See me, hear me!

Hey! I have a few exciting media events to share with you! First up is my appearance on the show Cultivating Life on WGN America. I show the host, Sean Conway, how to make a duck cloth picnic blanket. It airs this Sunday, May 2nd at 11:30 am EST. (check your local listings!) Or, you can watch the full video of my segment here:

Duck Cloth Blanket from Cultivating Life on Vimeo.

You may remember my post about visiting Sean's beautiful gardens last year. Yup, it was a whole year ago that this piece was shot. The coolest part for me is that I was able to make the project for the episode out of my very own Family Cottage print, Picnic Floral. How 'bout that! Be sure to visit the Cultivating Life website for all sorts of inspiration and my project instructions.

***edit: I just want to add something here about the picnic blanket video. After watching it again, I realized that one of the coolest features about this blanket was edited out. As you saw, there is a webbing strap that wraps around the blanket when stored. But the strap has a dual function! After the picnic, toss your book and your frisbee, etc., into the center of the blanket. Loop the strap through all four D-rings and draw them together, gathering up the blanket around your gear. Throw the strap over your shoulder and you're outta there!***

Next up on May 2nd (busy media day for me, no?) is FaveCrafts blog talk radio! This will be a live interview by host Tiffany Windsor. Did I mention it was live? Yeah, so it's live and everything. Who knows what will happen! All I know is I will be speaking about repurposing, one of my favorite topics!

Well, there went April, that was a fast 4 months of the year. Speaking of time flying, how is it that May 1st marks my 4 year blogiversary? Or that May 6th is my 15 year wedding anniversary? I don't know, but suddenly I feel like I have a lot of celebrating to do!

itchy

The yarn is not itchy, it's me. I feel kinda itchy when I've got nothing on my needles! Do you ever feel that way?

I usually work for a while after the kids are in bed. Then around 10 or so I head downstairs for a cup of tea, maybe a snack, a little TV time with my better half...and some knitting. I wonder sometimes when I have so many projects going on, why I continue to "make" even during my chill-out time. Knitting is different somehow. Most projects involve some thought, but much of it is motor memory. When my hands are on auto-pilot, my mind can just relax and escape. I look forward to it.

What's your crafty escape mechanism?

Holy Guacamole!

Wow! Your response to the Earth Day Give-away was so amazing! I've never had so many comments for a give-away before. The randomly-chosen-by-computer winner is Kirsty, whose comment was: "New to sewing but am loving it. Focusing on home decor for the most part - or gift making because I love to give. Thanks for hosting." Congratulations, Kirsty, I've left a comment on your blog to let you know you're the winner! As soon as I hear from you a Sample Set of my Indian Summer fabrics will be on its way to you!

A style shot from my recent studio photo shoot. Indian Summer print pillow in the center!

Thank you all so so much for entering and leaving your lovely comments. Your passion and enthusiasm for organics has really fueled my desire to bring more organic options into the world! Sometimes I feel like my commitment to produce on organics is a little like swimming upstream. I'm happy to be in the water, but it's a tough journey! Your support definitely helps and is truly appreciated.

It's been a busy few weeks (months!) and things will only intensify here at the BW HQ. I'm nose to the grindstone preparing for my first visit to the International Quilt Market in May. I've been developing a sewing pattern line for wholesale and I couldn't be more excited about it! (And by excited, I mean nervous and giddy and overwhelmed and woozy and amped up and about a thousand other feelings.) I'm looking forward to showing you some new patterns I've been working on. Soonish...maybe next week?

Earth Day, Every Day

April 22nd is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Earth Day was designed to inspire awareness and appreciation of the earth's environment. Shouldn't every day be Earth Day?

In honor of Mother Earth and her day, I am giving away a Sample Set of my Indian Summer Collection, printed on 100% organic cotton sateen.

Even more exciting? I've teamed up with 11 other fabulous like-minded organic fabric designers for a blog-hop give-away! All of us believe so strongly in the importance of choosing fabrics made with organic cotton vs. conventionally grown cotton, we want to shout it from the mountaintops!

