HELLOmynameisHeather

Doggonit!

We're heading into the Thanksgiving bustle.  I had planned to sew a tablecloth and chair covers last night, a table design which started out simple enough, but now involves tiered ruffles, piping and sashes. As if Isaac's and my creative symbiosis wasn't enough to extend the holiday prep from one day to four, while we were at the fabric store, the dogs pulled up a section of our carpet and shredded the edge to bits.  Our night was then spent moving furniture out of the family room and learning how to work a carpet stretcher.

One edge of the room's carpet butts up to decorative tile and that whole edge had to be re-positioned and secured.  I've always wanted to know how to do this, but it's one of those skills I never expected to learn.  Now we'll see how well the carpet stays puts.  Let in the dogs.

Isaac is questioning the etymology of the word, catastrophe.  "Dogostrophe is more like it."

As of yet, all we have ready for Thanksgiving are the goodie bags, but that's a start.

Gift Card Boxes

I used to go to great lengths to make sure every present I gave was handmade and tailored to the recipient's taste.  Over the last few years, I've realized that most people truly love to receive a gift card now & then, so they can go out and get the very thing they've been hoping for.  This has been an adjustment for me.  I felt kind of guilty about the first few gift cards I gave, like I didn't put enough time into it.  But, as the reactions were genuinely enthusiastic, I thought, 'well, that was easy' and I decided that gift cards can be very good. 

There's always one or two people on my gift list who gift cards are perfect for.  Like my dad.  I never know what to do for my dad.  My sister, Julia, has pulled off some well-chosen shirts or gardening books for him, but I'm always stumped.  My most successful handmade present for him to date was a custom-designed table mat for he and my mom to play cards on.  They love that thing.  Who would have known? I've certainly made things that were cooler than that, like a hand-cut, metal bookmark that looks like a man climbing over the page when in place.  Crazy stuff sometimes.

I'm much more excited about planning gifts for my dad now that I'm cool with gift cards as a safety net.  What seals the deal for me is that I can still make the box.

For my recent feature in Creating Keepsakes (Dec 08), I designed a free pattern for the gift card box shown above. If you are planning to give some gift cards and would like to dress them up a bit, head to the pattern download page or follow the 'Gift Card Box' link under 'Free Patterns' in my sidebar.  These little boxes are great for wrapping up buttons, jewelry or candy too -- or for housing a love note on top of a larger, wrapped gift.  Get creative.

xo--Heather

Flower Pinwheel Pattern

Bring on the holidays!  Here's the Flower Pinwheel project that is featured in the December 2008 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine, which is on news stands now.  The Creating Keepsakes team did an amazing job with the article.  There are a ton of projects featured and they did an impeccable job bringing it all together -- it's really beautiful.

I'm thrilled with how this pinwheel design turned out.  I had originally planned the poinsettia pinwheel as a holiday decoration -- without concern for functionality.  However, as I perfected the flower wheel design, my fascination with the science behind the spin grew. Isaac insisted that I couldn't just make a pretty-looking pinwheel.  It had to function.

This is where a stash of supplies comes in handy.  I rummaged through my studio for eyelets, wire, beads, pliers, etc. and soon had elevated my pinwheel project from pretty-to-look-at to pretty-to-look-at & dang-fun-to-play-with. 

These pinwheels spin like crazy.   

With red cardstock and yellow centers, I made poinsettia pinwheels for the holidays.  With floral prints and glittered papers, I made pinwheels straight out of Candyland or Santa's Workshop.  This project is surprisingly easy and remarkably inexpensive -- especially if you're a scrapbooker with a bevy of tools and supplies already at hand. 

Thank you for your patience if you've been watching for this pattern. I had originally scheduled to complete the pattern by the end of this week and have it available by next Monday.  However, the December issue of Creating Keepsakes shipped out to subscribers far earlier than I had expected. 

I was happy to work overtime this last week to design and post this download for you as quickly as possible.  I had to squeeze it into an already-packed design and family schedule.  I love this pattern and am equally excited to have it posted a week before originally planned (with the natural side benefit of having more pie-making time for next week, right?  Isaac's family tradition involves one pie per guest - well, practically).

Anyhow, go make some lollipoppish pinwheels and some twinkly family memories while you're at it.  Have a happy kick-start to your holidays this year.  For the Flower Pinwheel download page, follow the link in my sidebar under 'Free Patterns' or click here.

