OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: The Sarah Jane Out to Sea Dress

September 19, 2012

So this might be the post that you are all waiting for.

I stopped counting how many emails I got with reference to this dress. And I can't wait to share!

When I was designing the products that I wanted for the booth, I drew a design for this dress, and tried to find a pattern that would match. When I couldn't find it, I emailed my friend Cally who made some dresses for Addie back when she had a shop selling her lovely creations.

Do you remember this dress from like 3 years ago? Still a favorite.

Anyways...I drew up a few designs for her, sent her a few pictures and asked if she thought she could work out a pattern. She got so excited and started figiting and I think it was the very next day that she sent me a picture of the mock up.

So, I told her that I'd be getting oddles of questions on how to make this dress, and she offered to put together a tutorial. Can you believe it? I love her.

Thank you Cally for making this Free Pattern for us all to use! It is honestly my favorite dress on Addie right now. I love that it can be dressed up or down...super cute with capri leggings and some ballet flats.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE PATTERN

Happy Sewing!

(and do me a favor and let her know on her blog how gracious she is for doing this....a total labor of love:)

Clearance:

September 18, 2012

We have put a few things on clearance in the ETSY shop today...if you want to run over and snatch up some deals!

We'll be having some random clearance sales on extra items as we are clearing out for the holidays. Just FYI:)

Everyone loves a steal, right?

Lunch Notes

September 16, 2012

School lunches have started. We're having a lot of fun with them this year too! (We're bento boxing for the first time...any of you bento fans? I'm loving it!)

Anyways....my mother was an AMAZING school lunch mom. Looking back, and especially now that I'm packing lunches daily, it amazes me that she packed notes each school day for 20 years in all 5 kids lunches.

Ya. I'm living in a tough shadow:)

So now, I send my kids to school with a note every day too. On their napkin. But it's always in pictures (which are faster for me than words most often:)

And it's always rushed. (What? School mornings rushed?)

So I thought I'd start sending some more prepared little notes too. (We might actually get to school EARLY with these printed notes lying around for emergencies!)

Could you use some ?

I’ve made THESE PRINTABLE LUNCH BOX NOTES for you grab in the shop…180 ready to go illustrated and designed notes…as well as 72 blanks notes!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 1 YEAR SET!

Or, feel free to download the free pages below! There are 2 pages of notes, and it’s great in a pinch!

Happy lunch making:)

sarah jane

Pin & Flickr Friday

September 13, 2012

I'm going to start a new feature on fridays. So many of you are amazing and have created such gorgeous work with my fabric, prints, etc. And I just love sharing! Facebook, flickr and pinterest are great places to share, and I'm there everyday checking out your projects. But after the survey you all took last month (THANK YOU by the way!) I realized that only 50% of you are peeking onto those sites. Which it totally fine, of course! But you also said that you wanted to see more inspiration on the blog of room ideas, sewing projects, etc. to inspire your own ideas!

So I'll be sharing my favorite of your creations here, and on Fridays!

Violet Field Threads is new to me, but when I saw these new patterns of theirs on Facebook, I about died. I think I might have cried even.

They took the Deep Sea Jewel colorway of OUT TO SEA and made these gorgeous little nautical inspired dress patterns!

Designing fabric makes me want to design clothing. But since that probably won't happen in my lifetime (I do cherish some semblance of sanity!) I love it when people use the fabric in such a special way.

Aren't these amazing?

The fabrics used here are:

Nautical Stripe

Sea Flowers

Sail Away Border print

Ship Wheels

Most pics I'm going to share aren't going to be as professional as these....so don't hesitate to share what you've made!

Or take pictures of the rooms that you've created around Sarah Jane prints, projects, etc.

So here are a few places that you can start posting your Sarah Jane creations: If you see on my Side Bar here on the blog, (in case you are reading this in a reader, and not on the site:) you'll see the different FLICKR groups (Out to Sea, Children at Play, Embroidery and Decorating)that you can join as my Pinterest account, which I try and repin what I find online! It's a great way to help others get inspired!

(And of course if you aren't into any of those places....no biggie...I just want to make sure you know where to post images if you feel inclined to!)

You are always welcome to email me directly and share what you are making or decorating. I'd love to see (and if you don't want me to share it online, please say so)

My contact info is up there on the right--

Do you have any fun projects you are working on this weekend? The Crisp Fall Air has me in a magical mood....you?

Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

sarah

Sarah Jane

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Milly the Mermaid part 2

September 13, 2012

So Merrillee from MerMag was so gracious to offer this free doll pattern here, and now she has the clothing ready to go!

