One of the things I enjoy about designing is the ability to take inspiration from something you see and figure out a way to use it for your own vision of a pattern.  I was recently inspired to use color-blocking and buttons to create a new Muskoka tunic.  I wanted to give you a closer look and share some tips on how you might do something similar.

Sometimes a quick craft is just the thing to get you in a festive mood.  I wanted to add something new to our Christmas tree this year, and stumbled across a few different ideas for using cinnamon sticks (of which I have a lot) to make Christmas ornaments.  While my first few attempts resulted in utter failure (apparently I am not particularly good at cutting cinnamon sticks without breaking them... nor at making a star that looks star-shaped), I finally found a triangle ornament by Tag & Tibby that I thought was simple and charming. 

As soon as I glued my first cinnamon sticks into the triangle shape... my eye fell onto the remnants of my failed attempts to cut cinnamon sticks into tiers, and INSPIRATION struck!  All my triangle needed was a "trunk", and it was a perfect Christmas tree.

After a busy summer, the weather has started to turn to the crispness of Autumn here in Ontario.  One of my favorite things about this time of year is how the temperature drops for the evenings.  This always sparks thoughts of warm beverages and cozy fabrics.  While I haven't pulled out the fuzzy blankets from our linen closet yet, I've got plans (and online shopping cart ready!) to make new flannel pajamas for all of my constantly-needing-the-next-size-up children!

And because I knew this season was coming, I have been getting the update done on my woven pajama pattern, which is re-releasing today under the new name, Simcoe!

Now that winter has finally passed, there are two things competing for my attention: the house is begging for a deep Spring cleaning... but the sun is shining and I just want to be outside listening to the birds chirping and the bees buzzing!  While this may not officially qualify as "spring cleaning", the project I'm sharing with you today is a pretty neat way to use up some fabric scraps (and I say that anything that shrinks the overflowing scrap bin should be considered cleaning!)  And though it doesn't really have anything to do with enjoying the seasonal outdoors, I say it still counts as being in touch with the nature of Spring because for this project you need 100% natural beeswax!  

There are some patterns that you find yourself going back to over and over.  This is one of those patterns for me.  This sweet summery dress is beautiful in its simplicity.  Designed with straight lines and an easy fit, I think this has always been one of the most charming dresses in my collection.  Originally released in 2014 and called Daphne Marie, this pattern has been renamed Okanagan, and there is so much about it to love!