Where have I been??

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted! I have photo's of great finds from a rummage sale, my thrifting in Hilton Head, new pattern (and several more coming!) but I just haven't had time to post here at all.  I've been really busy with orders - wholesale mostly! This is one area of my business I wanted to develop a bit more this year and I sure got what I wished for :)

I am also getting ready for Lititz again, I hired 2 helpers to get me through some of these orders and preparation for Lititz.  It's my biggest craft show of the year and I am really looking forward to showing off some brand new dolls and other primitives this year!!

I will be back shortly with a really fun new pattern announcement!  OH and this month, Homespun from the Heart celebrated our 8th year in business (online). So exciting!!

Anyone working on Halloween yet?

I have been working on Halloween and Fall for a while now getting ready for Lititz. I had this idea in my sketch book for at least a year now, well I finally put it to the test and am happy to say it's my newest pattern!

Meet Salem and Little Spook - thanks to my friends Cedara of Thru the Attic Door and Sherry of Annie's Cupboards for helping me name them :) So glad I have creative friends - I actually am surrounded by creativity and love it!! They inspire me!

Available today as an epattern from my website or over on Pattern Mart for instant download. I'll have the printed pattern available June 14th.

I'm working on several more patterns too - I forgot how much fun this is!

Have a great weekend!

New spring patterns

I know it's been feeling like JULY around here with this weird heat wave but I worked on 2 new spring patterns and finally have them ready to sell :)

First is Lady Bug Kisses, she has her very own 'antennae' and she's 12" tall when finished.

And I did this for In Grandma's Attic this year, I am selling lots of lady bugs and bees in ornies. I made them from woolfelt, they are super fast and easy to create so I thought why not make this into a fun pattern to share?

As always, they can be found on my website under patterns or over on Pattern Mart.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Happy birthday to ....

My stepmom Carol, today is her birthday! This picture was taken when we went to visit last week. She will probably not like the picture that much or that I put it on my blog but I think it's such a cute and fun picture!! AND the reason I wanted to share this with you is to talk about creativity and inspiration.

I've been thinking on this topic alot lately. If you are a crafter who creates for a hobby or to sell, you've probably experienced the 'dry spell' at some point right? I know I have!! Lately, more than ever with having to chase around a toddler all day. (who me??????)

I have come to know that for my own 'dry spell' time, it always passes and inspiration will strike again. It's the waiting it out time that makes me crazy! :)

So what to do when you are stuck waiting it out or trying to strike the creative embers again? When we go visit my parents, my stepmom and I will always end up in her craft/sewing room (and ditto when they come see us!). Sometimes with a project in mind to work on together, sometimes just to look at books, think of ideas, play with fabric or show each other some neat things we have picked up or found along the way.

I love when we put our heads together, I always come home with lots of new ideas and projects I want to tackle (you should see the pile of things here!). It gives me a little 'break' from staring at the 4 walls of my sewing room. And when I am stuck, that can be such a relief to get away for a few days and look at new things. That always seems to help me!

I also really love that we share our creativity. It helps to have someone else to share ideas with and someone who thinks differently than I do. We have been having so much fun lately with crafting that we decided to do a craft show together next year, the Letchworth State Park show in NY (it's only a few minutes from their house). I am really excited about that!

I'm going to keep blogging on the topic of inspiration/creativity. I hope to get some of your thoughts on it too!

In the meantime, it's time to 'rest' a bit :)

4 new patterns and new dolls too!

Just a post to let you know that I have 4 new patterns out! 3 are for the fall and one is a dolly. This one, Black Hat Society Reject was an inspiration from some of my own 'rejects' ! I had been making different pumpkins for another project for my Lititz show and I kept messing them up. So one night I was in the 'zone' and thinking what can I do with my rejects? Heehee. I had the idea! My friend Ree made the tag for me, how fun!

Witch Dress with Mouse:
Glinda the Good witch: (i'm also selling those pink brooms too!)

Lulu And her Lollipop: I've also added LOTS of new and funky doll hair to my website and at the online craft show. I'm participating in the Christmas in July show, here's my booth:

http://www.ezcraftshow.com/shoppe/?sid=HomespunFromTheHeart

You'll see some new faces there :) And free shipping within the US on orders $25 or more.

I've got more patterns planned but they will have to wait until after Aug. 9th when I get back from Lititz and catch my breath a bit.

Vacation notice

In case you didn't see the note on my website, I will be away on vacation - we're leaving today and won't be back until next Sunday. For once, Gabrielle & I are going to tag along with Mike on one of his trips for work - lucky us, this one is to VA beach! whoo hoo!


Boy, packing for myself and a little one is always such a challenge. Talk about needing lots of extra 'stuff'. I'm an over-packer to begin with so that doesn't help either. I am hoping we have good weather because I can't imagine being cooped up in the hotel all week while Mike works (and has the car!). We shall see.

Before I go, I wanted to let you know I added a couple of new dolls to my website - I hope you can take a peek! Even if you place an order while I'm on vacation... the order is still valid, I just won't get to shipping it out until we get home.

And I'm still working towards the Lititz show - I sewed up 10 more dolls on Friday to be worked on when we get home.

Have a great week everyone!

A couple of new faces

I finally have some new faces to share :) I know it's been a while, but I have been diligently working towards building my Lititz inventory.

If you don't know about that craft show - WOW! it's an amazng show here in Lancaster county, PA. Just a one-day show and I've been doing it for a couple of years, and shopping it for more years than that. There are TONS of vendors and literally something for everyone!

Well one day I looked at a calendar and realized I had 10 weeks left and less than HALF of what I had for inventory in previous years. I will never get as much done as usual but it's OK with me as long as I have alot of selection. So I set some goals for myself and have been doing a pretty good job of keeping them. I've done as many as 20 dolls in one week to put away for the craft show... along with taking care of my now-crawling baby, the house, etc. YIKES!

So I decided that I would list a few of those dolls on my website - after all, if you don't live near by and would like a new dolly, well I wanted to have something for you :) I made a little "Happy Birthday Annie" here with a little cupcake in a vintage tin:

And I love this one, I always get inspired by neat 'finds' like this Raggedy Ann and Andy at the circus book.

I had a couple of others but they sold already. I have 4 new ones just for my website that I should have ready in the next day or so :) I'll post when I do!

Epattern sale!!

I just marked my line of e-patterns to just $4 each for a special sale! There is no limit to the number you can purchase :) The only one I didn't mark down is the Pink Ribbon Dolls because I'm still fundraising for my friends for their walk on that one.

http://www.homespunfromtheheart.com/

I am working on new ideas, patterns, dolls, and hope to share some new things very soon! Only a few more weeks til the Create & Decorate magazine comes out with my design in it. I'm burning the midnight oil here to get ready :)

Hope everyone has a great day!