Bari J.

Truly, was the cat ever in the bag? In March after the Country Living Women Entrepreneurs event, I told you that I was interested in designing a fabric line. I even asked you to hold me to it. I'd been thinking about it for a while, but until then I was too scared to say it out loud. 

But I've learned a lesson... saying it out loud is what makes it real.

Since then, I've been on a tear. Obsessively designing fabric. (LOL. First I had to figure out HOW to design fabric) After several rounds and versions and toss away lines, eventually, I came up with something I loved and knew I could present. For display purposes I had it printed up by Spoonflower (they rock), and off to market I went last week. Finished quilt and goodies in hand. Shaking and quivering in my boots. I presented to a lot of companies, and to my amazement, I ended up with a lot of interest.

A couple days later, and I now know that my designs will be available this spring at the Pittsburgh quilt market. I can hardly believe it. I have an actual real contract in my hands.

So, what do I take away from this part of the adventure? I am sure that the decision to say it aloud, to state what I wanted, that made me go for it in the way I have. Uh, somewhat relentlessly. There's probably some people who are a little sick of me. You know who you are. Sorry ya'll. (That's my new Houston-speak. I like it)

Next up on my list of to dos... paper. Hold me to it. Right after I get this fabric line out. 

Note: If you read this post earlier, you may notice I went back in and edited it. Sometimes it just doesn't seem like any of the wording in these blog posts are right. And I worry that things will be misconstrued. This post was super hard to write for whatever reason. I felt like the wording was too contrite, the story not completely told... which is bad, because I think that people reading this should know the details. It wasn't super easy to do, but it was all well worth it. So, you are now reading the edited version of the first post. I hope that whoever you are and whatever you are trying to do, that this post will inspire you to do it and know that there have been those who have inspired me as well. Thanks for understanding, and for your very kind support.

If you ever get the opportunity to go to a quilt market, you should. Here's more of the delights I took in while I was there!

This is Paula Prass and her sweet daughter Jennifer. Pictured in the background and foreground is her debut line for Michael Miller. Please stop and note Jennifer's shoes. I have shoe envy... even if I can't stand in any sort of heal for more than 5 minutes.

Here Paula and I are showing off the bags I had made for her... notice I removed the red pocket from the front... I was so pleased and excited when she agreed with me that it had to go that I jumped out of bed when I got her message on my iphone and ran down here to tear it off... gently.

And below is my new friend, Melissa with her debut line, Sugar Snap... and how much ya' wanna' bet it was "snapped" right up... sorry couldn't resist.

This is a shot of Joanna Figueroa's booth (Fig Tree Quilts). Adorable, huh? Miss Joanna showed me the ins and outs of installing a zipper right there in her booth... thereby killing my zipper fear. It's actually pretty easy! 

This is Sandy Klop of American Jane (Moda) and her wonderful supportive husband... plus gorgeous quilts.

And this is her new floor mat (pattern to be available soon)... I almost died and went to heaven. Thank heavens Sandy is a local... I'll run into her and nag her ... "Floor Mat Pattern Please."

This: A shot of the nifty flower that Sandi Henderson made for her booth. Wow again, Sandi.

Another "wow" for Lakehouse Dry Goods...

I loved these quilts from Denise Sheehan of A Graceful Stitch:

And, this certainly wouldn't be complete without a shot of Amy Butler's booth. 

For good measure, I'll include this awful picture of me with Amy... Ugh. But now I can say I met her. She's too nice. Melissa graciously introduced me (I asked her to LOL), and Amy is as wonderful as the reputation that precedes her. (I cut out the bottom of this picture because we are standing behind a chair and I look rather short to say the least... don't laugh, I know I look short anyways, it was the best I could do.)

That about raps it up... I wish I had more pictures to share. Other things I saw and loved were Anna Griffin's new line from Windham, and Kaffe Fassett who said "I like your purse" as I was purchasing his newest book, Country Garden Quilts (which he signed). I of course wanted to respond with "That's my fabric! I designed that!" But I restrained myself from looking like a goofball and said "Thank you.".

I also got a chance to gander at Verna Mosquera's new line... it's really wonderful with bright vibrant colors added to her soft palette. Fabulous! I'm sorry I don't have pics. I really was running around like a chicken with my head cut off for sure!

Be sure to catch Patti Young's debut line for Michael Miller too! I'm sorry, now pictures of that either.

If I have left anyone or anything out, please don't be offended. I have a brain like a sieve. 

