{when grizzlies attack}

Wow, cool title huh? I bet you think I’m gonna talk about bear attacks and stuff – ah, sort of…

The other day one of our student workers was covering the front desk for our receptionist and she was reading a book about the “grizzly man”. Have you heard this story? The guy who “lived” with bears for like 16 summers in Alaska before being mauled to death by a rogue bear. Anyway, it got me thinking about my very own experiences with grizzlies and I thought I’d share a few with you.

My first job out of college and out of the police / ranger academy was working front country patrol in the St. Mary district at Glacier National Park in Montana. I’m looking pretty spiffy here in my outfit, ain’t I? Oh yes, me and all the newbies there that season thought we were IT! Fresh from the academy, ready to arrest everybody for anything. That’s a whole other story. And an amusing one. But this post is about bears. One morning, I was opening up the road –( if you’ve ever been to Glacier, the “Going to the Sun” road closes at night to keep people from driving it and dying. Seriously, scary road. It has some serious drop off that if you were to just veer off ever so slightly, “see ya, wouldn’t wanna be ya!”. ) Anyway, first thing in the morning, I drive up to Logan Pass, open up the gates, check everything out, started to come back down and STOP! Smack in the center of the road, right on the double yellow lines, a steaming pile of bear poop. Really?! I mean, really?! What was that bear thinking? “I’m crossing the road, wait…I feel the urge, I’ll stop right here in the center of the road and ahhhh, yes. Much better. Moving along now…” That bear had to have been just feet away. I kept waiting to see how long it would take for someone to drive through it and it was like a good hour and a half before I found it smeared across the road.

Within the first 10 days I was there at Glacier, one of the kids working concessions in my district was out late at night, a no-no, down by the lake – you know, where the bears like to hang out, and was mauled. A bear just picked her up and her friend made a bunch of noise and turned on the flashlight. The bear dropped her and she was fine but for the rest of the summer at parties, she’d lift her shirt and say, “wanna see my scars?”. I mean, who wouldn’t?! Get mauled by a bear and have cool scars and an awesome story to tell for – ever. Ok, the responsible ranger in me says I shouldn’t say that’s cool but you ranger types out there – you know it is!

There were actually 4 maulings the season I was there. The last one I had, the guy worked at the hospital in Kalispell. He didn’t want to fly out – most injuries we had of a somewhat critical nature would be flown out because our closest hospital was like an hour plus drive. So, he convinced the ER doc to let his buddy drive him to the hospital and he’d drink water all the way in lieu of an IV we had started. Mind you, at this point, the sow he surprised with her cub had put at least 3 good puncture wounds into his back and he had all this fluid building up around the wounds. He said he wanted to use the restroom before he got on the road and we got him up and down he went. I was holding c-spine on him and when came to, he looked at me and said, “Sorry – I thought I was ok”. I said, “That’s ok, the chopper just landed” and he laughed a bit. He knew all the flight nurses and he was in great hands. The flight nurses have a special bear patch on their flight suits. Each time they pick up a mauling victim, they get a paw print added on. One of the nurses was so excited and told her buddy, our patient, “you just earned me my very first bear patch!”. He was happy to oblige and honestly, as with all our mauling victims, all of them were nothing but loving towards the bear that had hurt them. They knew that in one way or another, they had unintentionally caused the bear to defend itself and they actually felt privileged to have had the experience and live to tell about it.

That was probably the best ranger job I ever had. I worked in law enforcement for over 12 years and worked for national, state and municipal parks. But Glacier with its million acres of wilderness, search and rescues, drug arrests, bear incidents and in general, weird little enforcement incidents that went on, was just a blast. Never boring. Never the same thing. Wildlife and mountain top views were breathtaking and amazing every single day. Besides the four maulings we had, we also had a plane crash, several search and rescues, lots of wildlife incidents including a bear capture for a rogue bear, a wildfire, a kidnapping…there was always something.

My husband would like to retire in Montana and so I imagine, when he does in about 3 years, we’ll start thinking about heading west…for the summers at least for a bit. I’m still pretty partial to Ohio. Love Montana but it IS a different world. When I first arrived, I found out there was no speed limit during daylight hours, you could drink and drive – just not be intoxicated, and you could carry a firearm just about anywhere you wanted to. You talk about culture shock for a Midwesterner girl from the suburbs. Ha! But it was truly, truly awesome.

Maybe I’ll share some more ranger stories another time.

On the sewing front, still working on new designs. Had a wonderful customer request a special backpack for a trip to Disney. (this is like her 3^rd bag from me in two months!) Darn backpacks! I really need to just break down and buy a pattern but NO…I do everything from scratch and then go NUTS trying to figure it out. I determined, there is NO way to put it together with the zipper and all and NOT have seams show on the inside. Can’t be done? Right? Or can it? If you know of a way – for the love of Pete – please tell me! After calling upon my friend Barb for “a sewing emergency”, we decided to just serge the inside seams and I used bias tape on parts of it. The outside looks cute anyway! The inside was fine too but I’m a perfectionist so to my eye, eh, it was just ok.

And I redesigned my St. Mary Hipster. Same issue. Gussets, zippers – we don’t work well together. So I ditched the gusset panel. We are all much happier now and I rather like this bag. This is one of two bags that are orders from my girls teacher.

I know, you are wondering – “so what about Quilt Market?”, did you get signed?! New fabric line coming from Trish? Yeah, touchy subject, ok. I had three companies respond strongly to my work, made requests for original sketches and to see some things worked into a virtual quilt and other requests. I heard back from one company thus far who said they loved my stuff – and it was too similar to some new things they have coming out. But they invited me to resubmit because they said they were impressed with my work and they’d like to see more. Ok. Then the other two – still no word. Had positive remarks about what I sent and was told I’d be hearing from them soon but no word. They say no news is good news. I’m thinking that’s not the case here. I realize it’s not been quite a month yet but…I’m reading about others who were also at market and already signed, I’m thinking this was not my time. Everybody told me, it takes 2 or 3 tries or more to get into the industry. SO…I’m still working away on some new sketches, digitizing them, and working everything into small groups within an entire collection. I presented “everything” I had originally but I didn’t have it grouped or put into colorways even though I had a color palette selected and shown. I showed everything by patterns. It was beautiful but I think hard to imagine in a collection. The work, the prayers, the hopes, the dreaming at night, the desire continues. I’d be lying to say it doesn’t bother me one way or the other but it does. I really want to move in this direction. And I just will continue to pray and listen and be patient. When the time is right, everything will come together. I want it NOW but it’s not up to me. I did only hit up like 5 or so companies so there are other options…I’ll keep shopping my stuff around. Keep up prayers for me, for my family. It’s a complicated, time consuming, money consuming, emotionally draining process. Pick me ups much appreciated. And I’d be glad to return the favor…

Our house is enjoying the first bits of harvest – carrots and sugar snaps. Hope you’re enjoying good stuff too.

Best,

Xoxo Trish

{Bad blogger, baaaddd!}

I know, I know...I've gotten behind.  I'll blog more later...I promise. The girls are in swim team which is very time consuming with practice in the morning and the evening and quite frankly, they are just home.  Enough said...right?  I mean, I'm making full out fancy lunches to keep them fueled for practice and really, my only "me" time for sewing, which is really for everybody else as I'm working on orders, is during nap time.  Of which, I am blessed to say that around 2pm, the baby, AND the twins AND the hubby are all usually asleep for a good hour or so.

