The Cottage Revolution

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • McCall’s 6442

    Models and sketches on the front of patterns from conventional pattern makers (McCall’s, Butterick, Simplicity, etc.) are notoriously comical. Seldom have I found a pattern and thought, “That’s something I must make!” Take McCall’s 6442, for instance.Take it all in, but focus especially on those boots. And the steely gaze from the girl on the…

  • A Fox, a Lamb and an Owl, Oh My!

    Normally Christmas brings with it a flurry of crafting. I usually can be found huddled over my sewing machine for weeks leading up to the day as I try to perfect something for each family member. This year that didn’t happen, and I have a feeling no one minded but me. While making gifts for…

  • Simple Quilted Coasters

    Lately I have been awful about working on projects. I started a jacket a month ago. It has been sitting on our dining room table in a stack of pieces all that time. I’ll put  a sleeve on, and then take a sleeve off. I’ll top-stitch a hem, and then rip it all out. It’s…

  • First Birthday Fun

    I’ve never made pin tucks. I’ve never made button holes. In fact, I tend to steer clear of anything the least bit fussy. But when I was looking for a dress pattern to make for my niece for her first birthday, I landed on the Family Reunion dress from Oliver + S and kind of…

  • Salvaged Wood and Steel Pipe Table

    Two years ago, after a particularly uncomfortable dinner we hosted with eight people smashed around our small table built for four, we decided we wanted a great big salvaged wood table. We looked at styles we liked, developed plans for the perfect table, got chairs as gifts from our parents to go around said table,…

  • Chocolate Fix

    Lately I’ve been on a chocolate kick. But I am trying to eat it smartly and sparingly, at least. So I’ve been getting my fix from Chunky Chocolate Date and Nut bars and Chocolate Chia Seed pudding. Both are sweet and deeply chocolatey, but have enough fiber and protein to make them worth eating. Recipes…

  • Summer 2013

    This summer has gone somewhere, though I’m not entirely sure where. I can tell by my hands that I’ve been working. A few of my fingertips are so cut and calloused that my fingerprint swirls seem to be changing direction, accommodating these new scars. There are burns on my knuckles and even a stretch of…

  • Maple Syrup Lemonade

    It was recently Lemonade Day  in Indianapolis, and as I went about my Saturday I saw stands everywhere with kids selling drinks to groups of people supporting these young entrepreneurs. I really wanted to go support them too, but I still haven’t reintroduced anything to my diet that I don’t make myself. It’s totally possible…

  • New Look Skirt 6899

    I have entirely too many skirts, but I didn’t come to this realization before I cut into my most recent project: New Look Skirt 6899. I used Anna Maria Horner’s Little Folks collection in Village Path, Berry. It has such a great, light weight to it and the hand is so silky. It’s a big step…

  • Coconut Rasberry Cheesecake

    Whelp. I have good news and bad news (and really, the bad news is just for me. This post is all delicious goodness for you guys). I discovered an amazing dessert recipe (It’s on the autoimmune protocol diet too! More on why I’m temporarily following this diet here). And even though coconuts are fairly benign…

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