Bari J.

Introducing Emmy Grace

Introducing Emmy Grace

First, before I forget to mention it... this line has TWO voiles and FOUR knits. (yay, substrates!!!)

Look at the line sheets below for which pieces come in knit or voile as well as quilt weight.

Additionally, this line ships to stores in May and stores and manufacturers can order it now from Art Gallery Fabrics.

This line is so special to me, I don't really have the words to express it. My oldest daughter, Anna Elise, turns 18 next month and will head away to college. Emmy Grace is 16 now. She is in high school and she has a job. Life is so very different than it was in those magic years when they were little. I can't express how I miss them.

This line started with this photo... It's Emmy. 11 years old fishing in Lake Powell on a family trip where we rented a house boat.

Without further adeiu (because I'm crying now) here is Emmy Grace. Created for both of my beautiful and oh so grown up daughters. 

 

Below... the Half Moon Boat pattern will be a free pattern to use with the line! Wait until you see how easy it is to make those circles!

 

 

 

11 things I learned and re-learned just yesterday.

11 things I learned or re-learned just yesterday...

1. If you pick up the phone and ask, you are likely to receive. (this goes with my mantra, "You don't ask, you don't get." Say that to yourself 10 times each morning. 

2. I can take my designs that are finished in Photoshop and bring them to illustrator and update the colors. That one was a big "DUH".

3. Sitting in front of the computer in the same position for 12 hours will hurt your neck. And back. And other stuff too.

4. Productivity breeds productivity.

5. I am constantly losing my coffee cup. By time I find it, its stone cold. Even hours later, I deem it fit to heat back up in the microwave.

6. I love what I do. No. I really really LOVE what I do. Sometimes I have to remind myself of that because I'll get lost in the struggle instead of just enjoying the ride.

7. I have seriously awesome friends. I knew that already. But they are more awesome every day.

8. My kids can pick up ingredients for dinner at the grocery store, drive home and make it themselves.

9. My dogs always lie down where they know I will trip on them. They are doing this on purpose. It's conspiracy.

10. I'm addicted to Pinterest. So much so, that I am really going to have to park my phone away from the bed when I should be sleeping. Also, so much so, that I was in Pinterest Jail last night. (That's when you have too much action on there all at once and they think you are a trolling spammer so they lock up your account. Ooops.)

11. I used to love blogging, and I stopped because there were so many people doing it. I've decided to remember why I love it and not care what anyone else is doing.

Here's a cell phone cover piece I worked on late last night because I need a photo to fill this space. Words with no photos is still as boring as it was when I started this blog on May 1, 2007 and made "no photoless posts" a rule.

Bijoux Maxi Dress

I have so much to tell you about quilt market and so many pictures to show, but this sweet face wanted a Bijoux maxi dress for the last day of school (tomorrow), and I couldn't resist her charms. Look at that gorgeous smile... she just got her braces off! For those of you who noticed, yes, she has taken over my new purse.

I totally winged this dress... Basically, I hemmed the top using my hem foot. Then I added 1/4" elastic by zig zag stitching it on just under the hem (the elastic is just slightly shorter than her measurement). Then I added the skirt which is simply the width of the fabric gathered just a touch. I did the elastic the same way at the waist. I put one seam all the way down the back after the top and skirt were sewn together. I used half inch seam allowances which was a good thing because we found after she put it on that it needed a slit in the back. So she can actually, you know... walk. I simply opened the seam at the bottom 12", slit the seam allowance to the stitching at the top, and folded the slit in 1/4" twice, and top stitched all the way around the opening. I back stitched several times at the top of the opening so that the stitching in the seam doesn't come out. And, no, I didn't bother matching the print. Don't judge.

Prints used: Bijoux Dancing Harvest in Guava for the skirt and Bijoux Embroidery's Fortune Rose for the top.

Happy sewing! 

Ahhhh... Days like today...

Ahhhhh... Days like today...

should happen more often. 

Today was a rarity around here. I drove my kids to school ... in my pajamas. I didn't even bother putting a bra on (much to their chagrin). When I got back I had breakfast and coffee, painted for a bit, and then I sat on the sofa and embroidered. All. Day. And I was at *work*, people... work. Seriously. The embroidery is for a pattern that's coming out this spring... so I can definitely say I was working. On the sofa, in my pajamas. Bliss.

