SUMMER SALE TIME

 

Hi everyone! It's about time for a summer sale...what do you think? I'm loving summer (even being 8 months pregnant with record heat) and July is always a favorite month for me (anyone else with a July birthday?)

So, I'm saying THANK YOU for all your support and love and giving back with a coupon for 25% off in the shop. That includes even the lovely handmade quilts I have ready for a lovely new home!

I made a free print for you as well. I'm always marveling at how children see the world.  It's always amazing to me, and I consider myself so blessed to create art that forces me to see more of what they see. I created this cloud design with my latest fabric collection, and I've made you a little phrase to help us all remember  what it's like to see like a child. I've got a FREE illustrated print for you that will come to your email with your order confirmation. Yahoo!

This is size 5x7, but it's got lots of white space on the print out, so you are able to frame it however it suits you best! So enjoy:)

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughtful emails and support...especially as we prepare for baby #4. It means so much!

Happy 4th of July to my friends in the states, and happy summer all around!

Still here.

Well, well well. Hello!

No. I haven't had my baby, which is probably what you are thinking since I haven't really been online for 2 weeks. It kinda just happened! Sorry for the unexcused absence, but life is life, right? I'm at the last lap of my pregnancy, trying to cope with deadlines and crazy nesting instincts all while managing my "pelvic rest" pre-term labor stuff. That, and my husband had abdominal surgery 2 weeks ago, and with kids out of school, and a house that we are attempting to renovate, everything else has gone on hold.

Whew!

And of course, throw designing a new fabric line and other art projects, and let's just say I will be lucky if my kids have clean pj's tonight.

It's a reality check really. When I've done my very best to manage a lot of things in the past, to be reduced down to just the bare basics. It's been good in a lot of ways, but a big challenge too.

I'm going to be posting a bit less for the next little bit I'm sure, but that doesn't mean there isn't anything going on!

So, stick with me! Next week, I have 2 tutorials for you, a sale coming up, and other fun summery treats.

Ohmygosh. And it's over 100 degrees here. I have never minded so much until this summer when I'm already carrying a little furnace. Any suggestions for summer pregnancies? I can't get enough ice water and cool baths.

I hope you are still around? Hello?  Hope I haven't lost ya. But maybe you are busy swimming and vacationing and eating snow cones. I sure hope so!

So come back Monday, and we'll pick up where we left off.

Oh, and if you want more frequent updates of behind the scenes in my world, follow me on Instagram! Insta-blogging really. Love it.

Happy Friday!!

xo

sarah

Announcements are always fun

Hello! There are a few things going on today, and I had to make sure you knew what's going on!

 

So, Let's Pretend Fabric is out, and it's so fun to see you sewing! A lot of sites have been interested in doing interviews on the line, and The Fat Quarter Shop has posted an interview on their Jolly Jabber blog. I'm talking about my process in designing fabric, and all that fun stuff. I don't really talk about that much, and so I love interviews like this where I can talk about it a bit more directly.

Also, have you heard about QuiltBLISS? It's a new Modern Quilt retreat here in Utah up in the gorgeous mountains coming up this January! I'm a guest speaker  and I'm going to be talking about the bliss (and blood sweat and tears) of designing a collection and all the aspects of color, design, and all the ins and outs of putting together a fabric line. I'm sure we'll do some embroidery in there too:) It will be so inspiring! Registration begins tomorrows, so don't miss it. I absolutely love to meet with people in person, and I'd love to spend the weekend with all of you!

And if you are in for a giveaway, there is a giveaway going on right now here., which includes this favorite paper puppet theater toy. Perfect for rainy summer days! It's just a happy day all around!

And on a personal note, my pregnancy is getting less and less at risk, which is such a miracle!! I've been getting regular ultrasounds, and today I got to see him again. Chubby cheeks and everything. What a handsome little guy. I'm so in love!! I still have NO idea when I'll have this baby (but I've never really been able to be set on a due date) so it's time to start getting ready just in case.  It's been 7 years since we've had a boy, so it feels like we are almost starting over again. Which really, makes it so fun!

