Design

  • Meet Elsie

    ByHeather Bailey

    FeatureFridayBadge
    Isaac and I fantasize about refurbishing and redecorationg an old Airstream trailer. When we head out on family campouts, we often stop at dealerships on the way to peek in the windows of old trailers. Then, as we drive along, we discuss exactly how we would overhaul them in structure, decor, functionality, etc. Isaac has even talked about outfitting an Airstream as an on-site office, parked inside the studio.

    ElsieTrailerT

    Isaac and I may not ever fit this fantasy into our real lives, but look who did! Monique Willms of Pocket Full of Whimsy recently completed a colorful trailer rehab using fabric from my Pop Garden collection.

    ElsieExterior470 Through brute-force labor, she and her husband tore apart a crusty old camper, then worked their magic to achieve cheerful results in turquoise and red — with pops of yellow.

    They named the camper Elsie and catalog her adventures with the family in a call-out section of Monique’s blog. I don’t see how those kiddos can have anything but happy family memories, touring around in such color. Who has ever seen such a collection of bright, ebullient blankets in one space!?

    MoniqueWillms

    I’m of the strong opinion that women should learn their power tools. Liberate yourself, ladies! Look what you can do.

    ElsieTrailer2T_300Atta girl, Monique, for tackling a project of this magnitude — and completing it. I can only imagine how much work this was.

    Give the girl some love.


  • Inside HB Headquarters

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Check out the current issue of Where Women Create magazine—that’s me on the cover below. Included are the first public photos of our company workspace, a.k.a. HB headquarters, as well as photos of my home studio. See our design space, the online store’s fulfillment area, the amazing worktables Isaac completed last spring, and more. The article covers my typical workday, juggling kids, artwork, employees, licensees, etc. I’ve been holding off showing you my new space till this issue hit newstands. I’m glad it’s here!

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    If you are new to Where Women Create, rush to get your first copy. Seriously. Each issue is more like a book than a magazine, thick with beautiful images and inspiring stories. The cover price is bit higher than other magazines—in order to keep the issues from being bogged down with a gazillion advertisements, and to make space for much more content than other magazines have—completely worth the price. If you’re looking for a signed copy, we have a handful available. Just a handful though.

    The magazine’s founder, Jo Packham, has a long history in book publishing. Where Women Create is her first magazine title, sprung from a book by the same name. This year, she has launched her newest project, Where Women Cook, a sister magazine to Where Women Create. Read up on your favorite foodies. Drool over pages of mouth-watering recipes. This new title promises to be just as inspirational—especially if you’re into food—and who isn’t?

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    Jo, along with Nancy Soriano (love Nancy too!), former Editor-in-Chief of Country Living Magazine and current Publishing Director of Craft for F & W Media, are the founders of The Creative Connection conference held last month in Minneapolis. I attended the conference last year as a Panelist and had intended to be there this year as well. Everyone featured in this month’s Where Women Create magazine was there for an autograph party on Friday night and several participated in classes, forums, panels, and so forth. I was home feeding the newborn.

    HeatherBailey_WWC0811_72dpi

    It’s a fantastic event that I lend my enthusiastic support to. If you have the opportunity to attend next year’s conference, do. Follow the event’s twitter chatter by entering the hashtag #tcce11 over on Twitter. To find out more about next year’s conference, check the Creative Connection website for updates. Also, if you’re in Orlando this weekend, head to the Southern Women’s Show to meet Jo and her team. Where Women Create has a full schedule of events and meet-n-greets planned for the show’s stage.

    Thank you, Jo, for the honor of being your cover gal for this issue. It’s been a delight getting to know you this year.


  • |

    The Champions, My Friends

    ByHeather Bailey

    OpenDelight_HeatherBailey_Paper

    How about I announce some winners? Has it been long enough? Har, har.

    As always, you’ve made picking giveaway winners extremely difficult for me. That’s a good thing. Thanks for the great comments! It took a bit of effort not to fret over this decision disproportionately. I love you all. (I might need a Decision Therapist.)

    Jen from Backwoods Wife, give me a holler, along with Naomi from Nome’s Brag-a-Long. Come on down! You can each have your pick of travel mugs and Pocket Posh books. Thanks for making my birthday bright.

    Jen: “Our 4-year-old daughter asked her Grandma to go to the park with her, to which Grandma replied, "Not right now, Grandma's pooped." Wide-eyed, Riley replied incredulously, "In your underwear?!"”

