For those of you who didn’t know, my once-private Instagram account is now public!  It’s full of behind-the-scenes pics that you won’t see anywhere else.

I decided to make @madebymarzipan’s Instagram public because I wanted a place to share sneak peeks of works-in-progress and upcoming tutorials.

Some of my projects are picked up by magazines and other websites once they’re finished, so these might be the only pics you’ll see! Like this upcycled peacoat…

And these reupholstered couch cushions!

I letter all the time, everywhere! So unless you happen to walk past it, you’ll only see it on @madebymarzipan’s Instagram.

Other projects are experiments! Maybe it will end up on Made By Marzipan, maybe not… we’ll just have to see how it turns out.

And yes, there are even craft fails. This watercolor lettering is pretty awful. Live and learn!

I’m always trying out new hobbies and techniques… like calligraphy using a dipping pen. I’m not good enough to post calligraphy tutorials yet, but I’ll keep practicing until I am!

I’d love it if you followed @madebymarzipan on Instagram and gave your feedback on what I’m working on. I love hearing from you!

Come say hello!

To celebrate National Quilting & Sewing Month, I’ve partnered with one of my favorite online fabric shops, FatQuarterShop.com. They’re asking DIY bloggers across the web: why do you love to quilt or sew?

I talked about this a bit in my Common Thread blog post, but I love sewing because it links me to my past. I come from a line of quilters, and have had the privilege of owning pieces made by my grandmother and great-grandmothers. I love carrying on this tradition, and I’m thrilled that my daughter is learning to sew, too! So, there are a few questions that my friends at FatQuarterShop.com had for me. Here we go:

1) How did you start sewing?

I inherited a sewing machine, and thought I could save money by sewing a crib set for my second child. I planned to make crib sheets, a bumper, a quilt, and a crib skirt. $120 and many tears later, I had the ugliest, most poorly sewn crib set on the planet! I knew nothing about sewing… I hadn’t even been threading the bobbin correctly. After that, I put the machine away for a long time! However, that project allowed me to experience all the frustration and confusion that comes along with learning to sew, and it’s since driven me to create tutorials that are easy to understand, even for beginners.

2) When was the first time you knew that you were a sewer?

The first time I sketched out a design idea, then turned it into a paper pattern, and had some help making it into a digital pattern… that was exciting! I had created something from start-to-finish that others could replicate. I find a lot of joy in sharing my work and seeing others put their own spin on it.

3) Do you have any sewing horror stories?

Ha! Many! When I first had the idea for Baby SnUgg Boots, I bought a ½ yard of fabric. I made dozens of wonky-shaped shoes and was so frustrated that my pieces weren’t fitting together the way I’d envisioned. I told myself that I had to use up every scrap of that fabric before I’d let myself quit trying. Somewhere around boot #20, I got it! And they’ve been a best-seller ever since :)

4) What advice would you give someone who’s just starting out in sewing?

Watch my videos. Honestly, this isn’t just an advertising pitch. I truly get where you’re coming from as a beginning sewer, and I know which steps you might get hung up on. I carefully edit hours of footage and provide voice-over and written instructions to make sure you won’t miss a thing. I especially recommend this video: What Every Beginning Sewist Should Know.  It will help you get off to a great start!

Now, in case you haven’t seen it yet, FatQuarterShop.com has hooked us up with this super-cute Color Of My Heart quilting pattern! Show your love of sewing by stitching up a few of these adorable blocks. Check out my step-by-step video tutorial here.

Why do YOU love sewing?

Soon it will be September, National Quilting and Sewing Month, so I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about why, exactly, I love sewing so much. I imagine a lot of it comes from the connection it gives me to my heritage. I come from a proud line of quilters. This summer, I had the delight of seeing both of my great-great-grandmothers’ sewing machines. This took my breath away:

It fills me with a sense of wonder and pride to know that I come from a long line of creative women.  My grandmothers and great-grandmothers pieced together a beautiful and lasting legacy.

We still have a few of their pieces in the family, a vibrant and tangible testament to their thrift and talent. The utilitarian quilt above was made mostly from flour sacks, and was entirely hand-stitched.

When I sit down at my own digital sewing machine (with self-threading needle, automatic thread cutter, and dozens of stitch options) I think about how much has changed…

And how little. In celebration of National Quilting and Sewing Month, I’m working on a small hand-embroidered piece that combines my two great loves: sewing and hand lettering. Check back at the end of the month to see the (hopefully) completed project!

Does creativity run in your family, too?  How will you celebrate National Quilting and Sewing Month?