Bari J.

Cheery

Hope all of you here in the US had a great fourth. This is what mine looked like. Yum.

Summer Sale

Website Updates...

More goodies to come...Slowly but surely the site is being updated. These are among the first.
An Emily Tote in Golden Garden with a sweetie applique and grosgrain ribbon:

Does this give you a better idea of size??? I'm going to try to have each bag displayed this way.

And the entire brooch page is going to be changed shortly as I have added 4 extra yards of French velvet ribbon to them to make a whopping 10 yards of ribbon used... plus I'm doing them just a little differently. This is the first one that made it on there. I love this shot, if I must say so myself.

PS... Did you notice the blog changes? They're on the site too. I so need to get an assistant to do these updates. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? (You're probably only going to understand that last part if you were a teenager in the 80s... my apologies.)

What ya' working on, Bari?

Oh, so many different things. Some special Emily Tote orders...

Website updating... Lots of pretty patchwork key fobs...

and some solid ones too...

Plus some new aprons...

And, I'm trying to figure out how to use this doo-hickie (it's a fancy-schmancy ear thingy for my cell phone), but I keep forgetting about it, and picking up the phone only to realize there's a person saying, "Hello? Hello?" into that ear piece on the desk. Oops.

Oh, and I forgot to show you these some time back... I just love 'em. They're so shiny. I like a little shiny.

Looks like a Party to Me.

Years ago I went to a wedding reception that used these colors. It was in this gorgeous old wine cave in Sonoma. It was a small party with one long table, and when the doors to the wine cave were opened we were greeted with swells of orange and hot pink. Hanging from above the table on gorgeous satin ribbon were balls of orange and pink flowers. The chairs were wrapped like presents in orange and pink. And on the table were ice bowls filled with gaspacho that were lit from underneath and of course more orange and pink flowers. To my delight, there was also some apple green thrown in.

Since then these have been my colors. You can see it in my work repeatedly. And I decorate like this too. I'd have the whole house bright and fun like that if Super Husband would let me get away with it. Of course, since I did kick him out of his office and make it my studio years ago, I am limited to mostly just here. My Grannie's old stool (the one I found in Spokane) got the Orange and Pink treatment this week with Anna Maria's gorgeous fabrics...

And since I was already in the mood, I made a few of these too...

I'm wondering what else I can cover, paint or otherwise decorate now. Unfortunately (or fortunately as the case may be... I can't complain) I've got to get back to work. Anna Maria's fabrics will have to remain over there in that beautiful stack calling my name.

Apparently We are Being Schnookered...

Here in Northern California we have unfortunately become used to paying premium for gas, food, clothing, etc... we have some of the highest prices in the country... gas today: $4.75.

On my trip up to Washington I became painfully aware of other items we are being ripped off on: antiques and vintage goodies.

I was all tail-a'waggin' when I saw these at A QUARTER THE PRICE I AM USED TO PAYING. I scooped up as many as I could find.

Then at the Farm Chicks show after a full day of standing on my feet, this caught my eye. Grannie's stool! Just $35, my sweet. I don't even want to think about what I would have been schnookered into paying at the Alameda. Check out it's pink goodness. I have plans for this baby. In fact, it's half done. Just got to grab Super Husband for the finishing touches. Will show off it's new beauty tomorrow.

Farm Chicks Recap Part Two

The best thing about Farm Chicks is the people. My neighboring booths were friends from Women Take Wing: Heather Bullard, Tammy Gilley, and Deb Kennedy... and also my friend Janis, of course, who I drove up with, roomed with and who I love dearly.

Here's a shot of Deb and one of her booth.


Deb is Wonder Woman with tons of energy and huge talent. She is the Diva of Retail Design, and interviewed Heather, Tammy and myself for the gift and home channel which was a total treat. I loved learning a little bit about that world. See her blog for more info about that.

Here's some more of Tammy's booth. Her work is DELICIOUS. The background of Tammy's booth was painter's paper that she had folded accordion style. Can you say Clever???

