Yep, that’s what my mom calls it. In an effort to remove waste and chemicals from my life, I try to buy local, with less packaging, buy in bulk, and make most of my own stuff. People have asked how to get started on this. Well, the first step is to make better choices. For…
READ this book! Whether you are a creative or not, this book is on the list of life changing ones for me. I managed to get the ebook on Kindle from the Austin Public Library, but I plan to get a copy for my home library. I discovered the writer and heard about the book…
My favorite go-to reference guide for sewing stuff is the 1976 version of the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. I first spotted the book when I was working at FirstSamples. I taught myself how to sew with it. I’ve lectured from it. I’ve told all my students that if they have to buy one…
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.” ~Elbert Hubbard I keep running into people who won’t take on new projects because they are afraid of mistakes and failure. Letting fear hold you in captivity is only going to prevent you from becoming a better artist….
The Cross-stitchers have gone rogue and broke free from being prim and proper. Have you seen Subversive Cross-stitch? I have a friend who makes Tidy Cloth – Hand Embroidered Cum Rags. So, why is it that quilting hasn’t gone there? It’s BEDDING! I’ve been using the power of google to scour the internet for proof…
It’s that time of year where I take all my faded black clothes and add a little more color. In the past I would have tossed them in the washing machine with a bottle of RIT, but I’ve learned that dying in a front-loading washer can be tricky. The next best thing to the washing…
At the office, I saw all kinds of makeshift alterations. Binder clips to hold up pants. Staples and tape to hem pants. Needless to say, I got a lot of work from my co-workers. I am not sure who the makers of office wear are sizing for but it is not the average Jane/Joe. In…
I get a lot of questions related to what I charge for alterations and mending. For starters, I charge by the hour and not the piece. My rate is $30/hr. The prices that I have posted are based on projects done by previous clients. For example, I can hem a basic pair of jeans in…
Sorry for the interruptions in site access. I changed servers and I am in the process of redesigning a few things.
Last night I stayed at the shop sewing until 10ish. I was finishing up the epic restoration project (I promise there will be pictures soon). It dawned on me that most people out there, myself included, are not early risers unless it involves a child, getting paid, or something amazing. While learning how to sew,…