Have fun clicking around today, and thanks for yesterday's suggestions on photosharing. Maybe having a Pinterest Board just for fabric projects would be the best, so you can share them in a space that we are all on all the time. I love FLICKR, it's just I'm not really on there like I used to be.

Happy Tuesday! xoxo

Chasing Mermaids Let's Pretend Dresses

This is the fun part for me. When you start sewing with the fabric I've been thinking about for a good year....I love seeing what you come up with!

It's when I see your creativity come out and enhance what I've made.

I just love it. Here are some dresses and skirts made by Chasing Mermaids using the Let's Pretend Fabric line.   She used this sewing pattern, and added a panel for kicks. Just adorable. They are using the "Make Believe" Panel print, and the "When I am King" raspberry crown fabric.

I'm hoping to have a blog tour up and going soon. Do you have something you've made and want to share? I've always had the FLICKR groups that I love seeing, but I wonder if there is a way to share that everyone can see. Do any of you know of a better photo sharing option? If you have any ideas comment below. I'd love to have people see your creations more frequently as they are shopping around for ideas on what to make. I hope there are some better options....either here on the blog, or on Pinterest, etc. Thanks!

I'm in the process of updating my Fabric Store Retailers List, but if you sell this line, or know of where to buy it, comment below and I'll make sure you are on the list! Especially International Shops, as those are the hardest for me to get info about. Thanks! Have fun sewing! xo Sarah Jane

Pregnancy & Newborn

So I'm on the home stretch with my pregnancy, and things have been hit and miss. I have preterm labor tendencies, so some weeks are totally fine, and others I'm down and out. It's a balancing act for sure! For me, pregnancy is actually harder than the newborn stage. At least then I can bend down and pick up my floor with a baby on my hip. Inside the belly, not so much. Just trying to keep baby inside is work enough! :)

Speaking of Pregnancy, can you spot a Sarah Jane art print up there? I got a little lovely piece of mail this morning! Thought this was so nice. Thanks Pregnancy and Newborn for featuring this print in your June issue! It's an older piece, and a favorite in fact. Now that my kids are learning French, I should totally do more of these.

I always love seeing which prints people claim as their favorites. I love getting to know people by what art they like. Do you ever do that? Notice what art people have on the walls, or pin on Pinterest to get to know them better? I do. It's like knowing what books are on a persons night stand.  Although, I have Three Little Pigs on my nightstand because I have a certain toddler who likes my bed more than hers.....

I digress.

But not really.

Good art makes for good conversation. Always. Which is why I think I love creating art for children so much. I love starting a conversation from producing something that I'm feeling or thinking about.

Which reminds me...back to the drawing table today. So much to do, so little time!

Have a lovely, lovely day everyone!

xo

sarah

Drawing Drawing Drawing

 

Hello! I hope you had a lovely, lovely weekend. 3 Day weekends are bliss. This weekend, my husband took the kids out of the house on a fun Daddy trip so that I could play major catch up on work & art. Like I mentioned before, we've always played tag team at home, and since this year so far has been a bit different than most, I have weeks and weeks of art making to catch up on  (books, fabric, portraits....and much more!) So this weekend was a welcomed guest. But the kids are coming home in 10 minutes and I've better go put the icecream away. Hee Hee.

So, at the beginning of the year, I made the goal to draw every day. Or at least as often as I could. It's so theraputic for me. It's what I love. It's how I think. But like anything, it takes setting aside time. I try to have  a sketchbook out when I'm with the kids, but it usually gets overthrown by their drawings. Which, of course, I love seeing monsters and dinosaurs in my sketchbook. But I need time to refine my skills daily. It's how I come up with ideas. Ideas don't just HAPPEN. They come when I'm putting pencil to paper. I have to be actively getting things out of my head for anything good to ever come.

How about you? How do you make time to do those things that truly make you feel like  YOU? It's seriously something that takes conscious working out.  But so worth it.

We have 2 days left until school is OVER! I can't wait. I really love summer time with the kids home. Summer period.

