HELLOmynameisHeather

Let There Be Green

Bless you, Goodwill, not only for the regular entertainment, but also for the occasional thrill. 

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We're landscaping our backyard this week -- finally!  I won't confess how long we've lived here with no yard (hm-hmm - years).  We installed a patio and raised garden beds last year, but then the summer overtook us. Outside is the last place you want to be in the Arizona summertime.  Now we have the sprinklers set and the garden beds filled with dirt.  Two pallets of sod arrived this morning and we're in the final sprint.

Gardeners here enjoy two growing seasons each year.  (Yeah, I know, isn't that awesome. For the most part, the weather here is gorgeous.)  Though it's late for planting a summer garden, I'm not giving up.  I'm going to see about adopting some larger plants from the nursery.  Even if all I can do is tomatoes.  Then tomatoes it will be.

In fact, I'm going to call the nursery right now. 

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Here's the scoop.  I guess it's the tomatoes that are the bigger concern.  I'm told the blooms need to "set" before the weather reaches 100 degrees.  If I can pull that off, then I'm home free.  So, it'll be Early Girl tomatoes or Celebrity.  Then, I'm still in the clear for peppers, eggplant, squash, zucchini, etc.  And herbs.  Basil goes nuts here.  Last time I had a garden, basil was my favorite luxury.  Homemade pizza with basil, yum. 

Saturday Market Bag

Introducing another of my new sewing patterns, the Saturday Market Bag.  It's a fun and easy sew -- and perfect for toting spring things, like a picnic blanket and a good book. The pattern includes three options, including two simpler looks, one of which is reversible. And the sides of the bag unsnap for additional carrying space, so you can really go to town.  Or to church.  Or to market.

May Flowers!  Did you glimpse the new May Flowers discount link in the sidebar? Save some $$ and get free stuff -- follow the link for codes and freebies good through May 31,2010.

Beautiful-Busy

On my way to the studio today, I stopped by the gas station for a soda.  When I returned to my car, Every Rose has its Thorn by Poison belted out of the radio.  In a psychedelic whirl, I was transported to my cabin bunk at summer camp, my woolly socks tucked deeply inside my inadequate sleeping bag.  I was thirteen again, and listening to this song on my walkman, missing my boyfriend (who, though he carried my books to class for me and held my hand on occasion, was really my best friend -- you can breath, Mom).  That was our song! 

I love how music can transport you.  And scents can do that too.  If you had asked me yesterday, I couldn't have told you what 'our song' was.  It was the first song we danced to, but I wouldn't have recalled the name.

I got a little choked up, I admit it.

Isn't life a blur?  A fast, fabulous, when-will-I-ever-get-enough-sleep-again blur? Nothing slows down the clock but boredom; ask any fourth-grader at the end of a long summer.  It's been a long time since I've enjoyed the misery of boredom. 

Regardless of the whirlwind, I'd rather be 70 in a fleeting week, than perpetually bored.  Life is a beautiful-busy.

Wee, Wee, Wee!

I love this pattern! Can I just say that first?

Perhaps it's because my own little Charlotte has loved piggy toys since she was a toddler, or maybe it's the doll's bulbous pot belly and apple-bum. Or that dart under her snout that looks just like a smile -- gah!

All of the above.

I designed the original doll for my daughter in conjunction with a cover-story for Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. (Read more about the article here.) I hadn't planned on producing a sewing pattern for the design, but the response to this little piggy has been remarkable.

So, here it is!  The Claira & Clancy Pig Dolls pattern comes back from the printer today and will be shipped out to distributors and shops this week.

Clothing for a boy piggy is included in the pattern as well.  (Our boys need fun, hand-made toys just as much as our girls do.)  I love his little-old-man shirt & worker-man pants.  And, can I add that I'm super proud of the fit on that shirt?  He has such a funny little body.

Claira and Clancy are the first of four new sewing patterns I'm introducing.  Four - New - Patterns! 

I'm excited to share my other new designs this week as well.  If you must sneak a peek, you can see all four patterns here, including new pincushions, a fabulous bag, totes that fold into wallets, and more.

So, big news today!  Ask your local quilt shop for these new HB patterns -- they may not know yet that the new patterns are ready to ship.

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Beyond the hubbubery of pattern-development, I'm also working on my first several housewares collections, including aprons, dishtowels, place mats, napkins, tablecloths, etc. -- all finished goods, not patterns.  At the studio, we're putting together more pincushion kits too.  And there's new stationery to share!

There's just a lot going on.

So, here's what I'm thinking -- but it makes me a little nervous.  I'm debating doing my own personal version of NaBloPoMo in May. (I'm yet to be free enough in November to participate in the group-NaBloPoMo event.)  Every Day for the Month of May could be too much, so how about Lotsa Days in the Month of May?  What could I call it, LottaDayMoMay?  We have so much catching up to do, you and I : )  Once I get these new collections into production, I just may be able to pull it off.  Anyone ever done this?

Three Parties and a Pop-In

So, I'm logging into Typepad to post a hello just now, before heading out to my brother's surprise birthday party (with my sister's birthday party last night & Easter tomorrow, this weekend is just plain crazy), and look what greets me:

Gulp -- goodness.

So, hello!

Last night my sisters-in-law, mom, & I whipped up a surprise party for Julia. Julia is just stubborn enough to not happily go-with-the-flow, especially on her birthday.  She fought the fake plan each step of the way, but never caught on.  Miracle!  There was even a mild tug-of-war over the newspaper movie-listings. Her body language growled, "It's my birthday and I want to see something else."

We had dinner at a great Italian restaurant (she didn't know her friends would be there), then after presents and fake goodbyes, we all met back up at my studio for an All-Night Craft-Bash (big "Surprise!" there). We feasted like a swarm of piranhas on a buffet of fabric, beads, yarn, felt, and more.  It was awesome.  And here, Julia thought no one gave a hoot that she was facing the big 4-0.  We've got your back, Juju.

Now for the next surprise party, Rock Band for Rybee. Ryan's turning 33. I've got 30 minutes to get there. Should I shred up a tee shirt, get out the black eyeliner, and rat my hair out like crazy?  I think so.