Sometimes the simplest things in life are, well, the simplest. I really liked this idea. When my daughter asked me to make her a throw pillow with linen and concentric circles, this was my interpretation. It didn’t take much time. I simply cut out my linen square to the size of my pillow insert, plus 1 inch for my 1/2 inch seam allowances around the edges. I traced a circle

I can’t think of a better name for this…when I looked at it, I thought I would name this “Paved with Gold” because of the bars going different directions. This quilt is not exactly original. I have seen variations on this design from other quilters. I once made one using a layer cake that was very similar. This quilt uses all sparkle fabric. By that, I mean that each block

There’s nothing so luxurious as a new set of pajamas. I don’t understand why people don’t make these for wedding shower gifts. Most people give the same old things at wedding showers. I have never been one to buy from a wedding registry. I like to make something for a new bride or expectant mother. In fact, I forbid my girls from even having registries. Of course, their weddings were

Sewing with kids can be an either or. It can be super fun, laughable, and enlightening for both the student and the teacher. Or, it can be a chore that is onerous. My online dictionary defines onerous as (of a task, duty, or responsibility) involving an amount of effort and difficulty that is oppressively burdensome. Well, we don’t want it to be that do we! But it can be. It

I went to the hospital today. I am not going to say which one. Suffice it to say it’s one of the larger ones in the Fox Cities. I am not sick. Quite the contrary. I am going to go back as a temp when the crisis hits Northeast Wisconsin. I’ve been an ICU nurse for 30+ years, and those of us that are well and able to help just

Well you know we’re all pretty bummed about this Corona virus. And we’re all self quarantining. But that means more time in your sewing room! I decided that if we are going to keep up the morale in this country, it’s up to the quilters! Just hang a quilt outside everyday that we are being quarantined. It can be the same one day after day. Don’t let it get rained

For years we heard the phrase “you can’t force creativity”. Well, I am going to challenge that today. When you were in school, did you ever have to take classes that you hated? Of course you did. You even had to take classes that you weren’t good at. Well, unfortunately sometimes education is wasted on the very young. I have found myself saying that time and time again. I hold

Everyone loves a picnic. Well, sometimes when the bugs are bad it can be discouraging. But, other than that Wisconsinites, in particular, cannot wait to go outside and eat. You can see people in restaurants eating outside even when it’s in the 50s. There is such a novelty about eating out of doors. As soon as the sun is high enough in the sky people start to think about picnics.

I am always looking for garment patterns that will please our customers in multiple ways. First off, garment sewing is hot once again. Why? Because people love to work with their hands and sew, and are ready once again to branch out from quilting into sewing other things. The quilting upsurge was a direct result of the love for sewing that many people have. As clothing prices dropped and dropped