smidgebox holiday 2011

i think you can guess what i've been working on this week? i hope to have a few dozen smidgebox peekaboo stockings to show at the One of a Kind Show in just three weeks*. It's so much fun choosing fabrics for these stockings, which, incidentally, all happen to be one-of-a-kind. I like the idea of mixing and matching the colours, and would love to see a grouping hung on a mantle just like that. there's a stocking for everyone -- the traditionalist, the modernist, and lovers-of-cute.

*eep! did i say three weeks? back to the sewing machine i go!

sneak peek :: baby organics

well hello! it's certainly been awhile, hasn't it? things are so super busy at my sewing machine, and i'm afraid i've just not had the time to post here. i do miss it. i know i sound like a broken record! my plan is to capture november in pictures. whether it is a photo i've taken myself, or something that catches my eye around the web, i will be sharing here more often, lots of images and fewer words. i do hope you'll visit!

i'd like to share some sneak peeks of my upcoming baby organics line. I've had this in mind for a really long time, and finally have enough fabrics that i'm ready to get started! i will be having an exclusive launch of the first phase of smidgebox organics at the one of a kind show in december. phase two will follow in the spring. i am so excited about this, and i hope you will love it.

these next couple of pics are an assembly line of iphone cozies, ready to be sewn up for the one of a kind show as well. there is loads of production happening in these parts, and still lots to do in the next six weeks. {wow! did i say six weeks? yikes.}

i do hope that my lovely friends in vancouver will stop by the one of a kind show and say hello. it is my first foray into a multi-day big deal show like this. i must admit i'm a little nervous, but mostly i'm so excited about what's in store for my little business. a few friendly faces would be very welcome, so do come and have a peek!

lastly, i have a quick interview up at my friend allisa's blog. allisa is an amazing sewer, and i totally adore her work, so i was honoured when she asked if i'd participate in her 'shops that shine' series. thanks allisa!

summer smidgey blankets

i've been a bit busy lately, between sewing + summer + vacation + life, and haven't had the chance to catch up on posting my work. here are a few blankets that i've made this summer so far. i've mentioned it before, but i just love working on my custom smidgey blankets. each one is different from the last, fun colours, applique images, sweet names. all ready to be sent off to a special tiny person whom i hope will love and cherish it for many years to come.

addison's sunny lion and beckett's cute little owl were special requests made by my customers. both were asked to be in a specific style, and i think they turned out quite nicely. i have had the pleasure of working with some pretty amazing customers, who have fun nursery colour palettes and themes to work with. i feel lucky to have such great people coming my way!

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on to a little shop news. please excuse me for chatting a bit about the holidays {yup, here we are in mid-august, and i'm thinking about the c-word} but i have to be thinking ahead!

I'm going to be taking a break from custom orders for all of september and october while i prepare for my holiday craft shows. I will have to focus solely on amassing stock {mainly for the One of a Kind Show mid-december} so unfortunately something's got to give! I'll keep my shop open with a good selection of ready-made items, so there will be lots to choose from in the meantime. In november, i will be taking a small number of custom requests for holiday gifts, but there will be limited availability. I know it's early to be thinking this way, but if you've got a smidgey blanket or a set of custom fabric buckets or stockings in mind for holiday gifts, it might be a good idea to let me know as soon as possible so that i can reserve a space!

it's time.

whoa time flies - mini goals clockboard :: mary kate mcdevitt

whoa is right! time does fly. i have enjoyed a wonderful extended holiday, and now the time has come to reopen my little shop to the world.

i had some pretty grand plans for my month 'off'. i had several new product designs in mind, web design, new blog. but when it came down to it, what i found i needed the most was some true time off. i did some sewing -- for myself and my kids! that felt pretty good. i played with these jokers, i took loads of photos, and even snuck in a whole lot of relaxing. i did think about the shop a lot, and i've tucked away some good ideas for the next while. but i decided that they could wait, until spring, until i'd had my rest.

open/closed sign :: mary kate mcdevitt

and so tomorrow, smidgebox designs will be open again. stay tuned for a couple new products this week, and more to come over the next short while. i hope you'll pop in and say hello!

ps - isn't mary kate mcdevitt's shop amazing? i adore her mini goals chalkboards.

so awesome.

rest + revive

happiest + warmest of holidays to all you wonderful readers, supporters, friends. i'll see you back here in january! i am going to take some time to rest + revive my soul. i wish the same for you. xo

images from my parents' house, decorating their tree yesterday!

