Home & Family

  • Beautiful-Busy

    ByHeather Bailey

    On my way to the studio today, I stopped by the gas station for a soda. 
    When I returned to my car, Every Rose has its Thorn by Poison belted out of the
    radio.  In a psychedelic whirl, I was transported to my cabin bunk at
    summer camp, my woolly socks tucked deeply inside my inadequate sleeping
    bag.  I was thirteen again, and listening to this song on my walkman,
    missing my boyfriend (who, though he carried my books to class for me
    and held my hand on occasion, was really my best friend — you can
    breath, Mom).  That was our song! 

    I love how music can transport
    you.  And scents can do that too.  If you had asked me yesterday, I
    couldn't have told you what 'our song' was.  It was the first song we
    danced to, but I wouldn't have recalled the name.

    I got a little
    choked up, I admit it.

    Isn't life a blur?  A fast, fabulous,
    when-will-I-ever-get-enough-sleep-again blur? Nothing slows down the
    clock but boredom; ask any fourth-grader at the end of a long summer. 
    It's been a long time since I've enjoyed the misery of boredom. 

    Regardless
    of the whirlwind, I'd rather be 70 in a fleeting week, than perpetually
    bored.  Life is a beautiful-busy.

  • Three Parties and a Pop-In

    ByHeather Bailey

    So, I'm logging into Typepad to post a hello just now, before heading out
    to my brother's surprise birthday party (with my sister's birthday party last night & Easter
    tomorrow, this weekend is just plain crazy), and look what greets me:

    100403_Typepad

    Gulp — goodness.

    So, hello!

    Last night my sisters-in-law, mom, & I
    whipped up a surprise party for Julia. Julia is just stubborn enough to
    not happily go-with-the-flow, especially on her birthday.  She fought
    the fake plan each step of the way, but never caught on.  Miracle! 
    There was even a mild tug-of-war over the newspaper movie-listings. Her
    body language growled, "It's my birthday and I want to see
    something else."

    We had dinner at a great Italian restaurant (she
    didn't know her friends would be there), then after presents and fake
    goodbyes, we all met back up at my studio for an All-Night Craft-Bash
    (big "Surprise!" there). We feasted like a swarm of piranhas on a buffet
    of fabric, beads, yarn, felt, and more.  It was awesome.  And here,
    Julia thought no one gave a hoot that she was facing the big 4-0.  We've
    got your back, Juju.

    Now for the next surprise party, Rock Band
    for Rybee. Ryan's turning 33. I've got 30 minutes to get there. Should I
    shred up a tee shirt, get out the black eyeliner, and rat my hair out
    like crazy?  I think so.

  • Pedal by Pedal

    ByHeather Bailey

    BikeLesson1

    My
    group of girls is coming over again this afternoon.  We're going to
    work on developing their sewing kits further.  I haven't decided
    whether to make sewing baskets or or to make slip-sleeves and necklaces
    for the rainbow-handled embroidery scissors I'm giving them. Hm.

    At our last activity, we learned all about bike care.  Girl power!

    We
    learned how to make sure our tires have the proper air pressure, how to
    fix a flat, replace a tube, adjust the chain, and so on.  Isaac was our
    guest expert.  He was big into cycling when I met him and has built
    bikes from the ground up.

    BikeLesson3

    If you're looking for something to do with/teach a gaggle of girls, try bike care lessons. The girls were totally into it.

  • Spackled

    ByHeather Bailey

    Hey all.  It's a good day.  I'm getting a ton done.  And there's a
    tower of amazing chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen, keeping me
    company.

    WallBefore300 Miss
    Charlotte's birthday is tomorrow.  But, last night,
    when I tucked her in, I told her that her birthday was today — big
    oops.  In fact, we told her all weekend that her birthday would be on
    Monday.  I didn't realize the mistake till late last night.  Shoot.  We
    did
    consider just rolling with it, but then we would have needed to include
    her preschool teacher, her brother, and her extended family in the plan
    — and that's just too much.

    I confessed this morning.  She took it well.

    Tell me I'm not the only one who has done this?!

    It's a busy time, I guess.  Charlotte's at
    a childcare place three afternoons a week for the next two weeks while
    I prep and move into my new space.  (I'm sure this has something to do with my
    improved productivity.)  I miss her little self hanging all over me and
    monkeying with my projects.  Ah well.  Two weeks, six afternoons.  I can take it.

    Check out my new wall.  It even has lights.  Oh yeah.

  • Lucky Number

    ByHeather Bailey

    My son is 13 today.  Thirteen!  What in the world?  I was such a little grown-up at thirteen.  At least, I thought I was. 

    BoxShot470WT Things
    have been extra busy this month.  Isaac has built a wall to divide the
    main floor of my new office, allowing pattern storage to be neatly
    hidden away — and allowing the main work area to be cute-ified. I
    don't know when I'll get around to that cute-ification, but it now has
    the potential, which is a start.