At 2:30 pm I picked the girls up from school (still in my pajamas), and then sat on the sofa an hour more and embroidered. At 4pm I went to the gym where I took a grueling and totally awesome spin class. 

And now I'm showered and back in PJs!!! 

I quickly fed the troops soup and sandwiches for dinner, and I'm off to embroider until bedtime. Or paint. It's behind me calling my name.

Perfect. Day.

As far as Super Husband is concerned, however, I worked my butt off. I know you won't tell.

Play While I'm Away

Dear Blog,

It has been a long time since I last wrote. I'm sorry, and I've missed you. 

We were in Arizona last week. And I didn't even say goodbye or leave you with something fun to do. To top it off, the only pics I have are of my sister's son who is adorable, but since he's not mine, I don't feel right posting those even though I know you will oooh and ahhh because he is the most adorable baby in the entire world. I'm not biased. Really. He is. Edit: Except for my brother's baby who ties for first place in the cutest baby in the entire world contest.

Oh! But I did take a photo on the road of my two babies! Too bad they hate posing for pictures. We always take the dogs with us so we are on the look out for Good Places to Let Them Do Their Thing. On our last trip we found this amazing orchard at the end of a dead end street. This time, I was sure to take a photo. I'm positive we are not supposed to let them out there, but ...ahem... we do pick up after them so I hope Farmer Brown never comes after us with a shot gun for trespassing. 

At any rate, this here is what you get when you ask 12 and 14 year old sisters to pose for a photo after they've been in a car for five hours and still have eight left to go. I say, "For crying out loud! Just go stand together over there and look like you like each other! One, Two, Three!". Snap. Sigh. Give up.

 

In other news, I'm getting ready to go to Sisters on Sunday. So I have been making extra samples, copying patterns and generally planning my classes. In the middle of this I was asked (and I'm glad I was, trust me) to submit some art work to someone ... but within three days. So, I gratefully scrambled to get all that done. Pretty happy with the results too. Last night I stayed up until two in the morning. I don't think I've done that since college! I mean stayed up to work. But I did what I had to do, and frankly, I loved every minute of it. However, due to the stress, my darned chin broke out again. (I feel the need to say this so if any of you see me Sisters and you only see me at events, where I am generally stressed out, you will know that I don't always look like I have the measles.)

But, I digress. Before I go I wanted to leave you with at least a little something to make up for my desertion last week, but then I never got anything done to give you. And then I remembered... I have been meaning to post about this for a month! Actually since Spring market in May. I did a little project with my Art Journal line for Sew4home. I just love their website. It's full of fabulous projects. 

I did two for them. A pinwheel playmat and a little burp cloth. I hope you will make them and enjoy.

And btw, you can get some Art Journal fabric from many online stores including Fabritopia, Fat Quarter Shop, Hawthorne Threads and more! Just saying.

 

 

Well, have a great holiday! See you in a week ... or less if I figure out how to get photos off my camera and on to my laptop while I'm away. (I know. I'm a genius.) 

XO,

Bari
 

 

My kids are very talented ... if I must say so myself.

WARNING... BEEP BEEP ... WARNING... 

The following message is delivered by a bragging mother and it might make you feel like vomiting or otherwise becoming ill. You have been forewarned. I take no responsibility for any negative response you might have.

So... back to that jabber about my kids being talented and all: 

The girls and I were back at painting class this evening. And as you can see... they are clearly gifted. Anna can free hand just about anything. I have no sense when it comes to being able to look at a picture and then draw it. She can do it in her sleep. (As a side note: she's been doing it since Kindergarten. I noticed she would place her hand with her pencil in it above a drawing she wanted to do, move her hand in as if tracing it, and then place the pencil on her paper and draw... she's a genius, I know!) And I simply can't get over Emily's painting. I know I'm her mom, but I think it looks downright professional. 

This is Anna's work in progress based on a Japanese cartoon:

 

And here is Emily's finished Cabin in Winter painting.

 

I know, right? They are incredible!

I on the other hand, required much attention from our teacher. She may have been the tiniest bit frustrated by my lack of following directions. I'm just saying. 

