The Cottage Mama Blog - Sewing. Cooking. Crafting.

Sep

Baby Lock and The Cottage Mama

I've been wanting to share my new machines with you for several months and now it's finally time!Meet the two newest members of The Cottage Mama team....... The Baby Lock Ellegante 3 Sewing and Embroidery Machine The Baby Lock Evolution 8-Thread Serger & Cover Stitch MachineI was recently sent these amazing new machines from the folks over at Baby Lock and let me tell you that they are truly "dream machines". I was content sewing on my Brother Sewing Machine (CS6000i) and Serger (1034d), but these Baby Lock machines take things to a whole new level. I kind of feel … continue reading

Sep

Goose Creek Candle Co. Giveaway

I recently had the opportunity to try out Goose Creek Candle Co.'s lovely candles from their American Heirloom Collection. If you like scented candles, you are going to love these. Goose Creek sent me my scent of choice and I must say that it was really hard to choose. I love all the smells of fall......pumpkin, apple, spice, ect., so I ended up going with Spiced Gourmet, but like I said, it was a tough decision. Here are some of the fall scents that looked pretty wonderful:I really liked the American Heirloom Collection candle that they sent. It had a pretty … continue reading

Sep

The Delicate Art of Balance

The Wilkes Family - Apple PickingSeptember 22, 2012The art of balance in ones life is something that I think we all struggle with on a daily basis. I am a firm believer that we cannot be all things to all people at all times. I cannot tell you how many times, I am hit with the phrase "how do you do it all?", whether it's via email, on The Cottage Mama Facebook page, or in real life with my friends and family.I am always a taken back by this question, because the true answer is simple, "I don't." I wish I knew how to get it all done. But for that to happen, I would … continue reading

Sep

Jo Totes Camera Bag Review and Giveaway

I am excited to share today's review and giveaway with you. If you aren't familiar, Jo Totes, is a camera bag company that produces gorgeous, functional camera bags for women.Here is a little bit more about Jo Totes: We have been creating and sending camera bags to women photographers around the world since 2009. Our bags provide a fashionable way for women to safely carry their camera bodies and lenses, along with regular purse items, every day—whether it be to a photo shoot, while traveling, or just while out on a regular day. The main compartment of each of … continue reading

Sep

Blogger’s Choice Fat Quarter Bundle Giveaway at Fat Quarter Shop

Today, over at Fat Quarter Shop, I'm talking a little bit about my Blogger's Choice Fat Quarter Bundle that I hand selected for their shop. I also answered a few questions for them. If you can guess my answers, then you will be entered to win your very own one of my Blogger's Choice Bundles. I have to admit, this bundle is even more gorgeous in person (if I do say so myself)!To enter the giveaway, you must do so over at Fat Quarter Shop. Click HERE to enter and read more about this custom bundle. … continue reading

Sep

Charm Jelly Roll Friendship Quilt Tutorial & Simply Color Giveaway

My mom, Grandma Jane, is back with another one of her wonderful quilting tutorials and a fabulous giveaway of V & Co's new line for Moda 'Simply Color'. Take it away Mom..... I don’t like goodbyes and I had a tough one a few weeks ago when I had to say goodbye to a dear friend and co-worker who moved. Lori and I had worked side by side for almost 12 years and she was a part of my day to day work life in a big way! We worked so closely together on projects through the years that we were almost like an old married couple who begins to finish each other’s thoughts … continue reading

Sep

The Lolly Dolly Pillow Tutorial

Hi, I'm Lindsay from The Cottage Mama and I'm thrilled to be back with you again today sharing my most recent design team project. Deciding which fabric line to use for this tutorial was so darn difficult as I wanted to use just about all of the new lines that were coming out. So I decided to post the lines I was considering on The Cottage Mama Facebook Fan Page and let the fans vote for their favorite. It was a pretty close call, but we finally settled on 'Dress Up Days'. I think this line is absolutely adorable in every way and I'm thrilled to be able to … continue reading

Sep

Japanese Fat Quarter Bundle and Washi Tape Giveaway

I'm so excited about today's giveaway. If I could enter, I most definitely would. Today's Japanese Fat Quarter Bundle and Washi Tape Giveaway comes to us from Modes4u.com.Modes4u.com is an online shop for cute fabrics, stationery, DIY items and accessories which are imported from Japan and the USA. The shop carries more than 1,000 colourful fabrics from labels like Kokka, Cosmo, echino, Michael Miller, Robert Kaufman or Riley Blake. Modes4u has a wide variety of materials and prints; just recently they added lots of organic fabrics to their shop. You get free … continue reading

Sep

Classic Vintage May Dress

My collection of vintage children's patterns is constantly growing. I am always on the hunt at flea markets, antique stores and thrift stores for new patterns to add to my collection. I don't think you can ever have too many! I just love holding and touching the patterns imagining the women of the 30's, 40's and 50's sewing these sweet garments for their little ones. I often wonder if I was born during the right era. I feel like I would have fit in just right during the 1940's. But I digress..... One of the things that really attracts me to vintage … continue reading

Sep

Embellished Onesie Baby Girl Dress

Our good friends, Lara and Eddie, (Savannah's Godparents) just had their second baby a little while back. They have a little boy named Luca who is three and decided to wait to find out the gender of the new baby until the birth. Since I am such a planner, we found out what we were having with each of our three children, but I give a lot of credit to those who can wait for the surprise at the very end! When I found out they had a baby girl, Francesca Marie, I knew I had to whip up something for the new little lady. For some reason when my friends have new … continue reading