Introducing LOLA DUTCH is a little bit much

April 18, 2016

BIG NEWS TODAY! I've been dying to share the exciting news that my husband and I have written and illustrated a book series and it's just been announced in Publishers Weekly today! The First book LOLA DUTCH IS A LITTLE BIT MUCH is scheduled to launch late 2017/early 2018. This is a dream come true on so many levels.

LOLA DUTCH is an impulsive, over the top, all or nothing personality with a tendency towards creative genius in everything she does. And she just got her very own book deal:)

You could say the creation of this character is something that's been in the works for years. So you'll need a little backstory:

Since the early age of 8 I knew I'd write and illustrate picture books as my career. With a degree in Musical Theater and just as much private training in art, my art career was always aimed with this in mind.

Fast forward to when I met my husband Kenneth the first day of class in our musical theater program in college. I knew very early on that we made a great team. With his years of experience in storytelling in the classroom and on the stage, and my dream of creating characters for children to love, we knew if we worked hard enough, we could create a dynamite act.

After years of studying, writing, drafting, editing and learning how to work together, Kenneth and I have created LOLA DUTCH...a book series that has been in our heads and hearts for a very long time. In fact, you may already recognize or even own early drafts of these characters from prints in my shop:)

We are thrilled to announce that our book was acquired at auction by Bloomsbury US and Bloomsbury UK with more on the way! Lola and her team of sidekicks are antsy to make their debut with the first book release in a little over 18 months! It sounds so far away, but we will be sharing LOLA DUTCH with you in delightful bits and fascinating pieces before then. We can't wait!

Here is the Publishers Weekly article on it today, if you care to know details:)

You can join LOLA DUTCH on her own Instagram page here at @loladutch too! It's the very beginning of an exciting journey with this little girl that is just too much.

So much magic to come!

MAGIC! New Fabric coming Summer 2016

March 30, 2016

Hip Hip Horray! This summer I'm releasing yet another fabric collection with Michael Miller Fabrics, and I'm super thrilled. I will be debuting the collection at the International Quilt Market this May in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it will be shipping to stores in July.

MAGIC is my response to my own children's love of magical play. Unicorns, Dragons, and Mermaids in Mint, Pink and Gold. This is my first time playing with GOLD in my fabric, and I'm so happy with how it turned out! It's literally MAGICAL!

I'll be trickling in more to show you as the weeks come...I'm still not done loving and adoring SOMMER! I'm sure you are too:) But stay tuned....there is lot's of MAGIC coming your way!

Spring Sale!

March 23, 2016

Easter is just around the corner (that was fast!!) and I hope you can all enjoy a little spring sale! Now through Sunday you can get 20% off at checkout with code "SPRING20" on your entire purchase! Enjoy!

Sarah

Swaddle fabric video!

February 29, 2016

So excited to show you this Swaddle fabric (gauze fabric) video I've been working on! I wanted to show you how incredibly soft and versatile this fabric is!

this fabric really is a game changer! I've loved seeing your creations on Instsgram! It's perfect for Swaddle blankets of course, but because it's 52" wide on the bolt, it lends itself to so much! Bedding, clothing and even quilting! You'll see a pieced quilt in the video that I'm really excited to show you more if later.

And if course, if you ever have questions about this fabric feel free to contact me or Michael Miller Fabrics!

Enjoy!

Easter Dress Challenge

February 22, 2016

With Sommer fabric hitting stores, and Easter just around the corner, I thought it would be so fun to have an Easter Dress Challenge! SOMMER is perfect for spring dresses, with all the florals, bunnies, birds and checks. And with us all sharing our creations, it will be even more fun! And of course, we must have a bit of friendly competition...3 lucky winners will win some amazing prizes!

Dress Challenge Guidelines:

1) Each dress needs to be made of exclusively SOMMER fabric and/or SOMMER gauze (swaddle fabric) and can (but doens't need to) incorporate Cotton Couture Solids (Michael Miller Solid Fabrics)

2) Deadline for submission is Thursday March 31st at 10 pm EST

3) Dress must be photographed in a way that we can see the whole dress. Multiple photos are just fine. (Hint: Good lighting and good, clean photography will show off your dress the best:) Dresses can be worn or on a hanger, but we must see the whole dress)

4) You must tag your dress with #sommerdresschallenge and post to instagram or facebook and also tag me at @sarahjanestudios and/or @sarahjanefabric to make sure that I receive it. If you don't have a social media account, you can email me at sarah@sarahjanestudios.com and I can upload your dress for you. If you have already posted dresses to social media and want them to be included, you must go back and tag them with these.

