Introducing: Wee Wander

 

Stores carrying Sarah Jane Fabric

Ta Da!!

It's here! My 4th (and favorite so far!) fabric collection that will be shipping to stores in January 2014 with Michael Miller Fabrics! I have so much I want to share about this collection, it's hard to put as much as I want to in one post. But let's have a go at it.....

Creating a fabric collection is like putting together a puzzle from your soul. I have a feeling or a set of colors and images, and I want to tell a story with it...one that resonates on multiple levels. I think about the child, and their interpretation of the illustration. I think about the quilter, and needing to cut up fabric freely. I think about the apparel sewer, and needing something that works on a large surface. I think about the mom who is going to redecorate their child's space and needs lots of inspiration and lots of pieces to make her space work. I think about what colors are trending, but that also tell my story authentically. And so many more questions. But like I said, it all starts from a feeling and this collection comes from my own childhood memories of playing outside and wandering through the meadows and woods behind my house, with the only curfew being supper time. Wandering without boundaries. Daydreaming without having to be reeled in. Staying up past dark on summer nights to catch fireflies. And watch the twinkling trees in the distance.

Wee Wander:  It's a play on words. It's a "little" wander, or let's all go on a wander.

All these feelings and images are part of my childhood, and it was so magical to recreate that into a collection of fabric that I think resonates with every child. A sense of wonder, wander and whimsicality that we all (I hope) still recall those carefree days of childhood.

The collection comes in 2 color ways, Sunrise & Twilight with 21 pieces total....including, as always, a super whimsical and magical border print. All the colors reflect both the vibrancy of outdoor play as well as the softness of innocent childhood. I love this collection because it can cross over both ways: bright and soft.

                

Wee Wander will be shipping in January, so I'll be featuring lots of projects starting closer to when it will be in stores. So, I get to trickle lots in over a long while! I'll be giving you free quilt patterns, free clothing patterns and embroidery patterns to match! I'm itching to get my hands working on this. And I can't wait to see what you create with it!

This fabric is available through Michael Miller Fabrics.

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF STORES CARRYING THIS FABRIC

xo

sarah

PS: Quilt Market photos tomorrow! I can't wait to start showing you projects!!

And don't forget about the 2014 calendars that are finally out! Perfect companion to this new collection!

xo

Sarah

2014 Calendar

I'm so excited to introduce to you a new calendar for this upcoming year! I've had flip calendars in the past that I know you all have loved. But I thought I'd try something new, and offer a wall calendar to be up for the whole year.

And if you can see....it coordinates with my newest fabric line that I still have yet to show you:) I'm trickling in little hints....and the wild horses are my favorite. Horses are a mild obsession with my girls. Ok, border-line crazy obsession. Ella pretends to be a horse most of the day actually. Truth.

These calendars would make lovely gifts as well. Can you believe it's already November? Where does time go?

So how about a little discount this week? I don't know about you, but I'm trying to get Christmas done early this year. (Ha! Early, like before December 20th:)

Use code 2014sarahjane to get 15% off this week only

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

I hope you enjoy!

xo

sarah

Love it? Be sure to add any of these images to your Pinterest Page, Facebook or Instagram feed with @sarahjanestudios 

3 months

It's hard to believe that I was in the hospital giving birth 3 months ago. Meeting him for the first time was so magical, and it honestly surprises me EVERY single time with how fast time flies by.

I'm just barely getting my Thank You cards out, I got my first hair trim in months  2 weeks ago, and started my list of unfinished projects from before my pregnancy. Those first 3 months are buckle-down-baby mode for me. I've always had rather needy newborns, and I'm kinda grateful. It forces me to slow down and really take the time and focus I need to introduce ourselves. We're buddies for life now:)

He's really starting to get socially aware, and this is always a favorite stage....especially for the kids. It makes it so much easier to put him down and make dinner, and put the kids in charge of making him laugh for 20 minutes. It's completely adorable.

