Quilting

So much Modern Quilting! Oh, I love it! Let’s talk about my favorite quilting tips, tricks, and how-tos! Learn something new or improve on an old skill.

  • Less Cooking Time = More Quilting Time!

    I’m always looking for more ways to manage my schedule more efficiently. Time spent in the kitchen is one area that continues to amaze me. One thing I know for sure is that less cooking time = more quilting time!

    I’ve learned that by working more efficiently in my tasks around the house, I can get in more sewing time at the end of the day and let me tell you… it is amazing. It is a total game-changer for the busy girl!!

    For more ideas on how you can get more sewing and quilting time, check out this blog post: HOW TO MAKE MORE TIME FOR SEWING AND QUILTING and TIME-SAVING SEWING ADVICE

    How do I get more time?

    First of all, I’m not a wizard ok? But what I do have is a ridiculous sense that if I schedule things juuuust right and I tweak my calendar enough I’ll have enough extra time built up that I can someday solve all of the world’s problems…. ok maybe not ALL… but geeze, I can at least finish this quilt top before the baby I’m giving it to is born? #truthconfessions

    Recently I shared with my readers that my newest obsession is Butternut Squash Soup because it has every single flavor of fall and it is so good! it also can be made in the crockpot or the instant pot and 80% of the dish is hands-off. let the gadgets do their thing… I love it.

    My kids even like it because they like pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle them over the top like confetti. Here is the recipe if you want to try it too!

    And I asked for your favorite go-to recipes that save you time in the kitchen. Boy oh boy did you respond! I KNEW you were my people, I just KNEW it!

    Here is a list of all the recipes you’ve sent to me!

    (I’ll try to update it from time to time with new/seasonal dishes) Note: these recipes are all from other bloggers and are recommended by other readers just like you. If you have a favorite recipe you don’t see here that saves you time in the kitchen please feel free to add it to the comment section below!

    Goodness!… meal planning for the whole month anyone? 🙂 I have so many ideas for new recipes that I want to try now.

    I hope you find some good recipes and some delicious inspiration in this list so you can get more sewing time in your schedule!

    Word of advice: If you are trying to cut down on your time in the kitchen because you want to spend more time at the sewing machine… DO NOT go do your laundry and think you’ll “get to sew later”. That is the opposite of intentionally making time to sew.

    Laundry and housework will always be there, no matter how hard you run to try and get ahead.

    That sewing project, however, doesn’t deser a permanent backseat if it is what brings you joy! Do what makes your heart happy while dinner is in the crockpot.

    Less Cooking Time = More Quilting Time!

  • How to Print your Quilt Patterns for FREE!

    I love that most Quilt patterns are available online for instant download. Isn’t it just great?! What a time to be alive right? …Well… I love it until I realize that the amount of ink that I’ll have to use for the pattern! Yikes. Today I am going to tell you how to print your quilt patterns for FREE!

    Yes! I said FREE!

    FREE: As in, give me all the high-quality full-color pages you can throw at me! I have been printing all my quilt patterns and pages for the total price off FREE! Did you see that? That was FREE, nada, zilch, nothing!

    I used to be such a scrooge with my ink cartridges. It is perfectly ok to admit that you have a problem when you’re looking hard at your PDFs and wondering just how much of the material specs you can remember in your head to avoid having to print it out and waste that liquid gold, right?

    I even used to print everything in “economy mode” and picked which of the pages I absolutely NEEDED to print.

    It seemed like every time I turned around we were out of ink. And every single time I was spending $50-$60 to replace the ink.

    It was slowly driving me crazy.

    I started shopping for laser printers (holy cow that’s an investment). Then, I dove into research mode and weighed out the costs over time… switching to just black and white all the time (boring!) and different printer brands (so so many)… I even looked at commercial office printers! …I was in deep.

    So what did I do to fix my problem!?

    (because you know I fixed it AND you KNOW I’m going to share my hack with you so you can know how to print your quilt patterns for FREE too!)

    I ran across a program from HP called HP Instant Ink.

    And it totally changed how I use my printer!

    I’m going to share with you a little about the program and then I’ll jump into spilling my secrets on how I get it all for FREE!

    If you’ve never heard about it, here’s what HP Instant Ink is:

    HP Instant Ink is a by-mail ink cartridge replacement service. You decide from several HP Instant Ink plans. The plans vary in their monthly service fee based on the number of pages you print each month.

    Your printer sends ink level information to HP, and when ink levels get low, HP automatically ships ink replacement ink cartridges. You can save up to 50% on ink that’s ordered by your printer and delivered to your door before you run out. All included in the monthly rate. How cool is that?

