Garden Party Patterns & Learning to Sew
Lately, I’ve been waking up at 5 AM to paint, and it’s quickly becoming my favorite part of the day. The house is quiet (Bonnie is FINALLY sleeping past 6am), the world still feels half-asleep (often, including me), and I get a solid stretch of uninterrupted creative time.
Speaking of creative sparks—I also dug up a previous magnolia watercolor pattern and used it to enter the 2025 Golden Coil notebook design contest! After polling you all, the blue/green colorway was the clear favorite (which is now very likely becoming my new studio curtain print, pending my sewing skills). And in case you missed it—this pattern is now available as both wallpaper and fabric in my Spoonflower shop!
Also, quick PSA: If you’re looking for the perfect natural-looking nail polish that dries in minutes and lets you get right back to painting (or doing literally anything else), this one has been a game-changer for me.
Inside My Studio
Sketching for the newest collection is moving right along! I’m playing with a mix of block print patterns and watercolor elements, layering structured garden layouts with more organic, flowing motifs. Right now, my studio table is covered in sketches:
✅ Block prints of garden layouts
✅ Flat-lay tablescape watercolors
✅ Seedlings sprouting in ink and wash
✅ Lime tree limbs and stripes
In sewing news, my grandmother’s vintage Pfaff Fleetwood sewing machine is officially up and running! It’s a post-WWII Japanese-made version of the Singer 15, made entirely of metal, but still runs like a champ.
When my mom came over to help, I realized just how little I knew—what’s a bobbin? How do you even open the desk to take out the machine? Turns out, sewing muscle memory is a real thing, because my mom threaded it quickly after a few tries, while I stood there in awe.
I filmed a step-by-step video to keep track, and after a few tries myself, I successfully threaded the machine —including installing the bobbin! The only missing piece was a bobbin cover, but miraculously, my mom’s fit perfectly.
For my first test projects, I made a tiny blanket and a rough pillowcase to practice seams before tackling a full tablecloth. There’s still a lot to learn, but I can actually picture myself sewing this tablecloth now—this 2025 goal is happening!
What I’m Cooking
The Easiest, Most Impressive 3-Ingredient Dessert
I love a recipe that’s fancy enough to impress but easy enough to make with a toddler running around. Enter: chocolate mousse with just three ingredients.
It’s egg-free (yay for allergy-friendly desserts!) and rich enough to feel like a special occasion. I served it in my grandmother’s china teacups—because while I may not be hosting tea for 12, dessert for 12? Absolutely.
One thing to note: It requires some prep the night before, but the actual process is ridiculously simple. I used the Guittard semisweet baking bar and didn’t need any extra sugar.
What’s Inspiring Me
Going for it.
Taking the risk. Focusing on "What if this actually works?" instead of "What if I fail?"
What I’m Reading
Between Beach Reads and Bubbly and BookHuddle, my TBR list is overflowing. Lately, I’ve leaned almost exclusively into romance and romantasy—because everything else just feels too heavy right now. Deep End was my latest read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now I want to know: What’s your go-to book genre?
📖 Romance
📖 Fantasy/Romantasy
📖 Thriller/Horror
📖 Nonfiction
📖 Fiction (but not romance)
Reply and tell me—I love hearing what you’re reading!
Over the next two weeks, I’ll be finalizing a few patterns for this collection (and maybe even testing them in fabric—fingers crossed!). Here’s a sneak peek into my sketchbook: a block print pattern concept for garden beds!
-Katie
