BLOG: Archives

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 21st week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Some people hate binding. I absolutely love it! I use a combination of machine and had sewing and I adore those last couple of evenings with my beautiful new quilt in my lap.

2012

My favorite pincushion shape! I have multiples and keep one at my sewing machine, one at my ironing board, and one to rove around with me wherever I’m working.

2013

An easy beginner pattern and a great way to use up scraps.

2014

If you care about that sort of thing. 😁 I normally don’t, but if I’m making something like a Christmas tree ornament where both sides may be visible, I’ll often finish the back this way.

2015

Super cute! But fair warning – this is my most difficult stuffed animal pattern.

2016

A video showing how I do all my favorite wavy line quilting. I use these designs ALL THE TIME.

2017

My very favorite project for quick and easy (and cuddly!) baby shower gifts.

2018

I based the size and shape of this bag on a tote I got IN HIGH SCHOOL and still use decades later. It is, in my opinion, the perfect bag.

2019

One of my most popular woodland critters.

2020

A silly monster as part of my 100 Day drawing challenge. I love the bumps on his skin and his groovy turtleneck.

2021

The start of a terrific work in progress – calculating the fabric needed for my quilts in ALL the common sizes and as many different layout possibilities as I can think of.

2022

My fun Good Dog fabric collection in a pretty pink palette.

2023

A very pretty experiment. I need to make more of these!

2024

Look at this fantastic quilt that Carolyn made with the Beep Beep pattern! I love that pieced binding! And the plaid van!!!

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 20th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

Want this round-up (along with the discount code to use on the sale patterns) delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

2011

I LOVE mending with visible patches. Sometimes I sew one on just for fun – even if there’s nothing to mend. 🥰

2012

I like to use this to outline patch pockets.

2013

One pattern – four different animals. Make that dollar holler!

2014

She’s ready to decorate for a party!

2015

My daughter adapted the Franklin the Fat Cat pattern to make a Totoro – and you can too! I share the pieces and instructions in this post.

2016

One post with links to ALL my tutorials for different applique techniques.

2017

Lots of farm animals making lots of noise. 😂

2018

This has been my favorite way to do outline stitching for quite a few years now. I just love how it looks!

2019

The pattern also includes a horn to make it a unicorn!

2020

Such a sweet face!

2021

Emperor penguins are just the coolest!

2022

I add catchlights to all my eyes now, and I love how it really brings them to life! (I use the fabric paint method – and the post includes a link to my favorite brand.)

2023

More bird fabrics! And coordinates to go with them! I also did that same bird print with gray and taupe birds on a deep blue background.

2024

Some thoughts on the value of slow and steady progress – in crafting and in life.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 19th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Everything you need to know.

2012

I show you how to measure your machine to get a custom fit.

2013

You know how frustrating it is to manhandle a big quilt through your machine and then realize you just sewed a whole long row without any bobbin thread? Yeah. Me too. Here’s how I keep that from happening.

2014

I just love her sweet face.

2015

Make a bunch in different colors!

2016

How to download, how to save, how to print.

2017

The pattern includes the dress, the apron (including the cupcake embroidery pattern), the cookies, the spatula, and the baking tray. This is one of my favorites!

2018

You can use any of my quilt block patterns to make cute felt coasters! The instructions also include general info on resizing my patterns – useful for SO MANY other possible projects.

2019

Such a cutie!

2020

I drew this emu as part of my 100 Days project in 2020. It became the Eloise Emu/Orly Ostrich pattern. I just love her cheerful face!

2021

I redesigned the free bee pattern!

2022

I also did the same fabric designs in a mostly-pink palette and called it Squeaky Toy. 😁

2023

Another fabric collection – this one inspired by Mary Blair. The top right design (in sea glass colors) is now my desk pad and it makes me so happy every single day.

2024

I created a printable cut paper version of the adorable otter pattern. It was a free wallpaper download – and you can still get it! Just without the May 2024 calendar. 🙂

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the 18th week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Beautiful blooms, embroidered with just a few easy stitches.

2012

The best way to attach bits that you want to be flat – not puffy.

2013

Yes – you really can quilt a big quilt (even king size!) on a standard sewing machine. I’ve done it – and I show you how.