    To sign up for this service you need a printer that is HP Instant Ink eligible. They have eligible printers that fit all budgets.

    If you don’t have an HP printer, I’ll explain to you how in the long run when compared to your current printer and ink costs, A new printer from HP is really are quite affordable and make a lot of sense.

    Printing get expensive! I'm going to share this simple trick I use for how to print your quilt patterns for FREE! It is so easy!

    Why I LOVE using the HP Instant Ink program

    When you sign up for HP Instant ink you can get several months for FREE immediately

    I got 6 months of FREE HP Instant INK when I signed up. 6 months!

    And because you can change your plan level at any time… you better believe that I took advantage of those free months and set it at the highest level right away. 300 Pages/month! 6 Months X 300 Pages = Up to 1,800 for FREEEEE! And it is whatever quality page I want to use!

    I could keep going on and on about it because I love it, but I bet you want to know how to print your quilt patterns for FREE too, right?

    The first thing you need to do is:

    • Get 1 month FREE by signing up with a referral link/code :
      You can get 1 month free by signing up with my referral link try.hpinstantink.com/BfDsr or code BdDsr to get 1 free month. (Just so you know, I’ll get a free month too if you sign up using my link, thanks!)
    • My new printer came with a 3 months free trial – most new printers do I believe. Look for any promo code that would be included with your printer, or contact HP Instant Ink customer service if you can’t find it.
    • After that, I tried out every discount code I could find online and managed to score an extra 2 months of Free HP Instant Ink. I’m going to list the codes that I know of right now for you.

      You’ll want to stack as many of these on at the beginning as you can!

      Discount codes often change, so it is anyone’s guess what will work and what will not. You just have to try them all out one after the other (you can use multiple coupon codes on your order). You can also google for more if needed.

      I definitely recommend you try these promo codes:

      FREE INK
      3FREEINK
      SAVE50PERCENT
      HPINSTANTINK4U

    What happens after the free months are up?

    After you’ve used the program for a little while, you should have an idea of how many pages/month you actually use and can downgrade (or upgrade) your plan from there to find one that fits your budget more.

    HP Instant Ink offers several plans to fit everyone’s printing needs. And I think they’re super affordable. You can also change your plan at any time.

    Here is what I did: I signed up for the Frequent Printing Plan (up to 300 pages) during my free trial/free months to take full advantage of the free months, and then switched to a cheaper plan (moderate) that more fits our actual printing needs.

    Below are the Instant Ink plan costs:

    My best guess is that most people will be totally fine with the occasional (50 pages/month for $2.99) or moderate (100 pages/month for $4.99) printing plans.

    I spend that amount going through the drive-through coffee place ONCE (you know the one!) So, for less than the price of a fancy coffee, you can always print as much as you want, using the best printing quality every time, and never worry about running out of ink!

    How do I know how many pages I’ve used?

    HP thought of everything because you can log into your Instant Ink account and see immediately how many pages you’ve printed this month so far.

    What if I don’t use all my pages for the month?

    If you don’t use every single page allowance, it’ll roll over to your next month and you’ll have a little bit of a cushion so you can print what you want when you want it. Absolutely NO worries!

    What if I go way over and print too many?

    And if you go over your plan limits, you’ll only pay $1 for every 15/20/25 additional pages (depending on your plan). $1!

    Still so much cheaper than taking it down to the copy shop!

    Is it hard to cancel?

    You can totally cancel this service at any time (on your last free month for example) if you’re not convinced by this system… but I doubt you will want to cancel. 🙂

    My favorite part about the whole program is I don’t have to sit and think “is it worth it to print this and waste my precious ink?” It has completely erased my fear of running out of ink and having to spend more money as well.

    Printing get expensive! I'm going to share this simple trick I use for how to print your quilt patterns for FREE! It is so easy!

    Want to earn more months for FREE?

    Here is the best part, there is no limit to the number of FREE months that you can earn!

    Once signed up, you’ll have your own referral link and codes that you can share with your friends and family or anyone who will listen. They will get a FREE month thanks to you and you’ll get an extra free month too! Every single time someone signs up using your referral links.

    It’s that easy.

    So, essentially, you could keep on using HP instant ink for free for a long long while!

    I mean, you share your favorite products with people anyways, right? Why not spread a little love and get a little love in return?

    When you checkout, make sure your total due is $0 and you see (at least) the referral code for a free month from me in there! With any luck, you’ll be able to start off with 4-6 months of completely FREE printer ink! Woah…

    How does that sound? Hit me up in the comments section and let me know if this awesome hack answers your questions on how to print your quilt patterns for FREE!

