LizzyHouse

So I had a birthday

On Sunday I turned 27. The whole weekend was great. Here is the run down:

On Friday I decided to make myself a birthday dress. I wanted to look like the cutest best popsicle you could ever turn into a dress. I think it worked. 

Friday evening I was taken to one of my favorite restaurants in town, and then taken on a secret late night drive to see a secret thing, that ended up being a zebra in someones back yard in Draper. It was all wonderful. 

thank goodness for head lamps. 

Saturday morning we had a breakfast with the girls from church, which was a success!

Saturday afternoon was spent gardening and sleeping, and dress finishing

Saturday night there was a house show at my friends house. It was a really great show, and there were so many people I love there. I sang Moon River, and my friend Nathan played the guitar. I think it was beautiful. And I didn't even cry. If someone recorded it, I will share it. 

Sunday was filled with calls and texts and tweets and facebook wall posts all wishing me a happy day. 

I wore my birthday popsicle dress to church, where it was a big hit. My favorite part was demurely putting my chin on my shoulder and turning around to show the buttons down the back. There was a lot of showing off.

That's birthday behavior that you can't always get away with, even though I try. 

After church, I heated my kitchen to 110 degrees and made treats for a little get together I held. I don't know why but I wasn't expecting anyone to really show up, and then they all did. I had almost 20 people in my little space. Almost everyone I spoke to came! The treats were great, the company was great, my dress was still great... the whole thing was great. 

I ended the day watering the garden with Kenneth, and I couldn't have asked for anything better. It was a perfect birthday for a 27 year old Lizzy. 

Do you remember when I started this blog, and I was 21? My goodness a lot has happened, and I have literally grown up and faced serious life challenges, and released lots of fabric, and moved a bunch of times, and taken more trips than any of us can count, all right in front of you. I'll probably always be that short hair, big bow wearing girl though. No matter how long my hair gets. 

Thanks for sticking with me all this time. Here's to another year of goodness and growing. 

love dove, 

lizzy

*as I proofread this for any obscene errors (which there were), I realized that I really have made a home here in SLC for myself, and I think that I'm really happier than I have ever been. That is a good birthday realization. I hope everyone can find and keep this much love and happiness in their lives. 

It's scrap box time again!

I live in a not so big apartment. It's perfect for me though. I have a work space that doubles as a living room, a living room that doubles as dining room/sewing room, a bedroom that doubles as a warehouse/closet, and the kitchen and bathroom pretty much are for what they are for. 

What this means though, for someone who designs as many things as I do, that it can easily start to run the show. So the time has come to clear out the bits and pieces (by that I mean sizable/functional/usable pieces of fabric) from projects that are long since complete... and much as I think I can, and indeed try, I just can't use it all. I am one girl, with a mountain/living room/dining room full of fabric. Beautiful as it is, there is more coming, and after that, there will be more after that, and then more after that. Which is good. Which is what we want, right?

The scrap boxes this time will include mostly: Outfoxed, Hello Pilgrim, and a few bits of Guising. As always, I try to include a good rainbow, so that you get a good range. I will also throw in goodies I have around, possibly a few patterns... other fabric (i'm seeing peeps hanging about)... there is lots to go around this time. 

So here is how it will work: Each box is $35 + Medium box flat rate shipping. You will receive over 3 yards of fabric (cumulatively), a good assortment to be sure, and other gems. I'm starting with 20 boxes, and will employ a waiting list that you can sign up for here if you don't get a box. I will make up all additional boxes with any remaining fabric and then use the list. 

we will ship internationally this time. 

I will post the boxes at noon Mountain Standard time so everyone gets a fair shot. 

Here's a link to the shop! May the odds be ever in your favor! Happy Scrap Boxing day!

****

The boxes haven't gone up yet, it's noon today! Next time I will pick a more friendly time for my Australian peeps. I'm sorry about that... 

Creative House!

So turns out... 

the earth is actually square afterall, and as luck would have it I fell off one of the sides. 

but seriously. So much has been happening, and I owe you posts from March! When I was at the Farm. But while I get my business together, and hold this baby, I want to share a project that I collaborated with Marisa of Creative Thursday on! 

our collaborative name is Creative House! and we created a podcast about the ins and outs of the textile design! It covers almost 2 hours of discussion about the industry. How we came to it, and where from, and also things that you will deal with once you get into it. It makes a great compliment to How to Enter the World of Textile Design for the Quilting Industry! So if you are looking for more information, look no further. We even talk about money, which is something that peeps tend to shy away from, but you're always curious about so we went there. 

We are fun, and helpful, and qualified to help you get to where you want to be! 

So check it out! 

