Home & Family

  • Lovely

    ByHeather Bailey

    Tara’s wedding was yesterday and it was beautiful — she was beautiful. 

    It seems I’ve had everyone I know — and almost everyone I’m related
    to — in here working with us at times during the last two weeks so we
    could keep humming along without adding undo pressure on Tara while she
    prepared for her wedding.  With only two weeks to pull off a wedding,
    you can bet she had enough on her mind. 

    Friday night, as Tara and I set the tables for her reception, Tara
    decided on a Jennifer Paganelli print for her table decor.  I picked up
    a bolt from Jona in the wee hours of the night & sewed up six
    table-runners for her on Saturday morning.  Tara & Colin picked up
    the cake, Isaac did the roses run, Tara’s mom set out the food, and
    everything elegantly came together just in time for the Saturday
    afternoon reception. 

    Sunday was the wedding and it was as lovely as any I’ve been to.
    Tara was stunning.  Colin was beaming.  Everything was so peaceful and
    joyful and sweet.  True, I should probably save my reporting until
    Isaac’s processed the photos, but how can I resist?   I’ll just have to
    re-visit the subject. 

    It was a beautiful weekend, with a small group of guests (mainly
    just the bride & groom’s close family members) — and two glowing
    people who were clearly thrilled to finally be married.

  • Four Patterns & a Wedding

    ByHeather Bailey

    Spread

    The patterns
    are finally in & they’re gorgeous!  Our printer had trouble with
    their folding machine, and knowing we were anxious to ship them, they
    thoughtfully farmed out the rest of the pattern-folding to another
    print house so we wouldn’t have to wait for them to receive a
    replacement part. 

    Invitationw

    So there would be no delay, my father & I drove out to
    this other printer around 10pm on Friday night to pick everything up so
    the pattern stuffing could happen over the weekend.  This new place was
    kind to fit my pattern-folding into their schedule on short notice (no
    notice, really) — and then let us come by in the middle of the night
    to get them.  Cheers & applause.  While there, we got the 15-minute tour, Mister-Rogers style.  I love machines.  Folding, gluing, binding, collating, clean-cutting, kiss-cutting.

    Our printer did a wonderful job though.  I can’t wait for you to
    see.  All orders with patterns included can now be processed – hooray!

    (On that note, thank you early birds
    for placing pre-orders, knowing they wouldn’t ship out immediately.
    Thank you for your confidence and patience.  Processing early bird
    orders all at once is allowing us to best perfect our new shipping
    & fulfillment systems.  And it’s going really well.  We should be
    all caught up soon and back to the super-fast turnaround you’re used
    to)

    Cakew
    So then, on top of this excitement, my assistant, Tara,
    decided last weekend to get married next weekend!  Now, after being
    engaged for three years and taking the wedding plans kinda easy,
    everything’s suddenly all-a-bustle.  We’re super excited for her.  When I mentioned her engagement before,
    she was thinking end-of-September/ beginning-of-October and I was going
    to see what ideas you had for her.  Now there’s not much time for
    idea-gathering.  It’s fun to see it all coming together so well — and
    in such little time.  Her mom & grandma have really jumped
    onboard.  It’ll be a small, intimate wedding — maybe 20 guests.
    Dramatic red flowers, B & W floral print tablecloths, I think (tres
    chic!).  I’m sure it will be beautiful — I’ll share photos.

    Ringsw
    And Isaac’s just returning tonight from photographing a wedding for Kathy Miller‘s stepson, Alex.  (His new bride, Aseem, is a writer for the tv show, Scrubs.)  I hear it was breathtaking
    — a traditional Indian wedding — with tents, saris, henna tatoos, and
    fabulously rich colors.  I can’t wait to see the photos.  I’ll share
    those too.

    (The wedding photos shown above are from Kara Peterson in Las Vegas.  Kara used a Freshcut print
    as her centerpoint in decorating the Utah County Courthouse for her
    November wedding last year.  She sent me these photos just this week.
    Good timing — with all of the wedding talk taking place over here.
    Kara, what are these mini-merengue-looking treats?  They look
    delicious.  And, did everyone get a diamond ring on top??  Now, that’s
    dessert.)

