Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.A. A. Milne
My sentiments exactly this morning. Watch closely. Observe simply. You never know what other worlds are existing right around you: real or imaginary.
Happy Wednesday!
Oh, and P.S: There's a Guest blogger tomorrow. I'm super excited. Stay tuned!
Colors. Everywhere. Here are the colors I'm seeing lately. Don't you just love this time of year? Outside, everyday moments...but so full of color. Happy Harvest season everyone!
And thanks again for all who participated in the giveaway! Remember to come back next weekend for another round of goodies!
xo
sarah
It's Party Time!
Remember how October is a special month in these parts? It's the month I started my little shop here, and so this weekend I'm having a party.
But even better than that, we're going to be starting a Holiday Tradition on the blog with giveaway's every weekend until Christmas. How's that for fun?
So, to start off the celebrations, I'm offering a giveaway this weekend! And guess what walked into the shop just now....
The 2011 Calendar!
Yes, we'll still be offering the "Her Month by Month" Calendar that so many of you have loved. But this year, I'm bringing in a new one. And it's called:
The Best of Sarah Jane Calendar: Featuring 12 images from Sarah Jane Studios. I can't say they include all my favorites, but I think you are going to be super happy with it.
GIVEAWAY RULES:
And this will be a random drawing, so no need to out comment someone...although super nice and funny comments are always welcome.
So, I know you all just shared your opinions on the photoshoot...but I think you'll be happy to comment again to enter into the drawing.
And speaking of the photoshoot...wow you guys! Thanks for all your comments! It’s kinda strange to have so many people comment on my face, but hey. We’re all friends here, right? I think there was one comment that said something like: “You have guts to have people comment on your picture” and yes. I have guts. And I am glad I put it up there….so thanks! In the end, I think I have to agree with the majority of you and say it’s between 1,3 & 6. I think 3?s the best…so that’s what I’ll be sticking with for the book!
And remember! This is the first of a series of giveaways! So check back every Saturday morning to see what's being offered!
Happy Weekend!
**And Again: this blog will be under construction for a bit. Watch things get cleaned up....but don't mind the mess:)
EDIT: And the winners are: Karin, Stephanie, Elizabeth, and Sophie! You have been emailed with the info. Congrats!
So last week my dearest friend and favorite photographer came over to take some pictures of me....and boy, let me tell you: I hate getting my picture taken! Ugh. It's something about that glassy lens that makes me think things like, "Is there stuff between my teeth?" And it's really hard to look natural when you are thinking of broccoli or the likes.
But here's the thing: I have to pick a picture for my publishers to post on the web page...Ya, it's feeling a bit more official now. I'll have a picture of me on this web page? Pinch me.
So, I'm posting some options. I can't decide, and I'd love some help.
What do you think? Pick a number...any number.
Thanks you guys. This is honestly the first time I've taken pictures of myself in years...and I hope I don't have to any time soon! I much prefer to be on the other side of the camera!
This is a repost from last year, but I loved our framed pictures so much, I'm posting it again in case you can use the idea!Happy Halloween Decorating!
Spooky portraits: so fun to make with the kids.
How we made them: On one particularly sick day, we laid around the house making spooky faces in the camera. The kids sat with me at the computer while I made them ready for printing. I had originally thought of framing them in these frames from IKEA, but since we were all too sick to get out, I drew a frame into photoshop inspired from the IKEA one I love, inserted the photos, and printed the whole thing out! Voila. Instant framed decor for Halloween!
**Other ideas if you don't have a printer:
And since we had more than enough spooky photos of the kids, I printed out the extras, and we had fun coloring in spooky embellishments in marker and crayon...like pirate eye patches, cat ears and sharp teeth. It's like dress ups without the mess on the floor!
Halloween floral arrangement: Hardly floral! We spray painted some dead branches from outside, adorned with glittered butterflies and black crows (which I did purchase earlier in the month). The spray paint was a hit...and even though the kids just watched me, they wanted to turn everything in the house black after watching the transformation. Good thing we ran out of spray paint!
Bats in the doorway: Oh these took minutes...and cost near to nothing..but they really look great as they hang in our entry way. Something about the silhouette factor. These were made with construction paper and string we had on hand.
If you have any fun links of kid-friendly Halloween fun, do share!
