Children at Play: Family Tree

Hello! It's Friday!

When did that happen? This is the first week of summer for us, so I kinda woke up and realized I haven't really posted anything really interesting...well, I have lots to share in the next couple weeks. But breaks are good, right?

So. Let's start talking a little more about Children At Play. The fabric isn't even in stores yet, but should be soon! And until then, I want to introduce you to it bit by bit.

So, let's start with the family tree, shall we?

{image from Samantha Cabrera}

The family tree print is one of my favorites. I've had this idea in my head for a long time...ever since I came out with the print version. This Family Tree is a place for children to see their parents, grandparents and great grandparents all in one place. And it's been a great addition to the shop!

But what is so great about this panel print, is that now you can create a quilt that can last even longer! And it's much, much bigger (24" x 44" panel) so you can really make a statement with it...or incorporate it into bedding, etc.

What I love about this panel, is that is leaves you open with a lot of options. On mine, I have stitched my children's names down at the bottom, randomly where the children are playing. And then for the tree itself, I have stitched the names of my husband and myself, and then our parents and grandparents. But what I also did, and you can see down below a little bit, is I have stitched the pet names that my children call them! So, below my father's name, is Papa. And below Kenneth's father's name is Bee-baa (which is what my children call them). And next to my grandmother, I stitched "Tutu" which is what she went by, etc.

This is now hanging in my daughters bedroom, and LOVE that she strokes it every night before she goes to bed. She can feel the stitching. She loves the "bumps" from the quilting. She reviews the names of some of her great-grandparents that have since passed, but that she still loves and remembers. It's a precious way to keep your heritage alive with your children in mind.

I'd love to see how you end up quilting yours! This one is done with dark brown embroidery floss (you could also use fabric pen I guess), "Wallpaper Flowers Berry" and "Meadow Light pink" Fabric.

I'll be starting a flickr group too, for all of you to share your ideas!

So....That's my first intro to Children At Play! I have a lot more...and maybe by the time I'm done, you'll have some in your hands already. I can't wait to see what you all make up with it!

Happy weekend! Sending hugs and kisses to you all....

xo

sarah

Creative Collaborative

Hello!

Sorry to go MIA there on the blog. I've been struggling with some health issues, and am starting to come back around. One of the issues have been my eyes...which has kept me away from my screen a bit. Nice to take a break, but sorry for the lack of posts!

So, I am back and with some news!

I'm part of a fantastic group of talented folks who are starting a collaborative support group called CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE

The idea behind was inspired by Melanie of Fifth and Hazel after the last ALT Design Summit in Salt Lake City. After going, and realizing HOW supportive this blogging/art/design community is, she decided to start a FREE monthly event in Utah where like-minded artists and creative people could get together and share ideas, network with each other and have regular speaker discussing topics that are frankly just hard to talk about on the web! So Melanie, Alma Loveland, Justin Hackworth and I started this group, and I hope you'll be a part of it!

Isn't that brilliant? So glad this is getting started.

Being part of this group has been awesome. I strongly believe that there is enough success to go around for ALL of us who seek to use our creative talents to either support our families or for our own personal need to express (or both!) And I really believe that competitiveness is only energy wasted, and by collaborating and helping each other, we will find our greatest success.

Part of that success is simply just being together, and sharing ideas. Artists are funny people. They are very creative and love to be around interesting and inspiring people and places. But we're also (and come on, admit it!) a bunch of hermits. So this also serves as a great way for us to get out of the studio and around like-minded people.

This month's topic of discussion is on ROADS TO SUCCESS. Presented by  Justin Hackworth (Photographer) and Eva Jorgansen (Sycamore Street Press) and Yours Truly. It's going to be a mighty night.

Details:

June 9th 7 pm

It's FREE!!

1 East center Street #215

Same building as Gondolfo's

Provo, UT

Website here.

Twitter

Facebook

Creative Collaborative is NEW. Brand new. PLEASE...spread the word, invite your friends, and stop by the website for updates. We hope to be starting a blog where the events can be outlined and discussed.

And also, if you have topics that you would like information on as a designer, business owner, artist, creative....let us know! We feel so strongly that by supporting each other, success for all of us is inevitable.

See you there!

Today.

Memorial Day.

When I was a child, it was just another day off. One day closer to summer vacation.

But since, it's turned into a wonderfully sacred day of remembering those in my life who aren't with me any more, and who have lived remarkable lives...the kind I want to be known for living. Every year,  we arrive at the cemetery early...as the sun is rising in the east behind the mountains. Every year I look forward to the quiet, the green grass, the sun streaming across the flower covered lawns. I get to be silent, remember and look back.  But somehow, each year on this morning, I find myself looking forward; renewing myself to living the life I was born to live. Being more of the person that those who have since gone on have inspired me to be.

Today I'm thinking about renewal. Mornings. Isn't is interesting? Mourning= Morning. There are a lot of people I miss, but each one has inspired me to take a little courage and live more fully.

And I'm thankful.

The Best Babysitter: Or how my children are not deprived because their mother is a working artist.

So I texted my husband this afternoon with the usual: "Hey Hot Boy. See you soon. PS: Can you take over when you get home from work? Deadlines."

"Sure. No Biggie"

"Oh, and can you do dinner & bedtime? xoxoxo?"

"You got it."

My husband is a school teacher, and is always home before dinner, which is so nice! He leaves at the break of dawn however, and so I'm hardly alive to even mention the usual reminders.

But he is so good about coming home and playing with the kids for an hour while I play catch up in the studio. I work at night when the kids go to bed, and I don't do the late-nighter thing very well (although that's what usually happens.)

So.....

