Look what Laura made for me. This is such a great idea. She took a
silk purse from The Limited — found on sale at TJMaxx or Marshall's(?)
and heatherized it with handmade silk flowers and vintage buttons. I
love it!
There
are two dupioni flowers, plus two little buds from a Kaffe Fasset
print. The leaves are made from lace and a vintage kimono print.
On
the home front, my 13-year-old is now nearly my height — about 1/2" to
go. So bizarre. On our way to my parents' house yesterday, Elijah was
telling me how awesome it is to have a mom so close to him in age. (I
was 21 when we had him.)
"When I'm 60, you'll be 81," he said.
"And we can play shuffleboard together, " I replied.
"We can have a walker race to the country club!" he concluded.
An
image that will stay with me for oh, at least 47 more years, if I'm
fortunate enough to make it to that race. Now, of course, no
60-year-olds I know have a walker, but at 13, anyone over 40 is a
candidate for a walker, right?
I love that kid.
-o-o-o-o-o-
(McCartney wrote When I'm Sixty-Four when he was only sixteen years old! Although it wasn't released till he was 25 or so.)
Henrietta and I have a new friend at the studio. Meet Effie,
keeper of pink pins and patron of happy thoughts. Doing tricks and back
flips is Effie's younger brother, Ollie, the circus star.
Several religions
claim that the world rests on the back of an elephant, standing on a
tortoise. Though neither is ready to carry the weight of the world, Effie & Henrietta are happy to hold some pins for you. Kudos to them for knowing their limits.
These sweet little elephants make fun baby toys too — great for girls and for boys. I dream of a turtle & elephant mobile.
Check out the perfect, sloping elephant bums and cute little tails. Ah, elephants, my newest mini pattern, hotoff the press.
Through 1-31-10, receive 25% off mini patterns — details here.
I'm moving my business
into a new office/warehouse space. We have a few walls to build and a
couple of rooms to paint, then the big haul begins. The plump, juicy
cherry-on-top is that my craft-night fantasy may soon become reality —
regular thread-covered, music-filled, sugar-enhanced soirees.
And with the larger studio space, we may be able to convince my
fabulous mother to teach sewing lessons in the evening. The Phoenix
area needs more craft socials, if you ask me. (I'm not opening a retail store, just expanding my space.)
It
will take a few weeks to get settled and adapt to the new digs. Let me
know if you're in the area &/or know anyone who may be interested
in 'knowing their sewing.' I'll start buttering-up my mom. She's an
amazing teacher, and she knows her stuff.
I'm working on a new, free tutorial to post online as well. And
there is another new mini pattern on the way, and four new premium
patterns, and several secret projects — busy, busy new year. What are
your new projects/goals for the new year? I wish I could commit to the
traditional goal of increased exercise and vegetable intake, but I'm in
no position to take that on this month. Maybe next month.
Also! I need the winners from last month's giveaway to email me their contact info so I can hand out prizes: Heather@HELLOmynameisHeather.com.
I've
had the best couple of days. I got a ton done, which has made it more
fun to have fun, if you know what I mean. Of course, my list of to-dos
is still longer than my leg, but such is life.
I purchased a little table at Goodwill
two weeks ago, but forgot to go pick it up. Today, I'm going to go see
if it's still waiting for me — and if there's any other junk I must
have on half-price day. Perhaps I'll put on some make up & have my
kids lose the pajamas. Perhaps not. I love you, Saturday.
The blanket bling above is from Jamie of Sweet Baby Jamie. To help me feather my booth at Quilt Market, Jamie made several Nicey Jane
quilts from my sample yardage. I'm amazed by her free-motion quilting
skills. I don't know how she does it so evenly, without getting stuck
in a corner as she meanders. Wow.
Jamie patiently kept these blankets under wraps till Nicey Jane's public debut last week. Now they are all available at her Etsy store. She has a design-your-own-Nicey-Jane-quilt listing too, and her pricing is a little ridiculous, if you ask me — ridiculously low.
Well,
Happy Saturday. Treat yourself to something fun — a new scarf, a
candybar, a random, weird find from the thrift store, some time to
read, a quilt from Jamie. I might hunt down a new pair of flip-flops.
