sewing • cooking • crafting • all things domestic
Dear Savannah,
Happy Birthday! Today you are 14 years old……which means I’ve been a mama for 14 years. How is that even possible? Here are some things I’d like to remember about you when you turned 14 years old and some things you might like to know about your 14 year old self.
Dear JoJo,
No, it can’t be true! There is no way you are already 7 years old!! Happy Birthday to our sweet, sweet Josephine Mae. Today you are 7 years old and here are some things that you might like to know about yourself when you turned 7 and somethings I’d like to remember too.
Happy October! It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a project here on the blog, but I finally have one for you……a Halloween Candy Bowl! It’s been a busy last year and a half with the pandemic. I am happy to report that I finally have all four of my kids in full day school for the first time in 13 years. I’m looking forward to sharing more sewn projects and new fabric collections this year!
I created a Halloween Candy Bowl Free Project Tutorial for my sewing machine sponsor, Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines. I sewed this entire fabric candy bowl using my Baby Lock Solaris Sewing and Embroidery machine. For the embroidery, I used the built in designs in the machine.
Dear Caspian,
Today you turn 10 years old…..double digits!! We celebrated your birthday this past Sunday since you have school today, but Mama and Daddy are looking forward to picking you up and taking you out to lunch, just the three of us. Here are some things I’d like to remember about you when you turned 10 years old and some things you might like to know about your 10 year old self……
Dear Matilda,
Happy 12th birthday!!! Today you turn 12 years old. As your big sister told you, you are no longer a tween, you are now a pre-teen! Here are some things I’d like to remember about you when you turned 12 years old and some things you might like to know about your 12 year old self…..
Dear Savannah,
Happy 13th birthday! How in the world do I have a teenager now? No, it can’t be true! I started this blog before your 2nd birthday and now here we are….poof…..you are a teenager. The days are long and the years are short. That’s what everyone has been telling me and now I can whole-heartedly believe them. These years are flying by and I could not be more proud of the young lady you becoming throughout these years. Here are some things I would like to remember about you when you turned 13 years old and some things that you might like to know about your 13 year old self. [Read more…]
It’s that time again…….another Lesson with Lindsay. This week I’m sharing a very easy, beginner friendly tutorial for my Reusable Snack Bag Pattern. I posted a photographed tutorial of this project many years ago and it’s been a very popular free pattern here on The Cottage Mama. So I decided to make a video tutorial for all of you visual learners out there.
It was funny, as I was watching the edited version of this video (which, oh my goodness…..it’s always so weird to hear yourself talk), Josephine came up carrying one of the snack bags that I made before she was even born. She loves these little bags. Lately she likes to have her goldfish crackers in one. But when she walked up and saw me on the video, she said ‘Hey! That’s my bag!”. So anyway, my point in telling you this, is that A) These little bags will hold up for YEARS and B) Your kids are going to love them.
It’s National Sewing Month and today I’m partnering up with Joann Fabric and Craft Stores for their #sewyourstyle blogger campaign and contest sponsored by Joann’s and Pellon. Today I have a free Mary Jane Baby Shoes Pattern to share with all of you as part of this series. We are due to have our fourth child, a sweet baby girl, in about 4 weeks from now so I’ve been busy nesting and sewing a few things for the new little miss. I came up with these Mary Jane Baby Shoes and have the pattern available for you for free here in size 6 – 12 month (this is a simple, hand-drawn pattern).
I have been meaning to write a blog post for over a year about this Easy Magnetic Pin Holder, but as life would have it, I just never got around to it. But today is the day! My mom sent me this darling magnetic pin holder that she made last year and I use it so much in my studio. My mom and I have a thing for little dishes. We love to have little cute bowls and dipping dishes around for snacks, etc. We believe you can never have too many cute little dishes!
I like having multiple pin holders going at one time, so I can have straight pins within arms reach at all times. These Easy Magnetic Pin Holders are super-simple to make and would make great gifts for all the sewing friends in your life.
Today I have a new Lessons with Lindsay video tutorial for you! This video is a step-by-step tutorial for my free Summer Picnic Dress Pattern. If you’ve never sewn my Picnic Dress before, I really think you are going to enjoy this video. I take you through every step of garment construction and share some of my tips and tricks with you along the way. Even if you are a seasoned sewer, I think we can all learn a few things from seeing the way someone else might put together a garment. So sit back, relax and enjoy today’s video……..
Lindsay Wilkes is the owner and designer behind The Cottage Mama. She creates timeless, vintage inspired sewing patterns for children’s clothes. She is also a fabric designer for Riley Black Designers / Penny Rose Fabrics, author of the book ‘Sew Classic Clothes for Girls’ and can be seen teaching nationwide and online in her video series ‘Lessons with Lindsay’ sponsored by Baby Lock Sewing and Embroidery machines.
Welcome! My name is Lindsay Wilkes and I am the owner / designer of The Cottage Mama, a boutique children's sewing pattern company and the author behind, 'Sew Classic Clothes for Girls'. The Cottage Mama blog is where I share my love for sewing, cooking and crafting and all things domestic. If you like what you see, you can read more about me HERE.