Design

  • 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.

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    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? 

  • 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

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    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.

  • Martha, Martha, Martha

    ByHeather Bailey

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    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

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    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.

  • Strings

    ByHeather Bailey

    Keeping with a theme, here’s a palette of crochet yarns to go with my hooks and buttons, all singing in chorus, "It’s time to play."  So, if these make up the strings section, what are the hooks and buttons — winds and percussion?

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    I picked these up at a second hand shop for $5 yesterday — pretty nice way to stash up some supplies.  The only trick was picking which bags to go home with.  They had at least ten full bags of crochet yarn to choose from.  No surprise, I went for the brights. 

    But, don’t expect to see any major crochet projects anytime soon– I’m mostly interested in adding borders to things and ogling this box of colors on occasion.  The sewing box is new to me too.  It reminds me of blue eyeshadow and kneehigh sports socks, and The Brady Bunch, somehow.  Hmmm.

    Also, Laura‘s got her new Etsy shop all decked out and she’s giving away a free print to mark the occasion.  All you have to do is fess up your most embarrassing story.  Should make for some good reads, no?

  • Saturday Fun

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Ay, they’re calling to me: paint, thread, buttons, hooks, hexagons.

    Every once in a while I ruffle through my button drawers to tide me over until it’s time to sew again.  It’s like popping one of these to fix a sugar craving instead of attacking a batch of cookies. It works for a while.

    But, now that I’ve straightened up the laundry room, mopped the floor and made space in the studio, I’m off to make something — not sure what yet.  I just hope Charlotte’s nap lasts a while today.

  • The Studio

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Hbstudio2hb

    Well, here it is.  This is where I spend my days, The Sugar Shop. 

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    I picked up the bookshelf at a local antique store for $150. It was poorly white-washed, with gobs of butter-yellow paint slathered on the details.  Isaac re-finished it for me and built the base for it to rest on.  Yep, that’s right.  He built that footed, four-door cabinet-base up there.  It now has a gently-distressed cream finish — far better.

    I store my art supplies, sewing notions and wool felt in there.  The yellow boxes above hold less-frequently-used items, like velcro and grommets, linoleum blocks for stamp- carving, elastic and cording.

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    In fact, I have Isaac to thank for most of the other furniture as well.  He not only built the cabinet, but the computer table, sewing tabletop and shelves as well.  And, of course, there’s the green chandelier and the turquoise mirror you know all about.

    The pink walls are subtley mottled with bit of cream and a splash of funky metallic gold here and there.  The large frame resting on the ribbon shelf is decorated with Isaac’s grandmother’s old sewing notions, and it’s covered — a fun piece to study.

    Hbstudio1hb_w_fl_1A row of red-lidded jars above the computer table houses most of my ribbons.  And my buttons and whatnots are tucked away in the happy green drawers on my sewing table.

    The tall green work-island has a ton of storage, with cabinets and drawers on each side.  I brought this piece home last summer as a solution to The Shuffle Kerfuffle.  I store my sketchbooks and rulers in one drawer and keep the other drawers sacred for quick clean-ups. (Translation:  they’re messy-full of random un-finished projects.)  These cabinets contain art papers, zippers, vintage linens, interfacings, unfinished quilt-tops and stationery.

    Toss a few of my favorite things into the room, and I’m right at home:  pink floral pitcher, tacky 70s apple tin, vintage red floral trays, crocheted monkey, ornate cookie tins, photos of my babies.  Are you playing I Spy yet?  Let’s see, what else:  pink toy sewing machine, antique wooden spools, gold velvet chair and a tissue-paper corsage from my son.  My studio.

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  • Garden Report

    ByHeather Bailey

    Grandmothersflowergarden

    Ok, folks, here’s the state of my Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt-top
    after last weekend’s hexagonal fixation.  I made the flowers about
    three years ago on a trip we took to Jamaica to photograph a wedding.
    (Know anyone getting married in an exotic location?  We could use more
    trips like that.)

    Grandmothersflowergarden2w
    My many-hours’ devotion this week have only produced the limited green border of which you see about half.  Tedious.  But, you know, tedious projects are perfect for grab-n-go vacation entertainment.

    At the rate we’re going, it looks like it may be a few more years before the next vacation, so don’t expect much progress on this little blanket for a while to come.  My goal is to have it done by the time granddaughter #1 makes an appearance – in what, twenty years or so?  Oh my, is that why it’s called a Grandmother’s Flower Garden?  Is it impossible to finish one of these buggers before then?

    Come to think of it, maybe a nice pillow will do.