12.03.19 Mitten Making Season

by Winter
Mittens for Duluth
Mittens for Duluth
Mittens, Mitten, Mittens
Mittens, Mitten, Mittens
Mittens for Duluth
Mittens ready for snow!

This November I have delivered nearly thirty pairs of mittens to the Hucklebeary Shop on Superior Street in Duluth. Emily’s shop is filled with the most unique gifts, cards, toys, and Minnesota-made items. It’s an adventure to shop in her store. She even offers customers the option to create their own ‘wish list’ that is left at the store…or taken home…so the Santas in their lives can make their wishes come true.

This weekend, Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, Duluth will be celebrating the winter season with the Duluth Winter Village which takes place on the grounds of the Glensheen Mansion on the shore of Lake Superior.  Visitors can browse enchanting booths set up by local shops, along with warming at bonfires, drinking hot beverages, or trying seasonal foods.

Last year at Winter Village Emily sold out of my mittens!  Hopefully, we have planned to have plenty this year.

12.3.19 Winter has arrived.

by Winter
Snowy Window View
The scene I enjoy while sitting at my sewing machine.

The past few days here in Minnesota have been wintery and snowy. I thought you might enjoy the view I have out the window from my sewing machine. I love it. I’ve had time the past days to work on finishing some quilting projects, plan for some new ones, and get more content on my website. I am excited to start developing some new ideas I have for paper-piecing patterns and posting them on the site. 

Over the years I have learned several software programs to draw and publish my ideas.   I use Electric Quilt (EQ7) and a drawing program called Eazydraw to create my patterns.  I also need to use an open source, free photo editing program, GIMP,  to edit the images I post on my website.  Recently, I have had to learn how to build my site on WordPress using and editing plugin called Elementor.  My head is ready to explode.  Many times I experience frustration trying to master the software because it takes away from the ‘creative’ flow.  Beyond finding folks who share their quilting expertise, there are many others who share their knowledge of the software programs I am trying to use.  I greatly appreciate and rely on those who take the time to post information or respond to technical questions.

12.2.19 I am finally ready.

by Uncategorized

It is about time I gave this website my attention.  I’ve had it half-way done for some time, but just haven’t given it the time its needed to be ‘perfect’, which I am trying to get over. (Notice…the site is not perfect. For me a daring step to publish this imperfect site.) And also I have been distracted. Life is good and full, so my attention wandered a bit.

Some of you may be returning after a long time while my website was missing from the internet. Welcome back. You won’t find much new here now, but I have some new ideas ready to be shared. Thanks for your patience and please return. I am slowing learning how to manage this new website. My efforts sometimes look like a disaster, but I really do enjoy the experience of learning and sharing.  For those of you new to the site, please enjoy.  I’ve tried to keep the site simple and clean so it is easy to navigate.

I have over many years learned and still continue to grow my skills from others’ generosity. My ability to set this site up is possible from amazing Youtube videos about WordPress and Elementor. My quilting, from piecing to free motion, has been nurtured and inspired by many, many sites on the internet. (I’ll share some of these later. Promise)

Please remember that what you see here is for your personal use. If you would like to use patterns for commercial efforts, including classes you teach, please ask my permission. I am very generous is granting permission. Like I have said, my skills and ideas have been inspired by others, so I understand that sharing my ideas helps others. I want to participate in that ‘give and take’ of ideas.

Enough for today. I have more work (play) to do on this website. I love feedback, so I hope to hear from you.