Design

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    It’s Official

    ByHeather Bailey

    As I hinted last week, I'll be heading to Utah in three weeks to give the keynote address at The Sewing Summit 2013. The announcement was made yesterday on The Sewing Summit blog and throughout their social media outlets. Click on the image below to read the full article.

    SewingSummitAnnouncementC

    SewingSummitWWhat
    is The Sewing Summit? As they put it, "We’re a cross between a
    traditional sewing retreat and a social
    media and blogging conference… With hands-on workshops, networking
    events, inspiring speakers,
    informative lecture sessions and enough down-time to connect with
    friends new and old—Sewing Summit is the only event of its kind. Join us
    for a weekend of skill-building, networking, laughing and
    reconnecting!"

    I'm excited to meet everyone and share. The event has been sold out for a while. However! They have added a handful of spaces this week. If you are interested in attending, jump on it. Just have a look at these great classes and teachers.
    I hear the sewing labs will be open till 2am or so. You can sew in your
    pjs with friends. Doesn't that sound dreamy? Of course, I'm a serious
    night owl.

    So then, whether you're attending or not, what would you like to hear
    from me at an event like this? The conference covers such diverse
    topics: fashion, quilting, blogging, photography, business and more. I want to do a bang-up job for you all.

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    Giveaway Day 26

    ByHeather Bailey

    Day26_HELLOgiveawayBanner

    Day26_WatercolorB

    I'm am all about art supplies. I love nothing more than to sit at my
    drafting table with a fiesta of colorful paints, markers and tools
    within reach. It's also handy to have a few supplies that are easy to
    pack up and take with me for long family functions, for travel, or even
    for a trip to the park with the kids.

    Day26_WatercolorA_300bOne of my all-time-favorite, easy-to-pack art supplies is my compact set of Winsor Newton watercolor
    half-pans (the official name for these little dried cubes of paint). I
    love to work with pan paints on the go. And each half-pan can be replaced
    as it is used—without having to get a whole new set of colors. In fact,
    you can swap the colors around, add new ones, remove a few, and make
    your own custom palette to paint with.

    The teensy-tiny box opens up to reveal plenty of palette surface for mixing colors. There is even a little water tray for plein-air
    painting. (I don't use the water tray myself. I'm happy to bring a
    larger cup along.) Also included is a small, round paintbrush which is
    stored inside the compact.

    WinsorNewtonWatercolorSet

    These pan paints don't offer the same pigment depth as top-of-the-line
    tube paint, but they are a good quality for a traveling set. And this
    little box of watercolors has remained one of my favorite art supplies
    over many years. You might recall my March of the Tools post on these from a few years back.

    WinsorNewtonWatercolorSetTraveller300Today's lucky winner will receive a new Winsor Newton compact watercolor set to call her own, the same traveling kit that I use. A $38 value.

    Comment to enter today's giveaway. One entry per household. Be sure to include your email
    address
    so we can contact you if you win. You don't have to type your email
    address into the body of the comment if you entered it in the email-address
    field on the comment form.

    Today's giveaway will close at 11:59pm PST on Tuesday 8/27/13—which means it will overlap with Day 25's giveaway and Day 27th's giveaway, so don't miss those. Watch for the winner to
    be announced within the week at the bottom
    of the post. For more info on my August giveaway party, click here. Please
    share the word. Check back every day.

    Good luck!

    xo—Heather

    Read More “Giveaway Day 26”

  • Giveaway Day 25

    ByHeather Bailey

    Day25_HELLOgiveawayBanner

    Day25_EvanBailey_CatDoll1T2

    In honor of Evan's birthday on the 25th, our Day 25 HELLO Giveaway is one of our favorite children's toys, Theo the cat, an 18" knit doll. A $56 value. Theo is chartreuse for heaven's sake. It doesn't get better than chartreuse.

    A brand-new Theo made his way to our studio from LaylaGrayce.com, an incredibly diverse and inspirational online store, carrying everything from chandeliers and designer sofas to apparel, gifts and toys.
    I urge you to go take a look. Their taste is impeccable. Whether you're
    redecorating or just picking out a few gifts here and there, you will
    find so many great options on their site.

    Day25_EvanBailey_CatDoll2gT

    Thank you, LaylaGrayce.com for generously donating today's prize and for offering such a wide variety of these adorable Blabla Kids knit dolls,
    including raccoons, foxes, bunnies, bears, wolves, mermaids, monkeys
    and elephants, to name a few. They are soft and squishy and alltogether
    cool.