5) These do NOT have to be easter Dresses! I'm just calling it that, because well, girls love new dresses at easter:)

6) Judging will be based on dress design, use of fabric (you can use one print or more...it doesn't matter) clear presentation and overall quality.

7) Multiple submissions are just fine.

WINNERS

Winners will be judged and announced on Friday April 1st.

1) FIRST PLACE: An assortment of 5 yards of SOMMER fabrics, double gauze and a $75 gift card to Sarah Jane Studios Shop. It will also be featured on the Michael Miller Fabrics Blog.

2) SECOND PLACE: An assortment of 3 yards of SOMMER fabrics, double gauze and $50 to the Sarah Jane Studios Shop.

3) THIRD PLACE: An assortment of 2 yards of SOMMER fabrics, double gauze and $25 to the Sarah Jane Shop.

And for ALL other submissions: I will do my very best to feature your dress on my Instagram at @sarahjanefabric for all to see!

Ok! Let's get going! Spread the word, and share the love. I can't wait to see your amazing creations!

(image from Nicole Hill Gerulat)

Last minute Valentines

February 13, 2016

An oldie, but a goodie. Need a last minute Valentines idea? These are printable cards and envelopes sure to bring a little cheer!

Click here to see the original post.

Happy Valentines day!

Sommer Star Quilt Pattern

February 8, 2016

With the new fabrics of SOMMER now out in stores, it's exciting that I get to share some fun projects to go with!

Today, Amy Smart of Diary of a Quilter is sharing this amazing star quilt pattern on her blog.

You can see the full post here.

And Download the PDF pattern here.

I also have a new Instagram feed that I've made JUST for fabric, for all of us to share our projects and get ideas! Simply follow @sarahjanefabric on Instagram (@sarahjanestudios as well if you aren't already!) and tag all your sarah jane fabric projects with either #sarahjanefabrics and I'll be sure to post them and share!

Happy Sewing!

Introducing: Swaddle Fabric

January 26, 2016

I’m so excited to introduce to you Michael Miller’s newest line of product….swaddle fabric!

Any new mother knows that swaddle blankets are at the top of all their wish lists. 7+ years ago, swaddle blankets became the “must have” for any new mother, and I’m here to attest to that! I’ve swaddled all my babies, with the first two being in a thin flannel because the “swaddle” material wasn’t widely available. Aiden and Anis made it popular, and since then, it’s a product no mother can live without. But now, there is access to this delicious fabric by the yard!!

Now, technically, it’s double gauze and bubble gauze that I’ll be introducing you to. This fabric is not the double gauze you are used to handling...the linen-like material that is lovely, yet not as soft and supple as this fabric is. This fabric is just so soft, and it truly like the commercial swaddle blankets you are used to handling. I wish there was a “touch and feel” option on the screen!

When I sought out to do swaddle fabric with Michael Miller, they sought out to find the very best quality of fabric...which frankly took years...and I'm so incredibly delighted with the quality. This is a game changer in so many ways! I initially became excited about it because I knew mothers and grandmother and aunts and friends could whip up their own swaddle blankets, and make a personal gift for baby. I didn't realize that the time how versatile this fabric was going to be!

And because of it’s softness, clothing and fashion are a must! The bubble gauze, or single ply, is sheer and lovely. It can be worn sheer, or doubled up for opacity and extra softness. The solid colors swaddle fabrics are the Bubble Gauze.

The double gauze is opaque enough for clothing, and makes for such lovely breeze yet soft to the touch clothing. Here you can see the double gauze as shorts, and the top is two layers of the bubble gauze.

But what I didn’t realize, is that this fabric is perfect for SO many projects besides just swaddle blankets! Because of the width of the fabric (52+ inches) it makes for amazing projects like bedding, quilt backs, and so much more.

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Quilting is something we have experimented with the swaddle, and we are so happy with it. There will be more on that later! It does require that you allow for ½ inch seams as the fabric wants to fray after a wash, and you need to allow for that. Serging isn’t required, but it does help if you have one. However, without a serger, a good seam allowance does the trick!