While reading over at the Baby Gardner today, I was made aware of some new child product safety standards that will make it impossible for crafters to legally sell their wares.  It has to do with something called Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.  Read more about how you can help here.

The thought of actually penning a letter to my congressman scares the pants off me.  I’m horrible at business writing and am sure that I would sound like a kindergartner saying, “hey, it’s not fair, I want to play too!”.  So, if someone out there would like to pen a letter and let the rest of us use it, please let me know!

On to more pleasant things, I did a little shop update today- some aprons and a bib.  AND, I decided it was time for a holiday give away!!  Simply leave me a comment telling me your favorite holiday dish and you will be entered to win this fun towel and pot holder set.  Comments are open until I go to bed Friday night (I have a date with the husband, so it should be late).  I’ll announce the winner Saturday morning!

If you’re new here, I like to hold a giveaway once a month, because sharing is nice.  This month I am giving away a Patchwork Pillow Case  (no pillow just the sham/case, you’ll have to supply your own 14×14 pillow, may I suggest using your 40% JoAnn’s coupon?- that’s where I get my pillows).

I was just really hankering to make something pretty- for fun.  I was inspired by Elizabeth’s paint box quilt and I’ve always loved the coin quilt pattern.  However, it is not without it’s flaws, as in seams not quite matching and quilting not spaced evenly…etc.  But, notice how eye catching it is?

I backed it in what is almost the last of the brown sheet I thrifted (so far I’ve made, 1 dress, 1 blanket and now a pillow from 1 sheet!).  The binding features the same fabrics that are featured on the front.  Everything is 100% cotton and already washed for that lovely crinkly look.  Quilted with my favorite all natural bamboo batting.

In the lower left I added a special cream patch with the word “laugh” hand embroidered by me.  With this many colors, you know it will look good somewhere in your house!

All you have to do to win this pillow is to leave me a comment, if you want an additional entry you can add this button to your blog.

Just copy/paste this code into your sidebar:

<a title=”patchwork pillow giveaway!” href=”http://heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/patchwork-pillow-giveaway/”><img src=”http://www.heatherhalesdesigns.com/blog/images/sidebar_add.jpg” width=”200″ height=”300″ /></a>

**the code wasn’t working earlier, I’ve updated it and it is now working!**

Comments will be accepted until I go to bed on Friday October 24th.

Many of you are long time NieNieDialogue readers and some of you have only begun reading about her life recently.  You are all here because we have a common desire to help Stephanie, Christian and their family.

One of the things that really drew me into Stephanie’s online life was her beautiful portrayal of daily life.  I don’t believe for one minute that her life was roses all the time, but I do believe that she chose to see the good in everything that came her way.  I’m sure like many of us she could have complained about the diapers, or the messes her kids made.  Yet, she didn’t.  She chose to find the humor and the fun and the sweetness that comes from being a mother and wife.  She reminded us that “Men (& women) are, that they might have joy”.

So, here’s to helping the Nielson’s & for finding our own daily joy!  Be sure to check out the complete list of auctions here.

I’m offering 2 auctions today, a J Crew Blouse & a Fabric Bunting (click the links to go directly to the auctions for each item).  Please be sure you read the “rules” before posting your bid.

Tomorrow is the big day, silence through out the blog-o-sphere…The Silent Auction for Christian & Stephanie Nielson.  I thought I would tease you with 2 pictures of what I will be auctioning off tomorrow and explain the “rules” of the game.

I will have 2 auctions running at the same time, they will go live around 10am Pacific Time (unless I am totally on the ball and get it done before preschool starts), I will leave a comment with the opening bid on each item.  In your comment please leave your bid amount, bidding will end about 8pm Pacific Time.  I’m working on over-riding the comment moderation for the auctions so that your bid will be live immediately (instead of waiting for me to moderate them).  Winning bidder will send money via PAYPAL to the Stephanie Nielson Recovery Fund, be sure to send me a copy of your receipt.  After I get a copy of your receipt I’ll ship out your lovely item!

Be sure to check out all the other bloggers holding auctions as well, Design Mom will post a full list tomorrow AM.

Oh- check out these lovely ballerina’s I found today!

You might remember me hinting about BLS last week, or maybe you remember me mentioning them back in the spring.  It is official now, I am teaching classes at the studio in October.

I’m both excited and nervous, in some ways success scares me.  I’ll be teaching a pillow making class and a vintage sheet skirt class.  If you are local, I’d love to meet you, so please sign up and come sew with me!

Big thank you’s to Georganne- for believing in my work, to Kristin for allowing me to be a part of her studio and to Sarah for making me look pretty!