Heather's booth was a 10x10 wonderland. A full-on store in a tiny space. She and her Super Husband are just the kindest souls too. I was having a disater little tilting problem with my apron clothes line and SH o'Heather saved the day (cue music... "here I come to save the day!"). He was husband on loan for all of us ladies and we couldn't have been more appreciative. Heather herself is so supportive of all of us and can't be thanked enough for giving me the gift of potty breaks.

This is Heather's sweet man.

On the other side of the show were the lovely women of Peace Within. Recognize the aprons from anywhere??? Those girls were first in line for Bari J. goodies. So nice.

Right beside me on the left side of the aisle were Mary and her husband from ANeMonE. These are handmade paper flowers. Check out their award winning website!

I scored a fabulous corner booth... and this was more of the loveliness I was able to stare at all day... from Tarte...

And last but not least, below, The Vintage Empire's, Empress, Adrienne in her gorgeous booth.

Farm Chicks Recap

Let's just start by saying, Spokane, WA is not just up and to the right. It is a 19 hour drive up and to the right. And a 19 hour drive down and to the left to get home.

And, despite that grueling drive, it was just wonderful!

Janis (decembers child) and I took off early Wednesday morning and drove up to Portland. I had never been on the Northern Cal drive to OR before so I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty I was about to witness...

This is the stunningly beautiful Mt. Shasta. Our first resting spot. This shot was taken right outside the Subway we ate at. We were pretty stoked that we landed there.

I have so many details to share, but I am finding I'm completely exhausted. So for today, if you'll excuse me, I'll just post a few of my pictures of the event... more details tomorrow.

Here's a bit of my booth:

And this is Janis... Isn't the quilt in the background incredible???

This is the booth of my friend, Tammy Gilley... She's a cutie sweetie, but her pic turned out blurry...

Here, Heather Bullard... she's a Rock Sta'. And, one of the kindest souls around (more on that later):

Alrighty. That's all for now... I'm seriously falling asleep here at the computer at 12:30 in the afternoon. Rather pathetic, but that's the state of affairs as they are.

Whaaaat???

Carrie Sommer just sent this to me. It's from the July issue of Country Living.
I say WHAAAT??? Hey!!!
That IS me... presenting my Millie Fleur to Country Living editors in March at the CL event!!!
Cool doodles.

PS no word yet on whether I'll be featured.

Work Play

Weekend synopsis:

When there wasn't some of this...

Or some of this...

or this...

There was some of this...

And I loved this...

And I know I promised you some of this...

Post or Loose Marbles... Blackberry Woes

Ya'll, I'm gonna scream or cry or rant and rave. I bought myself a pretty pretty blackberry yesterday. I got it all set up w/my email. Downloads from server great. But...

Then ... I went to set up synchronization on my Mac. And watchout baby! I spent hours, hours I tell you... hours I don't have trying to figure out why oh why it wouldn't sync with my mail program, Entourage.

At 12:45 a.m. I'd had it and went to bed figuring I'd get hold of someone in customer service in the morning.

Note to self: Don't count on it, kid!

At 8 am I started my quest to speak to an actual, real, live human being at RIM, maker of the Blackberry. And they tried to get me to shell out $$$$ to talk to someone... about a device I just bought.

I called Apple support, I searched the web for a solution, I searched Microsoft, I called the ding bat lovely man who sold me the device, I called customer service again... nothing. No can do without paying up.

THEN, I called the CORPORATE office for RIM... where I was put on hold for 15 minutes and then transferred back to customer service who didn't know what the heck I was screaming about at this point.

"You get more bees with honey," I tell myself, and I calm a bit. The guy puts me on hold for God Only Knows How Long, and comes back agreeing to help me... w/o charge. We spend... count them, baby, TWO AND A HALF HOURS diagnosing the connection, seeing if it will work on a PC when sweet customer service man asks me, what software are you trying to synch with???

"Entourage", I say.

"OOOOOH," says Customer Service Man, "What version do you have?".

