Last week I had the great pleasure of visiting a collection of quilts from The Gee’s Bend Collective, right in my very own town!  The Snail clued me in, and we decided to meet there (without kids!) for some mutual inspiration and adult company.  What a joy it was.
The show was small, only ten quilts [...]

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 [...]

I didn’t think it would happen this soon, but here she is.  My new Featherweight.  I am so in love with this machine.  Now I know what my kids feel like when they get a new toy from the store and can’t wait to get it home to play with it.
We’re not having much luck [...]

The Daddy Monkey gave me the most gorgeous vintage sewing box for Mother’s Day this year.  I love it so much.  Much better than the messy basket-with-everything-shoved-in-it system.  Ahem. Have I mentioned before that he is awesome?  He is.

And what better to put in the box, than two great thrifted sewing stashes? I found the [...]

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 [...]

Occasionally I drool over the Singer Featherweights on Ebay.  How could I not, when I love to sew, and the Featherweight is considered one the the best sewing machines ever made?  But how can I justify it when I already have a working sewing machine?
Recently I walked into my friend T’s house and there sat [...]