{via Room Seven}

Hello!

Happy New Year! Merry Christmas!

It’s been a good break. You? I hope you’re as refreshed as I feel. It’s been a bit busy over here, which I never like over the holidays: namely lots of deadlines which I hope to talk about soon! But it’s been wonderful to have everyone home. I always hate to send kids back off to school!

I’m back blogging again! I’ve missed you all. It’s good to be back.

So….I’ve had my hands and head full to the brim with fabric. Color. Design. Color. Design. It’s invigorating. Different enough from illustration to have given me a proper dose of all things COLOR. It’s been so refreshing to think of colors and how they work together to make you feel a certain way. So, since I can’t post what I’ve come up with so far….I’ll post some color inspiration that I am currently enlivened by:

{From Craft & Creativity’s Flickr Page: Pip Studio Wallpaper}

Have I told you my infatuation with all things Dutch and Scandinavian? Maybe not. Since I was 16, I was a gonner with anything that had a connection to the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark…you name it. They are two technically different areas, but something about the way they celebrate color and how they push the limits against white (interesting for a territory dressed in snow so much of the year!)

So, it’s no wonder that I have always loved Pip Design Studio and Room Seven: Two of my favorite places to get inspired. Both from the Netherlands.

Can you tell I like Red and Pink? Always have, always will.

It’s interesting: I’m not always looking at style, but color and how it influences everything else. I always love looking at how the two elements of design work together.

I’ll have to share with you more inspiration as I go. This is just a small part of what’s getting my juices going lately!

Anyways, happy 2011 and can’t wait to stop in more and say hi!

Ta-ta for now,

Sarah

I am needing a good pick-me-up today, and I’ve found it.

Found via Sugar City Journal last night, this video is making my entire month. Photographer-Mother-Stephanie Rausser photographed her little girl’s trip to Paris with her best friend Coco…her rather perfect handmade rag-doll.

Click here for the darling, darling slide show. Honestly…I think I’m off to go make a Coco Doll for my girls. I made a small version for Addie last year, but this size is perfect!

Watch it and you’ll laugh and cry. Its reminding me to see the way my children see their playthings. And it makes me want to go back to Paris. Really bad. Really, really bad.

P.S. The Paris Print is coming soon! By the end of the week, soon. It’s so sweet. And when I’m done, I’m off to sew one of these:

And then maybe, just maybe, I’ll be off to Paris.

And P.S. There is a super huge giveaway at Design Mom you’ll want to check out today. $200 gift card to the shop, as well as another few hundred dollars in awesome giveaways. But it’s only today, so hurry!

Over the Holiday, Kenneth and I finally got our wall to wall bulletin board up in the studio!

I’ve been tacking (and skotch-taping…shhh!) art to the walls since we moved in, and it’s been rather messy (when you’re working on a book, and you are taping paper up and down and up and down…art gets junked up fast!) I’ve been researching the best and most cost effective way to get a 4 ft. x 12 ft. bulletin board, and after a while of searching, I found it! Homosote.

Homosote is a ‘green’ product made from recycled paper, so it has a pulpy texture to it. You can read more about it here. I used the 440 Sound Barrier stuff. I think you can get cork surface and better looking tackable surfaces from them too, but the more basic board was what I found locally, and I wanted to wrap it in linen anyways. Builders use these boards for a boat load of things, like sound proofing rooms, etc. But I discovered online that tons of designers, artchitects, etc. use it to line walls to make a surface for mounting paper. Bingo! That’s what I needed. It’s super inexpensive ($30-ish for a 4×8 sheet) and thick enough to put tacks through (I got the 1/2 inch thick surface). Cork Board isn’t even that thick, and much more pricey when you want to get an entire walls worth.

(By the way…I’m not advertising or anything…just sharing!)

So, here’s what we did:

1. First, here’s a look at what it looks like. It’s like a perfect blend between cardboard and wood.

2. We needed 2 sheets,  but not all of the second, so we cut it to size. Getting a little weight on there was helpful.

3. I covered the Homosote in linen, and ironed out the folds. Well, the incredibly-wonderful-man did. He irons too! The surface is fine on it’s own, but brown wasn’t what I was really wanted.

4. We laid the Homosote on top of the linen so we could wrap it like a canvas.

5. Staple guns are my friend.

6. When Ken drilled the board to the wall, we used these caps to cover the screws so that only the white cap would show, and not the screw head.

And now, I have a totally usable wall surface for laying out storyboards, colors, design swatches, to-do lists (no…scratch that) and the sort. Being a visual person, I need things in front of me to get the juices going. But not too much…I like clear space too. Can you tell?

You might think the studio is a bit sparce…well it is. But I am in no rush to make it perfect. It will evolve, but can I be honest with you? Life with 3 little children is so full and colorful (and cluttery and messy) that I crave clear white space when I create. It helps me dejunk from the day of noodles on my shirt and stains on the floor. It really does!