Me: "2008"

"OOOOOOH", again. "2008 doesn't work with Blackberry."

I am adult enough not to have screamed bloody murder at the poor soul who had no idea the wrath he might pay.

I am. And I told myself that over and over again.

BUT... I am not adult enough not to call Corporate and demand to speak to an Executive (let's not even talk about how long that took.). I was told someone would call me....

Yeah, right, I just bet someone will call me.

I sulk, I sew, I stew.

The phone rings. Not an Executive. (I didn't really think I'd get someone, but don't think I'm done trying). It was a "Supervisor".

I speak to him about the problem, I whine, I complain, I tell him to bring the problem to the attention of his superiors. He consoles, he apologizes. The answer is still the same. No idea when the update will be done. Sorry, Charlie. Doesn't work with your software.

So, here I sit. Really, really angry at 12:16 in the afternoon. Four something hours later. Half the day wasted.
I need a margarita. Or two. But alas, Weight Watchers does not allow for that... or cookies. Or chocolate.

I am only allowed to type. And Google names of executives to contact on LinkedIn.

You see, if you knew me, you'd know this story ain't over (ask my poor sweet Super Husband).

I know I'm not going to get any different outcome, but don't you think that they should know that we are shelling out $350 for a device we can use properly??? It's just wrong. Wrong wrong.

Now sheepishly, I say, "I'm keeping the Blackberry. Because you know the moment I return the sucker, the update will be ready."

Ok, back to work, going zen... clearing mind... sewing, sewing, cutting, cutting, preparing, preparing. Deep breath. Tea. Goodness! Some lunch.

EDIT:
Note that I realize I sound like a spoiled brat. Apologies all around for that. State of customer service these days has done me in. Here's the rest of the story.

1:30 pm husband calls. Hears tale of woe. Says, well, why didn't you get the iPhone? Ummm... I didn't think of that?
2:00 pm... i return to at&t store, switch the blackberry for the iPhone. (uh, I don't think I will ever be justified in switching phones again)
2:30 pm... set up is a breeze. Done.
3:00 pm pick up kids from school.
Day: a total loss. I'm going to be working into the evening.
Will post pics later of what saved my fragile emotional state... Here's a hint: Could it be FABRIC??? Wait until you see the goodness!

Mail Order Assistant

I've got a new assistant. I ordered her up and she arrived very promptly. She's very quiet, minds her own business, and is really good at holding things. Like aprons, belts and purses.
Her first job is to clean up the mess behind her.

Well, watcha' waitin' for? Hop to, Gertie! ... if only.

Mmmmm... Etsy... Mmmmm... Pin Cushions

I'm an Etsy Junkie. And I know I'm not alone.

We could be the new founders of an organization called EJA... Etsy Junkies Anonymous, but let's get real here, this is not addiction we want to cure. It fulfills our darkest shopping needs. How would I procrastinate my day away with out Etsy? What would I do when I'm really supposed to be cleaning the house and doing laundry?

In the need to not be alone, I shall feed your addiction too, thereby making you my enabler, and me yours.

And as if I didn't know that you also have an additional addiction to pin cushions, I'm going to feed that addiction too. I'm sabotaging your Pin Cushion/Etsy diet.

You are becoming sleepy. You are becoming very sleepy. You are clicking this link to Pinks and Needles and buying all you can find. Owner, Gigi, is your new guru. You have become one with the Master in the cult of Etsy.

I don't normally gush this much...

I know. That's a lie. I gush all the time, but this time I just have to!

I so wish that I had been at the Portland Quilt market last week. Judging from the photos I've seen on Flickr, there was much to be seen and stunned by. I'm a-boo-hooin' about my serious lack of judgement in not just flitting up there for at least a day.

I've been browsing around at the blogs of peeps that were there for photos... check out new FreeSpirit Designer, Melissa Averino's (her Sugar Snap line is to be released in August) Yummy Goods for some great pics for instance...

Can't decide which line I like the best, but I have to say that I am just blown away by "Drawing Room" by one of my favorites, Anna Maria Horner. Honest to goodness, that woman just can't be stopped!