    Look at how many of these dolls work for boys as well as girls. I love that.

    Day25_BlaBlaKidsDolls4

    For decorating inspiration and first news on new products, follow Layla Grayce on twitter, facebook, instagram, pinterest, and on their inspirational blog.

    Read More “Giveaway Day 25”

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    Babies Don’t Keep

    ByHeather Bailey

    My giveaway plans were derailed today by a very important little person and his very own 2nd birthday. Little Evan
    is two years old today! When I giddily plucked him from his crib this
    morning, we snuggled up on Charlotte's bed while I sang him a Happy
    Birthday song. At the end of every phrase, Evan chimed in with "cake!" 

    Happy Birthday to you…cake!…Happy Birthday to you…cake!… Happy Birthday dear Evan…cake!…Happy Birthday to you…cake!

    He knows what's important.

    EvanCake_2yearsold_470bT

    It took us till eveningtime to finally make good on the promise of
    cake with a small family birthday party. Boisterous cousins followed
    Evan about, patting his head and picking him up in turn. By the time
    cake was served, Evan couldn't care less about the stir of children
    throughout our home. Cake, at last—what a birthday is all about.

    I wanted to write Evan a little love note today to enumerate his
    sweet particularities at this age, count the many ways in which I love
    him. But, Sundays are my busiest days—even without a birthday to
    celebrate. As such, the love note didn't happen. And today's giveaway
    post didn't happen either. When it came down to it, I had to choose
    between photographing and writing a giveaway post and giving my little
    son his birthday dues—time, attention and cake. I chose the baby.

    I could prep and post today's giveaway
    now, but it's getting too late in the night to do our awesome Day 25
    prize justice. Instead, I'm going to go for a double header tomorrow and
    put up two separate giveaways in two separate posts. Hang tight and
    watch for those tomorrow. I'll make sure the deadlines are generous so
    you won't miss your chance.

    Happy, Happy Birthday to my darling boy. From our early morning
    cake-song to my late-night blog update, today, I'm reminded of this
    lovely poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton—though it could use a new stanza about the internet, the computer and the smart phone:

    Song for a Fifth Child

    Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
    Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
    Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
    Sew on a button and make up a bed.
    Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
    She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

    Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue
    (Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
    Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
    (Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
    The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
    And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
    But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
    Look! Aren’t her eyes the most wonderful hue?
    (Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

    The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
    For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
    So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
    I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

  • Giveaway Day 24 — Mary!

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Day24_MaryEngelbreit1F

    I have been a long-time fan of Mary Engelbreit.
    When I was a kid, there was a sticker and stationery store at the
    nearby mall. It was my favorite stop. The one day I was allowed to
    choose any sticker from the sticker wall, I went home with a 2.5" circle
    sticker designed by Mary. It featured a girl in a wide straw hat with
    glasses and bobbed hair, the classic Mary character. It was signed "ME"
    at the bottom.

    Day24_MaryEngelbreit2b

    I didn't know who "ME" was at the time. But as I discovered "ME" on
    more and more products, I connected the dots, asked around, and learned
    that "ME" was the delightful, talented and prolific Mary Engelbreit.

    MaryEngelbreitPortrait300jpgHer perspective and aesthetic have withstood the test of time. For decades now,
    Mary's
    artwork has adorned millions of greeting cards and everything from
    calendars and best-selling children's books to gifts, crafts and home
    accents.

    About six years ago, I had the privilege to work with Mary's team at Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine on the cover-story for the April/May 2008 issue. Such a great magazine.

    In fact, Mary unknowingly connected me with one of my good friends.
    When I put a general call out for help on the Home Companion photoshoot,
    Jona
    volunteered. This is how we first met. I later learned that she was an
    uber Mary-Engelbreit fan and had counted her lucky stars for the
    opportunity to come to the shoot. She had collected every single issue
    of Mary's magazine, except for the first issue.

    MaryatQuiltMarketThrough
    the magazine's editors, Barbara and Kathy, I was able to set Jona up
    with a signed copy of that first issue—to complete her collection.

    I have yet to meet Mary in person. She was at Quilt Market a year or so
    ago, but I couldn't get free to wait in the enormous line of fans eager
    to shake her hand. This woman is popular! I have been delighted to get to know her through Instagram though, of all places. And I look forward meeting her one day.