    Naomi: You’ll have to navigate to Naomi’s hilarious story. I’ve chickened out of posting it on the main page. It involves a diaper change. (comments, p.6—at the bottom)

    And because I’m a total softee—and I’m moved that hundreds of you took the time to add your thoughts to the birthday soup—I’m also handing out a gaggle of gift certificates to the following (I wish I could send every one of you a gift):

    Becky W. – for expanding my vocabulary with the term, “The Skoots.” (p.1)
    Megan – for her awesome banana slug / turtle joke (p.3)
    Mary Beth – for having TWO 14-year-old boys at home & enduring it (p.3)
    Liz Mouse – for weathering a baby’s birth the same week as selling one home and buying another (p.3)
    Brittanie – for this fantastic quote: “Cleaning and sorting while you and kids are growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.” (p.5)
    Julie – for a kind, gushing compliment that made me smile (p.6)
    Carrie McW. – for not knowing she was pregnant till 24 weeks into it (p.4)
    Marcy Mahle – for her ‘winning store display’—go read this one! (p.5)
    Seanna Lee – for helping her mom deliver a baby on the couch when she was only three (p.4)
    GG – by mistaking my remark about shaving my legs to read,“It is far easier to HAVE swollen ankles”—and her disappointment at not learning more (p.5)
    Julie B. – for needing cheering up after being called an “Old Fogie Mama” for having a baby at 38. (p.5)
    Chanel – for needing cheering up after shoulder surgery and enduring the hairiness that accompanies having your shaving arm in a sling for many weeks (p.5)

    And to the following new mamas, all with babies that were due about the same time as my little guy. I am your Mid-Night Commiserator; we are sisters is sleep deprivation.

    Kim (ChefMessy)
    Ashley (love that green bunk bed, btw!)
    Celeste
    Bianca G.
    Elizabeth Jeanne
    Shannon
    Sarah Cap

    Thanks, everyone, for the birthday wishes, stories, laughs, etc. (Have a look—great stories!) As I have said before, I wish we all lived in one, weird, modern town where we could get together for sewing bees on Sundays and dance parties every Friday night. Thank you for your friendship.

    Winners, I will email each of you with instructions. If you don’t hear from me in the next two days or so, assume my email got lost in the VooDoo Net and send me an email (link in sidebar).

    * The collage shown above was made by the lovely Lynette Carroll using HB papers & such.

  • |

    Blah, Blah, Boom!

    ByHeather Bailey

    Is it seriously my birthday today? The day might come and go without this sinking in – at – all. There is so much going on around here. Not only are we adjusting to the back-to-school schedule (yesterday, between us, Isaac and I made 6 trips total to and from the kids’ schools — 30-45 mins each trip!), but Elijah chipped a major chunk off his front tooth Wednesday night (emergency dental appointment), all of my licensing partners are asking for new artwork by the end of the month, and I still haven’t figured out where we are going to put this baby — who could come at any time — but will be here by the end of the month no matter what.

    HeatherBaileyCupcake

    We have two kids’ rooms, one office, one open office, a loft, a turret-like play room… a closet. Do you bunk a newborn boy up with his 14-year-old brother who sleeps like a log, or with his 6-year old sister who doesn’t? Neither is the obvious choice. Or do you turn the teensy turret into an adorable nursery — that may only fit a crib and a nightstand. Nevermind the room is right over the front door (doorbell, barking dogs), it’s insanely bright in there, and there’s no sound barrier (such as a door). Or do you move the teenager into the office and the baby into the teenager’s room? Isaac is convinced no teenage boy should have a downstairs room by himself — much more a reflection of Isaac’s teenage years than a concern over Elijah as a mischief-maker. Besides, we kind of need the office. 

    PocketPosh_PeoniesI don’t know. I’ve been telling myself that we’ll just set up a bunk for the baby in our room for a while till we know what he’s like and see how he does with sleeping & such. This is still ‘the plan.’ But, what I realize now is that his STUFF still needs a place. So, where do we put the clothes, the diapers, the blankets, the toys? My room, C’s room, E’s room, the loft, the office — same contenders.

    These are things a mother should probably address in the 2nd trimester before her energy is thoroughly drained. Alas, I spent all of my nesting energy on meeting deadlines and getting my business obligations squared away so I could focus on the baby when he gets here. Not a bad plan, really. But his baby stuff? I have to wash things and put them away — well, somewhere.

    So, here I am. Tick, tick, tick, tick… the timer is about to chime. He’s coming out of the oven.

