Fitting my Wedding Dress: Ava Muslin #1

Construction of my wedding dress is underway and I have completed my first muslin! The pattern is the Victory Patterns Ava and I am very happy with how the fitting is going so far. Fitting the Muslin-  Based on the finished measurements for this pattern, I started by tracing a size 8 at the shoulders. Then, starting at the armpits, I graded the pattern from a size…

Owl Print Folklore Bag

I know, I know, I need to stop screwing around and start working on my wedding dress (and I have since I made this), but it was for my good friend Val’s birthday and I had bought the fabric for her ages ago, so I had to make this. Plus it was a quick make, so there. The pattern is the…

Sugaring Season- 4 days of Maple Syrup Making

On our recent trip to Vermont, Matt and I were fortunate enough to be there during sugaring season. For West Coast city dwellers like me (or anyone not living in the Northeast or Canada), who may not know what that is, it’s the short span of time where maple trees flow with sap and maple syrup is made. While I…

Work in Progress- Miette Cardigan: body bound off!

Last week, Matt and I went to Vermont to do some of the planning for our wedding. We kept pretty busy while we were there, meeting with wedding vendors, hanging with family and participating in “sugaring” season (stay tuned for that post). I love Vermont. It is so beautiful and relaxing. Between things, I did get to squeeze in some…

My Sewing Pattern Organization System

Whether I am gardening, cooking or crafting, I am a big time notetaker and organizer. Keeping my sewing projects organized is partly a necessity, as my studio is on the small side, but I also kind of just love buying office supplies. The notetaking is so I can remember what I did and refer back to it if need be.…

Planning My Wedding Dress

I keep getting asked how the wedding dress is coming and there has been progress. I have the pattern and the fabric now! The Pattern- Based on what I had said I was looking for, in my post announcing my engagement and that I was making my  own wedding dress, a reader suggested the Victory Patterns Ava. It did seem quite perfect.…

Garden Planning- Helpful Lists: Seed Varieties

Last week, I shared my list of important planting times. Now, I’d like to share with you my list of seed varieties*. I like to try new varieties, but if I find something I like, that grows well here in Seattle, I will buy it year after year. Below is my list of go-to varieties that I have found are very tasty,…

Garden Planning- Helpful Lists: Important Planting Times

It finally dawned on me, that in Seattle, March is a more realistic time for getting my garden started. So I am just now planning my 2014 garden. It feels kind of late, but it’s not really, since the ground is still very wet from all the rain. In planning my garden each year, I have noticed that I do…

Finished Project: Colette Violet Blouse

This Colette Patterns Violet blouse was originally to be made for the Colette Patterns 2012 Spring & Summer Palette Challenge.  It was in my moodboard and everything! I’m usually really good about finishing one project before starting another, because I know how I am. If I didn’t force myself to work that way, I would have half-completed projects all over the place. It’s…

Rake and Make is two!

On this day, two years ago, after years of stalling, hemming and hawing over the name, and then finally landing on a name and getting a logo made, I made my first post to Rake and Make. I still haven’t found the time to post more than once a week (and sometimes less), so I haven’t even hit 100 posts…