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[Edited 1/6/26] Congratulations to Sharon H. She won the Pixie Faire gift card and has been notified by email!
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year â a season of creativity, generosity, and reflection. This year I wanted to continue to celebrate in a way thatâs meaningful, fun, and deeply connected to what we love most:Â design, sewing, and growing together as makers.

So today, Iâm excited to announce the 15th annual 12 Days of Christmas Celebration, inspired by the 15th anniversary of the Design Academy-12 Principles of Design.
For the next 12 days, weâll be sharing:
âď¸ One Design Academy Principle per day
đĄ A practical Design Tip you can use immediately
đŹ A daily blog comment prompt for you to earn entries in our giveaway
đ A $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card giveaway â announced on January 6th
Each day we'll jump back to this blog post to highlight one of the twelve design principles and invite you to join the conversation by leaving a comment. Every comment is an entry to win the $100 gift card. The more you participate, the more entries you earn!
And thereâs more....
These 12 principles are also the foundation of something very special coming in 2026âŚ

Twelve principles. Twelve months. One unforgettable year of growth.
In 2026, Cinnamon Miles is opening the vault and teaching the Design Academy like never beforeâfifteen years after she first published the landmark series that inspired thousands of sewists worldwide. This is a complete, modernized re-imagining, blending Liberty Janeâs iconic design principles with Sewing With Cinnamonâs techniques, challenges, and creative opportunities.
We're bringing the Design Academy into Sewing With Cinnamon in 2026 using the core principles to guide our 2026 topics and this year, thereâs even more:
Historical fashion deep dives with guest instructor Shari Fuller. Designer spotlight showcases. Sew Powerful Purse crossover projects. And a brand-new challenge every month.
If you loved the original Design Academy, you havenât seen anything yet!
Read all the detail of the 2026 overview HERE. Existing SWC members are already in! If you're not a member yet, we invite you to join us, it all starts on January 6, 2026.
The 12 Days of Christmas is your preview of whatâs coming â and a great way to jump back into thinking like a designer and getting the most out of your Pixie Faire pattern collection.
Letâs celebrate creativity, learning, and sewing together this Christmas season.
Merry Christmas,
Cinnamon & Team Pixie Faire
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đ Winner announced 1/6/26!
Today (12/25) we kick things off with Principle #1: Proportion, and your first entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip - Proportion: Scale is invisible when it's right and noticeable when it's wrong!
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt:
Whatâs your best tip for determining scale in relation to the doll you're sewing for?
Today (12/26) we kick things off with Principle #2: Focal Point, and your second entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip - Focal Point: Choose ONE star of the show. Whether itâs a bold fabric, a special embellishment, a unique neckline, or a pop of contrast â one clear focal point will always outperform several competing ones.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: Whatâs your favorite way to create a focal point â color, embellishment, trim, or fabric choice?
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Today (12/27) we kick things off with Principle #3: Rhythm & Repetition, and your third entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhat do you enjoy repeating most in your sewing â shapes, colors, stitching, or patterns?â
Today (12/28) we kick things off with Principle #4: Harmony & Unity, and your fourth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Choose one unifying idea and let it guide every decision.
That unifying idea might be:
If every choice supports the same idea, harmony follows naturally.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhen you start a project, what helps you keep everything feeling cohesive?â (color, mood, fabric types, themes, etc)
Today (12/29) we kick things off with Principle #5: Color, and your fifth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Successful Color Blocking:Â Highlight the pattern design lines with fabric by color blocking! Keep in mind the design principles mentioned earlier - rule of thirds, repetition, and harmony - Let one color dominate about 70%, repeat colors with added elements like buttons and trims, and pick a color palette that pleases the eye!
Bonus BOGO Promotion happening today too! https://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/trend-watch-color-block
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhat color combination do you find yourself reaching for again and againâand why?"
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Today (12/30) we kick things off with Principle #6: Fabric Matters, and your sixth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Fabric Choice: Match the fabric personality to the design's intent. Choosing the right fabric often matters more than choosing the perfect color or embellishment. Maybe it's time to venture out of your comfort zone and try out a new type of fabric?
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âWhatâs one fabric you love sewing withâand one you tend to avoid?â
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Today (12/31) we kick things off with Principle #7: Fabric Matters, and your seventh entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Surprise is what turns a nice design into a memorable one. Itâs the small, unexpected detail that makes someone stop and look twice. Add one unexpected detail that only appears once. It could be: A contrasting lining, A hidden pocket, An unexpected trim or button, A pop of color on the inside rather than the outside. One surprise is charming. Too many dilute the effect.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: â Whatâs the most fun or surprising detail youâve ever added to a sewing project?â
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Today (1/01) we kick things off with Principle #8: Waistlines, and your eighth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Where the waistline sits can completely change a silhouette. A small shift up or down can make a design feel youthful, classic, elegant, or modern.