    I should probably forget all of this for one more day and just go do something fun, huh? Antique-shopping would fit the bill.

    Before I do, I have a birthday obligation to meet — my annual birthday giveaway! I have four new Pocket Posh books out with Andrews McMeel Publishing that – are – stinking – fabulous. I’ve got two prizes for the guy or gal who can cheer me up / calm me down / get me jazzed / sooth my swollen legs with a funny birth or baby story, a great joke, amazing advice, etc.** Your call.

    HeatherBailey_TravelMugsHeatherBailey_PocketPosh

    Each winner can have his or her pick of one of my new travel mugs and one of our new Pocket Posh books. (Which I have learned are the PERFECT things to keep in the car for school-pick-up-line boredom. PERFECT.) They don’t just have clinical definitions and such — they have history, and interesting facts, and smart stuff. They’re really cool.

    • 120 Words To Make You Sound Intelligent
    • 120 Words You Should Know
    • 120 Words That are Fun to Say
    • 120 Job Interview Words You Should Know

    ** I reserve the right to be completely befuddled by all of your fabulous comments and to resort to the Random Number Generator for help if picking a winner is too stressful for my rotund self.

    And, before I forget, can I say it is FAR easier to shave swollen ankles!? This fascinates me.


  • |

    Maybe.

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Charlotte started 1st grade today. Elijah starts high school on Wednesday. With their schedules & activities, my own work obligations, and a newborn to juggle, we will be ping-ponging all over town this year. I’m counting on the crock pot for help. And I’ll be baking grab-n-go goodies on the weekends. Yesterday, I made Sour Cherry Muffins. I thought 2 dozen would get us somewhere — but they are no more — devoured in a day.

    That’s a teenage boy.

    … and a pregnant woman.

    … and a sugar-obsessed child.

    … and a man.

    — and two dogs sweeping up crumbs.

    I was planning to snap a photo & post my recipe, but it looks like I’ll have to bake 4 dozen in order to pull that off. Maybe next week. 

    Everything is “maybe” right now. “Maybe I’ll be there.” “Maybe I can do that for you.” “Maybe I’ll make muffins this Sunday.” I sound so wishy-washy. The fact is, I’m 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow. Elijah was born at 36 weeks on the nose and Charlotte was born at 37.5 weeks. I can’t commit to anything much for a while.

    Any day now! Or, then again, maybe in a few weeks.

    All of my cuteness efforts are going into accessories at this point. Flashy, distracting bags & purses. Headbands, earrings, necklaces — all at the same time. Colorful shoes. (Ignore the billowing pudge of my swollen left foot escaping the confines of my unsensible shoe. Strangely, it’s just my left leg that swells.)

    My belly precedes me. Not only does my colorful new thermos make me feel better about the gallons of water I have to drink in order to keep up with this baby AND the 113-degree weather — it is yet another loud-and-lovely accessory to wave in front of my stomach when I’m out and about — a colorful diversion for the well-intending stares that follow a pregnant woman everywhere.

    So that’s the pregnancy update — and the business news — all mushed together. Check out my new travel mugs! Just in from my licensing partner, Inviting Company. Five designs. Stainless steel. Awesome.


  • A Wristed Development

    ByHeather Bailey

    In my ongoing quest to cute-up the dull, it’s time to attack the wrist pincushion. Who wrote the law that wrist pincushions must be ugly and uncomfortable? Did it begin with the red-plastic snap-on variety of my mother’s generation; in our excitement for the advent of plastic, did we take things too far?** Or were we torturing ourselves long before then?

    WristPincushion2
    True, there have been some commercial attempts to add personality to the plain old pincushions of the past: gingham hearts, lavendar daisies and so forth. With a lack of alternatives, I might prefer painful-to-wear over painful-to-look-at.

    WristPincushion Bring on the bloggers. I’m not the first to offer a solution. Megan of Crafty Intentions whipped up an octopus from Futuregirl’s pattern — a wristopus? Super cool. Lori La Tortuga made a fun little owl once upon a time. Super cute. And Planet June has a great tutorial for a simple, but stylish Offset Square Wrist Pincushion. Super chic.

    I’ll take a stab at pretty.

    Here, I’ve taken my new free pattern, Spring Violets (announced in our May newsletter) and adapted it to the cause. For the wrist band, I cut two rectangles of felt, 1.5″ x 7.25″ and 2″ x 7.25″. (Measure your wrist to make sure this works for you — allow overlap for a velcro closure.)