    I have successfully ignored the
    move in order to wrap up some pressing projects.  A serious feat.  It
    looks like I have one more week to go.  Next time I make my way up
    there, I'll snap a photo of the new wall.  It was a lot of work and is
    just about finished.  There is a lot more work to do, but it will have
    to be gradual. With Nicey Jane new on the market and several new
    patterns popping, we're extra busy behind the scenes.

    Box470

    On a
    personal note, I purchased some cool, mid-century modern chairs today. 
    They need refinishing and new upholstery, but I can do that.  If it
    weren't for birthday dinner & birthday baking, I'd be out sanding
    them this evening.  Perhaps tomorrow.

    OpenBox470My camera is back too,
    which means more blogging. I can't seem to get comfortable posting
    without including photos. Case in point, the photos in this post. They
    don't relate to what I'm saying at all, but isn't this a fun vintage
    box? I gave it to Lindsay for Christmas, along with some other fun bits
    & baubs.  It's probably a stationery box from the 60s or 70s.  All
    it needed was a good cleaning and a refreshed interior. I used one of
    Amy Butler's scrapbook papers from a while back.  Don't they say that the best
    presents are those you have a hard time giving away? 
    Something like that. I love funky kitsch like this.

  • Happy Holidays!

    ByHeather Bailey

    I
    had a great Christmas week — plenty of time off, plenty of fun. Next
    week I'm wrapping up several business projects and doing some winter
    cleaning at home. I should be ready for the new year around January
    3rd, which is far better than my normal acceptance of the new year in
    February or March.

    Doesn't this holiday pin make a great bow?  Next year I'll post a tutorial & put together some kits or something.

    HollyTag470
    While it's still holiday season, it's time to announce giveaway winners from the Meet Nicey Jane post a couple of weeks ago — $100 in gift certificates to the Heather Bailey Store. (Read the comments when you need a spot of sunshine. They are like reading a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul.) Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to share your stories, weird information, insights, etc. I enjoyed every comment!  (Did I mention, you really should read those comments?)

    Here goes:

    One $25 gift certificate goes to… JENNE

        My husband had a terrible work accident close to 3 years ago. He has yet to
    return to work, but did have his last hip surgery this past Spring. A friend
    at church noticed our bald tires. This past Sunday we left church to find
    new tires–and a repaired tie-rod–on our van.     They had sneaked the keys out
    of my purse, sneaked the car away to the shop and returned it to the spot
    right beside our original one. We didn't notice until they all stood around
    giggling as we packed the kids in the car. A whole group of lovely friends
    was involved, and none of them has much more to spare than ourselves. I
    bawled with joy over how loved I felt. They were just delighted they
    surprised us so.
        Posted by: Jenne | December 08, 2009 at 11:06 PM

    Another $25 gift certificate goes to… MELISSA

        You did say you wanted weird, right? I was at Swiss Days (a huge outdoor
    craft fair) and my mom and I were sitting at a table eating lunch. It was
    crowded and two men and two women asked if they could sit with us. We
    scooted over to make room, and one of the women remarked to me, "Oh, no. If
    you are sitting by my husband, you better guard your food."     We all laughed
    and continued eating, although the man sitting next to me WAS uncomfortably
    close. Table space was at a premium, and he kept scooting closer to me.
    After each scoot, he would say, "Are you okay?", probably in response to me
    leaning away from him. I finished eating, and laid my fork down, and he
    leaned over and said, "Are you going to eat those cherries?" I glanced at my
    pie plate and said that I was finished. He proceeded to grab a potato chip
    from his plate, reach across and scoop up and eat a cherry from my plate.
    Then another, and another, until even the cherry juice had been scooped and
    gobbled. Just as I was thinking, enough's enough, and we were getting ready
    to go, he leaned across me, looked at my mom and said, "Aren't you going to
    eat your cookie?" We handed it over and scooted away post haste. So bizarre.
    I love Nicey Jane, by the way. Jane would know how to handle some random
    stranger eating food off her plate. Me? Not so much!
        Posted by: Melissa | December 08, 2009 at 05:32 AM

    And a plump ol' $50 gift certificate goes to… ASHLEY

        On Saturday, my Mom gave birth to my first little sister! Her name is
    Hadley. She is such a sweetie. 🙂 After 16 years and four sons after me, Mom
    is sure excited!
        Posted by: Ashley | December 09, 2009 at 09:07 AM 

    Now
    Ashley can go to town spoiling her new baby sister with handmade
    clothes, toys, blankets and more. In fact, Ashley's mom commented on Meet Nicey Jane later on, revealing that 16-year-old Ashley was in the other room sewing a baby blanket when her sister was born:

        One of the kindest things someone has done for me lately happened last
    Saturday about 4 a.m.     I was in labor with my sixth child (only our second
    girl) when I thought I heard the whir-whir-whir of the sewing machine.     I
    asked my husband what my daughter (our oldest, 16) was doing and he said,
    "sewing a blanket for the baby". Of course she was! That's just how she is.
    Thoughtful and crafty! Our baby girl was welcomed into the world with a
    beautiful new blanket and lots of love from her sister and brothers. My
    daughter loves your blog by the way!
        Posted by: Angela | December 10, 2009 at 05:44 PM

    Merry
    Christmas & Happy New Year's Week, everyone! Thank you for being a
    part of my life this year.  I love reading your comments and
    interacting with you all in this virtual world of blogging.

