Vintage Sewing Fun - Simplicity's 1948 Pattern for Smartness Video

"Your pattern... is... magic, for it transforms all who use it into a creative artist.  Yes, just as a portrait artist uses his paints and brushes to express his impression of a personality, so you can use fabrics and lines and colors to express your own personality." - narrator in 1948 Simplicity video Pattern for Smartness (near 15:00).

This vintage sewing video (I think it was used for home economics classes) is almost comical in places because of how much our culture has changed, but I love seeing the girls love for sewing and her skill level at her age - not to mention all the lovely vintage sewing supplies and fashions!  No quick and dirty sewing here, and the fit on her finished dress is impeccable.

At almost twenty minutes long, this is a fun video to have on in the background while working on a project.  And I'd love to read your thoughts after you watch - leave a comment!

Thread Faction Patterns #106 and #108 {Review, Blog Tour & Giveaways!}

After working with Liz from Thread Faction (formerly Hatchlings Patterns) this fall with her M is for Moto Jogger pattern tour, I was excited to see that she released a full line of children's wear PDF patterns this spring.  I sewed patterns #106 and #108 for today's stop on the blog tour.  Keep reading for all the details and to see how you can be entered to win one of the many giveaways during this tour - and I hope you'll take the time to use the direct links to visit all the tour participants.  At the end of my post I have a link to the four big giveaways on the Thread Faction blog, discount codes from our sponsors, as well as a giveaway here on my blog, and the entire tour schedule with links.  Also - Liz is really amazing and has been putting up a new tutorial, pattern hack, or related post each day of the tour - visit her blog to find them all.  Note - Thread Faction patterns are priced in AUD, so US buyers will have the price converted to USD (the US price is lower than the AU price).

Disclosure: I received these patterns for free in order to participate in the tour.  The Thread Faction links in the post are my affiliate links, which earn me a 15% commission is you make a purchase within 30 days of using my link.  I aim to provide a helpful and honest review and appreciate your support, but if you prefer a non-affiliate link I provide one here:  www.threadfaction.com

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Color Play Friday: S'more Cookie Goodness {Feminine Floral Browns Color Palette and Fabric Bundle}

How fun is a Friday with beautiful color inspiration and lovely fabrics served up with yummy s'more goodness (at least in image form)?!  If that is your kind of Friday, then this week's #colorplayfriday is as perfect for you as it is for me!

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Color Play Friday: 80's Skate Party {Color Palette & Fabric Bundle}

I'm happy to finally join back in with #colorplayfriday today.  Plus, I love (love, love, love) to roller skate, so this week's photo was a can't miss.  Keep reading to find out more about the fabrics I chose and find links to all the other great palettes. 

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Whip It Up Challenge with Sew Mama Sew and Ink & Arrow {Kitchen-Themed Sewing & Free Patterns}

Today I’m grateful to be part of the Sew Mama Sew Whip It Up Challenge with Ink & Arrow fabrics. Not only do I get to showcase the Whip It Up fabric line (and a few coordinating Pixies prints) from Ink & Arrow, but also - just in time for Mother’s Day - I have several free kitchen-themed free motion applique designs you can download, a tutorial for a simple reversible apron, a framed applique design for the kitchen wall, and really fun kitchen-themed magnets.  Do you (or someone you know) enjoy cooking, eating, and/or sewing? (ha!)  Then today’s Whip It Up Challenge feature is for you!  Be sure to read to the end for links to free downloads and the other challenge participants.

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Photography Tips & Tricks for Sewing and Testing

Honestly, there have probably only been two or three photo shoots that have gone as I had envisioned, hoped, or planned.  I've certainly learned a lot and still have lots of room to learn and improve, but I don't let it take the fun and enjoyment out of sewing anymore.  I used to.

