Home & Family

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    The Aftermath

    ByHeather Bailey

    Candy
    There are lots of ways of dealing with the aftermath of Halloween
    — the candy.  Isaac and I let our kids have at it for a couple of days
    and then get rid of what’s left.  I have some friends who stage it out,
    dishing one candy per day Muckymuck2
    for who-knows-how-long.  Then there’s the pick-out- your-favorite-insert # here–
    pieces method.  Makes for a good alternate discussion topic amongst
    mommies when you’ve already memorized everyone’s birth stories! 

    Ok, being a bit sarcastic, yes.  We have plenty of other things to
    talk about than birth and candy!  In fact, we didn’t discuss birth or
    candy at all last weekend in Houston.  Oh wait, I did hear how Anna‘s fourth baby was her most difficult delivery.  But beyond that brief interlude, it was all art and schoolmarms.
    I probably had too much fun at Market.  My next fabric line didn’t
    quite make it in time to be released this Market, so I was free to hang
    out as I pleased.

    I met some new friends and some old ones too.  If you haven’t seen Liesl’s new company,
    go take a peek!  My gush over her paper dolls was a bit embarrassing in
    hindsight.  I even ran to get my sketchbook to show her all the paper
    dolls I’ve been sketching.  Just to prove, "You see, I’m not just
    saying that I’m excited about your paper dolls!  I really am."  Ridiculous.  Liesl, forgive me.  And what a sweetheart and smart.  She’s really got things together.

    Thebite_2

    Hmmm.  I don’t know that I’m up for listing everyone
    this time.  The list keeps getting longer.  I’d rather just report my
    embarrassing moments : )  I was a bit sleep deprived and shouldn’t have
    been in a professional setting that last day.  Nothing horrible… I
    just get a little too excited about things like thread and Japanese
    fabric, you see.  I’ve got to chill. 

    I figure I now have six months to rest up for before Portland (yah, right).  My eyes and my stomach are set on this chocolate palace for an evening escape.

    Had the best time showing Laura around too!  So fun.

    And yes, there were plenty of perfectly polite, well-mannered, calm
    conversations as well.  I’ve just got to get more sleep next time!

    Want some candy??   

    Here

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    The Mermaid

    ByHeather Bailey

    Thecrowningmoment_nhb

    Pure elation!  Do you see it?  And I thought I’d have a little
    pirate girl, or a piggy, or a little cardboard robot girl with a
    polka-dot bow.  No, Charlotte was very clear that she wanted to be a mermaid.  And
    somehow the timing worked out well this year, so I went all out!

    Plop2

    I created the tail texture by running gathering stitches in a fanned-out pattern.  Huge relief that it worked as planned!  The
    skirt is supposed to be the ocean, but I didn’t quite get to the
    seaweed and fish I had in mind.  I love the color variegation there
    though – makes for great interpretive water.

    GleeI
    made a removable plastic sleeve for the fin so Charlotte could enjoy
    her Halloween without being barked at about dragging her tail.  It
    worked out swimmingly — though the tail stayed off the ground anyhow
    as she pranced around in just about the same pose as you see in this
    photo. Crazy cute!

    I drafted the pattern for the bodice and went a bit nuts with
    ruffles and trim.  At one place in the sleeve seam there’s something
    like 12 layers (a couple sets of doubled ruffles & piping, trim,
    & the usual stuff).  I had to outfit Charlotte with a sleeved dance
    leotard underneath to keep her little arms comfortable.  And dance she
    has, in full regalia, on Halloween and every day since.

    MermaidcrownflipIsaac’s contribution was the crown.  I handed him the materials and said, "Go for it!" 

    He responsed, "What’s wrong with this one?" (The original plastic crown underneath all of the goop). 

    "Nothing’s wrong with it, but it could be so much more mermaid-y."

    "Ya, I guess," he said, but then proceeded to spend the next thirty
    or forty minutes deeply enthralled, improving in every way my original
    plan.  He even got out the drill so the button shanks on the back of
    the crown jewels would nest into the plastic just so.  I mean he really
    got into it.  He’s proud of that crown.