  • |

    Holly Day Girls

    ByHeather Bailey

    I have a new 'job' at my church.  I've been asked to teach the
    10-12-year-old girls crafting skills, and to organize service projects
    with them.  Sure! I can do that.  Today is our first activity.  We're
    making holly pins from yo-yos & felt.

    HollyPin470
    Over
    the next few meet-ups, I'm going to help the girls put together their
    own sewing kits, teach them to crochet, develop babysitting kits, learn
    emergency skills etc.  I want to find a senior center we can visit as
    well. 

    They're the sweetest group of girls.  It should be big, big fun.

  • Red & White All Over

    ByHeather Bailey

    HolidayTags470

    I'm so ready for Christmas songs, twinkle lights, gingerbread
    cookies — the whole shbang. I have looked forward to the holidays all
    year.  Our last Christmas
    was pretty hectic and tiring with Isaac in the hospital and whatnot. 
    This year we are all drinking an appropriate amount of water, to say
    the least.

    I've been working my tail off to wrap up my first stationery release
    (Inviting Company, Jan 2009), to get new patterns to the printer, and
    to prepare for my new fabric collection, Nicey Janeâ„¢. 
    I'm so thankful these projects hit in November and not in precious,
    chilly December.  Despite the hubbub, I channeled some of my holiday
    excitement into designing a fun stack of holiday gift tags as a present for our customers this year.  A set of these tags will be sent out with every order placed in the month of December.  And they are DANG
    cute.  My favorite is perhaps the holly berry design at the bottom-left
    of the photo above, or the reindeer.  There are other great holiday discounts and freebies right now at HeatherBaileyStore.com as well.  Click here to take a look.

    Part of my holiday plan is to blog more.  My goodness, where have I
    been?  That's right, under a heavy stack of deadlines.  With new
    patterns on the horizon and plenty of holiday projects in the works, I
    have lots to share, including several sewing projects that have had to
    stay under wraps the last two months.  Ah, what a relief.

    First up is Miss Nicey Jane (next post) — can – not – wait!

  • Couch-Plop, Flip-Flop, House-Mop, Non-Stop

    ByHeather Bailey

    CabinW This weekend, I relaxed at a cabin in Pinetop with six girlfriends and
    one agreeable little baby.  All
    we did was talk and eat sweets. My new quilt & I claimed the fat,
    fuzzy recliner. (Ugly never was so beautiful; I need a recliner now.) I
    also learned that I'm not the only one who isn't too cool for
    flip-flops-with-socks (Renee, you're awesome). It was
    wonderfully-freezing outside. 

    It's been a busy few weeks. I've been immersed in many great
    projects, and have been dealing with a few difficult things too —
    hence the blogging slow-down.

    After leaping from event to event
    this Fall, I am thrilled to stay in one place for a while. Carpools,
    family dinners, piano lessons, I'm loving them all.

    YarnFlowerCropT On the work front, I'm designing my debut stationery collection with Inviting Company, prepping for the release of my next fabric collection, and motoring-along on new sewing patterns and finished goods.

    At home, I'm getting my house put back together, including happy,
    new petunias and roses out front, and I'm enjoying time with my kids.
    (I like them.) Charlotte and I are playing with her new Knifty-Knitter Flower-Loom. We're considering crochet next. Is four too young for crochet?

    Elijah
    and I seek every opportunity for a bike ride. Even Isaac can be seen
    riding my new, pink bike around — usually when it's dark outside, for
    obvious reasons — it's that fun to ride. It's time to get that man a
    blue cruiser already.

  • Yee-haw

    ByHeather Bailey

    Arizona neighbors! You will seriously miss out if you don't make your way to downtown Mesa, AZ this weekend for Blissfest 2009, presented by my ever-fabulous friends at Domestic Bliss, Kristin & Dan Alber. Stephanie Nielson and her husband, Christian, will be there. Tara Frey will be doing a book signing with her new book, Blogging for Bliss. Jaimee Rose is coming too. There will be music, dancing, dozens of artists' booths, a stagecoach — I mean, come on, a stagecoach! 

    Blissfest

    I'll be at the Blogging Lounge on Saturday afternoon and the HB crew will be there too, with our own version of a general store: Trash Ties, fabric, felt, patterns, kits, chit chat, perhaps some chocolate to snack on. So, AZ folks, put your cotton-pickin'
    boots on and mosey on down to Friday night's 'Grand Fandango' and
    Saturday's Blissfest Market. Details on the flyer above or visit the Blissfest blog.

    Happy Fall. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but, here, the weather is gorgeous. Finally.

    See you there!

    (Felt supply all fat & re-stocked by the way — if you've been waiting.)