    With hot glue, I attached a thin circle of wood at the center of the wider felt band and pinked the edges of the felt. I then layered the smaller felt band on top, enclosing the wooden disc. I edge-stitched the bands together around the perimeter, then attached velcro at each end as a closure. Lastly, I whip-stitched the Spring Violets in place above the wooden disc. The flowers are attached to a small, stuffed tuffet (see pattern) which is perfect for pins. The wooden disc keeps your wrist whole-not-holey. (Check the woodcraft section of your local craft store.)

    WristPincushionNotes That’s it. Pretty simple.

    Click here to download the flower instructions. Let me know if you have any questions. Looking for felt? We’ve got plenty of that.

    ** However uncomfortable, I am totally nostalgic for those clamp-on red pincushions. Even though my mom usually kept pins between her teeth, she always wore a ratty red wrist-cushion covered with a rainbow of threaded needles.


  • The Tuxedo Clutch & Fresh Style Magazine

    ByHeather Bailey

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    There’s a fantastic new magazine out this summer called Fresh Style. The debut issue oozes with luscious color, decorating inspiration, fashionable crafts, and more, including interviews with me, Amy Butler, and Ashley Ann Campbell of Under the Sycamore.

    To celebrate the magazine’s launch, I designed a pattern to include with the article: The Tuxedo Clutch. Instructions for this fast and fun purse are found in the Summer 2011 issue — available at newstands through the end of July. Other projects featured in this issue include an apron made from men’s dress shirts, a chic ribbon headband, custom-bleached shirts,and a super-cool pallet bed. (I love the ceiling decor above the bed too (p.75). Ooo, and I just spotted a Happy Stacker in the basket next to the bed — Ashley Ann, is this your house?)

    TuxedoClutch_1T

    The Tuxedo Clutch packs a big punch of style, yet it is simple to make. My design is inspired by the ruffled front of a funky men’s dress shirt. Think 70s prom. (Whoa, not exactly 70s, but check out this ruffled shirt.)

    The blue brooch? I picked that up at a vintage hoo-hahs booth at Quilt Market a year or two ago. I couldn’t resist. It’s old and a bit skee-wumpus, which has me loving it even more.

    FreshStyle_Summer2011_D

    For more info about Fresh Style, visit their blog at freshstylemag.com. And here’s a handy link if you wish to place an order through Hoffman Media. I think they carry back-issues too, in case you miss the July deadline.


  • Summer Reading

    ByHeather Bailey

    SummerReading

    I recently asked for book recommendations on Twitter. Here’s a list of what came through. Of course, who knows what literary taste each of these books reflects, but I’m enjoying the adventure of finding out. If you are looking for a summer read, one of these might suit your fancy — but read at your own risk. I don’t know anything about these books.

    • 19 Minutes by Jody Picoult (several people recommended this, but warned that it’s “heavy”)
    • Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler
    • The Birth House by Sideshow Ami
    • Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton (“if you like Jane Austen”)
    • Christmas Jars
    • Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
    • Freedom by Jonathan Franzen (“anything” by him)
    • The Giving Tree (ha! a kid’s book)
    • The Great Night by Chris Adrian
    • The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
    • Mistress of the Art of Death (looks like this is a series)
    • Modoc (this is about an elephant!?)
    • The Red Tent (several people recommended this one)
    • Remarkable Creatures
    • Sarah’s Key
    • The Tailor’s Daughter
    • The Time Traveler’s Wife

    And I’ll add Bossypants by Tina Fey to the list.  I’m curious to see what that one is about.  Has anyone read it?

    Several of these titles were not available at the library yesterday with multiple holds placed on each of the copies — a good sign.  The three I ended up taking home for Round 1 were:  Back When We Were Grownups, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and The Corrections (by Jonathan Franzen). 

    Thanks to everyone who sent their picks.  I have to read at night to fall asleep, otherwise, my mind invents all sorts of excuses to stay up!  If you have a suggestion or two to add, please share it.  Maybe tell us a little about it.  Twitter does’t afford space for much explanation, does it?  Here you can cast more than 140 characters in the role.



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    Signature Styles

    ByHeather Bailey


    I have a bit of catch up to do.  More than a bit.

    I made a list of all the blog posts I would have done if I hadn’t lost my Wonder Woman headband last month. (Or is it a tiara?)  It’s quite a list and I’m just not prepared to skip past “Go” and move on with things without spinning out a few re-caps.  There are too many cool things I have missed sharing.

