20
Jan

Lessons with Lindsay: Summer Picnic Dress

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……..

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31
Dec

Embroidered Towel Tutorial

Embroidered Towel Tutorial by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama. www.thecottagemama.com

 

Both my girls finished school a couple weeks ago. Savannah finished Kindergarten and Matilda finished her last year of preschool. It’s hard to believe I will have a 1st grader and a kindergartner next year! I wanted to create a gift for the girls’ teachers that I thought they might really use. I figure everyone can use a good beach towel, so I decided to take it a step further and embroiderer each of their teachers last names on the towel. I didn’t want to use their first names since then the other members of their families might not be able, or want, to use the towel. I’m excited to share with you exactly how I created these towels with this Embroidered Towel Tutorial. You might have had a little sneak peek, if you follow me on Instagram (@thecottagemama) with a video I shared of my machine embroidery. If you’ve ever been weary of embroidering on thick, bulky towels…….fear not……..it’s really very easy with a few basic supplies and a little know how. Let’s get started……..

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3
Nov

DIY Christmas Pillowcases

As I’ve mentioned before, this year we are having quite a few visitors during the holiday season. I decided to whip up a bunch of Christmas pillowcases for all of our house guests using my ‘15-Minute Pillowcase Tutorial‘. I thought it would be a festive and fun gesture to have new pillowcases for our house guests to use to rest their tired heads. [Read more…]

22
Oct

Children at Play Scalloped Pillow

Children at Play Scalloped Pillow by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama. As seen on Fons and Porter 'Love of Quilting'.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to film two episodes of Fons and Porter ‘Love of Quilting‘ PBS show and magazine. I already shared my Cottage Quilt Block with you that I made on one of the episodes. Today I’m sharing the project that I did on the other episode…….. Children at Play Scalloped Pillow.

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15
Oct

Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Pattern

Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Pattern by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama. www.thecottagemama.com

Do your kids have special Halloween Trick or Treat Bags? I have been wanting to make my kids their own personalized Halloween Trick or Treat Bags for several years now. I have admired some of the cute ones I’ve seen in the Pottery Barn Kids catalog and thought about ordering them several times. But my conscious always held me back since I knew I could make them very easily if I just took the time to create a pattern. So this is the year……..we are due with our 4th child in about two weeks and she will be the final little one to complete our family, so this was the perfect opportunity to creating coordinating bags for all four kids. And that’s why I created the Halloween Trick or Treat Bag Pattern.

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12
Oct

Happy Birthday, Josephine!

Dear JoJo,

Happy Birthday! Today you are six years old. Wow, time sure does fly when you are having fun! I can’t believe my youngest baby is six. Here are some things I would like to remember about you when you turned six years old and somethings you might like to know about your six year old self…….

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15
Sep

Puppy Dog Stuffed Animal Pattern

This Puppy Dog Stuffed Animal Pattern post is sponsored by the lovely folks at Cost Plus World Market.

Free Puppy Dog Pattern from The Cottage Mama. www.thecottagemama.com

My kids are getting a little bit older and I feel like every year the holidays have gotten a busier and busier. Maybe it’s because we keep adding new children into the mix, but nevertheless, I thought it would be good to do something this year to help us slow down and think about the true meaning of this holiday season. It’s important to me to teach my children to help others that may be less fortunate and to teach them to be grateful for the lives they have been given. My two older girls, Savannah (7) and Matilda (6) are definitely at an age where they can understand the concept of helping others and giving back. And this holiday season we are planning to ‘Share the Joy’ with others.

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15
Sep

DIY Fall Wreath Tutorial

DIY Fall Wreath Tutorial from The Cottage Mama

There’s something about hanging a wreath on the door that makes a house feel like a home. This summer has been a little crazy, to say the least. We are finally moved into our new home and slowly, but surely, are getting unpacked and organized.

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5
Sep

Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial

Reusable Snack Bag Tutorial by Lindsay Wilkes from The Cottage Mama

So we have four young children in our family which means we go through a lot of snacks and I mean A LOT! So back when my oldest two were itty bitty I sewed together some reusable snack bags that we have been using for many years. Since then we’ve added two more children and I decided it was time to sew up a few more for all our summer outings.

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31
Aug

Happy 9th Birthday, Caspian!

Happy 9th Birthday, Caspian

Dear Caspian,

Today you are 9 years old! Happy Birthday, Buddy! I can’t believe you are only one year a way from double digits. My, how the time flies! Here are some things I’d like to remember about you when you were 9 years old and some thing you might like to know too……..

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