OK! Are you ready? Here we go! Introducing OUT TO SEA…..my latest collection with Michael Miller Fabrics.

Out to Sea has been on my mind for oh….maybe a year and a half now. I finally put it all together into 3 colorways, each telling a great story.

Golly! Where to start. I never know where to start…especially knowing this is your first introduction. Say hello!

Let’s start with pictures, shall we?

So, do you have a minute? There is so much I want to tell you and show you…and I have a feeling that I won’t be able to do it justice all in one post.

But I’ll try!

So….when I was designing this collection, I paid a lot of attention to the classic elements of Maritime Fancies….but also to how children imagine and play.

This map print is a good example of that…perfect for running fingers through the ship paths (the above picture is embroidered by the way….the real fabric has printed dashed lines:) So this collection really has a good mix of larger scale fabrics, and small….which is my way of encouraging lots and lots of variations in project making.

Every child dreams of adventures on the sea…and this collection is my offering to the whimsy of maritime travel.

What I love about this fabric, is that it’s considered quilting grade fabric, but the weave is a new quality called Cotton Couture, and is much, much softer and lighter than the traditional quilting grade. But….it’s not 100% apparel grade either! I’ve been sewing bedding and quilts all week, and it’s amazing to home dec, quilt and apparel with. My, my, my. I’m in love.

So wow! Here it all is!

As you are reading this, I’m standing in front of my Quilt Market booth with a high waisted skirt in the navy anchor fabric, and a sea flower peter pan collar. I adore that this collection is suitable enough for the older folk like me:)

I am running out of time, as my fingers are itching to finish up projects and get to Quilt Market! Can I show you more later? There is so much to play with, and I wish I had time for all my ideas!

So, wish me luck at Quilt Market!! I’ll be thinking of all of you back home seeing this for the first time! It’s always such a weird feeling to hit “Publish” on a post like this….hoping that a year’s worth of color and design that has been stewing in my head is something you can get to know and love too!

More to share soon! I want to dive in deep with you all and show you how much fun I’ve been having with this fabric.

Love and hugs!!

xoxo sarah jane

And PS: because I know you will ask, this fabric will be in stores come Aug 1. Scheduling fabric releases is a very huge process, and there is so much time involved. But I’m going to be sharing tours of ideas (more on this later) to help you get ideas for what you can do with this collection so you are ready when it is available!

It’s here! It’s finally here. Spring Quilt Market. We’re packing and painting, sewing and stitching….and we’re heading out in a pink and navy ship (I wish!) on Monday. Ouch. Monday? Lots to do until then…but I’m really looking forward to telling you all about this collection. To be fair to all the stores who are privy to first peeks, I’m going to be sharing it ALL with you the week of market…next week.

And I’m like doing the potty dance in excitement…ready to spill the beans.

(photo courtesy of April Rosenthal)

This time last year, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into! I was ready to launch Children at Play, and being so super excited about it, we just dove into the Quilt Market scene head first, ready to see how the fabric world would take on. And we were so excited. Kenneth and I both love working on projects together, and with his set building love, and my love for designing spaces, we might be having just as much…if not more fun than last year!

It’s really crazy what so many people put into making a booth at market. It’s rather addictive for Kenneth and I, and maybe it’s because we just love being able to tell a story behind the designs. Making a space that feels like home, and inspires childhood fancies. But oh the hours invested:) Going to bed at midnight feels like an early nighter. Yikes!

But our spirits are good…and our kids are so amazing, and have loved being part of “Mommy’s fabric.” I live for their excitement! And they really are my best taste-testers. I try out my ideas on them, and see how they take! Perfect little guinea pigs.

Gosh I love what I do.

It’s a quest to find all the right thrifted pieces to reuse, and make new again for the show. It’s so fun! Maybe cause it’s like designing a space where you are forced to do it fast, and inexpensively….but with a very strong theme around it. That sounds like an awesome HGTV show…maybe I’ll pitch a trailer.

So much of telling a fabric story is setting the feel, and this booth has honestly been so fun to put together. Late nights and all!

And with having fabric 2 weeks to put on a show, it’s of course necessary to get help…and I can’t wait to show you what I’ve created with the help of so many super-amazing talented people!

So, this is your LAST TEASER!

