BLOG: archives

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.

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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. 🙂

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the eleventh 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

Hee hee! I love this little guy!

2012

One of my most frequently asked questions.

2013

My favorite stitch for sewing felt pieces together.

2014

Make some bunny ears and fancy eggs for all your stuffed toys!

2015

A free pattern for some fun baby toys made entirely of triangles.

2016

One of my very favorite free patterns – a gorgeous stitched Easter egg.

2017

I always start quilting in the middle and then work my way out – but that means something different depending on whether you’re machine or hand quilting. In this video I explain both options.

2018

This is the same technique and materials I use for softies – adapted to use in quilt blocks!

2019

An adorable chubby penguin.

2020

A sweet giraffe.

2021

Adorable mix & match bunnies with many moods.

2022

The quilting lines are printed right on the blocks, and they’re in color-coordinated bundles. An easy peasy way to get started!

2023

Just one of the options in the lush Moths and Butterflies collection. The same design is available in every color of the rainbow, and scales that will work for everything from bedding to baby clothes.

2024

An adorable paper collage version of Beckham Bear and a discussion of covers.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the tenth 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

One of my most popular free patterns – this one is especially great for kids learning to use a sewing machine.

2012

My very favorite product for hand embroidery.

2013

So neat and tidy.

2014

Perfect for making little felt critters.

2015

Several ways to make this work.

2016

A free pattern for a simple outfit for your Dress Up Bunch dolls.

2017

Change the layout of a basic quilt by adding half-blocks.

2018

Perfect for bunnies, elephants, and more.

2019

One of my favorite crochet patterns.

2020

I love returning to a favorite pattern and making multiples in a rainbow of colors!

2021

A white-breasted nuthatch for my 100 Birds project, which became the Backyard Birds pattern.

2022

My favorite Quilt As You Go designs all gathered up in one handy place.

2023

Pretty printable posies.

2024

I finished a new quilt! Cheater fabric, all hand stitched with Big Stitch Quilting.

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the ninth 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

One of my easiest softie patterns.

2012

That dog pattern is originally 2 inches tall.

2013

For adorable animal ears.

2014

It’s easier than you think.

2015

Crocheted? Plastic? Felt? Embroidered? Buttons?

2016

No glue needed.

2017

Reversible dress, two applique designs. and sweet felt eggs.

2018

A free pattern.

2019

An adorable hound dog.

2020

Learning to use Procreate on my iPad.

2021

A red-winged blackbird for my 100 Birds project, which became the Backyard Birds pattern.

2022

Sweet snail.

2023

A handsome fellow.

2024

Happy Little Clouds fabric! (Yes – every time I say the name I’m channeling Bob Ross.)

Let’s tiptoe down memory lane to see what I was doing during the eighth 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

My favorite way to sew up the stuffing hole in softies – and I also use it for a lot of mending projects.

2012

Step by step in plain English.

2013

I love this cutie.

2014

With adorable rickrack teeth.

2015

A book review.

2016

Hand quilting tips.

2017

Everything a rag doll needs for bedtime.

2018

Making the jump to Round 2 of your crochet can be tricky.

2019

Adorable arctic animals.

2020

I never thought I’d say this, but that’s an adorable rat.

2021

A goldfinch for my 100 Birds project, which became the Backyard Birds pattern.

2022

Before I switched to a new fabric for all my quilts, I had to test it.

2023

Adorable bunny fabric in a rainbow of colors – this just shows two of my favorites.

2024

Mix & match fun!