My last pair broke yesterday and I'm not willing to switch to winter
shoes.
She's gussied up and ready for her big debut. Meet Nicey Jane™, my
new fabric collection for Free Spirit. Nicey is sassy, sweet, and ready
to sew. In other words, check your local fabric store, as Nicey Jane
arrived this week.
These new prints are available in two color palettes. We'll call the pink/olive/tangerine palette Kissing Boothand the blue/gray/gold palette Porch Swing. Along with florals, geometrics, and stripes, there are also a handful of Nicey Jane cotton solids — which are batting their threads at me now, calling, "Sew with me, Heather. Forget that computer and run away with me."
In a couple of weeks, there will also be eight 58" wide laminated
cottons (similar to oil cloth, but light-weight and super-duper supple
— must touch). I'm excited that the finish is light-weight enough to
be gathered. Once I finish up my stationery design work this month,
I'm going to sew up a Smarty Girl book bag with the laminated cotton and give a full report. I also have some raincoat plans and a kid's booster seat to make.
(I never did show off my birthday bicycle,
did I? Nicey is doing the job for me now. Yep, that's my
pinkity-pink-ol bike there. I never would have guessed I'd go for a
pink bike. Would have guessed orange. Or khaki. Or bright yellow. I
love it though. Wait till you see the bicycle saddlebags I'm planning
to make out of this print — but in laminate. Oh yah.)
Back to the fabric, shall we?
The collection tells the story of small-town girl, Nicey Jane. Nicey
heads to the city on Friday nights to swing dance with her beau — but
not before hanging the laundry to dry & enjoying an afternoon
picnic on the farm. The prints are named for Nicey's story: Hello
Roses, Hop Dot, Swing Toss, Wash-Day Ticking, Welcome Road, Picnic
Bouquet, Slim Dandy, Dream Dot, Church Flowers, Pocketbook, and Lindy
Leaf.
(The Lindy Hop is my mom's favorite dance. She tried to teach me some moves on the family room rug when I was little. Tried. The Lindy is dang-tricky.)
Now for dessert, a little Nicey Jane video. Be patient with the resolution; I uploaded this piece to YouTube instead of hosting it on my own site so it can be shared, embedded in other blogs, watched a gazillion times, etc. I have Isaac to thank for the wink — you'll see.
For second dessert (what would a Hobbit
call a second dessert?), I believe I'm in the mood for a celebratory
giveaway. New fabric has arrrived — and it's Christmas time — a dangerous combination. So, three prizes! One $50 gift certificate and two $25 gift certificates to The Heather Bailey Store.
To enter, leave a comment. Tell us something fun, or interesting, or weird, or clever, or
something kind someone has done for you. Something like that. I do read all of the
comments. I'll go first (see comments).
Happy holidays, my friends. I'm off to stir some hot cocoa with a
candy cane and find myself a pair of slippers. It's cold outside.
While I'm busy finishing up a jazzy slideshow for Nicey Jane, I thought I'd pop in and share another bit of news. Who recognizes this photo above? It's from the cover of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion back in May 2008.
I hadn't originally planned to publish a pattern for this book bag.
However, after hundreds of requests for it, I finally got a clue and
did the work. The Smarty Girl book bag mini pattern arrives at the studio on Monday and will start shipping out on Tuesday.
I
use my Smarty Girl to carry a sketchbook and pencils. Charlotte has a
Smarty Girl for her coloring and activity books. It's a simple sew,
perfect for holiday gifts and birthday presents. You could make one for
your child for Christmas and fill it with activity books. With a
coordinating baby quilt folded up inside, it makes a great shower gift.
Then, of course, you could do a sketchbook & pencils — my personal
favorite.
(Pattern cover features my new collection, Nicey Jane!)
I'm heading out to dinner in a bit with a gaggle of girlfriends, then over to the movie theater for an 8pm showing of New Moon. It's a special-screening of
some sort. I haven't read the book yet, but I do love to go to
dinner & a movie with friends. And it's for a good cause.
Till then, it's clean the studio, play with my nephews, and design, design.
As Halloween is upon us, it's time to announce the winners from Monday's giveaway.
