Amsterdam.

Two in one!

So, Amsterdam. I have only been there once, and it was a short trip. Just a couple of days. But I loved it. I love the Netherlands, and while I could have spent most of my time in the country, I really love the intimate feel of the city.

And like you, I mostly just love the bikes. Wow. I've never seen such art...bikes and trams and cars all working together (and nearly running over eachother!) But it's gorgeous to watch and be in. I've never seen so many people cycling in one setting...it made me really wish that Americans could adopt that culture a bit better. It does help that Amsterdam is all below sea level and flat.  Too bad I live at the top of a really steep hill...but hey...i'd have much sexier calves, that's for sure.

children around the world 4

So, now we have four fantastic cities in the shop! You'll notice that they are all a bit different...so if you are collecting these, please don't expect them all to match. (Since when was the world matchy-matchy?) But do expect them to look superb all together.

Click here for the shop.

There is more coming. I plan on doing 12 cities around the world. You can read about it more here. Enjoy!

I'm really getting the travel itch, you?

Sneak Peeks.

Want to peek in on some lovely things I've been working on?

Fabric!!!! I saw it for the first time this weekend, and I can't wait to show you all of it. This not even close to half of it...there is so much! I hope this is getting you excited....stay tuned for more of a full release soon! It's scheduled to be released at Spring Quilt Market with Michael Miller Fabrics....but more on that later:)

And also coming this spring:

More Embroidery Patterns!

I can't claim to have stitched these (thanks to Julie and Erica)  although I've been stitching up a storm too!  But so many of you have been so awesome to stitch up my new patterns coming out soon so I could test them out and work out any glitches...and they are turning out to be so fun. Can't wait to share more!

Book review & Giveaway: Pick a Pup

I am so thrilled to be offering a Picture Book Giveaway today!

And a signed picture book at that. Yahoo!

Pick a Pup is brand new on the shelves from Simon & Schuster. A story about a little boy who is desperately trying to pick just the right dog. What kind do you choose? There are so many options! And in the end, the little boy finds just the right one...and how he does is just so charming.

My kids loved this book. A book with every kind of dog in it? A book about a little boy getting to choose any one? Bingo. And the illustrations are so fresh and whimsical. Retro even, which gives this book a real classic feel without being too stingy.

Jed Henry is a name you want to start paying attention to. This is actually his first illustrated picture book. And coming from someone who has illustrated a picture book (me!) that is pretty amazing. He's done such a wonderful job. This spread is my favorite:

He just illustrated a book that came out over Christmas that you may have seen, illustrated for none other than Mike Huckabee. And he has a few others up his sleeve too.

Jed happens to live in my same town, which is a huge bonus because I got him to sign my very own copy that I am giving away. (Don't worry, I bought myself a second one since my children actually started to cry when I told them I was going to give it to some one else). When my kids met Jed, they were so tickled. Have your kids ever had the chance to have one of their books signed by the author or illustrator? There is such a sense of magic when they do. My children get to see the process of book making because they are in the same room with me when I illustrate. But when Jed came over, and they got to meet the "owner" (as my 5 year old calls authors/illustrators) they get all excited. The next day after meeting Jed was full of drawing and writing books of their own at the kitchen table...having just been inspired by a real live illustrator coming to the house.

You want a signed copy? Just leave a comment below.

Here’s how you enter:

• Leave a comment below
• Make sure to enter in your email where it promts you so that I can send you a note when you win
• Giveaway ends Sunday at 10pm EST
• Winner will be sent this signed copy of Pick a Pup.

Good luck!

{COMMENTS CLOSED. Julie # 8 is our random winner! Congrats!)

Fresh Start.

I am a new woman!!!!!

Ok, maybe a little dramatic. But, really? I feel like my old self again.

I have mentioned a few times that my old DSLR camera decided it was done. But its untimely death left me with no suitable alternative (we were gifted a point and shoot to get us through...but honetsly...I don't even know how to use those any more!)

So...6 months later, my pennies added up to this.

And I can't tell you how happy I am! I am not a professional photographer by any means. But somehow my camera was like my second pair of eyes. And I didn't even realize it until my first one broke. The past 2 days I've been walking around the house documenting everything. I'm back in business folks.

But even better....what this means for the blog is that I finally can start posting more of the projects I've been working on! Horray! Cause I've been a busy woman and haven't been able to show you what's going on behind this screen.

I have big plans. Just you wait.

P.S. If you are wondering if this is going to turn into a "look how cute my baby is" blog,  don't you worry.  It won't. But come on folks.... Look how cute that baby is! :)

Friday Thoughts.

Is it bad to repost old posts? I don't care. There's no blog police hanging around, right?

I just wanted to repost this, since it is a saying that keeps coming back to me.