I'm doing trunk shows again this summer and I'm making a new top to wear to these shows.  I got this pattern from Sew Serendipity and I picked out 3 fabrics from Amy Butlers Daisy Chain line to go with it.  I'll share when I get it done...you can see the baby is my little helper, reading at such an early age and helping me to figure out button holes.  yuck, right?!

And I did get a slew of those notebook covers done for my girls teachers just in time for the last day of school.

I have a handful of new bag designs I'm working on.  A hobo bag that my friend said it looked like the snap flap on it was a maxi pad - oh thanks Renee : ) SOOOO I'll be reworking that little design into something um, a little more pleasing of a shape.

Also trying out new ideas for backpacks.  Had a vision last night of how to put a zipper top on it but it would actually be on the front panel...hmm, gonna try that one out tomorrow.  Cross my fingers it works.

When I get a bit more time, I'll post more and share more.  Hope the start of your summer is going well.  Keep in touch and don't forget our monthly giveaways!  Set of market bags this month from recycled fabrics - Go Green!

xoxo, Trish

Sew Mama Sew May Giveaway Day

Love those giveaways...and right now there is a HUGE, JuMbO, BIGGGGG giveaway going on over at Sew, Mama, Sew (an awesome little store on line!)

There are a bazillion, cuz that's a real number don't ya know, a kazillion other awesome folks doing giveaways RIGHT NOW! From May 27th through May 31st you can visit the big 'o' list of giveaway hosts and enter to win. How fun is that? Super fun!

Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs is participating and to go along with our garden theme and being kind to the environment, we are going to giveaway an appliqued t-shirt and a farmers market tote.

To win is easy! We want to know what your favorite fresh wholesome after school snack is. It should use fruits or veggies and not a lot of ingredients - something tasty and good for you and something that celebrates natures harvest. Leave your best snack idea in our comment section and the "two peas" will pick their favorite. (heh! heh! heh! This is my sneaky way of getting some new ideas on what to make them!)

We will ship internationally so all you Aussies out there and beyond, jump in the fun here! Your new tee and market tote will ship to you no later than June 3rd.

Click here to find the Sew, Mama, Sew for the full big daddy list of giveaway hosts.

Have fun! And don't forget - EVERY MONTH - I do giveaways here and all you have to do is a leave a comment. Joy!!

xoxo, Trish

{i love the gardener}

I love the gardener.   I can say that because I do, truly, madly, deeply. The gardener, my husband, has been working hard lately at making sure we have a wonderful harvest this summer and fall. He has planted a variety of delicious vegetables for us and we can’t wait to enjoy them.

Food is one of those things that is really important to us. That sounds strange because, duh, like isn’t food important to everyone? What I mean is food quality. How food sustains us. Nourishes us. Takes care of us.

Maybe we’ve talked about this before but it’s been on my mind again lately. Food. On both sides of our family, we have a high rate of cancer. Not a good family history to have. I have always been pretty conscientious about what I feed us meaning trying to eat whole foods.

Fresh foods that I can identify. You know what I mean? Honestly, my husband and I are a lot more “junk food junkies” than I probably care to admit but we’ve been so careful with our children and what we feed them. I have tried to feed my kids quick crummy foods once in awhile out of convenience and dog-gone it if they’ll have nothing to do with it! They love sugar of course – ice cream, etc but they would so rather eat ice cream with strawberries on top rather than chocolate any day.

There is comfort in knowing that they know where their food comes from. They know the cows across the street are beef cows and they know the difference between black angus and jerseys. They know that local foods are better for the environment because they travel less distance, use less energy in getting from farm to our table. They know that fresh whole foods will make them strong and keep them healthy.

I was reading some reviews for a book from Mariel Hemingway called Mariels Kitchen. It looks like a great cookbook. She talks about how her husband was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and that with a strict diet he went into remission. Now, I don’t know that we can say that diet alone can “cure” cancer but it makes sense that the garbage we ingest can trigger things to go awry in our bodies. I think we’ve all read about girls going into puberty at early ages and finger pointing at hormones in our meat and dairy products or plastics. Doesn’t it make sense that the fewer chemicals, antibiotics and hormones we ingest – the purer the foods we eat, just keeps us healthier, right?

And so it’s something that is important to our family.  Seems like in our family, you are born with that passion for good food. We had some corn on the cob the other night and cut some off the cob to serve the baby.

She would have nothing to do with it! She just kept pointing at the girls who were eating their corn. So, I handed her an entire cob and with the widest mouth she just took a huge crunchy bite of corn! It was so funny! How did she know how to eat it? She loved it!

Tonight, neighbors next to the park where my husband is a park ranger called us at home because they had something for him to pick up. My husband came walking in the door with a HUGE heaping mound of organic strawberries. Unbelievable! Everybody dug in instantly, including the baby who couldn’t stop screaming for more!

If you’ve been following me on Twitter, you know that I am relishing my twins being on swim team right now. An hour and 15 minutes of free time for me 3 times a week. I LOVE IT! I just sit pool side and read, chat with new friends, and read blogs on my iphone. I NEVER, EVER, ever never, never ever, get free time like that. 7 days a week, 18 hours a day usually, I’m doing something for someone, cleaning, cooking, changing diapers, nursing a baby, taking care of kids with homework and bath time and cleaning up toy rooms, and running a business, and being a landlord, and oh my gosh, the list goes on and on and on. And it’s no different than any of you, right? We all do it. Over schedule, over commit, multi-task til the cows come home. So swim team is the greatest blessing ever! And my girls are loving it.

I am rambling aren’t I? The whole reason I brought up swim team was actually because I’m reading a book called “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver. She relates her families move from Arizona to Virginia and their foray into feeding their family with local foods as much as they can. It’s a great read and I very highly recommend it!

Sewing? Oh yes, plenty of that going on always. I have some new designs I’ll share with you next post. A new backpack that I STILL have not perfected (how in the heck do you attach the zipper placket to the gusset and not have any seams show?), a hobo bag, and a few other gems. I have trunk shows booked already for June, July and August. And I’m getting some great feedback and encouraging words from some of these textile mills. I’m very hopeful that I’ll have my own fabric line soon. Oh, so very, very hopeful. It can’t come a day too soon for our little family!

Always very thankful and in awe of God’s grace in our lives. Surrounded by miracles all around us. Ain’t it grand?

Xoxo, Trish

{more quilt market and try handmade}

My previous post I was on such a high from coming back from Quilt Market. And from that adventure, frantically, I have been sketching. And sketching. And sketching. What fun! I sent up more than 13 new designs to the companies I met at Quilt Market. Tomorrow, my illustrator and I are going to plug in my designs into a "virtual quilt" so they can get a feel for how my "fabrics" will work in a finished project. All good experience - whether I get a line or not. I have learned alot about the whole process. And now that it's all out there - I feel much more calm. Calm enough in that I started to book a few trunk shows for the summer. I probably have one or maybe two more I could do so let me know if you are interested in a late July or August date.

Try Handmade - have you visited this site before? Love it because they feature all handmade goods and it is amazing to browse all the wonderful articles. Right now - jump over there because they are featuring a sweet little tote I made in a giveaway. You have until midnight May 22nd to post a comment and be entered to win! Whoo-hoo! Go! Go!

WAIT! Don't go YET...I'm not quite done. I just wanted to share the little accessory bags going out to my April blog giveaway winners (sorry it's taken so long ladies - been so busy with market and "stuff"). I think they turned out nice - are ya likin the buckles as much as me?

Last thing - and THEN you can run over to Try Handmade. If you know me personally, you know I tend to get on my little soapbox about car seats. As a deputy sheriff, I helped to teach over a thousand 3rd graders in my county about seat belt safety. That is a topic that is very close to my heart.

