New Products, Sale & Huge Giveaway!

Wow! I have been working on this update for weeks and weeks. After the survey you filled out a couple months ago, I've taken to heart a lot of your suggestions. Poster size prints and framed prints were a #1 request. And they are now in the shop!

These poster sizes are amazing. See the shop for specifics, but now you can get giclee prints in larger sizes, as well as matt poster size prints. Do you remember this nursery that featured my art over the crib?  I'm pretty thrilled to think of full size art in rooms all over the globe. I'm smiling pretty big.

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Folded cards are back...and now that's all I'm offering as far as cards go. I'm slashing the prices of my postcards to get rid of them! No more flat cards...all folded cards. Yummy.

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I am most excited for this update. Framed prints!! Horray! No more buying prints and letting them sit around for months because you never get to finding a frame.

This also means that the calendar set that has been #1 best seller for nearly 4 years now can be mounted easy-peasy. Because it's a square image, you don't have to worry about searching high and low for a frame that fits!

I designed these frames specifically for the style of my art work...simple and fresh. You can also buy the frame empty if you still have unframed prints laying around. Eh-hem.

And the calendar card packs are back! They've been a #1 seller too, but have been out of stock while we've been rearranging a lot of things in the shop. 24 cards - 2 for each month.

And dun...dun...dun....

They're here! Finally. These have been a LABOR OF LOVE! While PDF's are great and easy to use, Iron-on transfers take the fuss out of harder to trace line work: like little eyes on faces and the sway of a dress. Since many of my images include figures, I've found that transfers are so much better for getting the lines "just right." These iron on super easy, and you can use the transfer up to 7 times!

NOW HERE'S THE FUN PART:

As part of this huge update, I'm also including some free stuff, some sales, and a GIVEAWAY!

Yes. Overkill. I know.

  • All blank journals, bookplates and postcards are on clearance. Once they are gone, they are gone.  No more. They are priced to sell out, so get them fast!
  • All orders that come in this week (July 19th-24th) will receive a free folded card of my choice. Think of it as a thank you card from me:)
  • All orders that come in this week (July 19th-24th) will automatically be entered into the HUGEST giveaway I've ever had, when you use the code: #winsarahjane

3 WINNERS will receive:

4 yards of Children at Play Fabric

1 framed 8x10 print of your choice

3 packs of greeting cards

1 blank journal

1 pack of bookplates

And other little random surprises from the shop that I'll throw in for fun.

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

  • Leave a comment below
  • Make a purchase in the shop and enter the code #winsarahjane in the "note to seller" box at the time of check out. One order will equal one giveaway entry.
  • Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about all these new items in the shop as well as the giveaway with the hash tag: #winsarahjane
  • Like me on Facebook and post about the new items or giveaway to your wall. Then leave a comment on my facebook post mentioning your post.
  • Giveaway closes on Sunday July 24th, at 10 pm Eastern Standard time

So, the more you do, the more chances you have! To enter, you must comment. Everything after that just increases your chances!

Best of luck to you, and thank you so much for all your support! To offer my illustrations and designs to the world is really so fulfilling to me, and appreciate all your support! Your support is what helps me keep doing this, and allows me to stay at home with my kids.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

xo

sarah jane

{COMMENTS CLOSED! Winners will be announced on Tuesday!}

EDIT: Winners have been released! Stephanie, Tracey and craftymom2princessC are the lucky winners!

How I chose the winners: I compiled all the comments, tweets facebook entries and purchases with the code #winsarahjane, and numbered them all 1-829 taking great care to make sure everyone's entry was accounted for. I then used Random.org to generate 3 random numbers. Congrats to the winners, and thanks to you all for showing such awesome support.

shop till you drop.

Hello!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes it was a fantastic weekend. Wasn't Harry Potter so satisfying? I love thinking that in 20 years I can remember how cool it was to see the  final  film's opening night on my birthday. I'm sentimental like that.

So, there's lots I want to say.... and if you know me, you'll know that if I have lots to say, it takes forever and get all jumbled. So, I'm resorting to bullet points! (This might be better for all of us.)