She's been refining this pattern for a book she's working on, and is offering the Milly Mermaid clothing here at 50% just for Sarah Jane readers. She's the best.

My girls just love the details in this doll....and the fin is the best part!

Hop on over here to get the discounted pattern with code: SARAHJANE50 and you'll be ready to go!

(The discount is only good for a week....so now until Sept. 20th!)

CLICK HERE FOR THE MERMAID CLOTHING PATTERNS

Have fun sewing!

(And don't forget to share this project with your friends....Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter...spread the love!)

*All projects in the Out to Sea Blog tour are made especially for the OUT TO SEA Fabric Collection produced by MICHAEL MILLER Fabrics. Fabric will be shipping First week in August. For more information about the fabric visit this post or my stockists page on how to find the fabric!

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Milly the Mermaid Doll part 1

September 12, 2012

Hello lovely people!

Time for yet another free tutorial from my OUT TO SEA collection.

This mermaid was THE HIT of the booth...you should have seen the dramatic people over at Michael Miller come over to the booth JUST to show off this little doll and her detachable tail.

A.dor.a.ble.

Merrillee who blogs at MERMAG is a crazy talented illustrator and crafter, and she asked to use my fabrics for a pattern she is releasing!

She's so generously offering the doll pattern for free, with the doll clothing being offered as a PDF pattern at a discount for Sarah Jane readers tomorrow.

It's seriously the favorite toy at our house. I just love it!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE DOLL PATTERN

And stay tuned tomorrow for information on the mermaid outfit!

Thanks Mer!

Light.

September 6, 2012

The blog has been full of pretty things and projects lately, and I've not really taken the chance to share a couple thought's I've been having.

Have you ever had the experience of being completely down, broken or vulnerable but to look up and see a certain sky that is so breathtaking and so unique you know it was meant for just you?

I have.

Many times.

Our little fixer-upper cottage sits on top of a hill where I can see the sunset every day. And I often wonder, when those post-stormy sunsets burst through, "I wonder who that one is for tonight."

I've struggled enough to know that those moments of bursting sunlight through the clouds can be just the symbol needed to smile and keep my gaze up. And because I get to see it every evening, I think about all the people seeing that same glorious setting and who might need it most.

I tired mother? I newly widowed neighbor? A frustrated teen?

I don't always think about these in more than abstract thoughts, but it does make me recognize how far our fire can go if we just light it.

Do you see those sun rays spreading over miles of sky? Piercing through the last bits of heavy cloud?

I'm going to be honest with you, and say that I'm actually a naturally shy person who feels comfortable with the few close people in my life, namely my family and a few friends. Sharing my art started as an experiment and has turned into more than just a hobby. But I won't lie and say that I often wish I could just keep myself behind that cloud. Especially when I'm tired and times get hard. Cause they do. But seeing this sunset yesterday.... seeing those beaming rays from one little peek of sun.... reminded me that while it can be hard to put myself out there all the time and every day....you really never know how far it can reach, or who will chance to see it.

And that is a beautiful concept. It's passion that pushes me out of my shell....passion for art, for children, for beauty, simplicity and what could be.

So, I guess you could say that I'm convinced that we all have a light to shine, but just as important, we have light to inspire us to keep the fire going.

Joy. Love. Passion. Care. Deep Curiosity. Ambition. Motivation. Self Purpose. Heart.

These can ebb and flow. Thank goodness for "lights" that whisper to us to keep our light shining.

I'm peeking through today to nod to all you fire-y beautiful people. Incase anyone needed to see a sunset. Love to you all.

Sarah

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Out to Sea Quilt Pattern

September 5, 2012

This is a project I know many of you have been waiting for!!

When I designed the OUT TO SEA collection, I wanted to make sure to include some really fun panel prints, and border prints as I know they are becoming more and more popular to work with! This quilt is a really simple way to display those lovely larger blocks and at the same time, makes this quilt an art piece as well as a snuggly sailor quilt:)

Amy Smart, (of the ever popular blog Dairy of Quilter) helped me put this all together. I designed the quilt with her, and she translated my vision into a perfect crib wall/quilt. She's even put together a PDF download for you to take and make yourself! And even better, if you own a fabric shop, this is a great kitting idea!

CLICK HERE FOR THE TUTORIAL & PDF

And FYI...remember this embroidery project? Well, the quilt pattern can be translated in lots of ways...here it is as a framing for the IF I HAD A SHIP embroidery Pattern.

Thanks Amy!!

Enjoy!!!