When I taught my “High-End Embellishments” class last weekend, I added a new fabric origami design to my usual curriculum. The “Primrose” pattern is simple and quick to fabricate. I used this origami design on a job that I completed last winter – box pleated drapery panels and scalloped valances with origami accents. We needed […]
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“High-End Embellishments” Class at Summerhill
A weekend getaway in a beautiful location with good friends, great food, and nothing to do but relax, have fun, and learn lots of great new sewing techniques — sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it was a reality for the six women who enrolled in my October 8-10 “High-End Embellishments” class here […]
Floral Applique Quilt with Embroidery
Quiltmaking has been a favorite hobby of mine for a long time, but I don’t have a chance to indulge in it too often anymore. Last winter, however, we had an 8-day power outage, and I had lots of time to do anything my heart desired … that didn’t require electricity! So, I finally had […]
Raspberry Strippers
I’ve been baking cookies today, in preparation for my Summerhill “High-End Embellishments” class next weekend, October 8-10. My students always come for the instruction, but one of the things they enjoy the most about their three-day visit is all the good food my mom and I prepare. The cookie sampler tray that I bring out […]
Red Rose Tea
Take a few minutes and relax … When I sketch, I usually do a rough pencil outline, then ink in the lines and add details and color. But I think it sometimes makes my sketches look more controlled than I would like. So, for this little sketch I challenged myself to complete it in […]
Tufted Slipcovers
I have an old swivel rocker in my workroom that I sit in when I have to do some hand sewing. I picked it up for a few dollars with the idea of slipcovering it. That was nine years ago! Can you believe I’ve been looking at that ugly old thing all this time? You […]
Sketches from Smith Mountain Lake, VA
I had such a busy summer, with Sara’s wedding, and work, and gardening, but all summer long, I kept daydreaming about a day in September that Fred and I were going to fly off to Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, for four days of doing nothing but, well, … nothing! Yes, I, the type-A, work-all-the-time, always-busy, […]
Anna Valance
“Something simple,” she said, “Nothing too elaborate or formal.” Hmmm. My client’s kitchen and casual dining area definitely needed some window treatments to warm up the space and add a touch of color and style. But which treatment would be the best choice? The Pate-Meadows Anna valance seemed like the perfect solution. It’s a […]
Enhancing A Great View with Window Treatments
I’m afraid I’ve fallen behind in posting window treatments the past few months, mostly because of my preoccupation with my daughter’s wedding, but fall is here, and things are getting busier in the workroom, so you can expect lots of new custom home furnishings here soon. I plan to post some of my old favorites, […]
Pierogies Like Mom Used to Make
Ah, homemade pierogies! Those plump little bundles of melty, cheesy joy! Comfort food in a dumpling! (You can probably tell how crazy I am about them by all the exclamation points I feel compelled to use when writing about them.) I love pierogies, and these homemade ones are so-o-o-o much better than those storebought wannabes. […]