When my twins were 7 months old we were traveling back from a family vacation and started off early in the morning. I won't go into all of the details but we had a very bad accident - we were driving a Ford F-350 crew cab with dual wheels - totaled. My husband was cut out of the car - I don't want to go into all of it but it was bad and I really thought I was going to lose him that day. Our girls were secured in their car seats and before we left on vacation I had them checked to be sure they were installed properly at our local fire station. Those girls had little bitty bruises on them and that was it. Thankfully, everyone eventually was just fine.

My soap box is not just about infant car seats. I think everyone is smart enough to know that kids should be in them until they are 4 years and 40 lbs. What most people do NOT know is that kids should REMAIN in a booster seat until they are 4'9 and 90 lbs. What you say? That's like a 5th grader? Yep, that's right! THAT is the NEW standard. Check it out...children smaller than that do not fit properly in just a seat belt. They ride up on their neck. They don't fit across their lap. And an ill fitting seat belt can cause serious internal injuries even in a crash at 30mph. My 8 year olds still sit in a high back booster because height wise, they fit safest in a booster. Not cool you say? How cool is it when your child breaks their ribs, has a collapsed lung, major organ damage and other life threatening injuries? Not so cool so my soap box - buckle up BIG kids and save their lives. If EVERYBODY does it, then my kids won't feel like a baby sitting in a booster. It's the safest thing to do and in Ohio, it's the law under age 8 to be in a booster. Over age 8, keep them in a booster until they reach 4'9 and 90 lbs. and always in the back seat. It's the safest thing to do for your children.

OK...'nuf said!

Now run over to Try Handmade!

xo to you and your kids, Trish

Quilt Market

I know, quit complaining, right? I mean seriously, how much can you possibly stand to hear me moan and groan about my nervous stomach and anxiety over this whole process of trying to become a textile designer. This has been a long and trying journey so far. OK…so here’s the “story” of my experience and interviews at Quilt Market.

The night before day one, I could not get to sleep. If you were following me on Twitter, you know, I was up way late, up way early and was losing my mind. Not to mention the fact that I’m still nursing my baby, who I left at home, and who I have never been away from for more than a few hours. Heart wrenching. A few tears were shed.

Once I got to market the next morning, within minutes I had my first appointment. And it went well. I got great feedback and was asked to resubmit in a different format and add some things to show my line in finished product within the next 10 days. I had two other companies who liked me and we had a really great connection. Crossing my fingers. I had two complete rejections which was ok. They said, and it’s true, that the market is getting saturated with designers. Scrapbookers and graphic designers – everybody is designing for fabrics and it’s just very competitive right now. They both told me that before they even looked at my designs and then looked and gave me advice and feedback. That was very nice.

In the midst of the interviews, I got to visit with some people who have been mentoring me through this process as well as some new friends. I had the best time meeting Kay Whitt of Serendipity Studios. She is just without a doubt the sweetest thing ever! We had talked before market about intellectual attorneys via email. She was wearing this super stylish coat! I love it! I bought the pattern to try making one for myself. I told Kay it will be cold weather again before I get it done! I think Kay and I could have talked all day about dust bunnies in our machines, top stitching, button holes and dishonest people. Super wonderful person!

Amy Butler is a “neighbor” of mine. She lives a few towns over from me. I have met her once before and I was absolutely shocked that when I walked over to her booth she greeted me with, “Hi Trish! You made it here! So good to see you!”. One time I met her and she remembered my name, remembered the thank you card I had sent her for helping me out, wow! I hope I can have a memory like that! I mean, she is one busy person so that’s pretty impressive. No doubt, one of the reasons why she is so well liked. Not only does she make amazing things but she is one heck of wonderful people person. So very warm and just nice, nice, nice. One of the things I’m trying to push with my line is for it to be green. And Amy and I had a nice conversation about organic cottons and dyes, and recycled materials and where the demand currently is. SO, listen up…if you are someone who thinks it’s important for us to support farming in the US, support organics, support sustainable business practices – you need to let the textile companies know that you want and will pay for organic cottons. It would be great to see there be a cry for green products in this industry!

(Are you sick of seeing photos of me yet? Sorry, my first market - playing major tourist!) Patty Young had a colorful little booth and her handy husband was with her over in the Michael Miller area. You gotta check out her blog and read about what happened before she got to market. Holy moly! But as you can see, her booth looked fabulous. And her new sewing patterns – they are really cute.

Lila Tueller, she started all of this! Oh, she may not remember BUT Lila was kind enough to browse my portfolio last fall and sent me the nicest, longest e-mail about how I needed to take my work to the next level and that I had really great quality work. She gave me all kinds of tidbits of advice that got me started on my portfolio. So when I met Lila finally in person, she could not have been nicer. She made my day because she was just gushing over my portfolio and made me feel so good on a day when I was feeling incredibly nervous and doubtful.

And her niece Chelsea,

you’ve heard me say before, amazingly easy patterns! Looking for something cute to make, easy – I mean I made my girls Easter dresses from her Lily pattern in about 3 hours.

All in all, a great trip. I took that first leap. I made all the connections. I networked. And now I have 3 great leads I’m working on. Within a month, I should either know if I’m getting my own line now or if I have to try again later. I’ll keep ya posted!

I can say, my stomach feels much better now. I got so many emails and voicemails from family and friends who said they were praying for me while I was at market and I have no words to tell you how much I appreciate that.

I was asked to provide a giveaway for a website called TryHandmade – way cool! Hop over and give them a peek and subscribe to their newsletter. This country is packed with fantastically talented women!

I may be slow to post for the next few weeks…drawings to complete, orders to go out, shows to prep for, kids to take care of, and oh yeah, I actually have a “real job” too! So what’s new with you? Drop me a line and let me know what you have going on in your sewing room!

Xoxo, Trish

{May Giveaway}

Just a quick note that I  have one of my applique shirts to giveaway this month.  You choose adult or kids size and your design.  All you have to do is leave a comment. Preferably something nice about how I'm not as stupid as I think I am for taking such a huge risk in spending oodles of dollars to produce designs that someone may or may not love and thinking that maybe someday, I could make a purse with my very own fabric.  Yeah, like something nice like that.  Or not.

Hey, do you recycle?  Here's a thought...between our composting and recycling, we generate ONE bag of trash per week.  Can the paperboard milk jugs be recycled?  How are you doing on reducing waste in your home?  Next month, June giveaway, a set of farmers market bags to go along with our recycling theme.  I make them from recycled material I get from the thrift store.

And this time, I mean it, I'm really not posting again until after market.  Today I just happen to be twiddling my thumbs until everything comes back from the printer and then work on my dot.com tonight.  New website launch VERY SOON!  Yea!  See ya later, and by later, I mean later, like next week-ish or so.

xoxo, Trish

Off we go....