2014

My first bird quilt – and I I still love it!

2015

In a nutshell – no. 😁

2016

All the little tricks I developed because I’m always afraid the marking won’t wash out.

2017

A terrific collaboration that led to TWO new projects.

2018

A free pattern for a cute panda!

2019

It’s not really any harder than making two standing legs.

2020

I drew this giant anteater as part of my 100 Days project in 2020. I need to make an applique pattern with this guy!

2021

A golden-fronted woodpecker from my 100 Birds Project. I don’t know why that’s the name – the gold is on the back!

2022

One of my favorite bugs. 😁

2023

A silly chimpanzee. 😁

2024

Look at the gorgeous quilt that Amanda made with the Woodland Critters pattern!

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the seventeenth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

A handy little tote bag. You can use it with any of my applique patterns – just reduce the size.

2012

Another fun little bag!

2013

A free – SUPER simple – flower applique pattern. Make this with any fabrics in your stash, though I do love striped stems. 😁

2014

This is a free tutorial to make a fun topsy-turvy doll out of any of the Dress Up Bunch doll patterns.

2015

Lots of great suggestions for where (and how) to donate your handmade toys and quilts.

2016

A terrific free embroidery pattern for beginners. It uses just one stitch – the easiest there is!

2017

Sometimes you just don’t want to applique teeny tiny eyes. This post has LOTS of alternatives.

2018

Shrink down one of the blocks from your pattern, embroider it, and use it for a label. This post shows how.

2019

Scallops are great edges on skirts and fairy wings, and also make edges for hair!

2020

I drew this tree frog as part of my 100 Days project in 2020. I loved him so much I turned him into the Troy the Tree Frog applique pattern.

2021

A handy post with lots of extra information – and a downloadable shopping list to take with you to the fabric store!

2022

I was getting lots of requests for specific dog breeds – this was the first half of my response. 😁

2023

Cute forest-themed fabric collection available in this shady purple and also in a deep forest green color palette.

2024

Thoughts on living life at a walking pace and taking time to notice the flowers.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the sixteenth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Great little reusable gift bags or party favor bags!

2012

Because big buggy eyes should really be round. 😁

2013

Nutshell answer: YES! But definitely read the post for all the details. 😁

2014

One of my favorite free felt projects.

2015

A little peek behind the scenes at the design process.

2016

The first time I used cuddle fleece for the back of one of my quilts, my daughter came to me and said, “Mommy. [insert pause for dramatic effect] You should never use anything else on the back of your quilts.” I haven’t. 😁

2017

It’s easy to add sashing and borders to a Quilt As You Go quilt.

2018

This is a question I get all the time – for making both quilts and stuffed animals. This post shows a few different ways to do it.

2019

One of my favorite settings – and you can use it with any of my square-block patterns, no resizing needed.

2020

A walrus I drew as part of my 100 Day Project in 2020.

2021

A velvet-fronted nuthatch from my 100 Days 100 Birds project.

2022

My very favorite color collection. I use these fabrics ALL THE TIME.

2023

One of my bestselling patterns, updated with a couple of new animals and SVG files for use with electric cutting machines.

2024

An adorable opossum.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the fifteenth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Velvet and corduroy can make such fun projects – but they creep like crazy when you sew them. Here’s how to counter the creeping. 🙂

2012

This is one of the very first amigurumi I ever made. I still love it!

2013

I love this little weirdo.

2014

It could be a cardinal, a blue jay, a cedar waxwing, a tufted titmouse. Just change the colors!

2015

A necessary skill for making amigurumi – and not at all tricky once you know how to do it.

2016

This makes SUCH fun dolls!

2017

Everyone loves dinosaurs, right?

2018

All of my quilt patterns show a sample layout – but that’s always just a suggestion! This post shows lots of layout possibilities you can use with any of my patterns.

2019

Such a cutie!

2020

I love this guy’s grumpy face. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey! The bird feeder needs filling!”

2021

A sweet Mama and Baby – with time to make it before Mother’s Day. 🥰

2022

Some of my silly monsters on a notebook.

2023

All the fabrics I used to make my Woodland Critters quilt sample – and also an easy peasy cheater version of my pattern.

