because I love YOU sew

Thank you. Words that don't seem to express nearly the gratitude that fills my heart after the last 14 days of this blog book tour for Because I Love You Sew.

The last stop on the tour is right here, today.

This book was most certainly a labor of love.

Many people think that sewing and design work is my "full time" job. Truth is, I have a long time career working in higher education and the environmental field which is where I spend the majority of my "work" time. This "Two Peas" business of mine is my passion. It's my creative outlet.

It's where I get to dream and imagine, draw and paint, create and sew, write and share. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have that outlet. It fulfills me and I'm so thankful that God created ART. I love it.

And I love this creative community that I am a part of - you are beautiful and you fill my heart to the brim.

So when I sat down to write this book, I did it on the weekends. After bedtimes late at night and during nap times on my days off. There were tears. And sleepless nights. And a lot of ripping out seams on stitches that just didn't work.

And in the end, came this. A book. With my name on it. Where I shared stories about my kids and our lives. Projects that I have loved making and I hope you enjoy making them too.

I am incredibly humbled that anyone besides my Mom has purchased this book and equally humbled and grateful for the kind words and reviews this book has received.

I want to tell you THANK YOU - with a big giveaway.I'm offering a signed copy of the book, Because I Love You Sew. A trio of my Two Peas patterns. A handful of wonderful threads from Aurifil. A pretty blue stack of fabrics courtesy of Dear Stella fabrics. A package of InsulBright thanks to the Warm Company. AND I'm giving away the handmade sample of the Sweet Tweet Bag from the book made in Bari J.'s gorgeous fabrics and made by me.

How to Enter:

1) Leave a comment here on this post sharing with me your most special handmade gift you have ever given.

2) For an extra chance, follow me on Instagram (trishpreston) and repost about this giveaway. Come back here and leave a comment that you have shared on Instagram and be sure you leave your Instagram name.

3) For one more chance, share this post on your Facebook page and tag Two Peas in a Pod and leave a comment that you have done so.

This giveaway will be open until DECEMBER 27TH, 2014. I will choose a winner using Random.org. Open only for domestic shipping in the US.

BUT for my international friends - we are having a 2nd giveaway for a signed copy of the book only so that you aren't left out.

Thank you for being a part of my community of friends. Be sure to visit all the previous stops of the tour and enter in the other giveaways for Because I Love You Sew.

Because I Love You Sew Bloggers Book Tour December 1st: Come visit with C+T Publishing December 3rd: My sweet friend, Heather Jones December 4th: Lovely Caroline Hulse of Sew Caroline December 8th: My creative friends at Generation Q Magazine December 9th: Quilty and fabulous Sew Cal Gal December 10th: My mentor, Jennifer Paganelli of Sis Boom December 11th: Fellow twins Mom Alison Little of Little Green Thread December 12th: Dear friend and amazing artist, Bari Ackerman of Bari J Designs December 13th: My industry partner (and fav sewing machines) Bernina December 14th: Love this girl! Karen Davis of Celebrate Life with Us

So in Sew withdrawl...

I'm experiencing a little bit of "sewing withdrawl". See, I'm used to working under intense pressure, too many orders, deadlines and have heaping amounts of anxiety to get it all done.

But in my New Year's resolutions - I'm "scheduling" my work better.  Being more careful about the work I take on.  Trying NOT to drive my family crazy with my um, craziness.

SO, without all of that pressure - I'm kind of sewing at a slow steady pace.  Churning a little bit out at a time.  This.  That.  The other.  I'm even making myself...a jacket.  It might not be done until it snows again next year but at least I'm doing a few "me" projects that don't involve marketing, advertising and sales.  Ahhh...that feels nice.

Wanna see what I have been casually stitching on?

See?  That's like nothing.  I've got a few more things in the works...

Just gonna enjoy the slow ride while I can...oh yeah.  You got anything interesting going on in your sewing room?

xoxo,

Trish

When I feel afraid or think I've lost my way...

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"  Psalm 119: 105

You may remember me mentioning a little boy nearby that is the same age as my twins who was recently diagnosed with cancer.  His Mom is friends with a friend of mine from church and I follow their updates on their CaringBridge site.

