I Wouldn't, But...

My 21-year-old daughter has three tattoos. I admit that when I saw the first one, I was devestated. I felt somehow that my baby was marred forever...which in some ways is true. It was no easier with the subsequent two and if she ever chooses to get another (more than one?), I'm pretty sure of how I will react. That being said, those tattoos and her choice to get them, are a part of who she is -- a sweet, funny, sunny, independent, expressive and 'bohemian' young woman. If she had been around in the 70s, she would have been a quintessential hippie. I love her more than I can say -- tattoos and all. If she had to get them, the one thing I can be thankful for is that the artist was magnificently talented and from a purely "art" perspective, the art itself is lovely.  :)
So, okay...I wouldn't...but if...just if...I were to get a tattoo, this would be it:

It is on the cover of one of the books in my vast collection of vintage sewing books.

It is only 1 1/2" high and 5/8" wide.

Here is the full cover of the book:

It is called "Essentials of Sewing", written by Rosamond C. Cook in 1924. I love my vintage sewing books. I especially love the illustrations. The books inspire me in so many ways, but this is one way I never expected. I'm pretty sure I won't follow through, but I did make the mistake of telling a few people, including my daughter, about this illustration and what I thought it could be used as. I have to admit though, as a 54 year-old mom of two grown, young women, the thought of it makes me smile just a little.

CraftGossip.com

CraftGossip.com featured "Happy Puffy Flowers" FREE pattern today!!
Thank you, CraftGossip!!

Finally on Facebook

I finally got a "Page" up and running on Facebook. I'm still new at trying to share my love of sewing online, but I'm learning something new each day. And that's all that counts...right? If you visit my page, please "Like" it if you do -- like it, that is.
Happy stitching!!

Button Basket...Coming Soon!!

I've been working on my next Seedlings Sewing Patterns and have to put on the finishing touches. This little basket is great for buttons and other notions. It's perfect for countertops, desktops and bureaus to corral all the little doodads that collect there. Color coordinate it to your decor -- the possibilities are endless!! The Happy Puffy Flower embellishment is a FREE pattern!! Click photo to get your copy!!

My Sweet Emmie

We had our old dog, Abbie, for 16 years. When we lost her a few years back, and even though I'm a 'dog person', I didn't want another one because losing her was so hard. Well...that didn't work out. My family kept emailing me pictures of "adoptable" dogs and I cracked under the pressure. 2 years ago, we got Emma (now known as Emmie) and I admit I am head-over-heals in love with this animal. She is funny, loving, loyal, cuddly, smart, stupid, goofy, soft, sweet and an all around love. We took her to the vet today for a check up. She had a little lump in her neck and I was a wreck. It's nothing to worry about, our dear vet said. Emmie helps out in the sewing room. Mummy is happy.

The Show of Shows

Sometimes I find myself frustrated because I don't yet have my "Dream Sewing Studio". But I know I will one day. Right now, I'm lucky to have a dedicated space. My husband built a new kitchen for us 10 years ago and I have the basement space beneath it. It's still 2X4 studs and a cement floor. But it's mine and I don't have to clean it up so we can eat supper.  :) And...I get to see this show every day. Lucky indeed.



Sara May Allington

I posted this on another sewing site a while back, but I wanted to start it back up here. I plan to post other examples from my collection.

A year ago this past June, my dear dog Emmie, whom I love dearly, spotted a rabbit in the corner of our back yard. Unfortunately, she and I were both on the top step of my back porch and her leash was looped around my wrist when she took off after said rabbit. I went air born down the six steps to our driveway, breaking my right ankle. That’s my driving ankle, so I was pretty much house-bound and then some complications made me couch-bound for the entire summer. I couldn’t even make it down the basement stairs to my shop, so no sewing got done all summer. What’s a rabid stitcher to do?

Well, let me tell you. I became obsessed, thanks to my laptop’s ability to connect me with the rest of the world, with vintage sewing books. Ebay and Etsy became my best friends. I amassed quite a collection. Unlike many book collectors, condition was not an issue – I have come to love the dog-eared pages, stained covers and hand-written notes – all signs of a well-loved and eagerly used volume. If it includes pattern drafting, I’m sold.

At first I limited myself to those published in the 1940s and 1950s. I love the quaint attitude and near-reverence toward sewing that they reflect. But then I came across an earlier work, “Practical Sewing and Dressmaking” by Sara May Allington, published in 1913, that absolutely stole my heart. Sara devised the “Allington System of Drafting” and this book STILL had the original two-piece, hinged cardboard drafting ruler tucked inside. From 1913!!! The book is divided into "Lessons" instead of chapters, including "Utensils Needed fo Sewing and Dressmaking", "How to Take Measures", and "Women's Circular Drawers".

I plan to share and showcase little bits of my collection for those of you who might find them interesting. If anyone else out there shares this passion, I’d love to hear about your collection!
Happy sewing!!
Jo :)

New "Kindertote" Pattern

I've uploaded my newest pattern -- Kindertote. It's a great way to use up sewing room stash fabric, scraps and fat quarteres. It makes a great gift for little ones who love to "put stuff in stuff", as my girls did when they were little. It also makes a great "canvas" for machine embroidery or other embellishments. My "Happy Puffy Flowers" would look great...and the pattern is FREE!!

Seedlings Sewing Patterns

It's taken me a while, but I've finally been able to launch my new line of patterns. Seedlings Sewing Patterns have been developed with the creative sewer in mind. I hope that they become a starting point for the user's own creativity. I've included a FREE pattern just to get things rolling. I will be adding more as they are completed.
Here are pictures of the pattern covers.

This is SEW much fun!!

Fabric Stash Management

I don't get to do much quilting, but in my embroidery, I do a lot of applique. Quilting-weight cotton prints are my fabric of choice, so I'm always adding to my stash. Because I don't have a huge studio and no open shelving, most of my fabrics are in plastic bins and drawers so I sometimes forgot what I have. I had a "Big Board" ironing board that wasn't getting much use so I turned it on end and started pinning small swatches of every fabric in my stash to it. Any time a new fabric comes in, a swatch goes up. If I run out of something, the swatch goes into an envelope in case I need to reference it for re-stocking. It's eye candy to me. :)

Welcome!

I’ve spent so much time following wonderfully creative blogs that I’ve decided to dust off my own and try my hand at it. I love sitting with a cup of coffee and hopping from one blog to the next and I‘m always amazed and inspired by what I find. I’m an embroiderer who makes my living designing and writing about embroidery. I've owned Garden of Daisies Embroidery for about 13 years now. I'm excited, too, to announce that I'm just about ready to launch a line of patterns -- Seedlings Sewing Patterns. I'll keep you posted about the launch date.

So please keep my blog in mind. It will take a little while to get some real content going and hopefully, I’ll post things you’ll find worth reading.
Happy Stitching!!
Jo