Here and there.

Hello my friends, how are you?

Sometimes writing and sharing can be so yummy and great...and other times, I wonder about all of you out there....I think about you and wish I knew more of who you are. I mean, writing to you and hearing from you in writing is great and all....but I really do prefer the one on one, you know? It's the lovely irony with connecting through online devises...we are able to share more than ever and support like never before....but sometimes I just wish I could just have you all over for a big brunch and chatting. But I'm not an event planner either, so well....there we go.

Anyways. That's what I'm thinking about right now.

So, Fabric. I can't believe it was almost two years ago since I designed my first collection of fabric. And while I've managed to only do one a year since, I'm working on presenting my THIRD....and I'm baffled with how time flies. And how you are all still sewing with Children at Play. It makes me happy to see sweet pictures like this. Man. If I had a dress like that when I was a girl....

So, yes. Third fabric line coming soon. Can't tell you much about it except that it will be shipping in May. And That's coming sooner than you know it!

So much love gets put into the fabric....it's such an intense process, and takes so much focus and thought. So when I see your projects, made with the same love, intention and energy, it just makes it feel all worth it. Thank you so much for sharing as much as you do! These pics were taken from Safflower Photography, and Miranda is the one that sent me the link on Facebook with her and her two kids....how adorable to see the WHOLE family decked out in the same fabric. Makes me smile.

Have a lovely weekend friends!

See you monday, Sarah

Bunny & Egg Easter DIY

Easter is so soon, and I'm so excited. We have so many family traditions that circle around this holiday, but it still sneaks up on me....especially since Easter is in March. Yikes!

Addie wanted to sew and stitch some kind of Easter pillow, and so we spent some time this weekend making it together. She is so crafty and artsy, it's so fun to finally have a buddy in all this. She's at that age where she can really learn how to do it herself!

So I drew up an idea, and then she drew up her idea....and we met in the middle. I wanted to sew up a big colorful egg, she wanted a bunny, so we made a bunny holding a big colorful egg.

The best part about these projects is that they can be turned into anything. Wall art, pillows, you name it.

And of course, bunny needed a scarf. So we started there.

The best part is that I got a little helper to work the pedal underneath. Go team!

Then I grabbed some random fabrics from my stash, and sewed strips together (You might recognize some new fabric of mine you haven't seen yet...coming in the spring! hush, hush:)

Then I used the egg template and pinned it to the sewn scraps. I cute about 1/4 inch around the template, ironed down the edges, and pinned onto the bunny design. Sewing it down in a perfect oval isn't my specialty. But hey. It's a darn cute egg, ya?

And then we stitched and stitched! It's a super fast little job.

But when I got to the tail, I just knew it needed some texture. The kids would love a little cotton tail.

So, yarn pom pom's it was.

Stitch it onto the little tail, and you've got yourself a little cottontail bunny holding a really awesome egg, and ready to be made into something special.

I've made the Bunny template for you, so all you have to do it trace it onto some fabric. You can decide what you want to stitch, or what you want to sew on. So many variations!

Have fun! I'd love to see your pictures. Don't forget to share on my embroidery FLICKR page, or on Facebook...or wherever you like to follow me around:) And if you like this, don't forget to share on Pinterest!

(just hover over any picture, and it's an easy share)

Happy Spring everyone! And happy making!!

xo

Sarah 

poppies and things

Do you feel it?

Do you love the changing of the season?

Ohmygoshohmygosh. I'm raising my hand super high.

I'm so ready to shed off winter for good. And I'm starting to see and feel color again. I like winter. I really do. Especially here when there is lots of white snow, and we get winter light warming us in the library, and the winter animals that come out....But I'm kinda-sorta-officially done.

Give me flowers and give me color.

This illustration came to my head this week, and I had to put it on paper.

I'm still in the throws of catch up mode here at home. On all fronts: making books and making my laundry room (closet) look like it wasn't attacked by some alien explosion. But I've snuck in rearranging furniture, planning out new plants to put in the yard, and thinking about new art for the walls. And stitching and eating fresh greens.....

And stocking up on more band-aides and ice packs again cause little knees and feet aren't used to all this excitement.

I'm starting to feel like me again:)

This print is available here in the shop.

PS: I almost forgot to mention! Today is  big birthday for my darling, amazingly efficient assistent Ann who runs the shop. She really deserves a big high 5 for everything she does. We've had a lot of hiccups this year with some transitions happening behind the scenes, and I couldn't run this machine without her. Say Happy Birthday! And Cha-cha-cha:)

Hugs and kisses for spring!

xo

sarah

Around the world and web this week

Ooooooh. I love weekends.Especially today, because it's really feeling like Spring is here! And this week, looking back, there  has  been some really diverse and special online action that I wanted to share with you! Mostly cause I think you'd really be interested. I don't share a lot of what happens out there in the web here in this space, but this week really caught my eye.

1) GIVEAWAY:

First off, this adorable nursery is featuring basically everything you can imagine from the Out to Sea collection.

Not just the fabric, but she used the free templates I offered, a few Blog Tour patterns, you name it. It's adorable! And she's giving away a free Sarah Jane print. You for sure want to sign up! I haven't had a giveaway in a while (hmmmmm....that could be fun!) but there is a small pool that I'd love to see beef up a bit to show support for this incredibly creative space. And you could get a free print out of it! Horray!

