“I’ll just rip this out for you.”
Grandma Westwood.

Grandma was my 4-H leader, and I was learning to sew. There was no getting around it, I was going to sew that seam again! As a 10 year old, I wasn’t excited about this. As an adult, I am so glad she taught me how to sew. When I sit at the machine, I take a moment to think of her. Sewing has allowed me to dream, to create, and to design.

Sewing has been a huge part of my life; ten years managing a fabric store and sewing store displays, gift making, consignment sales, quilting, sewing for my home, my family and my babies. I am never without a project and often it involves a fabric, a technique, a challenge I have never tried before.

So, you can imagine how exciting it was when my lovely husband surprised me by buying me my dream sewing machine. It has all the bells and whistles, so many different stitches and embroidery. I can even put a design on a USB and it will sew it! AMAZING! My grandmother would be speechless.

Where do you start? So many ideas-so little time!

First

Spend an entire weekend making a sample book of every stitch.

Second

Get creative and make your own decorative fabric using a selection of fun stitches. I fused light weight interfacing to the back of a piece of muslin, then took my time selecting what stitches to use. Note: It still isn’t fun when you have to rip out stitches that are not doing what you want them to!

Third

Order some awesome fringe from Amazon and wait a very long time- because you didn’t know it was being shipped directly from China! Then, make two Boho pillows for the parlour.

Fourth

Stay tuned! Christmas is coming, and I am getting ready for a craft sale with a new Westwood Cottage logo. So many stitches ahead of me, and I am so excited to get started.

What are you making? I’d love to celebrate your creativity with you!