a few beginner embroidery stitches to get you started. I am using Pearl cotton in these demos on my stitches are a little larger than I would typically use for demonstration purposes.
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Swipe to the end for inspiration garments you can embellish with your new stencils.
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I'm happy to offer a virtual class if there's enough interest. Let me know in the comments if that's something you'd be up for and I will make it happen. Alternatively, if you are part of a quilt guild, it's one of the workshops I offer. Talk to your programmer and we can see what we can work out.

Secure your stencil on the fabric with pattern weights or pins. Use the included heat or water erasable marking tool to draw the design.

✂️ Quick Stitch Guide
- French knot — Wrap the thread around the needle three or four times, hold it snug, and insert the needle back down close to where you came up to form a tiny knot.
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- Split stitch — Make a small stitch, then bring the needle up through the center of that stitch to “split” it and continue forward.
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- Outline stitch — Stitch forward, then bring the needle up halfway back along the previous stitch so the thread travels along one side of the line.
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For embellishing garments I prefer these next two stitches to be done without the hoop because it's worked completely on the surface of the fabric. My camera struggled to maintain the focal point but I hope the instruction is still clear visually.
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- Backstitch — Bring the needle up ahead of your last stitch, then insert it back into the end of the previous stitch for a clean, solid line.
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- Running stitch — Move the needle in and out of the fabric in even, forward‑moving stitches for a dashed line.
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I can't wait to see what you all make!

🎉 Everybody on your feet and give a round of applause, please! 🎉 My sewing student is headed to New York!

Congratulations, .not.james, on your acceptance into You are absolutely going to take the fashion world by storm, and I cannot wait to watch it unfold.

I’m so proud of your hard work, your impeccable sense of style, your clear creative direction, and the expert ex*****on you brought to every project. You were a joy to teach, and I’m endlessly proud of you.

Well done! Thank you for bringing me on this journey.❤️




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It’s quilt‑coat matchmaking time and I need your eye!
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I’m sharing a lineup of quilts that are begging to be upcycled into a by for my summer retreat at . Each one has its own personality—some bold, some shy, some ready to leap into technicolor glory with a little ice dye magic.

Swipe through the contenders and tell me:
Which quilt is calling out to become a Retazo coat—and why?

Drop your choice in the comments and make your case. Conversely, feel free to tell me which ones are poor candidates for this pattern.

Follow the link in my bio to register for this retreat. Not only will you learn a wide range of skills to make a quilt coat (and potentially a handmade wardrobe), you'll learn my considerations as I evaluate what textiles are a good match for upcycling a particular project.

I really enjoyed my time at Madeline Island last year. The students were so fabulous we had a wonderful time getting to know each other. I love the staff, I enjoyed the meals, and the quaintness of the island. Additionally, the escape from the summer heat was welcome.

Nina Simone said it best when she said "You've got to learn to leave the table when love is no longer being served."
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Maya Angelou famously said "When people show you who they are, believe them."

I held on to these two quotes when I decided not to apply to teach or attend next year.

I have loved bringing my fashion and my classes to QuiltCon. I have loved my interactions with all of the attendees and my students. I will miss you.
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Please join me at any of my other teaching engagements this year and next.

You can join me at the
and this summer.

Them: “Quilting cotton is the worst for garment making.”
Me: "Really?"
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Here’s my second garment for the Cosmos collection by — this time with a vintage Simplicity halter dress pattern. I love the simple construction, the joyful colors, and those whimsical motifs.
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This dress absolutely beckons for brunch, a picnic and a day at the museum. .thanks_ where are we going?
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Do you sew fabrics for their “intended” purpose, or do you mix it up based on what you love?

Whimsy is always the name of the game with . I love the storytelling she weaves into every design — the details in her artwork just make me so happy. 🌗🌙☀️
Her newest collection, Cosmos, launches this week and ships in November, and I was lucky enough to play with a few of the prints early. 🌗🌙☀️
This is the first garment I made using Simplicity 9702 (with a few mods, of course). The fun, whimsical sleeves feel like the perfect match for this fabric. The neckline of the dress is a bit revealing. For a little modesty coverage, I made some cutouts of the motifs or a fun fabric necklace. It was too windy to be photographed, swipe to see.
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My client reached out to commission her memorial projects shortly before the homegoing service. Once I received the garments, we talked through possibilities and created a plan for the proposed pieces. We both knew the full set couldn’t be completed in time, so she asked whether I could create something meaningful that could be made quickly and shared with those gathering to honor Mrs. Betty Jane.
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As I sorted through the clothing, I chose a twin set for the flower pins—without knowing it had been worn at several significant moments in her life. Learning that later added even more meaning to the finished pieces and deepened my sense of responsibility to honor her story.
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I designed and made 50 fabric flower pins in assorted shapes, using that twin set along with a pair of linen pants. Each flower is secured with gold double‑cap rivets and finished with a pinback. I love that attendees could wear and take this little memory with them.

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