  • La Fleur Debris & Birthday Me

    ByHeather Bailey

    Flowerpresent_2

    It’s my birthday.  My plan is to la-di-da all day — for just one day.  The big plan is no plans : )

    Flowerbrooch1_2
    It’s also Grand Opening day.  In honor of the occasion, I’m giving away a free pattern for La Fleur Debris brooch with every order placed in the HB store
    from now until
    midnight tomorrow*.  This sassy pin can be made from your sewing
    scraps, hence the name (floor debris + fleur-de-lis = fleur debris —
    see?) and can be made entirely by hand.  Wear one in your hair, on your
    coat, or pinned to your purse.  I’ve done all three, but not all at
    once.

    (Isaac says my parenthetical explanation is "too much exposition."  I say "Bah.")

    You may remember seeing some of these couch-flowers here before.  This one is my very favorite to date (on that great little coat, on that great little girl!).

    Flowertray_3

    I figure a good-ol’ birthday giveaway is fitting as well — we have a serious tradition going — and I do have a whole tray’s worth of flowers made up.  So, post a suggestion for a giveaway contest maybe, and one of the flowers will go to the best idea.  Two other flowers will be won by sheer luck.  Sound good?

    Thanks for playing along.  This is the third year of such silliness.  Check out the joke contest from two years ago & the embarrassing stories from last year’s birthday.   I could certainly use some more giveaway contest ideas — and a good helping of birthday giggles.

    Happy ‘Day!
    xo–Heather

    **All orders received from Tues,
    August 12th through Weds, August 13th at 11:59pm Pacific Standard
    Time will include one copy of the Le Fleur Debris pattern.  It’s a
    printed pattern, not a download.  No need to enter any codes at
    checkout : )

  • |

    Post, I shall name you later. I’m taking myself out to a movie.

    ByHeather Bailey

    Redstrawberry2
    I have this funky 70s condiment-serving set that’s gold with green
    daisies on top.  It doesn’t show too well in the photo above, but I
    just love it.  Makes me giddy.  The lid has a spoon-notch that doubles
    as a handy scissors-holder — as I’ve opted to store thread and buttons
    inside instead of mustard or pickles.  Though I guess you could store your
    scissors in mustard.

    Basketwt
    And not that my blog needs any more photos of strawberries — or pincushions
    even for that matter — but strawberry pincushions are what I’ve been
    photographing today, so strawberries it is.  In truth, I’m entirely
    surprised how popular the strawberry pincushion kits have been over at
    the HB store.
    Definitely in the top 10.  In response to the excitement for
    ready-to-go strawberry supplies, we’ve added two new colors.  Now there
    are kits for velveteen strawberries in deep red, bright pink, and soft pink, and wool-blend strawberries in bright red (photographed above) — covering the full gamut.

    Strawberryjarw
    School kicked back in yesterday.  Elijah seems glad for the increase in
    activity.  Summer can get long.  I’ve heard it said that childhood is
    ‘long days, but short years.’  I understand that sentiment more and
    more.  Such short years. 

    I’m regularly asked how I fit it all in – design work, motherhood,
    church, friendships, family, fun.  I can’t say I do fit it all in.  But
    what I do successfully manage comes as a result of regularly
    re-assessing my priorities.  Not on a weekly basis, or even a daily
    basis, but every 20 minutes or so.  And often a peanut butter sandwich
    or the next chapter of Inkheart
    overrules pressing business matters for a time.  I’m in business to
    serve the needs of my family.  I’ve chosen to do what I love so I can
    be happy at work, and hopefully brighten the world in some small way
    while I go about my thing. 