The #honestcraftroomies scope hop on Periscope last night addressed photography tips and tricks for sewing and quilting, which we had planned several weeks in advance.  During the scope hop, each scope-er covered topics ranging from lighting, background, equipment, what and how to photograph, to why to photography even if you don't have a blog and aren't a professional.  For my part, I discussed what to photograph when testing a pattern for a designer, and also what to photograph when sharing a garment or handbag (or other project) to help others understand what features a pattern has. You can watch the replay of my broadcast below, and I've gone in to more detail in this post.  You can also always find links and details from my Periscope broadcasts by visiting the Periscope tab at the top of my site.  Also, I included links at the end of the post to watch the broadcast replays for the others in the scope hop - they really shared a lot of valuable tips and examples!

(It also happens that Art Gallery Fabrics recently shared a post with tips for presenting your handmade products on Instagram with excellent suggestions for great photography, and Pattern Revolution just started a series on photography tips for testers. It must be time for everyone in the online sewing world to talk photography!)

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Color Play Friday: Dry Sparkling Soda Seattle {Color Palette & Fabric Bundle}

This week's #ColorPlayFriday challenge was tough!  The image was taken by Trina at Dry Sparkling in Seattle.  I think what I am most excited about from this week is finding out about Dry Sparkling soda and discovering that a few stores not-too-far from me carry it (check out their store finder).  I am really intrigued by their flavors and enjoyed reading about the company and process.  I'm definitely going to try it out as soon as I am able.  As far as the color palette goes - this might be my first fail.  In fact, I was so restless with the first palette I made, I tried again.  You'll have to keep reading to see both bundles and let me know what you think.

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Houndstooth Rag Quilt Pattern from A Vision to Remember

I sewed my first rag quilt with this Houndstooth Rag Quilt pattern by Bobbie at A Vision To Remember.  She has patterns, fabric, and ready-made items for sale in her etsy shop - the perfect place to pick up your own supplies for this project.  In fact, all the fabric I used for this rag quilt was sent to me by Bobbie, along with a free copy of the pattern when she kindly asked me to participate in this tour.  Below I'll share how long it took, supplies I found helpful, why this pattern doesn't require as much cutting of pieces as I feared, and more photos!  Be sure to use the schedule at the end of the post to visit the other blogger's sharing their rag quilts this week.

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Color Play Friday: Starburst {Berry & Brown Color Palette and Fabric Bundle}

Candy isn't so much my thing, usually (I prefer baked goods), but the inspiration image for this week's Color Play Friday is delicious!  This is a big week that includes a giveaway opportunity and the most participants ever, so be sure to keep reading. I hope this palette and fabric bundle for Color Play Friday hosted by Trina (In An Otter Life) and Lorinda (Laurel, Poppy & Pine) will inspire you!  

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Instagram Boycott Over Proposed Changes: Why It Matters

If you use Instagram at all, I'm sure you've heard that they are planning to change the way they present posts on your feed.  Instead of a chronological listing of posts by people you follow, they plan to change to a feed that shows the posts that they think you will be most interested in. (You can read about the anticipated changes on the Instagram blog.)  People are not pleased.  If you haven't already signed the petition, or joined the Friday, March 18 boycott of Instagram, you might be wondering why it matters.  Here are just a couple of my own thoughts.

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Color Play Friday: Minneapolis {Summery Color Palette and Fabric Bundle with Art Gallery Denim Studio Fabrics}

This week's image reminds me of my hometown.  Maybe if you've been there, this palette will remind you of a warm summer evening listening to a concert in the Gazebo, a wedding party taking photos in the downtown gardens, or eating Toft's ice cream on a bench at Shoreline Park.  Even if you haven't visited my hometown, I hope this palette for Color Play Friday hosted by Trina (In An Otter Life) and Lorinda (Laurel, Poppy & Pine) will inspire you!  Keep reading to find out more about the colors and fabrics I chose this week.

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Color Play Friday: NYC {New York City Street Inspired Color Palette & Fabric Bundle}

I've never been to New York City and I'm really sad about it.  So, this color palette and fabric bundle for Color Play Friday hosted by Trina (In An Otter Life) and Lorinda (Laurel, Poppy & Pine) are based purely on this image and my imagination!  Keep reading to find out more about the colors and fabrics I chose this week.

