Bari J.

Exciting news! C&T's "Little Birds" has been released for pre-order. I'm very proud to be part of this design collective book compiled by Susanne Woods. Little Birds contains a wonderful array of projects from many designers, and truly, I think you are going to love it. Here's a sneak peek...

 

   

 

I've been one lucky chicky lately, and have been somewhat remiss in handing out the Thank You's... at least publicly... I always write a nice email and feel guilty that I haven't hand written a note, but ...

I do think some pubic displays of affection are in order! Forgive, the length. I've been really lucky and grateful to be featured, and I'm also late enough posting about it that they have piled up. 

First, today, I was featured on Today's Creative Blog! Sweet. I've always wanted to be featured on Kim's blog! Picture dancing going on... Cabbage Patch. Thank you so much, Kim! I'm going to add this to my side bar right away. A blinky! Yay!

And then in no particular order (because I can't remember the order)...

Thank you to (three more Kim's or Kimberly's)

Kim at True up for the wonderful interview that you can find here! 

And Kimberly at Spoonflower who also interviewed me... here.

And Kimberly at Kimberly Shaw Graphics (to die for water color tea cup... be still my heart... cards) who won a fat quarter stack and blogged what she did with some of it here! I loooooove this!

And the ladies of Fat Quarter Shop put up a little post I wrote... here. (((Note: hours later... Kimberly Jolly owns The Fat Quarter Shop!!!!)))

And my family over at Windham posted a little blog entry I wrote too... Like the header? I may have designed it... ;) 

 

Plus, one more, and if I'm forgetting anything, forgive me... I'm sure to remember right after I hit "post".

The Laura Zarrin (an incredible illustrator) also won a stack and wrote about what she was doing with it.

Thanks, you all!!!

PS... AGGGGG! Damnation! I did forget a very important thank you!!!

Thank you to Bowie at Print & Pattern!!! How could I forget that? I practically begged for her to feature me! Been reading Print and Pattern since I started Bari J. in '04 or was it '05?  

Thank you, Bowie! 

I'll just say it. I've been holed up in here for months making projects for and writing a book. 

 

But it's not fair for me to just announce that with out telling the whole story. Because the world works in mysterious ways. And I think you may find it interesting and somewhat intriguing how this all came about. Make of it what you will. But for those of you who are thinking that you would like to do the same thing, I hope you will be inspired by this little tale.

Something surreal happened when I got back from Quilt Market last fall. I'd just signed a contract with Windham Fabrics to license my designs, when I get an email from the new Acquisitions Editor at C&T Publishing, Susanne Woods, requesting a book proposal. She had been reading my blog for a while and had just realized that I lived practically down the road.

My response to myself was, "Me? I can't write a book. Besides, I just got some really good news, when is the sky going to fall?". 

My outer response was more like, "Well, let's find out what this is all about." (Remember that whole stepping through doors that open thing I've talked about before?). Susanne and I met for lunch. Some of you may know C&T for their traditional quilting books, but alas the vision at C&T is changing a bit. Susanne explained that C&T is starting in a new direction with "a fresh modern aesthetic" (wait till you guys see what that is all about!), and she thought that I would fit in well with this vision. Hmmm. Who knew?

That was October. Fast forward a couple of months... (the months that I spent procrastinating until Super Husband got on me about it: "Why the heck haven't you turned in that proposal?", was about how it went). I wrote a proposal in December, turned it in in January and by March was looking at a contract (with my head spinning in circles).

And between that, finishing fabric line number two, putting on a bat mitzvah, a bunch of extraneous stuff you have to do to promote a fabric line, I have been consumed since. 

That's why the stack of fabrics from Moda (in a previous post), from Windham, and from Michael Miller (above). The bonus of writing a book is fabric that gets to go in the book comes to you in big boxes from generous companies... who I can't thank enough!

So, that's my story. Lot's more about this adventure to come. 

I promised more pictures from market, didn't I? This here is the name-dropping issue. 

And, since my friend Cindy says there are absolutely no pictures of me on my blog, and that is an issue for her, the first one is of me... and April Cornell. Yes, I have no shame, I dragged April Cornell over to the Windham booth going, "Look what I made!". No shame at all. 

Actually, April was really gracious and so kind. She even organized a Twitter-Meet-up. Which by the way is the coolest thing ever about Twitter. April tweeted "Twitter meet-up 10am Saturday, Moda booth." and a ton of us showed up. Seriously cool. And why I loooove tweeting and reported over Twitter the whole time I was at market.

Oh, and here's who I dragged April away from ... nervy, huh? Brandon Mably. Sorry, Brandon. 