 

 

 

I made a dress.

When I got to Toronto last year, Karyn had just finished this dress. All she had left to do were the buttons. It was just too freaking cute. And I was all, hey, I want to make one of those... 

so I did 

the pictures aren't spectacular, my hair is looking ultra stringy! but it was Friday night at midnight, and I had a lot of work to get done, but I realized I needed to take a pic to show my peeps or you'd never see the sleeves!!!

I used the Blue Red Letter Day stripe from Hello Pilgrim, and the meadow print from the blue colorway for the lining and the pockets. I also covered the buttons with different prints from the line. It's a fantastic pattern, and that is coming from a dyslexic right brainer who has the hardest time wrapping myself around other peeps instructions. That's why my patterns are fully illustrated, and broken down to a point that I can be all about. 

So all I have to say is two can play at the cute game, Anthropologie. 

I made the dress on Thursday, and I was so excited that I wore it out that night, and I hadn't even put in the hem. When my friend was dropping me off, I said something sassy, and then he said, "Oh, go hem your dress." In a really funny tone. It made me laugh, and then I didn't hem my dress yet. Because no one tells me what to do.

kidding

sort of.  

Oh and Mona Lisa eyebrows here... they exist, you just can't really see them.

Even Better!!!

My Fiber Farm Peeps are starting a magazine. It's called, By Hand. I am so excited for them, and to be a part of it, and that they are creating a publication that I so want to read. 

They have done a kickstarter, and well met there goal! But to create more content, have a better web presence, and get to print faster we'd all like to do just a little more! 

They have fantastic gifts for their backers, but I am going to sweeten the deal. There are 4 days left, and if you pledge more than $45, you will get everything that they are sending you, as well as a fancy gift from me. There will be a pattern, some fabric, a little stationery, and a couple of other things... when did I ever send someone a gift that wasn't the bomb dot com. 

Lets be serious here. Never. I never sent a gift that didn't knock someones socks off. 

So. When you pledge, leave a comment saying that Lizzy Sent You. Like a speakeasy. 

*** update! you can leave a comment here if you pledge, and I will just verify with my Peeps, and get your info! Thank you, already! 

 

school girl crush.

I've got a crush. I don't really like to talk about this kind of stuff on my blog, because my feelings change so quickly (roving eyed gemini here)... but I just have to tell you about this...

I'm pretty much head over heels for Hello Pilgrim. 

I think my knees get a little weak, and I definitely get butterflies. I just can't help it, it really does something to me... more than any other collection to date. 

I'm looking at you Outfoxed. 

I'm so all about it that I decided to make my friend, Kenneth, a tie. And because I was making this tie, I decided that we should probably match. I believe it was a smashing success all around. We wore our Hello Pilgrim outfits to church, and I couldn't help but giggle all day. 

What are you making with Hello Pilgrim?

A little anouncement!

Virginia from Gather Here, and Maritza of Sotosofties are hosting a Colorist Quilt Along! I don't know if there are any details yet, but as soon as I know them I will post some!

So if you are a Colorist, join the group here

If you are looking for the pattern, you can get it here!

If you want to find the pattern locally, ask your local shop to contact their Checker or Brewer rep!

I can't wait to see what you come up! Please post your ideas, fabric combos, progress, and of course quilts to the group!

I hope to see lots of participation from everybody, but ESPECIALLY my Canadian Peeps, my Cambridge Peeps, my SLC Peeps, my Oregon Peeps, and my Peeps down under. (that's just where I have sent a lot of patterns...) You might even get your Modern Quilt Guilds involved... There might be prizes.

you're going to be astonished and amazed as you start making this quilt how fun and fast it is. You might end up with numerous Colorists. Just saying...

ok... i'm already obsessed with it. Go Forth! Join the Group!

instagram of Marisa and Me in front of one of my Colorists!

I love my friends.

I'm going ice skating on Saturday. I found this out on Monday. I don't know if we have talked about this before, but I like to dress to occasions. This summer I went to a baseball game, so I wore a red/pink/blue plaid-ish gingham shirt dress. Why? Because it felt like America to me. Like I was dressing to illustrate baseball. I do this a lot. I'm not getting dressed for church, I'm getting dressed for what my idea of what my Sunday should be/ feel like... that's probably why my clothing is so expressive... or not, when I am not feeling expressive. I'm essentially always wearing a costume. As I write this it seems a little stranger than it usually does... or I am just always dressing for success.

But since I was going ice skating, I wanted it to look like I was going ice skating. I sent a tweet to my peeps that I was looking for a pink cowl. To me, this would make me look wintery and girly. Both of which is on my agenda for my idea of ice skating. Also, I am not much of a knitter. I don't have the hand strength to do it (tear.)