    Time away from my children is a tangible thing I don’t take
    lightly.  To repair the balance at times — in the world at large, if
    not in my own home — I focus my business on projects that will help
    knit us to our children/families/friends through the work of our hands,
    and on materials that will inspire us to do so.  In my experience,
    those quiet times of creativity, with long stretches of time (or
    frequent spurts) spent thinking of and truly loving the ones we’re
    creating for, are full of sweetness and provide meaningful
    attachments.  In my life it’s true — even if the sentiment is not
    always returned — in sewing pajamas for the kids, in making a blanket
    for a friend, helping a neighbor move, or designing a wedding dress for
    a girl at church, I’ve loved these people through the process.  And the
    process of creating has opened my heart toward them.  The blankets,
    dolls and toys I’ve kept from my childhood are all items that one or
    both of my parents made for me.  I know they were thinking sweetly of
    me when they made them.  I love that.  Charlotte plays with my childhood doll bed every day.

    Richredwt
    When my workload weighs a little on the heavy side, I think of other
    moms out there who have found the time that day to go the extra mile,
    perhaps making a blanket for their son or teaching their daughter to
    make bread — or maybe just finding more patience, more snuggle time,
    more laughter.  The simple things that make life beautiful.  It’s true,
    they’re precious, short years.

    No, I don’t always fit it all in, but I certainly try to fit in the important stuff as much as possible. 

    Flourish500

    I’m clearly still feeling sappy.  Oh me.  To lighten things up, Here’s a list of fun tidbits I’ve been meaning to mention:

    • The talented Vivian Love did a three-part blog series on the quilting of
      my Pop Garden sample quilt.  It’s fascinating to see the techniques
      involved — and she did an immaculate job!!  (I’ll post photos
      soon). (Links to parts 1,2,3 are in Vivian’s sidebar under her photo)
    • My new scrapbook collection has made Creating Keepsakes‘ Latest & Greatest list.
    • And it’s been featured in this month’s Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion as well.
    • Trash Ties have been featured on Project Runway Australia – click here (about 8.5 minutes in).  Several long red Trash Ties in one hairstyle.  Avant garde!
    • There’s a Project Runway Australia!  How cool is that?  And you can watch it on YouTube.
    • Tara‘s getting married! (We could use your help — stay tuned.)
    • We’re having a new patio put in – it should be done before the weather gets nice (!!)
    • Bobbin refuses to budge when she’s on a leash.  Not for treats, not for
      water, not for a song & dance.  Any advice?  Pixel will, of course, do anything for a treat. 
    • The Pop Garden & Bijoux photo group on Flickr is all set up.  Take a peek.  And share your projects too — I love to see what you’re up to.
    • And join the new HB Paper Crafts group while you’re at it.  I’ll add Flickr badges to my sidebar as soon as possible — next week hopefully.
    • There’s also a great Paper Crafts inspiration page here.
    • Today’s 8-8-08.  That’s kinda fun.  (My son certainly thinks so.)
    • Tuesday’s my birthday.  I’ve got big plans : )
    • Lists are the best.  I feel so much more caught up now.

     

  • Are You Ready, Are You Ready for This?

    ByHeather Bailey

    Giveawaypincushion
    I’ve been accumulating.  I’ve been accumulating good things for giving.  And it’s time to pick some numbers!

    ∆   ∆   ∆ 

    Out of 2000 comments (oh my, oh my), all the luck and the goodies go to…

    Pearpncshn
    #1057:  Jill — "Great giveaway! Congratulations on everything new going on – how exciting!"

    #156:  Jenny — "what great fabric! i love it!"

    #1306:  elliebelle — "I love the new layout of the blog – it looks
    great!  The colors of your new lines of fabric are so fun and fresh.
    Great job!"

    — chosen at random —

    So, Jill, Jenny, & elliebelle, email me with your addresses
    & we’ll get your packages shipped this week.  And, don’t forget to
    tell me which color/style of Trash Ties you’d like!

    ∆   ∆   ∆ 

    This time the pear photo is no taunt — no longer a forbidden
    fruit.  I’m kicking off my sewing patterns this month.  Our ducks are
    just about lined up & ready to quack.  I couldn’t be more excited
    to wrap up these first patterns and this is the week.  Then it’s just a
    little wait for the printers to do their thing.

