Hello, Das Baby

 On his original due date, Sunday, June 5. He’s here. His name is Paul Edward Van Handel, and he arrived at 4:56 p.m. Thursday, June 2. He is, hands down, the best thing I’ve ever made. With a heaping dose of help from MVH, of course. Needless to say, last week was very, very, very […]

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Done and Done: Granny’s Clothespin Apron

Let’s get critical about a finished project. Β Image via Storey Publishing. I completed Granny’s Clothespin Apron last week. (It appears in the upper-right corner of the book’s cover image.) Like I said in this post, I needed a catchall for clothespins because Das Baby’s cloth-diaper covers need to be line-dried. The good The final product […]

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Babycentric: Vintage deer wall hanging

As I await the arrival of my first child, a lot of my making has been babycentric. Here’s a look at one creation.   Teeny, tiny embroidery.  I nabbed this wonderful embroidered portrait last summer at the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market. I didn’t have plans for it then (this was pre-pregnancy), but the tiny stitches […]

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Crafting in the slow lane

Β  Susan Wasinger is the author of “Sewn By Hand.” Image via BurdaStyle. This recent BurdaStyle interview with Susan Wasinger gave me a lot of pause.Β  Wasinger has a new book out called “Sewn By Hand: Two Dozen Projects Sewn with Needle and Thread.” The book advocates a “slow craft” (sewing-machine-free) movement and upcycling materials. […]

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Salad days

Creamy homemade dressing. I’ve got little patience for fussy cooking in the summer. It’s time to enjoy whole foods at their peak ripeness. Not only are salads extra tasty this time of year in my part of the world, but they also are fast, easy, and infinitely customizable. It’s nice to come home to a […]

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Wishful Thinking: Bustier Top with Cap Sleeves

Wishful Thinking shares projects that catch my eye β€” and their likelihood of completion. The bustier top is classy and flirty. Photo via BurdaStyle. This pattern from BurdaStyle was featured on the site’s blog recently, and I instantly was smitten. Why I like it: It’s unapologetically feminine. Clean lines. Technical drawing via BurdaStyle. My construction […]

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