HELLO my name is Heather

  • Market

    ByHeather Bailey

    Favoritebouquethb2

    This is my favorite bouquet of all time — peonies with those yellow ball- thingies mixed in.  When I left town, the peonies were electric pink.  Now they’re a romantic white.  I hope I age as gracefully.

    Anna_and_heather I had a blast at Quilt Market.  I met up with my new Westminster family and was charmed by their vision for Free Spirit.  Days were packed with new friends and big discussions.  Evenings were busy with fancy dinners, even bigger discussions and a peppering of giggles. 

    Ms. Purl, Joelle Hoverson, has a book on the way – watch out!  Amy‘s having bags made.  Anna‘s in the rug business.  Sandi‘s getting fabric going.  Lots of energy.  And, thank heaven for that, as I slept a total of 10 hours over three nights.  Yikes. 

    Thoroughly Modern Millie had me in tears — twice.  And it’s not a sad story.  Darn that frantic jazzy dancing.  My feet tapped all the way through dinner with Holly and company. 

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    I’m glad to be home, on the other side of a long string of commitments, de-mucking from the photoshoot and gathering strength for a final push on my next fabric line.  I am amazed and honored by the enthusiasm I received from sales reps, quilt shops and sewers this weekend.  I guess there were a few months there where Freshcut was hard to get.  The transition to Westminster threw a few kinks in the system and a majority of shops who ordered Freshcut months ago are just now receiving the line.  So much newness and excitement.

    In fact, in one wave of gittiness, wrapping quilts around ourselves and posing for snapshots, we knocked over a heavy wooden pillar which clocked me in the foot.  How does a quarter-inch wound yield a 5" bruise?  Ah, the mysteries of life.

  • Give Away the Pattern Instead, Right?

    ByHeather Bailey

    Ay, ay, ay.  What a week!  What…a…week.  I just wrapped up a big ol’ beautiful photoshoot with an amazing magazine around 10pm tonight, not including time to unpack a-dozen-or-so tupperwares filled with goodies and supplies. 

    Unpacking will have to wait though (sorry, honey), as it’s time for me to go pack my suitcase for Spring Market.  My flight leaves in a just a few hours.  What am I doing blogging at the expense of much-needed sleep?  Good question. I’ll think about that tomorrow.

    Freshcutquilt
    I’m looking forward to sitting still on a plane.  And I’m sneaking off to the Theatre on Saturday.  Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Yep.  I’ll get to sit still for that too.

    While I’m gone, have at this free quilt pattern (follow link, then click "Download" under the quilt photo).  I should have posted about it a while ago.  It’s the one I put together for Free Spirit.  I had fun laying out the instructions.  Heck, I had fun making the quilt. 

    I’d like to make a big version too.  To keep.  Most of the quilts in my arsenal are ancient.  And not good-ancient.  More like high-school-ancient.  I have a bad habit of giving new quilts away.  Do they make a patch for that? 

  • New Babies!

    ByHeather Bailey

    Lilylukefl
    There’s nothing sweeter than a new little baby.  And our family now has two new cuddly creatures to get to know – one niece and one nephew, both born last week.  Laura gave birth to baby Luke on April 15th.  Here’s a photo of Lily snuggled up to her long- awaited baby brother.  Their family went through a couple of adoption disappointments and a battery of treatments before a successful attempt at in vitro.  We’re all relieved and thrilled to have Luke here.  I hear Lily will even hold Luke through her mom’s entire shower.  Big sisters are the best!

    Harpersdiapers
    Rachel (another of Isaac’s sisters) & Pip had baby Harper Lee on April 12th.  Does her name sound familiar?  Harper Lee was the author of To Kill a Mockingbird. I have yet to see her beautiful face, but Rachel did send me some diaper photos a couple weeks back.  Do you see her enthusiasm for her new little daughter in the glorious execution of these homemade diapers?  I do.  They’re beautiful.  They make cloth-diapering almost tempting : )

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    Harper is Rachel’s fifth child and first girl. Rachel is such a creative and nurturing soul — and hip as all get-out.  She’s going to have so much fun dolling up her new baby.  I’ll have to get her going on a blog so we can all be inspired. 

    Laura’s been busy prepping for baby Luke the last few weeks as well.  You have GOT to check out his Scotty-Dog quilt (looks like there’s a bit of it in the photo above) and matching doll, and Laura’s hand-dyed onesie remakes (there’s a tutorial too).  Lots of love for these new little babies.

  • Ms. Mimi’s Roses

    ByHeather Bailey

    Rosebearhb
    Roseblankiehb One more doll blanket and then we’ll have ourselves a breather.  Mimi told me her favorite colors were red and yellow and green and white.   

    I’m still sewing.  I stayed up way too late last night watching that new Shear Genius show while I did some hand- stitching on a fun little green and orange shirt. Now I’m too tired to decide what to do with myself.  I have four projects in the works that are each 90% finished.  I won’t let myself start a new one until one of those is done, but I’m not in the groove. 

    I think I’ll go take a early evening shower and try to wake up.  Maybe I’ll do my hair and try to feel civilized.  That usually does the trick.

  • Ms. Katie’s Butterfly

    ByHeather Bailey

    Bluebearbutterflyhb
    ButterflyblankiehbBlue bear isn’t very scary.  He dreams of blue-eyed butterflies. 

    I’m finally fitting in some sew time with my fabric.  I’m prepping for a big magazine shoot in two weeks and am whipping up all sorts of fun:  dollies and kids’ clothes, purses and tablecloths. Jona and my mom are helping me out big time.  And, Isaac set up a flat-panel TV in my studio to keep me company.

    So, back to Moulin Rouge and thread-covered jeans for me.  I’ll be back next post with one more doll quilt.