  • 25 Favorite Quilty Christmas Gifts to Start on Now!

    I thought I would put together a list of my favorite Quilty Christmas Gifts to get your brain going today! I know its August… but it is hot and I’m wishing for the crisp fall and winter temps instead of the 3 digits we’ve been dealing with lately!

    So… Christmas is right around the corner (Isn’t it always if you’re a crafty girl? I know you think about it too)

    Make sure you download this FREE Crafty Christmas Planner I posted last week! Its the sanity to my Crafty Christmas gifts!

    We all know that if you’re planning on making everyone in your family a handmade gift and it is already November… it just ain’t gonna happen, sister. – So let’s do something exciting and plan ahead this year!

    I’ve gathered my favorite DIY and Quilty Christmas Gifts that are sure to please and won’t take you all year to crate either. 🙂

    Make sure you check out 4 IMPORTANT THINGS TO INCLUDE WHEN YOU GIFT A QUILT!

    Want to know the best Quilty Christmas Gifts to plan on sewing this year? This LONG list has the best of the best ideas to keep you on top of your game!

    25 Favorite Quilty Christmas Gifts!

    1. The obvious first choice is a… QUILT!

    Who doesn’t love a beautiful handmade gorgeous quilt made with fabrics that were picked just for them? *oh, it gets me all heart eyes and fuzzy happy on the inside*

    The internet has no shortage of free quilt patterns out there. I’ve compiled some lists that you can check out in these posts below – OR – you can check here for my FREE Patterns!

    Heres a tip though – Make sure that you give yourself TIME to finish the quilt. No one wants to be up at all hours of the nights leading up to Christmas trying to finish an impossible task!

    Just be patient with yourself… or get up and go find yourself a reindeer or an elf or something to help you. Whatever comes first.

    2. Crafty Gift Tags!

    I love these and use them on everything I make. They work for quilty Christmas gifts and just regular crafty gifts as well 🙂

    You can grab them here. Make sure you check out all 12 designs that are included!

    Add a little spice to your Crafty/DIY gifts this year with this instant download that you can print at home! 12 different designs and a whole lot of Christmas fun! USE CODE: HOLLY FOR 25% off!

    I also have a FREE Printable Gift tag download that isn’t Christmas Themed. but is really popular with my quilter friends!

    You can find them here:

    3. Bookmarks for all your favorite book worms!

    (This is still one of my most popular posts to date.) The versatility of these little bookmarks has been great for teachers, for classrooms, book clubs, kids projects, charity groups, library clubs, schools… It has been amazing to see all the ways people have used this simple idea and created so many wonderful things!

    These DIY fabric bookmarks are the cutest! And they were such a fun sew! You could make these for gifts for all ages using scrap fabrics from your stash. It took me less than 5 minutes and I am already sewing 10 more for other kids on our street!

    4. This ornament hot pad

    First of all… “how stinkin’ cute is that?!” was the first thing that came out of my mouth when I saw this… It is just precious. And I’m totally making several of these for friends and family this year because – 1. cute and 2. fast. yeah. I love it. You can see the tutorial here.

    5. Large Hot Pad For A Favorite Dish

    I have several of these for myself (because I’m addicted to surrounding myself with pretty fabrics) And it always brings a smile to my face when I get to use them. It is super easy and a quick fun sew to use up smaller bits of fabric. You can find the tutorial here.

    6. Zipper Box Pouch

    Um hello, every single human being I’ve ever met in my life… every single one of you could use this cute little pouch in your life. Every.single.one. Make it in some cute or fun fabric and any human, any age will love it!

    This is an alternate finishing technique for the final step of the Zipper Box Tote. It comes together in less than an hour! #ZipperBoxtote #easygift

    7. Casserole Carry-All Set

    This has a pattern to follow, that you will need to purchase, but how cute is this for the friend that we all have that loves to be a chef? Check out more pictures here.

    8. 5 Star Pointed Pin Cushion

    I love how fun and customizable these can be! You can create something completely unique for each of your quilty or crafty friends! Find the detailed tutorial here.

    9. A Quick “Quilt As You Go” Quilt

    I LOVE how complicated this pattern is, but in reality (and no one else has to know) It is super simple and there are no tears to be cried while working on this pattern.

    Quilt as you go quilts are fun and usually a little easier for a lot of people. If you haven’t tried it, give it a go! – Just bringing it up again has me wanting to sew another one! You can see more pictures and find the pattern here.

    Image from CottonWayBlog

    10. Cathedral Window Pillow!

    This pattern is a wonderful pattern that allows you to have a little fun with your fabrics and choose what you want to peek through. I’ve made a few of these pillows (for myself because wow! I couldn’t part with them after) and I love them! Check out Angela Walter’s video tutorial here. This pattern is FREE!

