I don’t even recall how I ever first heard about Mood Fabrics, but whenever I mentioned to someone that I was going to be visiting there while in New York, they always replied, “That’s the place in Project Runway!”
Well, I’ve never seen Project Runway, but I can say now that I understand why they would [...]

Well, thank you for humoring me and looking at my NY snapshots.  Now let’s get down to what everyone really wants to see: my fabric shopping expeditions.
I dragged the entire family to Purl Soho for some glorious fiber love, and was it ever worth it.  That place is amazing.  Beautiful white walls, well-lit, and no [...]

The Monkey Family is going to NYC this summer!  I have been sewing like crazy the last few weeks, trying to make some new clothes to bring.

I thought I might finish this dress this weekend because I had some alone sewing time.  All I wanted was a classic summer sun dress.  And I really love [...]

I know I’m way late on this, but I am totally in love with Natalie Chanin, and her company, Alabama Chanin.  The Daddy Monkey gave me The Alabama Stitch Book for my birthday, and it is such a beautiful and inspiring book.  I love the fact that she left New York City, and then Europe, [...]

I finished the navy swimsuit!  It took a bit longer than expected, but don’t all sewing projects?  I guess thirteen days is not too bad for a swimsuit.
I am really in love with it, and can’t wait to start living in it at the beach this summer. The Daddy Monkey asked if I was going [...]

Last year’s post-partum swimming suit doesn’t fit anymore!  Hooray!  I’m really loving this year’s high-waisted swimming suits for obvious reasons, and since all my old swimming suits are either completely worn out or too big, I decided it was time to make another one.  It’s been years, but I still have my reliable old pattern [...]

The Daddy Monkey and I had tickets to a fancy party for the closing night of our town’s film festival.  Due to several unrelated events involving a volcano, my mother, and the Monkey Children, we were not able to go ahead with our date as planned.
But at least we still had a babysitter.  The Daddy [...]

So what do you do when spring finally arrives to your Florida doorstep, and you want to sing it from the mountaintops?

Wear your new yellow tights with your new gray corduroy skirt.  (I think I finished this skirt just in time for it to be too hot to wear it, but I love it anyway.)

And…go [...]

Those of you who know me have already seen this skirt about 100 times, because I’ve been practically living in it this summer.  There’s a reason for that.  It is comfortable, the perfect shade of yellow, and it has held up remarkably well.
Remember these two skirts?  Well, this was from that batch, and it is [...]

Here’s a little belt I whipped up on Sunday to wear to a fancy affair I was invited to.  I bought the dress at the Goodwill last month because I loved the 50’s-style cut of it, the color, and the fabric, but it was too baggy in the torso, so I made the belt to [...]