HELLOmynameisHeather

Suture-Free Future

Here it is, my live interview on NBC's Studio 5 in Salt Lake City. Catch a glimpse of my next mini pattern. Try not to glimpse the ribbon dangling from my shirt sleeve though. Written instructions for the Pop Garden scrap flowers featured on the video can be found here. I had an incredible time in Utah this weekend. I met many fun entrepreneurs & was showered with some amazing presents -- necklaces, notecards, homemade games, tee-shirts, chocolate. The Sweet Tooth Fairy's Double Fudge Cake Bites made my night on Thursday. Imagine oreo-cookie-flavored cake with a truffle-chocolate shell. Yeah. Holy happiness, Batman.

Packing Flowers

Today I'm heading over to the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City for a live interview & some crafty kibitzing on KSL's Studio 5 with hosts, Brooke & Darin. We're making fast, fabulous, fabric flowers. Fashionable too -- and friendly.

The spicy flower above turned out perfectly for the red & olive reverse of my red Marlo Bloom bag (shown on the cover of the Marlo Bloom sewing pattern). It takes my handbag right into Fall, all wooly & frayed, with felted houndstooth leaves and raw silk at the center.

I also played around with some of my favorite vintage buttons & millinery supplies, such as these green ceramic flower stamen. On the show, we're making medium-sized flowers, but as I couldn't stick to one size for the samples, I'm listing measurements for the large purse flower and the small, blue headband flower as well. Of course, make whatever size flower you wish & stitch it where you like.

I say everywhere.

Pop Garden Scrap Flower Tutorial

Medium Flower

1.  Tear a strip of printed cotton fabric 3" high by 20" wide. Pop Garden works.

2.  With wrong sides together, fold fabric strip in half, as shown. Stitch long, gathering stitch along matched torn edges, through both layers. (For a torn-edge flower, stitch along folded edge, through both layers.)

3.  Gently pull stitches as you sew, to gather fabric into a circle. Fasten fabric circle at center with a couple of stitches. Secure & trim thread.

4.  Of felt, cut three tiered circles -- 2" wide, 1.75" wide, and 1.5" wide. Notch edges of large & small circles. Remove all 'hanging chads' of felt -- we'll have none of that. Stack felt circles as shown.

5.  Onto gathered fabric flower, layer stacked felt circles and a decorative button or brooch. Stitch layers together at center several times through button to secure. Conceal gathered edges at back of flower by whip-stitching a circle of scrap felt to the back of the flower. Then, attach a sew-on pin-back, hair clip, ponytail elastic, TT headband, bobbypin or barrette. And that's it. Easy-peasy.

For your reference, the following chart shows the measurements used for the other flowers featured in the photos above. The large flower is made by stacking a folded piece of silk on top of the folded cotton print with folds aligned. Gathering stitches are sewn through all layers, near the fold. And the large flower spirals into several layers, unlike the other two shown.

I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at Friday's Start-up Princess event. If you're interested in last-minute registration, I've got a present for you -- use code STUDIO5 for $10 off the registration fee. Or tune in to the show today, as two viewers will receive free tickets on air, valued at $99 each.

Also, there is an all-new category at The Heather Bailey Store. See if you can spot it. I'm eager to post more, but need to rush off to the station. Let's just say the new category ties in perfectly with this tutorial and with more projects to come. I'll spill the beans in my next post.

Gilding my Sneakers

I've just returned from Creative Escape, a several-day craft-a-thon with hundreds of enthusiastic and kind women from all over the world: Japan, Canada, France, Australia, the U.S. Though I taught all day a couple of days in a row, I'm surprisingly refreshed. I blame it on the touching & funny keynote addresses presented by Heidi Swapp & Melanie Wellman -- and my decision to wear tennis shoes instead of heels. 

The CE students went out of their way to express their excitement for my class, bring gifts (chocolate, jewelry, handmade cards, hair clips, etc.), and make the experience fulfilling for us teachers as well. (Thank you, ladies!)

All 700 or so in attendance were deeply moved by the response to CE's designer lamp fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society the final evening. All of the teachers at the event, and from past years, donated a hand-built, one-of-a-kind lamp to be sold in silent auction -- all $ going straight through to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

To add excitement to the final evening, two of the lamps were sold at live auction. One bidder forked out $29,000 for charity to get her hands on Tim Holtz' lamp (neat girl too), and Heidi's lamp raised over $8000. Without gushing on, I'll just say I was seriously moved. I think we all were. It was a great time. Thank you, Heidi & the Bazzill team for including me in this year's event.

So...Now that the cat's out of the bag on the fundraiser, I can finally show photos of my lamp design -- think tweet, tweet, chirp, chirp. I'll gather up some photos to post.

It's great to be back. I'm wrapping up several big projects (hallelujah!) this week before heading out to Utah to deliver a keynote address at the Start-Up Princess event on September 11th. If you're anywhere near South Jordan, Utah next weekend, sign up for Friday's event and come say 'hi'. Or visit me at Material Girls quilt shop on Saturday the 12th -- around 1ish (till 3ish?), I think.  I'll post a sure time as soon as it's confirmed. I'll also be on t.v. on Thursday, the 10th at Studio 5 in Salt Lake City. As for the rest of the trip -- I'll probably be sleeping, huh?

Take Time to Wear the Flowers

I had the best time bead-shopping with my mom & sister last night.  We clucked and cooed over each other's finds and left with an assortment of big plans.  We hurried back home afterward & sent the men out to a movie together.  Now to plan a jewelry night.  I'll probably have to wait a week or two -- if I can stand it.  We'll see.

As promised, I posted the floral pendants I mentioned yesterday.  They're similar to the blackbird pendant, maybe a tiny bit less shiny.  Same material though. These are also a discontinued design;  I was only able to get my hands on twelve.  Here they are.

