3
Jun

Miss Matilda Dress and Top Pattern from The Cottage Mama: Now Available!

Today is very happy day for me where I get to announce another new pattern from The Cottage Mama summer collection............The Miss Matilda Dress and TopSIZE 6 MONTH - 10 YEARSThe Miss Matilda is named after my own little Matilda (seen in these pictures) and is available right now in PDF and will be available in paper at the end of June. Like I said when I released the 'Georgia' pattern, I have been working behind the scenes on these patterns for months and am so thrilled to finally be able to share these designs with you.If you would like to purchase this … continue reading

31
May

Fabric Friday: Southern Fabric Giveaway

It's another Fabric Friday here at The Cottage Mama and we've got a great giveaway today from one of our lovely blog sponsors, Southern Fabric.Southern Fabric carries a wonderful variety of designer quilting cotton fabric from some of my very favorite designers. If you've never visited their shop, you need to head over there and check it out.......but be careful, you'll want to buy one of everything!They are having a great Memorial Day sale going on right now. Today is the last day to take advantage, so if you are in the market for some gorgeous new fabric, I … continue reading

30
May

Georgia Vintage Dress: Testers, Part 2

Yesterday I shared the first round of Georgia Vintage Dress testers with you and today I'm back to share with you another great group of testers. All of these dresses were created from the Georgia Vintage Dress pattern by The Cottage Mama which can be found here.This dress was made by Ellen Balzer (www.ellzabelle.com) who sewed View C of the Georgia Vintage Dress. This is the sleeveless variation that lends a more modern feel to the dress. She selected this gorgeous, bold print that works so beautiful on her little girl.Here we have Miss Eliza wearing her dress … continue reading

29
May

Georgia Vintage Dress Pattern: Testers, Part 1

As I announced in my post yesterday, the Georgia Vintage Dress Pattern (Size 6 Month - 10 Years) is now available for sale as a downloadable PDF and you can find it sold here.One of the most important factors in pattern design is fit. It doesn't matter what the cover of a pattern looks like, but if the customers that purchase that pattern can recreate what's on the cover, then the pattern is a fail. In order to ensure a great fit and a well instructed pattern, I enlisted the help of a wonderful group of pattern testers. Some of them are bloggers, some have their … continue reading

28
May

Georgia Vintage Dress Pattern from The Cottage Mama: Now Available!

Can I tell you how hard it is to keep a secret from you all? It's the hardest because I just love, love, love sharing with you. I have been working really hard these last several months getting my next collection of sewing patterns ready to go and today I am thrilled to share my first of four new patterns with you! I will be releasing the four patterns over the next several weeks in PDF form and they will all be available in printed, hardcopy form by the end of June.This first pattern, the Georgia Vintage Dress, is probably the pattern I am most proud of creating … continue reading

21
May

The Cottage Mama’s Sewing Basket: Tube Turners

Today we are back with another fun, little tool from The Cottage Mama's Sewing Basket. These tube turners may look like a simple tool, but they will change your life. And if you don't have them in your sewing basket, I'm going to recommend you pick up a set.What does this tool do? Tube turners are kind of like they sound. They make it easy to turn tubes of fabric right side out. Have you ever been working on a long sash for a dress or straps for a tote bag and found it took forever to turn the fabric right side out? Well, these little tools make such fast work of … continue reading

16
May

Giraffe Love Top and Leggings

I have been so busy around here I can hardly see straight. I have four new sewing patterns that are under going pattern testing right now getting ready to release next month. It's very fun and exciting; however, it puts sewing for my own kids on the back burner for the time being.....or so it should. I have had this giraffe fabric for about a month now. I ordered it for Miss Matilda since giraffes are her favorite animal. She was so thrilled when it arrived and has been wanting an outfit made out of it ever since she saw it. So, as I've been busily working on … continue reading

14
May

Goat Cheese & Mozzarella Tomato Toast Recipe

I am a savory kind of girl. What about you? When it comes to breakfast, I much prefer something on the salty side rather than the sweet. This easy little breakfast or lunch is perfect for when you want something nice and satisfying to get your day started off right!Goat Cheese and Mozzarella Tomato ToastServes 2Ingredients:4 slices multi-grain bread (good quality, grainy bread)4 vine-ripened tomatoes1/2 -3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese3/4 cup shredded mozzarella (more, if you like)Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzlingGarlic salt and pepper, to tasteDirections:Preheat … continue reading

12
May

Happy Mother’s Day

I wanted to wish you all a very Happy Mother's Day and leave a special little note for the most amazing woman in my life, my mom.I hope you all have a beautiful, amazing and fantastic day.The blessing of children truly is one of the greatest gifts on earth.Happy Mother's Day! … continue reading

10
May

The Start of Spring…….and $100 Home Depot Gift Card

It's finally Spring here in Chicago. It felt like winter was going to last forever, but we have finally thawed out and I think the freezing weather is gone for good (or at least until next winter).I love the beginning of spring, don't you? I get all these great ideas of things I want to do in the yard, flowers I want to plant, landscaping to be done. I don't usually get around to all of it, but I always make time for planting flowers on our porch.Several weeks back I was asked if I would like to try some new Premium Plants from Miracle-Gro that were being sold … continue reading