Next time I’m on here, you’re going to be seeing the REAL thing. I can’t even wait to show!! I feel a little like Willie Wonka, waiting to open the door to what’s been in my head the past few months. I really hope you like it. It’s going to be so much fun to see what you all create!

So, I’m coming back with lots to share…and I need some time to gather it all up and tell a very wonderful story.

Are you as excited as I am?

See you next week!

xo

sarah

More paper dolls! We love paper dolls at our house. And it’s about high time that there were new ones for you!  I have never made magnetic paper dolls before (I know a lot of you do!) and now I’m hooked.

I printed them out onto magnetic printer paper, and voila! I guess you can also use magnetic craft paper and glue the doll down and cut out around the edges. This brings a whole new level to paper doll playing. Seriously. This is high tech.

I have a magnetic board for the kids where we post charts, and notes. But initially, the idea came to use a cookie sheet. Too bad I have the same cookie sheets since my bridal shower, and they are rather beat up and well loved. Not much magnetic stick left!

Magnetic dolls are so great, because they make it really fun and easy to “set” up. This collection has small little cups and treats that are fun to layer up and play with from a cookie sheet, or hanging magnetic board.

And here is a little doll and outfit FREE! The gingham blanket is so fun as a magnet:)

It’s been forever since I’ve grabbed some Children at Play fabric to sew with. It was so nice to grab some of this again. Drawstring bags are a no-fuss sew, and now we can keep them off the floor:)

Have fun playing! I’m off to whirl and twirl and prep for another quilt market show! I’ll be spilling the beans soon…but you know the drill. No peeking until it’s done:)

FREE DOWNLOADABLE doll & outfit HERE

PURCHASE FULL TEA TIME PICNIC  HERE

This week, in honor of motherhood, I’m linking up with Lil’light of Mine to offer a giveaway and free gift to all you mothers!

I absolutely love being a mom. One of the reasons I love it so much, is because my mother LOVES being a mom. It’s her life’s work. The older I get, the more I realize how unique she is, in that she’s never treated motherhood like a secondary career, or the person she becomes when her work is done. She’s a mother 24/7 and will drop anything to listen or be with her children. She loves, loves, loves, her kids, and really spends her days working and worrying and caring for them. Today actually marks a big milestone for her, in that her baby is going on a church mission for 18 months, which is a really big event for a parent (and child) because they will leave home, and only communicate through email once a week their entire service.  Today is the day that her last child isn’t really a child any more. And I can only imagine how that feels.

Kids grow up. But Mothers stay Mothers. Just think about that for a moment.

Today I want to celebrate Mothers in just a small way, by first noticing what I’ve learned about my mom, and letting you comment with one thing that you’ll go to your grave with that you’ve learned from yours.

I could write a mini series on all that my Mom has taught me, but I won’t get all deep and mushy here. But one thing I’ve learned from her this year, is that she is the kind that makes little people feel important. She’s extremely happy when she is with little children, and she often is seen rolling on the floor and laughing hysterically with toddlers…completely at their level. But she is also gifted in bouying up the grownups that “feel” little, and maybe don’t have the social status that goes along with being recognized or valued. That is her gift. She notices the unnoticed, the small and the little..which are often the biggest people of all. She has the greater perspective that sees beyond and into what “is” and is one of those very “real” people. No fluff…just pure and real.

So, this week, I want to celebrate this amazing role of motherhood. The hardest thing I’ve ever done, and yet the best. Giving your all into this job takes a lot of heart, guts and courage.

I wanted to give something to you Mothers that would be special and meaningful to say thank you for the care you put into your work every day. I know, because 90% of you are moms! And I get to interact with so many of you, and it’s seriously such a treat! I am so lucky that I didn’t choose to work in a field with gruff, grumpy men. Truly! ha:)

ENJOY FREE SHIPPING on all orders May 2-5th

(code: JUST4MOMS)

and

WIN A $75 credit to anything at Sarah Jane! 

TO ENTER GIVEAWAY:

Answer this question: What is one gift you’ve carried down from your mom into your own mothering or lifestyle?

RULES:

1) 1 entry per person

2) Giveaway ends Friday May 5th at Midnight Eastern Standard Time

3) Tell another mother about the discount this week, and spread the love!

