sketchbook

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    Giveaway Day 29

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    Pencils_1med

    I take a sketchbook with me everywhere I go, even if I'm just heading
    to the gas station to refill the tank. I had lovely thoughts to share
    about keeping a sketchbook and how pivotal this is for anyone with
    artistic ambitions or creative hobbies.

    But then, my husband went outside to change the brakes on our car,
    leaving me to write out my lovely thoughts in the midst of a storm of
    children, which storm has blown my concentration right out the door. The
    teenager is writing a physics paper and packing for an overnight field
    trip tomorrow. The middle child is sick and needs medicine and love. The
    baby has torn his diaper off so many times, that I am now letting him
    sit naked on my lap and watch Jay Jay the Jet Plane while I type.

    Pencils_2

    I may not retrieve those lovely sketchbook thoughts till
    another day. Just know that the thoughts are there. I am passionate about
    sketchbooks
    . You must, must, must have a sketchbook—so I went and got one for you, along
    with a big pack of pretty, colored pencils.

    It doesn't matter if you can draw. You need a place to capture your
    creative brainstorms. Write it down, draw it out, or risk losing it. I
    also picked up a colored pencil blender pen for you, a solvent-based marker meant for blending wax-based
    colored pencil pigments. This is something I have never tried before, so
    I got one for me too. We'll find out together.

    Sketchbook_250If
    I'm preaching to the choir, and you're already amply equipped with
    sketchbooks and colored pencils of your own, take a shot at this
    giveaway anyhow. If you win, then you can gift the prize to a creative friend who
    needs to hear the gospel truth about sketchbooks.

    As you know, I have some big introductions to make this week. I
    tidied up my sewing area this morning to make way for a full weekend of
    projects—assuming the baby keeps his diaper on and no unexpected
    strike-offs
    arrive at the door.

    Just going with the flow. I'm grateful to have that flexibility.
    Speaking of flow… I better go put a diaper on this kid. I'm testing my
    luck at this point.

    Read More “Giveaway Day 29”

  • Smarty Girl

    MEHC_SmartyGirl

    While I'm busy finishing up a jazzy slideshow for Nicey Jane, I thought I'd pop in and share another bit of news.  Who recognizes this photo above? It's from the cover of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion back in May 2008. 

    SmartyGirl
    I hadn't originally planned to publish a pattern for this book bag. 
    However, after hundreds of requests for it, I finally got a clue and
    did the work. The Smarty Girl book bag mini pattern arrives at the studio on Monday and will start shipping out on Tuesday. 

    I
    use my Smarty Girl to carry a sketchbook and pencils. Charlotte has a
    Smarty Girl for her coloring and activity books. It's a simple sew,
    perfect for holiday gifts and birthday presents. You could make one for
    your child for Christmas and fill it with activity books.  With a
    coordinating baby quilt folded up inside, it makes a great shower gift.
    Then, of course, you could do a sketchbook & pencils — my personal
    favorite.

    (Pattern cover features my new collection, Nicey Jane!)