    Here is a peek at the pillows I made for myself 🙂

    11. Travel TicTacToe Game

    What my mother would have given to have this in the backseat when we were younger and on vacation… actually, my sister and I probably would have lost some of the buttons for sure. Better add in a few extra buttons when you make yours! See the full tutorial to this precious gift here.

    12. Catch-The-Mess Fabric Bin

    I don’t think I need to go into how much I love these bags (you’ve probably heard it before?) But anyway, I do… And I love the fabric combinations and how quickly they come together. An easy and useful gift to be organized.

    See the full tutorial here.

    This cute fabric bin can be made in an hour and can be used all over the house! No extreme sewing skills required... its so easy!

    **We’re halfway through the list of Quilty Christmas gifts! Stick with me… you can do it! There are still more great gifts to get to!**

    13. Chubby Lunch Tote

    I’ve made a few of these totes for friends and they’re always loved. They’re easily washable and completely separate your lunch from everyone else (i.e. the people who WISH they had your cute lunch tote!) See the FREE tutorial here.

    Image from http://www.sewcanshe.com

    14. Phone Wallet/Case

    While you’re on sewcanshe.com check out this little sewing idea! Its precious and I know so many tween girls that would love to have this!
    Check out the tutorial here.

    Image from SewCanShe.com

    15. A Simple 6 Pocket Tote Bag

    Sometimes simple is really the best way to go… I LOVE this bag. And I always have one in my car packed with emergency essentials (Like, when we’re nowhere near a chick-fil-a and about to starve) like kleenex, wet wipes, and crackers/fruit snacks)

    Check Out the Full FREE tutorial here.

    Image from PatternPile.com

    16. Quilt Ladder

    Get together with a few quilter girls friend’s and channel your inner DIY girl… or ask your favorite handyman to give you a hand. This Ladder came together really easily and super low budget. Go on and give your quilts a place where they can hang and be proudly displayed!

    Click here to view the tutorial.

    This easy DIY Quilt Ladder is a project you can make! Don't pay high prices. Check out this step by step tutorial!

    17. A Scrappy Wreath

    I bet you have everything but the wireframe for this in your sewing space right now. You might even have the frame… I’ve seen them pop up at the dollar store from time to time too! You could even pick out fabric in holiday colors to make this scrappy wreath!

    Check out how they make it look so full here.

    Image from Simplesimonco.com

    18. A Quilted Table Runner

    There are patterns all over the internet for these… or you could just let the creative juices flow and create your own pattern! I have some ideas for how to make a quick table runner in this post.

    This Quick Quilted Table Runner is something I whipped up for a quick hostess gift, but it has so many endless possibilties I will be making several more for holiday family gatherings. These make great handmade gifts!

    19. Zipper Card Pouch

    So useful and so cute! Monogram it and you’re good to go!

    Check out the tutorial here.

    20. iPad Case

    This might be a tad more advanced if you’re never dealt with a snap closure before… but don’t let it scare you! You can totally make this! And if you get cold feet at the very end, just leave the snap off 😉

    See the full tutorial here.

    Image from We all sew

    21. Quilty Coasters!

    Take this idea and feel free to just run wild with it. Go absolutely crazy with different fabrics, different patterns… mix it all up into a big pile of crafty heaven and throw caution to the wind… just throw it, honey! 🙂

    Read more about how they did the coasters below here.

    Image from craft foxes

    22. Cute Coffee Cozy

    This first time I received one of these I was so impressed and humbled by the gift I didn’t know what to say. It was an extremely thoughtful gift because I was a young mom at the time and let’s face it… if you cut me, I would have bled out coffee from my veins…

    Make another woman happy and maker her this coffee cozy wit this pattern and free printable here.

    23. Quilt As You Go Pillow

    Simple and easy to follow instructions. I really love the polkadotchair blog and her style of quilting/teaching.

    Find this tutorial here.

    24. A “Quillow” – A quilt that turns into a pillow

    This is really cool. Especially for college students or someone who doesn’t have a ton of room. This gift is dual purpose and oh-so-fashionable!

    CluckCluck Sew gives a really great tutorial with pictures here.

    25. Mug Rugs

    If you know anything about sewing… I’m guessing you’ve at least heard of a mug rug? It is just a little cute mat for your coffee or teacup that is just slightly larger than a coaster so you have room for snacks or a cookie too. That is the goal of life, my sewing friends… a lovely drink and snacks (just ask my kids!)

