Bari J.

Another Monday, another project at my sewing drop-in at the Quilter's Inn.

This little guy is for a sample at quilt market... I have very little fabric to work with right now, so I had to get a little creative with the bias binding. Now I wish I hadn't used the green on the binding, so, next time... I do like the effect on the front of the multi-colors. This was fun to pattern, but don't laugh, it took me all day to get it just right. First the thumb was too big, then too small, and then curve between them thumb and fingers had to be designed to be easy to sew. Yowzie. Once again, thank goodness for Janis... always saving the day, my friend! Thank you millions of times!

Note: If you ever get a chance to take a class from Janis or Margaret, do it! I can't tell you how much I've learned over the years from them both.

 

Poor Super Husband. It's his birthday, and I can barely concentrate enough to look up and say hello.

I knew my strike-offs were coming today, and I couldn't wait, and then they arrived! We picked them up from the UPS store before heading to get some Indian food for lunch, which meant eating lunch with me was probably torture because that's all I could think or talk about.

I really am going to make some red velvet cupcakes for him, and in fact, I did make popovers this a.m. for breakfast (when in doubt, bake), but I am still marveling over this actual real fabric with my actual real name and logo on the selvedge. Holy moly. You can understand, right?

I had the nicest walk with Isabelle this morning, and took all of these pictures with my iPhone. 

I spend the day on Mondays sewing with a group of women at the local quilt store. (This is what I worked on this week.) As I was sewing, I was thinking about the topic in this post. Everyone in the class was doing something different and creating in different ways. Which made me think about where ideas come from. Sometimes it's pretty mysterious.

As I create, I wonder, did this idea just pop into my head? Did I dream it? Did I see it somewhere before? The latter of these three makes me anxious. "Did I see this somewhere before?"

Like all of us, I want to be different. And I certainly want to think that my ideas are my own, that they are unique. But we are all inspired by trends and from the things we see around us.

Is the saying, "There are no new ideas" true? 

For example, it's clear that there are elements of historical design in many of our contemporary designers work. 

But to me, each one of these designers has done something new. And moreover, each, though possibly influenced by the same things, is special and different in their own way. 

I am influenced in different ways by different designers, nature, pop culture and other references.

Often I can start with an idea that I realize later came from somewhere in particular, but once I am done with it, it has morphed into something new. 

I think that is truly the base of creativity. 

We see, we are inspired and we recreate with our own special impression of something that possibly has been "done before" or even more exciting, we come up with something all-together different.

 

Ok, so now that you know how my little brain twists and turns and talks to itself...

On a totally different note: I am obliged to tell you... ok, I'm totally excited to tell you... that I just listed two new Frannie Patchwork bags on my website at a great new price of $74. Yay.

 

No one every said I was a morning person (really. not. ever.)

On a Saturday morning I get particularly nasty if you want me to be up before 8 am. So when I had to take my daughter to an event this morning by 9 am and get up at 7:00 am I was a little snippy, one might say.

Super Husband was conveniently sick is sick. He sounds and looks like something the cat dragged in.

I had to be on clean up patrol for the event. This involves dragging a large bin of garbage across hither and to yon to pitch it. Plus taking the used icky coffee cups that they people don't bother to throw in the trash and do it for them and other disgusting stuff. For someone with a thing about cooties, this is an issue.

I spent the whole time complaining in my head to myself about what a pain in the tush it all was. Gritting my teeth too. I wasn't nice. And I sincerely hope no one noticed. If you did, apologies all around (sort of).

By 10 am I was wishing desperately I was home. 

It's sad how little tolerance I have.

Especially since, the truth is, the time went faster than I thought it would, and the kids and I spent the afternoon sewing. I made the patchwork portion of Frannie bags (the rest of it goes out to a seamstress) and the kids each took an end of two yards of fleece to stitch the blanket stitch all around it.

They swear they are going to share it and cozy up on the couch. Yeah. Right. I'll believe that when I see it.

So, now, what's next? Cleaning up my own darn mess, cooking dinner and staying as far away from Cootie-Man on the couch as possible.

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

 

Lorna. #107! Just email your address to Bari (@) BariJonline.com and I'll send it right out!

Thanks to all for entering!

It's all about better prices. 

It's one crazy economy going on out there. And I, like everyone else, have been putting in the time lately analyzing and considering, considering, analyzing. 

I've spent many years getting my products to reach a substantial level of quality. All of my pieces are backed in a heavy canvas that is professionally applied and each is made on industrial machines. I include things like real patent leather and real leather braided handles. There are purse feet on all of my pieces. And everything is made in the U.S.

This makes for a very expensive product. Which frankly, has driven me crazy for years.

Originally, when I started this business, I had in mind selling directly to consumers and eliminating the wholesale middle man in order to keep prices in check. But somewhere along the line, be it pride, be it bad advice, or whatever it was, I fell away from this and began selling mainly to retail stores.

So, all this to say, that after many moons considering what I should do, I have decided to suspend my wholesale business and sell directly to you via my website. Which means, I am happily back to lower pricing and my original business plan. 

I additionally intend to spend a fair amount of time focusing on getting more of my designs licensed which will allow me to focus a bit more on the creative end. (ie: if you're interested, let me know)

Insert big sigh of relief here.

I will still wholesale my sewing patterns, and of course, my upcoming line of fabric will be available wholesale to quilt shops through Windham:

Windham Fabrics
Windham Home
Baum Textile Mills
812 Jersey Ave
Jersey City, NJ  07310
201-659-0444 x103
201-659-9719 fax

And a picture (because of my standing rule of no posts w/o pictures)... Isn't it purty here??? Look at those gorgeous green hills! I just can't miss Chicago staring at that.

Oh, she is baby! Too cool. Much cooler than I ever was. Anna made these yesterday by cutting out motifs and glueing them on with permanent fabric glue. The back is just written in sharpie. Easy-peasy... and you gotta' appreciate her composition. I like her "Anna-tude" (until she uses it on me, that is)! 

Anna (older daughter) beat me to the messing. I think these jeans are going to turn out awful cute! I'll of course give you a finished shot when they do.

Stop. Take. A. Photo. Bari. Cleaned. Her. Studio.

I just got my apron that was featured in "Apron*ology" from Stampington back. It was also featured in one of their original ads soliciting submissions. I'd forgotten all about it. So, I'm giving it away. Just leave a comment on this post and you will be entered to win it. I'll randomly pick a winner on Friday, March 13 (since 13 is my favorite number) by using this website.

I swear, does anything make you happier than giving stuff away?