Tot Town

I have a new line of fabric out. It's called TOT TOWN. And I can't tell you how much I enjoyed drawing these. I designed this around Halloween and I've been anxious for it to come to fabric so I can share this with you. Especially the town itself. It was so much fun and I just got lost in it. I equally enjoyed the puzzle of fitting the streets together so it would all fit in a half drop tile formation.

Here is the rest of the line.
I hope one day I can have the opportunity to starch Tot Town onto a wall of my little nephew and niece's play room wall.

They took everything (and) the kitchen sink

And to think it all started after I opened up my kitchen wall.

There is a fine soot of dust covering everything. I can taste it settling on my lips and it stings in the corners of my eyes.

There are pieces of plaster, bits of wood and general rubble that has collected all along the walls and between board slats.

I have been without a sink and stove for nearly two weeks. I am camping out in here. It took me 45 minutes to come upon my can opener last night to heat up string beans in my microwave. I'm tired of breaking plastic forks in my mouth while I chew or the way the plastic spoon cuts the sides of my lips on the inside of my mouth.

I will have a new kitchen after all this. And once the dust settles a bit more, I will write about it and show more photos.

Many mini earthquakes

We are having a cluster of small mini earthquakes shaking us about 25 miles north of where I live. It seems to be happening nearly every hour but most are too small to feel. You can view the lastest earthquakes here. You can click on the cluster of earthquakes or on any of the colored squares to get more information.

Just this morning already, earthquakes have hit at 2:14 am, 2:36 am, 3:15 am, 4:32 am, 6:05 am, 8:05 am, 9:04 am, 9:20 am, and 10:01 am.

This pattern has been going on for several days now. Does this mean the big one is coming? And are we prepared? How are we ever fully prepared?

(Click to view larger)

More fabric hot off the Mill

Experts are saying that black and white geometrical patterns are easiest for newborns and babies to see. With that said, (and because my boss asked me to)... I designed a line of fabric with black and white geometrical patterns. Well, okay.... the color red wanted to join in the fun, too! And I love those three colors together!

The fabric above is my all-time favorite of the entire line. I loved drawing it up and fitting it into a repeat pattern. I had to think on both sides of the brain which felt really good to me. I lean so heavily on the right side, I really need the left side to get some exercise!

Here are those critters again in a grid. Crafters can cut the squares out and applique them onto onesies or toddler shirts. Or use it as an already-made quilt!

These fabrics (along with more geometrical red, white and black patterns I designed) just arrived at our headquarters in NYC and will be available soon. Just wanted to be the first to show them off.

April Fools Day

I was ten years old when Kelly came home from the dentist looking as though she was sucking on a large jaw breaker. Her lips barely touching as she sat there with her mouth shut.

"What do you have in your mouth?" I asked my sister. "Did you steal one of my jaw breakers!?"

She unfolded her mouth into a smile and there it was! Not a jaw breaker but a glistening wire retainer.
"I need to wear a retainer now," she said. "And it hurts!"

"Let me see it again."
She leaned toward me so I could get a better stare.

I thought it was the coolest thing.

So one day during 5th grade, just before Show-And-Tell, I unfolded a paper clip and wrapped it around the front of my teeth. I went up in front of the class and slightly smiled to show everyone that I went to the dentist and he gave me a retainer to wear.

I tilted my head forward and moved slowly around the class so they could all see a bit of the paper clip wrapped around my teeth.

"Shawn?" asked Mr. Larson. "Is that really a retainer?"

I instantly felt ashamed and embarrassed.

"No. It's. It's.. It's..." I struggled for the words.

"It's ... It's HAPPY EARLY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!!!!"

It was in November.