We got back last Monday from our family trip to Amsterdam so for the past week I’ve been going through photos and reliving the amazing time that we had there. This trip had been looming so large in my mind for so long because I’d been wanting to take the kids since before the pandemic, so in the months leading up to it I really tried hard to keep my expectations in check. I’m happy to say that the Netherlands really exceeded my expectations. Amsterdam was an absolutely delightful city to kick around in for a week+ and we never ran out of things to do. And one day we took a train out of the ci ..read more

Hellooo! Just like that, it’s summer. School has been out for one week and we’ve already checked off so many things from the summer bucket list. Deck parties, reading in the hammock, early morning runs, nature camp…how I love this time of year. Even with the heat dome that is currently making things rather steamy, oof. We’re leaving next week for Amsterdam, so Mr Rae and I have been buying tickets to art museums and making plans for what we will do with our days there. I’ve been spending a lot of time on Duolingo trying to learn Dutch. It’s so exciting - our kids haven’t ever left the North A ..read more

Hellooo! Final day of May, how. Just popping in for a few minutes to say hello and leave you with a few links and recs. It’s been a full month: track meets for Elliot, confirmation for Clementine, field trips for Hugo, a violin recital this weekend, everyone is sneezing. I’ve been planting flowers and bean starts and starting up running again thanks to a new pair of running shoes and reading in the hammock and enjoying the beauty of spring. And while there’s plenty on the flip side to be sad and terrified and heartbroken about, to be sure, there is also so much to celebrate and be thankful for ..read more

What I wore this fourth week of May!(see previous weeks here and here and here)… I’m not tired of wearing handmade things, but I admit I am getting a little weary of photographing the outfits and writing these posts. Sooooo….just a warning this might be the last of my MMM2024 outfit (and hence Surprise Sale) posts. As far as what I wore? It got pretty warm this past week so I found myself preferring Cleo skirts and sleeveless tops like Ruby and Gemma rather than Rose pants and Citrine cardigans. Just a quick fun update on Gemma: I have been working to update the Gemma tank pattern, which in a ..read more

Notes from this week in handmade outfits…(see previous weeks here and here) May is such an interesting month to document outfits because the weather can change significantly from day to day, and even from morning to evening. One day this week for example, I started out in my pale purple puffy sweater and by evening had swapped it out for short sleeves. This week I started to lean more on non-MBR handmade items that I own (two outfits featured Sew Liberated patterns!), but Rose and Citrine were still strong players. ?SURPRISE SALE REMINDER? On Fridays this month I'm posting the handmade thing ..read more

Welcome to the last day of the Garnet Sewalong! Today we’re going to finish the sleeves and hems and you’re going to have a finished Garnet, woot woot! {If you’re just joining us, check out the Garnet Sewalong Intro post here} Want to see me sew all of the steps on video? Join the Cosmic Sewing Club via the paid tier of my Substack to get access of the sewalong posts with BONUS VIDEO!! NOTE FOR SEPARATE CUFFS: Before we start, if you’re finishing your sleeves with the separate (flat) cuffs rather than with the elastic casings shown in this sewalong, follow the steps in this tutorial to finish ..read more

Welcome to this BONUS POST of the Garnet Sewalong! (the main post for Day 4 is here) In this post I’m going to show you how to add tucks to the sleeves and body of the Garnet pattern, ala “view b,” which is Step 8 of the pattern instructions. The tucks are optional - you don’t have to add them if you don’t want to. I chose not to add them to the sample top for the Garnet sewalong to keep things as simple as possible, but they are a really fun feature so if you have a chance to add them, definitely do!! They look especially great in a solid fabric or near-solid print that will allow the tucks ..read more

Welcome to Day 4 of the Garnet Sewalong! Today we’ll be attaching the sleeves and sewing the side seams. If you’re adding the tucks, you’ll also need today’s bonus post: Adding the Tucks. {If you’re just joining us, check out the Garnet Sewalong Intro post here} Want to see me sew all of the steps on video? Join the Cosmic Sewing Club via the paid tier of my Substack to get access of the sewalong posts with BONUS VIDEO!! STEP 7. ATTACH THE SLEEVES If you didn’t already gather the tops of the sleeve caps between the notches, it’s time to do that now. With your machine set to the longest stitch ..read more

Welcome to Day 3 of the Garnet Sewalong! {If you’re just joining us, check out the Garnet Sewalong Intro post here.} Want to see me sew Garnet on video? Join the Cosmic Sewing Club via the paid tier of my Substack to get access of the sewalong posts with BONUS VIDEO!! Today we’ll be sewing the main yoke and yoke lining together, and….drumroll, please!!!…tackling the burrito method for attaching the bottom of the yoke lining. Where. Is. BURRITO. EMOJI. Nvmd found it: ? If you’re following along in your pattern, this is Steps 5 and 6. STEP 5. SEW NECKLINE It’s time to take your yoke lining and ..read more

Welcome to Day 2 of the Garnet Sewalong! {If you’re just joining us, check out the Garnet Sewalong Intro post here} Want to see all me sew all of the steps on video? Join the Cosmic Sewing Club via the paid tier of my Substack to get access to the sewalong posts with BONUS VIDEOS!! Today we’ll be gathering the front and back (and sleeves!), and attaching them to the main yoke. STEP 3. GATHER FRONT AND BACK Set your machine stitch length to the longest setting, and sew two lines of stitches along the top edges of the front and back, 3/8” [10 mm] and 5/8” [16 mm] away from the edge. You can als ..read more