His Mom posted this today on their site:

Part of me wishes I can get a glimpse into 2010....that I could see the future and what God has planned for Sam this year. I was reading in a devotional today called Everyday Blessings by Max Lucado. This was the devotional for today- December 31st "God isn't going to let you see  the distant scene. So you might as well quit looking for it. He promises a lamp unto our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We do not need to know what will happen tomorrow. We only need to know He leads us and we will find grace to help us when we need it." Psalm 119:105- Your word is like a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.

What resonated with me and in particular, on this New Year's Eve is that 2010 is a year full of possibilities.  I have no idea where it will take me but I do know that this Psalm is something that I frequently say as I prepare for communion.  I always ask for God to light my path and lead me to where He needs me to be.  For all of us - that we have eyes wide open to see what is before us and follow the path.

And as I think about this for 2010 - I have no idea where on earth that path will lead.  I wish I did.  As she mentioned, I wish I too had a crystal ball.

We have had a particularly rough year financially - as have many people.  I don't want to go into personal finance details but the decision for me to work part time so I can be home with our kids all those years ago - well, we felt it more this year than we ever have before.  And it's a real bummer at times.  That decision simply means that we can't do a whole lot of extra things and trying to explain that to our kids can be heartbreaking.  And there are times I feel afraid or think I'm totally lost at where I'm supposed to be going.  Did we make the right decisions?  Faith shines and I know that we have...

This Christmas, I paid for all of it out of my craft money.  Every single gift, which wasn't a lot but it was special to them, paid cash from my craft shows and local sales.  And sales - were dismal.  Everyone is hurting right now.  And all those days I told them to quit bugging me for just a few hours in the afternoon after spending all morning with them so I could sew because I was prepping for holiday shows...well, they finally got it.  They understood how hard I worked and why.  Christmas day, they were almost in tears when they realized that the gifts they were so excited about came from us  - from all that hard work.  It clicked.

But being broke sometimes can be a blessing.  And really, we aren't "broke".  We just don't have the "extras" and what is that anyway?

I think we all learn valuable lessons about what we value.  And stuff isn't it.  It just isn't.  We craft more.  Garden more.  Window shop.  Splurge on dollar shakes at Arbys.  Go to kids eat free nights at Skyline.  We go to the park where they Dad is a Ranger.  We visit with friends.  We bake.  We go to the thrift store to look for treasures.  I'm a major bargain shopper when it comes to clothing and shoes.  We find ways to spoil them but in meaningful ways and ways to do it that make it special - and we love them a whole bunch and they know it, feel it and return it to us and everyone around them.  They make me a better person every day.  Them.  Not because of me as a parent to them.  Because they are amazing little people with a faith of their own and they inspire me to love and live better each day.

I guess, my point is - this Psalm, asking God to guide us, to trust that we will be provided for and to trust the journey we are on is not one that we know where it's going but one that we are meant to be on and will be exactly what we need.  I shouldn't need to know what will happen tomorrow but live for today.

It makes me feel very hopeful for 2010.

I hope you feel that hope and excitement that  a New Year brings and may you be blessed more than you ever could imagine.

Happy New Year!

xoxo, Trish

Ahhh-choo! Sniff! Sniff! Oh my, a post FULL of photos!

Sorry about that!  Didn't mean to sneeze all over ya! We seem to have a bit of the crud going around here.

About every two days since right before Christmas, seems like somebody else comes down with the goop.  We've been passing around a wonderful strep bug and colds and goop and ear infections.  Yuck!  We were all doing so well for so long and then kapooey!  Down we all came - sick on Christmas day even.

Yesterday, we FINALLY got to visit with my parents for Christmas.  And I wanted to share some of my Mom's pretty decorations.  See...when we were all growing up - a house of 6 of us - we had a house that was like 2200 square feet.  Give or take.  My parents retired, all the kids left, and my parents built themselves a house that is over 4500 square feet.  Seriously?  I believe this was to hold all of my Mother's pretty little displays.  Well, look here...but be warned - VERY heavy photo post...

I bet you think I'm done right?  Oh...no, that's just downstairs...I grew up antiquing most weekends with my parents.  Explains why I do love vintage stuff so much.  I love this display she has with some paint gear belonging to family...

There was plenty of snuggling with the wee pea who was still sick and hanging out in her jammies.  This girl - no nap all day.  Just wouldn't.  Not a peep.  Not a tear.  Not a whine one.  Fever and all - the girl is one tough cookie and a sweet angel.  She just smiled, snuggled and played when she could all day.

And there was of course ice cream sundae's but this is all I got a photo of...

