i heart linen

Life changes and the like

2009-10-27T13:56:11-04:00

This post is filled with lots a news. Most of it good. Maybe one not so good thing, but it's not the end of the world.

This past Summer has been not so great for me and my little family. We've had quite a bit of sadness, financial issues, family issues, disappointments, and just a whole bunch of stuff not go our way. Let's just say that even with a new baby coming and a book coming out, some other things in life really haven't gone our way.

I've chosen not to talk about a lot of things here on my blog and I won't be going into any details. I just really like to keep the mood pretty upbeat around 'I Heart Linen'. The world is already filled with so much negativity and not so nice things, I figure why add more by being 'Debbie Downer' on my bloggity-blog? We all know that everyone has ups and downs in life, I just choose to keep it out of my little piece of the world wide web.

So much has happened and although I wouldn't like to go through any of it again, I am grateful for the experience. It taught me a lot about myself, my husband, and our bond as a couple and even tested my faith. God does everything for a reason. That being said, it would seem that our rainbow has finally arrived after the storm we endured.

Remember this post? Well my prayers have finally been answered! My sweet Mel has accepted a position at a company in Atlanta! So the Hales are leaving the Northeast and headed down south to the great state of Georgia! *dances a jig* This will be our last full week up North and I am sooooo ready to go! I love New York and always will, I just don't wanna live here anymore! Ta ta for now New York. I'm sure I'll be back someday. Any Atlanta folks need a new crafting buddy! ^_^ Pick me! Pick me!

More news......advance copies of my book arrived on Friday! Words cannot express how awesome it feels to see all of your hard work in print and done so beautifully. I had complete creative freedom when it came to the projects, their fabrics, colors, etc. Interweave took over when it came to the photography, the book's design and the cover.

I have to admit that there were times when I had my doubts about this whole experience. There were lot's of times I wanted to just give up and forget the whole thing. But I pushed through and made it happen and I'm so happy that I did! You've all been so supportive through your emails, comments and just plain visiting my little blog. I'm so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you! ^_^

The little bit of bad news is that the book's release date has been changed to December 1st. I'm just slightly disappointed and I'm sure many of you are as well. But it's still in time for Christmas and I plan on having more giveaways to make up for it! So, yay! ^_^

My last little bit of news.....

Some of you may remember that I am a member of the Block Party! quilting bee. Well, Alissa and Kristen, the co-hosts of our dear little bee, have landed a book deal with C & T Publishing! Congratulations ladies! ^_^

They will be co-authoring a book about our quilting bee and have graciously invited all the members to contribute! Everyone has agreed to participate and I'm so excited to be involved with such a wonderful group!

The book won't be released until 2011, but the Block Party! blog will be hosting a quilt along starting in November. Some of the blocks from those of you who choose to participate in the quilt along will be included in the book as well! So please do join us! You just may end up in the book! Woot! ^_^

So, lots of things happening right now. Busy, busy, busy! I will try my best to poke my head in here as much as possible along the way!

....and the winner is........

2009-10-24T16:15:23-04:00

Congratulations to commenter # 166!

SFER

The Random Number Generator gods have spoken!

Email me with your contact information my dear! ^_^

Thank you, thank you for everyone who commented.

Have no fear there will be more chances to win in the coming weeks!

Giveaways warm me up! ^_^

2009-10-17T17:47:57-04:00

*Edited* This post is now closed. I'll announce the winner later today! (Sat., Oct. 24)

Hey there. Are you all freezing like me? Geez louise this weather is nuts. My fingers are sticking to the keyboard! Anyone wanna knit me some hand warmers? Okay, I'm exaggerating. Still cold though. Sheesh. *does the running man to warm up* K, better now. ^_^

So how awesome is it that super fabulous Ayumi from Pink Penguin is on the cover of the Fall issue of Stitch?! This little tote is going high up on my sewing to-do list. If you haven't yet been to her blog, you're missing out big time. She's got tons of wonderful zakka tutorials, so run over and take a look. Oh! She has a Flickr group too!

In other Stitch news, this issue is not only their biggest issue ever but also the best. Most of it is dedicated to the Japanese influence that has taken our little sewing world by storm. Lot's of cute zakka projects, by Melissa Frantz of All Buttoned Up, Linda Permann at lindamade.com, Malka Dubrawsky at stichindye, Theresa Gonzalez, coauthor of Dorm Decor, and several other talents we know and love.

I'm so thrilled because there's a full page ad of I Love Patchwork as well as an excerpt from the book with instructions to make this super duper cutey Travel Sewing Kit!

There are 14 days until my book releases and I'm over the moon excited! So you know I have to have a giveaway baby! Woot!! *claps hands like a school girl*

Up for grabs is the actual Travel Sewing Kit that I designed for the book as well as a copy of my book when it releases. I'll even throw in the cutey post cards in the photo cause.......well.....they're cutey post cards!

So leave a comment if you'd like to win! ** Oh and become a fan of 'I Love Patchwork' on my Facebook fanpage for updates and fun stuff! That part's optional. ;) **

**Edited** I almost forgot! I'll keep this post open until next Saturday, October 24. Noon ET. Good luck! ^_^

Open Studio

2009-10-03T10:46:02-04:00

My publisher, Interweave Press, has a great magazine called 'Studios' that gives readers a nice little peek at the workspaces and studios of many crafters and artists.

They decided to host an online Open Studios Tour event this weekend and opened it to the general public and also invited Interweave authors to partcipate, I couldn't resist joining the fun!