    Oh, and there
    are other things.  Other fun, fun things.  But, I’m not saying a word
    for one more week or so — which is not such a long wait anymore, as
    I’ve been keeping some of these things to myself for almost a year
    now.  Can’t wait to show you!

    Giveawaytable2

    ∆   ∆   ∆ 

    Rwe_2
    "To laugh often and love much; to win the respect
    of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the
    approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false
    friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of
    one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy
    child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played
    and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one
    life has breathed easier because you have lived – this is to have
    succeeded."
    — Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

    I’ve
    been thinking about this statement a lot lately.  Who was this Emerson,
    to speak such a truth?  "To have sung with exultation     (whether a good singer or not, it is no matter — it’s the singing) …to find the best in others …to endure the betrayal of false friends";  the
    comfort of gardening and the blessing of a healthy child.  Simple
    truths, but so powerful.  When you boil this life down to its essence,
    it’s where your heart is at that matters.  Love is the thing. 

    Trashtiesgiveawayw_3
    I think it’s that old unpublished
    Gettysburg- Address-post in me trying to sneak its way out again.
    Perhaps it’s wisdom to just let Emerson do the speaking, but I’ve had a
    tender heart these last few months.  My understanding of the human
    experience has come into greater focus this year & I’m just aching
    to wax philosophical. 

    It was
    along this line of thinking, that I had originally wished to become a
    doctor.  In my teenage mind, being a doctor was perhaps the best way to
    be of service to humanity.  And though I’m grateful for modern medicine
    & the blessings it brings so many of us, I now know that there are
    opportunities in all walks of life to strengthen the world around us.
    And it all starts with kindness & goodness within — bulletproof
    kindness.

    I’ve just been thinking.  And I could so
    go on here.

    Whatnot

    Of course, Emerson died over 100 years ago.  If
    he were still around, he’d certainly amend his list to include  "to
    dance a mad-dance to Another One Bites the Dust" — my own
    universal truth.  (Emerson might not approve of the lyrics, but he’d
    agree with the dancing.)  Queen is so fabulously all-over-the-place.

    Hmmm, kinda like this post.

  • Dog Days

    ByHeather Bailey

    Well, this is new — a surprise guest post by Isaac.  He must have noticed that I hadn’t posted our puppies‘ names yet — I was getting used to them first.
    So, he took the puppies outside for some photos & wrote this below.  Of
    course, we’ve been having all together too much fun the last couple of
    days, so I’m only now dropping it into my blog.

    Bobs

    Here’s Isaac:

    It’s
    blasted hot here.  I know it’s not the hottest place on Earth.  I think
    the troops in Iraq have it a bit worse (God bless them).  But my friend
    said his thermometer read 118° yesterday.

    Dogrun
    Elijah
    and I had Boy Scouts last night and his scoutmaster arranged for two
    police officers to come speak to the boys about integrity and being
    a good citizen. They were bike officers.  That means spandex and
    kevlar — quite the combo.

    We
    finally made our dogs’ names official.  The boy’s name is Pixel, short for Raster Pixel Spooly – fun to say.  And
    the girl is Bobbin.  Her pedigree name is likely going to be Agnes
    Bobbin Fluff (Aggy Bobbin, Bobbin Fluff, Bobs, etc.)

     

    _x9w6475

    They
    have
    completely distinct (from each other) personalities.  Pixel is
    flopsy, goofy, dense, unflappable, courageous and grumbly.  Bobbin is
    sweet, mild, sometimes-feisty, sometimes-timid, nimble, bright and
    eager-to-please.  Like most females she embodies some contradictory
    traits, and
    is a complex character. Both puppies are lovable to the Nth degree.

    In Phoenix, you’re lucky to get a half hour of outside time before the
    sun goes down, when it’s almost bearable.  The dogs run up and down,
    flop in the grass, pant, chase Elijah and Charlotte, sniff, wrestle,
    and come say “hi.”  How do they seem to know that I am home base?  Because I’m alpha, or just because I’m stationary?

    Pixel is crazy about
    treats and, let’s face it, a little on the chubby side.  I think I might need
    to feed the two of them separately.  Bobbin is super trim.  Pixel is my
    little piggy.  We never had dogs when I was growing up.  Having these guys around brings out the kid in me.