    Though I am sure she has weathered every storm and sunny day an
    art-licensing business brings with it, Mary has maintained a joyful and
    engaging point of view—a sweet, humorous and uplifting spirit that
    continues to win fans worldwide.

    Day24_MaryEngelbreit3

    I'm honored to announce that Mary herself is offering today's giveaway prize—a big box of Mary Engelbreit calendars for 2014. Calendars of every shape and size. A $90 value. 

    Keep up with Mary on her EngelBlog—and on facebook, instagram and pinterest as well. Shop her amazing variety of products online at MaryEngelbreit.com or at retailers virtually everywhere.

    Read More “Giveaway Day 24 — Mary!”

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    Giveaway Day 23

    ByHeather Bailey

    Day23_HELLOgiveawayBanner

    ScrapbookPrize_Warm4

    Tweedle-dee-and-tweedle-dum_post2I
    was up all night altering my son's band uniform. The only pair of pants
    they had on hand for a 6'4" kid were equally as big around—serious
    Tweedle-Dee pants.

    In the end, I removed 15 total inches from the girth of the pants,
    taking out 1" to 6" on five different seams: inseams, outseams, and
    center back. And I added two darts in the front to bring the suspenders
    closer together.

    I deserve a sewing badge for extreme alteration. That was some WiLd
    sewing. I've never modified a garment so drastically before. I'm
    stocking up on mama points this week. Going to cash them in for
    babysitting—starting tonight. Hooray for the weekend!

    BandBeforeAfter_470

    Today's giveaway is a collection of Heather Bailey paper-crafting supplies, including
    a variety of clear stamps, ribbons, die-cut felt trim, stickers, ink
    pads—all sorts of bright happy supplies. A $43 value.


    Read More “Giveaway Day 23”

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    Giveaway Day 21

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Day21_ChristmasPicnicware4

    For today's prize, how about a little Christmas in the summertime?
    This way, at least one of us will be prepared when December comes along
    sooner than we expect it!

    Winner receives a party pack of Heather Bailey holiday supplies, including dinner plates, dessert plates, napkins, party cups—and lo! matching invitations. Everything you need to be polished and prepared for some holiday fun this year. A $54 value.

    We loaded our holiday invitations, photo cards and picnicware into
    the shop today. Please note that we're limited to supply on hand though,
    so snatch up these holiday items
    while they last. There's a part of me that wants to hoard the entire
    timeless supply for my own future use, but I'm talking myself through
    it. I'll design more. I'll design more. I can share.

    Day21_ChristmasPicnicwareB

    Speaking of sharing…

    Comment to enter. One entry per household. Be sure to include your email
    address
    so we can contact you if you win. You don't have to type your email
    address into the body of the comment if you entered it in the email-address
    field on the comment form; I can access it from behind the scenes.

    Today's giveaway will close at 11:59pm PST on Wednesday 8/21/13. Watch for the winner to
    be announced within the week at the bottom
    of the post. For more info on my August giveaway party, click here. Please
    share the word. Check back every day.

    Good luck!

    xo—Heather

    Read More “Giveaway Day 21”

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    Giveaway Day 20

    ByHeather Bailey

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    Day20_Charlotte-Pig-Doll

    My day has gone to school meetings. Elijah switched high schools this
    year and we're working to get him established at a school one mile from
    our home. We were driving him 25 minutes away each day, back and forth
    for the last two years, often several times a day and this really put a
    pinch on our time at home as a family.

    This year, Elijah volunteered to change schools. He and his dad both
    seem okay with it. I'm still resolving my own feelings. He not only has
    no friends there yet, but the school is in a different school district
    and runs quite differently from what he is used to. And he had to leave
    behind one of the state's top marching band programs (the reason he had
    insisted on that school in the first place).

    Day20_Pig-Doll_300I
    hate that he's switching halfway through high school. Ug. I wish I
    would have pushed more strongly for this close-by school two years ago.
    I'm working to feel at peace with the mid-stream change. Today's
    meetings helped with that quite a bit. We brought in a list of things we
    felt would help Elijah transition well and the response was, "This is
    what we, here, call good teaching. This will be no problem at all." Just
    what we needed to hear! I liked his last school a lot, but the
    administration at the new school made a great first impression today.
    I'm one step closer to parental peace.

    Additionally, with the high school only one mile away now, I can get
    more involved and still keep my other two children on track. I'm
    hopeful, but I'm still holding my breath nonetheless.