Happy Spooking!
It's here! Finally in the shop!
I have this wall in my house that I am going to fill with each Children Around the World print and I'm just going to collage the frames as I go! I'll keep you updated with how it looks. Each month there will be a new one to add, and the kids are so excited to build their travel wall!
I wanted to tell you also, that Soule Mama is having a giveaway for the shop this weekend, so make sure to swing by and enter in! There are some great deals going on there too, if you care to look closely:)
You'll also notice that the shop is well stocked right now! You can expect a bit more in the holiday section to come soon, but as it is...things are good to go.
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!
xo
sarahP.S. Don't mind the mess while I am giving the blog a good bit of fall cleaning.
Thanks all for the lovely comments about the new Children Around the World series...I am just as excited. I'm spreading it out over the year, but only because there are things like books, fabric lines and children to love and feed. You know...details. But I think you'll love it! As I mentioned, LONDON will be first, and I'll be updating the shop by this weekend. I'll keep you posted. By the way, could you see this cute reaction to the very distracting kiss? I've always wanted to do that! You know what happens if he responds back, right? Off with his head! :)
After posting "The Sarah Jane Story: Part 1" I got so many emails from you sharing your encouraged feelings to start or build your creative businesses. I was so inspired by so many of your stories! I have been contemplating this next move for the blog for a very long time now, and feel like this holiday season is the perfect time to support those of you that have creative businesses. I'm going to be adding a "Support Handmade" sponsorship column just over to the left hand side here, and will be offering low cost ad spots for you to feature your creative business. I know how hard it is to get a creative business off the ground, and I'd love to offer my support to you, my readers! Plus, it will give all of us here a chance to buy handmade this Holiday Season. I'm making the Handmade pledge, are you?
If you are interested in being a sponsor, I'd love to hear from you! You can click here for more details.
October is coming soon....and though these aren't new, I am updating the shop with all things festive right now. Remember these? We'll be decorating for Halloween this weekend, and I'm already getting these prints out.
We have some new offers in the shop as well...customization on prints, larger print sizes and folded cards with any design from the shop. Hooray!
And forgive the mess for a while....the blog will be getting some tweaks and facelifts over the next bit. But we're still here and doing fine!
O.K. I'm done rambling....Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone!
A few things changed when Ken and I started bringing babies into the world. O.K....a lot of things changed! But one of the obvious changes was that we just didn't travel any more. Or just not as much. We have managed a few really great getaways, but over all...those plans to visit Japan and Russia were put into the "Keep Dreamin'" category. And that's OK: children are worth it. But I have a really strong love for traveling, and get the travel itch more often than not. In fact, most of my dreams (and I am a very vivid dreamer) are about traveling to new or favorite over-seas locations. The other night for instance, I traveled to Copenhagen. It's fair trade, I guess.
But it got me thinking of what I wanted to introduce to the shop next. I have honestly so much that I do want to introduce, but I've had this idea for a while now, and I'm finally getting around to it:
Children around the world. Travel posters. Multi-cultural prints. A chance to expose children to various places around the world....in the privacy and the comfort of their own rooms and playrooms.
We bought Ian an illustrated road map of London this summer, and pinned it right next to his bed. And because he is familiar with Sherlock Holmes, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Paddington Bear, this map brought a certain reality to these fictitious stories. Since I have been there many times, it only seemed natural for me to share my love for this great city. But it dawned on me....he has never been to London! He only knows what he learns from books and pictures.
And then it hit me. I want to illustrate childhood in cities all around the world.
So every month, for the next 12 months, I'll be illustrating a print from a major city around the world.
Here's the list:
London
Paris
Amsterdam
Tokyo
Beijing
Sydney
Buenos Ares
New Delhi
Cairo
St. Petersburg
Honolulu
New York City
Coming up with this list was rather challenging...I mean, where do you stop? But I factored in quite a bit: Places I know and love, places I know other people know and love, and places that I actually wanted to illustrate. It's always subject to change. But I think it's a pretty good list. And just FYI: these aren't meant to be cultural representations of each city and culture: just children interacting with the essence of that city in mind. Essence being the key word.
So, folks: there will be a shop update in the next few days. I'll keep you posted. But in the mean time, I'm thinking of seriously sweet vignettes of children from all around the globe!
Stay tuned!