You must go check out the Drawing Room Flickr group, if you haven't already. Oh, and I just got an email that there will be some of the new fabric available on her website at 9am EST Monday. I think I may just get up at the crack of dawn out here in California to get some of Anna Maria's incredible home fashion weight, Drawing Room collection!

Michaela Diaper Bag

Named for my best friend, Alison's, daughter. XO, Missy Miss!

And, when are these going to be ready for purchase, you ask???

Don't ask me. I wouldn't know. I'm just teasing you by posting it here... I hope hope to have it ready by Fall.

Ahhhggghhhhhh! (Ok, it's not that bad, I'm just prone to drama.)

La la la. What a week. I have no idea where time went off to. Kids were out of school on Monday (teacher's work day... can there be more of those???), I had a little disappointment on Tuesday which hosed the whole day. Then Wednesday, Thursday and today I spent playing catchup. (Note to self: limit pity party for self to one or two hours minutes not the whole day.)

I found myself sitting here last night at midnight creating a sign for Farm Chicks. It's a really big document and while it was saving in Photoshop, I was falling asleep. Head bob. Head bob. Oy. After about the fifth time my head went bob-diddy-bob, I realized it was time for bed.

Today it was cut cut cut cut cut bags... drive drive drive bags to seamstress. I usually send a big package of fabric and cuts to her on Wednesday via UPS, but missed that deadline, then missed the same deadline the next day. So today I was forced to drive it there. Needless to say this didn't make me very happy.

Plus, I meant to take some pictures to show you of the artwork on the front of the bags, and totally forgot. Poop. And, I'm absolutely convinced that there is something missing from the box. Did I forget a side or bottom to a bag? Am I going to find a straggler handle somewhere in this mess tomorrow???

I want to show you a picture of the floor in this room, but I have a strict rule about only posting pretty pictures. No dirty laundry, or some a pot full of goop that I'm cooking up for dinner. ((I see a lot of pretty dinner pictures here in blog-land, and I always wonder how you got the light so good when pointing the camera down into a pot. Someday you'll have to explain that to me.))

So, I leave you today with this banner. It took forever and a day. For whatever reason I was having a brain fart about how to do the scallops. I shall share this with you some day because I had a serious light bulb moment and figured out how to do it. It was painfully obvious... I guess that's why I missed it. Like I said (or do you know this by now?), I'm always looking for a way to create drama.

Good night.
~b

Gettin' Ready

Just stopping in to say hello. It's that busy time of year with the end of school, and I've been busy busy getting ready for Farm Chicks too... I'm having to stock up on stuff and create new and different goodies to bring along. Today I've been making piles of these...

Hope you are having a nice afternoon. I'm off to do the pm drive kids around thing. Oh the joy!
See you later,
B

Art After My Own Heart

Tea cups, tea pots, tea bags, tea anything is my latest obsession. I know I've said it before.

So, when I came across Kimberly Shaw Graphics, I was immediately in love. Last week Kimberly commented on my Dancer at the Tea Party bag on Flickr. This, of course, prompted me to click back to see her photos. I am so glad I did.

Kimberly is a wonderful artist who has turned that art into an incredible business. Among other beautiful items sold in her store, you'll find her paintings on greeting cards that are sold with a tea bag inside. How perfect is that???

Below is a photo that is in Kimberly's Flickr stream... here she shows us a bit of how her paintings are created which I, as someone not blessed with this particular talent, find really fascinating.

Doesn't that make you want to give watercolors a go?

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope you all had a great day. Mine was really nice. The kids gave me a set of art markers I've been wanting. Plus loads of great cards, flowers, bagels for breakfast, Thai for dinner... I'm STUFFED.

And I'm on Weight Watchers.

Ah-hem, I did use all 35 flex points this evening.

And now I feel like I gotta' get in my PJ's... 'cause the jeans aren't cutting it after that meal.

And I have to be weighed at 10 am tomorrow. Any one have any idea how am I going to loose five lbs between now and then???