Almost immediately I got 2 responses from some of my favorite people. And sure enough today in the mail, I received two of the most beautiful cowls (and little gifties) my little eyes ever saw.

The first is from Amanda. Amanda is this the one that you were working on in my house when you were here? Oh and don't worry, it is just the same exact color as my skin, no different.

If I am correct, this is Twinkle yarn??? And I don't know the pattern. All I know is that I love it.

Next is from Virginia, Danielle, and Amy. They are Gather Here, and Knit Collage!

I am going to write a separate post about my love for Knit Collage in just a minute, but here is the beautiful cowl, that I think is actually called the Lizzy Cowl... because of me?

It's so beautiful, and sparkly, and will go with my bright yellow coat so well. It's from the Gypsy Garden Collection, in Raspberry Sunset.

And if that wasn't enough, they made me a Sister Skate Cap... because I'm ice skating. And it's perfect. And they are fantastic. 

worlds biggest 2 front teeth.

I will try and get some proper pictures soon.

I have been loving everything lately, and it has been loving me back. It really works.

Thank you thank you dear friends. I try every day to be just as good to deserve all the good things that happen/ are happening in my life.

 

Clearance..

I don't like that word...

either way. I am pulling the plug on several of my patterns. All of the patterns that are being discontinued are marked on sale in the shop. But I have put together a limited number of bundles that will be available immediately, which include: 1001 Peeps Five Magical Projects, Arboretum, Sovereign Picnic, Both of the Castle Peeps Embroidery patterns and a blue 1001 Peeps notebook. A $70 value for $25. A literal steal.

All pattern bundles will be shipped in a priority mail, flate rate mailer. And I will ship international.

There are just 50 pattern bundles available

If you want to know why I am doing this, 1. My pattern covers are now out of date (Castle Peeps, so 2009) and 2. it's because my patterns, as well as products that I will be carrying are going to be changing big time this year. So onward and upward my dear peeps!

there are a few more things marked down in the shop. The few remaining magnet sets, the notebooks, and the last few Holiday Card sets.

Ok. More life changing news on Monday!

10 Reasons why PNCA is the bomb dot com.

Just about a week after I get back from Juniper Moon Farm for our little fiber farm retreat, I will hop my little self onto another plane and head for Portland, to do a textile design/ printmaking workshop at PNCA. Like I said in my previous post, I have been very choosy about where I am going and what I am doing this year, and since you know that now, you also know that I feel strongly about where I am going.

So I thought I would give you 10 reasons why PNCA Continuing ED is the bomb dot com, and why I think you will think so too. So much so that you will want to join me from March 30- April 1.

10. Location. It's PORTLAND, OREGON, PEOPLE. I know that it's a really cool town, and everyone there is supposed to be really cool... but there are reasons that it's so cool. The reason that I wanted to move there in the first place was that it was just so beautiful. You are in the woods essentially while you are still in the city. And you always have water around you. Whether it be the weather or the river. Everything is green and beautiful, and I was just drawn to it.

9. Beyond just the beauty of the location, they have Powell's city of books, and literally some of the best food I've ever had in my entire life. And it's everywhere. Every thing is good. And there isn't any sales tax, which is great for visiting!

8. The Facilities at PNCA are the bomb dot com. They literally have everything that you could possibly need to produce professional, quality work.

Their exposure table for screen printing seriously blew my mind.

7. The atmosphere at PNCA is one of learning and exploring. The space seems to give you permission to think bigger. Which I am into...

6. That same atmosphere lends itself well to a nice sense of community. Even though the workshop only last for a few days, it does feel like you are a part of something, which I know that we are all constantly searching for.

5. They take really good care of me, so I can take really good care of you. WHICH IS HUGE!

4. PNCA is giving you a little time outside of your everyday life to learn new skills, or grow an idea

3. They know, love, and cultivate art.

2. It has been my experience in Portland that people are really nice. Just genuinely down to earth nice, and the peeps at PNCA are no exception. They work hard to make sure that your experience is a positive one.

1. PNCA is a dream come true. They have a whole team of fantastic people working to create a brilliant continuing education program that stands leaps and bounds above most if any art programs in the country. They are about your success, and I am about your success, and that is why I love PNCA.

So won't you join me? We'll learn how to design patterns, I'll talk to you about the ins and outs of the textile industry until I can't speak anymore (like literally lose my voice), I'll give you some insight about color, and I will cry my eyes out when I express to you have much printing means to me, and what it can do in your life. Then I will clean myself up and teach you to print.

if only I were kidding. No but seriously. There will be voo-doo doughnuts, and me.

you can register here!