Clearance:

We have put a few things on clearance in the ETSY shop today...if you want to run over and snatch up some deals!

We'll be having some random clearance sales on extra items as we are clearing out for the holidays. Just FYI:)

Everyone loves a steal, right?

 

Lunch Notes

IMG_3914 copy

IMG_3914 copy

School lunches have started. We're having a lot of fun with them this year too! (We're bento boxing for the first time...any of you bento fans? I'm loving it!)

Anyways....my mother was an AMAZING school lunch mom. Looking back, and especially now that I'm packing lunches daily, it amazes me that she packed notes each school day for 20 years in all 5 kids lunches.

Ya. I'm living in a tough shadow:)

So now, I send my kids to school with a note every day too. On their napkin. But it's always in pictures (which are faster for me than words most often:)

And it's always rushed. (What? School mornings rushed?)

So I thought I'd start sending some more prepared little notes too. (We might actually get to school EARLY with these printed notes lying around for emergencies!)

Could you use some ?

I’ve made THESE PRINTABLE LUNCH BOX NOTES for you grab in the shop…180 ready to go illustrated and designed notes…as well as 72 blanks notes!

Or, feel free to download the free pages below! There are 2 pages of notes, and it’s great in a pinch!

lunch quote 2 sarah jane blog

lunch quote 2 sarah jane blog

FREE PRINTABLES

FREE PRINTABLES

Happy lunch making:)

xo

sarah jane

Pin & Flickr Friday

I'm going to start a new feature on fridays. So many of you are amazing and have created such gorgeous work with my fabric, prints, etc. And I just love sharing! Facebook, flickr and pinterest are great places to share, and I'm there everyday checking out your projects. But after the survey you all took last month (THANK YOU by the way!) I realized that only 50% of you are peeking onto those sites. Which it totally fine, of course!  But you also said that you wanted to see more inspiration on the blog of room ideas, sewing projects, etc. to inspire your own ideas!

So I'll be sharing my favorite of your creations here, and on Fridays!

Violet Field Threads is new to me, but when I saw these new patterns of theirs on Facebook, I about died. I think I might have cried even.

They took the Deep Sea Jewel colorway of OUT TO SEA and made these gorgeous little nautical inspired dress patterns!

Designing fabric makes me want to design clothing. But since that probably won't happen in my lifetime (I do cherish some semblance of sanity!) I love it when people use the fabric in such a special way.

Aren't these amazing?

The fabrics used here are:

Nautical Stripe

Sea Flowers

Sail Away Border print

Ship Wheels

Most pics I'm going to share aren't going to be as professional as these....so don't hesitate to share what you've made!

Or take pictures of the rooms that you've created around Sarah Jane prints, projects, etc.

So here are a few places that you can start posting your Sarah Jane creations: If you see on my Side Bar here on the blog, (in case you are reading this in a reader, and not on the site:)  you'll see the different FLICKR groups (Out to Sea, Children at Play, Embroidery and Decorating)that you can join as my Pinterest account, which I try and repin what I find online! It's a great way to help others get inspired!

(And of course if you aren't into any of those places....no biggie...I just want to make sure you know where to post images if you feel inclined to!) 

You are always welcome to email me directly and share what you are making or decorating. I'd love to see (and if you don't want me to share it online, please say so)

My contact  info is up there on the right--

Do you have any fun projects you are working on this weekend? The Crisp Fall Air has me in a magical mood....you?

Have a wonderfully creative weekend!

xo

sarah

 

 

Sarah Jane

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Milly the Mermaid part 2

So Merrillee from MerMag was so gracious to offer this free doll pattern here, and now she has the clothing ready to go!

She's been refining this pattern for a book she's working on, and is offering the Milly Mermaid clothing here at 50% just for Sarah Jane readers. She's the best.

My girls just love the details in this doll....and the fin is the best part!

Hop on over here to get the discounted pattern with code: SARAHJANE50 and you'll be ready to go!

(The discount is only good for a week....so now until Sept. 20th!)

CLICK HERE FOR THE MERMAID CLOTHING PATTERNS

Have fun sewing!

(And don't forget to share this project with your friends....Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter...spread the love!)

*All projects in the Out to Sea Blog tour are made especially for the OUT TO SEA Fabric Collection produced by MICHAEL MILLER Fabrics. Fabric will be shipping First week in August. For more information about the fabric visit this post or my stockists page on how to find the fabric!

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Milly the Mermaid Doll part 1

Hello lovely people!

Time for yet another free tutorial from my OUT TO SEA collection.

This mermaid was THE HIT of the booth...you should have seen the dramatic people over at Michael Miller come over to the booth JUST to show off this little doll and her detachable tail.

A.dor.a.ble.

Merrillee who blogs at MERMAG is a crazy talented illustrator and crafter, and she asked to use my fabrics for a pattern she is releasing!

