Hi Reader, Have you ever been able to NOT stop thinking about something but life and circumstances keep you from taking action? That's what most of 2025 was for me. As this year ends, life has, for the most part, returned to my new normal. I've started to put many of my thoughts and ideas related to my business, The Ruffled Purse, into a plan of action for the upcoming year, and I can't wait to share them with you in the coming months. If you find yourself in a situation where life has...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like you're living in a fog? I have felt like that for the past 12 months. Handling my mother's estate required a lot of mental bandwidth. I wasn't prepared for how much was involved to wrap up someone's life. Everything has seemed like a struggle. That's the main reason why you haven't received a newsletter from me since May. It's been almost a year since she passed away, and during this time, I unintentionally put sewing on hold as even the simplest projects...
5 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Holy cow! The last Snappy Scissors newsletter I sent was in January. I knew it had been a while, but didn't realize it was that long ago. Going through my mother's things the first few months of the year in preparation for an estate sale, took a huge chunk of my mental energy, leaving little bandwidth for anything else. The estate sale was March 28-31, and it was a huge success. (The sale is over, but you can click here to see what amazing collections my mother accumulated over the...
9 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader, There hasn't been a lot of sewing going on in my space during the last month or so. Instead, I've found myself in a season of sorting and purging. With my Mom's passing in September, I inherited her entire stash. My sister doesn't sew, so it has been my responsibility and pleasure to go through every box, bin, shelf, and closet and see Mom's sewing history and legacy. With only so much space in my home, there is no way I can combine her entire stash with mine, so I've been sorting...
about 1 year ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Have your thoughts ever bounced around so much you can't focus on any one thing? One of my favorite things to do when I feel like my wheels are spinning and I can't seem to get anything done is to work on a puzzle. Spending even just a few minutes in front of a puzzle, sorting colors, hunting for a piece, or challenging myself to put in 5 pieces before I walk away gives my brain purpose and helps settle my thoughts. What makes a puzzle even more enjoyable is when it has a sewing...
about 1 year ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Do you have a scrap project library? Whether you've been sewing for a while or are just getting started, it doesn't take long before scraps start piling up. If your plan is to save your scraps for some unknown project in the distant future, you will never make any progress on reducing your scraps. You need to build a collection of scrap-friendly patterns and projects to choose from -tailored to what and how you like to sew and quilt. This collection is what I call the scrap project...
about 1 year ago • 3 min read
Hello Reader, In my last newsletter, I wrote of the passing of my mother. I received many replies offering condolences and sharing personal stories of loss and healing. I read every reply and was touched by the outpouring of compassion and understanding expressed in each one. Thank you. ❤️ In that same newsletter, I asked if anyone knew of ways sewists and quilters could help those impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. I received several replies to this query: Many people shared the link...
about 1 year ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, It was expected but happened way faster than we thought it would. My mom passed away peacefully on September 24. My brother, sister and I were with her when she took her last breath. Her death has left a huge hole in my life. She lived across the street from my sister and me (we live next door to each other) and I talked with Mom every day. With 70+ years of experience, my mom was my go-to person for everything sewing and quilting. It will take a while before reality sets in to...
over 1 year ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, How do you feel about fabric scraps? Are you looking for: cohesive and scrappy projects to repurpose scraps tips and techniques to organize and manage them ways to build confidence when mixing and combining colors If your answer is "yes" to any (or all) of these, you'll be excited to hear I'm hosting another Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit! Based on attendee feedback from last year's summit, I've made some exciting changes to this FREE online event that I'll be sharing in the...
over 1 year ago • 4 min read