HELLOmynameisHeather

Redintegrated Fluff

Wow, thank you for the well-wishes.  I would be glad to put together a pattern for that quilt if I could find a snippit of time to spare.  It might be far more immediate to just mimic it this time.

So, guess who found me last week -- a woman who interviewed me for Trash Ties years ago for a now-defunct web magazine.  We met at the Fairfax High Flea Market -- the very first day I ever sold Trash Ties.  It wasn't a craft-fair- type Flea Market either; it was a true junker.  I was completely out of place. I had a booth full of all sorts of fancy, hand-made things -- hats, baby clothes, jewelry, etc.  At the very corner of one of my tables sat a bowl full of Trash Ties, each set wrapped with a cheap, photocopied label.  One small bowl. 

That bowl had to be replenished many times throughout the day.  And well before the day was through, I sold out of the Trash Ties completely.  I hardly sold anything else.  Hundreds of dollars in hair thingies, I knew I had struck gold.  Those Trash Ties were then hidden-up until the provisional patent paperwork was submitted.  That was the same day I met Scott Williams, the Head Hairdresser for Dharma & Greg at the time, who later helped me on many occasions - for free.  Such a godsend.  Oh, and Kathy Najimy bought some Trash Ties that day -- one of those "odd, somewhat-meaningless celebrity encounters" I've alluded to.  Do you guys even know who she is? 

Anyhow, Jennifer -- that's her name --  found me through someone else's blog, read the words,"Trash Ties," and ding! (a light in her mind and a new email in my inbox).  She reminded me of our Flea Market meet-up and a lunchtime interview at a floral shop cafe on La Brea.  Gosh, she even remembered where I'm from. 

Whoa!  Have you ever heard the word, redintegration?  This is one of Isaac's favorite big-shot words.  In layman's terms, I'd say it's when one memory opens doors to many more. That email brought on some serious redintegration.  The floral shop, The La Brea bakery a few doors down, the nearby fabric store, the bomb-scare at the grocery store, Scott Williams' stories of being a straight, fat, curly-haired British guy (now very much thin, bald, American and gay) and so on.  Oh, it goes on. 

I love emails like that.  Just another glimpse at the inter-connectedness of it all, and moreover, the reach of the internet.   

I was also contacted by one of Isaac's old work buddies this week, Mike.  I don't think I ever met Mike, but I sure heard his name a lot.  (Yes, this brought on a bit more redintegration, but nothing monumental or even very interesting.)  So, why do I tell you about Mike?  Well, Mike found the URL for that live video of me from a couple of posts ago.  So, if you hurry, maybe you can still watch the segment before its cleared off ABC's server.  Thanks, Mike!

Oh, and thank you, Typepad for featuring my blog this week.  Whoever writes those features makes every blog sound amazine.  Oops, amazing.  But, Amazine would be a great zine name, wouldn't it?

The flower photos?  Just something pretty I had kickin' around.  Flowers go great with memories.

One Apple Down

Guess what today is -- my blogiversary.  Yay!  And no standard cupcake photo will do.  Why not an apple?  That makes sense.  A party apple.  Sure. 

Now just watch me make sense of it with this next photo.  See that bitten apple? -- one year down.  And those other apples ?-- more years to come.  Now that sounds poetic.  Nevermind I took the party apple photo today and the quilt photo months ago.  I got the urge to carve a "1" in an apple and I went with it.

Do you remember when I sent this quilt top off to be quilted?  Here's the result.  One tease fulfilled, how many more to go? 

I designed this quilt as my first go at the Freshcut free quilt pattern for Free Spirit's site.  I love the large fields of fabric, with little pops of red mixed in.  I didn't think a photo of this quilt would translate too well at low res on the internet, so I folded it up and designed a different one for Free Spirit.  Thank heaven too, because the flat photo of the quilt (below) doesn't do it justice.  The colors are all wonky.  This apple photo is much more kind to the fabrics.

Oh, and look up.  Way up.  I'm watching you now.  Dare I be so bold as to put my own face in the banner?  How many ways can one say, "HELLO, my name is Heather," with a photo?  Well, that's one sure way to say it.  Hello, it's me.

Now for the requisite profundity that accompanies all blogiversaries... just a dash...

Wow, what fun!  The blog.  A conversation with the world.  A great escape.  A meeting place for destined friends.  A window in...

I have yet to hang curtains in the main living area of my home.  There are no blinds there either.  Almost every time my mother visits, she wonders at my ability to live with "the world watching."  I assure her that if my neighbors are bored enough to watch me make dinner, then I'm happy to be their entertainment.  I guess a blog can be similar.  I show up fully-dressed and respectably-behaved and if folks want to see what I'm up to, then I'm happy to share.

Far better, I've made some amazing friends and been granted some incredible opportunities.  It's true, you never know who's reading. 

To all of you, announced or lurking, thank you for stopping by.  Thank you for your encouragement and support.  Thank you for peeking in my little window while I make marshmallows, knot thread and blow bubbles.  Even the simplest things are more fun when shared with friends -- this includes carved apples.

xo--Heather

Taped & Bound

Ooo, scandalous!  Maybe too scandalous-sounding.  Hmmm. 

But, nothing fishy's happening -- just a behind-the-scenes peek at yesterday's Trash Ties photoshoot.  Yes, I still need to tell you all about my hair accessory invention.  I won't forget.  I'm launching them at CosmoProf in two months and I'll do a tell-all post or three.  The plan is to put together a Trash Ties website with tons of photos and videos to explain them fully. 

