Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya: a call to action for the sewing community

Cast your eye upon these glorious colours worn by a group of Maasai women I met in Kenya recently! I travelled there with a group of my university students to learn more about the cultural tradition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM; also sometimes referred to as Female Genital Cutting or FGC), and to meet young residents of a slum in the capital city Nairobi. What an experience! One … Continue reading Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya: a call to action for the sewing community

Lori B.April 28, 2017July 23, 20174 Comments

sewing

Perfect PJs

I can’t think of a more appropriate project to sew just a few days before Christmas! This is Burda’s onesie pyjamas (12/2016 #103). As soon as I saw their photo, I realized I had the perfect heather grey knit fabric that had been sitting in my stash for 2 years. I seem to recall that this knit was labeled Marc Jacobs or some such thing … Continue reading Perfect PJs

Lori B.December 22, 2016July 23, 20176 Comments

fabric, Tips & Wisdom

Take These Scraps And…

My city has a pretty amazing recycling program, accepting just about anything for recycling…compost, styrofoam, glass, plastic bags; you name it…except textiles. Now I know you all share the secret shame of home sewists: producing extraordinary amounts of little scraps of fabric that can’t be used for much of anything except landfill. Why this is a problem is summed up well by Craig and Marc … Continue reading Take These Scraps And…

Lori B.December 18, 2016July 23, 201715 Comments

Bag Making, sewing

Do You Sew Gifts?

Or are you worried that after all your hard work, this is the reaction the recipient might have? If you haven’t heard Episode 7 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast yet, that’s the next topic Helena and I are asking you to weigh in on. Do you sew/knit/make gifts? And what reactions do you get? Ever slaved forever over a handmade gift only to have the … Continue reading Do You Sew Gifts?

Lori B.November 20, 2016July 23, 20179 Comments

Bag Making, Gratitude

With a Little Help From My Friends, Part 2: THANK YOU

Hey friends! Guess who won second place in the Pattern Review Handbag Contest?? Thank you SO MUCH for helping me out with your votes. I am very grateful and very happy! And I’m loving my new bag. I’ve been busy lately, including work on the next episode of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast which will be released soon, so things have been a bit quiet here … Continue reading With a Little Help From My Friends, Part 2: THANK YOU

Lori B.November 4, 2016July 23, 20172 Comments

Bag Making, sewing

Forget Hillary. Forget Asshat. Vote for This Instead.

Lemme just clear up that this post has absolutely nothing to do with the US election campaign. You can relax. 🙂 ———- Asking directly for what you want is a good skill for women to have. I’ve read about studies that show women are less likely than men to be direct about what they need, whether it’s asking for a raise, asking for help, or even … Continue reading Forget Hillary. Forget Asshat. Vote for This Instead.

Lori B.October 18, 2016July 23, 201729 Comments

sewing

Does This Look Handmade?

What makes something look handmade? And is that a good thing or a bad thing? Those are the questions Helena and I are asking your opinion on for the next episode of the Clothes Making Mavens Podcast. Sometimes I worry if someone asks me “did you make that?” — why do you ask, is there something wrong with it?? is usually my first thought. On the … Continue reading Does This Look Handmade?

Lori B.September 17, 2016August 21, 201714 Comments

sewing

Little Red Dress & Proudest Sewing Moments

I feel smokin’ hot in this BurdaStyle dress! Good thing, since it took me two years to make it. 🙂 I’ll tell you all about it below, but first, I have a request for you. Helena and I are preparing episode 5 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast, and we want to include you in it! What was your proudest moment in sewing? Maybe you made … Continue reading Little Red Dress & Proudest Sewing Moments

Lori B.August 30, 2016August 18, 201718 Comments

sewing

Belize Skort

What a successful make this has been! I have pretty much lived in this skort since the moment I finished it. This is the freshly-released Belize Shorts and Skort pattern from Itch to Stitch, View D. It was one of those patterns I bought as soon as I saw it and got started sewing the very next day. The fabric is Cotton and Steel’s Mustang … Continue reading Belize Skort

Lori B.August 15, 2016July 23, 201711 Comments

Clothes Making Mavens Podcast

Check out Episode 3 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast

Hi friends! Just a quick note to let you know that episode 3 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast is now available for your listening pleasure! Helena and I are also happy to let you know that you can know subscribe to the podcast on all your favourite podcatching platforms, including iTunes. See clothesmakingmavens.com for more info. I’ll be back soon with my contribution to … Continue reading Check out Episode 3 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast

Lori B.August 7, 2016July 23, 2017Leave a comment

Frivolous At Last

"A life of pleasure makes even the strongest mind frivolous at last." — Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Tag: sewing

Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya: a call to action for the sewing community

Perfect PJs

Take These Scraps And…

Do You Sew Gifts?

With a Little Help From My Friends, Part 2: THANK YOU

Forget Hillary. Forget Asshat. Vote for This Instead.

Does This Look Handmade?

Little Red Dress & Proudest Sewing Moments

Belize Skort

Check out Episode 3 of the Clothes Making Mavens podcast