I have barely recovered enough to resize and doctor my pics, so this first report will be on the brief side, I apologize.

Here's a couple peeps I was crazy about and there will be WAY more tomorrow as there were many many designers that were incredible... and so wonderful to meet.

Anna Maria Horner came out with her new line, Good Folks. I am absolutely in love with this line, and I know I said that about her last one too, but... there you have it. I think Anna Maria is the bomb. And, btw, so very kind and friendly.

I also was enamored with Sandy Henderson's line, and her booth, as expected, rocked! You'll also note that Sandy is extremely giving and generous. I just really like that lady!

In other quilt market news... You will be seeing my (my?... really?) line appearing very soon... maybe even Spring Market in Pittsburgh. We'll just have to wait and see. It was a fabulous market on a personal level too. It's all so surreal.

{insert tears of joy here...}

 

I mentioned before that I was making a quilt to drag along with me to some appointments I have at quilt market to show how my fabric designs go together... I got all the piecing done when it struck me... it sure would be nice to have this quilted when I go... and then the lightening bolt that is causing me to stay up all night...

I thought, "You know, what would be really cool is if instead of doing a traditional border and binding, I cut out the motifs and build a collage border using free motion quilting." Yeah. No problem... That just means cutting enough flowers to go around a 58" x 58" square, pinning every one of them into place, quilting each and every flower, and then sewing zig zag stitch all the way around it... 3 times. Not to mention washing and drying it to get the perfect amount of scrunchiness on the collage.

Uh, Hello! I also have orders to get out (not complaining about that, for sure), various and sundry orders for supplies to be placed, and goodness knows what I'm forgetting... 

I may very well be completely nuts... but it sounded like Such A Good Idea when I dreamed it up... (oh, and I did literally dream it... woke up in the middle of the night in a sweat going, "Must Collage Border, Must Collage Border..."

To date... (I started yesterday on the collage) I've finished two sides. I'll be cutting out the backing and finishing it off on my way out the door to the airport. 

Certifiable, ladies and gentlemen. Certifiable.

 

Let me tell you, there is nothing that makes me more nervous than having my picture taken. But, when the fabulous Deb Kennedy asked me at Farm Chicks to be part of her series on the giftandhomechannel.com,  I was more than happy to oblige... The video is now available to view  here, (I think you have to sign up to get to the video, but there's nothing to it and there's lots of cool info on the site). 

Of course, me being me, all I focused on was my weight and the way my voice sounds and my haircut... all I have to say is thank goodness for Weight Watchers... I've lost 20 lbs since then. Holy potatoes! Literally. Super Husband, being Super Husband, said, "It's not that bad, you just look really nervous. Uh... Yeah. Just a little. 

PS... A side note... The Farm Chicks now have a beautiful new blog that you have to visit!

Tum dum... tee dee... What in the world do you wear with this in the Fall? I'm making new rules... are there rules anymore? No. no. no. no. There are no rules. If you are not in a completely cold climate where it's snowing and sleeting and something like this might get ruined, then I think it's perfectly acceptable to wear bright yellow, pink, green, blue and red all year. 

So I was forced to go shopping. 

And looky-loo what I found. I found an apple green jacket (fall fruit) at J.Jill... It's CORDUROY. And, if you ask me that is decidedly Fall-like. (Of course, in the Spring I'll tell you I think it's acceptable now too). Plus it was discounted from over $100 to $35. I'd actually been eying this for months and waiting patiently for it to be reduced... a game that paid off. They are having an awesome sale ... 25% off already reduced items. Wee hoo! I scored on a bunch of goodies...

Now, is there any way I could also wear this? And why is my daughter so embarrassed when I pick her up from school wearing it? I'm in the car... no one can even see me!

Likely, you already know Paula Prass from her gorgeous paper, but if you didn't you will soon! Paula has just come out with a line of fabric from Michael Miller that will debut in Houston next week!

I was honored to have made a couple pieces for her using her fabrics... Here's a sneak preview. Hop on over to Paula's blog for more!

 

What I'm working on now is making various and sundry goodies to drag with me next week to the Houston quilt market out of the fabrics I had printed. This is the first of which is coming together. I'm also bringing with a bag, apron, pin cushions... and anything else I can throw in a bag.

I'm thinking this is going to be pretty exciting... even though I have no idea how this is going to work out. I have a couple of appointments though to hopefully license a line (and then maybe I'll have my own booth next year and actually be selling this stuff to YOU). I'm planning on doing a lot of shopping though for my Spring handbag line. Should be really fun meeting people too! 