    This site has several cute ideas for holiday-themed mug rugs that are just soo cute! I can’t wait to make so many of these 🙂

    Whew… Thank you for sticking with me!

    Thanks for sticking with me all the way down this list of such fun quilty Christmas Gifts! I hope that you are inspired to make your list of projects and plan out accordingly just how you’re going to fit it all in and not lose your sanity….. or whatever, just do what I do and say some prayers, lose some sleep and have a great time being the quilting crafting queen that you are! 🙂

  • Quilts I want to Sew This Fall

    I thought I would give you a peek into my own to-do list for the rest of 2019… There are A LOT of Quilts I want to sew this fall. A LOT. Granted, this is my GOAL… what will actually happen is another matter all together! Cross your fingers with me, Quilters!

    Note: We’ve had a lot of changes happen this month at our house (including possibly moving… Say what?! I know!! I wasn’t expecting that plot twist in our family story either but… you just have to go where your path leads you and really pray for the best possible outcome, right? Y’all, I’m not even going to be able to describe to you how ecstatic I am about the possibility of having a sewing studio with a door!) See my current Sewing studio tour here.

    Anyways, All craziness aside… nothing is finalized and it won’t be for a while. So you’ll just have to stay in suspense and wait to see what happens… just like I am! But don’t hold it against me if I can’t complete my to-list!

    Ok, no more chit-chat… take a peek at my to-do list for the rest of the year…

    The Quilts I want to sew this Fall!

    Take a close look at what my to-do list plans are and what projects I have going on the next few months! Here are the quilts I want to sew this fall!

    A Scrappy Pumpkin Quilt

    I purchased this pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew LAST fall because … omg. It is just so adorable. and I just LOVE the scrappy pumpkins. You too can buy the Pattern here!

    I had to put it aside because I didn’t have enough variety in my scrappy orange fabrics to really make the scrappy pumpkin look – which is what drew me into this pattern in the first place. I’ve been hoarding bits of orange trash fabric from other quilter friends with this quilt in mind. Gotta love a good scrappy quilt!

    I’ve also seen the pumpkin quilt done with white and cream-colored scrappy fabrics! That quilt was stunning… So classy. I’m hoping to get to finally create this beautiful quilt this year!

    What do you think? Should I stick with the classic orange? Or should I experiment and branch out with a different color scrappy look?

    A Halloween Quilt

    I started this Halloween quilt last weekend… You wouldn’t believe how fast this one came together! And so easy just using some scrappy bits a few dear quilter friends gifted to me.

    I am planning on adding in some extra fun Halloween bits. Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be doing a tutorial on this one in a little while 🙂

    I can’t give away too many details on this one because it is going to be a gift for my mom. She likes to hang seasonal quilts on her wall in her dining room and SOMEONE has fallen very short of making sure she has a quilt for each and every season! (If only THAT girl could get her act together, right?!)

    An Advent Calendar Quilt

    I’ve been wanting to make one of these for years now. BUT I’m completely indecisive on exactly what I want. Cutesy Christmas? Serious Christmas? Bright modern Christmas? Cool and subdued wintery blues?

    I can’t decide!

    I’ve thrown my hands up and just purchased a few to get us through the holidays a few years but never found one I really liked even still…

    I want a homemade one. And probably not a simple ‘done in an hour’ kind of one either, ya know? I want to make an epic beautiful “wow, mom is so cool” kind of advent calendar… Do those even exist??

    Here are a few that I really really like – Can you tell how indecisive I am?

    Hit me up in the comments if you have any suggestions!

    Not sure who to credit this to? I’m sorry! I’ve searched online to find the quilter… isn’t it just the loveliest??

    I love these but I can’t find the Dashwood Panels in the USA?

    I found this panel on Fabric.com It might just be the one I buy and make this year? Who knows!

    Another Halloween Quilt Maybe?

    Heres the thing… I am not really a spooky type of person. I don’t care for the horror or the gore…

    I am also not holding myself responsible for what my reaction will be if you jump out from behind a corner and scare me. (i.e. I might have punched someone in the face a time or two on instinct. – Sorry. Not sorry.)

    That being said, I don’t get all excited about Halloween… except for when it comes to crafting cutesy things! Us quilters/crafters are always up for a good reason to make something! 🙂 And I can’t help myself!

    This is another pattern by CluckCluckSew (I have a quilter crush, ok? I love her stuff)

    (You can see another quilt pattern I made of hers in this post. And This one too.)

    Click here for the Source Link.

    So while the first Halloween quilt is for my mom… I can’t resist a good black and white quilt and those bats are so stinking cute!

    I might just end up making my own Halloween quilt!

