Sew, what's been happening at The Picket Fence...

It's time to dust off the cobwebs that have accumulated on my sewing machine. So what have I been doing these past few years that took me away from my long time love—designing artsy quilts? Well it all started on a fun little bicycle tour of the Cotswolds in England where I reunited with another old love—my bicycle. To me, designing is designing and it is true love and it ties all my adventures together. If I can create then I am a happy camper (another love:) So to get back to "where have I been for the last few years? I've been creating bicycle adventure books for riding the roads and trails around my home state of Tennessee. This mini adventure actually has helped my designing tremendously, I've added graphic design and website designing to my skills palette. From this latest adventure, new ideas and energy have sprouted and I’m ready to pick up the needle and thread again and see what my muse has in store.

When I began my company back in 1996, my property had a picket fence bordering it. There were a variety of colorful herb and flower gardens growing along it's edge with a few vines winding their way up and over the fence to decorate my neighbors yard. I've always thought of my pattern company, The Picket Fence, as the border around my creative garden and my patterns were the seeds planted that might find their way into your gardens.

As a gardener we're always weeding, pruning, and planting. And after a season or so, the picket fences need a coat of fresh paint as well. It's always fun to play around in the garden!

If you haven't visited us for a while, you may notice that I pruned a few older vines and plant some new seeds. The fence is painted, the sun is shining and my garden is ready to sprout, grow and bloom! As you walk through my design garden you’ll find many of your old favoritesand a new sprout or two.

Contruction is underway for a gardening center, A Vintage Affaire, where you'll find an array of vintage embelishments that will go sew beautifully with your projects. I'll also feature collectibles and books that I've found along the way. Some have been used on the cover of a pattern or in the designing process.

Applique has always been my mode for blending fabric with art. I've always enjoyed intricate handwork coming from a background of french handsewing so traditional applique is a lovely work of art. Time is almost a lost commodity these days, so if you love the soft dimensional look and feel of hand applique but you, too,no longer care to spend the time it takes to achieve this, you might enjoy using my Soft Fuse™ Fusible Interfacing. I tested many different products before I found a wonderfully sheer and soft fusible interlining. Using my interfacing and techinique you can achieve the look and feel of traditional appliqué but with the ease and benefits of a fusible.