Also of note- I will be participating/hosting in a silent auction to raise money for Stephanie & Christian Nielson this Thursday.  Check out Design Mom to get all the details.  From what I understand it won’t take long for Stephanie & Christian to max out their insurance benefits, many of us on the internet are doing what we can to raise funds to help cover their soaring medical expenses.  If you would like to help, you can donate using the button in the side bar, wait for thrusday’s silent acution, or come back next month and purchase something from here.   Oh, and if you are local you can come to the Blissfest Market in October and take part in the raffle.  Whew!  That is a lot of options!!

Thank you to all of my readers/customers for your support of my work and creations, I totally would not be here without you and your encouragement!

Balloons filled with good wishes, hopes and prayers for The Nielsons.

At first I felt a bit silly about being there because I’ve never formally met Stephanie, but then I thought about how it wasn’t all about me.  I thought of their families, and I thought that a large turn out would probably give them comfort.  Knowing that so many people were praying and supporting them.  I may not know her in person, but I love the online Stephanie and hope for much good for her and her sweet husband.

I strongly believe in the power of prayer.

One of the things I have always loved about the blogging world is how small the community becomes when there is a tragedy.  We daily step into other people’s lives by reading their blogs, after awhile you begin to feel like you know them.  I think some of the best blogs are the ones you read and you think “If she lived in my city, I bet we could be friends”.  I am also keenly aware that while it feels like we know people, it really is only the part they want you to see.  None the less, they open a part of themselves up for the world to share.

For some time now I have been reading NieNieDialogues,  a delightful little blog written by Stephanie.  A woman who is really a woman in all senses of the word- femininity is the name of her game.  Her blog is incredibly upbeat and artistic.  She is a mother and a wife, she writes and photographs her life- showing us all the good and fun that is to be had.  She is local and lives not too far from here.  I had hoped to meet her through Blissful Living in the next month or so.

This weekend she and her husband were in a terrible accident, her family and friends are appealing to the masses for prayers and good thoughts.  Again, I believe in the power of prayer.

1. Tap Water, 2. fun with water, 3. Cool Water!, 4. Water is life!

I spent 8 hours in the desert yesterday with a local cub scout pack, it was 112 (no I am not kidding).  I will do it again today, my main focus is making sure myself and each of the boys is drinking their weight in water! We’ve had bee stings, hurt knees and tears- who knew 8-10yr old boys would cry in front of other boys?

Drink an extra glass for me today!

I’ve been meaning to get a softie together for Softies For Mirabel to ship off to Pip for a few weeks now. I printed off Teresa Levy’s mouse pattern and gave it a wack. The results were awful (the pattern was great, it was my sewing that were the problem), the mouse looked like it had suffered a stroke. Thankfully my daughter isn’t very critical and is happy to haul mr. squeak around with her.

I decided to make my own pattern, a softie that wasn’t so small and that allowed for more hand sewing. Internet, please meet my new friend Ollie.

Best of all? I’m sharing the pattern. If someone would like to clean it up, please let me know, I’m struggling through illustrator. I did my best to explain how I pieced him together, but if my instructions aren’t clear please email me and I’ll try and help you.

I don’t know how to transition this but I know some of you are wondering how Saturday went. It went very well. Blissful Living is a studio that offers classes such as basic sewing, jewelry making, home storage, home decorating, digital scrapbooking, and personal style. The Personal Style class really appealed to me, believe it or not I am horrible about pairing clothes/shoes together. I’m trying to do all my shopping at J.Crew in an attempt to create a mixable wardrobe.

Heather Bailey was there and she had a few pieces from her new fabric collection. Swoon! She aptly described it as “spicy”, there are a few great reds in the mix. She was very friendly and so easy to talk with, she explained that her new collection should be in stores about July. Be sure to keep watching her blog though, she has LOTS of exciting things happening in the next few months.

A young boy I know is putting together a service project to make isolette covers for babies in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).   This project is one I really want to get behind, my one and only niece was  born premature and received care in the NICU.  I was in the process of making her an isolette cover when she left this life.  Over the years I have donated items to the NICU where she lived as my way of carrying on her memory.  I really want to help this boy sew as many covers as he can, I will be donating my time and as much fabric/batting as I can collect for his project.

I’m asking all you crafters out there to search through your fabric collections for large pieces (at least .75 yards) that you are willing to donate.  Isolette covers are usually dark on one side the other side can be any print.  If you would rather get involved and do some sewing- there is a great pattern here.  If you are local and want to help sew the day of the event-just let me know and I’ll provide the details.

All donations need to be received by May 2.   If you would like to donate leave me a comment or send me an email (heather-at-heatherhalesdesigns-dot-com) and I will send you a shipping address.

thanks bunches!!