No matter how many outfits we have in our dress-up trunk, I always enjoy making more.  Halloween this year was a busy and fun-filled day. The Girl went as a fairy.  As much as I tried to persuade her otherwise, she insisted upon pink.  (I was rooting for aqua blue.) The dress and wings are […]

Is it really September already? One can never start too early on Halloween costumes.  This is the scene on my ironing board right now. The Girl has chosen to be a fairy, and did we ever have fun choosing the fabric for this one.  She wanted pink, of course. No matter how many times I […]

I went in for this: And came out with this: Meet the new Fall quilt.  Mostly from the fabric store, some from my stash.  Solids in purple, brown, tan and gray.  Corduroy, velvet, sateen and broadcloth, all in cotton, linen and silk. I know, I know.  I’m insane.  But at least I just discovered that […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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, […]