PS: I will be posting daily sketches to INSTAGRAM, but I'll be sure to upload batches of them at a time here on the blog from time to time. Instagram  is a mother's helper! So easy to keep up with you all. Are you doing #365drawings? There are a lot of you on instagram now. Hope to see more of you! xoxo

Pre-Order Your Fabric

So, quilt market is currently in full swing, and I'm missing all the action. But I just got word that HAWTHORNE THREADS has my fabric available for presale! 

This is really great news, because it means you'll get is as soon as it's available (early June) and it also means that you won't have to wait for it to be backordered (which has happened in the past...and soon after release)

Thanks Hawthorne for the option!

Have a lovely, lovely weekend!

xo

sarah

I'm here, I'm here.

Hi!

How are you?

I feel like this space has been so chalk full of giveaways, specials, new fabric....I haven't even really had a chance to pipe in and share what's going on around here. I know this isn't like my personal family blog or anything, but it just feels off to me to just be posting information all the time. Ya know?

Truth is, that things been a bit slow around here. Eventful, but so many things that I typically do in a day have been put on hold. Book projects, design projects, portrait projects....it's been really hard to press pause. Maybe I didn't mention that this year so far, Kenneth has been pulling 80 hour weeks at work, and so I've kinda been playing single mom. Which, when you are on pelvic rest and pregnant and working with 3 kids isn't exactly something I'd wish on anyone. It just basically means it's taken most of my energy on just getting dinner on the table and clean socks for the kids (although, that didn't really even happen consistently!) Thankfully, his crazy work schedule is over, and we're slowly getting back to the tag-team lifestyle that makes our family tick. So many people ask me how I do what I do, and the real answer is I have a best friend who is flexible and is awesome with the domestic stuff around the house when I'm under deadlines. Without that these past 5 months, my hands have been tied. Sometimes you don't realize it until it's gone. Kenneth and I really are a duo deal. And I'm totally ready to get him back.

So, first off....here's my 26 week bump! Last time I checked in, I was 15, and I felt big then. This is baby #4 and I still am surprised when I feel those kicks and butterflies. It's starting to hit me that we'll have 4 buckled in the car now, 4 beds and all the seats at our table will be used up.  It's a miracle. The adjustment will be an adventure for sure, and I am definitely not ready for sleepless nights (I don't do those very well!) But I'm determined to rise up. I love the baby stage. Love it. I love all stages really, but newborns turn our house into a bit of heaven. But last night I was up with a sick child for the better part of the night, and didn't wake up  in time to get my kids out the door and they were late to school. Oh dear. Gonna have to work on that one:)

In other news, Ella (our climber and balancing act girl) fell off the couch last week and broke both the bones in her forearm. My first trip to the ER with a child, and one I'll never forget! It's a good thing it's summer in that she can really only squeeze into tank tops, but when the morning after she woke up from the drugs she asked to go play on the monkey bars at the park, I melted. It will be a long 8 weeks. Any suggestions for toddlers with broken arms in the summer time?

She's still not in a full cast yet because it was such a complete break, and her bones are so little. So until then, I'm coming up with really creative indoor activities which is hard when it's warm for the first time in 9 months!

She broke her dominant arm, so while she's getting used to doing things with the other hand, it's quite darling to watch her try and use her broken one. That's her trying to itch an itch.

And I'm thinking of everyone at Quilt Market right now! Any of you going to be there? I'm not able to travel till the baby comes, so it's odd to have a fabric line out with no booth. If you are going, say HI to the Michael Miller team! It's always SUCH a party there...I just love presenting with them. I will have a few samples that will be there that you can ask to see. Here's a pillow that I think turned out so cute. Super simple to make, and that panel print makes for really fun projects.

So, as I come out of my cave of single-mommy-bed-rest mode, I hope to be more purposeful in so much of what makes me thrive. I'm actually feeling so much better physically and am able to do more (for the time being) and being creative again really makes me feel like a real person again. It's such a part of who I am.  But it's amazing how it can shut off when you get in survival mode.

But looking back, it's the ebb and flow of life that keeps me on my toes and feeling alive. And alive is good.