This is my rose in progress. A bit cartoony. It needs several more layers of paint including a glaze plus I totally think it requires a stem because it totally looks like a floating rose here. **sigh**

 

BTW, we have a fantabulous teacher, Kathy McCartney. If you are in the SF Bay Area you might want to take a class...check out her work here.
 
 
 

Vintage Stash Rehash

I have issues. Vintage bling hoarding issues. Even when I say, "Man, I've totally run out of vintage goodies for my bags". That really means, "There's nothing I feel like using... right now.".

Last night I was searching online for a piece of jewelry to go with an outfit that I want to wear at market next week. And I soon realized that even if I did find that fabulous piece, it was never going to arrive here on time. So... because I have SO much spare time, out came the goodies and the old jewelry making materials... (Did I ever tell you I used to make and sell jewelry from salvaged pieces? No? Wellza, I did. It was like a thousand years ago. My youngest was two or so when I started so let's see... it was almost a decade ago.)

Anyways, I digress... I got out the old jewelry making materials and fussed and mussed with it until I came up with a couple options. 

I like 'em, but I am super pleased because Anna called dibs on one (didn't matter which one) for "When you get back from market, Mom.". 13 year old girl likes it. Now, that's a compliment (Don't tell her I said so... she'll take it back.)

 

Murphy's Lawlessness

Murphy's law. I call it "Magical Thinking". And as a rule, I'm against magical thinking. What I mean by that is that I think that things don't just happen. I think that we make them happen. Just sayin'.

But over the past week, a series of unfortunate events (really just a couple) have caused me to look at that Magical Murphy's Law. {{{BTW, an aside and another reason not to like it... It's a negative law. So in the way of magical thinking, I think it's a bummer. If I'm going to think magically, it should be good things. Not: "if anything can go wrong it will.". Seriously, that's ugly.}}} But none-the-less here's how things went down:

1. I'd been rushing like a demon to meet a deadline, sewing and writing away when ... POOF! The circuit board on my sewing machine decides it's time to call it quits. 

I looked over my shoulder. Murphy, are you there? 

No. No. No. No magical thinking. At least not the negative sort. 

I called The Sewing Machine Shop in Walnut Creek, and happened to get the owner when he came to pick up the mail. He was just stopping in as he just had knee surgery. Anyways, I explained my situation, and he graciously lent me a machine until he can fix mine. 

The result of which is... this infinitesimally small peek (you are looking at about two inches of it) at this project... See that pretty Laura Gunn fabric?! To die for.

2. I lost the pen to my graphics tablet which is my life line to drawing. Of course, I really needed it right then. I had to think quick in order to save one of my favorite designs in fabric line number two from the cutting room floor... which is a cute story in and of itself and I'll tell you about that when I can show you the whole line in a finished form... which I think is really really soon. But I digress... Murph's law had me loosing a pen just when I needed it. Was I actually going to let him get to me again?

First of all, dear Murphy, I'd drawn my little hand off about a week ago, and found the perfect element I'd already drawn and finished to add to a pattern. (I'm sticking my tongue out and blowing razzes here.) Ha. I saved the "fabric pattern from having it's little head chopped off. 

(a peek at somethin' or another in the works, but it's not the one that almost got chopped.)

Then even though I knew it was a trick, I decided to use this so-called law in my favor. I figured this was the best way to find my old pen. I was already on the magical thinking tear so what the heck, I'll give in... I ordered a new pen that afternoon, and wouldn't you know... found the old one the next day. I'm keeping the new one as a back-up.

3. After Murphy had wrecked havoc twice in a week, I got a letter from my child at overnight camp that started "As I write this I am crying...". So of course this causes a flood of tears from me. (I don't know where my daughter gets her dramatic streak.) I wanted to rush right up there and get her. But. I think. And I realize that this note is written the first night of camp, she's tired, she's in new surroundings. And Murphy's law would tell me that by the time I got up there, she'd be having a grand old time and wondering what all the fuss is about. I'll wait a day. And I was right. Today's letter from her had a really happy tone. She's canoeing, hiking, and told me not to worry because she is drinking enough water and eating the food.

Ha. Magical thinking, Murphy's Law ... You've got nothin' on me.

PS... Just so you know, if that letter hadn't come today, I'd be in the car right now, feeling guilty that I left her there for an extra day. Murphy's law be damned.

All in a day's work

 

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.