So what are you waiting for?! To enter my give-away, leave a comment on this post. In your comment, answer this question: What kinds of projects would you most like to use organic fabrics for: Baby items? Home Decor? Clothing for yourself? Please, let me know! Contest closes at 10:00am EST Monday, April 26, 2010.

Now, click yourself over to the other eco-fabulous (and generous!) fabric folks for more give-aways!

Birch Fabrics
Cloud9 Fabrics
Cottage Industrialist
Daisy Janie
Harmony Art
Homesweet
ink & spindle
loop
Monaluna
Swanky Swell
Umbrella Prints

Happy Earth Day!

***Comments closed, thank you !!!***

Goin' Green: The DIY Dish

Have you heard about DIY Dish? The DIY Dish is an upbeat and fun web show, hosted by sisters Kim and Kris, bringing you projects, reviews, and how-to's with everything DIY.



This week's webisode of the DIY Dish is called "We're Going Green" in honor of Earth Day. Check out their video to learn how to make a cute sling bag made from a felted wool sweater. They are also hosting several give-aways, including FOUR chances to win a copy of my book, Sewing Green! Watch the video and bop on ever to the DIY Dish website to enter the give-aways!

Speaking of give-aways, come back here to my blog tomorrow, 4/21/10, for a chance to win some fabric!

(P.S. If you are having trouble getting the video to load here, try going directly to DIY Dish and view it there!)

Hey Baby!

A gorgeous new Stitch Magazine is available on the newsstands! The Spring 2010 issue has 37 sewing projects including 12 for baby and kids. I was more than happy to contribute a new design: The Baby Flight Cap.

This aviator style hat is perfect for those spring days when the weather can change on a whim. Flaps up (secured by a button and 2 loops) for light coverage or flip them down if a chilly breeze blows in. The Baby Flight Cap is made with my original Flutter print organic cotton sateen, lined with a soft buttery organic cotton sherpa. (sized 6 months - 3T)

I mentioned my new Flutter print a while back when I was talking about my print development process. Flutter is printed on 100% organic cotton sateen yardage and fat quarters and is now available in my etsy shop in 2 colorways: Tangerine with Spring Green and Spring Green with Blue Sky (seen above in flight cap).

Wouldn't the Tangerine Flutter print be adorable in this Ruffled Halter?! This is another super cute project in Stitch Magazine from Oliver + S . Blair Stocker from Wisecraft also contributed several designs you can read about on her blog. Be sure to check out this issue, it is full of great stuff!

Stitch Magazine is available at Barnes & Noble as well as from the publisher's website.

Kick up your heels!

Introducing Betz White original prints on classic Keds!



Thanks to Zazzle and print-on-demand technology, anyone can design their own shoes (plus other stuff!) and that's just what I did! I first dabbled with Zazzle about a year ago but never managed to put a group of designs together and open a shop, until now! (Thanks for the nudge, HR)

I'm going to plunk down my birthday money on a pair for myself, but how will I choose? So far the styles in my Zazzle shop are:
1) The blue/green Sprig & Sprouts print paired with Lawn Chair
2) The Picnic Floral paired with the Hammock Stripe
3) My new Flutter print paired with solid khaki and off-white trim.
I stayed with the classic canvas slip-ons, but I'll be adding more styles in the future.

If you are interested in outfitting your own feet, Zazzle is offering a 10% off promotion going on through end of day April 15th! I'm going to hurry up and nab that discount for sure. That is, as soon as I decide which pair to order!

Yippee skippee!

UPDATE 4/19/10: As per your requests, I added a few new lace up styles to the shop!

bright spot

You guys are definitely a bright spot in my life. Thank you so much for all of your birthday wishes!

I realize it's been a little quiet here on the blog, but much is happening this month! There are so many exciting things in work, I have been hesitant to blog about them, just in case I don't manage to pull them off! But hang tight...more to come soon. In fact, I hope to post a little something fun later today!

my day

My sweet family took me out for a delicious birthday brunch this morning.

Happy Birthday To Me!

I was also treated to handmade cards and this delicate little flower my 8 yr old planted in the tree stump I made in our Family Pottery Class. It's the perfect touch!

