Kitchen chickens

🐔 A Chicken Sewing Video That Completely Stole My Heart

Okay, listen. I stumble across a lot of sewing videos… but every once in a while, one pops up that makes me stop mid‑scroll, grab my fabric stash, and say, “Well, guess I’m making a chicken today.”

This is that vidSew A Large Hen Basket - Free Pattern #freequiltpattern #scrappyfabrics #chicken #fatquarterseo.

Not only is the project ridiculously cute, but she shares a full‑size pattern — no squinting, no guessing, no “enlarge to 127%” nonsense. Just print, cut, sew, and boom: instant chicken joy.

And the way she explains everything? It feels like sewing with a friend who’s fun, calm, and totally okay with you pausing the video seventeen times to find your scissors. It’s charming. It’s cozy. It’s my new favorite YouTube sewing moment.

So if you’re in the mood to make something cheerful, slightly silly, and guaranteed to brighten your day, go watch it. Then make a chicken. Then make three more. Suddenly you’ve got a whole flock and zero regrets.

Memories

A Time for Memories

As I sort through the scraps of fabric for my next project, I realize they aren’t really scraps at all. They’re pieces of moments I’ve lived. A corner of a dress I once made for Zoe. A sliver of a shirt that belonged to Seth. Colors and textures that once wrapped themselves around ordinary days and made them feel like something worth remembering.

It’s funny how fabric holds memory better than we do. I pick up a floral print and suddenly I’m back in the kitchen, hemming a dress while Zoe twirled around impatiently, asking if it was ready yet. I touch a soft blue cotton and I can almost hear Seth laughing as he tried it on for the first time, pretending to model like he was on a runway.

These scraps carry the weight of those small, perfect moments — the ones that slip out of our minds but stay stitched into the things we make. Working with them now feels like opening a box of old photographs, except the memories are tactile. They’re warm. They’re alive.

Maybe that’s why this project feels different. I’m not just sewing. I’m piecing together a quiet archive of the life we’ve lived. Letting the past sit beside me for a while. Letting it remind me that even the simplest days had their own kind of beauty.

And maybe that’s what this time is for — not to dwell on what’s gone, but to honor it.

So it begins

 

🧵 Appliqué Prep: The Beautiful Mess Before the Magic

Every machine embroidery appliqué project starts with a vision — maybe a floral motif, a whimsical animal, or a bold geometric design. But before the needle hits the fabric, there’s one universal truth we all face:

Scrap chaos.

I snapped this photo while prepping for my latest appliqué adventure. If you’ve ever sorted through your stash looking for just the right shade of red or a tiny piece of green with the perfect texture, you know this scene well.

There’s interfacing, spray adhesive, a cutting mat, printed instructions, and a rainbow of fabric bits in bags and baskets. It’s organized chaos — and it’s oddly comforting. Because in this mess lies possibility.

Appliqué is all about the details. Tiny pieces. Precise placement. And the joy of finding that one scrap you forgot you had that turns out to be exactly what you needed.

I’m so glad I didn’t throw those small pieces away. They may look like clutter, but they’re the secret sauce of every appliqué project — the hidden gems that make the design come alive.

So yes, it’s messy. But it’s also magic.

Welcome to my valley

Tucked into the foothills of the majestic Cascade Mountains, our small town feels like a secret sanctuary. There’s a quiet here that settles into your bones — the kind of peace that only comes from being surrounded by nature’s grandeur. Mornings begin with mist rising off the water, and evenings end with skies like the one above, painted in fire and calm.

But don’t let the serenity fool you — this valley knows how to play. Summer brings endless opportunities to explore, and my personal favorite is boating. There’s nothing like gliding across the lake, sun on your face, mountains in the distance. And when winter rolls in, the town transforms into a snowy playground. Skiing down fresh powder with crisp air in your lungs? That’s magic.

Yes, I love it here. Not just for the beauty or the adventure — but for the way this place makes you feel like you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

In a world that moves a little too fast, this valley reminds me to slow down, breathe deeply, and appreciate the simple gifts right in front of me. Whether it’s the thrill of skimming across the water in summer or carving fresh tracks through winter snow, every season brings its own kind of joy.

But more than anything, it’s the feeling of belonging — of waking up each day knowing I’m exactly where I’m meant to be. This small town, nestled in the foothills of the Cascades, isn’t just where I live. It’s home. And I’m grateful for it every single day.

Update on the chicken Kitchen coming soon.

“Cluck Yes, I’m Making a Chicken Kitchen”

 Okay, so I have to tell you my new 2026 plan because it is peak me and you’re going to roll your eyes in the best way.

I’m doing a No‑Buy Year. Like… for real. No extra spending, no “but it was on sale,” none of that. I’m cutting myself off.

And since I apparently can’t just do things normally, I’ve decided I’m turning my kitchen into a full chicken‑themed kitchen using only the stuff I already have. No buying décor, no fabric shopping, nothing. Just me, my scrap bin, and whatever patterns I’ve hoarded over the years.

I’m basically making a chicken kitchen out of thin air.

I’ve already got a whole list going — chicken potholders, chicken tea towels, chicken bunting, little stuffed chickens to sit on the shelves… honestly, if it can have a chicken on it, I’m putting a chicken on it.

It’s going to be ridiculous and adorable and very “me,” and I’m weirdly excited about it. So yeah. 2026: No buying, all chickens.

Just wait. My kitchen is about to cluck.

🧵✨ Happy New Year from Nonie’s Paradise! ✨🧵

A fresh year means fresh fabric, fresh ideas, and endless possibilities for creativity.

In 2026, I’m dreaming of: 🎨 New projects that spark joy ✂️ Bold patterns and beautiful stitches 🪡 Crafting without fear, just fun 💛 A community that inspires and lifts each other up

Thank you for being part of this colorful little corner where imagination becomes handmade magic. Here’s to more sewing, more crafting, more laughter, and more moments that remind us why we love creating.

Let’s make 2026 AMAZING.