OK, so I have barely touched my sewing machine in the last couple of weeks.  I have had meeting after meeting with my design team about my portfolio.  Picking out colors and getting things just so...so...so, I have to confess.  I don't know what I'm doing.  This whole, "trying to be a textile designer" thing has my stomach in such knots.  I don't have a clue what I'm doing.  It's all one big guess.  I drew up some sketches, my wonderful girls - Sonya and Melinda (you girls ROCK!) managed this whole project, digitized my designs, and made me look way cool on paper.  Never in a million years could I have accomplished any of this without them.  And for as much as I have prayed about this process, about the path I am on - I have to believe I'm moving in the right direction.  Melinda goes to my church and we started chatting about this months ago and it has snowballed from there.  I just see God working in so many aspects of this journey and it's pretty darn amazing.  Whatever happens, happens.  I have faith that I'll be just where God wants me to be, what is best for our family.  But...I could sure use some prayers.  When I say my stomach has been in knots I mean like morning sickness anxiety crazy blah magnified like 20 times.  My heart is pounding the minute I wake up because I'm thinking about what I have to do that day for deadlines and orders and getting things out so I can make it to Quilt Market.  Very stressful.  Although, Thursday night before market, Carla (my husbands way wonderful Aunt who has been one of "the" buyers for a HUGE retailer for the last 25 years - she's been so supportive and calming for me) will be arriving early at our hotel and plan on a nice long relaxing meal out.  Rarely do I go anywhere without kids so I'm kind of looking forward to just a little night out.

This all started with Joan.  My friend Joan said, "you ought to do home parties" for my purse sales.  So she hosted a party for me at her house.  It went well and so it grew from there.  Then she introduced me to Jodi.  Jodi is another graphic designer guru who created my logo.  If you like my branding look, that is all thanks to Jodi.  She has this way of crawling in my head and getting just the right thing.  She designed my sewing pattern covers that will be out late this year.  She's awesome.  Then there is Suann - from Bows and Blossoms, who said I should look into this site and that site for website designs and hosting.  Saved me a ton of money (hopefully, I'll be launching the new site in the next week or two).  And there is Jill, one of my "best" customers who is turned into a great friend who shares retail therapy with me.  Barb who keeps me sane and lets my use her computer because "we only have dial up" at our house.  Crazy!  And Kris who helped push my business further too - and just has been a wonderful friend.  There have been so many wonderful people, friends, collegues and my sweet family - along the way that have helped push me along the path.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I love you guys - I am so grateful and incredibly blessed.  No matter what happens, I got friends and in the end, that's all that matters.  :>)  Ahhh...ok enough mush mush.

Just a few more shirt designs...the little onesies are $12.  Not up on etsy yet but eventually.  Email me if you're interested at twopeasinapoddesigns@gmail.com.  I HEART the little caterpillar one.  My girls are big on worms and the like so this is their favorite.

I'll hopefully have some positive things to report when I get back from Quilt Market.  I leave on Thursday.  I won't post again until after I get back.  Wish me luck!  I could sure use it.  I'll try to keep everyone posted on Twitter!

xoxoxo, Trish

April Giveaway Winner(s)!

Why is it after everybody else gets sick - then Mom gets sick? Blah...I've been battling a cold this week and working with my design team to get my design portfolio done in time for Quilt Market and I have totally gotten behind! I REALLY meant to be able to draw the name for the giveaway for April AND actually post the item but that will have to wait...the photo I mean, because I'm still working on the item. BUT - we chose two winners. Couldn't just choose one - it's Sophie's birthday month - so we picked two. And I will post a photo of the uber cool accessory bag I'll be sending out to both of them...

The winners for April: Carrie and Nova437. I'll be emailing you both to get your mailing addresses. See?! Wasn't that easy...and you said, you never win anything and yet, ta-da! You won something! Yay!

Don't forget, giveaways every month. For May, it's a shirt! Check out my kids and adult tee's over at etsy

Post a comment or email me, just talk to me so I'm not just talking to myself out here - and you'll be entered to win. Super simple, who doesn't like to chat? And I could really use your feedback...I'd love to know what you like, love, have mildly warm feelings for in my designs and creations.

Be back soon with more stuff...but I have got to sleep off this sinus goop.

xo, Trish

{My sweet little one turns one...}

My sweet little Sprout turned one over the weekend.  We had a little lunch party with family and then went to see the twins in a musical, Noyee's Fludde, at church.  Big crazy day but fun!

The best is that the day was so sunny and perfect we went outside.  I "tried" to put Sprout in the grass and she completely freaked out.  Wouldn't let her feet touch, started to shake, cry, wave her hands about wildly.  Is this a common baby thing?  I mean, we LIVE outdoors so this can't be good...

Her favorite gift - a toothbrush.  She LOVED the toothbrush that her Grandma gave her - it was too funny!  Would NOT let it go, for ANYTHING!

I also tried to come up with a couple of new designs...which requires several tries typically.  Hence why this little purse went to a friend of the neighbor to give her little girl.  I know, I know...it's lopsided.  Hello?!  That's why its a design sample!  I freehand cut this stuff and who knows what will happen with it.  Any thoughts?  Like, love, hate?  Not sure where to go with this one...

The little wristlet one I like very much - but it is also all crazy lopsided.  I'll figure it out sooner or later.

Be sure to check out the etsy site because I have loaded both adult and kids embellished vintage like shirts over there - they are $15 and $16 and right now, FREE SHIPPING!  Can't beat it for cute-ness like this and I'll have more designs coming soon.

At the moment, I've been busy with color palettes, and naming collections, and looking over proofs for my fabric designs.  Quilt Market is in a couple of weeks and I'm gonna try like heck to get in there and get on board with one of the textile mills to produce my designs.  Wish me luck - prayers preferred since really luck has nothing to do with it.  The gardners' Aunt Carla is coming with me to help with Sprout while I'm chatting up with design directors.

It's been fun to choose my colorways and see my artwork get digitized.  I just hope somebody else likes it besides me!

Anybody using the placemat tutorial I posted?  Share your photos if you do!  Later this week I'll post our April giveaway winner so stay tuned and don't forget to keep in touch!  We'll have something else fun to giveaway for May - one of my t-shirts!

Happy Monday,

Trish xo

{Homemade is best...and a little easy Mother's Day tutorial}

OK, so last week when I was visiting family for Easter, I started to notice that everywhere I looked - um, there was stuff I made hanging around. Little paintings, a fabric covered journal, quilts, stockings made from my great grandmothers old raggedy quilt, napkin rings, placemats and of course, purses. I'm really all about this handmade thing - it truly is a wonderful gift when you can give someone something you made by hand (or something someone else made - something unique - you get the idea!)

SO...here's a cool idea for you crafty types for a Mother's Day gift for YOUR Mother - a set of placemats and napkin rings! Seriously, easy project. Here we go:

Materials needed - the obvious, sewing machine, thread, etc you'll need fabric (see below), fusible interfacing and prequilted fabric.

Pick 4 different fabrics (I picked some Amy Butler dots to coordinate with some vintage kitchen prints I found). For each placemat, CUT four 5" x 14.5" panels.

Using 1/4" seams, piece your panels together. Press your seams open. Next, cut a piece of fusible fleece interfacing to fit on the rear of your front panel. Cut it 1/4" smaller all the way around than your front panel. Following the instructions with your interfacing, fuse it to the wrong side of your front panel. This will give your placemat some extra oomph and keep your cotton panel looking crisp - in my opinion.

Once you have your front panel complete, use it as your pattern to cut a solid rear piece from your prequilted cotton fabric. I used a cream color - the same I often use in my purses - sound familiar?

With right sides together, pin and sew with 1/2" seams. Leave an opening for turning. Turn right side out. Top stitch. I also typically add some "steam a seam" to my opening just to make sure it stays shut. That's it kids! Done! Now repeat for the rest of your set of placemats you want to make.

Napkin rings are loads of fun when you use old buttons. My parents had given me an old tin that belonged to my grandmother full of buttons. I glued some of the pretty and larger ones to magnets and gave those to my family. For the rest, I cut a piece of wide elastic just big enough to fit around my napkins. Then I stitched buttons galore until the elastic was fully covered. I warn you - it takes a lot of buttons to cover one and it actually took me several, several hours to stitch all of these on for 6 rings.