True, there's not much hair-accessorizing to see in these photos.  That was on purpose : )  I don't want you to know what Trash Ties can do until I've nailed down the manufacturing.  (Cuz once you see them in action, you're going to go NUTS.  And I can't handle that just yet.  July, hopefully.)  Do any of you have amazing manufacturing contacts - US, Mexico, anywhere?  We have a couple of manufacturing guys sourcing things, but boy is it a slow process.  Yawn. 

Isaac took a beautiful photo for a full-page ad in the CosmoProf guidebook.  And, the wrapped ribbon comes across perfectly friendly-like in the finished shot.  Think conceptually -- getting caught up in Trash Ties.  It's more of a tangle.  I'll show you the final picture this summer -- it's powerful and dramatic.

I know, I keep doing that.  Teasing.  It's not on purpose.  I just want to post about what' s going on.  At some point, the dam will break and there'll be a deluge of new fabrics, sewing patterns, hair accessories and more.

And about that video clip...

I don't have a specific book in the works.  Patterns first.  The book thing is just on my list for the coming year.

Sonoran Living

Yay!  I did it.  Live TV.  Of course, I forgot to bring a camera, so all I have is this goofball shot from my cell phone.  But, hey, it works.  They already have the segment up on the internet.  Now you guys can see how tired I look from many near-all-nighters this week (fabrics, fabrics, fabrics). 

I was their featured "mom-preneur."  The set was surprisingly mellow and everything was easy-peasy.  I've always loved the hubbub of film and tv.  I wanted to get in there and start wheeling cameras around, then have my shot at that teleprompter.  How do those things work, anyhow?  Fun, fun.

So here's what to do.  Follow this link and then look for the scroll-box on the right.  Select the clip called, "5/15 Sonoran Living Segment 5."  And there I am.  Then, come back and shout, "Huzzah!"

Go easy on me.
xo--Heather

5/19 Update:  It looks like the video is now offline.  I'll contact the station and see if there's any way to post it directly on my blog.  I'll let you know if I hear anything.

5/25 Update:  Oh, look, it's still on ABC's server.  Here's the link.

Playing with Pins

Looking for a sewing pick-me-up?  How about a new pincushion.  The new Summer 2007 issue of Quilts and More sports a pincushion pattern written by moi.  Aren't they cute?  And so simple.

They also did a feature on me.  Blush, blush. They asked fun questions, like "What's on your iPod?" and "What's your ideal day?"  A very comfortable interview.

Yes, there have been all sorts of 'secret' projects I haven't been able to share.  So, I've got to make a big splash of them once they come out of hiding, like this pattern.  Hence, the parade of photos.  See, I've been doing stuff.

So, go get my little pattern and cover the world in pincushions.  They make great presents too.

Ha!

Oh ya:  Local folks (Arizona), I'm going to be on TV tomorrow -- Sonoran Living.  I think it's on ABC -- sometime in the morning.  It'll be live ; )

Market

This is my favorite bouquet of all time -- peonies with those yellow ball- thingies mixed in.  When I left town, the peonies were electric pink.  Now they're a romantic white.  I hope I age as gracefully.

I had a blast at Quilt Market.  I met up with my new Westminster family and was charmed by their vision for Free Spirit.  Days were packed with new friends and big discussions.  Evenings were busy with fancy dinners, even bigger discussions and a peppering of giggles. 

Ms. Purl, Joelle Hoverson, has a book on the way - watch out!  Amy's having bags made.  Anna's in the rug business.  Sandi's getting fabric going.  Lots of energy.  And, thank heaven for that, as I slept a total of 10 hours over three nights.  Yikes. 

Thoroughly Modern Millie had me in tears -- twice.  And it's not a sad story.  Darn that frantic jazzy dancing.  My feet tapped all the way through dinner with Holly and company. 

I'm glad to be home, on the other side of a long string of commitments, de-mucking from the photoshoot and gathering strength for a final push on my next fabric line.  I am amazed and honored by the enthusiasm I received from sales reps, quilt shops and sewers this weekend.  I guess there were a few months there where Freshcut was hard to get.  The transition to Westminster threw a few kinks in the system and a majority of shops who ordered Freshcut months ago are just now receiving the line.  So much newness and excitement.

In fact, in one wave of gittiness, wrapping quilts around ourselves and posing for snapshots, we knocked over a heavy wooden pillar which clocked me in the foot.  How does a quarter-inch wound yield a 5" bruise?  Ah, the mysteries of life.

Give Away the Pattern Instead, Right?

Ay, ay, ay.  What a week!  What...a...week.  I just wrapped up a big ol' beautiful photoshoot with an amazing magazine around 10pm tonight, not including time to unpack a-dozen-or-so tupperwares filled with goodies and supplies. 

Unpacking will have to wait though (sorry, honey), as it's time for me to go pack my suitcase for Spring Market.  My flight leaves in a just a few hours.  What am I doing blogging at the expense of much-needed sleep?  Good question. I'll think about that tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to sitting still on a plane.  And I'm sneaking off to the Theatre on Saturday.  Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Yep.  I'll get to sit still for that too.

While I'm gone, have at this free quilt pattern (follow link, then click "Download" under the quilt photo).  I should have posted about it a while ago.  It's the one I put together for Free Spirit.  I had fun laying out the instructions.  Heck, I had fun making the quilt. 

I'd like to make a big version too.  To keep.  Most of the quilts in my arsenal are ancient.  And not good-ancient.  More like high-school-ancient.  I have a bad habit of giving new quilts away.  Do they make a patch for that?