HELLOmynameisHeather

Phew! & Far Between

Back for one day.  Now off to Los Angeles to meet with the _______ company to discuss a new collection of _______.  I have several meetings with other manufacturers & suppliers lined up for various projects I'll be designing in the coming year.  I always love to visit L.A.  We lived in Hollywood for a number of years & I'm still attached.  Can't wait to get a Martha dog at Pink's! 

Quilt Market was a fantastic whirlwind.  Thank you to all of you kind folks who stopped by for a Hello.  Such a supportive & charming industry to take part in.  Lots of new fabric shops opening up, lots of fresh energy for sewing, lots of excitement for my new collections too.  In fact, I have the coolest slideshow all ready for you, but have to postpone another week or so, as I'm already a couple hours late getting out the door.

Oh, and we're getting a puppy next week!  (Don't tell my kids.)  We have our pick of a litter of 7 Miniature Schnauzers.  Isaac made that call.  He researched which breeds were most hypo- allergenic (he gets bad allergies) & super smart and of good temperment.  I'm going with the flow.  We'll most likely get a female, but I'm not sure yet. Last time we visited them, they were still too small to see their personalities very well.  I'd love your take on names.  She/He will be grey & the breed is from Germany.  Gretel?  Bobbin?  Griselda?  I definitely prefer a non-human name.  And funny is good.  I have a list going somewhere.

Thanks, friends.  I'll try to blog on the road, if possible.  And, I'm serious about the dog name suggestions.

Hello, Goodbye

So, off I go to Portland!  I'll be debuting two new fabric collections which I'm absolutely itching to share with you.  I'll be back early next week with the full, colorful release.  Then there's some more big stuff in the month to follow.  You'll see ; )

If you're heading to Quilt Market this week, come visit me at the Westminster/Free Spirit booth.  I'll show you what I've been up to --

64 new fabrics!

I like it a lot

My kids are the best appreciators.  Both of them.  They have their foibles, but they know how to appreciate a handmade present.  I like this.  I'm not sure how we got there, but I like it a lot.

My mom made a sweet little blanket for Chloe, with help from Chloe's big sister, Haley (8 years old).  Isn't it pretty?  Haley was so excited. 

So, as I was laying the blanket out to take a picture of it for them, in trotted Charlotte with a sprig of jasmine.  Her freshly-picked bouquet was quickly abandoned for the rapture of a soft new blanket. She climbed right up onto the table to demonstrate, wiggling, giggling & swooshing her hair about.

So adorable. 

When I sew, Charlotte hovers around eagerly waiting for the finish line when she can hop away with whatever-it-is, to her imaginary world.  Makes me crave sewing.  More sewing.  I could sew her a whole new world if I had the time.  And she'd love it all, whatever-it-is.  I love that about her!

Earlier this week Charlotte packed up my new handbag (still had a couple of pins in it) for the movie store.  She had been waiting & circling till it was off the machine.  And she had a plan.  She quickly filled it with all the necessities and we were off:  Ariel, Snow White, a sash from one of my shirts, sunglasses.  She was looking pretty hip too.  Comically hip.

Every teenager working there heard all about it, "This is the purse that my mom made.  I like it."   "My mom made this.  Look, here's my Ariel." "Look what mama made."  "See my purse?"

Elijah's the same way.  When I make him a new pair of pajamas, he grins and saunters about.  Maybe sauntering isn't exactly the right word, but he definitely swaggers or something.  And big hugs.  Very big hugs.  I'm thinking he could use some new pajamas here soon.

∆   ∆   ∆ 

So, Quilt Market is next week.  And it sounds like I might have some sample yardage coming in.  It was accidentally shipped to Heather Ross, but we've got it sorted out, I think.  If I can pull it off before Market, I'll put together a snappy preview for you.  Waiting for that box though.

And I'm looking forward to meeting so many of you this weekend at Blissful Living.  If you can't stop by on Saturday, definitely come by some other time.  And there's a well-loved mexican cafe along the same downtown corridor (Mangos) and a handful of fantastic antique shops. Make a day of it.

Blissful Living

I was toying with the idea of putting together a local meet 'n greet - Phoenix, AZ area.  I was getting serious about setting one up for May.  And then good fortune winks my way and I meet Kristin, designer extraordinaire and owner of my favorite local boutique, Domestic Bliss (amazing! Like Anthropologie, but better), who has plans to open a new facility for local creative types to meet up & frenzy off each other's energy, take classes, etc.  We became fast friends. She's naming the studio Blissful Living.  And her concept is very close to my heart.  (We had an amazing dinner at their home a couple of weeks ago - should have brought my camera! - must go back & take photos. She even has chickens - fantasy of mine - in the most adorable chicken coop you'll ever see.)

And Kristin is quick to it -- Blissful Living opens on Friday!  I'm planning to be there this Saturday, May 10th, from 11-2 to meet up with, well, whoever stops by.  A meet 'n greet.  Thank you, universe.  So, come see me & maybe even bring some of your creations with you!  And if you stick around, hopefully you'll make some new friends with similar interests who live in your neck of the desert.  Visit Kristin's Blissful Living blog for more info.  And here's the address: Blissful Living  166 W. Main St. Mesa, AZ.

I'll be teaching a workshop there toward the end of June too -- details to come.

And meet Chloe, my new little niece!  My brother's fourth child, second girl.  (And she looks just like her big sister, Haley.)  They've had a couple of rough years and couldn't be more ecstatic about welcoming home a new baby.  It's a thrill to witness.  We're so glad she's here & safe!