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 month 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 2 months 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...
3 months 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...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, If your sewing space can use a makeover or your fabric scraps are out of control, two digital products I have available can help. Sewing Space Playbook Do you need help organizing and arranging your sewing space so you can sit down and sew at a moment's notice? Sewing Space Playbook may be just what you've been waiting for, and it will be open for enrollment on Saturday, April 20. In this online course, learn the step-by-step process to transform your sewing space from one that...
8 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Do you get notifications from your photo app of things that happened years ago? All the pictures I take with my iPhone are set to backup to Google Photos. Every day I'll get a notification from them to check out some past photos. Recently, some images popped up related to some of the first sewing project tutorials I did for The Ruffled Purse. Not only was this a fun memory, but these two projects are great for beginners and for scraps. Making Bean Bags Making a Tic-Tac-Toe Board If...
9 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Did you see my most recent tutorial on how to make corner bookmarks? I shared it in my last newsletter and encouraged you to make them from scraps. These bookmarks are a great way to save future projects in books and magazines from your sewing and quilting library. I'm not sure how well you can remember things, but after marking several projects for myself, I realized I probably wouldn't remember what I had saved the next week much less later this year. The projects I bookmarked...
10 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, What is your go-to solution when you hit a roadblock, get frustrated, and are to the point of a meltdown? Do you tend to push through even if you are ugly crying while you do it, or step away from the situation, do something completely different, and attack the problem later? My personality leans more toward the first solution, and over the years I have experienced many meltdowns. However, I've learned when I force myself to take a step back from the frustration and focus on a...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Did you have a goal this year for finishing some unfinished projects? If so, how is it going? My mom and I have been working on her UFOs for the past year and are making headway, but it's not always easy to make progress when you are doing it on your own. This is why I was excited to see Emma Jane Powell's upcoming live workshop titled Managing Unfinished Projects. (Emma Jane was a speaker at my Conquer Your Fabric Scraps Summit where she did a class on improv. Her website is Dream...
11 months ago • 3 min read