If you are going to be there... let me know. I'd love to meet you!

Today on Studio Five in Utah... You'll have to go about 1/2 way into the video, but there I am!
And they say such nice things... listen for what they say about quality ...
We've worked really hard on that!

I just got word that they're on the way from Australia! A joint effort between Cathy Penton Design (charms) and Bari J. (art)! I'll let you know as soon as they arrive.

Between Etsy & Flickr I'm going to go broke.

Julie Found me on Flickr today and added me as a contact. I took a peeky at her pics and went gaga crazy!
This is why...

I immediately went to her Etsy Shop & click, in the cart it went. I Can Not Wait to get it!

The same thing happened the other day when I got a message from Teresa of French Poppy. I popped over there to her Etsy shop and clickidy-click, click, click. Got some gorgeous tea towels. I have ZERO impulse control.

But admit it, you're drooling.

Daphne's Cottage Update and Sale:

Just wanted to let you all know the status of Daphne's Cottage. I know some of you have asked what's going on with Elizabeth and her Mom.

Unfortunately, Elizabeth's Mom, Jane, has been diagnosed with cancer.

Daphne's cottage will be put on hold for the meantime.
Elizabeth is therefore liquidating a lot of the merchandise that is on her site including paintings, art and jewelry. There is no shopping cart on the site, but you can call or email to order anything on there excluding Bari J. bags which are apparently sold. And Elizabeth says to ignore the pricing. She'll be selling most of it at or near wholesale cost.

She can be reached at elizabeth@daphnescottage.com or either of these numbers:
352-622-8449
352-361-7269

Please say a prayer for Jane and for Elizabeth and her family.

Here's a little of what's on the Daphne's Cottage site:

When we woke up this morning it was beautifully foggy, and I took my regular walk with Isabelle, our yellow Lab. It does this in the fall, thick gorgeous fog turns to bright sunshine by midmorning.

I started the walk wishing the time away because I had a million things to get to back here, but as we reached the top of a hill and I looked down into the valley, all I could see was mist. And I remembered why I love Fall in Northern California so much.

For months after we moved here from Chicago (an unbelievable 11 years ago now), all I wanted to do was go home. But it was Fall weather, hiking and that incredible sense of renewal it all gives me that made me want to stay.

I'll try not to go into the gory details... As you all with kids know, as soon as they go back to school they come home with all sorts of disgusting boogers. Literally. I don't know about you, but I think my immune system must be compromised because while they are just out for a day or so, when their little boogers infect me, I am down for the count. ie: I spent Sunday through Tuesday and even part of Wednesday on the couch.

Every once in a while I'd wander in here and decide I could take it. But dizziness bowled me over and back to the couch I went. I decided it was probably not worth cutting a finger off with a rotary blade.

And this was how half of the week evaporated before my eyes.

Then yesterday, Ms. iMac decided (or it may have been iMail) that it was not necessary for recipients to be able to actually view the attachments I was sending them. Hence, I spent the day, writing back and forth to various clients, "Can you see it now?". By about five pm I realized it must be the mail app, and went directly online to my server to send the pieces... and wowee... it worked. Aargh. If I only thought of that at 9am.

Another day... gone. Not sure where they go.

None the less, there was still one day left, I was sure I could get the entire list done today. There was hope yet.

Not so fast, Missy!

Today was a "Teacher Work Day". Excuse me, but how many of these do they need anyways?

Kids at home, a mattress delivery, a long back up of laundry, several other various and sundry people through the house, rush a slew of cuts up to a seamstress, and Blammo! Day gone.

What's the deal with that?

The deal is that certain people were forced to eat their choice of grilled cheese sandwiches or a corn dog for dinner or starve because I couldn't take it anymore. Suck it up, folks. I made some broccoli to go with it. What more do you want?

"Am I done whining yet?" Yes, fine. I did manage to get a little tiny bit up on the website (there are about 20 belts, a bijillion keyfobs and several more bags waiting their turn)...

Here are the two lovelies I managed to extract from their background and make shiny and pretty enough for all to see...

It's amazing how long this all takes. Is it ok to pay a 12 year old to take pictures, and spend hours upon hours photoshopping them? No? Hmmm...

Maybe I can teach Super Husband. I wonder if he'll go for that. I better wait until he's over the boogers. He seems to have just caught it. If you think I was whining, just wait. You'll probably be able to hear it from there. He's already asked for homemade chicken soup and announced he's going to bed at 8:30. Ugh. It's going to be a long night.