What a great gift set. My Mom still loves hers and I loved seeing them adorn her table last week at Easter. Even my kids were impressed. "Did you make these Momma?" Ah, yeah. Hope that gave you a good handmade gift idea.

A few more dresses and embellished jeans went out this week and a cute little tie tote that my girls gave to their girlfriend for her 8th birthday. These will be finding their way to my etsy site pretty soon.

Lots of orders being mailed out this week - thanks to my neighbor Barb for helping me cut everything! We need to do that more often because we never did get to our banana split desserts!

Don't forget - just a week or so left on this month and our April giveaway will be done. The two peas will be picking a comment out of a hat and we'll be sending you, the lucky winner, a way cool, patchwork accessory bag with an awesome buckle...I'll share that photo with you later next week.

Keep Spring coming - I'm begging for the sun and warm breezes to start coming every day instead of snow, rain, sun, snow, rain, rain, rain, sun...we just need some SUNNNNN to stay in O-H-I-O for awhile!

xo - Trish

{Our Easter parade...}

Where do I begin?  So much I want to share with you but so little time!  The girls enjoyed a great spring break last week and if you were following me on Twitter you know we headed out to the zoo...in the snow.  I love working at the largest university in the country - gives me a chance to network with loads of people and luckily, one of our alumni board members is a keeper at the Columbus Zoo SO, she was wonderful enough to give my girls a behind the scenes tour.  We got to see exactly what she does to care for the animals and a chance to see a grizzly bear, 2 alaskan brown bears and a cougar very close!  So cool!  No photos to share of that as we were not allowed to take any in the back areas but...check this out!

This is the cafe at the zoo.  See anybody else there?  That's right...when it's 20' windchill and snowing - NOBODY goes to the zoo.  We saw two other people there all day.

Here's the girls in the "jungle" with a researcher!  Ha!  And some cool looking birds we saw in one of the aviarys...where it was WARM.

The flamingos were out...

The manatees and sea turtle at the aquarium section...

And so on to Easter...we went to my parents house which was fun.  The girls got these really cool little jackets for their American Girls from the sewing room of the easter bunny, aka The Doll Closet on etsy.  Really cute!

And they had a blast!  I have to say, they looked BE-AU-TI-FUL in their easter dresses.  They turned out really well, if I do say so myself!  I got the pattern for these from PinkFig.  I used the Lily pattern and had to adjust some because my girls are a size 8 and the pattern only went up to a size 7.  I added some extras on the ruffle, etc.  They LOVED them!  If you are looking for an easy EASY to use pattern line - PinkFig is it!

OK, so I never did get them to stand very still for a photo but here's a few portfolio shots...you get the idea!

And then...I've had quite a few orders for dresses lately.  I have some already listed on my etsy page. But here's a peek at a few..

And matching ponytail ribbon explosion thingy whatevers on their way to etsy soon...here's a peek at just one of them...

Does the baby look happy here?  Poor thing!  Her sisters love her TOO much!  Well, lots of photos, not too much text.  Since Easter (yesterday) one of the peas has been diagnosed with whooping cough.  She doesn't look sick does she?  Exactly why we had no idea...since all she had was a nagging cough.  Our AWESOME doctor caught it and well, things are now quite hectic in our house so I'll be back next week with an entry about handmade stuff!  (I noticed at my Moms, my sisters - dang!  I make a LOT of stuff cuz it's all over their house from paintings to placemats! More on that next week!)

I'll leave you with one last little cutie - my baby's first Easter.  Next week she celebrates her first birthday.  A very special little day.  She was born on April 25th - the same day as my oldest sister.  My oldest sister  died when she was 15 from complications from mono.  My baby being born on her birthday was quite special.

God bless - hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday!  Ciao, xo Trish

AND DON'T FORGET...post a comment and you'll have a chance at our monthly giveaway!

{Happy April Giveaway...and May and June....}

We had so much fun giving away a new bag in March we decided we are going to give something away EVERY month!  Post a comment anytime during the month of April, May, June...you get the idea...and my "two peas" will pick a winner each month to receive something from our studio. Last month, we gave away a cute little {hipster purse.}  For April - oh, I just got these sweet little rhinestone buckles I'm going to add to an accessory bag - you'll love it!  I'll post photos later (after the Easter dresses for the twins and baby are done!).  Odds are good you'll win!  Last month, only 4 people commented / emailed me out of over 200 hits on the blog so...go! GO!  Let us know what you're thinking!  And maybe you'll get a nice little surprise in your mailbox at the end of the month from us!  Thanks for stopping in!

Ciao! xo  Trish

Introducing Baxter Bunny and the newly redesigned Hipster!

Here he is!  Baxter Bunny.  (And don't miss the new redesign of my hipster found at the end of this post!)

I hear it all the time. You’d love to be able to make something but you can’t sew. Or you don’t have time. Or you are completely creatively and craftily illiterate. This project is FOR YOU!

This could not be easier but everyone will think you spent hours stitching away on this little guy. You CAN do it! I know you can! And it takes very little effort so everyone can do this!

Please note, Baxter Bunny is not designed for small children and he does pose a choking hazard.

Baxter Bunny © Trish Preston,Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs

First, here’s what you will need:

• · Scraps of fabric (you could also use flannel, maybe some old flannel sheets or pillowcase you aren’t using anymore or you could use felt / felt squares that you might have from other kids craft projects) On my project shown here, I used a cotton fabric that I lightly interfaced with fusible fleece to give it a bit more body – the fusible fleece is easy to find at your fabric store – even Walmart has it in their fabric section.
• · Steam a Seam (optional) You only need about 2 square inches of the stuff.
• · Scissors
• · Needle and thread
• · Batting for stuffing
• · Buttons for eyes

I hope this pattern prints ok for you...it should fit on an 8 .5 x 11 sheet of paper.  Baxter stands roughly 7 inches tall.

1.  To start, you’ll want to gather all of your materials. Using the pattern, cut 2 of each for the body, ear lining and pocket.

1. 2.  If you are using the cotton, I fused interfacing on my pieces to give it some oomph! Interfacing is easy to use. You only need a small amount and you can skip this if you want. But just cut your interfacing a little smaller than your bunny body pieces and with the glue side facing the wrong side of the fabric, fuse with your iron.

1. 3.  Using the Steam a Seam, again, easy to find in your fabric / craft stores – it’s used for appliqué. Follow the directions and cut out your ear lining and fuse to the ears. If you want to skip the steam a seam, you can just use a running stitch to attach your ear lining.

1. 4.  Next, create your bunny face. Find two old buttons and attach for the eyes. I used two that didn’t perfectly match in size to give him some character. Cut a little nose out of your fabric and stitch in place. Then stitch on some whiskers and a little mouth.

1. 5.  For the pocket, lay your pocket right sides together with the wrong side of the fabric facing out so you can see it. Stitch across the top of your pocket. Turn right side out and press your seam so it lays nice and flat. This will give you a nice clean edge on top since you’ll want to fill the pocket with a treat!

1. 6.  Pin your pocket to your bunny’s belly. You will have raw edges on the sides of your pocket. Next, use a blanket stitch to stitch the pocket on.

7.  Blanket stitch. I love this stitch. It’s fun to do and it’s quite easy once you get started. Working from left to right, bring your needle from the right side of the fabric (the top) and point your needle out to the edge. Keep the thread from the previous stitch under your needle and pull through. It’s hard to explain but I hope the photo and the text together show you how. Practice on a separate piece of fabric before doing it on your project if this is the first time you’ve done a blanket stitch.