Babblejabber

I'm scattered like these buttons between a bevy of projects.  It looks like they will all be wrapped up around the same time.  I'm finishing up several new patterns, an assortment of kits, a contract for a new product line (!!!), and so on.  (More on these soon.) 

Next week I'll be at Creative Escape getting raspy from eight-hour days in front of a large crowd of crafters.  I'm hoping my loud, floral apron will distract everyone from the dark circles under my eyes.  That, and under-eye concealer.  Anyone have a favorite brand of concealer to recommend?  I'm planning ahead.

I still need to do my annual birthday giveaway.  I've decided to wait till I release some of the new goodies I've been developing.  That way the prize will be fresh & exciting.  Ya, just you wait.  I haven't forgotten.

Also, I've posted a handful of blackbird necklace charms for purchase.  Since my Laura No Peeky post, a ton of you have asked where to get one.  I did my research.  It turns out it's a discontinued design, so I decided to get what was left & just post them.  They're $3.50 each.  And I only have 20 of them.  When they're gone, they're gone.

Off to a ridiculous, private bead sale this evening with my sister.  I'll be shopping for doll eyeballs.  Very exciting.  I'm sure I'll be tempted by more glamorous things though.

Update:  The blackbird pendants are all spoken for.  I do have a similar pendant I'll post soon.  It's floral.  I'll take a photo & let you know when they're up.

Laura No Peeky

I love to collect funky jewelry -- the more colorful the better.  And I have gathered some beautiful and weird pieces over the years.  My friend and sister-in-law, Laura, has similar taste.  We often make or buy each other quirky jewelry for birthday presents -- a tradition of sorts.  (17 years now!?!)

Amidst my bold tangle of jewelry, I don't have very many basics though.  I often wish I had an all-black necklace to wear with a black dress or a bright blouse.

Assuming Laura runs into the same predicament, I made her a simple, black necklace for her birthday this year.  Hopefully, the blackbird carved into the pendant adds just enough chirp. 

Charlotte then hopped-to & made a necklace for her cousin Lily -- C's specialty 'candy-wrapper' design. Both trinkets are wrapped up and on their way to Laura's. Shh.

Now to make the same one for me.  We'll be necklace twins.

Jackson's Five

Speaking of matryoshka.  Check out these Michael Jackson nesting dolls from a 2006 Music Art Form exhibit.  Pop music meets folk art.

Update:  It turns out that not everyone interprets this series the way I do.  Two commenters think it's mean-spirited of the artist.

I think it's beautiful.  To me, this piece is poignant. It shows how as MJ's life (and accomplishments) progressed, the world zeroed in on his flaws. To many, this beaming talent became a tabloid plastic surgery story.  It's a sad truth that the world puts talent on a pedestal, only to tear it down over time.

Art seeks an emotional response. True, the first read might make many of us smile.  However, I don't think the artist means to ridicule Jackson.  Instead, I think he means to highlight how ridiculous it is that we all are fixated on his nose.

Furthermore, the style of the artwork is beautiful and quiet, not jeering or jokey. I don't believe it is meant to poke fun at the subject.  If anyone, I think it's mocking us as a people for not seeing past this man's appearance.  This piece has meaning for me. 

I'm sad he's gone. 

Pretty Maids All in a Row

Like so many others, I'm charmed by the bright colors and folky art of Russian dolls or matryoshka.  Over the last couple of years, demure little matryoshka have become a fierce trend in crafting and design.  Russian-doll jewelry, ornaments, beads, fabric, embroidery, and home decor can be spotted all over the internet and in stores.  (Fun links at the bottom of this post.)

Amidst the Russian bunch, the whimsical dolls of Emily Moss of Ravenhill stand out -- playful stuffed matryoshka made with a variety of prints & details.

Emily’s inspiration for creating these unique dolls was her “growing stack of beautiful fabrics and pretty ribbon," combined with her new-found enjoyment of embroidery.  As a result, each doll has her own personality. 

I first spotted Emily's dolls in my Pop Garden & Bijoux Flickr group where she has uploaded a several cheery, floral ladies.  See a wide variety of fabric combinations in her Babushka Softies Flickr set as well.

Emily’s dolls were not always exactly what she envisioned. Though the overall doll design appears simple, fine-tuning the shape & structure took time.  Emily went through several drafts to develop the dolls she makes today.

    “It took a lot of practice and experimentation with various tool and mediums… I have learned so much from this process and would encourage others not to give up when the first prototype is far from what was planned. Plow ahead and persevere.”

Emily offers Matryoshka dolls in her Etsy store.  Or stop by her blog to see what’s new.

More Russian doll links:

• Russian doll fabrics
• Russian doll jewelry galore
• Another cute necklace
• Rose Hip doll ornaments (love!) Beata, where do I get that striped cord?
• Russian dolls for your bed or wall.

*For more information about Feature Friday & the artists spotlighted, click here*

Photography in this post courtesy of Emily Moss

Is it Monday again?

I'm wrapping up an assortment of projects to clear my plate for August's design marathon.  I hope time slows down a bit for the next two weeks.  Elijah is starting junior high school and I'm - just - not - ready.  

Perhaps waiting for my new to birthday bike arrive will do the trick.  I haven't been this excited about a birthday present since I-can't-remember-when.  She's vanilla with pink rims, a rattan basket & a wooden rack -- my creamcycle cruiser.  With a drink cup and bell -- vrrink-vrrink.

And guess whose birthday was just yesterday? Laura. Laura of Lantern Bloom. I am mesmerized by her new fabrics. The mill did such a fabulous job recreating the moody depth of Laura's paintings;  it's hard to believe these are flat, smooth fabrics. Stretch one print across a canvas and it's instant wall art.

I'm so proud of her. Laura has developed a unique painting style over the years. One of the last things we did together before she moved away 4 years ago was experiment with textured canvasses. Now she's a master of texture. Laura has a collection of art prints heading to Crate & Barrel and a rich, new collection of fabrics as well.

Wish Laura a Happy Birthday, will you?  At a mere 2 weeks older, she paves the birthday way for me each year.  I hear birthday sirens sound long about July 26th, when it's time for Laura's slice of cake.  "Brace yourself, Heather, here it comes."  I ordered my bike today, so bring it on.

Watch for Laura's Lantern Bloom fabrics too -- definitely a collection to see in person.  You can even make out bits of canvas in some of the prints.

Personalized Pillows

Imagine coordinating all of your child’s bedroom pillows -- with some personalization to boot.  With Bella Marie's personalized pillows, you can.

Seamstress and Etsy shop-owner, Marie Villa, loves personalized items, as do her children.  To Marie, her name pillows are "the perfect projects to make that not only coordinate with a room's colors, but also personalize it at the same time.”

Marie used an assortment of Heather Bailey Freshcut fabrics for the “Emme Pillow” below. Other materials include a background fabric (Marie used a solid, pre-quilted fabric) Heat n' Bond™ Lite, stuffing, and lots of thread.

According to Marie, this is a simple design to make.  Each pillow takes about 2 hours to complete. "The letters are the only thing that can get tricky – but with practice you can get them just right."

Marie's pattern is from one of her favorite websites, www.youcanmakethis.com, for $6.95. However, if you don't have the skills nor the time to make your own customized pillows -- but you love homemade, you’re in luck.  Marie will make a custom one for you.  Contact Marie through her Etsy shop, Bella Marie Designs, to place your custom order.  Keep in mind, longer names such as Savannah can be fit onto a slightly longer pillow.

If you don’t have a little guy or girl in mind, Marie suggests a “Mom” pillow for mother’s day or a special “Grandma” pillow with grandchildren’s names hand-embroidered around the pillow's front.  For pillow inspiration, comb through Marie’s Flickr set here.

*For more information about Feature Friday & the artists spotlighted, click here*

Photography courtesy of Marie Villa.

A Worm Named Snowflake

We just returned from the best campout with my two brothers and their families.  Isaac set up a kitchen to feed an army, complete with stovetop, grill, wash tubs, canopy & a tank of water for clean up.  Fortunately for the rest of us, he also set up a hammock with its own canopy, so we could leisurely ooo & ahh at him while he cooked all of our meals -- almost.  Cooking is Isaac's favorite pastime on campouts.  I prefer laziness (fatigue-ziness really -- I'm not the best tent-sleeper), so it works out well all around.

We cooked, we ate, we sat about and we fished.  Then we repeated.  I haven't done that much sitting about for years. 

Best Fishing Tip:  If you're fishing to make memories for a pack of little kids, pick up a tub of live worms.  The worms will keep the younger kids engaged while the older kids have their turn at the poles.  By the time we left yesterday, all remaining worms were claimed & named.  Every child left happy as could be, fish or no fish.

Nothing like a bit of grime & a hot tent to help you appreciate a warm shower & clean sheets.  Works every time.  Camping is great that way.

Giveaway News:  Thank you to everyone who participated in my Store Giveaway Promotion from the June Newsletter. Congratulations to Jennifer Dessert for winning the stack of Freshcut fabrics & strawberry pincushion above. If you'd like to find out first about future giveaways, tutorials, products & company news, sign up for the Heather Bailey Newsletter here.

Lemon Drop & Other Fine Passwords

Not all witches have time to concoct a full spread of Harry Potter recipes, especially if they are short a house elf or two!  So for those of you who would like to delve into the world of Harry Potter without the chocolate-dipping and butterbeer-mixing, I've searched out a few easily-accessible, store-bought options for you.

Lemon Drops, Chocolate Frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans are my top choices for store-bought, trolley-worthy treats.  They can be enjoyed by first years and ministry wizards alike.  Honestly, I can't believe I found chocolate frogs with so little searching.  (See 'Where to Buy' list below.)

Another non-alcoholic beverage option includes Lemon Drop Soda.  Mix 2 parts sparkling water with 1 part Stirrings brand Lemon Drop Mixer, and give that Dumbledore a toast. 

If you prefer a lighter soda, reduce the Lemon Drop Mixer to your liking.  Isaac swears by the addition of a tablespoon of vanilla flavoring syrup.

Where to Buy
• Old-fashioned lemon drops - Pier One Imports.
• Chocolate Frogs - Pier One Imports or mold your own chocolate frogs.
• Every Flavor Beans - Jelly Belly brand jelly beans - your local grocer -- or for an authentic Bertie Bott's mix, including nasty flavors, such as vomit & ear wax, here are a few links: one, two, three.
• Stirrings brand Lemon Drop Mixer -- spotted this week at Pier One, World Market, and SuperTarget, or purchase online.
• Sparkling Water or Club Soda - your local grocer.

Now take your sugar high and do something good with it, like treat your kids to a movie or some broom-crafting, then come back home and crash-out. That's the way the sugar goes. I have some experience with this now. 

Next week, I'm off the broomstick, cauldron-less, and back in Little Winging, I swear.  Have a great weekend Harry Potter fans -- don't forget to brush your teeth.

• Cockroach Clusters recipe here.
• Butterbeer recipe here.
• Mini Broomsticks tutorial here.
• Chocolate Wands recipe here.

Swish, and Flick.

Chocolate wands are a Gryffindor favorite.  Even Dumbledore has been known to stash a few candy wands in his desk.  Young witches and wizards can use them to practice basic spells, then pause for a bite!  For a variety of wand ‘types’, have crushed cookies, nuts or sprinkles handy as options to roll freshly-dipped pretzels in. 

For this batch of wands, I first dipped pretzel rods in melted caramel.**  I then dipped each one in melted chocolate, and finished with a dappling of nuts.

For best results, melt caramel in a tall cylinder and dip pretzels carefully.  The taller the cylinder, the deeper you can dip the pretzels. Set freshly-dipped pretzels on parchment-covered cookie sheet till caramel has set.  Then dip chocolate in the same manner.  Once chocolate has partially set, roll dipped end in desired topping.

Package a few wands together in cello bags and personalize by tying with ribbon in your house colors.

**Alternatively, use flat sheets of caramel used in caramel-apple making.  Each caramel sheet comes sandwiched in parchment paper.  Cut sheets into strips while still lined with paper.  Then, peel off paper & wrap strips around end of pretzel rod.  I've seen caramel sheets in the produce section of several grocery stores -- but these might be seasonal.

• Cockroach Clusters recipe here.
• Butterbeer recipe here.
• Mini Broomsticks tutorial here.

The Three Broomsticks

Use these miniature Firebolts to add a bit of magical flair to your favorite Harry Potter party drink.  Or use the broom handles to skewer together any tasty morsels that threaten to scurry away on the dessert table.

Broomstick Picks

Materials Needed
Raffia
Wooden skewers
Colored embroidery floss
Brown thread

Tools
Sewing machine
Hot glue gun & glue
Scissors

1.  Gather small bunch of raffia – about 20 strands. Stitch bundled raffia together. (Seam is about 3/4" long.) Trim raffia to 5" wide, with seam centered.

2.  Place medium-size dot of hot glue to left of thread seam. Place the blunt end of skewer into glue, extending skewer about 1" past thread seam.

3.  Fold right half of raffia over skewer. Secure with glue or simply keep a hold on raffia till Step 4 is completed. 

4.  While holding raffia ends securely, wrap colored embroidery floss around broom bristles, about ½" from folded end of raffia. Wrap thread 3-4 times and secure with knot. Trim raffia to even out end of broom.

These brooms are surprisingly easy to make -- bookmark for next Halloween : )

• Cockroach Clusters recipe here.
• Butterbeer recipe here.

Bottoms Up, Butterbeer

Madam Rosmerta would agree that no wizard party is complete without a pint of freshly-brewed Butterbeer. With our house elf now missing, it took us quite a few iterations before we discovered the perfect potion for this usually overly-sweet concoction. A hint of ginger and the sweetness of butterscotch combine to create a delightful and refreshing non-alcoholic drink, capable of making even Severus Snape smile.

Butterbeer Recipe

12 oz. (one bottle) ginger beer
36 oz. (three bottles) cream soda
3 T butterscotch ice cream topping

Thoroughly chill unopened ginger beer and cream soda in refrigerator until icy-cold.  Refrigerate empty, glass pitcher as well.  Once beverages are chilled, in a small mixing bowl or tall glass, stir 1-2 oz. of cream soda into butterscotch topping till thoroughly combined.  Pour all remaining soda into chilled pitcher. Quickly add butterscotch mixture to pitcher.  Stir till just combined;  do not over-stir.  Pour over ice and serve immediately.  Serves 6.

For a frothy sparkle, dip the rim of each glass in corn syrup, pulling drips of syrup downward with a toothpick.  Then dip each glass rim in a mixture of colored sugar.  Before dipping, spread the corn syrup & sugar mixture each onto a separate, flat-bottomed plate.

For an old-world, textured effect, mix fine, yellow sugar with coarser, gold sugar.  Colored sugars are available at many grocery stores and craft chains.  The sugars shown here are both from Michael's.

Isaac & I went to a midnight showing of The Half-Blood Prince with friends last night.  It was amazing -- definitely my favorite HP movie so far -- BY FAR.  We were surrounded by eight packed theatres of screaming, costumed teenagers.  It was a sight.

• Cockroach Clusters recipe here.

Candy-Coated Roach Control

Don't look like a Muggle at the big Harry Potter movie premiere this week, snacking on Milk Duds and Raisinets.  Line your cloak with a proper wizard's feast of sugar munchies.  Start with every student's favorite, Cockroach Clusters. 

Our house elf, Floozy, has been working away all weekend to formulate the perfect Cockroach Cluster recipe, using only the finest Pecanese cockroaches.  With Floozy's polished recipe, the process is easy -- almost like making popcorn balls.

For a final touch, let a batch of greedy insects loose on your tray of hand-rolled popcorn balls and they'll crawl right into place and get stuck -- like magic. The hardest part is de-winging the little buggers while they're still wiggling, but you'll get the hang of it.

When Floozy threatened to rest her sticky fingers, we made her stay up an extra two hours to design candy tags for your homemade treats.  That'll teach her.  Click here to download a print-ready pdf of uniquely-appetizing Cockroach Cluster tags.

Spread the news around Hogsmeade and the floo network, I'll be posting magical recipes all this week.

Update:  About Floozy's sticky, sticky state.  No worries.  We had her wash up for the next recipe & gave her a clean, new apron to wear.

Oh shoot!  Oops -- no wonder I haven't seen her all morning.

Cockroach Clusters

Glazed Pecans

1 lb pecan halves
1/2 C light corn syrup
1 T butter
kosher or sea salt to taste

Directions:
Preheat oven to 200º. Coat baking sheet with butter-flavored cooking spray. Spread pecan halves in single layer on baking sheet. Toast in 200º oven for approx. 5 min. Remove pecans from oven and pour in mixing bowl. Set aside. Increase oven temperature to 300º. Re-coat baking sheet with cooking spray.

Melt butter in microwave. Add corn syrup & butter to pecan halves. Stir until pecans are evenly coated. With slotted spoon, remove pecan halves from bowl and place in single layer on baking sheet. Bake for approx. 15 minutes or until pecan glaze is brown and bubbly. Remove pecans and lightly sprinkle with salt. Allow to cool. Pecans should be prepared in advance of popcorn balls.

Popcorn Balls

18-20 C of popped popcorn
2 T butter
2 C sugar
1/2 tsp kosher or sea salt
1/2 C light corn syrup
1 1/3 cups water
1 tsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

Directions:
Pop popcorn in air popper -- or use plain microwave popcorn. Set aside. In medium sauce pan, combine butter, sugar, salt, corn syrup, water and vinegar. (The vinegar helps the sugar to reach a smooth consistency.) Cook on high until sugar mixture reaches hard-ball stage (approximately 255-265º). Remove saucepan from heat, then stir in vanilla and almond extract.

Quickly coat large mixing bowl and mixing spoon with butter-flavored cooking spray. Pour 18-20 cups of popped popcorn into the greased bowl.

Slowly pour sugar mixture onto popcorn, tossing as you go. Wait till mixture is cool enough to handle, but still very warm, then lightly form coated popcorn into 3" balls and place on wax paper.  Before popcorn balls cool, decorate with glazed pecans. It helps to have a second person to help add pecans while the popcorn mixture is still warm.

Holy cricket, these are tasty!

• Butterbeer recipe here.

Bead It, Kid

So, guess who made these necklaces?

Four-year-old Charlotte did this all by herself.  I thought I was embracing disaster by allowing her free access to several bins of beads while I worked on the computer today.  I was entirely wrong.

Not only did Miss C patiently string together all of these designs without my oversight, but she made them all symmetrical.  Even her most eclectic necklace doesn't miss a beat bead.  Hours and hours of necklace-making.  All I did was add the clasps.  And I bent a loop at the top of her one pendant.  That's it.

When I was four years old, my bottom dresser drawer was stocked with white paper, a stapler and staples.  I made all sorts of wild inventions with white paper that year.  And here I thought I had been tricky-stuff at four, with my paper robots and elephants.  Looks like Charlotte has 4-year-old me mightily whooped.

The moral:  Moms, Grandmas, Aunts and Alligators, let your kids have access to some of your precious supplies.  They may surprise you with tidiness and ingenuity!  I can only imagine what I would have done with real art supplies at that age.

Of course, they may surprise you with a royal disaster instead.  I've been there too -- many times.

Be-Spangled

There's been a lot of corn on the cob and swimming this weekend -- dental floss and sunscreen.  (Somehow, in there, I completed the illustrations for another sewing pattern too.)

Happy Fourth to the U.S. Let's hold tight to our freedoms.  Educate yourself (real, balanced, self-directed education -- not spoon-fed.)  Speak up when needed and don't just wait for election time.  That's not loud enough.  Fit it in.

And God bless the troops.  I don't know how they do it -- super powers? 

I'm grateful for the principles upon which this country was founded.  A favorite book of Isaac's, John Adams, was mentioned at election-time last year.  I've decided it will be my next read.  I know right where it is.

And, check out that sparkler of a hairdo Isaac did for Charlotte.  A daddy 'do.  I don't think I've ever wrapped three different colors in one motion.  Impressive.  Yep, I wasn't even in the room.

Next up, pattern testing/editing.  Today I'm taking 20 nickels to the nearest wishing well to wish for a skilled seamstress/writer to move in next door.  I hear there's a magic fountain at the mall, right below the escalator. 

Frozen Bozo

This photo cracks me up.  Can anyone guess what my concept was here?  That's right, it's a dessert interpretation of a 70s clown.  You're not afraid of clowns are you?

My new ice cream recipe from Father's Day this year is Double-Chocolate Banana Split ice cream, newly coined "Frozen Bozo," presented with a waffle cone hat, a cherry nose and a doily ruff.  It's interpretative.

The ice cream isn't just chocolate either.  It has bananas, cherries and brownies in it.  A fool-proof mix <3:o)

Also, I've drawn up a list of tutorials I'm eager to post. Without revealing the specifics, where would you like me to start:  jewelry, paper craft, sewing project, home decor?  Lots of plans.  What are you in the mood for first?

Frozen Bozo - Chocolate Banana Split ice cream

Chocolate Ice Cream Base
6 C. heavy cream
2.25 C. sugar
3 T. pure vanilla extract
3 C. milk or half 'n' half
16 OZ. bittersweet chocolate

Mix Ins
1 C. sliced bananas
1 C. maraschino cherries
2 C. chocolate chip brownies (prepare in advance, then
       cut into bite-size pieces and chill)

Prepare Ice Cream Base

Heat cream, sugar, vanilla, and half 'n' half mixture to near boiling. Meanwhile, heat bittersweet chocolate in microwave-safe bowl at 50% power for approx. 3-4 minutes, or until the chocolate is mostly melted. Remove chocolate from microwave and stir till all chocolate is melted. Next, remove cream mixture from heat and fold in melted chocolate. Stir until combined. Refrigerate mixture until thoroughly chilled.  Transfer chilled mixture to an ice cream maker and process following manufacturer’s instructions.

After ice cream has reached soft-serve consistency, place ice cream cylinder in freezer, or leave in ice cream maker (if there is still sufficient ice) to harden for about an hour. Meanwhile, prepare mix-in ingredients as directed below.

Mix-in the Good Stuff

Chill a large bowl by placing it in an ice bath, or in freezer. When ice cream has chilled for about an hour, scoop it into chilled bowl. Immediately add all mix-in ingredients and stir till just combined. Return ice cream to cylinder or a prepared container of your choice*. Place ice cream back in freezer to harden overnight.

*Try a new, food-safe paint can from your home improvement store, cleaned with bleach-water.

Enjoy!

I'll Get You, My Pretty.

In the spirit of summer picnics, I've added three colors of gingham to the variety show, in long and standard lengths:

She's No Picnic - Red Gingham
My Pretty - Blue Gingham
Check Please - Pink Gingham

And a pack of Red, White & Blue ties with a bonus 6th tie. 

As far as patriotism goes, this new multi-pack not only covers the USA, but also Australia, Great Britain, France, Iceland, and a number of other countries;  (did you know there are at least 11 countries with red, white, & blue flags?)  A great pack for back-to-school as well, especially if your kids wear school uniforms and are limited in their color choices for hair doo-dahs.  The Red White Blue multi-pack is only available through Labor Day though (Sept. 7th). The ginghams are available while supplies last.

I'm almost done typing up a new ice cream recipe too -- just in time for the outrageously-hot weather that rolled in this week.  If you're suffering through summer, definitely get an ice-cream maker.  They're great.  Of course, you might have to exercise extra, which may not be the best way to stay cool. Hm.

Red, White, and Blue All Over

 

June has been beautiful this year.  Normally it's breath-suckingly hot in June in Arizona.  We've been camping and canoeing, working in the yard, and eating outside at every chance. Being outdoors with my family more than usual this month has put me in a good place for the Fourth of July.  Something about the lush cornfields that surround us, the well-groomed campsites we've visited, and driving along the Mogollon Rim has me feeling patriotic. 
 
In the last month, I've seen a bald eagle nesting on top of a dead pine tree, 200 feet up, I've picniced in a field of wild strawberries and I've watched hundreds of Great Blue Herons dive for fish to feed to their hatchlings. 

If you ever camp in Arizona, make a point to visit the movie-perfect Woods Canyon Lake.  It's looks almost fake, it's so beautiful.

We have a few more campouts planned for the summer.  In prep, I've been working on some fun camping crafts, recipes and whatnot.  We whipped up a perfect blackberry grunt in our dutch oven that turned our teeth black -- as though we didn't feel mucky enough without black teeth.  But it sure was delicious.

I'm almost to the crest of the mountain with my design work too.  That place where things begin to glide.  Several projects now have enough stored, potential energy to self-propel when released.  Like a stretched spring. 

First, a little more stretching to do.  Burn baby burn.

It's looking like a great summer.

Black, White, and Read All Over

I always forget to post these things, but not today.

Check out the big ol' cover story in today's Arizona Republic newspaper -- on me.  In the article photos, I'm talking it up in my studio, one of those mid-sentence shots.  They wanted pictures of me working in my authentic environment.  However, the studio was clean when they came.  Yes, I insisted on messing up my desk -- authentically.

Another big article I never mentioned was a feature on me and my mother over at Creating Keepsakes last month - for mother's day.  My mom is a funny writer.  You should at least read her interview if not both of ours.  Click the 'next' button to read through each page of the combined interviews (there are 5 pp. total).

Sending out the June newsletter momentarily.  Any minute now.  It's like 5 blog-posts worth of good stuff.  That's right.  Then back to the sewing pattern I'm designing -- and loving.

(Sign up for the newsletter here if you like.  But hurry.)

Scruff n Stuff

Bobbin is in heat. In the heat.  Not so fun. But, she has a fresh haircut and a bow in her hair, so that's something.  We can all relate.

I get regular requests for dog updates.  Pupdates.  Bobbin and Pixel are now 1 year old, and even more fun -- and surprisingly more cute than they were as puppies.  Like swans.  To the left is their photo from last July.  And here they are now, below.  Ya, what's that about?  Puppies are supposed to be cuter than grown dogs. 

I'm not complaining though.  Not only are these guys prettier now, but they've burrowed a soft spot for themselves in our family. 

That Bobbin has already earned her halo.  She will put up with anything.  I'll keep my camera ready for her next fashion show, boxy castle home, choo choo train ride, or ribbon parade. 

Pixel still wears his heart on his scruff.  He's just as floppy and eager as ever.  He manages to stay clear of Charlotte's narratives by virtue of his gender alone.

Some Other Stuff
• Woven.  You must see Laura's new fabric line, Lantern Bloom.  It was a huge hit at Market, with its own unique style and edgy approach.  I've been meaning to do a post, but am in the thick of pattern-writing and post-travel recovery.  Call this a pre-post blurb.  Watch for Laura Gunn prints at Crate & Barrel too.
• Curious.  It appears I've been written a public request to stop writing patterns, blogging & such.  All I have to say is, "An apple a day..."
• Experimental.  We just got a dutch oven.  We're taking it camping with us this summer.  I'll share recipes.  Or shall I call them experiments?
• Fattening.  We're working on a new Father's day ice cream recipe today.  I'll share that too.  Don't forget to try my Strawberry Pretzel Dessert ice cream.  It'll be a challenge to top that one.
• Fun.  We're sending out our second newsletter next week featuring a craft project how-to, new Trash Ties colors, an introduction to Emily & Lindsay, a newsletter-only store promotion -- and a giveaway.  Sign up for the newsletter here if you want to be included.

Shredded

I just counted and we own a total of 13 rolling office chairs.  That's a lot of office chairs.  Of course, the one I prefer at the moment is shredded and hideous.  It's the ugliest chair of the bunch.

My neck and arm are all out-of-whack from trotting all over NYC with two heavy bags.  This chair holds me together best.  It's a bit out-of-place in my studio though.  So, today, I'm slip-covering it. 

No big style-ambition this time.  I'll be glad to take it from hideous to mediocre.

Yep, that's exposed foam in the back there.

Plumpness

Have I mentioned it's great to be back home?  With an expanding roster of help around the studio, we're starting to get caught up, even ahead, on some projects.  Rachel and Lindsay spent a day or two just putting together a plump stock of Strawberry Pincushion Kits, after finishing up the Flutterby Flip-Book Kits.  Emily has kept everything else plugging along.  Being ahead is great.  I highly recommend it. 

So, back to The Giveaway.  What a variety of first sewing projects!  I've been reading comments all day. 

1.  Congratulations Lindsay Brown!  Random picked you for the big giveaway.  Lindsay won a Freshcut scrap bag, a HB sewing pattern of her choice, and a Flutterby Flip-Book Kit.  Here's what Lindsay wrote.

    "Hi Heather!!! Let me start out by saying I am an ENORMOUS fan!!  I just completed 2 projects for my girls.  I made a pillowcase dress with the Lime Paisley and I made my youngest daughter the matching capris.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of your fabrics!!  Thanks for posting this!!"

2.  Random also picked the lucky Shannon / lilyhaven who wrote,

    "Holy cow! 975 comments already! ... My first sewing project was a tiered skirt for my then 3-year-old daughter.  I was so proud of myself!  I wanted to sew for years and years and finally broke down and tried.  I've been addicted ever since.  I can't wait to see your new fabrics!!!" 

I'll be sending Shannon a Freshcut scrap bag, along with a pack of HB ribbons.

 3.  Then, for AndieBee, who apparently barely survived her first sewing experience, I'm sending a Strawberry Pincushion Kit, along with a copy of my Fresh Picked Pincushions sewing pattern.  AndieBee wins just for surviving -- and for calling me "cupcake."  Here's what AndieBee wrote.

    "Hi cupcake! My very first sewing project EVER in life: I was three and hangin' out with my Momma while she was making something-probably a dress or short set for me. She got up from her incredibly snazzy Singer machine in the wood cabinet to do "something", so I climbed up on her chair for a better view. Momma always held the pretty colorful straight pins in her mouth as she took them out to sew. I decided to help take them out while she was away...of COURSE I put them in my mouth just like her. And OF COURSE I swallowed one of those bad boys!! LOL

    "All I remember of the rest of that day was having to drink something icky and Momma monitoring my potties! Apparently it all came out okay, since I don't remember having to go to the hospital. ;O)  I picked sewing back up again when I was about 8 or 9, when Momma got tired of making Barbie clothes, and I've been sewing since."

Ladies, send me your addresses. 

Thanks everyone for participating -- and for the blogiversary hoopla.  I'm loving being back home and back to blogging, tweeting, etc.  Thanks for sticking around while I was away through May.

...which reminds me, there's something special posted for @TrashTies followers over on Twitter : )

And, speaking of plumpness, check out this blog, with it's cheeky background image.  Bacon-infused waffles?  I'll be taking my camera with me next we go out to the fair.

Giveaway, Oh Giveaway

I don't even know where to begin with all of the adventures I went on this month.  I may have to grant myself a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card and skip immediately past Go -- at least till I'm caught up on some design projects.

This weekend I went through the first round of strike-offs for my next fabric collection.  Gah!  I normally wouldn't mention strike-offs because, really, it will be months before the fabrics are available.  But, gah!  They're gorgeous.  I'm ready to fly over to the mill and screen the prints myself if it will speed things up.  I'm dying to sew with this fabric. 

See, now I feel better, and you feel worse.  Which is why I normally don't say anything.  But, that's what I'm working on today. And that's where my brain is.

I'm also thinking about a giveaway to celebrate my blogiversary.  It's been 3 years now.  So, how does this sound for a prize?

• Freshcut Scrap Bag (in 1/4yd-1/2yd pieces)
• Sewing Pattern (your choice)
• Flutterby Flip-Book Kit

Leave a comment, telling us what your first sewing project was -- or if you don't sew, what your first sewing project might be -- or if you don't plan to sew, why not!?  Or your favorite remedy for puffy eyes.  I don't know, tell us something interesting.  Or just say, 'Hi.'  That works too. 

I'll let this go through Thursday night MST, then hand it over to the Random Number Generator for an edict. 

I may hand out a couple of extra giveaways too.  I tend to do that.

The photos?  Some shots from my weekend in Pittsburgh.  What a beautiful city!

In Limited Supply: album kits, fabric... patience

It is refreshing to be home again.  Not only to sleep in my own bed and hug on my little kids (of course), but now I can start scratchin' at those irresistibly- itchy projects I sketched up while I was away.  Here and there, at least.  First, I have some emails and interviews to complete, as well as some fabric strike-offs to sort through (yes, round one is in the house!).

So, check out my Flutterby Flip-Book mini album.  I used an old-fashioned wooden clothespin for the butterfly body.  A variety of cardstock wings make up the album's many pages, with a sprinkling of flowers and miniature butterflies thrown in for good measure.  The perfect album for celebrating a special event, a summer-load of activities, a new baby, a birthday, quirky kid-drawings, etc.

This is the workshop I taught at Inspired in North Carolina this month -- the stinkin' cutest-est album ever.  We kitted up some extra albums, with full-on illustrated instructions included, so you can make an album too if you like. (Or maybe set up your kids or grandkids with a kit -- gotta keep those children engaged over the summer.  My two have been squabbling all day.)  So, if you're interested, hop on over to the HB store.  Limited supply!  When they're gone, they're gone. 

Freshcut™ is in the same boat too.  Free Spirit's warehouse is plum out of my Freshcut collection now.  We received our last supply.  Though the demand for that collection never subsided, the supply certainly now has, so last call for Freshcut!  Heck, here's a discount while you're at it.  Use the code "AlmostGone" through June 1st for 10% off any fabrics from my Freshcut collection.  We'll all sigh as it trickles away.

And this week is my blogiversary again -- three years now.  I'll put together some sort of giveaway, so stay tuned for that. 

I'm off to dig myself up an urgent dose of Tylenol.  My kids aren't used to being around each other all day.  It's adjustment time -- for all of us.

Hat-Flower Heaven

How long has it been?  Thank heaven for Twitter.  I've been on the road for the last 9 days, in Pittsburgh, Ohio & New York, hopping from one meeting to the next.  My dad met up with me in the middle there and we toured around his childhood neighborhoods and mine.  I lived near Pittsburgh till I was 4 or 5 and in Ohio till I was 8.  It was every bit as beautiful as I remember, or more so.  In most places, our next-door neighbors still lived there (wild).  I have a lot to share.  I can't wait to get back home and sort through the photos and stories.

Yesterday, between meetings in NY, I stopped by Tinsel Trading Co. on 37th -- vintage hat flower heaven!  I have some fun projects in store for this jackpot.  Another reason to get home soon. 

So, after a quick stop by Purl Patchwork, and some other SoHo favorites this afternoon, I'll make my way to LaGuardia, then home.  It's been a great trip, but I'm ready to be back with my family and back to my list of to-dos.  We have some big things in store this summer.

A New Laptop & Free Internet at the Airport

Posting on the road.  I'm sitting in the Charlotte airport waiting for my plane to board.  I'm at once disappointed to leave Inspired just as the main event kicks off, and excited to meet up with the Creative Escape team at Bazzill for a weekend of group crafting. 

With all of my jogging this way and that this week, I've grown seriously more attached to having an assistant.  (Two now.  We welcomed Lindsay to our team last week -- just in time to wrap up our kits for Inspired.  I'll introduce Lindsay more officially when I'm not racing against my departure time -- & I have a photo of her.)  It is so nice to get emails telling me where to go & when.  Here's your confirmation #.  Donna will pick you up at 7:00.  Meeting at this time.  Dinner at that time.  Turn right.  Turn Left.  Do 20 jumping jacks.

This saves a surprising amount of brain power, which can then be budgeted toward other activities.  Budgeting your Brain Power by Heather Bailey.  Get it now.

I had a great trip to Charlotte.  Loved the fog.  All of my flutterby flip-book students motored right through their projects.  I spent my break-time chatting with two women who drove four hours or so (each way) just to take my one hour workshop.  (Hi Lisa & Heather!)   I also met a sweet little girl for whom my workshop was a surprise present for her 8th birthday.  (Happy Birthday, Olivia!)  Olivia's mom and she set aside time every Thursday evening to make projects together -- isn't that great!?! 

Yesterday evening was spent talking Trash (Ties) with dozens more women.  We did hair and laughed and chatted.  It was great, giggly fun.  The dozens of Trash Ties we packed were gobbled up like cotton candy at a carnival.  Licked clean.

Then, last night, when it was time to pack in as much sleep as I could before heading out west for round two, my dern book got inconveniently exciting.  Could have had another hour of sleep if it were not for imminent danger, a surprise wedding and a sexy, first kiss.

That's the brief.  Time to hop on a plane.

Flit & Flutter

I'm bouncing all over the place this week.  By Tuesday night, I'll be in Concord, North Carolina again for Donna Downey's Inspired Artist event.  While there, I'll be teaching a mini-workshop on Thursday called The Flutterby Flip-Book for which my team has been kitting supplies all week.  Around the studio, stacks of Heather Bailey papers are shuffled together with some beautiful solids from Bazzill Basics.  And we're surrounded by bowls and tubs of colorful ribbons, flowers, clothespins, rhinestones, butterflies, and brads.  Bowls of candy. 

Cutest paper project!  Can't wait to show you. (We'll post some extra kits to the Heather Bailey Store later this week.)  If you're in North Carolina, come see me.  Here's where you can sign up for the last couple of seats in the 1pm class.  The 12pm class is completely sold out.

Let's see, there are some Trash Ties workshops late Thursday night as well (at Donna's irresistible urging).  We'll probably be somewhat loopy by 10pm, so I'm expecting more of a giggly, slumber-party-like setting than anything else.  Everyone in the class is getting two sets of Trash Ties and I'll be spending the hour teaching how-tos and demonstrating hairstyles. I hear there are a few more spaces available in the 9pm & 10pm classes.  If you're in NC, sign up!  I'd love to meet you.  Here's the workshop schedule where you can get your tickets.  Scroll down to the time-slot you're interested in (both are on 5/7), then click the blue & orange 'buy' button to read more about the class.

On Wednesday, before the workshops, I'll be at the Free Spirit headquarters in Charlotte, discussing fabric, hush puppies, high school (Jeff, the Sales Manager went to the same high school as I - small world), whatever comes up.  It's mostly a social visit.  Always fun. 

Friday, I'll fly back out west to attend a preview weekend for next summer's Creative Escape event.  I'll be crafting along with Heidi Swapp, Tim Holtz, Debby Shuh, and the other Creative Escape teachers while we preview our classes to each other and the entire volunteer staff.  There should be some fun dinners in there too, I think. 

Come Saturday night, I expect to flop into bed like an eggy crepe.  

Perhaps my kids will pour some syrup on top on Sunday morning -- a smoochy reunion.  Isaac's always good at heading up some sort of kid-made breakfast-in-bed for Mother's Day as well.  I dream of fuzzy slippers and chocolate.