memories

we decorated our christmas tree last night. i still get really excited when i unwrap all my childhood ornaments. each one carries a flood of memories, filling my head with thoughts of holiday seasons past. waiting {not so patiently} for dad to string the lights so that we could go nuts with our ornaments. wishing i could hang my parents' special ones. dad moving our decorations around after the fact, so the tree would be more balanced. i think i inherited that trait from him. and the tinsel, only one per branch. he was a stickler!

this little wooden cradle was always one of my very favourites. i remember hanging it from it's three strings, carefully balancing it among the boughs, finding it a perfect spot, front + centre. my little d hung it for me this year. she delighted in the sleeping faces of the children, tucked into bed in their red gingham covers.

i'll share more of my tree over the next couple of weeks, more childhood favourites. i wonder if you have ornaments hanging around from when you were a kid. do you still love them, and hang them from your tree?

ps - yes, it is a fake tree. i am trying to convince my husband that we need a real one. next year, it will be mine.

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

or rather, in the baby's room with care. my fireplace + mantle are still a work in progress. yes, two years later. ahem.

anyhow, i just thought i'd pop along and let you know that i've added a few one-of-a-kind peekaboo stockings to my shop! these are the last ones of the year, and to arrive in time for this christmas, should be mailed out within the next 10 days or so.

i'll be reappearing on the old blog over the next few days. it's been a long-neglected space this past month, and i thank all of you who've stuck with me. i guess november is just always going to be a bit of a gong-show! i have lots of thoughts brewing in my head, along with a ton of fab gift ideas that may just be on my wish list, too. see you soon!

snow white buntings

i'm feeling a little festive after yesterday's shop update. these buntings are inspiring me to make some of my own for the holidays. my friend adele reminded me of this tutorial, i think i see some fabric flowers in my future.

images via sources as listed below, top to bottom

white felt garland {reserved} :: erin dollar

fancy edition pretty fabric garland white or cream :: hank + hunt

party bunting d - black and white :: paperklip design

book page garland :: dandee designs

it's beginning to look a lot like...

there was a healthy dusting of snow on the local mountains this morning, which seems like a fitting day to bring the holidays to my shop + blog. i gave my headers a mini festive makeover, what do you think? i also got my stockings listed today, head on over to have a look!

{edit :: the stockings were a hit! i'll be saving the rest as exclusives for my local craft shows. if you simply must have one, just contact me and we can chat about making some just for you!}

smidgebox stockings

november first. seriously? wow. there is a whole lot of stuff to get ready around here. i have a huge amount of sewing to do to prepare for my two big craft shows {here and here}, and i can't wait to get my holiday stuff rolled out in my shop!

so, i thought i'd share a little sneak peek of my first line of christmas stockings! of course, they have peek-a-boo appliques, i just can't help myself. there will be kiddo friendly styles, more grown-up versions, and eventually a collection of linen stockings for the peek-a-boo naturals holiday line.

i just love the little squirrel, isn't it the sweetest? i'm glad now that i hoarded this fabric for so long, it is so perfect for holidays.

anyhow, joining the stockings for my 2010 holiday line will be fabric buckets + mini buckets + pouches, all holiday styles. stay tuned!

sparkle

i'm feeling in need of a little sparkle today. can you feel it? the holidays are coming...

images via shops as listed below, top to bottom.

twinkle - fine art photograph :: irene suchocki

sparkle - 5x7 inch print :: abby try again

festival - 5x5 fine art photograph print :: monko photography

a calendar beauty

i'm quite sure that title doesn't really make sense. but that's what came to mind when i saw this post over on a GreatFull day. i absolutely love the illustrative downtown wall calendar by jen oaks. feminine + colourful + simply gorgeous. with ample space to write stuff on each day, which i love. while i like the simplicity of seeing just the numbered days, it doesn't always help me with my organization, as i can't jot down a birthday or an important date. this fits the bill, and looks so beautiful at the same time!

images via jen oaks

i always have the hardest time choosing a calendar. in lindsey's post, she mentions that some of her friends are doing a whole calendar wall! i may have to consider that option, there are so many lovelies out there.

one of the leisurely things i want to do during the holidays is catch up on reading my favourite blogs. and when i say catch up, i really mean it. there are a couple months' worth of archives i'm going to wade through on each and every one. i can't wait!

do you have any indulgent holiday plans? i'd love to hear...

cataloguing 10 :: festive paper garland

such a lovely, simple + festive christmas paper garland, perfect for the holidays. if you're like me and don't have the time to make your own this year, stop by wren handmade and pick one up, i think you'll be glad you did.

image via wren handmade