Giving knitting another go

I am an admittedly bad knitter. I can purl, knit and follow a pattern, but getting the project to turn out the right size is always a challenge. A few months ago I bought yarn to knit a sweater to go with Angela’s Easter dress that I made, and now I’m under the gun to […]

Stephanie Soebbing

11 March, 2015

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Chiaverini makes women central players in history in ‘Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule’

History is written by men and in most cases they minimized or completely ignored the critical role women played in shaping the events of the past. Chiaverini corrects this in her latest novel released last week, “Mrs. Grant and Madame Jule.” A mix of well researched fact and imagined fiction to fill in the gaps […]

Stephanie Soebbing

10 March, 2015

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Giveaway! Recycled Hexie Quilts

I know how you all love your giveaways and I have a great one for you courtesy of Schiffer Publishing. The latest item up for grabs is a copy of “Recycled Hexie Quilts: Using Vintage Hexagons in Today’s Quilts” by Mary W. Kerr. The book is filled with ideas for finishing and repurposing this very […]

Stephanie Soebbing

6 March, 2015

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A call for pattern testers

I am working on creating new patterns and am looking for some pattern testers to double check that I’ve gotten everything right before I release them. I’m looking for experienced quilters who can complete a quilt top within two weeks to a month, depending on the complexity and size of the pattern. In exchange for […]

Stephanie Soebbing

5 March, 2015

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Well … it’ll fit next year

When I started Little Sister’s Dress a few months ago I planned to make it in the six months size, but I think Angela will be 18 months or maybe even two years old before she fills out the finished garment. And it will definitely be a tunic, not a dress. It’s the thought that counts […]

Stephanie Soebbing

4 March, 2015

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March Block of the Month

The March block by itself really isn’t all that exciting, but it makes an excellent cornerstone for the center medallion, which we are also putting together this month. So grab your rotary cutter and let’s get started because there is a lot to do this month. The blocks themselves are pretty easy. You’re making four, […]

Stephanie Soebbing

2 March, 2015

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National Quilt Museum curator gets her wish with new exhibit

Ever since Judy Schwender joined the National Quilt Museum as its curator, she has wanted to group the critter quilts together. She is finally getting her with with “Into the Wild: Quilted Creatures,” which opened yesterday. The new exhibit features some of the best and most memorable animal quilts in the museum’s collection. One of Schwinder’s favorites […]

Stephanie Soebbing

27 February, 2015

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Sleeping babies, the IRS and creative time

  The good news … at nine-months-old Angela has started to go to sleep and stay asleep at the same time every night. And her bedtime is a full three hours before my bedtime, which means plenty of time to do whatever I want. The bad news … I’ve been spending the majority of that […]

Stephanie Soebbing

25 February, 2015

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Use found objects, kitchen materials to make your own fabric

You don’t need fancy equipment, expensive resists and printmaking stencils to create your own beautiful fabrics at home. That’s the lesson of “Fabric Printing at Home” by Julie Booth, an artist and experience fabric designer. In the 127-page full-color book filled with photo illustrations of the steps and techniques, Booth teaches readers how to create one-of-a-kind […]

Stephanie Soebbing

24 February, 2015

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Sewing room to nursery: Decor

It’s been a long time since I wrote a sewing room to nursery post. Progress pretty much stopped once I had Angela because I was too busy caring for her to keep going on the transformation. She had a crib, a changing table and all the clothes and diapers she could ever need, so that […]

Stephanie Soebbing

23 February, 2015

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