I’ve been accumulating. I’ve been accumulating good things for giving. And it’s time to pick some numbers!
∆ ∆ ∆
Out of 2000 comments (oh my, oh my), all the luck and the goodies go to…
#1057: Jill — "Great giveaway! Congratulations on everything new going on – how exciting!"
#156: Jenny — "what great fabric! i love it!"
#1306: elliebelle — "I love the new layout of the blog – it looks
great! The colors of your new lines of fabric are so fun and fresh.
Great job!"
So, Jill, Jenny, & elliebelle, email me with your addresses
& we’ll get your packages shipped this week. And, don’t forget to
tell me which color/style of Trash Ties you’d like!
∆ ∆ ∆
This time the pear photo is no taunt — no longer a forbidden
fruit. I’m kicking off my sewing patterns this month. Our ducks are
just about lined up & ready to quack. I couldn’t be more excited
to wrap up these first patterns and this is the week. Then it’s just a
little wait for the printers to do their thing.
Oh, and there
are other things. Other fun, fun things. But, I’m not saying a word
for one more week or so — which is not such a long wait anymore, as
I’ve been keeping some of these things to myself for almost a year
now. Can’t wait to show you!
∆ ∆ ∆
"To laugh often and love much; to win the respect
of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the
approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false
friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of
one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy
child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played
and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one
life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to have
succeeded."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
I’ve
been thinking about this statement a lot lately. Who was this Emerson,
to speak such a truth? "To have sung with exultation (whether a good singer or not, it is no matter — it’s the singing) …to find the best in others …to endure the betrayal of false friends"; the
comfort of gardening and the blessing of a healthy child. Simple
truths, but so powerful. When you boil this life down to its essence,
it’s where your heart is at that matters. Love is the thing.
I think it’s that old unpublished
Gettysburg- Address-post in me trying to sneak its way out again.
Perhaps it’s wisdom to just let Emerson do the speaking, but I’ve had a
tender heart these last few months. My understanding of the human
experience has come into greater focus this year & I’m just aching
to wax philosophical.
It was
along this line of thinking, that I had originally wished to become a
doctor. In my teenage mind, being a doctor was perhaps the best way to
be of service to humanity. And though I’m grateful for modern medicine
& the blessings it brings so many of us, I now know that there are
opportunities in all walks of life to strengthen the world around us.
And it all starts with kindness & goodness within — bulletproof
kindness.
I’ve just been thinking. And I could so
go on here.
Of course, Emerson died over 100 years ago. If
he were still around, he’d certainly amend his list to include "to
dance a mad-dance to Another One Bites the Dust" — my own
universal truth. (Emerson might not approve of the lyrics, but he’d
agree with the dancing.) Queen is so fabulously all-over-the-place.
Hmmm, kinda like this post.
Excellent Emerson quote! Congratulations to the winners!
Wax away! I’m quite partial to waxing myself, but you’ve put it all so well. Congrats to the winners… and your pear looks amazing 🙂
Look at all your lovely secrets beginning to emerge! How very exciting it must be for you to finally be able to show the world! And to know we’re watching!
Congrats to the winners, those lucky gals.
hooray for the patterns! Can’t wait to see them all!
Oh I just can’t wait! You are the perfect tease:) Thanks for the quote. It really IS all about giving, isn’t it? So glad you are able to share your talent so well!
Congratulations to the lucky winners. I love the pincushions, especially the pear!
Such a powerful quote, and lots of beautiful little splashes of loveliness in this post. 🙂
I am so in love with your blog and the colors of your fabric…and I am a fan of queen and all things random.
That is a wonderful quote, and it seems to me with the look of your bright blog, and the posts you write, and the things you create, that you most definitely give something back to the world.
I am one of your winners! Yippee!!! However, I can’t seem to email you, so will you email me? I am sooo excited!
Jill at JAndreaCo@hotmail.com
I too have been pondering of late. What it is that defines success. Thankyou so much for sharing that inspirational quote. I think you have shown me my new life motto.
I can’t wait to get my hands on a delicious pear pincushion pattern. So scrumptious. I even just bought a gigi pear pin to adorn it.
I’m with you! The Emerson quote is one of my favorites. When My father-in-law passed away a business associate had the quote framed for my husband and his brothers and sisters. Such a beautiful tribute to have lived your life by these words 🙂 Thanks for posting it!
Great Emerson quote.
And, um, that pear totally rocks. So unrelated, but so true. I love it!
That is a fantastic quote to live your life by! Congrats to the winners of this giveaway. Can’t wait to see the patterns and hear your good news. Oh so exciting!
OMG, I LOVE your blog! Your pincushions are adorable, the colors are beautiful! Wish I would have found you before the end of the contest so I would have had a chance to win,lol. The whole look of your blog is super cute! I will be putting you in my favorites and checking back often to see what’s new. The quote you put in is so wonderful and timeless.
Thank you, Debbie
http://debscountrycrafts.blogspot.com/
oh rats I lost, oh well another time!! Here in Massachusetts Emerson is quite big and I love this quote!
Looking forward to seeing the patterns.
Great quote!
Um, funny you should mention Another One Bites the Dust… I have had it in my head ALL DAY LONG.
Oh good quote.
I love the pear.
i “kinda” liked it too! can’t wait to see what’s up your sleeve, and thanks for the thought provoking quote…and i’m with ya on the “dancing a mad dance” 🙂
congratulations to the winners! wonderful giveaways.
