fabric

  • Specters & Sparkles

    ByHeather Bailey

    My feet!  They are trotting along beneath me now, where they belong. 
    What a feat it has been to catch up on things after a couple of months
    of scattered-ant-hill syndrome.  I'm nearly there.  Just a few more
    photos for a book contribution, and one more design for my next fabric
    collection (of course, it's the most complicated of the prints and might
    take a week or two to finish).  Then it's back on schedule.  Glorious.

    MarloBloomBag_HeatherBailey_1
    Perhaps
    even ahead of schedule soon, as we now have an on-staff seamstress to
    help bring my designs to life, moving pattern-development and
    sample-making along.  I tell you what, it sure takes a mighty amount of
    focus to do some of my less-fun work (accounting, payroll, etc.) when
    there's a flurry of sewing going on in the other room.  But great!  I'll
    introduce you to Tamara in my next newsletter.  And Nica too, my new
    Studio Assistant.

    MarloBloomBag_HeatherBailey_2b

    So, isn't my new Marlo Bloom handbag adorable in Nicey Jane?  I feel sparkly
    when I'm toting a tangerine handbag around — even when wearing pjs to
    the grocery store, as I tested out last night.  I'm loving the vintage,
    khaki button on the flower too.  Nothing like a touch of ugly to pretty
    up a project. 

    The school year is hovering.  It floats over my
    shoulder, just beyond sight, and teases me, "Just a few weeks more and
    your little girl will be grown."  Now, of course, this isn't true.  But I
    am taunted nevertheless. 

    MarloBloomBag_HeatherBailey_4a I'm still deciding
    which school to send Charlotte to.  We're down to three choices — and there
    are just about three weeks to decide.  There's the school close to our
    home — the easy option.  The highly-recommended charter school — C is
    near the top on the waiting list.  And then a good, solid school in
    Elijah's same school district — great district, but that's about all I
    know on this one. 

    It's going to have to be a last-minute
    decision, as I still have my fingers crossed on the charter school. 
    Perhaps my school specter will go whisper a message to the
    school's administration, "Red rover, red rover, let Charlotte come
    over."

  • 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.

  • Meet Nicey Jane

    ByHeather Bailey

    NiceyLogoGraphic

    She's gussied up and ready for her big debut. Meet Nicey Jane™, my
    new fabric collection for Free Spirit. Nicey is sassy, sweet, and ready
    to sew.  In other words, check your local fabric store, as Nicey Jane
    arrived this week. 

    These new prints are available in two color palettes. We'll call the pink/olive/tangerine palette Kissing Booth and the blue/gray/gold palette Porch Swing. Along with florals, geometrics, and stripes, there are also a handful of Nicey Jane cotton solids — which are batting their threads at me now, calling, "Sew with me, Heather. Forget that computer and run away with me."

    NiceyJaneLaundry

    In a couple of weeks, there will also be eight 58" wide laminated
    cottons (similar to oil cloth, but light-weight and super-duper supple
    — must touch).  I'm excited that the finish is light-weight enough to
    be gathered.  Once I finish up my stationery design work this month,
    I'm going to sew up a Smarty Girl book bag with the laminated cotton and give a full report.  I also have some raincoat plans and a kid's booster seat to make.

    NiceyJaneBasketW (I never did show off my birthday bicycle,
    did I?  Nicey is doing the job for me now.  Yep, that's my
    pinkity-pink-ol bike there.  I never would have guessed I'd go for a
    pink bike.  Would have guessed orange.  Or khaki.  Or bright yellow.  I
    love it though.  Wait till you see the bicycle saddlebags I'm planning
    to make out of this print — but in laminate.  Oh yah.)

    Back to the fabric, shall we?

    The collection tells the story of small-town girl, Nicey Jane. Nicey
    heads to the city on Friday nights to swing dance with her beau — but
    not before hanging the laundry to dry & enjoying an afternoon
    picnic on the farm.  The prints are named for Nicey's story: Hello
    Roses, Hop Dot, Swing Toss, Wash-Day Ticking, Welcome Road, Picnic
    Bouquet, Slim Dandy, Dream Dot, Church Flowers, Pocketbook, and Lindy
    Leaf.

    (The Lindy Hop is my mom's favorite dance.  She tried to teach me some moves on the family room rug when I was little.  Tried.  The Lindy is dang-tricky.)

    NiceyJaneBike

    Now for dessert, a little Nicey Jane video.  Be patient with the resolution;  I uploaded this piece to YouTube instead of hosting it on my own site so it can be shared, embedded in other blogs, watched a gazillion times, etc.  I have Isaac to thank for the wink — you'll see.

    For second dessert (what would a Hobbit
    call a second dessert?), I believe I'm in the mood for a celebratory
    giveaway.  New fabric has arrrived — and it's Christmas time — a dangerous combination.  So, three prizes!  One $50 gift certificate  and two $25 gift certificates to The Heather Bailey Store. 
    To enter, leave a comment. Tell us something fun, or interesting, or weird, or clever, or
    something kind someone has done for you.  Something like that.  I do read all of the
    comments.  I'll go first (see comments).