A Wicked Week

It was all of my own doing.

I didn't check the calendar before I hit "purchase" and "confirm". 

Last month, in lieu of a birthday party for Emily, we decided that as a family we would go see "Wicked!". So in an excited flurry and afraid I wouldn't get tickets anywhere near her birthday, I got the ones closest in date which were this past Tuesday.

But I didn't check the calendar first as I was confident we couldn't possibly have something going on on a Tuesday night.

And "we" didn't. But Emily, the birthday girl, did. She was scheduled to go to her fifth grade outdoor ed event for four days starting that morning.

So after a month of trying to sell the tickets, I came up with a plan. I would drive out to the camp (2.5hrs one way) with the class, spend the day there with Emily as parents were invited to do anyways, and then go to the city to see Wicked. Super Husband and Anna would take the train in, we'd go to dinner and then see the show. We'd go home for the night and then I'd make the trek with Emily back to camp the next morning.

All of this worked out perfectly. Until... the show ended... and we made our way onto the dreaded Bay Bridge. 

I was totally bragging that I got us to the highway without getting lost ... la la la... when we came to a complete stop. The never-ending construction was in fact still taking place at 11 PM. And in fact, we were being routed off the ramp, back into the city, up a couple blocks, and then back onto the loathsome bridge.

We finally made our way home at 1 AM. And I had promised that I would leave to take Emily to camp by 7. 

Which I did. We finally got to camp at 9:30 in the morning, and I actually napped in the car for half an hour praying she wouldn't see me before taking off to go home. 

And you know what? Despite the fact that I was totally exhausted, we had an incredible time. The day at camp was lovely (the scenery was something out of a dream), Emily and Anna were both beaming with excitement through the whole show, we laughed our way through dinner and the kids slept the whole way home. Plus Emily certainly had her cake and ate it too. 

Super Husband thinks I'm nuts, but I'd do it all again.

"Mom! Pull yourself together!"

I am a total freak. Just ask my 11 and "almost 13" year old girls. They'll tell you. I need to get a grip. 

Of course there are many reasons why they think this. But I think I may have added icing to their cake last week. 

They were with me when I visited my UPS box as we do a couple times a week. This time a package from Windham arrived. I dragged it back out to the car where the girls were patiently waiting for me to take them to their various activities.

I knew what was in the package. A couple copies of my color cards. I opened the box and pulled them out. And to the utter dismay of my very, very hip and cool pre-teen girls, I start crying. "Oh my gosh, girls! Look! It's real! Your mom did it! I did it! Oh my goodness. I can't believe it!" and on and on just like that.

Until I started laughing... And saying the same sorts of things. The girls are now frantically looking around to make sure no one can see them in the car with their mother, the freak, now crying and laughing because she got a box with some stuff in it that totally did not relate to them. Emily is crouched down low in the back seat.

Finally Anna yells, "Mom! Pull yourself together!". 

This sort of shocked me out of it. Pull myself together? I'm not apart. Don't you two get it? I did it! 

Well, no they didn't get it. Still don't get it. 

Or maybe they sort of get it, because about five minutes later, Anna pipes up again, "When I grow up, I'm not going to have to get a job for real because I'll take over the Bari J. empire.". 

I try to hide my new round of tears (uh, and laughter). The "almost 13" year old Anna responds with a sharp crossing of the arms and rolling of the eyes. "Thank goodness we're not sitting in that parking lot where everyone can see us.", I can hear them thinking.

I did pull myself together in time to drop them off, and before they got out of the car, they quickly looked around to see if anyone could see them, hugged me and said, "Love you."

"Love you too. And, btw, work hard because you're going to have to get a job 'for real' when you grow up." 

Of course, if the "Bari J. empire" is what Anna so graciously (and a little bit frighteningly) thinks it will be, I'd be happy to have her hang around.

But don't anyone breathe a word to her about that until she finishes college. 

Back to School! (or time for tea!)

I'm sad to see the kids go back to school. No, I really am. But on the other hand...
Do you see me there? I'm sitting there on the patio with that beautiful cup of chamomile tea in hand. I have the newspaper. The house is clean. The laundry is done. And most gratefully, there are no bike helmets on the kitchen table. Tomorrow I'll miss them.

Twins???