1. 8.   Now pin your bunny together, wrong sides together, your right sides facing out. You will have raw edges. Blanket stitch around your bunny leaving an opening for stuffing.

2. 9.  Stuff your bunny and make him good and round!

1. 10.  Finish stitching up the opening and you are done!

All together, I think this project took me about an hour to make. Hope you enjoy making it and send me your photos of your Baxter Bunny and I’ll show them off here.

Congrats to our giveaway winner!  She will receive the newly redesigned hipster just ripe for Spring!  The new pocket panel on the front is angled and has the perfect little pocket down low for your iphone or other device and then the larger side of the pocket could hold a water bottle or other gear.  It also has 2 interior pockets and a magnetic snap closure.

The new hipster is available now for custom orders.

And finally -  giraffe print "platterpurse" on it's way to Marysville.  Love this print!

Happy Easter all!

Ciao, xo Trish

Giveaway and another year...going, going....

Almost gone! First, a giveaway and the time is almost gone! I have a sweet little spring hipster (see the fabric selection in the previous post) waiting to find a new home. Post a comment or send me an email and we'll put your name in a hat for this little bag. The winner will get their bag shipped out to them next week. SO COMMENT NOW!! OK...and so, another year has come and gone. I celebrated a birthday last week and I'm not exactly thrilled at the aspect of moving ever so closer to...gulp, 40. I mean, really, 40?! I still have a few years left but it's out there, looming ahead and just waiting to snatch me up into its clutches. So when I woke up to yet another birthday this week, I have to say I was not feeling all that chipper about the day.

I went off to work and sat in my office in silence most of the day. Our students are off on Spring Break and so most of them are out sunning on a beach somewhere or hiking in the mountains. Nothing exciting about the day. Just an ordinary day. But wait...

I knew something was up when I called my sister on my commute home. She said, as we were about to sign off, "have fun tonight with everything". What everything? What are you talking about? She says, "oh, I don't know." I asked her, what do you know - did you call my house? She said, I might have called your house. Just have fun, ok. Smiling to myself, I pull down our street and promptly lose cell connection (you've heard me groan before about all of this right? We have no internet, no cable and very intermittent cell connection from our house. Drives me nuts!).

I pull up to our driveway and I wonder...why has someone marked the trees? They had tape around them - or so I thought. When I actually pulled in I realize that my entire driveway has crepe paper strewn from tree to tree that goes back and forth blocking the entire length of the driveway. My twins are standing in the doorway yelling "drive through it! drive through it!" and jumping up and down laughing and screaming as I drive slowly through all of the paper and get to a garage that is equally covered! Too fun!

I enter into our house - same thing! A combination of crepe paper, christmas garland, easter decorations and birthday balloons everywhere. They had a delicious lasagna dinner waiting for me compliments of my MIL, and a cake that had dots (?), yes those are my favorite polka dots on there, and my "birdies" that I applique on various things. The girls did the design work and I think it was quite clever. They presented me with a new hummingbird feeder, garden gloves, a bracelet and earrings, and my hubby gave me a dozen roses. I have to say, my blah, blah, blah birthday turned out to be the best ever. I "heart" my family - especially my husband. All that effort meant a TON to me...thanks.

Also this week - just pure random-ness here - Sprouts hair has been wild. Crazy! She's been sporting this crazy hair all week and I keep wetting it down and it pops back up! Too funny. But with her hair getting longer I can finally really use the barrettes I bought from Suann at Bows and Blossoms. They stay put - well - when she isn't pulling it out - and I love this one with her initial on it. Suann makes uber cute things, super great price and SUPER fast shipping. Check out her site here because she has some of the cutest new things for Spring.

Coming up next - bunny tutorial!

A little something you can handstitch for the easter baskets or decorate your table with or just love on! Fun!

Ciao! xo, Trish

{The Gardener and his peas}

{The season has begun.} About a week ago, the husband started getting the soil ready for planting.  He read up on the new veggies he was going to plant.  Thought about our little vegetarian we are feeding currently - the baby and has begun the process of providing loads of organics for our family.

Carrots, potatoes, beets, onions, and more and of course PEAS.  My girls never even let me cook them...the sugar snaps get eaten raw mostly.  A lot of times, we pack them as a snack to take to the pool with us - they are great but I like them best when the gardner steams them and then slathers them in butter.  Wow...heaven!

I love that our girls know where their food comes from.  The gardener is also a hunter and grilled out deer tenderloin the other night.  The twins were panting waiting for that to come off the grill and loved that they were eating something that Daddy brought home.  As he said, it doesn't get more organic than that and I suppose he is right.  Our freezer is full from his deer hunts this fall and we are thankful for that.

But I  love this time of year.  It starts to get warm.

Each warm day when you get to open the windows for a bit - don't you feel like you are in a laundry commercial or something?  You just take a deep breath and listen to the kids running around playing.  I love it.  Soon it will be full on migration and if you are birder you know what I'm talking about.  Warblers!  I can sit in my own backyard and see tons of warblers drop down in our trees on their journey.

This year, I will definately be out more with the baby.  Some of my old birding friends are not able to get out and walk like they used to but maybe we can at least do a trip up to Magee Marsh.

What's that?  OK...again, if you bird, you know, this place has a little amazing boardwalk on the shoreline of the lake where ALL the birds drop before making the trip on across.  You can see EVERYTHING within arms reach.  Amazing colors, variety, and close views.  If you are looking for something fun to do this Spring, this is it!  Truly, they are always tons of families there and really, we don't even need binoculars because everything is right there.  Check out their website - you'll find out they have different fun events all Spring long.  What a great way to introduce your kids to some fun science concepts like migration.  You will NOT be disappointed by this place but beware...when it hits peak migration - the place is as packed as Disney World and there are people there from all over the US just to  watch the birds.  It's pretty darn cool.

And with Spring, comes lots of new babies.  Which by the way - has anyone else noticed all the new babies around?!  Wow!  If I were just to go by my sales lately - I'd say last summer when gas prices were so high - there were a whole lot of people spending time at home and well, as a result, gas hike baby boom!

Bibs, bibs, bibs!  One of the teachers at my girls school asked about buying some bibs and I want to thank her for buying a few.  A few other teachers bought some things too which was fun to work with them on some designs for school bags and the like.  So - I have some new bibs in stock that I hope you might like as well.  I'll have them loaded on etsy soon or you can email me if you are interested.  Just $12 each, fully reversible bib with a snap neck.  Can't beat the cuteness of it!  Here's a peek a at one of them...

And since the garden has been planted, I've been thinking about all the creatures that visit our garden.  So, some new patterns coming along are "garden critters" that your girls and especially your boys will love!  My girls have already put dibs out on the design samples.  Trust me, super cute, super easy to sew!

I can't wait to get these patterns all out.  Super easy patterns for beginner sewers.  Purses, kids stuff - you'll love them.  All projects you can complete in under 3 hours.  Don't sew?  START!  Just get a machine - and start by making something really simple to learn how to use your machine.  You will love being able to handcraft gifts and make things for your family and I promise you, EVERYONE CAN SEW.  Really!  You can!

A sunny Spring day just makes me happy and want to give things away!  So send me your comments or email me.  We will randomly choose one and send you a NEW BAG for Spring!  A hipster in a great fresh Spring home dec fabric by Amy Butler.  Isn't this pretty?! We will take comments up to the end of March and send out your new bag the first week in April.  I love giveaways!

So get outside, go enjoy the birds, the flowers beginning to come up and take a hike!

