Holiday Hiatus Interruptus

Had to break my silence to show off the cuts of Cloud9's Beyond the Sea I just received! So fresh, clean and pretty.

Getting seriously inspired to do some sewing.

Holidays Are Here!

I would like to share our 2009 Christmas card with you all. I wish you and yours a very Joyous Christmastime and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Thanks so much for being a part of my year!

I am giving myself permission to step away from the computer for the next week or so. Time to dream and plan for the New Year and allow myself some much needed lazytime.

See you soon!

Our Snowy Day

Disregard for hacking coughs.

Socks for mittens.

Getting tossed (REALLY tossed) into the snow by Apple Jay*.

Apple Jay* engineering the perfect luge ramp.

Sliding all the way across the street for a perfect 10.

Tears with laughs.

Tears with runny boogs.

Out of breath.

Sweating despite the cold.

Saving snowballs for the freezer.

Feeling alive.

*Apple Jay = my brother Jay. "Apple" meaning "Uncle" for 2yro Karl. It stuck.

Featured | Artist Advent Calendar

Come join me today for a little trip down memory lane as I share some of my mom's beautifully crafted Christmas ornaments on Stephanie Levy's wonderful series Artist Advent Calendar.

In December, I will be featuring an artist a day as a special "Artist Advent Calendar!" Come travel around the world with me and visit these talented artists at home to find out what they are up to during this holiday season. Thank you to all of the artists who are participating for your time and generosity

Thanks Stephanie!

Twas The Haul Before Christmas

This is it! Probably my last big shipping stint of the season. It was a good one, so no complaining here.

I'm sold out of all my calendars at this time. Because I am still getting requests and had so many people add it as a favorite, I decided to offer a deposit option to see how many people are interested in buying them after the new year. We'll see if it pans out. I don't mind making more if it's worthwhile, but I can't justify the expense and time for only a few more. Hopefully (for me and those interested) I'll get sizable nibbles.

But for now, I'd say it's time for a little R&R. Hope you all have similar plans as we near the Big Day.

How Low Can I Go?

To answer: not too much lower. But I can eke out some extra incentive savings on what's left of my cotton/linen inventory.

For the rest of December, these fabrics will be reduced 25% off the original $17 for a fat quarter piece (making them $12.75). As before, when they're gone, they're gone. Out of 21 patterns only these 6 are left. Get yours while you can, and while the getting's good!

Giveaway | Cloud9 Fabric on Soule Mama

Head over to Soule Mama where Cloud9 Fabrics is a proud sponsor and enter to win one of 3 fat quarter bundles of My Happy Garden. Contest ends at 8a.m. EST Saturday, Dec 12, so hurry!

Thanks to Amanda Soule for hosting this giveaway!

Textile Turn-Ons | Otranto

Today I embark on a new sporadic series that will revolve around the fabrics that make me get all excited. As a textile designer, with countless yards of my own fabric surrounding me, one might think that I wouldn't want/need to purchase anyone else's fabrics. But, hey, I'm only human, and I'm very aware of the pattern work that's in the market today so I'm bound to get all goofy over some of them, right?

Enter today's kick-off: Alexander Henry's Fashionista Otranto in Sage (image from Pink Chalk Fabrics)

This fabric makes me want to cover windows and furniture, make skirts and shirts and pants, pillows, bolsters, rugs, chair pads, table cloths, shower curtains and MORE. Seriously. I could live forever with this pattern. Whoever at Alexander Henry created it (or had the wherewithal to make it part of the collection), I grandly tip my textile designer's cap to you in a Cyrano de Bergerac manner. PS- this particular colorway is PERFECT, but they are all remarkable. That you offered it in two scales is genius... I know why people would want the Piccolo version, but it's the Otranto scale that is knocking my socks off.

I printed this image to size and taped it up on my naked kitchen windows. When my husband came home he saw it and was like, what's THIS?, which translates to: I like it. Do it.

And there you have it. Every now and again, I may feel the need to gush about a fabric, so stay tuned! (ps- I already have another in the lineup.)

Featured | Dooce

Tis, the season for thanks!

I found out last night that my Queen Anne's Lace 2010 tea towel calendar was featured on Dooce's Holiday for Her: Homegoods along with some other great finds. Thanks Heather!

A Big Thanks

I am so grateful for all the lovely comments on the Etsy Quit Your Day Job interview and here on my blog. It is amazing to read how many people are inspired by my story and even more so, the response to my honesty. I hadn't realized my story (my version of my story) would have that sort of impact. That makes me very happy to know that part of me comes through in my retelling and writing only because honesty is definitely something I attempt to exhibit about myself and my work. I can't thank you enough for your kind words and support. I'm telling you, without that, all this means very little. I don't work in a bubble. I work to expand outwards. And it's so genuinely gratifying to know I've reached so many that appreciate what I do.

All in all, a extremely delightful experience!

Dear new blog followers, I'm so happy to have you aboard- welcome!