Sweetbriar Sisters

Adorable Sewing Patterns

How to Sew Opposing Curves

Let's be honest, sewing together convex and concave curves is one of the more annoying things in sewing.  I've been writing up a new pattern (a rocketship! I'm so excited) and, after several attempts I finally gave in to the fact that the window would simply have to be created with a concave/convex combo (sorry guys!). But if I'm going to put an annoying step in a pattern, I at least want to ... View Post

Friday Faves: DIY Custom Bins

Doug and I live in a 2 bedroom apartment with no plans on up-sizing any time soon.  A small home just makes a lot of financial sense for two people.  Plus I hate vacuuming.  So I figure it's win/win.  It does often require a bit of creativity when it comes to storage.  When we put a bookcase in our living room, it's not for a pretty little display of a family picture.  No way- that thing is going ... View Post

Are We Creating a Second Arts and Crafts Movement?

In college I was lucky enough to take a lot of art history classes.  My favorites were the History of Furniture and History of Products classes.  I loved to learn what was happening in the world to inspire craftsmen to create the products they sold. The Arts and Crafts movement quickly became my favorite.  First off, because their stuff is beautiful.  (You can check it out on the MET Museum ... View Post

Hot Fudge Sundae Pie Recipe

  Happy Pi Day! In honor of this festive day, Doug's office sponsored a pie baking competition. We taking baking competitions very seriously around here.  You have to go all out.  And you have to enter with an original recipe.  I mean, where's the glory if you win by just copying someone else's idea?! So last night Doug called me from the grocery store and we frantically ... View Post

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