She's so generously offering the doll pattern for free, with the doll clothing being offered as a PDF pattern at a discount for Sarah Jane readers tomorrow.

It's seriously the favorite toy at our house. I just love it!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE DOLL PATTERN

And stay tuned tomorrow for information on the mermaid outfit!

Thanks Mer! 

 

*All projects in the Out to Sea Blog tour are made especially for the OUT TO SEA Fabric Collection produced by MICHAEL MILLER Fabrics. Fabric will be shipping First week in August. For more information about the fabric visit this post or my stockists page on how to find the fabric!

 

Light.

The blog has been full of pretty things and projects lately, and I've not really taken the chance to share a couple thought's I've been having.

Have you ever had the experience of being completely down, broken or vulnerable but to look up and see a certain sky that is so breathtaking and so unique you know it was meant for just you?

I have.

Many times.

Our little fixer-upper cottage sits on top of a hill where I can see the sunset every day. And I often wonder, when those post-stormy sunsets burst through, "I wonder who that one is for tonight."

I've struggled enough to know that those moments of bursting sunlight through the clouds can be just the symbol needed to smile and keep my gaze up. And because I get to see it every evening, I think about all the people seeing that same glorious setting and who might need it most.

I tired mother? I newly widowed neighbor? A frustrated teen?

I don't always think about these in more than abstract thoughts, but it does make me recognize how far our fire can go if we just light it. 

Do you see those sun rays spreading over miles of sky? Piercing through the last bits of heavy cloud?

I'm going to be honest with you, and say that I'm actually a naturally shy person who feels comfortable with the few close people in my life, namely my family and a few friends. Sharing my art started as an experiment and has turned into more than just a hobby. But I won't lie and say that I often wish I could just keep myself behind that cloud. Especially when I'm tired and times get hard. Cause they do. But seeing this sunset yesterday.... seeing those beaming rays from one little peek of sun.... reminded me that while it can be hard to put myself out there all the time and every day....you really never know how far it can reach, or who will chance to see it.

And that is a beautiful concept. It's passion that pushes me out of my shell....passion for art, for children, for beauty, simplicity and what could be.

So, I guess you could say that I'm convinced that we all have a light to shine, but just as important, we have light to inspire us to keep the fire going.

Joy. Love. Passion. Care. Deep Curiosity. Ambition. Motivation. Self Purpose. Heart.

These can ebb and flow. Thank goodness for "lights" that whisper to us to keep our light shining.

I'm peeking through today to nod  to all you fire-y beautiful people. Incase anyone needed to see a sunset. Love to you all.

xo

Sarah

 

 

 

OUT TO SEA BLOG TOUR: Out to Sea Quilt Pattern

This is a project I know many of you have been waiting for!!

When I designed the OUT TO SEA collection, I wanted to make sure to include some really fun panel prints, and border prints as I know they are becoming more and more popular to work with! This quilt is a really simple way to display those lovely larger blocks and at the same time, makes this quilt an art piece as well as a snuggly sailor quilt:)

Amy Smart, (of the ever popular blog Dairy of  Quilter) helped me put this all together. I designed the quilt with her, and she translated my vision into a perfect crib wall/quilt. She's even put together a PDF download for you to take and make yourself! And even better, if you own a fabric shop, this is a great kitting idea!

CLICK HERE FOR THE TUTORIAL & PDF

And FYI...remember this embroidery project? Well, the quilt pattern can be translated in lots of ways...here it is as a framing for the IF I HAD A SHIP embroidery Pattern. 

Thanks Amy!! 

Enjoy!!!

Hey, Guess What? You've been waiting for these...

Well, after a few {little} bumps in the road, these have arrived! I'm so excited to get these out to you!

The Iron-on transfers are so great. Because these designs are very illustrative, the iron-on takes all the guess work out. These designs are actually very simple in terms of the stitching involved....the only thing that can get tricky is getting the lines just right when you are tracing. Ironing on the lines takes the guess work out, and makes for an really nice stitching experience!

A few things to know about these:

  • The transferred lines are not really erasable. They can be, but I'm not going to suggest trying. This is why I offer both the PDF and the iron-on, so you can choose. However, the lines are very thin to make sure they are covered after you stitch, so it shouldn't be a problem.
  • The transfer paper can be used as many as 6-7 times. Your best transfers will be the first 4, but with several uses,  you aren't going to be wasting it all on the first attempt. Yay!
  • These patterns have all the same information as the PDF versions ...the only difference is in the actual transfer paper is included. And you get a cute thank you card from me and a pretty package in the mailbox:)

Here's where you can find them: My Online Shop & ETSY shop

So there you go! Happy stitching everyone! Please do share your projects (on the FLICKR group page, or on my Facebook Page)...I'd be thrilled to see your lovely work!

Happy weekend everyone!! And if you are in the States, happy 3 day weekend!

xo

Sarah Jane