    Gifts Gifts & more Gifts!

    You know me better than to think that I only have a few quilts on my to-do list, right!?

    My to-do list also includes several little gift projects!

    I’ll be making these one hour zipper bag totes and filling them with little goodies for the teens and tweens that we know (and some cosmetic happy friends too!)

    You can see the FREE tutorial in this post!

    DIY TLC Teacher Kit - This Zipper Box tote comes together in less than an hour! Fill it with goodies and take care of your teachers #teachergift #ZipperBoxtote #easygift

    I’m still making these adorable Fabric bookmarks with the little bits of scrap fabric I came across because there are endless possibilities with these.

    Some of my sweet blog followers are even making these for their classes in school and church! Even girl scout groups and quilting bees are making fabric bookmarks by the cartload to donate to local libraries!

    We love to read in our house (Always more than one book at a time) and these are always a useful tool to keep in a basket on the bookshelf for easy reach!

    These DIY fabric bookmarks are the cutest! And they were such a fun sew! You could make these for gifts for all ages using scrap fabrics from your stash. It took me less than 5 minutes and I am already sewing 10 more for other kids on our street!

    WIP & UFO Challenge Projects

    If you missed it, you can read the details about my personal challenge for the year in this post.

    I am also working on completing one of my WIP projects from my “pile” each month and FINISHING the unfinished quilts I have laying around. (You know you have a pile somewhere in your sewing room too… I know you do)

    There is NO shortage of things to do…

    As I’m writing this I’m starting to sweat a little… there is no shortage of things to do, honestly. There are A LOT of quilts I want to sew this fall!

    If you’re starting to feel as stressed about my to-do list as I am… or you’re sweating over your own to-do list, make sure you download my Quilt Project Planner to at least help you get all your ideas on paper!

    You can’t pour from an empty cup!

    I’m preaching this to myself as much as I am preaching this to you, my dear quilting friend… make sure you take care of yourself and read this post when you have a minute. It is important!

    Happy Sewing!

    Stuck in a rut? This is an open letter to all quilters that has some really solid advice on self care and how to be a better quilter.
  • 4 Reasons why you should never apologize for taking a sewing day

    When life gets super hectic and beyond controlling stress levels… I crave sewing time. Do you ever feel the same way? Like if you could just lock yourself away for a little bit and hyper-focus on something else you could clear your head?

    To make room for all of the extra tasks at work and the appointments on your calendar, it is easy to start cutting back on the time you carve out for yourself.

    You might reschedule that lunch date you had with a friend, stay up late to work on that project for work…. or put that quilt you were really excited to start sewing on the back burner for “someday“. *womp womp womp*

    Even with all that is going on and your full calendar… you should never apologize for taking a sewing day and here is why.

    I’m a huge believer of self-care and do what you gotta do to take care of you so you can take care of everything else.

    I’ve written a few posts on the matter if you care to enlighten yourself a little more…

    What you do to take care of you is not a priority that should make anyone feel ashamed or apologetic. (To clarify, it is not an excuse to neglect the needs of others either... keep reading to know when to draw the line.)

    4 reasons you should never apologize for taking a sewing day. Even 10 minutes can boost your mood, decrease your stress level and leave you feeling energized and better able to handle everything else in your life.

    The 4 Reasons why you should never apologize for taking a sewing day

    1. To Avoid Burnout

    Sometimes we need to take action to care for ourselves to avoid burnout. You are aware of your personal limits and you certainly know when you have reached (or gone past) those limits!

    Take steps to keep yourself from reaching the end of your rope during an especially busy or stressful season!

    Doing what you can to be healthy, make good choices, and generally, being responsible for our own wellbeing is not selfish. It is necessary.

    For me, somedays, that looks like me sitting on the couch with a book in my hand and my back to an enormous load of laundry waiting in the corner for me. Don’t ever let it smell your fear…

    Other days, it has been a hectic week and I just want to get lost for a few hours sewing!

    2. The Ability To Make Progress Towards Something Within Your Control

    Maybe its a huge project at work that isn’t progressing like it should… or it is an out of control potty training toddler that has you wanting to pull your hair out?

    The fact is there are times when no matter what you think or do, you are not the one in control. For OCD people like me… it’s utterly exhausting.

    Taking 15 minutes to sit down and stitch a perfect quarter inch seam, over and over again to make progress towards a bigger sewing project is enough to bring a little order back into the world.

    Read more tips on how you can get better piecing.

    3. Two Words: Brain Rest

    Ok, so sewing isn’t exactly a nap for your brain…

    BUT it does require enough concentration that you can’t be focusing on planning out that crazy big church fundraiser AND following a sewing pattern at the same time!