The higher (Empire) waistline was prominent in the early 1800s Regency era, the natural waistline popular in the 1930s-1950s, and the lower dropped waistline emerged in the 1920s and reappeared in the 1960s/70s.
Waistlines arenât just structuralâtheyâre visual cues.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: â Do you tend to prefer high, natural, or dropped waistlines in your designs?â
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Today (1/02) we kick things off with Principle #9: Homage, and your eighth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Homage is about honoring inspiration without copying it. Great designers study what they love, identify why it works, and then reinterpret it in their own voice.
Homage connects design to history, culture, and personal storyâand itâs one of the most meaningful ways to create!
Isolate one defining element of your inspiration and build from there.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âIs there a designer, era, or style that inspires your sewing the most?â
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Today (1/03) we kick things off with Principle #10: Minimalism, and your tenth entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Minimalism isnât about making designs boringâitâs about making intentional choices.
When fewer elements compete for attention, the most important ones shine.
Minimalist designs often look confident, modern, and timeless.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âDo you lean more toward simple designs or detailed onesâand why?â
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Today (1/04) we kick things off with Principle #11: Distressing & Embellishment, and your eleventh entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Todayâs design principle is all about adding depth, texture, and personality. Distressing and embellishment bring a design to lifeâbut only when theyâre intentional.
The goal isnât to add more, but to add meaning.
Well-placed texture can elevate even the simplest design.
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt: âDo you enjoy embellishing your projects with fabric manipulation or added details like buttons, beads, or trims?â
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Today (1/05) we kick things off with Principle #12: Sewing Technique, and your final entry for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card.
đĄDesign Tip:Â
Most projects look âhandmadeâ not because of design choices, but because of rushed finishing. Taking extra time on the last 10% of a project makes the biggest visual difference.
Focus on:
Accurate seam allowances
Pressing after every seam
Clean edges and consistent topstitching
Secure closures and neatly finished hems
đ To enter: Leave a comment under this blog post. Comment Prompt:
âWhat sewing technique do you most want to improve or master in the coming yearâand why?â
Thank you for being part of this community and for sharing your creativity with me.
Warmly,
Cinnamon
P.S. Donât forget â today is the final day to comment for the $100 Pixie Faire Gift Card drawing!
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The surprise I use at times is colorful undergarments that use color or something from the main garment, such as slips, petticoats or bloomers.
The surprise I use at times is colorful undergarments that use color or something from the main garment, such as slips, petticoats or bloomers.
Really like the idea of one surprise element in a design!
the most unexpected design detail was a oversized bow directly in the center of the waistline. Proportionally speaking, it was too big but seemed to work beautifully and became the focal point of the whole dress.
The most fun detail I have added to a project was a fairy button on the logo side of a flower pattern shirt. The fairy had some contrasting colors but worked well with the flowers.
The most surprising thing Iâve added was a college logo on a cheerleader outfit that was made from a keychain strap (the only logo for that college I could find in a hurry.)
I love sewing with wovens, denims and cotton blends. My machine has a problem with knits.
The most surprising item Iâve added to a project is sparkly beading for fringe.
I LOVE cottons since make many quilt items. Fabrics I avoid are sloppy specialty ones since more difficult & fussy to cut and stitch.
Fabric I love sewing with is cotton- I love repurposing when I can for doll clothes. I tend to avoid knits as my machine does not do well with it. I have to avoid some fabrics like wool due to allergies and some synthetics due to skin sensitivities (some synthetics may be more tactile adversion than true skin allergy).
One fabric I love sewing with is quilting cotton. One I tend to avoid is rayon because itâs slippery and hard to keep straight.
I enjoy sewing with high quality cotton. The scraps and yardage are soft, have a great thread count and hold the color. For dolls, I use tiny prints. Coordinating the colors and prints is fun. Sometimes having a print with two colorways makes the project stunning.
I like sewing cottons or cotton blends and donât like sewing stretchy fabrics or fabrics that fray easily.
I love working with knits and fleece. They are so easy to sew and are very forgiving. They make the clothes easy to put on
I like to work with knits. They give a little stretch for putting outfits on a doll. The seams dontât need finishing, as they donât ravel. I have not had much luck with shiny materials or others that canât be ironed.
I love working with quilting cottons, I donât like working with sheer fabrics.
Fleece is probably my favorite fabric to work with. I despise glitter on fabric, especially cotton. it gets everywhere, sticks to everything but the fabric it came on. not a huge fan of Lameâ either. it tends to not behave and the edges fall apart.
