The stockings were hung

in the garden with care, in hopes that St. Nick soon would be there. Hurry, Santa, Hurry!

It's that time of year where my sanity seems to hang in the balance! It usually starts with Halloween, then Miss O's birthday, Thanksgiving, and then the holidays are in full swing. I, of course, volunteer myself to be the girls room mom every year so this also mean class parties with crafts (and I just can't bring myself to order foam craft kits!) the last two days of school before break and then Miss A is a December baby so throw an additional birthday party in there. All this finishes on the 20th and there I am 5 days until Christmas and I am pooped! Whew!!

After two good nights of sleep and a package of deliciousness from Fabritoptia I am feeling a bit more back to myself. (If you have not ordered any of Anna Maria's voile's or Swiss dots yet, YOU MUST! They are amazing to the touch and the colors, well, they are TDF!) I am itching to get into the studio as this is the only time of year I allow myself to sew for me and my family without any pressure to sew for the shop. I am going to be making tunics and ties and dance bags and all sorts! Can't wait! I just bought the Sophie Tunic Pattern from Miss Fantastic, Jennifer Paganelli, and can't wait to get to work on a few tunics for the girls. By the way, have you seen the sneak peeks of Jennifer's new line?

Can't wait for that! Look at that red! She sure does know how to do colors! She is doing a giveaway for something fabulous on her blog so head on over there and enter!

Will you be getting any quiet sewing-sanity-saving- time during the next few weeks? What will you be making? I'd love to hear all about it!

luvluv.

Simone

Wheelbarrow Winter Sale!

It has been raining cats and dawgs here all weekend....so much so that spray painting was not an option-- so I do not yet have a tutorial on the tree nest to post. Soon, I promise. Believe me I am dying to get it done. It's the only thing left to do as far as holiday decorating goes and I just want it all done at this point.

In lieu of a tutorial, I have decided to give you something else! It's the first Gardenhouse Wheelbarrow Winter sale!

The whole busshel and peck is on sale! 20% off for all my dedicated blog readers. Go thru the standard purchase in the shop and put "Wheelbarrow 20" in the notes to seller. Do not pay.... I'll send you and adjusted invoice reflecting your discount. Now thru Friday....hurry, hurry! Happy shopping!

luvluv.

Simone

Dashing Through The Snow.

Well, it's not snowing, but it is raining like mad-- and I did just do the dash from door to car and then car to door in shoes not meant for dashing-- or for rain.

If you are dashing through the snow, you should do it in style with one of these to keep you warm....

There are loads of them in the shop.

And something to tuck your gloves into....

Loads of them in the shop right now too- a few faves from the year and some new styles too.

And better shoes for dashing thru the rain or snow.....like these.

Have to run!

luvluv.

Simone

ps- I have gathered all the goods for my tree top nest and will be making it on Saturday (weather permitting spray painting) Be on the look out for a little tutorial by Sunday.

Holiday offerings

We had a weekend full of Christmas around here...which is great because I am now in the mood! The tree is up and resting, ready to be adorned tonight. I LOVE decorating our tree-- it signals the start of the holiday madness that is so exhaustively enjoyable! Did you guys see this on the Anthro site??? LOVE!! But can't swing that price so I'm going top make my own tree topper nest. I'll post a step by step one I get it in process. And speaking of trees....need something to put under yours? Bucket bags, clutches and hats will be listed in the shop by this afternoon.

Happy shopping!

luvluv.

Simone

Hats off.

I have had the best time this week sewing up a storm. Among the loads and loads of clutches and bucket bags (which will be loaded into the shop this weekend) I have also been indulging in hats.

Knit hats, with lots of fun, little pretties on them! I tell you I am obsessed with making these little suckers. I made over a dozen of them!! Imagine my brain just roaming the studio-- stacks of vintage velvet, buttons, wool swatches...all sorts of eye candy to use as embellishment! I just couldn't get enough! It's lumberjack chic taken to a whole new level. Let's pair one up with this jacket....

and this top.......

Or a lush velvet jacket-- like this. Let's throw in some boyfriend jeans and funky ankle boot (with a touch of mountain in it) and we're ready for a night out...a cold winter night out...maybe a party at Ralph's Telluride Lodge??

Maybe a blue velvet blazer with a red and black plaid shirt (you know, the ones all over the Gap's front page) I seem to really be into the contrast of rugged and sleek lately....go figure when vintage and modern are my go to! I love that tension....is that passive aggressive? ha ha ha!

And speaking of hats...hat's off to my favorite person behind a camera lens! Here are a few shots of of family photo shoot that Shannon did while our family was in town..

She always posts a sneak peek on her blog, our full gallery will be ready soon and I CANNOT WAIT. She really is a genius. Some people are just meant to do what they do...you know what I mean.... Shannon is meant to take pictures. It is IN her. You can see the rest of her blog post on our family here....please, try not to drool over my gorgeous nieces (even the one who stays up late coloring the pillowcases! She is so darn cute and I'd say she is my favorite, but I just couldn't get enough of either of them!)

Hat's off to family.

luvluv.

Simone

Remnants.

Remnants of a family photo shoot by one genius photographer.

We hosted Thanksgiving this year and have had a wonderful time having everyone here. 14 people is a houseful-- but the more the merrier!! Both my and Brian's parents were able to come out, my brother and his fabulous girlfriend, my sister (who is really Brian's sister but I claim her as my own!) and her family were all around the table this year.

I am so thankful to have my brother here--He went through a rough patch at the beginning of the year but has come out healthier, happier and the same old Scott he used to be. It is so great to have him back!! My one and only sibling who I could not live without. He is the best-est big brother in the whole world and to see him this happy--happier than he has been in probably 8 or so years.....there is nothing I could be more thankful for. Honestly. Nothing.

We had lots of great times this weekend. I peeked outside at one point and Miss O was sitting on the daybed in the sun--her uncle had moved it there for her--and she was singing a song. Flowers, strum strum strum, ladybugs strum strum strum, butterflies, strum strum...you get the picture. It was so sweet! A moment to remember.

Sorry I have been so MIA. I have been finishing up some projects around the house... remember this?? Finally done. I'll get some photos uploaded once this fantastic chaos clears. I am taking part in a fantastic holiday boutique this Friday night for the La Canada Junior Women's Club so will be hitting the studio very hard this week. I promise I'll have lots of photos to share during the week and also next weekend. I'll also be loading the shop with anything that doesn't sell next weekend-- bags, hats, belts and more. So stay tuned-- I promise I'll start blogging more again. Sorry to leave you in limbo.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

luvluv.

Simone

French Fabric Love.

Can you believe I have yet to step foot in the studio since returning home? That's all going to change tonight!

I thought I would motivate myself with a few fabric shots from Paris for you. Montmarte is a very artsy district in Paris and has streets lined with fabric shops.....a little slice of Heaven on Earth!

I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw this in Paris!! A darling girls dress made using some of Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market line.....and topped with a faux fur stole....only in Paris, my friends!

Speaking of fabric and Sandi Henderson, have you seen her new line?? I just can't wait to get my hands on some--it is gorgeous and she is offering some of her prints in a cotton lawn which I am sure will drape fabulously! So excited for that!

Stick around, I'm all motivated now and mostly over the jet lag so Ill be cranking it out this weekend. I'm thinking of doing a few extra items for the holiday season....scarves, stockings, ornaments, belts, maybe some holiday decor...what do you all think? What would you like to see? Let me know.

luvluv.

Simone