    He went a bit crazy with the wand too.  Got burned in the process : (

    Thewand

    Besides the hot-glue burns, we had extra-fun this year.  It was
    Charlotte’s first Halloween where she understood what was up – costume,
    candy, costume.  What a joy to see the magic in her eyes!  She’s really pretty caught up in her underwater fantasy.

    And obviously, Elijah’s still got the magic.  Thank heaven Jedis
    lead a simpler, less-layered, unglittered existence or I might not have
    made the deadline.  Love my twirly, big-eyed dreamers.
    Tada

  • Touch & Go (the original, airplane-related definition, as I just got back from Disneyland and I’m heading back out again — not the sad, someone’s-dying-in-the-hospital version)

    ByHeather Bailey

    Off to Houston for Market.  I’m counting on some good fun and
    a couple of teary, giggly late night chats.  And some business
    stuff in there too.

    ShelfI’m
    just about done with the costume (reveal to come)– and thank heaven,
    as I have one more to make once I get back… a Jedi. Jedis are a bit
    more quick to put together.  And, I’m very familiar with Jedis. 

    My older brother, Matthew, had me sew up Jedi costumes for him and
    two of his business buddies a number of years ago.  There was an
    Amidala     in that crew as well, for a change of pace.  It was for
    a business presentation. (How cool is that?)  And it paid well. 

    Then
    my other brother, Ryan, had to have a Jedi costume too.  He even scored a
    cloak to go with it, as I found the most amazing cloak fabric
    that year — all sand-beaten and worn-looking.  It even wafts in the
    wind. 

    So, can you guess what Elijah wanted to be for Halloween that same year? 
    Yep, a Jedi.  He was about 4.  Now he’s 10 and he’s feeling the Jedi
    vibe again.  And there’s no chance the older costume will fit.

    So that’s the Tuesday/Wednesday that awaits me next week.  That, and a full report on my weekend away!

    (Nope, photo does not relate to post.  But she’s cool, don’t you think?)

  • Magic of One Kind and Another

    ByHeather Bailey

    Halloweeninprogress

    We’re back from Disneyland and it was amazing!  Our first time on an official
    vacation     as a foursome. Charlotte, though 2 and admitted for free, had
    as much fun as any full-fare filly.  And Elijah enjoyed himself even
    more than last time (with Isaac in May, I think) – improved by the company of cousins to hang on fences
    with and generally poke and pester.  I’ll track down the camera cards
    from our trip and find some photos to share. 

    We came home to a backlog of business, a visit from Isaac’s mother
    and Halloween magic to make.  Wait till you see
    this one.  Charlotte is hovering.   

  • Unplanned Plans

    ByHeather Bailey

    Pocketchange_4
    Impromptu trip to Disneyland!
    Cashing in the coins to spend a couple of days out-and-about with our
    children.  My brother and his family will be there as well.  Should be
    big fun!

    I think I’ve been only once before.  I faintly remember climbing around in a big tree- house of sorts.

    Anyhow, time to hang the hypothetical Closed sign for a couple of days.  Be back online come Thursday. 

  • The Bulge & Pop of Things

    ByHeather Bailey

    Philadelphia in fish eye.  Isaac’s weekend.  More bulgy, beautiful photos here.

    Philadelphia

    Living Room in boxes.  Heather’s weekend.  Shipment of secret product X.  Not secret for long 🙂 

    Boxing_3The
    DIY workload is out of control.  We’ll be hiring soon.  Most likely an
    assistant for Isaac at first, so Isaac can assist me:  websites,
    timelines, business systems, etc.  I’ll need an assistant as well soon
    after.  We are laying a careful foundation so our family can happily
    handle the juggle.

    Many may not realize how long the lead-time is in preparing goodies
    for the market.  Most product designer don’t blog about the next year’s
    collection as they put it together.  Hush, hush.  Shh, shh.  I know for
    a fact however, that we’re all biting our knuckles to share, aching to
    tell all, but don’t want to frustrate anyone in having to wait 3, 6, 9
    or even 12 months to get her hands on said goodies.  In short, I can’t
    wait to start letting things Pop!  Getting much closer on a number of
    things.

