Back by popular demand::New Patchwork Totes!

Introducing: Dutch Girl Textiles + a fab GIVEAWAY!!!

Get ready crafters, there's a new online fabric store that I am sooo excited to tell you about.

Jody Dixon has recently launched Dutch Girl Textiles , a great online source for designer fabric. And if you're local to the Capital region, you'll be pleased to know that Dutch Girl headquarters is located in Carleton Place, (you know what that means: cool , LOCAL fabric - finally! )

I have to say I am feeling pretty lucky today because Jody has generously sent me a sweet lil' sample pack. She included some of Amy Butler's Daisy Chain and some super pretty Valori Wells pieces from her "Nest" collection! Wow, talk about a good mail day :)

To celebrate the launch of Dutch Girl Textiles Jody is offering a pretty sweet giveaway over on her blog . The prize? An absolutely gorgeous Valori Wells rag quilt!

Well? What are you waiting for? Head on over and leave a comment on this post , you have until February 20th ! Good luck :)

***
One more important note : Dutch Girl Textiles is the main sponsor of the highly anticipated Handmade Harvest Craft Show . The show takes place on May 7th in Almonte at the Almonte Agricultural Hall. This show is not to be missed I tell ya!

Sounds from the workshop.

I'm super busy in the workshop these days, but I thought I'd pop in and share with you some of the music that's keeping me going while I work.
music+coffee=productivity.



One of the kiddos was looking for me today, and the other one said: " I hear the Avett Brothers, she must be sewin' in the workshop."
Love that.

Leggy

So this morning finds me on day two of OWL LEG PRODUCTION. Today will be more fun than yesterday because now I'm on to stuffing. Which means working from the couch and watching movies while I work. I've been spending the past week or so doing all the tedious sewing work that tends to slow me down when doing big orders or shop updates. I've got tons of tote straps and linings done, owl eyes, beaks and faces cut, bias tape cut and pressed, ( I love having bias tape in fabulous prints but man do I hate making the stuff!), and a stack of crowns all cut and sitting pretty on my WIP table. It has been a bit difficult doing so much of this work all at once but it will be a while before I need to do it again. And being able to just jump in to the "fun" sewing that allows me to really play and be creative is the ultimate reward. No having to stop mid tote or softie because I need to make a strap or cut some eyes out of felt.

Now, all I need to do is choose a movie, get comfy and start stuffing. I'm thinking the new Feist documentary.



So, are you doing any making today?

Looking Ahead

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. We've been enjoying a mellow stretch of days at home with eachother. I love this week before the new year, so much planning and looking ahead. There are tons of things I want to accomplish in 2011, seriously, my notebooks are spilling over with inspiration! But first- I must tackle the monster in my workshop, (okay, it's not really a monster it's just a huuuuuge mess.) I'm going to take the next few days and slowly get it back in working order, maybe make the space a bit more functional. Then it's back to sewing and introducing some new designs in time for Valentine's Day,( sneek peeks coming soon.)

Happy New Year,
Haley
xo

PS From now until Jan 1st I am offering 15% off everything in my shop.
Just enter coupon code HAPPY2011 at checkout!

Shop Update!

Head on over to the shop this afternoon, I'll be adding six new log cabin totes in all my favourite prints!
See ya there!
xo

WIP Wednesday

Putting together some log cabin patchwork totes this week. These are quite possibly my favourite things to make, I love paring prints and placing pieces and quilting as I go. Some of my most treasured fabrics are reserved for these totes. Some Aunty Cookie, babushkas , Amy Butler and other Japanese faves, mmmmm. I love it!

xo

WIP Wednesday

There are quite a few little owls with legs today! And more and more getting plumped full of stuffing! It's so fun to see them turn into these huggable 3D characters, (even if the progress is slow going some days.) At the end of a long day in the studio it is truly satisfying to see them all lined up together, not knowing what their futures may hold...

These sweeties are headed downtown to one o my favourite little children's boutiques. (A post about that will follow soon.) I'm off to stuff more hoots!

xo.

Progress

So the kiddos are back to school and there is real progress in the studio at last. These are a bunch of little owl legs patiently awaiting bodies. I'm in the middle of making a batch of thirty hoots, which is probably too many for me! It's super hard to stay motivated when working in large quantities like this, for me anyway :) Ah well, the finish line is in sight!

Having both kids in school full days has been a real change of pace for me. It's incredible to have so much time to get things done during the day. I almost don't know what to do with myself half the time!


This was the scene afterschool on the first day back. My little first grader sleeping soundly on the floor with her pup...

Lots of big changes this month for all of us, it's important to take time out and rest :)

xo

back to work...and loving it.

I'll be updating things around here with mostly images for the next little while. Just shots of finished projects, works in progress etc. The kiddos are heading back to school soon and I am easing my way back into the studio... and I am loving it.

xo

h

Lil' Hoots

Still truckin' along with my little owls. I whipped up a small batch of owl babies for a recent show. These cuties are super sweet but a little different than my old design. They are smaller, chubbier, and have no legs - they're kinda like little owl pillows. The response was positive but not as overwhelming as usual. So I'll keep tinkering with the design, maybe bring back the legs...
I'll post pictures of my next prototype soon :)
xo
haley

Back on Track!

Well! I took a step back from the blog for a while as I needed some time to catch up on some projects and prepare for some spring craft shows. I'm all up to date now and am vowing to become more present in this space!

I've got some projects that I am really excited about. They involve hemp, applique and Anna Maria Horner's delicious Little Folks collection. I have been staring at my fat quarter set of these sweet prints for ages, waiting for just the right design and I believe I have found the perfect way to use this fabric! I'm not quite finished but everything is waiting patiently on my desk for the finishing touches, then I will reveal them here and get them into the shop pronto.

xo

haley

Spring & Other Things

I've been super busy in the studio this week, getting ready for Friday's shop update. I am hoping that I can finish up some sweet log cabin totes, I'll see how quickly they can come together.


With all the hustle & bustle of the week, I have been keeping a watchful eye on the garden. The kiddos & I check daily on the progress of our tulips, almost all have opened up except for a few slow pokes. I love the anticipation of spring....

This shot above is just for extra awesomeness. I often enter a room to find the dogs all gussied up... with a little girl trying hard to conceal her giggles.

xo

Shop News

Good morning all! Today i thought I'd share a bit of shop news. I am planning a big ol' update for Friday April 23rd. There'll be some handy Take Along Totes for all the kiddos in your life. These little bags are great for holding all those whozits & whatzits that kids accumulate when they're out & about, ( my girls bring their's everywhere.) There they are above all stacked and ready to go. I love seeing things all piled up like this- makes me feel productive.

There will also be some sweet dress up crowns available. I think they look like some sort of awesome blooming plant in this shot... I've got loads more crowns all cut and ready to go but I think those will be coming along with me to the Tarts n' Crafts show on May 8th at the Jack Purcell Community Centre in Ottawa, (more about that great event later.)

That's all fer now friends.
xo

Testing one, two, three...

So here I go with my first post. I plan to use this here bloggy thing to share peeks into my crafty life and hopefully inspire others and myself to continue along this path. We'll see where it goes :)

Above are some of my "HOOTS". I absolutely love creating these cuties but I've been brainstorming ways to revamp them a little. Owls are all over the place and I really want them to stand out in the crowd, ya know? I will be posting updates on the whole "owl development" process in the coming weeks.

There, first post done...not so scary :)