Ten for '10

Wishing you all a wish filled 2010. As we turn the corner into the new year it is a time to pause for thought. I really do believe that everyday is another opportunity to do it all a little better and don't so much subscribe to measuring things in years. Yet, here we are and 2010 just sounds so big. Here are ten thoughts/ dreams/ wishes I have for '10.

1. Be a better me - better mother, better daughter, better friend, and better wife.

2. Come up for more air - balance work time with living time more effectively.

3. Explore my inner foodiness - that means more home cooked meals.

4. Pay it forward - I am so fortunate to have had so much love and support - I look forward to finding new and creative ways to give back.

5. Travel to new places.

6. Take more pictures of the places and people that I love.

7. Paint more, draw more, paint more, draw more.

8. Be as kind to myself as I try to be to others.

9. Keep an open eye and an open mind.

10. And on a larger and more selfless note, wishing for all of us to strive for honesty, openness, responsibility, and integrity. 

How I Spent My Christmas Vacation

Do I love the beach? Okay, who doesn't? But you know how there are mountain people, lake people, city people..... I am an ocean girl through and through. I can't believe I grew up a few blocks from this beach. Whenever I return, I am immediately thrown back in time. All of my ocean senses that have been lying dormant come screaming back, the blues and greens, the scrunchy sand and warm wind, and the salty smelling air. It doesn't matter what is going on in your life, you immediately calm down into THE most relaxed state.  I remember walking through the old hotels that used to line the beach - in the 60's they would have basement  floors with all sorts of stores... souvenir shops, clothing stores, hair salons. There was a particular blended smell of Coppertone, salt, and sand that would infuse the air. A nostalgic, stale, yet lovely perfume - impossible to describe.

Here are some photos from my trip (lots of bird sightings) -

 Elegant Tern

 local fisherman and friends

 Green Heron

I went to a facility that rehabilitates birds - the healthy birds in the area hang out there and nest. I have never seen a baby pelican before. This one is two months old.

Well hello there

Awwwww

I have some more photos on Flickr .

From the pages of my sketchbook

Whatever holiday you celebrate and wherever you find yourself this season, I hope it is filled with good food and good company. I am heading to my favorite ocean spot and plan on adding to my shell collection. See you on the other side of the holidays.

And the Winner of the Cupcake Fabric is....

(picked randomly) ........ Terry Sandelin. I will be e-mailing you for your address. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered, sorry I don't have enough fabric for all of you! Stay tuned for another giveaway after the holidays.

Personal Favorites

I recently went over all of my designs in my portfolio that I have done over the last seven years. I pulled together a folder of my favorites, most of which have sold. Here is an assemblage of some of the images that I wanted to share. It is always interesting to look at old work, compare it to new work, and see where things are moving. (Click on image to see larger.)

Cupcake give away!! This Contest is Now Closed - winner announced

Call me crazy, but I am willing to battle the long post office lines to mail two 1/2 yard pieces from my Confections collection with Robert Kaufman to one lucky winner. I have 1/2 yard of vanilla and 1/2 yard of blueberry (although this does look more like vanilla and chocolate :))).  Leave me a comment convincing me why I am not crazy and I will notify the winner Friday morning.

Sweet Apron for Little Ones

I used the pattern by Montessori By Hand for this sweet little apron. It has an elastic neck loop and a velcro closure so kids can put it on and take it off by themselves - love that. I used the vanilla cupcakes fabric from the Confections collection for the body of the apron and the blush mosaic hearts fabric from the All My Heart collection for the lining and details (Robert Kaufman fabrics). Isn't it yummy?

On A Whim 2 - the fabrics

Okay, we are getting closer to the release date of On A Whim 2.  There are eleven prints in total in two colorways - earth and summer, except for the line birds which are in four yummy colors - orange, chartreuse, tan, and brown. Here are five of the actual fabrics from the collection. (Just a tickler.... will post the whole collection after the holidays  - I hope you are as excited as I am!)
Availbale in January - will ship to stores in March:

Baby blankets

Some receiving blankets using my designs.

Click on the photos too see up close.

Show and Tell

Some groovylicious goodness made from my fabrics (you are all so talented!).

Stitchin Sista
made from On A Whim fabrics

Ruby Grace

made from Animal Party fabrics

Laken & Lila

made from Forest Fun fabrics

and I apologize - I lost the link to this On A Whim owl scarf, saw this photo on flickr - but it is too fabulous not to share:))