Btw, I have no idea how I got into this picture. I meant to be taking a picture of them together, when someone said, "Hey, don't you want to be in the picture?". Uh. No. But. O.K.

Speaking of Brandon, I asked Kaffe Fassett if I could take his picture, and he said yes, but unfortunately he was so engrossed in his work, he didn't look up for the shot. Awww. He also was very gracious with my bumbling and bubbling. I was a little overjoyed to meet him. Eeeks. 

Here's a great shot! This is Myrinda from Fabric Hound and Kristen from Gocks Frocks with first Project Runway winner and fabric designer, Jay McCarroll.

Now, I know I mentioned something about showing you my own little spot...

This was the original quilt I presented when I showed the line to Windham. It's on it's way to France right now! I'll let you know when I hear more about this. Very exciting fun stuff.

And, here is a bit more... 

Well, that's all folks. Until next market. BTW, it looks like maybe, possibly, likely, I think my second line will debut there. More about that and some other unbelievable stuff later! 

I gave up and stopped categorizing these pictures. They're all crazy mixed up, and that's the way they're going to stay. (Man, I have an uncanny way of creating more work for myself... I'm trying to give that up, but it's vuuuuurrrry difficult for me.).

Below is my new friend, Genevieve. She's also a new designer at Windham with her beautiful Collection, Flower Bucket. Genevieve also makes the most adorable jewelry. You can see some of it here. Wood, leather, total cute.

Next is Joanna Figueroa's booth, Fig Tree Quilts. Joanna is a local gal, and also a friend. She was so much part of my inspiration to get started. Her booth, btw, won best merchandising. You can see why.

Here is a shot of Jenean Morrison's marketing piece for her newest line for Free Spirit called Picnic Parade.

And here, a piece I nearly fell over when I saw by Paula Prass. It's in her new line, Summer Soiree for Michael Miller. I roomed with Paula, her daughter Jennifer AND Sandi Henderson. Four gals. One room. Tons of fun. And Miss Sandi... had a flip cam. She's in big trouble if she ever shows her recordings though. Makeup free and in pajamas. Hmmppff.

And, last (for today) but not least, Maw Bell Designs GORGEOUS quilt pattern. To die for, huh? And there's more more more to come. I didn't even show my very own space yet, did I?

Oh, you guys! Did I ever have fun. I Tweeted and photographed and socialized my way through quilt market. And I have so much to report back to you! It's going to take me days to report it all. Day one: just a few of the WONDERFUL sewing patterns that were at this market! You are going to loooove it! Links to all the websites are below.

LINKS:

Favorite Things

Sue Spargo

Indygo Junction

If you'd have asked me five years ago what I would be doing today, I would never have answered, I'll be designing fabric. No way. I was a stay at home mom, and prior to that a graphic designer and copy writer. I didn't have much confidence in myself, let alone know what I was capable of doing. 

I couldn't possibly have guessed. But, life leads you in the most unexpected directions. Doors open and you walk through, or you don't is what I've always said. How different life would be today if I hadn't watched Alicia Paulson on HGTV that day about five years ago, and thought, "Gee, I think I'll make myself a handbag.". How different it would be today if I didn't go to the Country Living event last year and be told to speak what you want aloud. I would never have said that I wanted to design fabric aloud because I was afraid that people would think, "Oh, yeah, another one that wants to design fabric, yada, yada.".

So, today, when I got this Hancocks of Paducah catalog, I was pretty bowled over. "My fabric" is on the cover. Something I drew, something I created. And then to open it and be on a page next to my hero, Kaffe Fassett, oh, come on! You've got to be kidding me! 

If you ask me now what I'll be doing in five years, I'll tell you that I haven't the faintest idea. Who knows what doors will open, which ones I'll choose to walk through and which ones I'll just pass by.

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?

 

Thank you to my friend, Amy Powers at Inspire Company. I'm honored to be featured on your wonderful site! You "inspire" me.

XOXO,

Bari

 

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!

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.

OK. I admit it. The above headline was just my excuse to sing, (imagine a vocal warm-up) "me-me-me-me-me-me-me-me!".

While I do try to not toot my own horn too exasperatingly much, I could not overcome the urge to show you this. (Yes, I have found yet another way to justify my self-involvement.)

Here's my neat-o' news... Stampington is recruiting artwork for their new publication, ("Apron*ology")... the working title which I have to say I like very much. They gave this flyer/poster out at CHA with my apron on it! And they credited me too, which is a total bonus. I've been featured in this and that over the years, but for whatever reason, this just really tickles me.

As you can see on this flyer, they are officially looking for apron submissions. I know you can't see the whole dealy-do with info here, so click this link for the pdf file. Download ApronFlyer.pdf