karen gray design

Sweet Life for Hope

Hope is the lucky winner of the Sweet Life Bag Giveaway!  I still am undecided as to which fabulous bag I will be sending off to Hope ~ I'm kinda attached to them all.  I might have to do a little Eeny, meeny, miny, moe to help with the decision.... I'll do that now and start the good-bye process.

Thank you for all the fun comments.  I love hearing about all the greatness happening in your lives.  Thanks for sharing.

Send me your address Hope and you will receive a splendid package in the mail.

love,

karen

ox..

The Graduate + Sweet Life

It's almost impossible to imagine that I have a college graduate, but I do and she is now prepared to face this world with her amazing perspective and dazzling smile.  Well done Alex!  We're so proud of our girl.  I just LOVE this photo of Alex and Daniel taken directly after commencement. We have 11 years between our 2 kids, so it does give us a nice break before we need to think about the expense of college again... whew.

To celebrate this great occasion, I've decided to giveaway one of Amy Butler's extra fabulous NEW Sweet Life Bags I have in my shop.  I haven't actually decided which one I'm going to giveaway ~ that will just have to be a surprise.   Leave me a comment about anything... something fantastic happening in your life maybe and I will select a random winner of a Sweet Life Bag on Wednesday, June 3rd. 

 

Have a wonderful day!

love,

karen

ox...

Daily Specials + Sparkling Sand

Thank you everyone for all the GREAT comments about the "kits" - it really provided me with some great insight.  Today I am working on putting together pillow case kits - a fast, easy, fabulous project for anyone really - don't you agree? 

My precious niece Ashley needed me to whip up a Native American costume for a celebration her class was having at school last week. Ashley and my sister Nancy came to the shop and were convinced they would find something that would be perfect... I was not so sure.  I can't believe we pulled it off with the fabrics I had in stock.  Turned out extra cute.  Her Native American name is Sparkling Sand... so appropriate.

I have switched up the DAILY SPECIALS in the shop.  Today's One Dollar Specials include some lovely prints by Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Jay Mc Carroll, & Tanya Whelan.  It's a good opportunity to add to your stash.

Oh, I should probably mention that I got some NEW fabric yesterday ~ Del-Hi by Valori Wells.  It's simply stunning.  I'm hoping to get some time to load it into the shop today or tomorrow.

Have a pleasant day.

love,

karen

ox..

Heather Bailey SALE

I am having a fabulous SALE in the shop through May 13th, or while supplies last ~ Buy any 2 yards from Heather Bailey's Freshcut, Pop Garden, or Bijoux Collections that I have in stock & receive a FREE Fat Quarter of your choice.  Sounds pretty marvelous, right?  It gets better - there is no limit to how many Free Fat Quarters you can receive - for every 2 yard increments of Heather Bailey fabric you purchase, you are eligible for a Freebie + Flat rate shipping of $4.95 regardless of how many yards you purchase.  This is good stuff, yes?

Oh, and fabulous Jay McCarroll  Giveaway is now closed.  It looks like Denny takes the stash.  Send me your address Denny and I will send you some of the amazing Woodland Wonderland.

Have a restful weekend.

Love,

karen

ox..

the juggling act

the shop has been open for 5 weeks now and it has been an amazing experience so far.  I have really missed sewing in my pajamas though ~ I knew this was going to happen.....and since I really don't seem to get any quality sewing completed at the shop, I just packed up my Berninas yesterday and brought them home.  I think this is best. I did manage to make 2 new dog beds for Forest & Jenny.  They seemed pretty happy with the results. 

I am really trying to make my small & fabulous space in the shop conducive for sewing classes.  I will be meeting with an expert space planner next weekend to help me make this possible.  It's going to be tricky, yet cozy.  Fabric folks are a close bunch, so I think this will definitely happen.  I was originally planning to host demonstrations of projects - and I still might, but so many have requested classes.  Which brings me to the next topic - "kits"  I am working on putting together some rockin' project kits - again, by request - is this of interest to you?   Stay tuned on that front.

I feel a giveaway is in order, don't you?  I have been away from my blog for too long in attempt to get my shop life & home life in routine order.  I'm not quite there yet, but settling in...

Leave me a comment regarding kits - whether you buy them or not, are interested in the idea of a kit, or better yet, an idea for a cool ready-to-make kit.  I will randomly select a winner on Friday, May 8th who will receive 12 fat quarters from Jay McCarroll's imaginative Woodland Wonderland Collection.

have a wonderful week.

love,

karen

ox..

