Bari J.

As most of you know, I've been a stitching fool this summer. I've finally finished the Sisters embroidery and just have to finish up instructions and it will be a PDF pattern as promised... next week? I hope?

I also have promised you the Beachside Holiday quilt pdf pattern, and that is still forthcoming... I haven't forgotten.

In other news, I've started filling the shop with really great embroidery items. I now have my favorite interfacing, Heat and Bond woven cotton fusible in 45", plus there are great transferring tools such as transfer-eze and sulky pens, my favorite embroidery needles, plus 4 and 5" hoops! 

Also, be on the look out for the upcoming Quilts and More Magazine! I have a handbag kit in it that will be available on my website! 

That's all for now... be sure to visit We Love French Knots for awesome embroidery inspiration, reviews and more.

This weekend my sewing fun was to get ready for my online class with Rick Rack. (It's time to go sign up or miss out, btw.) Though I just had to finish one, it's more like making 3 bags because I have to make examples of the steps. I finished the sample in Paris Apartment yesterday, and I'm just crazy about the results on this bag. 

BTW, I like how online "school" works... Once you download the materials, they are yours to use at your leisure. i.e.: You don't have to do this during "class time" or all at once. I didn't say that in my last post, so I wanted to make that clear. In case you are busy enjoying summer, working, getting ready for school to start again or you know, generally have a life.

I hope you'll sign up for the class... you'll learn how to put in a zipper using a really easy method! I know there's quite a few of you who are still refusing to put in zippers (you know who you are), and frankly you are upsetting me because velcro is not your friend no matter how convenient it is on the shoes of toddlers and the very elderly. 

Look! I finally found metal zippers at Joann's! Fer-shizzle! I'm so angry I couldn't find them when I was working on my book. Gah! I stocked up this time. Ok, I bought all the zippers in the 18" natural color that they had out.

Dang, if I couldn't resist the pom-poms again. Just when I thought something I was making would turn out looking sophisticated, those pom-poms call my name again... "Bari... you know you love us... why don't you put us on your bag?". I can't resist their siren call.

PS if you just can't do the class this project is in my book, Inspired to Sew. I'm just saying. 

 

 

Were you wondering where you could get some Paris Apartment Fabric? Cause I know you want to make a Bari J. Green Living Market Bag in it, yo. (snort. I said, "yo" and it wasn't in a sentence with yo-yo.)

I updated the photo for the PDF pattern in some Paris Apartment fabric. You can get this pattern in my shop, fat quarter shop and on patternspot.com. 

Whoa... sidetracked again. My point was ... I was getting to ... I'm making a list of all who carry Paris Apartment Fabric. Below is who I know has it so far. I know there are more stores that have it cause I hear a whole bunch of it sold, so if you are a store who has it, be sure to let me know and I'll add it to the list that I'm about to put on the sidebar. And thank you, btw, for stocking it in your stores. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you are happy with this line.

Fat Quarter Shop

Hawthorne Threads

Hip Fabrics

Pink Chalk Fabrics

Sew Mama Sew

In other news, I've started posting embroidery stitch videos on We Love French Knots, so it's time to high tail it over there and get you a look! The big old Grand Launch is about to happen, and you are going to need to know the stitches to win goodies.

 

Today I'm drawing feet. And sofas. And drinking cups. And whatever is in front of me. And there's a reason for this.

I've never gone to art school. Since I started down the road of designing fabric it's been something I haven't liked to say. But I'm saying it today because despite that, I can finally and profoundly recognize that I do in fact have talent. (And don't write me hate mail about being stuck up, it almost hurts to say I have talent.)

Here's why I can finally say this. This weekend, rooming with Tula, I had an epiphany. I had expressed to her that there are certain elements of drawing I've struggled with due to not being trained. And because of that, when I have a moment of brilliance, it seems like it was magic... Like what I've come up with happened accidentally. There is something innately painful about that feeling. And quite frankly, that makes me feel fraudulent. Almost like it wasn't me who created what I did.

After describing what I had been experiencing in a late night chat, Tula offered an impromptu lesson on a couple skills I might had learned had I gone to art school. After just a couple minutes, bells went off in my head.

I have in fact been doing what she was showing me. Intuitively and without words to describe what I do, I manage to eek out art.

In Tula's words, art school gives you a language to describe what you do. And with that knowledge and tons of practice you are able to pull from that base to create on demand without the struggle and trial and error I sometimes go through. While I know how to do my work and do it well, I want more. I want to know more.

Of course, right now I don't have the time or money to actually go to art school. I've got two girls to send to college shortly after all.

But what I do have is absolute resolve, infinite persistence and books. Lots of books.

And so I have enrolled in the Bari J school of art. It involves tons of reading and lots of drawing. And today I started with a drawing of one of my feet.

No laughing at how chunky it looks allowed. Feet are hard to draw.

Portland Modern Quilt Guild quilts at Sisters Outdoor Quilt Festival

Hi there. Posting from my phone again.

This has been an excellent week. I taught wonderful and interesting women and learned a lot myself. I roomed with Tula Pink here in Sisters and got to know her better. She's such a doll. I just totally love her. You know, when you are assigned a room mate you hardly know it can be sorta scary. I think we lucked out though. We got along just great.

Yesterday's class was tons of fun. It was called "get ready for the holidays" and was a gift making class. Students were able to choose from 5 projects and do two.

This sweet lady did the ruffled belt from my book. And others made pot holders and aprons. Love this one made from Paris Apartment. She decided to add a touch of collage too.

Today I'll be hitching a ride home with another teacher headed back to the bay area. But not before I head out to see the festival! More on that later.

Keep up with my day on twitter! http://www.twitter.com/barij

Tree Quilt Love
It was a great day. So thrilled that students learned a lot and made great quilts. Loved being with each of you, if you are reading this. And big hugs to Phyliss who brought in her finished Garden Tea Party quilt from last year. What a thrill!

And this student has made a pine tree!

Coming along...
Here's another student's composition. Cool, right?

I'm off in Sisters, OR at Quilters Affair where I'm teaching. Do you miss me?
Yesterday was the first half of the Tree of Dreams quilt I'm teaching. They'll get close to finishing them today. I have 12 ladies in the class. Four from Australia.
This is the start of one of their projects. Great fabric choices, I think. Will post finished project later! Have a great day!

PS it's my roomie, Tula Pink's birthday! Go to her blog and tell her happy happy! (Sorry no link. I'm on my phone. You'll need to google her.)

Have a great day!