Happy Easter Sale and stuff

Happy Easter Weekend everyone! I'm super excited to be celebrating. It's a favorite weekend for us, with lots of traditions that I love. Have a mentioned that my husband's family is German and Russian? So we have some great food traditions that we get all worked up about. It's the best.

So to celebrate, I've got a weekend sale to say thank you! ETSY and the WEBSHOP will have 20% off all weekend! Enjoy!

I'm going to be honest here and say that running a shop isn't the easiest thing I've ever done. In fact it's one of the hardest. Even after 4 1/2 years, there are things I just can't seem to smooth out. There are so many uncertainties and so much work that goes on behind the scenes. Maybe I'll write more about that later, but this week I've found myself particularly curious about the balance of it all, feeling rather upside down really, and I just am really so grateful that I even have wonderful friends like you who support what I create. I am just so humbled sometimes when I realize that I get to offer people what I illustrate, and that it makes other  people happy. And thank you as well for all the sweet notes you have sent me, the emails, comments, etc. running a shop (even with my assistant Ann) can be a lonely road...full risk and decisions to make at every turn...so I just wanted to take a second and thank you so much for your constant support! It means so much!

And on some other random notes, I've been featured with some interviews out and about,  think you'd like these.

Today, Gussy Sews has a HOW TO LIVE CREATIVELY feature with insights by yours truly. Love her blog!

And I never did mention an interview I did with illustrator Julie Olson talking about illustration and my personal path to publication.

Oh! And I nearly forgot! FRENCH KIDS EAT EVERYTHING and author Karen Le Billon was on Good Morning America this week! What a treat!

OK! Have a great weekend!

Today is a fluke snow storm (yikes!) but I'm looking so much to smelling saffron in the kitchen from Easter Bread.

Love to you all!

xo

sarah

Inspirational art for kids.

I honestly wasn't prepared for how excited you all were to see more inspirational/religious children's art. I knew that I was excited about it, cause I needed some of my own! But it thrilled me to see your response. Yay for bright happy religious art! I don't talk about my faith here, for no other reason than it's just not part of this space, but my faith is an integral part of daily life, and it's happy and joyful and bright! So, why not art to match!

My friend Meta, who you will be hearing more about because she is drop-dead amazingly talented at designing spaces, let me photograph these prints in her family room. She is helping me design my kids room, but while that's happening, I might sneak in a few shots of my work in her Scandinavian inspired home. She is actually starting a children's design blog any day now, and I couldn't be more excited. More on that later.

But for now, just know that there are 5 new prints in the shop, ready and waiting for a new home.

1) I am a Child of God (Girl)

2) I am a child of God (Boy)

3) Peace, Be Still

4) Jesus loves me

5) I love to see the temple

Both I am a child of God and I love to see the temple have lots of color and language variations to choose from.

Available in the online shop and on ETSY

Can you tell I'm into yellow lately? Perfect for spring. Here comes the sun!

I'd also like to note, that this isn't all! I wanted to release the religious art first, and the rest of my spring collection will be coming as soon as I can get them here.  But I want to keep these separate, as I know not everyone will appreciate and be interested in these. But honestly...I have a lot more that I want to create along these themes, just all in good time:)

In a perfect world, there will be new prints for the shop in about 2 weeks, as well as other goodies that I've been slaving away at. But for now, I really hope you enjoy these! I plan on adding more in the coming months, but I think this is a good start as to what I hope to be a better effort at happy religious art for children.  I hope you would spread the word, pin, facebook and share with friends. I know that I personally am enjoying having these in my home, and hope lots of children can enjoy these that want to.  Enjoy!!

Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Weekend sale!

I'm still full from yesterday, and happily lounging in my PJ's with my family this morning, but had to stop in real quick and let you know (if you didn't get the memo in my newletter) that this weekend we're having an awesome sale!

The best part about this sale, is that when you make an order with the code thanks15 you'll get a code for a 20% off coupon in January! And if that wasn't fun enough, all orders with the code thanks15 will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to the shop that I'll announce on Tuesday!

(On ETSY and the new shop!)

So, I know you are all doing shopping this weekend, but stop on in enjoy the sale!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

See you soon!

xo sarah

Be Smart & enter a quick giveaway!

Quick Weekend update!

Soule Mama is hosting a HUGE giveaway from my shop today only, as well as offering a 15% code for all her readers.

If you hop on over today, you can enter to win:

1) 1 signed copy of A Christmas Goodnight

2) $100 Gift Card to the shop

3) a 15% OFF CODE for Sarah Jane Studios this week only!

Visit Soule Mama Blog here.

Have fun entering! (I LOVE her blog. I'm such a lover of all that she does!)

There is also a brief interview with me, and some interesting things about me and how things tick around here!

Thanks Amanda for this wonderful feature!

Happy Weekend!

(I'm off to play in the SNOW!!)

xo

sarah

*"Be Smart" Print here.

'Tis the Season!

The holiday items are all up in the shop! (I know...I'm still in denial that it's not August any more!)

First, I have to tell you how excited I am about this new Nutcracker embroidery pattern! I have high hopes to get another Christmas design in the shop very soon...but while I'm working, you can get started on this new stitching design!