The following four commenters will have their pick of of sock doll
kits. If you are one of the ladies listed below, please email us your
address so we can send your kit right out — email emily@heatherbailey.com.
Congrats & Happy Halloween!
Reminder: Through October 31, 2009, get a FREE Betty Boo Kit with coupon code "BatBatThing" on $35+ purchase at the HB Store. See details at the bottom of Monday's post.
Giveaway Winners
1. Christie Sproul, who wrote, "hi heather!! betty is so cute…..just starting on my 6 yr old daughter's costume…I am making Autumn the Woodland Fairy costume with no tutu as per her orders!! lol!"
2. Maribeth, who wrote, "too cute!! at our house, my little girl loves the nursery rhyme, three little ghostesses, it gives her a little bit of halloween without all the scary just yet."
3. Cathy P., who wrote, "So cute! love the girly bat. My 4-year-old daughter is going as a flower – I made the costume using an oversized green tee and some craft felt. I also knit a headband and added some more felt petals to it. My first time making a costume….but my daughter loves it!
And my 4-month-old daughter is going as a bee (her sister's hand-me-down costume from BabyStyle)."
4. Kay Prince, who wrote,
"Here's a poem for you:
There once was a girl named Heather She couldn't decide which was better: Christmas or Halloween On both she was quite keen In the end it was decided by the weather.
Okay, it's not great, but at least I tried! I would love to win a little Betty Boo Sock Doll kit! So cute!"
Welcome
to Trick-Or-Eat at HELLOmynameisHeather.com. Today, nine favorite food,
craft & lifestyle bloggers await behind nine haunted houses — with
an array of holiday tricks and treats to greet you. At the end of this
post, you will find two mystery houses. Join in the fun by clicking on
one of the next homes on the block. Discover all of the Trick-Or-Eat
contributors and find direct links to their posts at www.Trick-Or-Eat.com.
Velcome, my vriends, to the Ghostly Garden Cottage, where even the flowers can’t be trusted. Who says scary can’t be cute?
To
prove the point, meet Betty Boo. Some might say she’s a spoiled bat,
but I think she’s rather sweet, as far as vampires go. Betty is
not too cross to wear flowers — but she’s not too kind to sock-you-one
either — so, stay on her good side.
Come on inside — no tricks here, only treats. Don’t mind the carnivorous plants creeping out the windows.
Today I’m handing out a NEW, FREE PATTERN—
fun-to-make & easy-on-the-thighs. Click here to download my free
pattern for a snappy little sock doll. Make your own mischief from one
unassuming sock, wool-blend felt, and a few other bits & baubles from your crafting scraps.
Don’t
go batty picking materials. If you want some help, I’ve dug up all
sorts of spooky socks and supplies for a handful of kits at The Heather Bailey Store (while supplies last).
Win a free Betty Boo Sock Doll Kit. Four winners will be picked at random. (If you’re not a gambler, see the Freebie Code at bottom of post.) Leave a comment; make up a Halloween poem, share a Halloween story — or just say ‘Hi’.
Now, vahtch your step. And Happy Halloween!
Whooo’s Next? Head to the next house on the street — or run, run, run, with your candy-bag wide-open.
See what the other Trick-Or-Eat hosts and ghostesses have cooked up for
you today; Click on one of the haunted dwellings below:
**Freebie Code** Happy Halloween! Treat yourself a FREE Betty Boo Sock Doll Kit, by entering the
code “BatBatThing” (on a purchase of $35 or more) at The Heather Bailey Store.
While supplies last — first come, first serve. (When you’re ready to
check out, add your selected bat doll Kit to your cart, then enter the
coupon code where indicated. The price of one kit ($9.95) will be
removed from your total. Code expires 10-31-09.)
The HB Store was offline for a while earlier today. It looks like our hosting service fixed the issue and now everything is back in order. We apologize for the disruption. As a thank you for your patience, enjoy 20% off your entire order for one day only. Enter code "OneDaySale" at checkout. Expires on Wednesday, 10/21/09, at midnight MST.
Designing stationery products today. Must get back to it. Will be back soon with Market photos. Picked up a copy of Modern Bride this morning — issue includes a wedding decorated with my fabrics. Trying to avoid the sizable bag of Dove chocolates in the other room. Blogging twitter-style.