    Happy
    Fourth of July.  This country isn’t perfect,
    but I am extremely grateful to be an American.  If you want to read a
    fantastic book that sums up the meaning of America, pick up a copy of John Adams by David McCullough.  Great book.

    Sidebyside

    _x9w6445_2

    Tomorrow, we are going to swim with family then BBQ with friends.  Can’t wait for a much needed day off.

    — Isaac

    (H:
    Yep, we went to the movies – twice – and to a friend of a friend’s
    house for a BBQ – amazing salsa! – stayed up late, chatted it up, made
    new friends, set up play dates, watched fireworks, tanked up on sugar
    soda, etc.  Great weekend.)

          

  • Phew! & Far Between

    ByHeather Bailey

    Back for one day.  Now off to Los Angeles to meet with the _______
    company to discuss a new collection of _______.  I have several
    meetings with other manufacturers & suppliers lined up for various
    projects I’ll be designing in the coming year.  I always love to visit
    L.A.  We lived in Hollywood for a number of years & I’m still
    attached.  Can’t wait to get a Martha dog at Pink’s! 

    Quilt Market was a fantastic whirlwind.  Thank you to all of you
    kind folks who stopped by for a Hello.  Such a supportive &
    charming industry to take part in.  Lots of new fabric shops opening
    up, lots of fresh energy for sewing, lots of excitement for my new
    collections too.  In fact, I have the coolest slideshow all ready for
    you, but have to postpone another week or so, as I’m already a couple
    hours late getting out the door.

    Puppy1_3
    Oh, and we’re getting a puppy next week!  (Don’t tell my kids.)  We
    have our pick of a litter of 7 Miniature Schnauzers.  Isaac made that
    call.  He researched which breeds were most hypo- allergenic (he gets
    bad allergies) & super smart and of good temperment.  I’m going
    with the flow.  We’ll most likely get a female, but I’m not sure yet.
    Last time we visited them, they were still too small to see their
    personalities very well.  I’d love your take on names.  She/He will be
    grey & the breed is from Germany.  Gretel?  Bobbin?  Griselda?  I
    definitely prefer a non-human name.  And funny is good.  I have a list
    going somewhere.

    Thanks, friends.  I’ll try to blog on the road, if possible.  And, I’m serious about the dog name suggestions.

  • Blissful Living

    ByHeather Bailey

    Chloefeet2_2

    I was toying with the idea of putting together a local meet ‘n greet
    – Phoenix, AZ area.  I was getting serious about setting one up for
    May.  And then good fortune winks my way and I meet Kristin, designer
    extraordinaire and owner of my favorite local boutique,
    Domestic Bliss (amazing! Like Anthropologie, but better), who has plans
    to open a new facility for local creative types to meet up & frenzy
    off each other’s energy, take classes, etc.  We became fast friends.
    She’s naming the studio Blissful Living.  And her concept is very close
    to my heart.  (We had an amazing dinner at their home a couple of weeks
    ago – should have brought my camera! – must go back & take photos.
    She even has chickens – fantasy of mine – in the most adorable chicken
    coop you’ll ever see.)

    Chloe1week_2
    And
    Kristin is quick to it — Blissful Living opens on Friday!  I’m
    planning to be there this Saturday, May 10th, from 11-2 to meet up with, well,
    whoever stops by.  A meet ‘n greet.  Thank you, universe.  So, come see
    me & maybe even bring some of your creations with you!  And if you
    stick around, hopefully you’ll make some new friends with similar
    interests who live in your neck of the desert.  Visit Kristin’s
    Blissful Living blog for more info.  And here’s the address:
    Blissful Living  166 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ.

    I’ll be teaching a workshop there toward the end of June too — details to come.

    And meet Chloe, my new little niece!  My brother’s fourth child, second
    girl.  (And she looks just like her big sister, Haley.)  They’ve had a
    couple of rough years and couldn’t be more ecstatic about welcoming
    home a new baby.  It’s a thrill to witness.  We’re so glad she’s here
    & safe!