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you notice how uptight people can get over the little things? I have. And I have to say, it's easy to let the little things get to you. Like when Ian poured an entire gallon of orange juice all over the kitchen counter, the open (clean) dishwasher and the floor this morning. But you know what? We just ended up laughing. It was a disastrous mess (especially because we have a very, very old kitchen with a lot of cracks and places for things to seep in where they shouldn't) but you know? He was aiming for his cup so confidently. And it was rather sweet, really. It took me literally all day to clean (between getting ready for school, errands and normal life with kids) but who's checking the clock. Ian is trying so hard to be a man, and it's really staring to show:)

So, here's a good thought for you this weekend. You can download it for free here.

And while I am on that, I've thought about illustrating more of my favorite sayings and putting them in the shop. Would you be interested in more?

Happy weekend!

xo

sarah

Commercial meets classic.

Kate over at Centsational Girl (fab interior design blog) just redid her little boy's bedroom, and I have to say I'm totally impressed. For a few reasons: She did a great job with color, but even more impressive to me: she solved a problem that I think a lot of mom's like me deal with: how to make action figures/commercially popular icon characters fit into your idea of a nice/simple space for your child.

Let me just say this first: I don't mind having commercially popular things in our home on occasion. But when it comes to "play" spaces, I am just really big on having spaces that foster creativity and imagination play with many things to do...and not dominated by just the commercial stuff. I've come to find that (for my kids at least) having too many "commercially popular" things around gets in the way of that kind of play. I guess what I am saying is, even for me....who has really strong opinions about good old fashioned play....still has to battle the ever stronger force of commercialism.

But the truth of it is...kids love those things. We don't even have TV (we watch movies...just not television) nor do we have video games. We're not Amish or anything....I just know how incredibly attractive and addicting those are, and I've seen how they can easily win the place over good books, educational play and imagination play. Nothing wrong at all with TV characters and toys....it's just that it gets harder to keep those things in check the older they get.  So how do  you incorporate what your child 'likes' and what you know they will 'like more?'

Enter Kate from Censational Girl.

She bought one of my prints (Whale Dreams) and I knew she was redecorating her son's room, and I was so interested to see how she was going to put the room together.

And I'm so impressed! She made a collage of all the fun things her son loves: Star Wars, Legos, Motercycles, Water, Boating all while keeping it classic and eclectic at the same time.  But this is how she did it: She chose everything to come together in blues. So Smart! It actually looks rather classic and nostalgic with the colors all working together.

And I must say the Whale Dreams print works so well. I never would have though that Sarah Jane art could look so good next to Lego Star Wars Figures.

And like I said: We're big star wars fans here, and lego fans...nothing wrong there. It's just how much the commercial aspect of it is around that I've put a lot of thought to.

Well, I may be walking a fine line here by saying what I would and would not hang up in my kids room...but tell me...have you had the same discussions with your children? Have you ever had to say things like, "No...I will not let you get a Mega Mind Bedspread. Sorry!"

I'd love to know your thoughts: How have you kept that balance between letting your children bring home all the "commercial stuff" while maintaining the kind of environment you envision for your kids? Am I the only one here who is constantly trying to keep the world out just a little bit longer?

Photography. The good kind.

While I was at ALT, I met such talented people. One of which was Sarah Wert of Modern Kids Photography. I'd visited her blog before (fantastic!) but I wasn't familiar with her work until now. And I love, love, love it! She was so willing to take a headshot for me (out in freezing cold I might add!)

Here are some more of her wonderful images. I've been craving good photography, as I've been without a good camera for so long. Aren't these precious?

If you are in the San Francisco area and could use some great family photography, you're in luck! I am so glad I got to meet Sarah in Salt Lake City. If only I had had my kids with me!

But the good news is, I am finally getting a new camera after my last DSLR died. Horray! I'll be posting more on that soon! Has't the digital DSLR changed the world? I mean really....there were such fewer options before it came around for the semi-professional/serious amateur photographer. Isn't it amazing? Do you have a fav. camera? I'd love to hear!

xo

sarah jane

A little super hero in me.....

My kids play super hero all the time. But one is usually the hero, and the other....his wife.

It's really cute, you know: Addie in her apron and clip-on earrings goes around making beds and singing tunes while she scrubs the floor with a pretty fabric remnant of mine.

Ian karate kicking imaginary villains out the window and clearing all evil out of the house while showing off his latest moves.

Put them together, and you have a turbo-deep cleaning-master-super-force.

That's what I am hoping to be over the weekend. Some weekends are for playing, but this one is a deep-cleaning and project making!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend! What about you? Are you working or playing this weekend? Hope you're playing...but if not, throw in a few karate kicks and a cute apron, and you'll be singing a tune for sure.