Another image I have had in my head for ages it seems. It was a lot of fun to do some digital quilting! I am asked every night : "Mom, kiss me again" "Mom, snuggle me" "One more hug" : Words I never want to forget. I also hope with this print to satisfy most family combinations: red hair, dark skin, etc. I hope to be having a big shop update by the beginning of next week! So stay tuned!
Inspiration comes (for me) from a lot of places. A book, a goodnight hug, my childhood memories, a fabric color combination, my children's interactions. I can't really say that there is any one specific source of inspiration since it is all tied up into who I am and what I experience. But I will say, vintage children's books are at the top of my list. I was notified about this site from children's illustrator Carin Berger, and I couldn't be more delighted! White Ravens, a collection of children's books from around the globe, is a library of children's books online from around the globe spanning back to Caldecott himself. Do you remember when I posted about this other site? The Rosetta Project is another site that is dedicated to saving the old and treasured children's books. A very noble venture indeed!
What I love about studying these books, is to find the relationship between the books that we read now and these very first children's books. They are like the parents of what we read to our children. I just get goosebumps when I think of storytelling to children in its very earliest beginnings. In fact, I am so fascinated by it, I own the oldest children's book I know of. It is so old, it's not even a children's picture book (they weren't even invented yet, I guess you could say). I wish I could take a picture, but it is currently safe in a box from our last move. It is a church song book for children written in 1741. It is in very poor condition, but the handwriting of little Margaret, the owner I am sure, is plain to see on the front page. Sometimes I feel sad for little Margaret who only had a songbook of rules to memorize (all about behaving well) and didn't have the luxury of reading THE VERY HUNGRY CATAPILLAR or AMEILIA BEDILIA. Did she ever get bored of what was, and wish she had books about what could be? I wonder how her era of literature would have been altered if she could have gotten a hold of HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON. But it was of course, only the beginning. And I like to imagine what it must have been like for those first children readers to witness children's picture books in the making. A lot had to happen in publishing and creativity since my little Margaret 1741 friend, and I am glad to be on the other side of it. But we all know, to create the future, we must learn from the past! So, hats off to the inspiring past! And to you, my Margaret friend, thank you for participating in the earliest of children's literature. It had to start somewhere!
There are days that just get you all fueled up, and Friday was just that. I went to the Startup Princess Touchpoint event (a conference for entrepreneurs) and was so delighted to meet Heather Bailey in person. She spoke twice during the conference and I also got to chat with her a bit one-on-one. What a treat! She is just as warm and genuine as she comes across in her blog. I was so impressed by here incredible work ethic, dedication to her family, God and to her talents. She is one smart cookie, I'll tell you that. She was able to show us her new line of fabric coming any day now (she says she is just waiting for it to come in the mail!) and it's just darling. I'll let you check out her site for her to do the telling, but I was once again so impressed by her ability to create what she loves and what other people can't wait to get their hands on. She shared a lot of her journey from before she even started a business until now. It was needless to say, very inspiring!
I was also able to meet up with so many great blogging friends. In the picture on the left, you see Marie from Make and Takes, Allison from Petit Elephant, and Kami from No Biggie. It was so wonderful to meet people I only t get to read from on a screen...meeting in person is the icing on the cake! Thanks Startup Princess for such a great event!
If you are in traveling distance to Salt Lake City, UT, come to the Startup Princess Women's entrepreneur Touchpoint event on Friday featuring 3 awesome guest speakers including my favorite: Heather Bailey. Have a business? Thinking of starting one? Want to meet some really cool people? Want something fun to do on Friday? Come on down. It'll be a blast!
Sign up here.
So it's really true. Each child gets fewer and fewer photos of themselves. Everyone warned me, but I stubbornly took a million pictures of #1 and #2 to prove them wrong. But then came #3, and well....it's true. It's honestly a matter of having a spare finger to press "shoot." It doesn't sound that complicated, but believe me. They were right.
I managed to snap some photos of Ella this week, and it turns out, she is dolled up in everything handmade, and it made me smile. Everything she's wearing in these pictures someone took the time to make with their hands. I find that so special.
I fell in love with this podswaddler (a cross between a swaddling blanket and a peapod) made by a blog reader friend who has an ETSY shop. And her headband, also on ETSY who's maker is my wonderful neighbor. Her blanket in the top picture was made by my dear friend who does my shipping, and the best for last...
...this blessing dress made by my mother-in-law for Ella's special day. It just warms my heart to see so much made from loving hands for this little girl. My husband's grandmother even makes her things...at 90 years old...and I can't think of a better offering than of work from your hands. These are precious gifts!
And let's just say...this baby herself is as handmade as they come! And ooooooh, she's the best gift ever.
I have had this image in my head for a while now. I finally decided to get it out of my head and onto paper. I think this would be darling with a few other variations...elephant, ballons.... I am wanting to get some new images in the shop before long. We'll see where I go.
Happy Friday, all!
Hi gang,
I've been working hard at getting things in order around here, which includes getting this blog a new lift (via my ultra talented friend April). It'll be getting tweaks here and there for a bit, so thanks for your patience while things are under construction! We've also been adding new people to the studio and getting business up and running for Christmas. Can't wait to introduce you to some wonderful friends! Life in the studio isn't so lonely anymore...and my husband is so grateful not to be as involved (Wanna take a trip to the post office my dear?) Ok. So I don't call him "My Dear". He'd cringe. But not much more than hearing the word "post office" or "cellophane sleeves" for that matter! So we're all a bit grateful to be getting lots of help. Can't wait to introduce you. Until then...
xo
sarah jane