No, my goodness, no. Not me! My sister! Lucky girl is preggers w/two little boogers. She always said she wanted four so she's off to a roaring start don't you think?

I told her that she must be having twins because God doesn't want Mom and I fighting over who gets to hold the baby.

More good news... Amy Butler's Little Stitches for Little Ones came out just in the nick of time... Oh baby! (Pun intended) Projects up the ying yang! I am the official nursery designer, don't ya' know.

Can't wait to find out what she's having! And to kiss chubby little baby toes. I'm putting it out there... my prediction is a boy and a girl.

3PM Tuesdays means get in the car until 7PM Tuesdays

Start the circus music.

It's three o'clock.

Race to pick up daughter Anna, drop off daughter Anna. Pick up daughter Emily ...10 minutes late... Race daughter Emily to gymnastics... Sit for an hour bored out of your mind.

4:30 daughter Emily is out of gymnastics wants Jamba Juice which you have told her is not an every-single-time-we-go-to-gymnastics treat. Take five minutes to argue with daughter Emily. Cave in. Get Jamba Juice, but just this one more time.

4:45 drive to next activity, Tutor. Uh oh. There's 45 minutes in-between Jamba-ing and Tutoring. Can't go all the way home. What to do? Oh, I know, let Emily do her homework ... while you are bored out of your mind.

5:30:Daughter goes to tutor. While you  sit in the car bored out of your mind.  Find something useful to do like possibly read a book, oooh, I know, get your nails done (or not), Yes, do some Sublime Stitching. You've been meaning to do that for a year.

Manage to get done this much embroidery with 2.5 hours of waiting for Emily. How is that possible? Tell yourself, "if I do this for 2.5 hours every Tuesday for the next 12 Tuesdays, I'll probably get at least two pillow cases done. This one is for practice." Oy. How many times did you pull the thread out and start over? At least five times before it's ...

6:30.  Emily emerges from tutoring. Time to race home (it's now 7PM), make dinner, help with homework, clean kitchen (Super Husband does help with some of this, it's true), do a load of laundry ... fall over.

How did my mother do this with four kids?

What fills me up...

My sweet Anna hard at work making Santa Hats for each of her friend's, her sister's and her own "Webkinz". Three different sizes. Over 20 hats. And one for her own head too. Last night she stayed up past 10 PM sewing, adding the pom-poms and wrapping each one. I don't normally let her stay up so late, but determination can not be stopped.

This morning I expected a sluggish Anna that had to be dragged to school. Instead she practically leaped on top of me to tell me to get MY butt out of bed so she could go to school. Dressed like a little Santa herself, and dragging a backpack that weighs more than she does plus her shopping bag filled with gifts, off she went.

Every day, I drop her off just across from the school, and I wait there in the turnout to watch her cross over. Every day, the sight of my little Anna off to middle school with all of these kids that look gigantic in comparison makes me want to run out of the car and go with her, protecting her each step of the way.

Today was no different. I still hovered watching her go. But today, with her goodies in hand and her proud smile she looked a little bigger.

I'll never want to let her go, and I'm sure I'll have to fight the urge to stage a sit-in in her dorm room when I drop her off at college. Yet, there was something about her these past couple of days. The way she made up her mind about what she wanted to do, and then really got it done... the pride she had. I'll still need to attach a GPS device to her when she's a teenager, but something tells me, this one's going to be just fine.

Blog Girls! Blog!

Two girls were feeling left out. Mom blogs too much and they wanted to join the party. Reluctantly, I have given in. Visit Emily here. And Anna here. Oh boy! Am I in for the Web-Use-Monitoring of my life!!!

Back to School

    Hallelujah, hallelujah, ha-a-ley-lu-yah!!!! School is back in session.

It is true that every June I can not wait for school to be out. I love spending time with my kids. And, I love the break from the routine.

It is also true that every July I'm wondering if I will ever make it until the end of August, what will I do with these people for 5 more weeks???? For crying out loud, routine is needed around here. What happened to my routine? These kids need discipline. They need a schedule!!!!

That is why at the end of August I do the happy dance... and sing the hallelujah chorus. Cutie kids need to be at school at least once in a while. BTW, do you notice the skulls and cross bones motif my kids are into (on both of their backpacks and the jackets they are wearing)? I don't get it... if you can explain, let me know.