Enjoy the FREE SHIPPING here and here

hats off to you all!

xo

sarah

 Comments closed!

 And the Winner is #69 Kim!

Hello!

We are busy and buzzing here in our Quilt Market prep! It’s crazy! I forgot how crazy. But it’s fun! Maybe if you came over and brought donuts it’d be even more fun. Wanna come?

Before I dive into the week, I wanted to give you some “heads up” since I get emailed and contacted a lot about what’s coming out when!

I told you all that I’d have a paper line coming out in May, but it has been postponed until July-ish. Some issues that naturally happen when companies combine and regroup, but not because of the line itself.

It was actually featured in Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbooks, Etc.   magazine this month….that was really fun! I just wanted to tell you, in case you catch the feature, that it won’t be available until the end of the summer. Boo Hoo. So sorry.

You know, I’ll say it here: I’m actually not much of a scrapbooker. I was a paper hoarder in my day, but honestly, I just never found the time with the other projects I’ve been involved with. (I LOVE Project Life, and my Made on a Mac books personally!)  So designing a line of scrapbook paper was really my way of creating paper stuff to fill other needs like: celebrations, paper decorating, paper play, etc. Still scrapbook friendly, but mostly made with paper play in mind.

So there you go. Sorry to delay it…but I wanted to say it here so you can plan accordingly!

Oh…and if you have Instagram or Facebook, I’ve been posting pretty regularly there, and have found it so easy and nice to keep in touch with you all! @sarahjanestudios is where you can find me… I’m dropping things in there every day, and it’s so easy to respond to what you have going on! So quick and easy!

Oh, and also….many of you have emailed me with the info about a lot of my blog links being broken, or not working, etc. Most of them are fixed now, but please alert me if some are not. The RSS feed is fixed, and the MAKE THINGS section is updated. Yay!

But now back to work. This week we’re doing a lot of this:

Want to guess what it is for?

Hee hee hee.

For a little Utah Mamma to get away for a couple days to work, refresh, recharge and reunite in NYC makes for a trip I’m not going to forget for a long time.

What started as a excuse to walk a couple trade shows, turned into a business/getaway trip where I got more accomplished in 3 days that I normally do in 3 months.

Turned out that when I went looking for a roommate to save on hotel bills, my Mom and sister jumped at the chance to visit our favorite city.

Most of the time was spent in meetings, working on projects, eating food I’d never get in Utah, walking and absorbing all the city has to offer, and letting my spirit recharge. Oh, and staying up till 2 am laughing our heads off. Nothing like girl time.

I’m constantly amazed at the diversity of architecture in this city. So mind thrilling.

And what’s a trip to NY without boutique hopping. Wishing that I couldn’t have taken more photos, but of course, most places are so strict about taking photography. Good thing I had my sketchbook! So much inspiration!

And the coolest thing? I had a friend there the same time, and she snapped this picture at FAO Swartz in NYC! Really? Children at Play fabric on 5th Ave? That was a surprise!

(If any of you knows this clothing brand, I’d love to know!)

OH. And major highlight of the trip. Amazing!

And I have to leave you with an image that pretty much embodies old meets new. Pretty amazing how this world has changed….and hasn’t.

It’s been 8 long years since I’ve been back to the big apple, and oh how I’ve missed this place! So much color and artistic stimulation…all packed into 3 short days. I’ll be back soon.

When I opened my shop, these two were my main inspiration. In fact. They were the first prints sold. I adore these guys.

And I adore them so much, that I haven’t added very many prints of them since.

That doesn’t make ANY sense.

But it will. Someday, I hope.

But I have had a lot of requests over the past while to flesh out the Seasonal prints with these two, and I have! Fall and Winter have been available for a long while. And now, Spring and Summer! These characters have really grown on me and evolved in my brain over the past few years, but these prints show such a tender and gentle side to their friendship. They really are the funniest, and feel like my very own friends sometimes.

Hug a friend today.

Enjoy!

ETSY & Online Shop

I don’t have to introduce this one too much, do I?

I’ve written about it here and here, but if you are a new reader today, let’s just say that FRENCH KIDS EAT EVERYTHING is a gold nugget in parenting books. I was so honored to illustrate it, and I have been so pleased with how well it’s done in the couple weeks that it has been out.