    Two things I can share here today from my calendar:

    1.  I’ve been invited to be a panelist at Country Living’s Women
    Entrepreneurs     event in Chicago the weekend of March 15th, 2008.
    They’ll be releasing ticket & event details come October 15th.
    Pop! 

    2.  I’ve also accepted an invitation to appear at the Inspired
    artist workshop (paper-craft) in North Carolina on April 10-12th, 2008.
    Registration is already in progress.  Pop!

    Loving that hand-painted "Closed" sign up there.  We should all
    have one on hand for occasional use on the computer, oven, washing
    machine, brain, etc.

  • What Is It With Muskrats?

    ByHeather Bailey

    I’m not sure what all I can say here that the title of this book
    doesn’t already achieve.  Read the title once, then twice, and your
    puzzled expression will inevitably bloom into a curly smirk. 

    Come again?  His Muskrat Lady Housekeeper?  Uncle What?
    Unclewiggily1
    I
    can’t say how this floats my boat.  Really.  And I’m not sure it would
    be wise to try.  Let’s just say that a quick glance at this book has
    diffused many stressful moments for me.  I can’t help smiling.  So, there it sits, on the shelf above my ribbons, ready to cheer me up on demand.  It just wouldn’t be right to
    keep such a thing to myself.

    Unclewiggily3

    Of course, muskrat anything takes me back about six years to the night Isaac came home from work, spun me around in the kitchen and proceeded to sing, "Muskrat Suzy and Muskrat Sam do the jitterbug out in Muskrat Land…"
    with all the passion he could muster. Oh to have a record of the look
    on my face!  It was a classic expression of "You have got to be kidding
    me, right?  You’re joking, right?"  He just kept on singing.  Me, "Oh
    my gosh!  Is this a real song?  No, you’re making this up.  What are
    the real words?  What is going on?" 

    Unclewiggily2_2
    Isaac, of course, knew all of the words.  He spent a good five or ten minutes trying to convince me that yes, there was indeed a very
    popular song in the 70s called Muskrat Love (it hit #4 in ’76), before digging up the CD
    and proving it.  Poor guy, I totally spoiled his muskrat mood.  But,
    what the?  I can’t be the only one to not feel the romance of Muskrat
    Love, can I?  "Honey, are you sure it was a popular song?  I was only a baby, you know." 

    That was a funny, funny night.  Big, healthy laughs. 

    I still don’t get it.  Though I do wonder…  That picnic Uncle
    Wiggily’s skipping to looks awfully romantic to me.  What is it with
    muskrats?

    (And, no, Isaac wasn’t serious.)

  • Boom Tin Tin

    ByHeather Bailey

    Tinsfull_2
    Pokin’
    back in for a HELLO.  Isaac’s in Philadelphia photographing a wedding
    this weekend.  I convinced him to stay an extra few days to explore (in
    proxy perhaps — would have liked to stay longer last June).  His
    rental car was creamed by a small truck minutes after leaving the
    airport though.  Completely not his fault.  He’s not hurt at all &
    the other guy’s got the tab for the damage.  But, as all other rental
    cars were spoken for, he’s now in for an adventure with PA mass transit
    perhaps.  Let’s hope he leaves the hotel — or at least returns well-rested, right?

    Took myself out to see The Kingdom on Friday night, babysitting
    already in place.  A large part of that movie was filmed about a mile
    or so from my house, on an old out-of-action military base.  The
    baseball-game bomb-scene and big-ol’-shoot-out at the end were two of
    the sets you could see from the road.   Man, some of those buildings
    sure looked shabby and pathetic in the movie — nasty stucco stains,
    filthy stairs, roofs teeming with satellite dishes.  They were just
    facades, all plywood and braces from the back. 

    My friend Sheeba was an extra on the set.  And
    thank heaven for the inside scoop, as we were awakened one night by a
    fearsome boom.  The house shook and grumbled and I sprung out of bed
    with a comical, "What…was… that!"  It was 3am or so.  Turned out
    they blew up the set that night.  For realistic tattering, I’m sure.
    Whoa!  Would have been nice to get a notice on that one.  I bet it was
    a busy night for the local 911 dispatchers. 

    Anyhow, no!, my neighborhood looks nothing like Saudi Arabia.  Just a fun bit of this & that.

    New tins above.