But before we left...I always tell my kids, please use the potty before we go.  It's a 2 hour drive back home.  I take my own advice and head to the potty.  And, I'm a little confused.

So I ask my Mom..."Um, Mom?  Why is one of my patterns sitting in a basket on the back of the toilet?"  I mean, this is a completely legitimate question, is it not?  My Mom's response, "I wanted to put it somewhere I could look at it".  Huh?!  Is this a compliment...I'm not quite sure.

But I do know that my Mom was quite happy with all of her gifts I gave her.  All handmade - and my favorite I think was the bag I made her and I added one of my little flower pins I made...

And I know...you were expecting a tutorial for that little patchwork wristlet I made for the Sew, Mama, Sew giveaway...

If I didn't have a head full of snot, I would have been all over this and had this tutorial done.  Hot tea, vicks vapor rub, vitamins...I'm on it!

Next time, eh?  I'll try...

Happy New Year!!

xoxo,

Trish

Etsy schmetsy!

Spent the better part of um, all day, loading new stuff in to the etsy shop.  Wanna sneak peek?

Hmmm...and did I happen to mention that if you find something you can't live without over in my etsy shop and you just happen to be a blog subscriber (it's easy to do - just look over in the sidebar =>) that you'll get a little something extra in your package?  What is it you say?  That's a "new year's surprise" but I promise - you'll love it!  ok...I'll give you a little hint...Gotta get back to making dinner - the hubs has already started without me and the baby is crying because she wants more "cawk-late" - chocolate milk.  I gave her Ovaltine yesterday - wow!  I've created a monster!  She comes in, pointing at the cabinets - "cawk-late! cawk-late!".  What have I done!?

Next post - a zip top wristlet tutorial!

xoxo,

Trish

You will have to speak up...

What's that you say?  I'm sorry.  Can't hear you over the whir of the sewing machine.  The giggles and screams of three kids.  The washing machine and dryer.  You will have to speak up... I've been a bit busy lately.  You know, the usual.  Filling orders like these and oh, yes, 18 aprons!  (Sorry no photos on those yet - they are off getting finished with Nova, my super accomplished wonderful seamstress helper).  Just the usual ho hum chaotic noise around here.....

WAIT!  No!  Not the usual!  I have some exciting news!

SPROUTS!  Sprouts is finally here!

After a full year or so of designing pattern covers and kicking around which projects to pattern first - we have finally completed our first draft pattern from the Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs pattern line aptly called, "Sprouts".  (Sticking with the whole garden theme here...the gardener actually developed this name.  He's pretty good, isn't he?)

Sprouts, Pea sized projects you can complete in 3 hours or less.

Because really, who has more time than that?  And even at that - it'll take days, right?  As I type this now...I'm listening to the baby NOT take a nap and I'm thinking, there goes my tiny 2 hour block of time to do anything.  (she's quite skilled at pushing my sewing machine foot pedal while I'm not looking).

The Hazel Hipster.  Yep.  Here she is, in all her glory.

One of my friends from my twins club served as my "model" for the cover.  (Her Dad is also my accountant - he'll find some creative write off for me on this one I'm sure!)

I love, love, love this pattern because it is the FIRST purse I ever designed.  First purse I ever made.  And it is oh, so very simple.  The pattern is chock full of real life photos so you don't have to guess what I'm talking about - you can see it for yourself.  No line drawings or anything.  And the price.  Ya can't beat it.  Affordable.  And just think of all the bags you could make just in time for Christmas!  (Oh I see you out there rubbing your hands together!)

And you know what else is cool about it?  I made up a mini version so you can have matching Mommy and me bags.  The cute factor is just too much here!

Go quick before they are gone. And if you have any questions along the way as you sew - drop me a line at twopeasinapoddesigns at gmail.com.

There are a few giveaways going on with these patterns - you'll find them scattered about in blog land.  Keep checking back here - I'll keep updating the page at the top of my blog titled "Sprouts" - you'll find a growing list of blogs to visit where you might be able to win one of these Hazel Hipster patterns.

I have more SUPER exciting (ok, well for ME it's super exciting) news to share but I'll save that for next time.  I did mention, things were starting to go wonderfully around here.  I got into my first juried show.  Cool but that's not the big news.  Kind of bigger.  You'll just have to wander on back here later to find out!  (wink! and a head nod)

See ya soon,

xoxo,

Trish