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"There Was That Year" - Minimalist Improv Quilt Mini for Mighty Lucky Quilting Club February Challenge

I completed my first improv quilt and it holds special meaning for me.  I've titled it "There Was That Year."  I was inspired to create a memory quilt after reading the Colette Book Club selection for January (read more about that here).  I didn't really feel drawn to the type of quilt created in the book, so I decided to use the February Challenge for Mighty Lucky Quilting Club from Lucky Spool as my opportunity to try some improvisational quilting and create the memory quilt.  Although I have plenty to learn about quilting and improv, I am really happy with what came together.  Keep reading to find out more about the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club and the significance (to me) of this piece, and at the end I've embed a video with further explanation. 

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Color Play Friday: Skywalker Horse {Manly Color Palette and Fabric Bundle}

It's Color Play Friday hosted by Lorinda (Laurel, Poppy & Pine) and Trina (In An Otter Life).  I'm not at #QuiltCon2016 this weekend, but I am having fun with #QuiltNon2016 instead, over on Instagram, and I hope you'll join us there if you aren't already having fun at QuiltCon.   You can take part in challenges, tutorials, and games and have the opportunity to win prizes all weekend long.  Visit my IG profile or Intrepid Thread's blog for more details.  Keep reading to find out what I thought of the colors and fabrics for this week.

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The Forgotten Seamstress: Colette Book Club Discussion

Colette Patterns is hosting a book club this year and the discussion for the first book started this week.  The book club description says it will focus on texts "that enhance our understanding of sewing" with a new book every six weeks.  I joined hoping to find a few great technical texts to learn from, but I read The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow on my Kindle (affiliate link) and enjoyed it enough.  I downloaded the first four chapters for free, and it was interesting enough to want to keep going.  The story is an fast and easy read.  Keep reading for my responses to the discussion questions for the book.  You can also visit the Colette Book Club discussion blog post to see the other responses to the book. 

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Color Play Friday: Tulip Festival {Color Palette & Sea-Themed Fabric Bundle}

Happy Friday! It's time for another Color Play Friday hosted by Trina (In An Otter Life) and Lorinda (Laurel, Poppy & Pine).  How has a whole week gone by without another blog post? 

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Color Play Friday: Hydrangeas {Spring Color Palette and Fabric Bundle}

One of my goals for 2016 is to learn more and practice color theory so I'm joining in my first Color Play Friday with Lorinda at Laurel, Poppy & Pine and Trina at In An Otter Life.  For more #ColorPlayFriday guidelines and to learn how to join in, visit their sites.  I present this as a personal practice - not as an expert example!  

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Coastline Blog Tour - Sharon Holland Designs for Art Gallery Fabrics

Sharon Holland's new line for Art Gallery Fabrics is Coastline - and I get to share the knit skirt and canvas tote bag I made with fabric from this line.  This is the second day of the Coastline Blog Tour - so be sure to visit Sharon Holland to get all the information and full schedule for the tour which continues through February 19.  Heidi at FabricMutt kicked off the tour yesterday with a Brass Ring Pillow quilted with Coastline fabric and tomorrow you can see the mermaid maxi tutorial and Sugar Pop top from Lisa at Mabey She Made It.

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Craftsy Sewing & Quilting Courses - My Current Bucket List

What are you hoping to learn in 2016?  I've put together my short list and a bucket list of Craftsy courses - all with the goal of developing my understanding of sewing and quilting method and technique.  (*all Craftsy links in this post are affiliate links, but this post is not sponsored by Craftsy and contains my own opinions and plans.  If you make any purchases through my links (in any department) I will earn a portion of the sale at no extra cost to you.)

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Tip for Keeping Track of Top Stitch and Edge Stitch Settings

Are you ever working on a project, switching back and forth between regular seams, top stitching, or edge stitching, and find that you forget which stitch length or needle position you were using?  I have a quick and easy method for keeping track. 

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