:>) xo Trish

Contagious in Columbus

I bet you think I have fallen off the face of the earth, eh?  Almost.  Heavens...all 5 of us in the family got nasty colds and from there all heck broke loose.  I ended up with strep throat and was out, flat out, for 6 days and the twins ended up with pnuemonia.  Even the baby got an ear infection.  All is well now...we are on the mend, thankfully.

So much to write about I don't think I possibly can get it all in!  First, before we all got sick...we played hookey!  Oh yeah!  I decided we needed to do our own little field trip and so I took the little ladies out of school to attend the dress rehearsal of Alice in Wonderland put on by BalletMet.  It was great!  Amazing effects - the girls loved it! 

We walked a bit around downtown.  The girls loved it - they even started yelling when they saw the NBC studios - our own little mini times square kind of affair.  So cool! After, we hopped across the street to our statehouse and wondered around.  How cool is it to just walk in your statehouse and meander any old place you want?  Too fun!  Wait?!  Is that Abe Lincoln?  No...just pea goofin off in the gift shop.  They have a bunch of programs planned for Abe's 200th and of course, what celebration of Abe Lincoln would be complete without the hat?

We had lunch, and ice cream of course!  And the next day a fun day at the waterpark - Coco Key at the Cherry Valley Lodge.  Clean, nice - loads of fun and probably where we picked up our mega germs as we all were sick 2 days later.  Oh well!

Not much sewing or anything going on lately.  Some design work coming along -

a sweet "Little Sophie" bag went to an expectant Mom recently.  I'm still taking individual custom orders if you are interested...let me know.

I'll try to be more current with my postings from now on...send me "good germ" vibes, would ya?

Happy Little Chefs Birthday Party 101

I know it’s taken me awhile to get back to sharing all the details from the girls party. I have had a lot going on. Dealing with a husband who has been in training a lot lately and our crazy schedules. I mean, seriously, he came home with band-aids on his wrists because they got cut up while they were in defensive tactics practicing handcuffing. Playing a bit rough aren’t we boys? I’ve been working like mad on fabric designs and trying to decide on what to present for my first line, planning for Quilt Market including things like little giveaways, booth design, and of course, product! I have an appointment with one of the fabric companies on the first day of Market to present my designs so I’m super excited that truly, this Fall, I may have my very own line! That would be a dream come true! And the baby, well, she finally got up and crawled this week and started to pull herself up to a stand all within days of each other. So, keeping up with her just got a whole lot harder. So, as I do all day while I’m working either on campus or in my studio, I’m usually listening to music on my iphone. Quite frankly, as my husband says, I’m addicted to it. My iphone is never far from my hand – I do love it. And I like to share what I’m listening to because it inspires me and keeps me focused through the day. Lately it’s been Mercy Me and one of my favorites of the week has been a song called “Bring the Rain”.   I love this song, especially when I have had an especially trying week, and it just makes me feel stronger. You’ll love it, check it out.

Little Chefs…oh yes! The twins had a great 8th birthday party. I’ll give you my “Party 101” details on what we did and maybe you’ll find some ideas to use for the next party you host. First, we sent out invitations on little note cards that looked like recipe cards and said something about good food, add friends, mix well for a great birthday celebration. We added 3D cupcake stickers to them.

For each girl, I made them an apron and an apron for their American Girl doll.  (You can find your own on my etsy site).   I just used up scraps from my scrap basket and other old fabrics. I added a pocket for each girl and appliquéd their initial on the front panel. As each girl arrived, my girls gave them their aprons to put on.

Once everyone was here, we got started on making our lunch. I used little Dixie cups to put each serving of ingredient for each girl. We made chicken enchiladas and I just brought out each ingredient one at a time and had them add, mix and then stuff their tortillas. We put them in one big casserole and then left them to bake.

While lunch was cooking, we decorated cupcakes. I had purchased treat boxes that held 4 cupcakes per box. We had mounds of different types of candies and frostings so they could decorate their treats. I must say, a lot of candy did not make it to the cupcakes but got eaten instead! They loved getting to be creative. I gave them a few ideas and they were off and running. I had set the table with 2 sets of tablecloths. The bottom layer was a vinyl tablecloth we keep. The top was a plastic disposable table covering. When they were all done with the baking and cupcake decorating…I left the entire mess on the table and just wrapped it up in the table covering and tossed the whole thing. It was great! Then, underneath, I had a nice clean table ready for lunch. The girls went off and played for about 10 minutes while I set the table and got the rest of the food out.

I had just a simple centerpiece which consisted of wooden spoons with the chicken enchilada recipe attached. This was one of the favors the girls took home. I also had playdough thinking we would make mini treats for the dolls but we ran out of time so they just took that home with them. I had treat bags to pack their aprons in as well that had cupcakes on them and pretty much their favors were their apron sets.

After lunch, we did an egg relay race. They had to balance a plastic easter egg on a spoon and go on a course through our house. They were nuts doing this and had a lot of fun. We opened gifts and then they played out in the girls playhouse for a bit and that was it. 2 ½ hours went by really fast and my girls said they had a great time.

So as I sit here trying to write this I can hear the baby up in her bed, NOT sleeping because she has just learned to stand and so guess what she’s doing besides sleeping…oh yes, standing in bed and talking. I can’t even lay her down, she instantly rolls over and grabs the rails to pull up. Any suggestions? This is short lived right because it’s a new trick? The other two are running around this afternoon avoiding chores. Of course, they are grounded today for being sassy yesterday and so today they have no privileges and have to clean all day. I’ve never seen anyone procrastinate or drag out a task longer than these two – their little “craft” area looks like a bomb went off. And when I told my little pea this, she said to me, “So! SO does your room!” Man! This is why they are in trouble for the sassing! Actually mine is quite clean right now for once…but I do need to get back down there.

Here’s a quilt I made this morning and a purse being sent out tomorrow for orders. I’m working next on one my patterns – cute little kitty cat thing. I’ll show you that sometime soon! Within 3 weeks, I’ll have 3 patterns ready to go out to testers and I have only a few bodies to edit and test for me. If anybody else is interested in being a pattern tester for me, let me know asap! Ciao, Trish

Amy Butler at the Bloomsbury Loft

Look at the smile on my face. Does that say it all or what?! I have other photos of myself with this big of a smile. My college graduation. My wedding day. The birth of my children. And this. Ranks right up there :>)

Amy Butler has been a huge inspiration to me over the last several years. She lives about 30 minutes from my home and I first read about her in Country Living magazine and then found that ebay was loaded with handmade items utilizing her fabrics and I was enthralled with the colors and designs. She is really the reason why the sewing industry is where it is today and she has brought it to a whole other level that is bringing in new and younger sewers every day. She is just a class act all the way, in every way.

She was at a meet and greet event at the Bloomsbury Loft last night. Check out these sweet little treats they served – I brought these home for my girls. I think I was one of the first ones there for at least 20 minutes or so and I had the wonderful opportunity to actually have a nice long conversation with her about my aspirations, the business, her history and how she got started…it was really wonderful. She was generous in her time and advice, warm, sincere, and very gracious. I was so excited to go and meet her and I was not disappointed. She offered to help me out as I prepare to hopefully go to the Spring Quilt Market and I left there feeling truly energized that I CAN achieve success in this business. I loved hearing her tell her story about how she got started because it really made me believe in myself – that this dream is really achievable. I purchased one of her books, Little Stitches for Little Ones, and she signed it for me. Thank you Amy, it was such a pleasure.