In February and March the 4 of us took an evening pottery class together at a local art center. I never feel like the kids get enough art time in school and my husband and I really wanted to do something creative as a family that was different for all of us.

We made all sorts of pinch pots, paper weights, and other things that defy categorization. Here are 2 of my sons' favorites: a pizza and a platypus! There's nothing more fun (or important!) than fostering creativity, don't you think? What creative things do you do as a family?

That's all for now...I'm off to enjoy my day and the gorgeous weather!

Silver Bella 2010

I'm very excited to announce my participation in the Silver Bella Workshops this year!

2010 marks the 5th year of Silver Bella, an Event of the Arts! Here are a few of the Event highlights: 9 nationally recognized instructors teaching 18 Workshops exclusive to Silver Bella, Friday night's Bella Market with juried and talented artisans from all over the country, fresh group workshop and presentation by Teresa McFayden, and a closing dinner featuring Guest Speaker Jenny Doh! The venue for this Event is The Embassy Suites, located in downtown historic Old Market District of Omaha, Nebraska.


As you can see, I will be in the company of some fabulously creative women and I couldn't be more honored. Here's a little peek of one of the classes I will be teaching: my Funky Felt Flower Bouquet...

Won't you join me and the rest of the Silver Bella bunch? Full class descriptions are now posted and registration started yesterday!

Miscellaneous Monday

I hope you had a glorious weekend! The weather has been fantastic here...although I hope summer isn't here to stay quite yet. I love my spring...

Yesterday we had family over for Easter Dinner. My #2 son decided the night before that we must make place setting/favors for each person. I love this about him. This project was his own spontaneous idea: Carrot Candy Pouches! I did have to dissuade him from the construction requiring zippers, though. Phew...

Each cone shaped pouch is made from a 1/4 circle of orange felt with a curved border of green felt zigzagged to the edge and snipped into fringe. I sewed one seam into a cone shape then snipped a row of slits for the ribbon tie. Simple! (I think if I were to do them again I might make the green border wider and snip the slits in the green part. Hmm)

As usual, my son played Design Director and I was Pattern Maker/Seamstress. Now that he's 8 years old, I think that I should've taught him to sew these. I often forget to encourage these kinds of things, especially when there is a time crunch. But we've got two more days of Spring Break so there is still time for a sewing lesson!

By the way...I've got a few *new to you* remnants listed in the Betz Bitz shop!

The Easter Gorilla

Last blog post I shared some of my family's April Fool's traditions. I hope you had fun with them! As I was planning our Easter baskets today and remembered another silly tradition: The Easter Gorilla.

One year when I was a kid, my brother got a banana in his Easter basket. It was way down at the bottom, hidden under the grass! No self-respecting egg-toting Easter Bunny would've left a banana amidst the chocolate and jelly beans. The only logical reason for it's appearance was that the Easter Gorilla had come. Apparently, getting a banana in your Easter Basket is akin to getting coal in your Christmas stocking, but a little more tongue in cheek. :) In my experience, the mischief makers of the family pride themselves on getting the banana each year.

Staying with the banana theme for a minute, I'd like to share another treat from my past. I loved when my mom made me what I call a Banana Butterfly. It doesn't look pretty (and I am no food photographer!) but boy is it yummy! You'll need a banana, brown sugar, lemon juice and chopped walnuts. First, wash the banana then cut it lengthwise. Cut through the peel except for the back of the center of the banana. This leaves a sort of "hinge" and is the center of the butterfly.

Then take your knife and cut little bite-sized triangle sections through the banana but not through the peel. Sprinkle with brown sugar, lemon juice and chopped walnuts. It's the perfect combination of flavors!

Now it can be eaten with a fork. Each little section comes right up off the peel. So good! I know a lot of kids don't like nuts, but in my opinion they can't be omitted. Try it, you'll see!

So, if you find yourself the recipient of a gift from the Easter Gorilla, now you'll know what to do with it! :)

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

***edit: Just found out from my mom that the Easter Gorilla idea came from an Erma Bombeck article from years ago!***