I love to sew cottons, satins, and wools. Chiffon is my enemy.
I love all kinds of cotton, learning to use sheer fabric is something I hate and working with is is a learning lesson every time.
I love to work with all kinds of cottonâŚI do not have enough confidence in my self when sewing with knits.. I see more knits being sewn in my futureâŚI discovered the Cami pattern just recently and plan on making this pattern to go with the pajama Pants I worked on before Christmas using the Drawstring short pattern that was turned into pantsâŚ.They turned out amazing and need the Cami Pattern to complete the lookâŚThank you Pixie Faire.
I prefer Woven to knits the exception is Gauze. Cotton wool or silk Gauze is too weak for most garments.
Cotton fabric is easiest for many projects, however, Iâm always pleased when I venture out of the âcotton comfort zoneâ & try something new- denim, knit, fur, faux leather, lace, sheer organza, satin, etc. Most of the time itâs a matter of selecting the correct sewing machine needle & presser foot for your fabric. Iâve found a book recommended by Cinnamon very helpful, âFabrics A to Zâ by Dana Willard!
I prefer using light-weight cottons for making non-historical doll clothing. I do a lot of costume sewing, and so far the hardest fabrics for me to sew have been overlapping sequin fabric (sequins rival glitter for spreading throughout the house), fake fur, and stretch knits when the pattern calls for felt/woven fabric.
âWhatâs one fabric you love sewing withâand one you tend to avoid?â I love sewing with cotton. I avoid knits but will tackle them sometimes, I really avoid silky type fabrics. :)
I find that quilting cotton is the easiest to sew with but I prefer the looks of fabrics with more texture. I recently tried sewing with a crinkle fabric and was surprised at how easy it was to use this fabric. I have silk and satin fabrics that were given to me, but so far, Iâve been too intimidated to try sewing with them.
Favorite fabric to sew is cotton and I avoid sewing knit fabrics.
Cotton is always our go-to easy sewing fabric. Iâve tried a few tips on knits that have helped me out.
I love working with cottons and especially special occaison fabrics. I like to add sheer/printed overlays on dresses to add a special touch and elegance. I have recently started to work with knits and lets sayâŚâŚâŚ. itâs a challenge for me and I have been sewing for 50 years!!!!!!
Bonjour, Le tissu que jâaime utiliser est le coton et popeline. Celui que jâaime le moins est lâorganza ou tissu plus fluide. Bonne couture Ă tous!
My favorite fabrics are light to medium weight cottons. The one âfabricâ I will not use again is glittery tulle. It was perfect for my project, but I ended up with glitter everywhere.
I sew a lot of different kinds of fabric cotton I find the easiest. I donât like sewing on chiffon or velvet.
Day 6.
My favourite fabric to sew with is cotton. Itâs got structure and body, and comes in every imaginable print.
I donât avoid any fabric but silky slippery fabrics can make me frustrated.
I love SEWING WITH woven cotton. Itâs obedient and quick. But I like USING rayon. It drapes beautifully without being as slippery as silks. I like doll clothes to hang and flow the way they would on a human, and rayon is great for that. However, it does veer into the territory of âfabric that needs pins to help it behave,â which I wouldâve said is the fabric I avoid, until I sewed what I think was organza. Used it to make Elsa capes for little girls. Iridescent, artificial, raveling, DREADFUL fabric that I will NEVER touch again. Iâve never used such foul language while sewing in my life!
I love sewing with cotton but I do not like to sew with thin or loosely woven materials.
I love sewing with cotton â both woven and knits. I try to find lighter-weight cottons for doll clothes so the drape is better. I also really love wool, but have way less of it in my stash. I really hate minky. Really, really. It is hard to sew, but I hate to just touch the stuff. Everyone gushes about how soft it is, but it almost feels slimy to me, and I picture it shedding microplastics everywhere!
I love working with fine cottons like batiste, voile, gingham and Liberty of London prints. I try to avoid bulky fabrics like boucle, velvet and brocades. But if the piece calls for it, I will use it.
I love cottons of all types from denim to heirloom. Iâll be exploring new fabrics as I focus on historical garments.
I love working with quilt cottons and flannel. I avoid working with Satin and other fabrics that fray. I also donât like to use minky and minky like fabrics because they shed so much, although in baby items, they turn out so soft and cozy, so I use it anyway.
I love to sew with cotton but donât like to sew knits.
You want a knit or jersey material for a t-shirt or something that needs a bit of stretch. Satin for evening or special occasion wear. Cotton can be used for many different things from clothing, to blankets and lots of other things
I love sewing with cotton (so easy) and silk dupioni (easy, and SO elegant).