    Happy holidays, my friends.  I'm off to stir some hot cocoa with a
    candy cane and find myself a pair of slippers.  It's cold outside.

  • 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 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!

  • |

    Swoon

    ByHeather Bailey

    NiceyJanePicnic
    I'm
    off to Houston for Quilt Market.  The stars have aligned.  As such, I
    am thrilled to debut a new feature fabric collection, a palette of
    cotton solids and an assortment of delicious, laminated prints (my
    samples arrived at the studio just yesterday).  I also have several
    fun, new sewing patterns to share (Henrietta is one of six new patterns).

    If you're heading to Market
    this weekend, stop on by booth #s 1957,59 for a hello — and a first
    peek at my upcoming collection, Nicey Jane™.

    Bring smelling salts.  These fabrics may cause fainting — they're stinkin' gorgeous.

  • Suture-Free Future

    ByHeather Bailey

    Here it is, my live interview on NBC's Studio 5 in Salt Lake City. Catch a glimpse of my next mini pattern. Try not to glimpse the ribbon dangling from my shirt sleeve though.

    Written instructions for the Pop Garden scrap flowers featured on the video can be found here. I had an incredible time in Utah this weekend. I met many fun entrepreneurs & was showered with some amazing presents — necklaces, notecards, homemade games, tee-shirts, chocolate. The Sweet Tooth Fairy's Double Fudge Cake Bites made my night on Thursday. Imagine oreo-cookie-flavored cake with a truffle-chocolate shell. Yeah. Holy happiness, Batman.

  • Packing Flowers

    ByHeather Bailey

    FlowerProject2

    Today I'm heading over to the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City for a live interview & some crafty kibitzing on KSL's Studio 5 with hosts, Brooke & Darin. We're making fast, fabulous, fabric flowers. Fashionable too — and friendly.

    The
    spicy flower above turned out perfectly for the red & olive reverse
    of my red Marlo Bloom bag (shown on the cover of the Marlo Bloom sewing pattern). It takes my handbag right into Fall, all wooly & frayed, with felted houndstooth leaves and raw silk at the center.

    FlowerProject1

    I
    also played around with some of my favorite vintage buttons &
    millinery supplies, such as these green ceramic flower stamen. On the
    show, we're making medium-sized flowers, but as I couldn't stick to one
    size for the samples, I'm listing measurements for the large purse
    flower and the small, blue headband flower as well. Of course, make
    whatever size flower you wish & stitch it where you like.

    I say everywhere.

    FlowerProject4a

    Pop Garden Scrap Flower Tutorial

    Medium Flower

    1.  Tear a strip of printed cotton fabric 3" high by 20" wide. Pop Garden works.

    FlowerTute1

    2. 
    With wrong sides together, fold fabric strip in half, as shown. Stitch
    long, gathering stitch along matched torn edges, through both layers.
    (For a torn-edge flower, stitch along folded edge, through both layers.)

    FlowerTute2

    3. 
    Gently pull stitches as you sew, to gather fabric into a circle. Fasten
    fabric circle at center with a couple of stitches. Secure & trim
    thread.

    FlowerTute3a

    4. 
    Of felt, cut three tiered circles — 2" wide, 1.75" wide, and 1.5"
    wide. Notch edges of large & small circles. Remove all 'hanging
    chads' of felt — we'll have none of that. Stack felt circles as shown.

    FlowerTute4

    5. 
    Onto gathered fabric flower, layer stacked felt circles and a
    decorative button or brooch. Stitch layers together at center several
    times through button to secure. Conceal gathered edges at back of
    flower by whip-stitching a circle of scrap felt to the back of the
    flower. Then, attach a sew-on pin-back, hair clip, ponytail elastic, TT
    headband    , bobbypin or barrette. And that's it. Easy-peasy.

    FlowerTute5

    For
    your reference, the following chart shows the measurements used for the
    other flowers featured in the photos above. The large flower is made by
    stacking a folded piece of silk on top of the folded cotton print with
    folds aligned. Gathering stitches are sewn through all layers, near the
    fold. And the large flower spirals into several layers, unlike the
    other two shown.

    FlowerTute6a

    I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at Friday's Start-up Princess event. If you're interested in last-minute registration, I've got a present for you — use code STUDIO5 for $10 off the registration fee. Or tune in to the show today, as two viewers will receive free tickets on air, valued at $99 each.

    Also, there is an all-new category at The Heather Bailey Store.
    See if you can spot it. I'm eager to post more, but need to rush off to
    the station. Let's just say the new category ties in perfectly with
    this tutorial and with more projects to come. I'll spill the beans in
    my next post.