We are back from Quilt Market now, and man! He was AMAZING! I'm just downloading pictures now from Market, as well as for my newest fabric line to show you!! This week I'll be trickling in lots of eye candy. I can't wait to show you:)

But he's just as much eye candy as anything, right? My best and most creative creation. Everything else takes a back seat.

See you tomorrow for more!

Sneak Peek

 

I walked in the door a few hours ago from a week in Houston, where I was debuting my newest fabric collection! I've got so much to share!

Quilt Market was amazing (baby Anders was a hit!), setting up our booth was awesome, and it was great to start getting a feel for this next fabric line!

But before I share photos, and talk about the fabric line, I'm going to get my cozy pajamas on and get some sleep for the first time in a long time (Anders willing!)

And since many of you have been getting glimpses of the fabric from Instagram, I thought I should share at least a peek of what's coming!

Stay Tuned.....

Sew& Stitch Embroidery: Book review and giveaway!

There is a new embroidery book on the block!

And I'm so excited to fill you in on how amazing it is.

I love hand stitching. Love, love love it. I've loved developing my own patterns over the years, and I must say that Penguin and Fish's Patterns and designs have always been an inspiration to me.

Alyssa's book is super new and fresh, because her style is new and fresh. I love how she doesn't get fussy about fancy stitches, rather she uses the stitches to really bring out the illustrative aspect of her art. Her animals are just to die for, and she adds just the right amount of texture and layers to her technique.

Her book is full of great patterns, as well as very thoughtful chapters on execution. It's funny, because so many people will tell me that they get intimidated by embroidery, and I keep sayin' "It's like drawing with a needle." And it's true! But especially with Alyssa's designs...they are simple and deceivingly easy to stitch.

One thing that Alyssa has really become known for, is her oversized stitching. I remember seeing it up close at my very first Quilt Market a few years back, and being so inspired! What a brilliant idea! And this book takes is like 5 steps further. Look how amazing!

You can find the book here and here, and make sure to visit Alyssa at her blog and website! 

And today, I'm giving away a single copy to one lucky winner!

HOW TO ENTER:

1) Leave a comment below

2) Visit Penguin & Fish and have a look around and their lovely patterns

3) Come back and see the winner in a week!

Entries close Tuesday night, Midnight EST

Happy Stitching!

COMMENTS CLOSED

CONGRATS TO atexasmomof2 for winning! 

Best EVER Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

We just shipped off our last shipment for Quilt Market this week (Yes!! I have a new fabric line coming out....my favorite yet I might add!!) and in typical Sarah & Kenneth style, we ended up baking Sunday regardless of the heap of fabric all over the family room. I'll clean that up tomorrow (before my mom comes to watch the kids of course!) and I'm glad to push it back.

This bread is amazing!

Ella is a little bit addicted even.

Here's the recipe. I hope you enjoy!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Makes 2 loaves

Dry ingredients

2 ½ C. all purpose flour

1 C whole wheat flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

2 C white granulated sugar

Wet ingredients

15 oz canned pumpkin puree

4 whole eggs

1 C brown sugar

1 C vegetable oil

2/3 C water

1 tsp vanilla

1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips

 Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350.

• Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients in separate bowls.  Be sure to thoroughly mix both wet and dry separately before combining.  Add the dry to the wet in four stages and stir until just barely combined (don’t over mix).

• There are only two acceptable units of measure for chocolate chips; the handful and the bag.  Add the whole bag and give it a few stirs.

• Grease two loaf pans and pour the batter evenly between the two.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center (and doesn’t hit a melted chocolate chip) comes out clean with no gooey batter stuck to it.  Bake for around 50 minutes.  We’re at high elevation so it took closer to 60.  Adjust cooking based on the toothpick test.

Happy Autumn!

Show me your spaces

(photo via Bonnie Martin)

Hello! It's FRIDAY!

YES! (90's arm dig action going on)

So, I want to see your kid's room. Wanna share? I know so many of you have adorable spaces that you want to share with me, I know it!

But to keep it casual, I'm having you upload them to instagram. And there is a little contest this weekend! A giveaway when you upload your little corner of Sarah Jane and share your interior spaces!

