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Zakka from the Heart

My friend Minki Kim has done it again!!  Her latest book Zakka from the Heart has recently been released and it is just as delightful and sweet as she is!  This book contains 16 zakka projects and what's really clever is how Minki creates everyday items using unexpected construction techniques.  She has an engineer's mind along with the charm of a true artist!

Using Minki's "Little Town Coasters" pattern I made a house-shaped coaster and oh it's so cute.  Rather than do a running stitch around the houses, I preferred the crisp look of the linen edges, so I appliquéd those with tiny stitches.  I love it so much I wish I had time to make a whole set. 

Because of timing, I chose to move forward because I really wanted to make one of Minki's patchwork baskets.  I used a combination of my fabrics with a few other Art Gallery prints, and of course I used linen.  The size of this basket is just so handy and I'm already using it to hold fabric scraps.  If you get Minki's book you'll see that she attached a handle on her basket and it looks so cute but it's totally optional.  It's hard not to love all the possibilities with this basket!

If, by chance, you're not familiar with Minki's work, please visit her website- I know you'll fall in love! Thank you Minki, for writing another wonderful book!

xo amy

Patchwork USA Holiday

The holidays are upon us.  Now before anyone complains that Thanksgiving comes first, I know, I know!  I love Thanksgiving.  But I lump ALL of the end of year holiday craziness into the term holidays. And before I get to the business of the day I just have to share that the girls and I got matching pjs from Target... best things ever!!!  And what you can't see?  The coordinating red flannel pajama bottoms that are covered in holiday lamas.  Seriously, it doesn't get any better.

But really, I came here to show you I sewed something!!!  Yes!  Between nursing school, the extra class I'm taking, fabric design (new collection coming soon!), and family... I barely make time to sew but I had a little fun this past week.

It's all because my friend Heidi Staples released a new book recently called Patchwork USA.  It's a beautiful hardcover book full of quick and charming sewing projects (the kind that make you feel accomplished because you can create something super cute all in one go, from start to finish, without tearing out your hair)!  And in the end you go, "Aaaaaah!! I do love sewing. This is how it should always be!" 

So, brilliant Heidi is having a little holiday showcase on Instagram and I joined in.  Flipping through the book, I had made plans on what to sew, but in the end I made her Tagalong Pincushions.  Because pin cushions.  They're just fun. And satisfying!

I used all my own fabrics, choosing from my Paperie, Playground, Les Petits, Little Town, and Sonata collections.  So fun to mix and match.

Simple.  Charming.  I was so pleased with how cute these pennies came out, I treated them to a full-blown photo shoot.  I'll be sharing some more holiday sewing right here, soon!  Are you sewing anything fun this winter?

xo amy