    Unless you are a superior human species, you simply won’t get anywhere with either project with only half of your attention span.

    You gotta have your whole brain on that sewing pattern or you’ll be spending time with your seam ripper!

    FYI: This one is my favorite seam ripper.

    Taking focused time to sew can allow your brain to block out other stresses that might be weighing heavy on your shoulders.

    4. A Focused Sewing Day Benefits YOU in SO MANY WAYS!

    You are simply less able to handle the stresses that come our way when you’re already depleted by physical and emotional exhaustion. 

    You are more resilient and more able to handle life’s stress when you are both physically and emotionally at your best.

    When someone tries to give you grief for spending time with your favorite sewing machine instead of _(fill in the blank)_ you can give them this list!

    A Sewing Day Is Beneficial For Your Physical Health.

    4 reasons you should never apologize for taking a sewing day. Even 10 minutes can boost your mood, decrease your stress level and leave you feeling energized and better able to handle everything else in your life.

    It isn’t a jaunty jog around the block or the same as eating a whole bushel of kale, no… but the relaxation you get from taking a happy sewing day (or even a few minutes!) can trigger a relaxation response in your body. It can calm your stress hormones which can help prevent damage to your health… so in a sense, sewing is really good for your health, both inside and out!

    Your Needs Are Just As Important As Others Needs.

    I can’t say this enough. Your needs are just as important as others.

    Taking time out to care for yourself can remind you and others that you and your needs are important, too!

    Sewing Time Gives You Alone Time

    Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, there is something special and comforting about a little alone time when you need it.

    When you’re relaxing by yourself, it’s much easier to slip into a state of quiet meditation, enjoy some self-reflection, or let your problems work themselves out in the back of your mind, without taking all of your focused concentration.

    It Makes You a Better Caregiver

    As mommas, this is easy to overlook because our joy is supposed to be to take care of our families.

    However, people who do not take care of their own needs (including inner happiness) and forget to nurture themselves are at danger of deeper levels of unhappiness, low self-esteem, and feelings of resentment.

    If you’re broken, you are or no help to anyone. Don’t let it get that far.

    Taking time to care for yourself regularly can make you a better caretaker for others.

    Is there a thing as too much self-care time?

    Taking a sewing day is necessary and fundamental, especially in a world where just existing is hard enough.

    My “sewing days” can be anywhere from an uninterrupted 30 minutes at my sewing machine while dinner is in the oven to a long Saturday morning where I don’t even look at the clock until lunchtime.

    It doesn’t mean that I’ve crossed everything off of my to-do list. It doesn’t mean that I’ve scrubbed the house clean or vacuumed all the floors.

    I don’t know about your life, personally… but in my house, there is ALWAYS something to do, something the mend, something to be cooked…

    It just NEVER ends…

    There is a small trap with self-care/sewing days that I feel obligated to point out!

    Sewing days as a form of self-care should not be used as an excuse to run away from everything that is required of you.

    Just because you might forget about the rest of the world for a little bit doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist.

    Sewing days are not the adult version of pulling the covers up over your head so the daylight can’t find you and drag you out of bed!

    Also, taking care of yourself is important, but not so important that you neglect the care and well-being of others.

    Before you abandon everything and lock yourself in your room for hours, do a quick check to make sure that you have your top priority list items in check:

    • Take care of your family’s needs (even if its a cereal for dinner kind of night!).
    • Make sure you keep up with work tasks that have a specific deadline and don’t let them pass you by.
    • Be kind to yourself and others. Do not let anyone who is important to you feel like they are any less important.
    4 reasons you should never apologize for  taking a sewing day. Even 10 minutes can boost your mood, decrease your stress level and leave you feeling energized and better able to handle everything else in your life.

    You don’t need to apologize for taking a sewing day, ever.

    Self-care and sewing days should be high up on your priority lists.

    Take care of yourself and remember all the benefits of taking a little sewing time can have on your wellbeing and your days if you just carve out a little time.

    Sewing Time = Happy Time 🙂

  • Organizing your sewing/craft room with Dollar Store back to school sales!

    Have you ever considered shopping back to school sales to organize your sewing/craft room? Today, I’m going to share my favorite finds from the Dollar Store back to school sales and I promise you won’t ever look at the chalkboard and locker shelf displays the same way again!

    If you're looking to organize your sewing/craft room... back to school sales are the perfect place to start and snag some really great deals! Check out these finds from the dollar store that I found. Happy Organizing my friends!