Let me preface this by saying that the past few times I asked him to watch the kids and have him make dinner and do bedtime, this is what happened:

He ended up going to the thrift store and purchasing an original 1970's-ish Clip Clop for the back patio. He started small.

And then it was the tree swing, complete with climbing 50 feet into our backyard locust and sawing down branches while the kids waited for their cue to yell, "TIMBER!!"

Then it was the teeter-totter that was built in the empty space in our deck supports made with a palette, a left over fence board, and some cut up branches from said tree swing.

Most of the time, it's working on a new project in the garden. Which is always a huge hit.

And then last week, it was a zip line from our mostly-dead cherry tree at the top of the hill, to a locust beneath.

Remember: this is all in response to "Can you watch the kids, make dinner and put them to bed?"

And today's babysitting activity?

Oh, you know. Just building a platform for them to zip from. No biggie.

Just some power tools that he always seems to have in his back pocket. I mean, don't you?

Some oh-so-coveted-snacks for the Princess to keep her occupied away from said power tools.

And Voila! A safe place for feet with nothing fancy...but left overs in the garage after building the booth for Quilt Market.

And one.....

....two...

...three...

....Oh, ya....

So there you go. All my worrying that having to work on my "art" while the kids are with Dad somedays is all in vain. They got so excited this afternoon...and when they get excited, they get super cuddly.

But you know, who's taking all these pictures? Me. How am I supposed to get any work done when they get to have all the fun? I still don't know.

Pretty soon our backyard will be Disneyland made from scraps around the yard. Just you watch. Man...if I stopped designing in the afternoons, these kids would have a pretty boring back yard.

Actually, no. Instead, the new tree platform would just have curtains, floor pillows, and be painted turquoise. Hmm......

Baby Stitches

Hello!

Sorry for the gap in posts...I'm still here. I've been fighting off some kind of nasty bug that's keeping me from doing anything more than the absolutely necessary (like reading Divergent and taking too many pictures of my soon to graduate from Kindergarten baby).

But I've wanted to post this picture for a while. The other week while I was getting ready for market, Addie came into my office, and announced (fully dressed for the part) that she wanted to be an artist, a sewer and a mom when she grew up. And then she asked if she could work with me.

This happens a lot. I work mostly at night, but for the past while, I've had to squeeze in what I can during the day. And more often than not, Addie wants to be there right by my side. Stitching is so easy for her to do!  It keeps her busy for a long time. Just a hoop, a full skein of embroidery floss and a large dull tip needle (like a darning needle). With no agenda, she just goes in and out, and soon finds herself making a picture. Even Ian, 5, is into it.

Do you let your kids embroider? It's a great little pass time that is easy to let them learn on their own, and it's super non-messy:) I dont' have a picture of my kids embroidery, but all you need is to get them started with a good knotted strand, and let them at it. If you can teach them to go "in" on the same side they went "out" they are pretty great on their own!

And more about stitching: Many of you have asked about when my new stitching patterns will be available. The patterns (iron-ons and PDF's) will be available at the end of June. If you are interested in wholesale, you can pre-order by emailing me. More info coming soon!

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.

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.

Quilt Market Spring 2011

I just walked in the door from an AMAZING weekend at Quilt Market! Wow.Wow, wow, wow. We had such an amazing response, and it was so great to launch this collection in real life.

First though, I have to give credit to my amazing husband who built this amazing set, nd who was basically my right hand man through this whole thing. And Lindsey who was such an amazing assistant through the getting ready for market days and through the weekend! And for my parents who flew out to watch my kids. And Sandi who kept me sane when my feet hurt too much. And the list goes on and on and on....

So, in the beginning, the space looked like this.

And then with a little work, it turned into this.

Ok. A lot of work! But oh so worth it. CHILDREN AT PLAY, my first collection with Michael Miller fabrics, made for such a cheery booth.

Here. I'll take you through a walking tour:

• Flowers from my Aunt's Flower shop.
• {Skirt pattern is by MODKID found here}
• Adorable outfit made by Liz of Cotton and Curls (LOVE the tie!!!)
• (Shorts pattern in an Oliver & S Classic)
• Me with my family tree panel, which I'll post more of later.
• And since my fabric came in 6 days before market...SIX DAYS to sew up an entire trade show booth? Yikes! I grabbed quite a bit of help: pillows and quilts and clothing made by my mother-in-law, Amy, Holly and Susan, Gina, Maryanne, Liz, Tricia and Hannah. I couldn't have put this together without you!
• Michael Miller's booth was amazing as usual. They are always coming up with fun themes for market, and this one was "Super Hero's" They even go as far as dressing up for the part-super capes and all!
• Michael Miller has two locations: one in CA and the other in Manhattan. So when they get together, it's always a blast. They even found an old red telephone booth in NYC that they ripped off the pavement and brought to Salt Lake City. How's that for dedication to a theme! So dedicated they won an award.
• And it was super nice to be next to my dear friend Sandi's booth. She always puts on a fantastic show.
• Me with my family tree panel, which I'll post more of later.

I did try and a little social time in...not much. It's go-go-go at market, which I loved. But it was so great to visit for a minute or two with friends I've made along the way who are just as crazy as I am. Crazy, meaning who share the same drive and work just as hard and yet care so much for their young families. And it was so wonderful to meet so many of you! There are so many amazing fabric stores all over the country! I especially loved visiting with people from Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Norway, The Netherlands and Italy. What a treat!

All in all, it was a fantastic show. So glad to have met so many of you, and to have had such a great response with Children At Play! I can't wait to show you more fabric projects more 'inside' scoop on the collection!

Oh! And P.S: The ETSY shop is going to stay closed a little bit longer! Children at Play had a fantastic response, and we're needing to get a bit more organized now that we've come home. Stay tuned for more details....

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