Happy Holidays everyone -- enjoy! 
xo--Heather

**free Gift Card Box pattern also coming this week.  And, we've posted our new holiday promotions and freebies for the store as well -- follow the 'Happy Holidays' badge in sidebar**

Add This One to Your Spelling-Bee Study-List

Wow, thank you so much for your eye-care stories and advice.  Charlotte had an appointment with an ophthalmologist this last week and he's thinking glasses might just solve the issue without any patching whatsoever.  You should have heard how thrilled he was that we brought her in so early.  I guess there are issues that if left unresolved can cause long-term problems and possible loss of sight - ay, ay, ay.  The doctor said that Charlotte's a tad far-sighted in one eye and trouble focusing that eye is what's causing it to turn in a little at times. We're not too worried.  He really did think the glasses would likely do the trick.  We'll watch for progress over the next month or so, then see what else is needed, if anything, at our next appointment.

Boy, did we feel clueless picking out glasses.  Neither Isaac nor I have ever needed glasses, though I've always secretly wanted some.  We ended up with flexy, bendy purple ones with shatter-proof lenses and an elegant frame.  They should be ready early this week.  Now I need advice on how to help Charlotte keep track of them!

Ophthalmology.  O-P-H-T-H-A-L-M-O-L-O-G-Y.  Ophthalmology.  Two crazy, extra letters in there.  'Ophthalmology' would have sunk me in a Spelling Bee. 

Creating Keepsakes

Hello to everyone stopping by from my article in the Holiday issue of Creating Keepsakes.  I can't believe it's already out (I thought it'd be around Thanksgiving) -- I can 't wait to see it.  If you're looking for my Flower Pinwheel pattern or the free Gift Card Box pattern, they'll be available next week under the 'Free Patterns' section of my sidebar.  Thanks!  More on the CK article to come : )

Okay, so this is a kinda nutty...

Charlotte's eye has started to become a little googly -- slightly 'lazy.' Hopefully a temporary eye patch over her stronger eye will force her uncovered eye to get with the program.  So, here's one project that's never crossed my mind before -- a custom, girly eye patch. Why not?

The rigid interfacing inside the patch is darted to bulge in the middle.  Then the fabric covering is cut on the bias so I could stretch it over the form smoothly without darting it.  Then there's a black fabric lining the inside.  Not that you'll ever want to make an eye patch. 

Who knows if she'll even keep it on.  But it has given us all the giggles a few times over -- and kept things light.  Anyone have some good advice for this sort of thing?

A Precious Freedom

Isaac & Laura's younger brother, George, lives in Germany where he teaches 'Teaching ESL' at a university there.  George is absolutely amazing with language.  He speaks English, German, Danish, and Chinese -- an interesting combination, to say the least.  He could have gone to the last olympics as a translator.

Anyhow, George sent a letter out to all of us yesterday about the election.  It puts a new perspective on our access to the polling places here in the states.  Isaac & are heading out to vote in the next little while and I strongly urge you to go vote too.  Call a friend for babysitting if you need it.  Trade babysitting even, but vote.  And what a monumental election today, whichever way it goes!

Dear Family,
   One of the hardest parts about being in Germany is having to vote by absentee ballot. And one of the hardest things about voting by absentee ballot is trusting in a bureaucracy that is not too on the ball with getting you that ballot. Well, I was personally on the ball in requesting mine months ago, but unfortunately, I am not going to get to vote in this year's election. Honestly, it just breaks my heart because I have never cared more for my country than now.
     I happen to be reading John Adams and enjoying it as much as I have enjoyed any other book. It gives me a glimpse into the life of a man who I believe was inspired by God to resist evil and help establish a system that would give voice to its people (NOTE: not the absentee ballot system). I might add that Abigail Adams has been an inspiration to me, as well. She was evidently every bit the freedom fighter, every whit the mind. I believe that we have had few such leaders since, but I hope that the future will bring us more; we sorely need women and men of such caliber.
   I hope that all of you are taking the opportunity of this precious freedom to vote, whether you vote for Obama, McCain, or Mickey Mouse (if you feel somewhat desperate like I have at times during this election). It is such a precious freedom and no less important for our small voices. God bless America.

Love,
George, Christina, & Joe

Lulu's New Digs

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.

Who is Lulu?