This is what I'm giving Mom...something I can not wear myself in this current ... uh ... shape. It's the first of the ribbon belts we're creating. Yes there will be more tomorrow on the site... say about 5PMish, ok?

In the meantime, on this fine Mother's Day I did manage to wrangle the aprons up onto the site. Hope you'll check 'em out!

Have a happy evening. I'm off to decide which pair of pajamas have the biggest, stretchiest waist band.
XO,
Bari

Belts by Monday, Promise!

Hi there. Two posts... one day.

Thanks for all the emails about the belts. I promise to have more belts up on my website by monday in many choices! Email me if you want to reserve one. Make sure you tell me what size and color you want and I'll put your name on it. The production line starts tonight!

Starting a Prototype

I can't tell you how many times I've been asked to make a diaper bag. I don't know what the hold up has been really. I've been busy or whatever. I kept saying I was going to do it. And I was. I was just thinking about it.
Procrastinating about it.

But this week my sweet sister, Ilisa, pushed the issue when she told her son's class parents that she could get a diaper bag (from me) for the teacher who is expecting this summer... by May 28.

Ah hem... Sure. Totally doable. I'm on it.

Never mind I didn't have a design, a pattern, a clue what I was going to do. None-the-less, this morning I got to working on a prototype hoping and praying I didn't make too many gross errors ... You don't know this, but I am "geometrically challenged." I know what I want, but I have a hard time figuring out just how to execute this and that.

The good news is that I've learned a thing or two about construction so I didn't have to reinvent the wheel. I used what I knew worked on my carry-all and my messenger bags... plus cool gathered pockets on each side, I do to come up with this design.

This is just the unfinished outside of the bag. So forgive the wonky pictures. Bags w/no linings and unfinished seams don't stand up too well.

I am sending the rest of it to one of my seamstresses to finish up now that I have the basic body in place. I promise if it turns out well, I will have more made... Give me ... oh... a couple more months to get the goober up on the website.

Candy.

Now, this is fun fabric! We've been busy putting together a slew of belts for Jennifer to take to quilt market in Portland... I've got to show you how many zillions of combinations there are to be put together in the Bell Bottoms line. I was drunk on the color ... had it been candy I would have eaten it all.

Cutting and arranging pieces was a party. A red pattern next to an orange pattern, yellow next to blue, florals next to dots. No matter what I did it looked great.

And I have to tell you, I was stumped on where to put the red pieces.

There were two patterns that were red and white... and for whatever reason, I'm just not usually attracted to reds... But right there next to the orange and pink... Voila.

Just right if I may say so myself. I'm so glad I didn't try to go with the red, white and blue theme that I momentarily (don't laugh... it was only a passing thought) thought I might.

BTW, a certain little girl (that would be older daughter) is head over heels in love with this fabric. And actually, that's my next project for today... give older daughter some fabric to play with. It's going to be very difficult to part with.

Belle!

I gotta' send out a couple great big thank you's to Jenny Doh and Morgan McLaughlin of Belle Armoire. This article hit the news stands May 1, and it was more than I ever imagined. And... my name on the cover made my mother (ok, and me) very happy. Between my sisters, mother, father and me a minimum of 15 - 20 copies were purchased. The only people not impressed were my daughters who completely and insultingly shrugged it off as, "Yeah, Mom. What-ever!" Well, "Hmmmpfff!" to them and thank you Jenny and Morgan very much for the kind words and attention! It is greatly appreciated.

A Fanciful Win and Two Naughty Daughters

I won! I won! I won a giveaway from none other than the fabulous Vanessa Valencia of A Fanciful Twist. Aren't you jealous!!!???
I know two little girls who were WAY JEALOUS. Older Daughter and Younger Daughter Naughty Bugs said they were "just going to trace them, Mom. We loooooove them.... Pleeeeeeeease." Fine. Just make sure you give them back to me when you are done.

And. So. For the past five days... I have been hunting for my package. There were like ten I think. And, ah hem... this was all I could find when I went to take the picture of them.