    I’ll start with Signature Styles.  That’s me on the cover of a new book.  Newsworthy, right?   I think so.  In Jenny Doh’s latest title for Lark Crafts, she features 20 creative women and discusses each gal’s personal style as it relates to her work, her wardrobe and more.  Each “stitcher” has designed a project for the book as well.  For example, Megan Hunt includes instructions for an awesome little ruffled flower bracelet and Amy Tangerine shares techniques for “Crafty” tee shirt applique.  It’s a jam-packed read, with lots of eye candy. 

    For my part, I designed this quick and kicky wristlet purse.  It’s the ultimate easy-assemble purse pattern for customizing your wardrobe.  With a design so simple to sew, why not prep the perfect purse for every outfit?

    Wristlet Purse

    I’m really impressed with this book. I’m only about halfway through reading each of the features, but once I’ve devoured it entirely, I’m certain to keep it within easy reach for a quick visual escape.  It was a pleasure to work with Jenny and of course, an honor to be included.

    Signature Styles hit bookstores just this last month. If you’re interested in a signed copy, we are stocking a few at our online shop — for a limited time.

    Heather Bailey Purse

    Other women featured in this new book include: Serena Thompson, Meg McElwee, Elsie Flannigan, Rashida Coleman-Hale, Kathy Cano-Murillo (who I just had dinner with last week), Betz White, Meg Allan Cole, Bari J. Ackerman, Erika & Monika Simmons, Kayte Terry, Megan Hunt, Sonya Nimri, Megan Nicolay, Ruth Singer, Sandy Stone, Bonzie & Ger, Teva Durham, and Amy Tangerine.

    Feeling oddly curious about the history and significance of Wonder Woman’s headband?  Click here. It’s amazing what you can learn on the internet.


  • Air — It’s Not Just for Breathing

    ByHeather Bailey

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    PaintSprayer
    One tool we’ve learned we can’t live without is an air-powered paint sprayer.  This month alone we have painted up two huge work tables, a large dining table, two small tables, a chair, a chest of drawers and several frames.  I should say, Isaac has painted up all of these things.  I just ran the kids around and made all of the dinners so he could keep at it.  For three weeks, our front driveway housed what looked like a terrorist interrogation tent, dusty tarps flapping in the wind.  Isaac called it his “hobo shanty town.”  Painting this many pieces would have been misery with a paint brush and the finishes wouldn’t have been so smooth and professional. 

    DeWalt_Air_CompressorOf course, it would have taken far less time if we weren’t experimenting with some bullet-proof, professional paint Isaac tracked down.  This stuff was rough to use, but the finished work tables are hard as glass.  We used regular paint from the hardware store for all of the other projects and they were far easier to complete.

    We have refinished a ton of furniture over the last 15 years.  I regret not getting an air compressor and a paint sprayer sooner. 

    AIR COMPRESSOR
    As far as air compressors go, for spraying paint, it’s important to get a compressor that is large enough and powerful enough to keep up with you. Usually you would need, at minimum, a 20- to 30-gallon compressor for powering a paint sprayer because you are using the compressed air in a steady stream instead of in short bursts (as for a nail gun or staple gun).  However, we have found that the 15-gallon DeWalt D55168 is up to the task.  It has an extra-powerful motor and is capable of being filled to a very high pressure — many 30-gallon compressors will only go up to 140 PSI (pounds per square inch), while this guy will go up to 200 PSI so it releases a longer flow of air than you would normally expect from a smaller tank.  And it takes up less room.  Furthermore, when we turned this machine on at the store, we found that it was also considerably more quiet than other models.  Sold!

    Make sure to compare the SCFM ratings (Standard Cubic Feet per Minute) of the compressors you are considering, which measures air flow (into the tank, I think).  For spraying paint, you will want a machine with an SCFM of 5 or more.  Most air compressor tools will list what SCFM is needed to operate them, so look at the different tools you will want to use before choosing which model of air compressor to purchase.  If you plan to use an air compressor for tasks that only require small bursts of air, like for a nail gun or a staple gun, then you might be able to get away with a smaller compressor.  Read more about how to choose an air compressor here.

    PAINT SPRAYER
    In my opinion, the gravity-fed pneumatic paint sprayers (with the paint tank on top) work a little better than the siphon-fed ones.  I haven’t used enough different models to say which brand/model is best.  Ours is a Husky Pro HVLP and we have been plenty happy with it thus far.  Make sure to get a professional-quality respirator to wear while you’re working.