About 5 am this morning, after I crawled back in bed after nursing the baby, my husband rolled over and put his head on my hip and said, “Are you still excited?”. I said, “Yes!”. He said I wiggled all night long and just laughed at me. I wasn’t dreaming about the evening I had just had but I was actually dreaming about my 3 girls. Nature and nurture.

My one pea, who is such an amazing creative artist. She picks up bottle caps from the sidewalk and general junk all over the place and then makes little sculptures and works of art. She amazes me in the depth of her imagination and what she pulls together. One day, she got into my beads (I used to make jewelry) and when I found her with all my expensive findings, she showed me that she had made the most beautiful pair of earrings to give to my mother. I couldn’t be mad at her. I couldn’t believe that a 6 year old could find all of those things and put them together the way she did with no instruction or help. And the other peas, she’s got such raw natural talent. She can look at a thumbnail picture from one of her magazines and recreate it and every detail in large scale perfectly. Wonderful artwork. And then I watch the baby and I am amazed at her dexterity at just 9 months. The way that she uses her index finger and thumb to delicately manipulate and pick up objects, wow. She has spent most of her life in my sewing studio either playing in the room or sitting on my lap while I’m at my machine. I think she will actually be the most amazing artist of us all. I just see it in her eyes.

And that’s why I was wiggling in my sleep. Because I have felt led to where I am today. Because I feel that nature and nurture in myself from what I can just naturally do and what I have been taught by my grandparents, great aunt, mother, father and teachers. Because I have always been encouraged in my art and crafting even when I didn’t want to do it. Because at this time in my life, this feels right. Because when I think about my girls and the talents that they have already, I know that artistic ability is both nature and nurture. They have watched me and also their amazing Aunt (who shares her talent with the kids and takes them to museums and draws with them. check her out here and here and here) and yet they have incredible talent that they were just born with. And so my dreams last night were of my future and all I could see was my 3 girls succeeding far more than I ever will.

But this just feels right. I had been feeling paralyzed. I had been praying for guidance. But I woke today feeling energized, and encouraged, and I feel hopeful. And ready. I am really ready to try.

Today, my kids were off school and we went to COSI, our local science museum. They love this place! In one of the exhibit areas, there was a needlepoint on the wall. It said, “HOPE. 1) A wish or desire accompanied by confident expectations of its fulfillment 2) to have confidence 3) Trust. Reliance.” I love this. And so I will. Hope.

I have a busy week ahead of me with my twins birthday coming up and a party this Saturday. I have 6 more aprons sets to make for their party just yet and tonight one peas said she wants a “sleuth kit”. They love mysteries and love the mystery in the Kit Kittredge and Nancy Drew movies. So any ideas? How do I make a “sleuth kit”? Seriously need some help on this one. A compass? A magnifying glass? Notepad and pencil of course. My husband being in law enforcement said he’d bring home some crime scene tape and might have a few other things he could come up with but…I need some ideas here! What would you put in it? And I only have a few more days to come up with this…kit. Which requires, you guessed it, a very specific bag to hold it all in. More sewing!

Update on my friend and her husband after undergoing some complications from his surgery, is now home and doing better. Thanks for your prayers…his one hour surgery turned quite complicated and we are so glad that he is now on the mend.

I’ll be back late next week with photos from the birthday girls shindig! They are so excited to have all their friends over and play and cook with their dolls. Do you get the feeling that I like it too? Still a kid at heart I guess!

Seriously? Could my life BE a bit crazier...really? Really.

I complain a lot here don't I?  I am SO glad you all are out there and just let me unload my woes.  Yeah, seriously.  I'm taking the day off of work tomorrow to clean house.  The MIL is coming to hang with the little one so I can zoom around and sort through junk that has been deposited...well, everywhere in my house so I can put some order in place.  And quite frankly, I'm looking forward to it.  Really.  I mean it.  I have a lot to look forward to this Spring and a good place to start is an organized house.  I have 4 bins of clothes and 2 bins of junk to go through and I can say...I am done.  I have gone through every closet, corner, nook and all of our house.  Started when I was pregnant...ah, in the fall of 2007.  Sprout is 9 months...I'd say I was fairly efficient, right? Don't laugh!  I hear you snickering out there...you got junk laying around too, don't you?  Come on,  you all email me on the sly and nobody ever wants to comment out in the open but hey, don't be shy.  You can own up to it.  Makes us all feel better to know we are not, gasp, perfect.

Anyway, still have some major cabin fever going on.  The kids are back in school..and guess what, they have Friday off!  Let's see, snow day, snow day, snow day...oh yes, let's have another day off.  I don't even know why they have it off but I for one, am headed off to our local science museum where we have a membership with the girls.  I can't take not even ONE more day in the house with them and their - oh I hate to admit this - crafting everywhere.

What have I done?  My little designers...they each made a quilt this week.  With scraps.  And a lot of glue.  A LOT of glue.   Once they dried, cute...and they put their new quilts on their sock monkeys (see sock monkey post) you should see the mess they left behind.  Now, they'll clean it as best they can but really, right now, my nerves are just frayed.  I'm crazy anxious about this whole - sewing industry leap - I'm about to take and...I don't know.  Is it just me?  Am I over sensitive?  Oh whatever!  :>)

I did get out on Sunday. 

Sprout took her first whirl around the park in the backpack.  Check out the thumb in the mouth.  Her top tooth just cut through that day.  We all enjoyed the sun although the trails were covered in ice so not so good for hiking.  It just felt good to get out.  And who would have guessed that it would 45' and everybody would be running around town with their car windows down and no coats.  Does that tell you how much we've become accustomed to subzero temperatures.  The 40's and we are all..."it's like Spring!".

And Thursday, I'm off to a meet and greet with Amy Butler. Like a stupid starstruck fan, I'm packing my camera along for sure.  My husbands aunt invited me - she's a buyer with the Limited brands.  She travels ALL the time to Paris, Rome, New York, Milan, etc for Limited in the textile industry and she's been trying to find me some connections to get my fabric line looked at.  So, she invited me to this little event and I'm really very excited and also nervous.  Will I get to talk to her?  If I do, what do I say?  "Ahh, hi.  I wanna be just like you."   No, that's stupid.  True, but stupid.  I'll just carry my bag I designed made with her fabrics and stare, I'm sure.  Listen, hope to glean off some secrets that will help motivate me to move MOVE MOVE these fabric patterns off to the testers and off the printers.  I just feel like I'm paralyzed though.  As long as I don't move, nobody has said no yet.  This is the whole anxiety thing.  See what I mean?

I'll end with this - there are much greater things in this life to fret over than a messy house and my nerves over my artwork.  My dear friend Kris, from LivyMarie handbags - you hear me chat about her once in awhile with her 5 kids she homeschools?  Well, her husband is having some heart issues and having surgery tomorrow morning.  Please lift them up in prayer as you read this.

Along with that, we have a local twins family who had their sweet peas born much too early.  They have been in the NICU and I made some quilts and hats for them last week.  My peas will deliver them next week and I'll share a photo later.  Please lift them in prayer.  Visit their journal and send them warm happy thoughts of the life to come for their family.

4:17pm.  I was going to leave the office today at 2:30 so I could work on some orders.  4:17pm.  Ugh.  Aprons are the hit lately...here's some more on their way to Morroco (is that how you spell it) to travelinmama who bought these on my etsy site.   She does some seriously cute paper crafts!  And I hope her little one likes the american girl set.

NOW I'm really, seriously, really...no I mean really, going home.  Really. Seriously.

Slan Leat, (a new one for me - goodbye in gaelic - a little nod to my Irish father)

Trish