    First of all, I’m a nerd, ok? When I was growing up I didn’t look forward to summer ending and going back to school so much as I looked forward to shiny new pencil cases and getting to pick out a brand new binder and oooooh… new markers! Yes, girl, yes!

    Catch other kids over on the video game aisle or maybe on the candy aisle… I’m the geek completely freaking out over the Ultimate Crayola Crayon Collection.

    Personally, I want my sewing room to be a space that I create to be tailored to my specific needs. I love walking in and not seeing some generic “craft or sewing space” but seeing everything hand-picked and selected by me because I love it!

    If you’re working on creating the space of your dreams, you NEED to check out my newest ebook! Just 25 Days is a step by step blueprint framework to creating the sewing/crafting space of your dreams! I’ve loaded it full to the brim of printouts, organizing workbook pages, links to all my favorite products. I even added a budget guide with tons of ideas for what to do if you’re short on cash but really want to overhaul your space! It is a framework for creating your dream space!

    “This guide has everything! I didn’t have a clue where to start. I was overwhelmed and uninspired by the mess in my sewing room. I followed the plan and now I can’t wait to come home from work and CREATE every day!”

    Back to School Sale Finds for your Sewing/crafting Room

    Back to school sales are all about getting your mind in the right place and setting yourself up for success for the next school year! With this kitty cat pencil case to inspire me, I will totally make an A in science this year!

    But you don’t have to be counting down your remaining days of summer to get your life in order with back to school sales!

    Let’s get into the deals that you can use in your sewing/crafting room, shall we?

    Containers in every single shape and size!

    Everything has a place when you have these cute containers! You can use them to store safety pins, buttons, or make a travel sewing kit!

    These beautiful large containers were actually in the garden section but could easily suffice for a desktop container in your craft space!

    Never overlook the office supply display!

    I found these multi-packs of skinny wash tape! Isn’t it adorable? You could use these as little labels and fun trim all over your space to dress it up and add a little “party” vibes.

    I know a lot of the fun things are geared towards children or college kids trying to grow into young adults… but who wants to leave the fun of childhood behind? You are absolutely correct when you guess that I totally DID buy this flamingo tape dispenser. His name is Frank.

    Binders!

    These are my favorite way to store my sewing and quilting patterns! keep everything organized and within easy reach on a shelf. no more papers stuffed in a box where they can fall out, get all wrinkled or even worse… get lost.

    Do you know what also goes with binders? Clear pocket dividers… or “sheet protectors” as they called them! This pack had 16 in it! You’ll want to grab a few packs of these to organize your binder. I make one pocket for each pattern and put everything for that pattern, templates and everything, inside of it. It keeps my patterns protected and keeps the edges from getting wrinkled.

    There are also dividers if you want to be ultra-organized by quilt size or pattern type.

    Pencil Pouch Organizers

    These pencil pouches that have a clear window make awesome traveling sewing kit for on the go crafts or quick grab sewing like English Paper Piecing.

    These pouches are such a good deal, but if you want to make your own zipper pouches, I have a pattern available in my shop with 6 different sizes to fit your crafty needs! Zippy Project Bags.

    Notebooks and Spirals

    There are the standard notebooks that are on sale for HUGE discounts too! I use these for everything… from making my weekly meal plans and grocery lists (game changer! because you can look back at past weeks when you draw a blank on what to cook for your family) I also use them to keep up with supplies I might need, shopping lists, to-do lists… everything. My life is literally held together with google calendar and spiral notebooks.

    Bins and Baskets

    For shelf organization and storage, you can’t beat the price for these baskets and bins. They come in all different colors so you can pick your favorites or mix and match! Add a label and you’re an organizing QUEEN!

    Crafty supplies!

    Be cautious with this aisle. You could find yourself just accumulating a bunch of junk that will eventually collect dust in your space! However, if you look carefully and thoughtfully, you can find some really fun craft items at a super deal.

    I found these super cute mini clothespins on the craft aisle… along with beads and buttons galore.

    Perhaps a bit out of the box thinking but also, pure genius. I saw a friend once store her beads for a current project inside ice cube trays. They’re stackable. They’re durable and the rounded bottoms of the trays make digging out your beads or jewelry pieces super easy! You can also organize all your different beads in each tray.

    Next time you go into the dollar store, do an experiment. Leave your brain at the door and walk in pretending like you don’t know the intended purpose for most items.

    Is this a box that is meant for pencils? Or is this a box that can hold my embroidery scissors collection? Is this a bag of pom-poms or my future window valance garland?

    You’ll be surprised by just HOW MUCH you can find on such a small budget at the Dollar store and completely organize and get your sewing/crafting space in tip-top shape!

    What are your favorite finds from back to school sales?