I avoid slippery fabrics, and am always pleasantly surprised when I make a little outfit and it turns out well!
I tend to use cotton for its ease in sewing and care. I avoid vinyl and very stretchy knits.
I havenât found a fabric I hated I look at them as a challenge although I will say sheath lining can be difficult.
I love sewing with fine lawn or other cottons or linens. I enjoy using most other natural fabrics as well. I avoid chiffon or fabrics that fray a lot.
My go-to fabrics for doll clothes are eyelet [usually white] and corduroy, either baby wale or ribless. Both these fabrics are washable. I sew for childrenâs dolls and my own dolls tend to live adventurous lives. Quilterâs cotton is a staple and fabrics salvaged from vintage sources. When I can find very lightweight wools or denims I enjoy using them. I avoid chiffon like the purple plague. It crawls out from under my scissors. The same with tulle. Iâd love to be able to use these creepy crawly fabrics better. I like a tiny ruffle of tulle peeking out under a skirt. Iâve been doing almost all my dolly sewing by hand lately.
I like to sew with vintage lines and cottons. The quality surpasses anything you can now buy, and the softness from years of use appeals to me
I tend to use mostly cotton. I have made 2 mermaid outfits which used lots of different fabrics which came out really nice. I shy away from knit fabrics which always gives me a problem.
I like most fabrics. However, unless I really want to challenge my self and/or have sufficient time, I tend to avoid those fabrics requiring special handling/care. And, if it needs to be quick, the fabric needs to be easy to sew and care for. That often means knits, and knits have their own challenges. re" how stretchy is it? etc.
I love sewing with cotton. Dependable results just about every time. I also like to sew with stretch fabrics as I love to make skating costumes. I do not like to sew with silks or chiffons. They pull so badly.
Iâm pretty much game to try any type of fabric â however, if using satin, I will choose flannel or crepe backed satin if at all possible. I think it holds up better with tiny 1/4" seams! The one fabric I avoid at all costs is chiffon! I hate the way it stretches, no matter how hard I try not to let it.
I love sewing with cotton and light denims. I do not like satin or anything that slips while sewing.
I love sewing on cottons but have avoided knit fabrics and thin fabrics as my ânewâ machine doesnât do them as well as my old one that âbrokeâ.
I start with the pattern. Most work well with quilterâs cotton. However, other patters cry out for other fabrics. To show off a dressy pattern, my choice would be a satin, metallic or similar. Overall patterns would be denim or a twill and heavier patterns like coats and jackets would look best in a corduroy, wool or similar. I avoid very sheer fabrics that require flat-felled seams and hand-rolled hems.
I start with the pattern. Most work well with quilterâs cotton. However, other patters cry out for other fabrics. To show off a dressy pattern, my choice would be a satin, metallic or similar. Overall patterns would be denim or a twill and heavier patterns like coats and jackets would look best in a corduroy, wool or similar. I avoid very sheer fabrics that require flat-felled seams and hand-rolled hems.
I can count on cotton. It behaves in well-known and predictable ways. Most of the natural fibers are also reliable. Silks and the fancies can be temperamental, but there are ways to tame them; even tulle and other net fabrics can be tamed. But I hate, Hate, HATE sewing on âbridal satinâ and upholstery fabrics, and vinyls. I can do it, but not happily.
I like working with cotton, but dislike anything slippery.
I like cotton since it looks nice and crisp andI avoid satin, once it gets a wrinkle it takes forever to remove and it unravels like crazy.
I prefer to sew with cotton but I avoid plaids because of having to match them up
I love sewing with cotton because itâs so versatile â so many colors and designs to choose from! I refuse to sew with satin! I made myself a blouse one time out of satin and had to pin it to the ironing board cover just to iron it so it wouldnât slide off!
I love sewing with satin and avoid certain nylons.
Yes, fabric definitely matters. Being a Lilly Pulitzer fan, the fun tropical prints always gets my attention.
Yes, fabric definitely matters. Being a Lilly Pulitzer fan, the fun tropical prints always gets my attention.
Fabric matters â indeed. While I love cotton prints for many doll items, I also love using a variety of fabrics, but unfortunately, it is very difficult to find lovely fabrics these days. I know there are so many offerings online, but as a lover of fabrics, I so much prefer to see the colors and scale with my own eyes rather than a small thumbnail. There is nothing that can compare to touching and feeling fabric with oneâs own hands.
Cotton is king! Like the majority on here I prefer cotton. It sews easily, irons easily, and comes in the best colors and prints. I hate fabrics with edges that unravel like satin.
