Well, as always, these things take longer than anticipated, but I'm FINALLY done putting together the portfolios of my fabric designs. What a big sigh of relief that is! I had narrowed it down to 4 of the major fabric manufacturers when I went to Quilt Market a couple weeks ago, and now I'm finally ready to send hard copies of the different lines I've created for official review.
I battled computer crashes (new computer, older, incompatible software = problems), printing issues, sewing machine glitches, and general time constraints to be expected when one has 3 l'il darlings who call me Mommy...on some days, over, and over, and over again. :-) It's a good thing they're so darn cute - it's impossible to say no when Hazel comes up to me with that sweet face of hers and begs, "Mommy, I wan' dan' wi' you!" (I want to dance with you). So we go and "dance" to the demo music playing on our digital piano, and I swing her and toss her around (per her request) until I'm dizzy and my back starts to give out. At nearly 40 pounds, that girl is hard to lift up to the ceiling repeatedly! Hazel's version of dancing is very physically demanding, as you may have already guessed.
Then, when the big kids get back from school and unwind a bit, we go to the pool until after dinnertime so they can splash around before and after their swim team practice. We have a quick dinner, shower, bedtime ritual, and they go to bed way later than they should. At long last, Mommy has quiet time in which to work way later than she should. But hey - the good thing is that when Hazel goes to bed late, she sleeps in the next morning....so after I get Eliza off to school I can sneak back into bed if necessary. I used to be able to pull repeated late-nighters in high school and college, but if I try that stunt now I'm a complete (grumpy) zombie and accomplish very little all day long. I've learned that sleep is a very essential thing for me...I just have a somewhat unconventional schedule.
Another thing I've learned is that it's most emphatically NOT a good idea to try and fuse Pellon Decorbond interfacing onto linen-blend fabric without washing the fabric first. Just FYI for future reference. I've been using that interfacing for years on my bags, and I've never had it continually peel off like a Post-It note at the slightest provocation before, but that's what was happening on this project. I'm assuming it was because the sizing in the fabric was inhibiting a good bond. At any rate, it was a very unfortunate event and made these portfolios look much more frumpy than they otherwise could have been. Trust me, even if you don't see any issues I can assure you that there are many bubbles and bumps that should not exist, but do. I just hope the portfolios don't all self-destruct during shipping - if they are placed in a really hot environment during transit and get banged around, the fabric and interfacing might separate all over the place. Ah, the many lessons I've learned from designing and making these little ditties!
In any case, they are what they are. When the flaps get opened, the polka-dotted ribbon (did you really think I could make something without polka dots?) is holding the paper stack in place. It's velcro-tabbed for easy access. I really wish I could show you what I'm submitting, but I can't, so I won't. Hopefully in 6 months to a year I'll have real fabric to show you! Wouldn't that just be the most exciting thing on the planet? Okay, maybe not to you, but it sure would to me! Here's to future fabric endeavors, dancing toddlers, and (now that this stage of the project is finished) a good night's rest.
Shelley,
I'm so excited for you! I just know someone will be happy to produce your fabric...I'm sure it's beautiful! Send some my way and I'll sew some things for you! I'm also very jealous you went to market! I WANNA go!!
Karen
Posted by: Karen | June 03, 2010 at 11:16 AM
Shelley, if this line gets produced, I can promise you (sight unseen!) that I will be one of you most faithful customers! I am very thrilled for you. Realizing your dream must be so rewarding!
Posted by: Morgen | June 03, 2010 at 06:11 PM
That's SO wonderful! I can't wait to see what you've come up with. I have no doubt that it's going to be GREAT. Awesome portfolios, leave it to you to make them unbelievably cute! I'm sure some lucky company will snatch you right up.
Posted by: Missy | June 08, 2010 at 11:05 AM