Wanna play?

(photo via comeabide.blogspot.com) 

Just follow along on my instagram and see the details! I can't wait to see!

And if you don't have instagram, and want to share anyways, I'd love it if you wanted to share a photo in the comments, or link to somewhere online.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Balance = Priorities

Hi there stranger! How are you?

(Side blurb: Do you love that blanket? Thanks Sew Sara for making it! It's our favorite!)

Not really sure how 2 weeks have gone by since my last post.

Oh, wait. Yes I do. It's called 4 kids, a newborn and Quilt Market Prep:)

It's also called real life.

I've been thinking about the word BALANCE lately....in terms of WORK-LIFE-BALANCE.....and I feel like there has been a lot of talk about what that really is. Some say, It's bogus. It doesn't exist. Other's say it's all about hiring out what you can't handle well. It's so many things.

I'm here to say that it's none of those. It's not even about Balance.

Let's just scrap that word, shall we? 

It's called PRIORITIES. 

I started working from home when I had 2 toddlers. Gosh. That sounds like a dream now. It was so nuts at the time, but I laugh at how hard I thought it was, now that I'm juggling 4 and twice as much work. Funny how you look back and realize how much stronger you've become, right?

I felt like I had BALANCE written on my forehead. It was my quest. I worked during naptime, and bedtime. I tried to find that daily dance we are all trying to get just right.

I worked myself to the ground.

But the fact of the matter is, there isn't any "Just Right" rhythm. Because it changes too frequently. You find a play date schedule to give yourself work time, and then the stomach flu hits the family, and you are out of commission for a week. You finally get the bedtime routine down, but one child starts teething. You set up a space to work with the kids playing at your feet, only to realize that they prefer to be in a different spot in the house.

Any of this sound familiar?

I don't know about you, but I feel like the world seems to demand some sort of superwoman these days.

Like that work-life-balance means able to do it all, and if we just try harder, those balls will stop dropping.

I'm here to redefine the status quo a little here.

I have often spoken to groups of women about my tree pose analogy.

Any yogis here? When you are in tree pose, you are balancing on one foot. For a long time. You can stay here forever it seems....IF you keep your foot moving.

Have you ever paid attention to your foot when you are balancing? Is it rigid and stiff? Or is it constantly shifting? Your foot is constantly shifting around it's CENTER to maintain harmony.

They way you achieve balance, is by constantly  moving from one thing to the next, but always rotating around your center core of beliefs.

When you have your priorities in line, when you are focused on what are THE most important things in your life, you are free to shift from this thing to that, because you ALWAYS rotating around your center.

And these are my center:)

I have a very cute center, don't you think? :)

Sometimes those shifts move minute by minute, and they look like my day was today....going from this task to that task, getting it all done.

Sometimes those shifts come in seasons. With babies demanding more of one side of me, and slowly shifting back to more of a work routine.

That's the point though. That you are constantly cycling and making things work based on the needs of what's most central to your being.

So really, there is no need to keep up with any kind of "expectation" or "outside pressures." The guide is there...already inside you...and it's your job to find out how to keep swinging...but never shifting your core. Your center. Your purpose.

It might seem so simple...to straight forward. But once I realized that there wasn't a magic pill or a step-by-step guide to achieving balance in my life, it dawned on me that it's really not even about that at all.

No schedule will give you balance.

Rather, you set what's most important, and you work in the rest by shifting as you go.

When I was in junior high, my sunday school teacher brought a bunch of rocks to church. Some were pebbles, and the rest were large. We had to fit them all in a mason jar. And he promised us that they would all fit.

We all tried, and failed.

Then, he showed us how.

He put the large rocks in first, and then sprinkled in the pebbles, and they all fell into place around the large rocks. And it all fit.

When you have your priorities set, all the other things fall into place.

None of this frantically trying to get it all done. Trust that it will all fit. Trust that all the "busy" will settle around the "core."

This is a shift in thinking maybe, from the "get it all done, and perfectly, and you'll be balanced" mentality. But it works.

My quest, is just to never have any regrets. Game on.