Sweetbriar Sisters

Adorable Sewing Patterns

How to Say No to Guilt Crafting

I was standing in line at the cut counter at my local quilt shop as the lady in front of me explained how she got roped into an enormous sewing project for her daughter in law.  It was funny how every person in that store, myself included, rolled our eyes in complete appreciation of the situation. I mean, what crafter hasn't been guilt-tripped into a project? When Doug and I were newly ... View Post

How Color Value Can Improve Your Quilting

I've been taking some painting classes at a local university for the past couple years.  I love learning about fine art!  It's been so interesting to see the difference between an education in Design (what I did my first time around in college) versus an education in Fine Art.  One of the biggest differences I've seen is how the idea of color is approached. In both areas, Color Theory is very ... View Post

Learning to Digitize Embroidery

As I mentioned in my previous post, I spent last weekend at the Anita Goodesign Embroidery party.  I love to go and learn more about any type of sewing, but for this conference I had specific plans.  I've been wanting to get into designing my own digitized embroidery patterns (to be sewn out on those fancy embroidery machines) for a while now, but since it will require a great financial investment ... View Post

Anita Goodesign Machine Embroidery Party

I spent the weekend at a Anita Goodesign retreat and had a blast! Every time I go to a store and look at those super awesome embroidery machines I feel this anxiety to start my own embroidery pattern line.  It's just such a funny world.  There are these amazing, super high tech machines which are really just big sewing computers.  And then there are hundreds of embroidery patterns that are ... View Post

How to Pick the Perfect Colors for your Project

A couple months ago a friend came over for a sewing afternoon (ps- I love having 2 sewing machines so I can invite friends over for sewing parties!).  She was finishing up a quilt top and was about to add the last border when she decided she wasn't in love with her border fabric.  So we popped over to the fabric store, no big deal right?  We walked around for a second and I watched as her eyes ... View Post

Introducing Craft Design University

Design is everywhere! Your toothbrush was designed by a professional designer, so was the image on your toothpaste and the tube in came in.  Your kitchen chairs were professionally designed, and your shoes were made by a very good designer.  (fun fact: designing shoes is a very sought after job in the Industrial Design world, so only the very best designers get the gig.  If you ever meet a shoe ... View Post