  • Pretty Maids All in a Row

    ByHeather Bailey

    FeatureFriBanner
    Ravenhill1a

    Like
    so many others, I'm charmed by the bright colors and folky art of
    Russian dolls or matryoshka.  Over the last couple of years, demure
    little matryoshka have become a fierce trend in crafting and design. 
    Russian-doll jewelry, ornaments, beads, fabric, embroidery, and home
    decor can be spotted all over the internet and in stores.  (Fun links at the bottom of this post.)

    RussianDoll250brt Amidst the Russian bunch, the whimsical dolls of Emily Moss of
    Ravenhill stand out — playful stuffed matryoshka made with a variety
    of prints & details.

    Emily’s inspiration for creating these unique dolls was her “growing stack of
    beautiful fabrics and pretty ribbon," combined with her new-found
    enjoyment of embroidery.  As a result, each doll has her own personality. 

    I first spotted
    Emily's dolls in my Pop Garden & Bijoux Flickr group where she has
    uploaded a several cheery, floral ladies.  See a wide variety of fabric
    combinations in her Babushka Softies Flickr set as well.

    Ravenhillsze Emily’s
    dolls were not always exactly what she envisioned. Though the overall
    doll design appears simple, fine-tuning the shape & structure took time.  Emily went through several drafts to develop
    the dolls she makes today.

        “It took a lot of practice and experimentation
    with various tool and mediums… I have learned so much from this process
    and would encourage others not to give up when the first prototype is far from what was planned.
    Plow ahead and persevere.”

    Emily offers Matryoshka dolls in her Etsy store.  Or stop by her blog to see what’s new.

    More Russian doll links:

    *For more information about Feature Friday & the artists spotlighted, click here*

    Photography in this post courtesy of Emily Moss

  • Is it Monday again?

    ByHeather Bailey

    LanternBloom1
    I'm
    wrapping up an assortment of projects to clear my plate for August's
    design marathon.  I hope time slows down a bit for the next two weeks. 
    Elijah is starting junior high school and I'm – just – not – ready.  

    LanternPillowA Perhaps waiting for my new to
    birthday bike
    arrive will do the trick.  I haven't been this excited about a
    birthday present since I-can't-remember-when.  She's vanilla with pink
    rims, a rattan basket & a wooden rack — my creamcycle cruiser. 
    With a drink cup and bell — vrrink-vrrink.

    LanternBasketT And guess whose birthday was just yesterday? Laura. Laura of Lantern Bloom. I am mesmerized by her new fabrics. The mill did such a fabulous job
    recreating the moody depth of Laura's paintings;  it's hard to believe
    these are flat, smooth fabrics. Stretch one print across a canvas and
    it's instant wall art.

    I'm so proud of her. Laura has developed
    a unique painting style over the years. One of the last things we did
    together before she moved away 4 years ago was experiment with textured
    canvasses. Now she's a master of texture. Laura has a collection of art prints heading to Crate & Barrel and a rich, new collection of fabrics as well.

    Wish
    Laura a Happy Birthday, will you?  At a mere 2 weeks older, she paves
    the birthday way for me each year.  I hear birthday sirens sound long
    about July 26th, when it's time for Laura's slice of cake.  "Brace
    yourself, Heather, here it comes."  I ordered my bike today, so bring
    it on.

    Watch for Laura's Lantern Bloom fabrics too — definitely
    a collection to see in person.  You can even make out bits of canvas in
    some of the prints.

  • Personalized Pillows

    ByHeather Bailey

    FeatureFriBanner
    Imagine coordinating all of your child’s bedroom pillows — with some personalization to boot.  With Bella Marie's personalized pillows, you can.

    MarleyBaby

    Seamstress and Etsy shop-owner, Marie Villa,
    loves personalized items, as do her children.  To Marie, her name
    pillows are "the perfect projects to make that not only coordinate with
    a room's colors, but also personalize it at the same time.”

    Marie used an assortment of Heather Bailey Freshcut fabrics for
    the “Emme Pillow” below. Other materials include a background fabric
    (Marie used a solid, pre-quilted fabric) Heat n' Bond™ Lite, stuffing,
    and lots of thread.

    Emme

    According
    to Marie, this is a simple design to make.  Each pillow takes about 2
    hours to complete. "The letters are the only thing that can get tricky
    – but with practice you can get them just right."

    MarleyBaby2Marie's pattern is from one of her favorite websites, www.youcanmakethis.com,
    for $6.95. However, if you don't have the skills nor the time to make
    your own customized pillows — but you love homemade, you’re in luck. 
    Marie will make a custom one for you.  Contact Marie through her Etsy
    shop, Bella Marie Designs, to place your custom order.  Keep in mind, longer names such as Savannah can be fit onto a slightly longer pillow.

    If you don’t have a little guy or girl in mind, Marie suggests a “Mom” pillow for mother’s day or a special “Grandma” pillow
    with grandchildren’s names hand-embroidered around the pillow's front. 
    For pillow inspiration, comb through Marie’s Flickr set here.

    Savannah

    *For more information about Feature Friday & the artists spotlighted, click here*

    Photography courtesy of Marie Villa.