Inspiration Overload + a Fabulous Giveaway

Remember when I mentioned that I am after the ultimate goal ~ that being complete balance in all areas of life. Well, it seems I really do like to challenge myself. Why make it easy, right?   I am learning so much in the 2 short weeks my shop has been open.  The best part is that I get to meet so many cool people, who like me, like to make stuff.  Everyday my customers like to share some great ideas that can be achieved with amazing fabrics.... the conversation usually starts out like this, "Karen, you know what you should make?"  I love it!  Of course, in my pursuit of complete fabric balance, it is pretty critical to have a little focus - otherwise I could end up doing a lot of nothing.  I am not interested in that.  Anyway, I hope to be sharing with you all kinds of super fun ideas I come across.  It's going to be a fun ride, so buckle up.So, about the fabulous giveaway... I am giving away one of my original Peace Quilts  If you are interested in adding a little bit of colorful comfort to your life, just head over to the FreeSpirit blog and post a comment.  It's that easy.

Have a great week.

love,

karen

ox...

Opening Day

I'm finally Opening the shop on Friday, the 27th at 10:00 am ~ Can't believe it!  I'll be busy pricing goods and getting everything in order before the big day.  Here are a few photos to give you a preview of my new surroundings.... pretty fabulous.  Stop by and visit, I'd love to see you.

shop

My capabilities have really been put to the test lately.  I'm usually pretty good at do-it-yourself tasks, but when I ended up spending 12 hours striping wallpaper from the bathroom walls in my pending new shop, well.... that put me into a whole new mental arena.  Not my favorite job.  I will spare you the boring details of the multiple layers that I am still not finished removing before I move on to the prime & paint... I think the limited ventilation and lack of sleep are what lead me to a mini melt down.  I know now that I will definitely hire this job out if it ever presents itself again.  I'm always learning something new.

I'm getting close to the Grand Opening of the new shop.  I am busy putting the finishing touches on everything and waiting for inventory to arrive.  This process is a lot like moving - exciting, overwhelming, with bits of frustration.  Good times.  Did I mention that it's Spring Break?  My people went on vacation without me to the same lovely destination we visit every year.  They left this morning for a week.  It's going to be strange, but there really was no possibility that I would be able to remotely relax with everything I'm hoping to accomplish.  What am trying to accomplish, you may wonder (or not)?  Balance - the ultimate goal. That's it.

Here is a "before" peek at the shop.

It's going to be really fabulous.  I love my new blue walls - Benjamin Moore Serenity, in case you're wondering.  

Have a great week.  I will try to check in with the details of my insanity soon.

love,

karen

ox..

Midnight madness...

WOW!!!  Thank you everyone for bombarding me with your fabric needs.  I have temporarily closed my etsy shop so I can focus on getting the orders packed & shipped out asap.  I think I will be at it all day - I'm not complaining, but rather grateful to have the opportunity to do the work I love.  Which brings me to my next point, I had mentioned in my previous post that I had something BIG brewing and I do!  I am about to open my very own brick & mortar - featuring exclusively Westminster Fibers!  I'm so excited.  My shop/studio is quite small, but so lovely.  Work is still being completed on the space, but I expect to be moved in and surrounded by glorious fabrics before the clock strikes Spring.  I'll keep you posted.  Here are a few sneak peeks of the shop - pictures are pretty bad quality, but you get the idea.  I hope you will come and visit once I'm up & running.  I guess this means I won't be wearing my pajamas all day anymore.  Maybe I will make some very stylish pajamas with some featured fabric(s) and wear them to work.... just to inspire fabric buying & pajama making.  Sounds like a good plan to me.

Have a great day!

love,

karen

ox..

48 HOUR Sale!

Sunday & Monday - Midnight to Midnight!  I am having a ridiculously BIG sale.  Everything in the shop is $6.00/yard!  This is crazy, I know!  But I am getting ready for something that's even Bigger than this sale.... if you can imagine.  More on that later.  This unexpected sale is totally spontaneous.  I think this is better than a giveaway, don't you?  Close.  So, help me clear out some fabulous fabric.  Get your list together and send it over to me & I will happily create a Custom Listing just for you.  

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.  Let's talk soon.

love,

karen

ox