Here’s what’s on my board now. Nothing fancy…just what I am thinking about right now.

So. Studio space is coming together. Hooray!

{image via Daniel Hurst Photography}

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

We’ve been finding lazy days here. It’s a nice change! It’s odd….I’ve been madly art making these past 3 months, but since it’s all for books and fabric, I just can’t share any of it! But I’ve been thick in deadlines for the past while, so it’s been nice to veg.  Oh how I love eating lunch in my pajamas and eating popcorn in bed. Heaven.

Well, there’s been some hiccups too that has included emergency home maintenance (let’s just say that this being our first winter has led to some big “Oh, Man!” moments: like pipes freezing and other major plumbing issues. Never a dull moment in an old house needing lots of TLC!)

But, so much to be Thankful for. This has been a very busy and big year for us, and with so much going on, I’ve learned the importance of stopping and counting my blessings. Especially when things are a bit challenging.

So here’s a short list:

I’m thankful for….

* Crisp fall air

*A house.

*Birds that greet us each morning

*Amazing wonderful parents

*Ella’s whalespout and pixie nose

*Ian’s dramatic story renditions

*Addies wrap-around hugs

*My husband and his touch of magic in the kitchen

*Soft pillows

*Tea on cold nights

*A fireplace and free wood from our neighbor

*My drawing table

*This music

*My faith

*And wonderful friends who have stuck by me even though I don’t have much time to socialize as of late

There is so much more….of course….

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

**And make sure to stop by next week: we’re having some LOVELY giveaways all week…and some great Cyber Monday deals!

xoxo

Sarah

For the short 2 days I was at Quilt Market, I got to spend a few hours on the floor helping Michael Miller set up their massive booth. The booth had this MadMen Vintage theme, complete with 1960′s runway of manakins. It was seriously awesome. As I rolled up my sleeves to get my hands dirty, I noticed these retro panels off to the side, waiting to be assembled. As I got closer, I realized they were Tammis Keefe Hankerchief’s with a complete tribute to her life and story. Do you know Tammis Keefe? She was legendary in textile design for hankerchief’s in the 1950′s. Her eye for color and design is still recognizable, and she has inspired hundreds of artists and designers. She has a rather sad and mysterious life, which you can read more about here. But she died young, and her images were basically just sitting there, not being reproduced or used. But now, Michael Miller is reproducing her artwork in yardage now, and I am so incredibly excited!

Don’t you just love her work? I am really fascinated by trends, and what they bring out in artists of the times. I think trends are so telling of all aspects of the culture that an artist is a part of, and I love thinking about why certain things are popular and why. So I love seeing her original work, and sensing why it was so popular then, and why it is so popular now.

Here’s the fabric yardage that Michael Miller has made from her hankies. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!

It was really cool to see the original hankies, with individual designs on them, and then how Michael Miller put them together to make awesome fabric.

(Photos from True Up)

And here is a video clip of the set up of the Michael Miller booth. It’s really so awesome that I get to actually work with these crazy and fun people. I love this industry! You can see Sandi Henderson show off her red wig and me struggling to put up the Tammis Keefe panel with glue and string at about 1:15 into it.

So do you know Tammis Keefe’s work? To learn more, you can go here, here and here. I’m just loving it.

This is the view out of my back Kitchen window. We live in a little fixer-upper bungalow, but we bought this place for the views. Seeing trees and sky and mountains first thing every day makes me so happy!

Since this is the first fall, we didn’t know what color the trees would be out back. And the color is….Yellow!

I’ve been on a yellow kick lately, and so this is making me so happy. Lovely yellow locust trees. And can you see the snow on the mountain?

Autumn around here is always coupled with snow. But I love it.

Hello! I am back and full of inspiration. I was at Quilt Market, and wow. It was amazing. I don’t even know how to start….

First of all, I have to apologize for junk photography.  I am a self-professed bad photographer in artificial lighting.

Second of all, I recognize that some of you are saying, “Quilt Market? What is it and what does Sarah Jane  have to do with quilting?” Lemmee essplain:

Quilt market is basically the trade show for quilting and soft crafts (clothing, home decor, etc.) where designers present their new designs (fabric design as well as pattern design) for buyers and distributers to purchase.

It’s huge, and big and quite inspiring. Since I am going to be designing fabric (insert squeal here), and because I am so new to the fabric industry, I wanted to go and see what it was all about! So, Sandi Henderson (remember when she stayed at my house last month?) and I traveled up together (that’s another story in and of itself!) and she gave me the grand tour, and introduced me to so many of the people I have admired for years. It was amazing!

And can I just tell you? Getting to meet and talk with Amy Butler, Anna Maria Horner, Liesl from Oliver & S, Patty Young, Pillow & Maxfield, Betz White, Marisa Hedike, Melissa Averinos….the list goes on and on….was so great! Admiring people from afar via blog land is nothing compared to meeting and connecting in person. I have such a new found respect and love for these women who follow their creative passions without reservation, and have the family support to do it.  Going to Quilt Market was kind of like being inducted into a new family. It was wonderful!