  • Fabric. Fabric. Fabric. I have mentioned on Facebook and twitter that Children at Play sold out of its first wave before it even shipped from the factories, but I don't think I've mentioned it here. What that means is lots and lots of stores are getting it, but lots and lots of stores are still waiting. It also means that I'm getting email after email that certain stores even sold out of a lot of their stock within 24 hours of listing it this weekend! While that is really cool for me to hear, it's also really aggravating since I know what it's like when you are trying to get your hands on something, especially when deadlines are involved (like fun sewing dates with yourself:)
  • Since I have decided NOT to sell my own fabric (that's a conversation we'll have later...it has a lot to wanting to keep other wonderfully dedicated store owners in business) I stayed up until the very wee hours of the night (eh-hem...morning) last night slaving over a super-giganto list  of stores that have currently purchased Children at Play. You can search by state, but there are also two lists that allow you to search online: both web exclusive stores as well as brick and mortar stores that offer online shopping as well. But here's where I'd love to hear from you: I'm rather new to the community of fabric, and I think that a lot of stores were a little shocked with how fast they've been selling it. If you find a store that carries the fabric, but hasn't posted it online, feel free to encourage them to post it so that we all can get our hands on it! You can also encourage your local store to carry it as well!
  • I also need your help in the international community. The list that I made includes all the distributors that have been selling it, but not the actual stores. If you know of a particular store internationally that is carrying Children at Play, can you PLEASE let me know? I want so badly to help my friends over seas get their hands on it, and I wish that I could do more! But, if you call your favorite and local stores and inquire about it, it will help us all!
  • Also, if you aren't already following me on twitter or facebook, do. I'll be sure to post and re-post any info I have about which stores are carrying it, and when.
  • And speaking of things you've been waiting for: I have embroidery iron-on transfer patterns ready to ship! I'll be showing them to you tomorrow. So come by!
  • Oh. And you'll want to come by every day this week actually. I know. Overkill. But there's lots of stuff I want to show you!
  • But I'll give you a hint. It has a lot to do with the requests you all made during the survey I offered a while back. Stay tuned!
  • And that picture above does fit into this post. Lot's of changes have been going on in the studio (you'll be getting bits and pieces in the next several days) and lots of changes have been happening on a personal level too. I'm officially gluten & lactose intolerant. And I have been for a while now...I just never knew it. If you saw me at quilt market, I was swollen and puffy and well, I am not usually swollen and puffy looking. It was all from being sick, and everyone around here is happy to know the reason.  And one way I am still clean inside is because I have a marvelous baker husband who hasn't minded switching ingredients. You'd never guess that this gorgeous tart was made from rice flour. Life can be beautiful even when living without.

Well, I don't know if bullet points helped keep all this straight, but just remember this:

  • CONTACT ME if you know of international stores that will be carrying it.
  • COME BACK the next day to see more fun and wonderful things that I've been waiting years to show you!
  • WISH you were gluten intolerant so you could get tarts like this :) OK. Just kidding.
  • HARRY POTTER has officially made for a great 14 year experience.

Love to you all!

xo

sarah

Time to make some changes

Ok. This post has some mixed feelings involved. I have always been a split personality when it comes to cleaning house: I LOVE throwing things away and getting rid of junk. But there is part of me that does like to hold onto the sentimental value in stuff. Especially when it represents a lot of work, time and energy. Most of these prints hold a place in my heart because they marked a beginning....

But here's the deal:

I'm a real person with a real house, and a real family. Just this year, we brought our shop back into the house, and while it's been wonderful to have things in my hands again, I am realizing (like I do every day of my life) that I can't (nor do I want to) do it all.

Raising three small children, keeping up an (old) house and (big) yard, running a shop out of the basement, designing fabric and books and still having a totally awesome relationship with my very amazing husband is no small task. And most days, I'm ready to crash and call it a night by 7pm.

Part of living the lifestyle like we do includes change. Constant change. There isn't a week that goes by where my husband and I don't talk about how things are going, how we can do better, and how we can get to the ultimate lifestyle we crave, while enjoying it in the process. And honestly, it's weekly that we make changes. Mostly small ones like: Let's try making 3 meals all at once and freezing them so we have 2 nights with no cooking. Or, Let's make a weekly family activity on a weekday, so Saturday mornings the kids can be with Dad while Mom works. Etc. But nothing ever stays constant, because our family is always changing. But ultimately, our goal of getting to where we want to be is the same. And one of those ways is by cutting back.