  • Continuous Loop

    ByHeather Bailey

    Charlottewelcome2lbl_2

    So this cracks me up.  I get off of my plane, head toward baggage
    claim and am greeted by "Charlotte," with a crown on top.  Every day
    I’m greeted by Charlotte with a crown on top.  Always a crown .  I grinned, as the last thing my Charlotte had said to me
    before I left town was, "Goodnight, Queen!"  (You see, if she’s a
    princess, then I must be the queen — for continuity’s sake — her idea, not mine.)  Then, on
    the road, I notice that many of the road signs have a crown on them as
    well, I have a brief Twilight Zone moment, then have to ask. 

    Pinkcrownhblbl_3
    Turns out Charlotte, NC is nicknamed "The Queen City," as it was named
    after Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, great-great-great grandmother of
    the current Queen of England.  I had no idea.  Just as I had no idea my
    daughter was royalty when I named her Charlotte.  Just a happy
    coincidence.

    Spent my Friday with Westminster/Free Spirit, the company that
    produces my fabric.  Great people.  Good, honest & visionary.  We
    all had lunch at a place called Sugar Magnolia & I had a go at
    my first authentic Southern food:  fried green tomatoes (yum!), hush
    puppies, collard greens & shrimp calabash. Found out that one of
    the four key people at the company went to the same high school as me.
    He was there when my brother & sister were there.  We had teachers
    in common and shared some funny stories.  Mainly about our spit-fire
    math teacher and her fabulous wardrobe.

    Freespiritbldglbl2_3
    Our school had been built in the 70s with some bright idea to have all
    of the classrooms open to each other.  Imagine 9 classes taking place
    in one big hall or ‘pod’.  Ridiculous idea.  Well, that didn’t work out too
    well, so they quickly had to install wall-dividers.  My mother taught
    at the school and I clearly remember her frustration at the constantly
    moving walls. Kids would lean their chairs back into them and disrupt
    the class next door.  It was built in a big circle, with the library in
    the middle, a large hallway around that, and then 4 or 5 ‘pods’ fanning
    out from the hallway.  Navigating that main hallway between classes
    prepared me for driving later on.  Stick to your lane, signal
    when you need to turn, etc.  It was people soup.  Most of the
    classrooms could be entered from outside though too.  It was California
    after all.  Our lockers were all outside.

    Glassbouquetlbl_2
    Jeff stopped me by Sewing Arts Studio for a Hello and some giddy
    chatter about sewing with Timtex.  They pointed out a snapshot of me on
    the wall from a couple of Quilt Markets ago.  I didn’t think twice
    about it till this week (as that photo now leads me to another crazy
    coincidence).  I received an email just this week from a old friend
    from high
    school who says she saw my photo at that same quilt shop recently &
    told the owners, "Hey, I know her!  We went to high school together."
    They responded, "That’s Heather Bailey.  She’s designed these fabrics
    over here."  Brandi told the story better.  Here’s what she said,
    "And I know it has to be you because you look exactly the same…So I
    already owned some of your fabric and I had pulled a Free Spirit ad out
    of a magazine over the summer because I loved the fabric and wanted to
    find it…it was yours!!!" 

    So, here’s my brain thread…

    Princess Charlotte — Charlotte, NC — high school connection with
    colleague in Charlotte, NC — visit quilt shop with same colleague, see
    photo on wall — receive email from another high school friend who
    found me from photo on wall at same quilt shop in The Queen City of
    Charlotte, NC — Princess Charlotte… and it loops.  Though I’m a
    little weirded out, I’m also quite reassured by the interconnectivity
    of it all. Like a snowflake under a microscope, intricate &
    mesmerizing    .

    Headrest2lbl_4

    And though I should end it there, all poetic and thoughtful, you
    have to see these new headrests on Continental airlines.  They can be
    bent around your head!  Now you don’t have to have a window seat in
    order to catch a nap.  Someone should sew up some shower-cap-like
    fabric covers for these things and start a little business.  Or Continental
    could offer them for a buck on every flight, like they do with
    headphones.