This is a PDF Download only, and it features Clara, the Nutcracker, the first melodic line of the Nutcracker Mini-Overture, and the handwritten title. Can you hear the music? "Dun--da da da dat dun-- da da da da da dunnnn- dunnn " Ahhh....I 'm getting excited for Christmas already!

And new this year, Holiday Greeting Cards!

In years past, I've always had postcards of my holiday images. Now there are folded holiday greeting cards! yay!

Gift tags: both Adhesive and hanging tags! I asked on facebook and twitter a while back, which you'd prefer, and you guys on twitter said hang tags, and all you on facebook said adhesive tags. What's going on with that? It was really funny. So I got both! Easy peasy lemon squeesy.

And...in addition...

even PDF printable tags for all you last minute people:)

Bookplates are here too! 

These signed bookplates will come directly from me, if you want a signed Christmas Goodnight Book. I am not able to sell my book in my shop, so this was the closest I could get! Wish I could write a message on all your books, but I designed this little stick on bookplate to look beautiful next to the title page for you:) I'm happy to write a little message too!

And...dun dun dun...

The CALENDAR!

This year's calendar is So bright and cheery. It's all my new prints including a few super new ones I'll be showing later!

And saving the best for last,  a new holiday print called, "For Unto You". In addition to the Santa Maria.

This print, if you've read A Christmas Goodnight, really goes a long just perfectly.The boy look a little different, but the lamb and baby Jesus are the same.

Have you ever thought about that scripture said so often at Christmas? When you think about it, those two emphasized words really speak the meaning of Christmas. It's ultimately about You and Him.

So Christmas is here, folks! There are more items to see over in the holiday section, so hop on over. I just can't get enough of the holidays myself. I love all of it.

Signing off w/ holiday hugs,

sarah j.

Little Girl Necklaces aren't just for little girls.

OK!

Well, so much for blogging about all the new stuff going on in the shop. I actually skipped away to Quilt Market, and had high hopes that it would be the kind of trip that would leave me with some free time in the evenings to chat with you all! Ha!

Quilt Market was fantastic. I didn't have a booth, I was just there to support Michael Miller, and all my other favorite people in the fabric world. More on that later!

But, before it got too late into the season, I just have to start sharing with you all the sweet little new Sarah Jane things going on.

First, let's talk jewlery!

I have collaborated with the wonderful Bel Kai Designs, and we've come up with 10 necklace designs that I just love.You can get them with or without the pearl, and they are really so sweet. I've been wanting to make these for a long while...and I'm so thrilled to have them!

I will be honest. I'm not a big jewelry person. If I wear it, it's definitely on purpose. Which is why I just love these. Initially, these are for the little girls in your life. My Addie loves these! But honestly, so do I. They aren't just for kids.  I wore the "Going Tandem" one yesterday, and no joke, got 7 compliments in one day. Maybe I do need to wear more jewelery!

I really hope you like these! I've been wanting to offer designs for little girls for a while, and these just turned out so darling.

In the shop here!

And Happy Halloween Everyone! Have a wonderful, safe, and creative night!

xoxo

sarah

See you tomorrow!

Howdy, folks. It's official. I have a www.sarahjanestudios.com tomorrow. It only took 4 years. I'm pretty excited.

You'll notice some new little tweaks to the blog too. Feel free to hop around!

But I plan on seeing

YOU

at the break of dawn

TOMORROW!!!!

...before your kids are out of bed...before your bowl of cereal...heck...maybe you'll wake up in the night just to see what's all the fuss in these parts.

And please know, that while I've been slaving away at building a little e-space, that my kids are out building something a lot more real.  Rakes, rocks, sticks and jump ropes...ooooh ya. That's where I'll be tomorrow morning, for sure.

See you bright and early! xoxo

Support for the creative business girl

I know a lot of you are creative people with businesses. Or if you don't have a business out of your hobby, you're interested in making it happen. Or if you are crazy enough to have a business out of your hobby, you are lonely and looking for crazy friends who do the same thing! Here's some places you need to visit:

1) Touchpoint: Startup Princess is hosting this fantastic annual event next week, and is offering a$50 off code (the code is "women") at registration for this awesome power packed conference in Salt Lake City that you don't want to miss.  And Kelly, my friend and host, just mentioned that scholarships are still available for 50% off registration. This is a steal you guys! All you need to do is contact Kelly, or email her (kelly at startupprincess dot com) and tell her why you deserve to be at the event and why you need this jumpstart in your life. Normally $275, this event is SO worth the money. Touchpoint is what got me started. There is so much support to be had, and info to glean from experienced women who are in this like you! Having a creative hobby really takes some business knowledge, and this is the place to get it!   Click here for more info.

2) Creative Collaborative: did you know that once a month super awesome people in Utah get together to eat treats and talk shop? Thursday we are picking up the schedule again from a slow summer schedule. This month: Creativity and Ethics: super bloggers C.Jane and Melissa Esplin talk about the ins and outs to having a community around your brand! And did I mention it's FREE? Click here for details.

3) The Creative Connection: It's a little late, but registration is still open! I'll be speaking in St. Paul on Friday at 4:00 pm on the "Creating Community through E-commerce." I'll be joined by some super awesome gals (Andrea, Amy, and Sandi who also do what they love and have made a business out of it! I'm super excited to be speaking...and....I'll also be doing a book signing of Christmas Goodnight which won't even be on the shelves yet. Yay!

See you there!