I don't really have a studio, it's more of workstation. My husband's office had several of these tables that they were just going to throw away! *tsk tsk* I know! Nuts, right?! Well, since I have the best hubby in the world(I know some of you may challenge that, but we can have an 'Awesome-Hubby' showdown another day. ^_^), he brought one of the tables home for me to use as my workspace! It was just what I needed since I was using a rather small table and really couldn't do a lot of work on it.

My little space has evolved over the years. This is how it looked when I first got the new table back in 2007. My fabric collection was quite small and it easily fit with the rest of my tools and sewing sundries.

Well, more fabric mysteriously found it's way into my home and I could no longer keep my pretty cotton-y and linen-y babies on the table. It was starting to look like a fabric store. I swear there was this little fabric fairy logging onto my computer and sending tons of fabric to my house without my knowledge. I had no choice but to keep it all! ^_^ My bebes found a new home on our Expedit bookshelf for the time being. My fabric eventually took over our linen closet.

We also wanted a little change in our apartment and I wanted to upgrade my space to be a little bit more organized. So we painted the walls, I went to Ikea and bought some goodies, bought a new fancy pants sewing machine and this is the result.

The Asker wall organizers from Ikea was a perfect solution for me. I got the idea from the fabulous Craftapalooza! My scissors and rotary cutters were right where I could see them and up out of the reach of my wee ones. The little glass jars fit my covered buttons and other little items I managed to collect. This is where I made all of the projects for my book. Everything! I still can't believe I wrote a book at this table. So crazy! By the way I just started a Facebook fan page for 'I Love Patchwork'. Please do join for news and updates on the book!

We moved from the above apartment to a shiny new apartment in New Jersey earlier this year and my little workstation has evolved yet again.

My sewing machine has accrued many miles and I've managed to build up quite a collection of things that I've made. I've even managed to collect a lot more sewing sundries, (cover buttons, vintage buttons, japanese linen tape, bonne maman jars, embroidery thread, purse frames, zippers, wooden stamps, you name it and I probably have some stashed away somewhere!)

(Check out my Flickr and see the notes I've added to my photos for a breakdown of how my space is set up.)

So as you can see, I don't have a huge studio space, it's just my little section of our home that's my little escape and it works for me. I'd love to have a room all to myself or have a huge studio, but I'm quite happy with what I have and have managed to adjust it to fit my needs as my crafting grows. I wish I could say that it looks nice and neat like this all the time as well. Most days it looks like I let my two and three year old loose on it. Only thing is I'm the two and three year old! I just love my little spot! ^_^ *does the running man*

*** Also huge thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for you're kind words and love on my last post! I'm feeling much better now.(I'll give you all the details on another post.) I'm so excited, we're having another boy! Come on February! Woot! ***

4 + 1

2009-08-03T13:24:50-04:00

Having a good summer? I certainly hope so. Mine has been pretty quiet. Not a lot of blogging, sewing, creating, or running mans sadly. I just haven't had the energy for it. The past 6 weeks have been physically and emotionally hard on yours truly. Because.......well. See for yourself! ^_^

Yes my dear bloggy buddies, I am having a baby! Yay! I'm about 10 weeks along now and has this little one has been giving me the business! Let's just say I've spent the greater portion of my mornings, noons and nights in the past month and a half worshipping the porcelain god. I've already been to the hospital twice, once to the ER and the second time they admitted me with Hyperemesis. I spent about 3 days in the hospital last week getting rehydrated and pumped up full of anti-naseau medication. 2 dress sizes later and I'm feeling pretty good again.

I had pretty bad morning sickness with my first two wee ones, but never this bad and I'm praying that I can finally have some relief after the 12th week. *crosses fingers and toes* I still can't believe we're going to have another little one! I'm so excited and scared and thrilled and nervous and utterly and divinely happy. Children are such a blessing and I can't wait to see our wee one. February 27th seems so far away, but I know it will be here in no time flat! Wow. A baby. ^_^

I'm also quite please to finally know part of the reason I've had such a bad case of blogger's/crafter's block lately. *whew* I thought I was losing it! I'll get it all back sooner or later I suppose.

Anyone know anything about sizing children's patterns? I have a project that I've been working on that I want to make as a tutorial for everyone but I'm not quite sure how to adjust the pattern so that it would fit other size children. If you think you might be able to help me please shoot me an email! ^_^

Anyhoo, aside from the non-blogging, non-crafty porcelain god worshipping action that's been going on around here, there hasn't been a lot of fabric shopping happening either. In fact, I haven't done any major fabric shopping since last Summer when I started sewing for the book. I bought so much fabric that i really felt like I had more than enough to last me for a long while.

I have indeedy gotten into buying a few vintage lovelies here and there, though. Two of my most favorite finds from Ebay..........

This sheer delight has a gorgeous orange border running parallel to either edge of the selvedge. I'm thinking of making some panel curtains for our bedroom and Mel thinks I should use it to make something for myself. There's about 6 yards of it! Still deciding.

And this. Is this not the GREATEST PRINT EVER?! I LOVE THIS FABRIC! I have to say I was really having a battle on ebay to win this baby. I was NOT letting it get away from me. Why aren't there more prints like this these days? *sigh* Oh bunnies, vegetables, and flowers how I love thee.

In other news, the newest issue of Sew News has hit newstands and your dear blog pal is on the cover! Yay! I can't even begin to tell you how thrilled I am about this. I did notice that the tutorial on the Sew News site didn't show a photo of the pouch. That would kind of help when making it so have a look here.

The Interweave Press store also has a darling little preview of my bookety book book, so run on over and take a lookety look look! (Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see the preview)

Interweave also has a few titles coming out that I'll be adding to my wish list, you might like a few of these as well................

Well, happy Monday folks! I'm off to worship a different type of porcelain. ^_^