I didn’t manage to get pictures of me with people…the lighting in the convention center is so tricky to manage. But I did get a few shots of some of my favorite booths to give you a taste.

Tula Pink blew me away with her Mysterious/Vintage Sea Faring booth.

I got to watch Anna Maria present her (incredible!) new line of Fabric at School House. I even got to meet her mom who was helping out since she brought all 5 of her children with her to Houston. Such a wonderful family…and warm loving people!

Patty Young also designs with Michael Miller and was presenting her new stuff. Such a clean open booth…loved it.

Amy Butler blew me out of the water with her booth. It was honestly such a treat to meet her in person. She has talent whizzing out of her ears and yet is the most dear, sweet person. It was such a treat to pick up her new book too!

And meeting Liesl of Oliver & S was such a treat. Honestly, she is one of my new favorite people. Her children’s clothing makes me so happy!

So really, My 48 hours of “get myelf emersed in the designer fabric industry” was just that. It was heavenly to be surrounded by so many amazingly talented people, yet who’s lives are lived day to day, doing what they love. And, many of them with families at home and little ones too. So with being in illustration and loving the children’s book industry that I feel so comfortable in, I was so happy to know that the fabric industry is just as welcoming and warm and full of amazing potential.

Being an artist is so thrilling. I love being a part of  world where possibilities are endless. Never an end to creative ideas. And I am so honored to be a part of it!

But with all the new inspiration, it got me inspired to finish working on my new line for May! So back to work….art might be endless, but deadlines arn’t! Back to the drawing table…I can’t wait to show you what I have up my sleeve!

xo

sarah

Colors. Everywhere. Here are the colors I’m seeing lately. Don’t you just love this time of year? Outside, everyday moments…but so full of color. Happy Harvest season everyone!

And thanks again for all who participated in the giveaway! Remember to come back next weekend for another round of goodies!

xo

sarah

Sandi Henderson is a long time favorite person of mine. Not that I had ever met her…but you know how blogging connects people and you feel like you know them even though you really don’t? Well, Sandi has always been one of those people. And when I heard she needed a place to stay while she attended the local creative event, SPARK, it only seemed natural that she should hang out with our crazy family for the weekend.  As soon as I offered, and marked it on my calendar, I realized I just invited a celebrity and a stranger to my house for 4 days. Am I crazy? Basically.

Her first line of fabric, Ginger Blossom

If you don’t know Sandi, here’s what you need to know. Creative. Seamstress. Fabric Designer. Artist. Mother. Vintage lover. Maker. Doer of good things. Crazy amazing. If you haven’t seen her work, you might have seen it on your daughter’s skirt. Or on your neighbor’s quilt. Or at your local up-scale fabric store. She is one of those people with a really great story too:  Mother of 2 starts a business selling her children’s clothing line and patterns, and naturally segways into fabric design (teaching herself all through her first line of designs) and now is making quite the name for herself in fabric and design.

See her new book? Loving it.

And besides all that great stuff…she is a really nice person. Don’t you love nice people? She’s a fun loving, great mama, beautiful person, and it was so great to spend time with Sandi in person.

Sandi's booth at Quilt Market

We all feel like we know each other from blogging, ya know?  We’re all just behind a lot of screens, admiring each other’s lives from behind a lot of computer monitors…supporting each other and rooting for each other from afar. But to connect in person…that’s the ultimate.

Her latest fabric line, Meadowsweet

It was so great to have her in our kitchen while we cooked, shared recipes, chatted and ate yummy food.  To find out our families are really similar…from the kinds of food we crave and make to our children’s quirky tendancies…was really fun to discover too. We had also had lots to talk about in terms of art and fabric too…but I can’t talk about that just yet…more on that later…and soon, very soon (wink, wink).

Images and tutorials from her new book

So this is what I’m thinking…all of this blogging love…just needs to happen in person more often. We (my husband that is) will be making a cinnamon apple tart with apricot glaze this weekend, wanna come over?

Some eye candy for your weekend.

I’ve been loving these pillows for a while. Don’t they make you happy?

I love smart people. How awesome is this lego paper cutter? Paper and lego’s mixed. Now you can craft with your lego lovin’ kids. Endless possibilities. (Sorry, the link is to a Japanese site. Anyone know if you can get these in the USA?)

I am basically in love with this print. Found here and here.

Fall colors are my favorite. And this outdoors craft idea via Bloessom kids is charming!

And another brilliant craft idea with instructions here. Theses are cardboard horses on stampede. Stunning art!

Happy weekend everyone! Thanks so much for your comments on my art vs. business post. Such great thoughts from you guys! I love it.

And thanks for your well wishes about the T.V. spot. I’ve been so busy I don’t think I’ll have time to be nervous! I’ll let you know how to watch it as soon as I get the info.

xo

sarah jane