I love wearing linen in the summer—easy, matching pieces that are perfect for travel. Wrinkles? Not a problem if you choose darker fabrics or simple designs. That’s why I was drawn to Simplicity sewing pattern S9115. It’s wonderfully minimalist, making it both stylish and ideal for summer.
Want to whip it up before your vacation? Absolutely—if you’re a sewer with some experience. While there are plenty of photos, the pattern itself is straightforward and quick to assemble.

Sometimes you open a magazine and instantly know: I have to make this! That’s exactly what happened to me when I saw this beautiful linen apron in BERNINA Inspirations 02-26. Before I’d even closed the magazine, the project was already taking shape in my mind. And luckily, it didn’t stay just an idea—soon after, the linen was on the table, and I was ready to start.
At first glance, it might seem like just an apron, but looks can be deceiving. The subtle pleats give it an elegant, feminine touch, and the lovely embroidery adds a luxurious, chic flair. Almost too beautiful to wear just for cooking… though, of course, it would look just as stunning at a cozy barbecue, a baking afternoon, or simply because you can.
And the best part? This is the kind of project that can make someone incredibly happy. A handmade apron is personal, practical, and beautiful. I’d bet anyone who receives this as a gift will wear it with joy and pride!

At Handmade Luxury Home, Marga and I spend a lot of time talking about colour. Luckily, we do not replicate the passionate discussions of the 19th century great thinkers, monochrome lovers, and colour devotees who had a go at each other’s preferences. Colour -according to devoted monochromists- was vulgar. Monochrome art -said the colourists- was obscuring design.
It seems a bit of an unnecessary discussion now, but it was not. The discussion of ‘to use or not to use colour’ was a question about the essence of art and design: is it form or colour?  This is an important question and its answer now -in our time- seem to be a syntheses of both camps: form and colour harmoniously put together make great art and design.

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Summer is here, and so are the wasps! Instead of buying expensive repellents, why not make your own natural wasp deterrent? In this tutorial, we’ll show you a simple, effective, and eco-friendly way to keep these buzzing pests away from your home and garden. Let’s get started!