Favorite is woven cotton. Least favorite is probably something like chiffon.
Love 100% cotton for sewing and hate vinyl
Iâm not the best at sewing so I generally stick to cottons. My forays into knots have not been successful.
I really like working with 100% cotton.
I really donât prefer to work with stretchy knit fabrics.
I like sewing with cottons. Iâm still learning how to sew with knits so itâs a bit challenging for me.
Cotton is probably the easiest fabric to sew with, so I use it a lot. I hate sewing pleather, even with a Teflon foot. Itâs really difficult, so now I avoid it. I wouldnât mind trying to sew real leather, but I donât have a project in mind for that. I love the feel of silk but itâs snags easily.
Since I sew for young girls I prefer using fabrics that are washable , such as cottons, cotton knits. I do not like to sew with slick fabrics.
Cotton, woven or knit. The fabric I have a dislike for is Minky.
The color I always go back to is red or periwinkle
My favorite is knits and then cottons. Slippery fabrics are trying
Like most I enjoy sewing with cotton fabric. Satins an silks are most difficult for me, though I admire the beauty of whatâs created with them. Terry cloth would also be a difficult one as the fluff is never ending lol.
âWhatâs one fabric you love sewing withâand one you tend to avoid?â I love sewing cottons. I tend to avoid slippery fabrics like satin, taffeta, silk.
Whatâs one fabric you love sewing withâand one you tend to avoid?â
Cotton is preferred. Stretch fabric or thin sheer fabrics are avoid!
Love anything cotton, woven or knit. Itâs so forgiving. The fabric I love and hate is Minky! Has any fabric created such a wonderful feel, but a nightmare to sew!
I dislike T-shirt knits & sheer. I know many dislike minky but I like it. My favorite is just good ole cotton.
T-shirt knits & sheer. I know many dislike minky but I like it. My favorite is just good Ole cotton.
I love sewing with corduroy, and I donât care for taffeta, but I love the look of it.
I will use any kind of fabric. It gives me an opportunity to test my skills. It is usually fun to finally figure out what kind of thread, needle or stitch will work best.
I dislike single knit fabric because it curls a lot. But I work with just about every fabric.
Fabric I usually Avoid: I usually avoid synthetic fabrics, but I have a new favorite this month, a synthetic-blend tweed. It drapes like a dream and presses nicely with crisp edges. So much newness to explore!
I absolutly hate sewing with sheers! Unless they are embroidered, their lack of stability is so frustrating! On the other hand, a good lightweight taffeta is as easy as sewing paper!
I like sewing with fabrics that have a little weight. I donât like fabrics that ravel or that are slippery.
I, too, prefer working with 100% cotton, so many colors and pretty prints! I tend to avoid slippery or sheer fabrics. (And I mourn the passing of Joann Fabric. I loved to go through their remnants, finding different types of fabric to try inexpensively)
Day 6: i really love working with woven cottons and refuse to work with velvet.
Never sewn any everâŚbut Iâd probably want good quality fabrics that will withstand the test of time lolâŚ
I sew with cotton a lot but real leather I shy away from. There are lots of things I would like to sew with leather but am scared to try.
Like most others, I tend to use cotton fabrics mostly. I donât even mind knits. But I try to avoid using velvet, velveteen or faux fur. Even pinning together they tend to shift a lot. My seams donât seem to stay where I want them!
I usually will work with cotton. I have started working with knits again. Iâm trying to be brave. Since I have joined SWC two years ago, I have been watching the courses about other types of material, also read books about fabric and picking up varieties of types of material from my local second hand craft store. I have quite a collection now and intend to challenge myself. I have so many ideas!
I sew with cotton blends all the time and stay away from shiny slippery fabrics even though I have a walking foot.
I love sewing with cotton and knits. For knits I use Cinnamons recommendation for using a coffee filter to keep fabric from going down into feed dogs and it is a stabilizer for top stitching. It tears away very clean. I do not like sewing with costume satin. Just ravels to much.
I love sewing with cotton. I try to avoid knits. The stretchiness of it drives me nuts.
I think I usually use cotton fabrics. I get them from estate sales of quilters. I donât like things that fray or slip & slide. But I want to try making a Korean Hanbok, so Iâm going to have to be brave with the slick material needed for that (however, I havenât come across the perfect Barbie doll for her and they come in all shapes now, so Iâll wait until I can put the fabric on her and figure out the pattern).
I like sewing with cotton. Iâve tried other materials, but have a hard time with sheer fabrics.
Pamela McPherson
December 31, 2025
A fun, but simple, detail I added to a fuchsia colored linen coat dress was a pink and white tye-dyed lining.