Breakfast with feathered friends

Photo: Karen Philippi

Pj's, tea, oatmeal, a warm fire and birds in the window... nice morning.

Who Put the" Yummy" in Yummy Goods?

Melissa Averinos, fabric designer, shop owner and author that's who

Last week I took a drive to West Barnstable Massachusetts for a visit to her sweet little store. It is located in an old train depot and quaint as can be. Within its frosting walls she has all sorts of gifts, books, t-shirts, and hand made crafts.


On the day I arrived she was preparing for the last photo shoot for her new book "Small Stash Sewing" which will be out this May. I got a little preview all of the projects and she shared the adventure of the process with me. I am a fabric hoarder so I always have too much but I think this book has a wonderful concept... all of the projects are designed around using fat quarters so they are economical to everyone with small and large stashes of fabric.

The Great Coat Sew Along!

I just got a comment Kathleen, a member of The Great Coat Sew-along and wanted to share information about this cool interactive blog. The blog is made up of members who are all making coats and posting about their progress while supporting each other along the way. It is wonderful to see their beautiful coats and the network of stitching support this blog provides. Go coat sewers!

My coat to keep...

For three years my partner has been asking me to make a coat for myself (I am guessing because my coats are usually frumpy thrift finds) I am sort of like that shoe maker with holes in his shoes. I keep only the leftovers from my sales.
I make things to sell but not to keep.... so here it is..... my coat to keep.

I found the green wool on a trip to Vienna about two years ago... the rest of the patch work is from a collection of scraps saved in my studio for something special. The pockets are trimmed with green suede and the embroidered word LACE was on the end of a vintage bolt of wool I bought at an antique shop in New Hampshire while visiting my parents.

The cuffs, buttons and collar are made from a recycled fur coat I had kicking around for nearly ten years...


The dahlia pattern is embroidered in a chain stitch of heathered cranberry worsted weight wool.

I am always looking for ways to wear my pajamas out of the house... now I have a great new disguise to cover them up when I am out and about in the cold weather!

Studio Recharge

This December I am taking some some time to work in the studio on my own projects. After a busy year and I needed to recharge. I decided to start by making a pattern from a shirt I found about fifteen years ago in my favorite antique shop. I just about wore it out but saved it until now to make a pattern from. It is a simple muslin wrap top with red block prints of a dragon on the front and back. The great thing about this pattern, like a good wrap skirt, is that it is flattering at just about every size... a worthy style to make a pattern from.



My plan for years has been to lengthen the pattern to make a winter coat.

Over the last two weeks I made two versions getting ready for the final coat. I figured I would make finished garments so the fabric would not go to waste as I worked out any issues with the pattern. The first piece I made in a chartreuse cotton with a matching floral pattern as the lining.



All went well so I moved on to a second pattern and made it slightly larger to accommodate the thick wool I would use for the coat as well as lengthening it to the knee.





The final coat, which I hope to have ready by Christmas, will be in a deep green wool with embroidery and patchwork embellishments.

Wood chip wishes...

Last week I had one of those cosmic moments where the stars aligned in just right way to reward me with what I most needed. I suppose it was a shame at that moment I didn’t wish for something slightly more grand, but this remarkable odd blessing made my day.

For the last four years I have spent my summers in a lovely garden in Tiverton R.I. as a segment and craft producer for the home and garden program Cultivating Life. The morning last week began as usual gathering craft materials for the following days segments. I had all of my supplies ready by early afternoon except for cedar shavings, which I had thought would be one of the first items checked off my list. I had planned to pop into a pet store on my way to the studio and pick up a bag without issue. As it turns out most pet stores no longer carry cedar bedding due to animal allergies. Who knew?
With props and supplies it is always the one thing you think will be easy that eludes you in the end. So five o’clock roles around (I will not relay my harrowing search) and still no sign of a local source, then the phone rings. On the other end of the line I hear the voice of Dan Warren, a blast from the past.
Now you know you are living in a small state when you get a call like this… the first thing Dan says is “So I have these cedar shavings and I thought if anyone knew what to do with them it would be you…”
As it turns out Dan was working on a job not three miles from my studio where he happened to be creating a beautiful batch of cedar shavings. Not one to waste a good thing he knew he had to find a home for them and I was the lucky recipient and on the only day I had ever needed them…. Now that is Rhode Island for you.
Oh, did I mention that he had them separated into chips and curly shavings… very organized. Thank you Dan!

One stem at a time...

My mother has returned to painting in her retirement. On Wednesdays in the summer she and a group of friends paint together for several hours in the morning. One week in a garden, the next perhaps an ocean view.... they are an inspiring group with an enviable schedule. One of these Wednesdays I will join them for a visit...

My summers are on the busy side. I truly enjoy my work but sometimes I long for the a slower pace on hot July days.



Early this June (with my mother as my inspiration) I treated myself to a new set of watercolors. I had no idea how addictive it would be. It now travels everywhere with me and waits patiently for a free moment. For now I paint a flower here, and insect there... but I have plans for my growing botanical collection.



I recently picked up a plug-in for Photoshop to create textile repeats.
I never stray far from fabric.


This is my first experimental pattern made with painted "dot" elements that are combined and layered.... The possibilities are endless...