2024

Driving across the country to move from North Carolina to Oregon, I designed this fun fabric featuring the snow-capped mountains I saw along the way.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the fourteenth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

Want this round-up delivered to your inbox every Friday? Click here to sign up for the Shiny Happy World newsletter!

2011

It’s easier than you think, and makes an exceptionally cuddly stuffed animal.

2012

Lots of pretty birds. This is still one of my bestselling patterns!

2013

This is a great way to try out my patterns to see if you like them and the methods I use.

2014

My most popular free pattern. I designed this one especially for charitable giving, so it has lots of mix & match options to play around with and make each bear different.

2015

An adorable little bunny with beanbag filling.

2016

I always make my quilt blocks a little bigger than they need to be, then I crop them to size right before I sew them all together. I love having that extra wiggle room to make mistakes!

2017

Sometimes the eyes are just too small to applique easily. One option is fabric paint and markers. I tested lots of different brands and share the results here.

2018

Get extra use out of your favorite felt Christmas ornament pattern by making a garland.

2019

A cute monster with warty little picot bumps – and a pocket mouth!

2020

Seems like this FREE pattern would be more appropriate for New Years than April, right? Well – I started it in week one and finished it in week 14. 😂

2021

Sometimes it’s so much fun to make the same little thing over and over in rainbow colors. 🥰

2022

I don’t sell this fabric bundle anymore, but I do share tips for choosing colors for dolls and people – including a list of suggested Kona Cotton colors to use.

2023

It’s not one of my bestselling fabric designs, but it’s one of my favorites. 🥰

2024

I made this cute bunny collage for the free device wallpaper for April. You can still get it! All my old wallpapers are available without their calendars. There are TONS to choose from!

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the thirteenth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

A cute cloth version of those little cellophane carrots you can fill with candy.

2012

This is SUCH a fun project! There’s a pineapple juice can in there, so any rocks (or other hard things) collected land with a very satisfying thunk. My daughter loved this thing when she was little. 😁

2013

This little felt bird is so beautiful! And super easy to stitch!

2014

A video tutorial showing ALL the steps.

2015

Make a whole fluffle of bunnies with this FREE pattern!

2016

Everything you need to know about my particular method for Quilt As You Go and applique.

2017

Starting the second round of an amigurumi can be a little bit tricky. This post will get you over that hump – and then it’s smooth sailing.

2018

An easy project for beginners – and a great way to use up yarn scraps!

2019

My daughter’s favorite crochet pattern. She’s made so many of these little guys!

2020

Remember when everyone was sewing masks? My daughter made and donated over 1000 of these!

2021

I drew this silly green giraffe for a screen wallpaper. I make a new one every month, but did you know you can still get all the old designs? There are TONS to choose from!

2022

I designed this pattern after I watched Turning Red. Red pandas are so cute!!!

2023

I love that stripey tail!!!

2024

Ten Happy Things – the Floral Edition.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the twelfth week of every year since the start of Shiny Happy World. 🙂 Click on the images to go to the posts.

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2011

Over a decade later and this is still how I organize all my thread. That’s a storage system that works.

2012

People have stitched these on so many things – baby onesies, bibs, blankets, burp cloths – and those are just the things that start with B!

2013

The tutorial includes instructions for using a sewing machine (best for bigger softies) and also hand sewing (best for little felt softies).

2014

A cuddly bunny with adorable kissable toes

2015

An extreme decrease. 😁

2016

Stitch an itty bitty chick – with or without the applique.

2017

If you have an embroidery machine – this is the post for you! Free files for satin stitched ovals in many sizes – formatted for most embroidery machines.

2018

All made with easy-to-find supplies from any home improvement store.

2019

A super easy pattern, great for beginners.

2020

A set of sweet printable bears.

2021

A sweet little house wren – bird #47 in my 100 Days Project in 2021. That project ended up becoming the Backyard Birds mix & match pattern!

2022

I can’t believe I waited so long to buy a light box! They’re really inexpensive and make positioning applique pieces so dang easy! (The post includes a link to the one I bought.)

2023

I tried a 100 Day project that fizzled out – but I do love the ones like this that I drew in a style inspired by mid-century modern design. I may revisit these someday.

2024

A cute cow – you can make it with or without the horns, spots, and eyelashes. 🙂