Two little girls who love art are in big trouble. You know I'll find 'em... it's just a matter of figuring out which kid. Or under which pile in which kid's room.

Color Color and More Color

Just some pics of items going out today. The belts are going to a new store in Massachusetts called La Boutique (will give details as soon as she's open). And the bags are off to LaDiDa in Vista, CA. These girlies are one-of-a-kinds.

Happy Place

Last Friday the planets aligned, conspiring with me to make a purchase I haven't had the chutzpah to make being that I had a working computer that was "just fine."

Here's how it went down:
# 1. My PC finally blew up. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD!

# 2. I managed to get Super Husband into the Apple Store where he was finally inclined to agree with me on the superiority of the Mac. So stubborn. Nevermind that I was the buyer... I needed his "buy in" in order to keep the peace, you know what I'm saying???

# 3. It was my birthday this week, and I needed a little gifty, don't ya' know.

So, excuses, excuses, I bought myself an iMac and my family thinks they'll never see me again. Can I TELL you how much easier it is to design "stuff"... (did somebody mention fabric?) on this sweet thing?
I am in happy place numero uno!

Ok, now with that out of the way... what else has been going on around here?

I did manage to get Miss Verna her new bag... Turned out pretty. I told her Scotch Guard was definitely in order though with those beautiful light fabrics:

On another note: I mentioned some time back that I had this stack of beautiful fabric to make aprons from and couldn't do the cutting myself because of that rotten arm (Update: doing much better... trying to avoid what got me to that state in the first place.). Well, I've managed to wrangle some wonderful sewing type people into doing it for me. Which is cause for a big loud, "hallelujah!"... Maybe a "wee-hoo!" too. Isn't she a cutie? There's more to come. I plan on having this babies up on the website no later than Friday.

Okers, well, more tomorrow. Must to make dinner ... uh, and I can't believe the state of my laundry room. Seriously people, nobody here has a clean pair of panties for tomorrow unless I get on it. That there is NOT a happy place.

Happy Earth Day

I must have been thinking green today. I was working on pears all morning. Here's a good laugh though...After I spent a fair bit of time on the first one (making the template, turning the edges, ironing, sewing), I sat for a moment admiring my work only to realize the sucker is upside down. Typical.

New!

Finally! More bags in our Japanese prints ...for now we have just a few of these cuties available, but a slew of these and other designs are being cut and will be on the way in a couple weeks.

 

I wish you all could touch these... the comment I keep getting is that they are "even better in person". I actually saved this on a voice mail from a certain somebody... I have to keep saving it because a not-to-be-named cellular company deletes your voice mails after two weeks. Did you know that? Ticks me off. I listen to that voice mail when I'm feelin' beat... how dare they? ;) Does anyone know how to permanently save voice mail... or better yet... transfer it to the computer? That would be cool, wouldn't it? I think I'll go ask my 12 year old... she's bound to know how.

 

More Studio Fun

Patchwork Cuffs...

I made a bunch of these yesterday. Oh, how I do love that green and orange mix. I thought I'd throw in the blue for good measure. It just seemed to work there somehow. Part of my design process involves throwing stuff into the air and seeing where it lands. ;)

Today I basically took the day off for an applique class over at Quilters Inn. I would describe the typical applique I do as collagey, scrappy... "scraplique" as you've maybe read here before... Today I learned the real thing. I loooooooved it. I learned the freezer paper and starch method. And I bought this fab tool called a stiletto which I probably should have known about already. The whole process of putting it together... oh joy! I have another class next Friday, and I'll show you the results.

Happy Friday.

~b

Brocade Home Goodies

I'm in love love love...

All from Brocade Home. Yum-delish!

Mood Enhancing

Is anything better than a vase of tulips?

Only a vase of pink and orange tulips.