One of the ways we're cutting back, is by getting rid of A LOT of prints in the shop. Since these are hand printed, and a lot of time goes into the printing of these Fine Art Prints, we are cutting about 50% of my designs to 1) reduce the amount of printing involved, and 2) make room for more designs and more illustration work behind the scenes. At the end of the day, I'm an illustrator. And though we need the paycheck coming in from our little corner shop, the time to create new work is sacred. And that's always the most important thing for me to protect (after my family of course!)

So, the shop is OPEN! But if you see a design that you love in the above images, it will be gone May 31st! Please notice that some designs (the family tree, and the Read with Me prints for instance) come in multiple colors....what I am doing is reducing the options and keeping just one or two. So no...the family tree is still available. Just in the color that sells the most.

Contact me with questions, but use this list as a reference!

Parting is such sweet sorrow....but man it feels good:)

xoxo

sarah

Iron ons, Fabric and Etsy stuff.

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Hello! 3 days back now from Market, and I'm still catching my breath. Mostly because I came home to a very enthusiastic head cold and pink eye infection. Horray for me. But it does feel good to have an excuse to move a little slower than I have been. I had forgotten what that feels like!

I've been getting a lot of questions as to when the embroidery patterns will be ready (I released 8 at market, which I have yet to still show you all!). Fabric and Embroidery patterns will be shipping in  about 4-6 weeks. (But I won't be selling the fabric.... I'll be making a list of all the stores where you can find it).  And the embroidery patterns you will be able to get directly from me, which I'll be talking about more of in the coming weeks. These patterns are going to be iron on transfers, which I am SO excited about. Saves so much work, and eliminates so much of the fuss.

But would you still be interested in downloadable PDF's? Please let me know. At this point, I'm only going to be offering the iron-ons, but if you'd like the PDF to be an option, let it be known in the comments below...or send me an email.  I'm on the fence about that one still.

And...the ETSY shop will be opening on Friday, but again, Embroidery patterns won't fully be released until next month.

Ok. Back to caring for this nasty head cold. Those pillows are looking comfy, aren't they?

Cheers!

xo

sarah

PS: EDIT: These iron-on transfers will get 7 transfers out of them....some of you have been concerned that it wouldn't be worth the shipping. But, I promise you it will! But good to know of your interest in the PDF's.

Friday.

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LONDONweb

The Princess is wed.

The Shop is now dead.

The weekend's ahead.

And I've a thought in my head:

Maybe it's time to be showing your more sneak peaks next week....wanna see more?

See you monday!

xo

sarah

Please Mark Your Calendars

I've never done this before I don't think. We've always had outside help in the shop! But now that we've reduced our help from 3 out of house helpers to 1, we just can't keep up with the hours while we're getting everything ready. So.....

We're closing down shop, and orders that come in before the first will ship on time. Sorry for the inconvenience! But raising a family doesn't get to be put on hold. So, the shop is taking a break. So, order now for Mothers day, birthdays, graduation....it might just be too late once we get back.

Thanks for understanding!

xo

sarah

Poster size auction.

So many of you have requested the large poster size printing found here at Aubrey & Lindsey. I've seriously been looking high and low to find an affordable option in a non-glossy cheapy way. I let Lindsey print this for her nursery to test it out. And so while I'm still looking for a large poster option in the shop, you can go and bid for this one on auction for Bloggers Give Back. You can read about it here.

In the mean time, wish me luck at getting ready for Market! I can't wait to show you all that I've been up to!!

Do you Bijou?

Ok! Save the date!

If you are going to be in Utah on April 8th & 9th, swing by the Bijou Market. I haven't done a market it possibly 2 years, and I may not do another for a while....

We're selling art and stationery (and frames to go with!) at a huge discount, so if you've been dying to get your hands on something, now's the time.

Have a print you're wanting to get? Mention it in the comments and we'll be sure to have it available.

Happy Monday!

xo

sarah