purse pattern

  • Specters & Sparkles

    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."

  • Smarty New Year!

    SmartyShot

    I'm moving my business
    into a new office/warehouse space. We have a few walls to build and a
    couple of rooms to paint, then the big haul begins. The plump, juicy
    cherry-on-top is that my craft-night fantasy may soon become reality —
    regular thread-covered, music-filled, sugar-enhanced soirees.
    And with the larger studio space, we may be able to convince my
    fabulous mother to teach sewing lessons in the evening. The Phoenix
    area needs more craft socials, if you ask me. (I'm not opening a retail store, just expanding my space.)

    CuttoutSmartyIt
    will take a few weeks to get settled and adapt to the new digs. Let me
    know if you're in the area &/or know anyone who may be interested
    in 'knowing their sewing.' I'll start buttering-up my mom. She's an
    amazing teacher, and she knows her stuff.

    I'm working on a new, free tutorial to post online as well. And
    there is another new mini pattern on the way, and four new premium
    patterns, and several secret projects — busy, busy new year. What are
    your new projects/goals for the new year? I wish I could commit to the
    traditional goal of increased exercise and vegetable intake, but I'm in
    no position to take that on this month. Maybe next month.

    Also!  I need the winners from last month's giveaway to email me their contact info so I can hand out prizes: Heather@HELLOmynameisHeather.com.