christmas

  • How About a Free Apron-Pattern?

    GingersnapChristmasHolidayFabric_HeatherBailey_470b

     

    Receive a FREE copy of my Daily Spice Halter Apron pattern with any order over $50 at www.HeatherBaileyStore.com*. For the pattern, there is no need to enter a code. We will add the pattern for you and cover the additional shipping cost ourselves. Merry, Merry Christmas.

    *To receive this FREE pattern, your shopping cart total must meet or exceed $50 after any promo discounts are applied and before tax and shipping. Promo ends tonight at midnight MST, 12-4-15.

     

    GingerSnap_ApronPattern_Holiday_Christmas_HeatherBailey470

  • Christmas Interview Goes Live Today

    SweetSimpleSweet and Simple Magazine (SweetandSimpleMag.com) is doing a 25 Days of Christmas marathon with interviews, tutorials, recipes,  party ideas and other Christmas-related fun. My interview went live today, along with details on my family's ornament-party tradition.

    I'm working behind the scenes to finish up the new embroidery patterns so we can get those back from the printer with plenty of time to ship them out before Christmas. I plan to scent up my home with cinnamon and nutmeg—baking or candles, whatever it takes—then snuggle up with my kids and a soft quilt to embroider while we watch The Sound of Music or Gone with the Wind.

    Doesn't that sound fabulous? It's the picture in my head that's getting me through the last leg of this race. I should have some embroidery-pattern news here very, very soon.

    Happy Holidays!

  • |

    Let the Feast Begin

    HB_Holiday_01

    Wow, is it Thanksgiving week already!? I thought life was moving by quickly as it was, but add a new baby to the mix and whoo-ee! Hold onto your hat.

    HB_Holiday_04w2I’m going to offer to take my sister’s family photo for her Christmas cards. She has been helping me a ton with Charlotte this fall, having her over for playdates and making sure she’s not missing out on any fun while I’m tied up at home with the baby. Today, she and my sister-in-law took Charlotte to the zoo so I could finish up some work in time to have a break for Thanksgiving Day. Julia has two boys, one of which is six, Charlotte’s age. And Rachel has one boy who is also six. One tribe of monkeys goggling at another. I imagine the kids are having a blast.

    I probably should work on my own cards too, huh? If for no reason but to capture a snapshot of our funny little family as it currently stands: mom, dad, lanky teenage boy, toothless 1st-grade girl, and a newborn bobble-headed baby.

    HB_Holiday_03t

    It’s funny, I don’t ever get too stressed about getting holiday cards out on time, but now that Julia’s cards are on my mind, I’m hearing a soft tick, tick, tick behind my right ear. Time to get to it.

    HB_Holiday_02final…which train of thought reminds me I better announce my new Holiday stationery thingscuz it’s high time. If you’re looking for bright, stylish photo cards or party invitations that haven’t been gooped up with long, sappy greetings, I have the solution. Check out my holiday collection. There are also great paper plates, napkins and cups. We only have about 6-12 of each item in stock, so go get ’em. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to replenish before Christmas hits, but I’ll find out and let you know.

    Flourish500

    And the winner of the Little Bits Quilting Bee book is Shannon from Mastering the Art of Being Me. Thank you, Random Number Generator, for your impartial input. Shannon, email me your address & such : )

  • Dab, Dab

    ClothNapkins

    Whether you are prepping for the holidays, or getting ready for a birthday or baby shower, cloth napkins are a great way to personalize your table decor.  Expand your decorating options by sewing the napkins yourself — from your favorite fabrics.

    They are super easy to make, so why not?

    Deck the halls!  Deck the tables!  Get started with this simple, illustrated tutorial.  Fancy-up and save some dollars at the same time.  Happy Holidays, everyone!


    Read More “Dab, Dab”

  • Happy Holidays!

    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.

  • Red & White All Over

    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 Jane™
    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!