24
Feb

The Perfectly Imperfect Me

I want to share something with you......something very personal. I want you to know that I am not perfect. My life is not perfect, my relationships are not perfect and my struggles are not perfect. But all of these things are what make me who I am and I'm pretty darn proud of who I have become. I know I have mentioned before, but if you are new here, then you might have missed it. I suffered from post-partum depression with the birth of my first daughter, Savannah Rose. So I thought I would share a little bit about my story with you........I feel like you deserve … continue reading

13
Feb

Seams Unlikely

If you sew, I'm sure you know Nancy Zieman (aka Nancy Z.). Her name is synonymous with sewing as she has been making waves in the industry for many, many years. As a small business owner, I was very excited to read her new autobiography 'Seams Unlikely' to find out more about Nancy's journey on  her path to success. … continue reading

4
Feb

Georgia Vintage Dress for Martha Pullen School

So this week I head down to Huntsville, AL to teach at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion. I wanted to share one of the pieces we are doing in my pre-day class on Wednesday. If you follow The Cottage Mama on Facebook or Instagram (@thecottagemama) then you've already seen some previews of this dress. But if not, here are a few more details: For this class, the students will be sewing my Georgia Vintage Dress pattern. The students will each have a kit with this beautiful fabric. I just love those little strawberries. This is 'Briar Rose' by Heather Ross … continue reading

29
Jan

On the Cutting Table: Fabric Fun!

So right now I am busy behind the scenes working on all sorts of things. As you know from my post on Monday, I am working my way through the many assistant applications that have arrived in my inbox and I am so grateful for the many, many of you that are interested in coming to work for me. I'm still accepting applications through Feb. 1, 2014 so if you haven't applied yet, there is still time! I'm also in the process of drafting and photographing my next round of sewing patterns as well as preparing to teach again at the Martha Pullen School of Art Fashion the … continue reading

24
Jan

Knit Dress Pattern Review

I don't know about you, but it seems as though as my girls are getting older, they are really wanting to make sure their clothes are nice and comfy. And since Miss Savannah has started full-day Kindergarten this year and she has informed me that she 'doesn't need to dress fancy for school everyday.' What? Yes, of course you do! No, I'm just kidding. As much as I love to dress her up in all my fun creations, and she still loves wearing them for special occasions, she is wanting to make sure that she fits in at school. We also live in the Midwest and I think the way … continue reading

22
Jan

Baby Doll Pouch Blanket Tutorial

In case you missed my Baby Doll Pouch Blanket Tutorial over at Riley Blake Designs, I'm bringing this one back to The Cottage Mama. Several years ago I made a baby doll pouch blanket for my girls when we were expecting our baby boy, Caspian Finn. I meant to blog about it and it just never happened. Ironically, it was made from some of my favorite boy car themed fabric called 'Wheels' from Riley Blake Designs since both the girls wanted baby boy dolls (with the excitement of the impending arrival of their new baby brother). Now that the girls are into baby girl … continue reading

20
Jan

Classic Little Lady Coat: Stylo Magazine

I've been saving these pictures for months now waiting for the new STYLO Magazine to be released. Well, the day is finally here and I can share them with you all! STYLO is is the first fashion forward eMagazine centered around children’s sewing patterns and style. The focus is on modern patterns, trends, fabrics, and clothes that kids will love and I'm so thrilled to be part of it! … continue reading

14
Jan

Power of Prayer Quilt and a Giveaway

Today we have a special treat, a post from my mom (also known as Grandma Jane). This is not something I really talked about on the blog here because.....well, sometimes when you are really nervous about the outcome of something, it's just too hard to share. Through many prayers and love, I thank the Lord that Mom is here to talk about it.......... It’s been eight weeks since I underwent open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve in my heart. Unbeknownst to me until early in 2013, I had a congenital defect in the valve that caused it to wear out more … continue reading

13
Jan

Lessons from a Restaurant Chef: Hand Rolled Gnocchi

Today I am so pleased to have my very own brother, chef Ben Ashworth, guest blogging here at The Cottage Mama. Ben does not blog, but he is an extremely talented chef and I convinced him to share some of his cooking knowledge here with everyone. So here is the first 'Lesson from a Restaurant Chef' with Ben's recipe for "Hand-Rolled Gnocchi with Brown Butter, Brussel Sprouts and Apples." Please give my little brother a warm welcome. Take it away, Ben....... Hi, I’m Lindsay’s younger brother, Ben. I’m the sous chef at a farm-to-table restaurant in Boulder, CO … continue reading

7
Jan

Reindeer Thumb Print Ornament Tutorial

So I know it's after Christmas, but if you follow along over on The Cottage Mama Facebook Page, then you already know, but I was in charge of Savannah's Kindergarten Holiday party this year. I was really excited about getting involved in the classroom and especially getting to spend some time with all these new little friends Savannah has made this year during school. … continue reading