    Day20_apronNeedless
    to say, my giveaway to-do list hasn't shed any pounds today while I've
    been out parenting. It's approaching evening time and I still have this
    giveaway to post and a number of winners to select. So, on with the
    show!

    With a $35 value, today's prize
    is a set of THREE Heather Bailey sewing patterns—Claira & Clancy Pig Dolls, Full Bloom Roses and the Daily Spice Apron—a variety of projects you can make for yourself or as gifts. Get an early start on the holidays. Or give the patterns as gifts.

    For more information on my piggie doll pattern (my personal favorite of the patterns we've published), click here. For my first preview of the Daily Spice apron pattern, head back seven years to this post. (It sounds like driving Elijah around was a part-time job even back then. Boy, how long have I been blogging now?) As for Full Bloom Roses, we may have only announced that pattern by newsletter originally, so get the details here.

    Day20_ThreePatterns

    Comment to enter today's contest. Be sure to include your email
    address
    so we can contact you if you win. You don't have to type your email
    address into the body of the comment if you entered it in the email-address
    field on the comment form. One entry per household.

    Today's giveaway will close at noon PST on Wednesday 8/21/13. Watch for the winner to
    be announced within the week at the bottom
    of the post. For more info on my big ol' August giveaway party, click here. Please
    share the word. Check back every day.

    Good luck!

    xo—Heather


    Read More “Giveaway Day 20”

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    Giveaway Day 19 — Stella

    ByHeather Bailey

    Day19_HELLOgiveawayBanner

    At Quilt Market last May, I met Nathan and Stacy Wiedenmann who were
    there introducing a new product to the world. And it was no elementary,
    homespun product either, but a multi-function task light of all things.
    Now how do you get that made?

    The inventor in me can't resist new gadgets. The business owner in me
    thrills to see someone tackle manufacturing with success. Isaac has two
    pet lighting inventions he wants to patent and market one day, so
    meeting small business owners in the lighting trade is extra fun.

    Day19_StellaLamp_Logo4

    Now, I'm going to butcher the Stella Lighting
    story, but as I understand it, Nathan was at a meeting at Starbucks
    where he and an associate were discussing a prototype of this lamp when a
    quilter approached them to find out more about it. After a
    demonstration, she insisted that she needed the lamp and she needed it
    now. And that other quilters and crafters needed it too. The punchline
    is: this godsend matchmaker hooked up a great little lamp with an eager
    audience and it was true love.

    StellaBlackRightSo
    what makes this light different? The Stella task lamp is stocked with
    21 little LED light bulbs, all rated to last for 50,000+ hours—we'll
    call that a lifetime of use. You never have to change the bulbs. With
    efficient LED technology, the lamp uses 10% of the electricity of a
    comparably bright incandescent light. And the light stays cool, so you
    can work right under it very comfortably. It is available as a desk lamp or floor lamp.

    It also has five brightness levels, so it can be adjusted to the task at hand. You can choose from three different light temperatures, including a warm light (very similar to incandescent light), a very cool light, and a bright, daylight-balanced light.

    For me and my purposes, the
    daylight-balanced setting is where it's at. Much of my work involves
    reviewing colors for accuracy. And having a Stella on hand allows me to
    work later into the day, after the sun has set—perfect for evaluating
    fabric strike-offs, painting new artwork, or choosing thread colors.

    The light is even and bright and the neck of the lamp can be bent in almost any direction. It's streamline shape allows it to peek in quietly over your work or move aside as needed.

    Day19_StellaLamp_Logo4

    Check in with Stella on Twitter and Instagram. Visit StellaLighting.com
    for a video introduction and more information about the product and the
    company. Art stores, quilt stores, needlework stores and more are all
    starting to carry this new light, so watch for the Stella at your local
    shop.

    Stella Lighting is generously donating one white Stella task lamp for today's giveaway. A $220 value.


     Comment to enter. One entry per household. U.S. shipping only on this one. Be sure to include your email
    address
    so we can contact you if you win. You don't have to type your email
    address into the body of the comment if you entered it in the email-address
    field on the comment form. Today's giveaway will close at noon PST on Tuesday 8/20/13. Watch for the winner to
    be announced within a few days at the bottom
    of the post.

    For the backstory on my August HELLO Giveaway project, click here. Please
    share the word. And check back every day.

    Good luck!

    xo—Heather

    Read More “Giveaway Day 19 — Stella”