In an effort to reveal how certain cultures teach their children about food….both directly and indirectly….Karen le Billon guides us through how to help our families slow down and notice our ways of eating and thinking about food, and how to help our children have happier and healthier eating habits. From focusing on whole foods, quality family dinner time, why we eat what we do and how, Karen makes the argument that at least in the French culture, children have a much different relationship to food than the average American child.

“A wonderful—and important—book. One family’s topsy-turvy culinary transformation becomes an in-depth exploration of the habits that have kept French kids loving food (and eating spinach) for centuries.” (Elizabeth Bard, author of Lunch in Paris )

I loved illustrating this book, and how happy it was to do! Karen’s approach to the book is witty, humorous and fresh…which was so fun to illustrate!

Today, I’m giving away 1 signed (by me) copy of the book!

Here’s the scoop:

1) Leave as many as 4 comment below: one regular comment, and 3 with the information about your facebook/Pinterest activity:

2) LIKE Karen’s Facebook page and leave another comment with the update

3) LIKE my giveaway post on FACEBOOK and come back here to comment with the update

4) REPIN or PIN this image on PINTEREST and then come back and comment about your PIN (My pinterest account here)

2) Entries will be closed at midnight Eastern Standard time

3) Check back tomorrow to see who the winner is

4) And, if you can right click one more time, spread the word the best way you know how: Twitter, Facebook, Good Reads, Like it on Amazon, tell your kid’s school teacher…Let’s keep the book industry stay alive, shall we? It’s a struggling world out there on many levels, and books haven’t been spared. Sharing the love, even just with a click, can make such a difference!

**only comments on this post will be counted, so make sure to comment about your other activity….thanks!**

Good luck!

**COMMENTS CLOSED** Congrats to Janey #90!

I’m really thrilled to be giving away this brand new book today! Not a children’s book, not illustrated by me, but one I completely endorse because of what I believe in.

I believe in Dreams. I’ve always been a dreamer. When I was 13 and someone told me that if I went after my dreams I could accomplish them, I was convinced. But life can get in the way, and I’ve since learned that it’s not about dreaming as much as it is DARING and DOING. And this book is just the tool to have around to get you out of your head and make things happen!

Whitney has had some amazing experiences, and wrote this book not only from her perspective, but includes dozens and dozens of amazing stories from people who to have dared to dream.

I’ve followed Whitney’s blog for a few years now, and she has helped so many people work through the stuff that gets in the way of reaching those goals!

Today, I’m giving away 1 signed copy of the book!

Here’s the scoop:

1) Leave ONE comment below

2) LIKE her new page on facebook and add ONE MORE comment with the update

2) Entries will be closed at midnight Eastern Standard time

3) Check back tomorrow to see who the winner is

4) And, if you can right click one more time, spread the word the best way you know how: Twitter, Facebook, Good Reads, Like it on Amazon, tell your kid’s school teacher…Let’s keep the book industry stay alive, shall we? It’s a struggling world out there on many levels, and books haven’t been spared. Sharing the love, even just with a click, can make such a difference!

Good luck!

*COMMENTS CLOSED* Congrats to Diane #64 !!

I’ve been lucky to meet a lot of uber-talented people in my life. The kind that you just sit back and go, “Wow. That’s a gift.”

Jed Henry is one of those people. When you meet him, it’s like you can see all the wheels turning in his head. Well, you can’t see them, but you just know something’s going on. And he gets it. He gets kids, and the way they think.

I SPEAK DINOSAUR is so awesome. A book about manners, and learning when it’s ok to be a scary dinosaur, and when it’s not.

K. So you have to watch this little clip. Your kids will love it. It’s only 50 seconds…but so cute.

Today, I’m giving away 1 signed copy of the book!

Here’s the scoop:

1) Leave ONE comment below

2) Entries will be closed at midnight Eastern Standard time

3) Check back tomorrow to see who the winner is

4) And, if you can right click one more time, spread the word the best way you know how: Twitter, Facebook, Good Reads, Like it on Amazon, tell your kid’s school teacher…Let’s keep the book industry stay alive, shall we? It’s a struggling world out there on many levels, and books haven’t been spared. Sharing the love, even just with a click, can make such a difference!

Good luck!

**COMMENTS CLOSED** Winner was Gail #79! Congrats!!