Introducing Children at Play

May 9, 2011

It's finally here! What I have had to keep a secret for 4 months now is my first offering to the wonderful world of textiles!

Children at Play is the name of the collection, and there are 4 groups...separated into colors but also into themes. And if you count, there are 52 pieces in all! Yes! Fifty Two! I think it's the biggest collection Michael Miller Fabrics has every done. But it's been SO wonderful to create and put together. With such a big group, I'll have to introduce it to you bit by bit so you can really get to know each piece and each collection properly. But for now, are you ok with an overall look?

I won't talk about it too much now, other than to say I am so happy with this collection! It was inspired by my own feelings of childhood, as well as my own children's. Simple play, creative play...the kind of play that requires imagination and no agenda. So while this collection has a very classic feel, there is a lot of whimsicality in the color and design as well.

There is so much to tell and share about these pieces. It's been a labor of love, and I really want to take you into the story of the collection. But I'll spread that out over time. In the mean time, I'm sewing away and designing away as I get ready to debut these at the International Quilt Market in SLC, UT.

Spread the word, and come and visit! I'm booth #437 by the Michael Miller FabricsParty Booth.

Love to you all!

xoxo

sarah

PS: CHILDREN AT PLAY is expected to ship at the end of the month. Depending on where the store is located, they should be stocked by mid-July!

UPDATE: Children at Play is in it's second wave of printing! The first wave sold out, so if you're local shop hasn't ordered yet, it should arrive in August.

Yes it does.

May 5, 2011

This Sunday is Mother's Day. I'm really lucky, because I'm going to get breakfast in bed from my 3 littles. I get to go to church. I will be with my family, and my children will make me love notes. My husband will write me love notes. My kids won't fight and it will be a perfect day. I might even get a nap.

Once a year we get spoiled, right?

Well, it's something I've been thinking about lately, and something I think about every Mother's Day. I actually don't feel much different on Mother's Day because I (for the most part, and on most good days) feel so priveledged to be a mom every.single.day. My children give me kisses and hugs and thank you's. And when I wake up at the crack of dawn from their pitter-patter footsteps, I put aside the fatigue because I would rather have those little alarm clocks than none at all.

I could go on and on about motherhood, how grateful I am to be what I am, and how I wish all women could feel this way about their mothering. But what I will say, is that my friend Melanie Burke pointed me to this site created by our local news channel (which she designed.) It's geared to help women feel empowered (rather than disabled) by their own mothering. How cool is that? The local news station supporting women by saying this:

Popular culture promises that by recognizing and focusing on our own needs, we will find empowerment. In reality it creates a culture of comparison, distraction and discontent, none of which lead to empowerment. The act of mothering … caring for, teaching, and nurturing, has just the opposite effect. It emboldens us with confidence, contentment and purpose.

Sometimes I feel like the world around me (except for my church, my neighborhood, the blogging world I participate in and my friends and family) has forgotten this primal need women have to nurture and to give. And how that is a central part of our character.

I am just super proud that the media hasn't forgotten that notion entirely. If you are in Utah, KSL is having a Motherhood Matters week. But you don't have to be from Utah to Participate. There is a 10 day Motherhood Challenge here. A Giveaway Site Here. And more information here.

What about you? Do you let motherhood empower you?

More spring sneak peeks trickling in....

May 3, 2011

No time to blog as I'm stitching and designing my way into a booth with will be covered in fabric the floss oh so very soon.

Is this real? Sometimes I just have to stop and pinch myself. It's been a dream of mine to design a fabric collection. And it's really happening?

So much more to tell....but not yet. The big spill will be soon. I promise!

Back to sewing...

Friday.

April 29, 2011

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!

sarah

Please Mark Your Calendars

April 26, 2011

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!

sarah

We got ourselves some chickies...

April 26, 2011

We've wanted to get chickens since we've moved to our new house, but my husband and I are VERY good (well a lot better than we used to be) about putting off projects until we can do them properly. Ok, so we're not VERY good, but we're getting better. We really wanted to get chickens for the summer, but with Quilt Market just weeks away, and other projects we want to do this summer, we decided to hold off.

Until....

Our Renaissance-man next door neighbor told us he's been wanting to get chickens too, and offered to build the coop himself right between our two fences, and we'd just take turns tending to them. We both have been wanting to have our kids learn a little work, and so we told the neighbors that we'd be selling our extra eggs. We started out with 12 chicks, but once the neighbors found out ,they all wanted fresh eggs too. So now we have 18.

And they are all, as I type this, inside my living room sleeping all snuggled in a ball inside a clear bin. With fresh worms from our garden and a special stick from Ian so they have a toy to play with.

This one is called Lemon. Don't be fooled, he actually likes being held like this, and is quite fond of Ian. He loves being snuggled next to his cheek, and will stay in his hands nice and calm, for minutes. Ian has taken to quite a few of them. He even named his favorite one 'Sweetie'.

My husband and I have been learning how to care for the chickens, and lucky for us, our neighbor is quite the expert too. I hate to see them grow though....aren't they just adorable? We've had them 4 days now, and they've already gotten so much bigger! By the end of the week, they'll be able to fly out of the box we've made for them. But it's still too cold to let them sleep outside, and frankly, my 3 kids are tickled to have 18 chickens sleeping over in the front room right now.

Just look how darling! And honestly? Constant entertainment.

And possibly my favorite photo of the weekend:

Growing babies, and growing birdies. And a growing garden. Heaven.

Free Easter Paper Dolls

April 22, 2011

Happy Easter!

This afternoon, my next door neighbors came outside with some brand new ducks, just a few weeks old, and ooooooohhh....let me just tell you how much fun we had! I'm really regretting that I didn't have a camera, because it was just so darling so see my kids playing with baby ducks while filling up a play pool full of water. Cold water too. Have you ever seen a baby duck shiver? CUTEST THING EVER.

So, being inspired...here's a sweet little Easter Present for you. In case you need some extra play this weekend, you can DOWNLOAD IT HERE.

Free ninety free.

And be creative! These dolls could make a really cute stage play using THIS.

And if you want more dolls, and more clothes, you can go HERE.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I will be conducting the children at church on Easter Sunday while they sing, and I am honestly just really looking forward to it. I love Easter. And singing with the children. Is there a better combo?

sarah

Wow. She has a Facebook Page.

April 21, 2011

Hello!

I'm taking a break from the creative "wow-ness" to say...Wow! There's lots going on!

Wow....You know that line from White Christmas? When Bing Crosby is asked by Danny Kaye "What's 'Wow?'" And Bing Crosby says, "Somewhere between "Ouch" and "Boing-g." That's about how I'm feeling right now.

This fabric line is coming together, and there's lots to do to show it off properly....but more on that later. Patience, patience!

So, Quilt Market is coming up oh so close. Will you be there? I'll give you updates on my booth closer to the event, but if you are...yay! It will be a party.

To get ready for the first peeks of fabric, and designs coming out, I've gone and made myself a Facebook Fan Page. I know...I'm old school. I haven't had a page till now. So (and insert silly chuckle here) "Wanna 'Like' Me?"

Sounds so Junior High. It kinda is. But I do look forward to getting more personal feedback from all you Facebookers. There's lots coming up that I want to post about, and I want to get it all out there. So, thumbs up?

I took some pictures of some particularly clean spots in my studio. Notice how you don't see any floors or table shots? Eh-hem. Purposeful photography here folks.

So, a sum up (especially if you are viewing in a reader) here's all the places you can keep in touch with all going on in the next couple weeks (and longer...it's just that there is a lot to show in the next coupla weeks!)