Click here to enter the giveaway! Ends in 4 days.

2) AUCTION FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Next up is this amazing story of a mom and her daughter Charlotte who has been battling the trial of terminal brain cancer. Diagnosed at 3 months, she was given 3 months to live. But she's now over 2 years old, and such a fighter! This mom has been making quilts to auction off in order to raise funds for the Brain Cancer Research at Duke University, which is where she is treated. This quilt is already sold (darn!) but she's posting a quilt a week, and all funds go to support the people who are helping Charlotte, and other children with Cancer, fight the fight.

This part of her post brought tears to my eyes. Her whole room is decked out in Children at Play fabric, and she tells her little girl:

"Charlotte, right now, you're the one riding the pink elephant..."

"But one day, baby, you'll be the little girl who is waving the flags with both arms up."

How sweet is this little champ? Love this sweet angel.

Click here to check out her amazing quilts. 

And here to visit the post about her darling Children at Play room.

3) News Feature on Art for Kid's Rooms 

This week also, my 3 Chairs Print was featured in a Canadian news station in Toronto, City Line, where they were talking about art for kid's rooms that keep things interesting and creative. It's a great post! Check it out. Lots of great art to inspire your children when they are daydreaming in their room. You can see the blog post here. Thanks City Line!

4) Country Living Feature

And lastly, remember this DIY project from, oh, maybe 5 years ago? It feels like yesterday that I had my toddlers on my lap making this project to keep them entertained on one of those crazy "mommy" days. I needed to do something with ALL the art they loved to make, and this seemed like the perfect solution. These templates have been circling the web for ages, but Country Living Magazine picked up this idea and shared it this week with their online readers! It's making me nostalgic. But regardless, it's a great little DIY. Click here to see the other ways to feature your kids art, and click here to download the templates for the project! 

Wasn't that fun? I love what I do, but getting such diverse feedback....from art prints on a news station to supporting a toddler with cancer to sharing how to be creative with your kids....and decking out a new nursery....I sometimes take a step back and just feel so blessed to interact with some really amazing people and meet so many of you who are able to use my art to share the love even more. Thank you!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend! I have a lot of projects that I want to share with you....stuff you can make, and create with....so stay tuned!

And Happy St. Pat's!  We're corned beef and cabbage people...but just once a year:)

xo

sarah

And the baby is a...

BOY!!!!!!

I found out in the morning, and needing to hurry and run my kids' lunches to school (daylight savings kills me every year....We've been so sleepy in the mornings!), I decided to tell Addie and Ian the gender as a surprise when they opened their lunch. It was a hit!

All the kids were actually planning on a boy (it would make sense....girl, boy, girl...boy) but I think I was the most surprised.

So, baby boy coming in August. We couldn't be more thrilled to be adding another little boy to the family. It's all getting so real now!

I'm whistling a happy tune. It feels just right.

PS: Are you reading this in Google Reader? I'm assuming you've heard the news. It is to be no more. (insert pouty face). Make sure to resubscribe in a different feed! Don't want to lose ya! 

Spotted: CWkids

 

Well, spring IS around the corner. I honestly can't wait. I spent the day with the windows open, digging out closets and rearranging furniture. Best feeling ever!

Here's a dress that a reader sent over to me from CWKids.  She saw this in their catalog, and I'm so glad she told me! It's darling. And for you non-sewers, this is a great way to get some of my fabric ready to go. Such a sweet spring dress!

And speaking of spring dresses....since when did Easter creep up so fast! Yikes! Time to start thinking of Easter dresses. I'll know what I'm having by then too. I can't wait!

Are you making dresses this spring? Or buying? I'd love to see your ideas!

xo

Sarah

16.365 Take the time.

Hello Monday! Hello to-do lists, and getting back in gear after the weekend. Hello jumping in full force before I'm ready. Hello Laundry I didn't do over the weekend.

You too?

This is my thought today. And my 5 minute warm-up before working (did I tell you I'm working on another book right now?)

And I'm skipping ahead because I'm not posting every.single.drawing-a-day.

Taking a moment to be grateful for the little things.

xoxo

Sarah

New Embroidery & Pillow pattern

 

Maybe you've already caught this issue....or maybe you are like me and just picked it up yesterday at the store. I opened it up this Better Homes and Garden's issue to the page above and showed my kids without saying anything. Ian gave me a big hug, and then said "Mom, you have GOT to tell the store owner!"

It was so darling.

Anywho....

Camille Roskelley and Joanna Figueroa (two darling ladies who are such a hoot and super fun to laugh with twice a year at Quilt Market) host a Scrap Lab issue, and chose me as a guest designer this month! I was super thrilled to create an Embroidery Pattern for this issue, with instructions of how to make it into a pillow like the ones that I made for my booth last spring.

And look how darling their other projects are! It's always so fun to see what other designers do with my fabrics, and this issue is packed with darling projects.

You can pick up the magazine at the store, but Better Home has provided an online link where you can download the instructions to make the pillow and print out the embroidery pattern.

Thanks Better Homes for the shout out! Have fun stitching and sewing:)

xo

sarah