I get all misty-eyed when certain big events happen in my life. This can be any number of things but on this particular day it relates to having my project featured on the cover of Quilting Arts Gifts 2009. Here’s an attempt at explaining how I’m feeling about this:
I used to sew like mad. From age 6 to 19 I stitched all the time. I adored making clothes for myself. Then I got busy. Busy with my career, busy having kids, busy pursuing life in a very practical and measured way. The sewing machine went quiet.
When Leil was born the urge to sew emerged out of left field. So strongly did it hit me I still remember the day I pulled out the Singer, dusted it off, found the book so I could actually thread the machine, and began making. A receiving blanket for Leil. One for Caitlin. And then one for every baby that was born in the Bay Area in the late 90′s! 40″ square, flannel on both sides, handstitched ribbon 3 inches in from the edge all the way around. The girls both still sleep with theirs.
In 2001, a Disney Princess Sleeping Beauty dress for Caitlin demanded a fancy new sewing machine, yes we all deserve a new one every 20 years! I was back in touch with my first love and enjoying every minute. I even made a slipcover for the couch. If you’ve ever done that you know how crazy an idea that is and why you should pay people that do it for a living lots and lots of money.
I started this little blog in March of 2006. The creative ideas continued to crowd out the practical ones (like my CPA practice, I can not even imagine spending all day working on someone else’s tax return right now). I published my first pattern. Just one. Who did I think I was designing patterns and actually selling them for money? Then a second. A third. A fourth. And… yes, yes, more on the way.
Pink Chalk Fabrics came along too. And getting published in a book. And an article in a magazine. And then a cover of a magazine. It is all part of my journey and when I look at it that way I cry. Joyful tears. Thankful that I found the strength to listen to my intuitive voice. A voice so easily trampled by self doubt. Thankful that I blindly follow a path that seems impractical for so so many reasons but whose force is so strong it gives me faith.
I love the beauty and the pleasure that sewing brings to the world. The creative power it gives the soul. I love that I have finally come full circle with a fire that’s been inside of me since my earliest childhood memories. Waiting patiently until I was ready too. All converging at this moment in time. It makes me pause and give thanks.
Thank you to all the friends I’ve made in this little space named Pink Chalk Studio. The friendship and kindness you all so generously share inspires and humbles me daily. I’m truly thankful.
YESSSSS!! You are so amazing! I love blog posts like this! And those that magazine cover is so gorgeous!
Now for it’s a for sure that I will go buy the magazine. I REALLY enjoy your projects. Your blog inspires me and now your story is battling it out with my self-doubt. THANK YOU for it all.
Thank you for sharing. Thank you for inspiring. Thank you for the wonderful fabric at Pink Chalk. I am enjoying my copy of Quilting Arts and I’m so happy you are the cover…Congratulations!
It’s so lovely to hear about someone truly loving what they do and where they are. I’m heading out to get the magazine now. Congratulations and thanks for taking us along for the rie!
A big major congrats!! You should be so proud of your accomplishments and that you’re fulfilled by your work. And that doesn’t even include all of the wonderful inspiration you provide for so many people. Amazing!
I get so excited when one of the creative spirits behind one of the blogs I read gets published! I feel like it is a personal friend. Congratulations and your blog is wonderful. Keep up the great work.
Wow, Kathy, I have no words because my eyes are filled with tears…you are an inspiration and you deserve all the good that has come your way! Congratulations on this tremendous achievment!
YOu are a GREAT example to those of us who have families and are sewing in bits and pieces (yes, I do the slip covers for couches too-LOL) and trying to raise a family. I sew because it is fun now. I even design patterns, but have never expected anyone else to want them. Nor am I sure that I should or could take the time to figure out how to publish them. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for being an inspiration. Maybe in 100 years or so, I’ll publish some of those crazy patterns because you did it.
Congratulations! And I so understand everything you said…I’m so passionate about my quilting and sewing! You said everything so eloquently…truly inspirational! Thanks so much!
What a lovely post, Kathy! And you are truly an inspiration to follow our dreams and deepest desires, despite what may seem like huge obstacles. Congratulations on creating such a wonderful new chapter of your life! xoxo
Congratulations Kathy! You do beautiful work and should be very proud.
Congratulations! So proud of you. I come to your blog because it makes me feel good. I love to find someone who loves what they do. You seem to pick the perfect fabrics and the perfect designs. Keep up the good work….I’ll be checking in…and now I’m off to get my copy.
Great post! Congratulations and thanks for sharing your creative journey. i hope your journey continues to have many rewarding milestones.
congrats!! that is so super exciting!! and they are super cute!! i’ve just recently taken the leap into more quilting and following my heart!
I think that is the most beautiful post you have ever written & it describes so well how I feel and my path also. I started sewing when I was perhaps 6 or 7, making little doll clothes all by hand, no machine. Started sewing clothes. Stopped for a time as grown-up life kept me so busy. Made a queen size quilt for our bed, baby quilts for my now 5-year old daughter. In the crazy newborn days wondered if I’d ever in my life have time to sew again as, hello, I barely managed to find time for a shower each day! Had this crazy thought in my head to start a business selling purses and such that I sew. Mulled it around in my head for a couple of years. Dismissed it as insane many times. Started said business almost a year ago. Probably will be a money-losing venture this year but I don’t even care because it is my passion and my love and every day some more people are enthusiastic enough about the things I make to actually spend money on them! Oh, and a few months ago I bought myself a new sewing machine – the first in 20 years! Also lots of days of self-doubt… but I keep plugging along, wondering where it will go in the next year!
OH I love a good honest, insightful post. Thank you for sharing a bit of your heart with us. I was directed here by a fellow blog reader of yours because your post is similar to my post today – just a bit of sharing.
Congrats on your success! I see more for you in the future!
What a lovely post Kathy! Congratulations on the magazine cover too. I love the door hanger and the fabrics you choose. Keep up the great work!
Beautiful projects! Many congrats to you!!
Such a great journey and it’s been wonderful following it these past few years!
Awwww! That was so sweet. I, too, am glad to have met you. I love Pink Chalk Fabrics, and the blog. I love hearing about your adventures, both family and business-wise.
Keep up the good work!
Linda (tayzzmom)
It has been really wonderful to come along on this ride and see all that you’ve done over the course of such a short span of time. I remember being amazed by your hands quilt that you made back a few years and then you started Pink Chalk Fabrics, got published in a book. It’s really amazing.
Congratulations!
Kathy, I just loved this post – and so inspiring. You have such an impact on so many of our lives, your talent, creativity, generousity, sharing, caring and fabulous shop are a ray of sunshine in my life.
Congratulations on the front cover – very exciting.
Kind regards
Melinda
Australia
Congratulations, Kathy! I’ve enjoyed watching your business grow. When I saw those hotpads in an email I was immediately drawn to them. Should have know it was you!
That’s beautiful, Kathy, all of it. Congratulations!
You are such an inspiration. Congrats
Congratulations! I haven’t received my copy yet, but I am attacking the mailman daily! Thank you so much for sharing your journey and inspiring us. You’re a peach! Have a fantastic weekend!
Congratulations!!! I will have to get a copy of this puppy. You are such an inspiration!
Congratulations!!! