
I'm
back. I know I never mentioned that I was leaving, but you figured
that out, right? I spent a week in Houston at Quilt Market with my
sew-good friends. Laura,
Isaac's sister, flew in to assist me and we had more fun than two
people should on a business trip. I met Laura 16 years ago, when I
first met Isaac. We're two weeks apart in age and are good, good
friends. More on Laura later -- or earlier. She tends to pop into
posts regularly around here.
My new sewing patterns are now available wholesale to retailers. We've built some amazing new systems to support our wholesale program, including an online ordering system. We were at Market to introduce that program and my sewing patterns to the sewing/quilting industry. I can't say what a thrill it is to have such robust systems in place. Now I can really go to town on design, while Tara and Rachel keep order-delivery running smoothly.
I came home to the Halloween rush and a week of Fall activities. We barely fit pumpkin-carving in for all of the parties and events going on. However, carving your pumpkins on Halloween day does mean they're fresh and spritely for trick-or-treating -- especially when the weather's been in the mid-90s all week. My jack-o-lantern has eyelashes and cheeks and Elijah gave his a friendly uni-brow.
I'm excited to be back. I've got my kids under my wing, my home mostly back together and a mind full of projects to get started on.











I must be blind as a bat - it took me ages to see the 'who is lulu' at the bottome of your post! I was a bit baffled by the title of your post until then! Perhaps I shouldn't have admitted that....
I've been meaning to ask - is there a flickr group for things made using your patterns?
Posted by: georgia | November 02, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Wonderful to hear you had such a good time in Houston! Wonder what your next projects will be. The things you make always make me feel good, due to the colors and little details you use.
Posted by: simone | November 03, 2008 at 01:53 AM
I was so excited to meet you at Market. Your business success is a real inspiration. Congratulations on the launch of your new wholesale systems.
Posted by: Cicada Studio | November 03, 2008 at 04:25 AM
I loved meeting you at Quilt Market, also. It was an amazing, incredibly overwhelming experience!! Thanks for sitting with me and helping me put a few things together! I can hardly wait to get the fabric!! Have a great day!
Posted by: Sarah Galbraith | November 03, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Great to read you again Heather--it is always a relief to get those back-end systems running smoothly. :) Enjoy your designing!!!
Posted by: Audrey | November 03, 2008 at 06:33 AM
With all of the craziness at our house we didn't carve pumpkins until after school on Friday and even then one of the twins opted for paint markers instead of actually cutting into his pumpkin! (Very unlike him but he didn't want to take off his Boba Fett costume to do any carving.LOL!) Fortunately, his sister decided she had to open her pumpkin up and scoop it out! So we still had pumpkin seeds to munch on while the candy was distrubuted.
It was nice to have 'fresh' jack-o-lanterns on the front porch with us instead of a couple of severely over-ripe.
Just worked out perfectly!
Posted by: Katherine M | November 03, 2008 at 06:37 AM
As a fellow it-was-in-the-90s-last-week neighbor, I will just say that I gave up on the carving of pumpkins when my kids left home. Congratulations on getting it down on Halloween. I have a few not-so-fresh memories of jack-o-lanterns carved a bit too early.
Is LuLu the imaginary owner of your antique pillow?
Posted by: Mary | November 03, 2008 at 06:59 AM
I have to confess that this year is the first year in a very long time that I did not get a chance to carve my pumpkin. In the past 7 years or so I would do about 6 large ones and 6 small for the steps, but I had so much going on there just wasn't time.
The boys had fun anyway and did not gripe too much about the uncarved pumpkin. Maybe we will just do it for the toasted seeds.
Getting life back after shows is always difficult. I myself took a break this year from Surtex and Licensing and I am not sure if I will do it again next year. I find my time with my family is more precious and when the boys are both in school together full time I may go back but for now its a nice break.
Enjoy being home with the family and get some much needed rest!
Posted by: ellen Crimi-Trent | November 03, 2008 at 07:05 AM
LOVE LULU's new digs!! All that gorgeous color and pattern and the ruffles! Glad it all went well at quilt market.
Posted by: Laney | November 03, 2008 at 07:07 AM
Heather,
Glad you had fun at market, I had a moment of boo-hoo for me for not going after seeing everyone's pictures posted. I love Lulu's new home. Have a great week!!
Nadine
Posted by: Nadine Woodraska | November 03, 2008 at 08:30 AM
Hi Heather - It is always fun to see your own initials in print or stitch! I have been reading your blog for ages but not plucked up the courage to comment yet, but today had my name on it!! Thanks for all the blogging inspiration, gorgeous photos, cool hair thingies and helpful sister-in-law.
I have just started selling your Trash Ties in the UK and they are going down well!
Thanks again - love Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy Wallis | November 03, 2008 at 09:06 AM
Someday I will have the appropriate credentials to come to Quilt Market. Instead I had to settle for the Quilt Show this weekend. Still fun but I don't get to meet nearly the same number of fabulous ladies! I hope Houston treated you well.
Posted by: Sarah | November 03, 2008 at 09:19 AM
You've got my favorite Mother Goose book on the bedside table. I love the illustrations.
Posted by: diane | November 03, 2008 at 10:02 AM
This picture is pure eye candy! LOVE the mirror - and the pillows..you are just so creative!
Posted by: Amber | November 03, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Beautiful room! I love the colors!
Posted by: pretty penny designs | November 03, 2008 at 12:12 PM
That is gorgeous new digs! Your fabrics and design sense are just perfect.
Glad you had fun at Market!
Posted by: Mellissa - Wondermommy | November 03, 2008 at 02:32 PM
What a gorgeous room! I love all the beautiful colors. Great job!!!
Posted by: Laurie | November 03, 2008 at 02:55 PM
We unfortunately carved our pumpkins on the Sunday before Halloween. In NORMAL years that would have been OK since we're 20 degrees colder than we were this year! So our pumpkins were all shriveled and disgusting by Hallowee. Oh Well, it was the only time all the kids could get together and that's most important. I mean the bonding moments when we're up to our elbows in pumpking guts! you can find the pick on Halloween day at basicallyquilting.blogspot.com
Posted by: D2Quilter | November 03, 2008 at 03:41 PM
Love the entire room, can't wait to hear all about the market......details please;)
Posted by: Susana Avilez | November 03, 2008 at 10:38 PM
This is just too gorgeous! I always get so inspired by your fantastic photo's. I have recently started selling fabrics from your Pop Garden line, and simply love creating things with them! Good luck with all your new projects!
Posted by: Noor van Krimpen | November 04, 2008 at 02:55 AM
Congratulations on your wholesale venture! It's really great that you get to focus on your designing =)
I love the tale of Lulu Wiggins, also - I've been visiting your site for quite a while now but haven't noticed that before. Go, Aunt Lulu!
Posted by: Emily | November 04, 2008 at 05:20 AM
The photo is beautiful and so are the pillows. I remember your Lulu Wiggins post from a while back so I recognized the small pillow right away.
Have a nice day.
Posted by: Lisa from celebrate CREATIVITY | November 04, 2008 at 05:12 PM
That takes my breath away it's so gorgeous!!! The light in your house is amazing and seems to go hand in hand with your fabrics... it's stunning really!!
xo~Amelia
Posted by: amelia | November 05, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Hi Heather,
I started following your blog a few days ago and I love it. I really love your sense of style and color combinations. I was wondering what inspires you and how do you put the combinations together without them looking too... 'clown-y' lol.
Thanks.
B.
Posted by: Bassma Phillips | November 05, 2008 at 02:28 PM
So glad you're back! I just love Lulu's room--I want to live there. Which is why, of course, I read your blog, so I can "live" in your world just a little bit. My 12 year old boy probably wouldn't dig a room like that. Nor would my husband. So here I am in boy land, trying to get by! Thanks for your help!
Posted by: Kelley Hart | November 05, 2008 at 07:05 PM
Love that room! pretty colours and you are very talented photographer and designer. Artistic person and inspired me so much!
Posted by: Alviana | November 10, 2008 at 01:25 AM
What booth were you at... I was hoping to meet some of my favorite designers- I didn't see you there.
Posted by: Robyn | November 16, 2008 at 01:56 PM
That's so beautiful!!!
Posted by: cynthia eslault | August 09, 2009 at 05:19 AM
A colorful room with a beautiful and colorful cot!!!Looks like rainbow!!
Posted by: Business Process Analysis Training | December 05, 2009 at 03:21 AM