16 Hours of Sewing

16 hours of sewing... well not really.  I just completed teaching another session of Introduction to Sewing 1 Intensive at the Sewing Studio in Manhattan.  I am always so impressed with the results.  These students started four weeks ago knowing nothing about sewing, fabric, patterns, grain, zippers and measuring the body.   Grain? like 7 grain bread?  No. 

I taught them how to use a machine, how to wind a bobbin,  we moved on how to make a drawstring bag and how to make a zipper pouch.  And their final project, picking a pattern and making a skirt that has a zipper.  It was 4 weeks long and it went by so fast.  These were the results. Here are 3 skirts, 3 varieties.  All have a zipper, darts and was adjusted to fit the sewist. 

I am so happy and impressed with these ladies.  They were a great group to spend a Saturday afternoon with.

Liberty Love for the Moms

I always have a hard time coming up with something for my mom for Mother's Day.  First of all she is difficult to buy for and secondly after so many years what do I give her that's new and different?

What will she like? What will she appreciate? What will she use? What will she enjoy? What what what? It is exhausting.

Growing up in a somewhat suburban/rural area, exposure to things was not a regular thing.  When I started working in design and learned about Liberty of London fabrics I immediately fell in love.  The softness of the fabric and the beautiful, completely unique designs is what makes them so desired.  I gifted my mom at Christmas a lap blanket using a Liberty print on one side.  And success, she actually uses it and likes it.  My dad likes it too for his morning naps.

Now that it's Mother's Day why not give another Liberty gift.  Here are 3 items from my Etsy shop that are uniquely Liberty and useful!

Something small.  Very few people use hankies or pocket squares but why not? It is environmentally friendly after all.  My pocket squares are a hot seller, but they can also be used as a hankie.

Loden print with finished edges

Have a mom that likes to cook or garden? Or keep that hair pulled back?  A patchwork bandanna.

Pink flower Mauvey Patchwork Bandanna

Or for the mom who likes to entertain, double sided napkins.  Now in two choices of prints, Strawberry Thief or Wiltshire.

my favorite the Strawberry Thief in green olive

Wiltshire in pink

Something for every mom, a little liberty love. Just visit my Etsy Shop!

Happy Mother's Day!

Something for Mom's Day

Liberty of London patchwork bandanna - Capel

Mother's Day is coming up, it's not too late to give her something special and order it online.

For the crafty mom.  A traditional heirloom tomato pin cushion.  Each one is unique and handmade with cotton fill, wool felt cap and a variety of red, green and orange prints.  Because each heirloom tomato is unique right?

heirloom tomato pincushion

For the cooking mom.  A traditional Butcher's Apron based off of a French style.  A beautifully woven cotton linen fabric with adjustable neck tie and double sided pockets.  The linen cotton will keep Mom cool in the hot kitchen. 

Every chef needs to pull their hair back while they are working.  Why not gift your Mom a gorgeous Liberty of London patchwork bandanna.  Finished in neon pink stitching, this light weight cotton lawn bandanna can be machine washed and will last a lifetime.  

I love these bandannas because you can wear them in the kitchen, at the beach or all day on a bad hair day! Or just because they are pretty!

You can buy all of these things in my Etsy Shop, just click here.

Pretty Pics for a Rainy Day

English Garden path from pinterest

What a miserable rainy day we are having in NYC today! Wow, I sit here looking out and the rain is just coming down.  I started working on my garden this past week and am so excited to get planting and harvesting!  I also started putting all of my garden inspiration pictures in a scrapbook.  I thought I would share some with you to put some color into this dreary day.

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens Grid garden

Martha Stewart

Breathtaking blue and purple hue border from pinterest

Another beautiful purple hue  path on pinterest

from Herbal House on Pinterest

 Sindi Alvarado on pinterest

Sweet pea tower from pinterest

Pinterest via tumblr via Domino Mag

After reviewing all of the photos I have here for inspiration, can you say that I am drawn to purples?
I just recently found out that I will be having a plot in the community garden in my neighborhood.  I am so excited!  What to plant????


Do you have a favorite garden color? How do you organize your garden? What's your inspiration?
What about container gardens? Those are very useful in urban situations.
And also can be used very creatively.  What do you plant in pots? How do you like to organize them?

Happy planting!

Kitchen Inspirations

This past Sunday I prepared an Easter brunch.  I realized how my kitchen is lacking in a few things.  Nothing makes cooking easier and more enjoyable than good quality and fun kitchen utensils.

I am loving the purple and aqua spatulas here. 

Silicone spatulas on Food52

Ceramic spoons from Cor Pottery on Etsy

I met Cor, the above spoon artist, recently in Park Slope at the Co-op Grocery.  She is such a lovely woman and her spoons are amazing.  The colors are eye catching and mesmerizing. I purchased some of her spoons and will be using them in my apron photographs.

Biscuit maker on Food52

I am tempted to make some biscuits just so I can try out this biscuit maker.

I love going to flea markets but sometimes in NYC you just can't find a deal or what you are looking for.  Etsy is only a click away.  I own one whisk.  I feel like when I use it, I need to use it immediately again and will then need to wash it.  I know, woe is me.  But why not buy another one?  Look at this beauty.

Vintage whisk on etsy 

The above whisk is from a shop on Etsy called Lovintagefinds.  The shop is wonderfully curated and has some really amazingly, beautiful items.  I could do some serious damage here.

I have been wanting one of these since I made my wedding registry 2 years ago, 3 years ago.  Mainly for making guacamole.

mortar and pestle from lovintagefinds on etsy

These are the things that Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma imitate.  Nothing comes close to the real, authentic original.

Do you have any favorite kitchen items? Ones you can't live without?  Ones on your wish list?

Tracey