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    Tweet Dreams

    ByHeather Bailey

    Looking at that photo of Charlotte playing with her kitty doll (in my last post) reminded me of the treasure trove of Freshcut projects I haven’t shown you yet.  Last October, when my sample fabric came in, I went into a creative frenzy and made up all kinds of fun projects to photograph for an inspiration book.  I kept the photos aside for a bit, hoping to put together an amazing website with all-new photography.  But, seeing as it’s been nearly six whole months and my website is still on the backburner, why wait any longer? 

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    So, here’s the quick little kitty who dreams of birdies – orange ones. This ruffled blankie is pre-doll-quilt-craze of ’07.  The weekend I made this, I was miserably sick with Strep and could barely move.  The design of the quilt (being mainly applique) was majorly determined by my need to remain on the couch and my inability to pull myself up to the sewing machine.  The birdies hearken back to the ones I began to stitch on this blanket, but haven’t shown you yet either (they don’t have eyes yet).  Terrible, I know.  I confess all.

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    But there’s hope.  I made up two more doll quilts last weekend at the impassioned request of my good friend’s daughters.  I needed a break and doll blankies did the trick.  My point?  I figured I better show the original birdie blankie before posting its derivatives.  Isn’t it tweet?  (Love those orange roses on the bed too.)

    More blankies to come.

  • New Gizmo

    ByHeather Bailey

    Easterherohbw_2

    This is kinda fun.  I got an email about this new mini-website tool called Leafletter a few days ago and had to check it out.  It seems like a great way to show a portfolio of artwork or a series of photos in one blog post without smothering the page with photos. 

    I dinked around in there and came up with this little album showing Charlotte’s Easter clothes from Kat.  If you click on the title at the bottom, you’ll see a menu of all the pages.  Or you can travel from page to page by clicking the larger photos.  The smaller photos can each be made larger when selected and some of them have added notes.  Click around and you’ll find a photo of Charlotte’s toothless little smile.

    Kinda fun, huh?

  • Easter

    ByHeather Bailey

    Bubbles

    Egghunt

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    Yay!  Happy Easter.

    I spent some good time outdoors and am feeling refreshed and ready for a week in the studio.  We did the egg-hunt/bubble-party thing at my parents’, along with a potluck feast.  (Sometime I’ll have to get you the recipe for my mom’s "Heart-Attack Potatoes" – everyone’s guilty favorite.)

    And good news on the Martha Stewart thing —  Mary from Tennessee found a link to the episode with my fabric.  Follow this link and press play.  It’s the segment called "Sewing Machines."

    Huntingt

    I’ll be back soon with some clearer photos of Charlotte’s little Easter outfit (the gift from Kat I was telling you about. Talk
    about good timing     — over-the-top Springy duds just in time for Easter). Charlotte looked like a poster- child for the holiday (that, or a bowl full of ice cream).

    And, no, I’m not expecting.  That’s just a billowy dress.

  • Martha, Martha, Martha

    ByHeather Bailey

    Chickieonribbonhb
    So, guess what popped up on Martha Stewart’s show this week… my fabric.  Pretty cool. 

    GroovyfabrichbThe CEO of SVP (Singer Viking Pfaff, I think) Sewing Machines gave Martha an apron made from my groovy floral fabric (to the right) and my crest design (in this strawberry photo).  I was on the road to L.A. when it aired, but thanks to several early-morning emails from the East coast, I had it recorded.  They didn’t mention my name or anything, so it’s really not such a big deal.  Just a bit fun. 

    Of course, if I had posted about this yesterday, you could have seen the video on Martha’s site, but it looks like it got bumped today.  Ah well, April 3rd was a whole three days ago, after all.

    Update:  The video does still exist.  Here’s the link.  It’s the segment called, "Sewing Machines."

    Another Update:  This just in… Jay Leno’s doing a spoof on the Martha Stewart apron segment on The Tonight Show this evening (Monday, April 9th).  If you’re on the west coast, you should still be able to catch it.

    One More:  The Jay Leno bit was a hoot.  They digitally swapped out the apron’s print for a woman’s silhouette in lingerie.  Can’t find it on YouTube for you, but the whole monologue can be picked up on iTunes.

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    Update

    ByHeather Bailey

    Banner

    We made it through the dentist appointment.  And though I’m utterly bewildered, it seems that Charlotte’s already "over it" and has moved on.  Teeth, no teeth — whatever. 

    And, yes, they were both removed.  Well, mostly.  One tooth was already so broken-up that the root stayed put.  Her gums will grow over it, preventing infection. The root will eventually dissolve or get bulldozed-on-up by her future tooth.  It took three bouts of restraint – xrays, numbing routine & extraction – just gentle hands, no straps – and each only lasted about a minute.  Only a minute!  Yes, I’m still a bit mortified, but relieved that it wasn’t worse.  Thank you for your love and concern.  It’s amazing how many of you have endured the same disgrace.  We’ll see how we fare over time — I’m sure we’ll adjust, as so many of you have.  Still sad, though.

    I’m heading out to L.A. again.  Just for one day.  But, before I go, I’ve got to spread the good word on an exciting and extremely flattering event taking place on eBay this week.  The Material Girls Boutique Group on eBay is heading up a "launch" of mostly childrenswear all made with or inspired by my Freshcut fabric collection.  To browse their creations, visit eBay and search these terms: "materialgirls FC". 

    I can’t say what a treat it is for me to see such a variety of playful ideas spring from my artwork.  Go take a peek.  And if you ever hear the term "launch" come up in regards to eBay again, you’ll know what one looks like.  That’s more than I could say a few weeks ago.  Those eBay gals know how to have fun.