To Do

Take more bike rides with my kids. Read more Great Books. Craft just for me. Take more pictures of the kids. Go to the Beach. Go on a Date with Super Husband. Drink a glass of Wine. Sleep in. Make great meals. Take a VACATION. Dream. Take a Hike. Read with the kids. Buy Flowers. Make a skirt. Finish a Quilt. Go Antique Shopping. Take a ride with no destination. Make some stationery. Write letters. Plant a Garden. Go to France. Try new Teas. Enjoy the Sunshine. Drink Lemonade. Take a Walk. Listen to Music. Be Silly.

Happy Weekend!

A little story about a girl named Bari

Much to tell, much to say. Right now a little proud "Ta. Da." ....

Why? Below is a Betty Weekender for Jennifer Paganelli made from her new Bell Bottoms fabric line which will be arriving in stores soon. I think this one is my favorite. A great big hug and Thank You through the computer to Miss Jennifer for giving me this fabulous opportunity! I am so honored. I'm almost silly, giddy honored.

I want to show these gals off, but there's also a little story here that I feel like I need to tell. It will sound just a tiny-weenie bit over the top, but no one ever said I wasn't over the top. I am. I admit it. I'm one emotional chick-idy.

I SO need to ya-da-ya-da. 'Cause if I don't my brain will whirl and no one wants to see that mess.  Here goes. I apologize in advance. But don't tell me you weren't forewarned...

My little story: Since starting Bari J.over three years ago, I have been pressing forward, pressing forward never really acknowledging any sort of milestones, acheivements but for a moment. My family would disagree because I tend to beam about it for a bit, but seriously, meanie Bari in my head has other ideas.

Then for whatever reason, this request from Jennifer snapped the old brain back into joint or something.

I started thinking about how far I've come since the beginning. And truth be told, it makes me want to sob. Just sob. Fall on the floor and sob, sob, sob. Messy sobbing. Not unhappy sobbing. Just sobbing. Maybe tired sobbing. Maybe relief sobbing. Something like that.

Someone at the Country Living event said, "Go ugly early". Meaning to me: "Start your dream. Get the not knowing what you are doing out of the way because if you don't go through not knowing ... you'll never get to knowing."

Well, everybody... I went very, very ugly early. A fact I was reminded of at the quilting store the other day... er... Thanks, Jane. Yes, I knew N.O.T.H.I.N.G. It's true, and now you all know it too.

Anyways, I'd been in touch with sweet Jennifer for some time when she asked me for several Betty Weekenders in her fabrics. I didn't think about it at first. Seriously, I was honored, but I didn't think, "How cool!" I mean, I'd been in love with her fabric line since it came out! (This was even before I was honored with Verna's project... which I'm totally stoked about too).

Then suddenly it hit me: That first bag. That first ugly, ugly bag! Jeezy peasy! I've worked my butt off since that first ugly bag. And not everyone thought I could do it.

Is it just me, or is this a universal female experience? That whole "god-forbid-I'm-proud-of-myself" bit.

I think I might just say goodbye to that for good. Here's a thought, gals... It's very not helpful.

(above... Betty Weekenders. The blue one is made from Jennifer's Bell Bottom line and the others are from a previous line. Except that one sticking out in the right corner of the pic.. that's Bell Bottoms. Two more to come next week. Wee hoo!)

Thank you, Jennifer. XO

~b

Hmmming & Hawing...

I'm here because I'm indecisive. And because I can't make a decision, I'm procrastinating. Just for a minute.

Was trying to decide whether the dancer stays or goes... she's not nailed down yet. I think she's pretty cute standing on that saucer. Like she might just dance right into your tea. She's a little day dream standing on my saucer while I drink my tea and tap my keys.

Oooh, look. I didn't trim her left hand (your right) all the way. Hmmm haw.... dancer stays.

Later, gator.

Pooped

Whew! I'm making myself crazy. As usual. In fact, I think I've created new ways to make myself too busy. It's my fault, I know. But none-the-less, I'm starting to get pooped.

Just thought I'd pop in and post a little diddy... part of something I'm working on. This stack of ribbon is making me very happy. I could just look at it all day. Better not... back to work. See you later... when I hopefully have something to show for myself.