Thank you for reminding us of these beautiful words by Emerson, so well written and so universally true. They are surely what any of us could hope to be, and surely you yourself have made this world a better place with the inspiration and joy you bring to so many people.You are a success. I met you at the Country Living conference in Chicago and found you to be as genuine and lovely in person as you come across in your blog. Thank you.
What fabulous prizes! You have an amazing way of putting things together so pleasing to the palette.
I just finished sewing an apron with your FreshCut fabric. The weight was a dream and the colourway combinations made the project so fun! Thanks for all you do!
Have a wonderful day!
Paula 🙂
Sewing patterns!!?? Oh, I’m holding my breath and crossing my fingers until they’re purple hoping and hoping that the halter apron pattern will be released.
Love that quote.
My momma and I always danced crazy in the kitchen to her little radio when I was growing up. We called it “Kitchen Dancing” and it most certainly was therapeutic, the more wild the better. Your post reminded me of this. It’s about time I showed my 4 year old daughter how to let loose of some of life’s craziness. . . hhhhmmmm, some tunes I’m thinking of “Respect” (who doesn’t love Aretha) and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (Oh, yeah, babe).
The Gypsy’s Daughter
I love the quote you posted. It’s something that needs to read ever so often to keep your thoughts from falling down in dark corners. I like a lot of Emersons quotes. Another favorite of mines is
“Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that shall explain and overlook the old.”
I’m liking this post too. Well said from your point of view, Ms. Bailey, & well-quoted, Mr. Emerson.
Can’t wait to try the pear pincushion. Congrats to the three lucky winners!
I like this post too. I can’t wait to see all you have in store for us!
Congratulations to all the winners! Your work is so beautiful and I love your new fabric line. Can’t wait to sew with it! oh, I am so sad I missed this giveaway, but you have inspired me to have one of my own! I think what this world needs is more giveaways, for sure ;)… Have a great day!
Heather, I just stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago and it is already one of my favourites. The colours you use in your work and your bright photography are inspiring. I can’t wait to hear your big news!
heather
loved the post… love the pear… love the strawberries and the tomato… and the quote, well i am going to have to print it bigger and decorate with it… talk soon
melissa
Everything is beautiful as usual! The pair is my favorite next to the strawberry pincushion from a recent post. I am happy for the winners even though I am disappointed not to be one of the lucky three. Happy inspirational day to you!
~Emily
hmmm… I wonder if there is more to this post. I remember a post of Jona’s awhile back that could help this to make sense. lol If I am reading correctly between the lines, then woo-hoo if another one bit the dust. No one will comapre to your talent Ms. Heather! he-he
OOOOhhhh .. I lovelovelove those pincushions … oohhhhh …
I so love that quote too! It touches me so. 🙂
*hugs*
Lovely. ‘Tis the simple things in life isn’t it. It is good to remember all of the little, feel-good lovelies that bring us joy, make us smile and spread kindness and good feelings. Thank you for your lovely thoughts and the quote, which I’d not heard before. I do concur with Summer Allen above. I have seen, as I’m sure other HB fans have seen, some not-very-nice goings on. It hurts when people we believe to be our friends deliberately abuse our friendship and trust.
Congratulations, too, to the winners of Heather’s lovely packs – enjoy!
hope my email got to you. i couldn’t use the send email link on the blog because i have hotmail, but i did send an email. 🙂 i’m so excited to be one of the lucky three winners! 🙂
love the waxing philosophical part. Please, do go on…
I’m so loving the Emerson quote… it must be added to my all time favorites! So, not only are you insanely brilliant at all things crafty, but you are a wonderfully elequent writer:) I eat your words up they are so fabulous!
I am a big fan of your pincushions and the pears are..better than real…it seems that in France we do like them a lot too!
Do you have a pattern for the new darling pincushion? SO CUTE! Everything on this blog is so wonderful. I have to tell you though,I hate you a little bit if that is your vintage orange truck in the Mary Engelbreit magazine photo. I have always wanted a truck just like that in the exact color.
I can’t wait to make these pin cushions. I love your fabrics and your studio is to die for. I just got the latest Home Companion and your papers are in it. Congratulations!
Thank you for this beautiful post and for reminding me of Emerson and Co.
I got introduced by my lit-teacher to Emerson and to Thoreau when I went to High School in the US a long time ago.
Ever since I’ve been attached to them – but often I kept them way back in my brain/memory.
Would you mind if I put this quote on my little blog with my personal story sometimes?
:-Tally-:
How wonderfully randomly awesome-I LOVE this post. I was smiling from beginning to end, then you mentioned Queen and my smile got bigger. I popped right into my iTunes window and selected them on my playlist. I sit here tapping my toe loving the awesome mood I am now in. Thanks girl!
HI! I must say you do beautiful work!
I heart your pin cushions. How can I go about purchasing one? I’d LOVE one!
-Kristen
(CANADA)
HI. I must say you do beautiful work!
How can I go about purchasing a pincushion from you?
-Kristen
(CANADA)
can i order one of the fabulous pin cushions somewhere??? i am a beginner sewing and having lots of trial and error. lots of seams ripped out these days! i have a 3 month old daughter and have been inspired to make her clothes. pants are so hard to sew together! i get everything ready and then have trouble following the steps to sewing them together! is this common? can you tell me of any patterns that are easy to read? thanks for you help and i love looking at your blog!!