One of the things that makes me crazy is adding stitching to a shape and then deciding that it just doesn’t work. After several stops and starts on my current project, I knew I had to give up on lattice-work for this particular shape. But that left me facing a big (and rather scary) question. […]
Create a Habit in 3 Steps • Round 2
When I wrote about this topic back in 2017, we were preparing to sell our house in Minnesota and my life was overly busy. Today, I have far too much unstructured time on my hands due to the Covid-19 pandemic and local stay-at-home orders. Thankfully, one strategy – to Create a Habit in 3 Steps […]
Fill the Hole in a Vintage Guatemalan Huipil
On a trip to Guatemala in February, I purchased a number of vintage hupiles (Guatemalan blouses) from Chichicastenango region. I loved the geometric designs in the weaving and knew they would be perfect for an upholstery project. But… when you repurpose these used garments for a project, you have to Fill the Hole. And that […]
Mask Maker’s Secret Weapon
I’ve looked at (and completed) more fitted fabric face masks in the last few weeks than I care to think about. After stitching over hundreds (and hundreds) of bumpy, lumpy seams, I realized that a Mask Maker’s Secret Weapon was staring me right in the face. Well, not exactly staring at me. But only a […]
Mask Making in Chapala
With the Coronavirus turning our world upside down right before our eyes, my friend Becca Pohl and I decided it was time to stop talking and start working. Like so many other sewists in the world, we set up a small Mask Making operation in Chapala, Jalisco. We know that good quality (washable) masks will […]
Rug Hooking in Guatemala
As I get older, I’m less interested in travel for the sake of travel. Instead, I’m looking for trips that feed my creative nature, allow me to connect to others in a meaningful way, and support a good cause if possible. I’m happy to report that my Rug Hooking in Guatemala adventure fit the bill […]
Working With Old Paintstiks
After far too much time in the computer over the past couple of months, I knew it was time to get back into the studio. What I didn’t know was that I would be getting a lesson in Working with Old Paintstiks. As I was preparing to put the “primer” coat on my next project. […]
StarFlower 2 – More fun with Paint+Stitch+Bead
When I was creating the design for StarFlower 2 in my Silhouette design software, I decided it was time to try painting the negative space around the design elements. I had no idea how this Paint+Stitch+Bead adventure would turn out, but I’m very happy with the results. Ready, Set, Paint As with StarFlower 1, I […]
Lessons from A Year of Living Offline
As I looked up some beading instructions on the blog this week, I realized an entire year has passed without a post. Wow! An entire year! With my move to central Mexico in the rear-view mirror, I decided to pop in with a quick update. Here are a few things I learned in my Year […]
Whipped Chainstitch Bands
I’ve been working on the next piece in my StarFlower series, and I was looking for a new and different way to create a heavy band along the edge of a shape. After some trial and error, I settled on a Whipped Chainstitch Band. Before we start, here’s a peek at the center of […]
Star Flower: A Paint+Stitch+Bead Adventure
As part of my “timeout” from the business here at Cedar Canyon, I’ve spent a good deal of time on my Star Flower project. It’s the first of my Paint, Stitch & Bead adventures that will be a completed piece of art instead of a learning tool. I created the design using the Silhouette Studio […]
Slow down to the speed of life
When I gave myself permission to take a break this fall, I had no idea how much I needed that break. And having taken a bit of a breather, it’s clear that I need to slow down to the speed of life. It’s not that the past couple of months have been quiet. Far […]
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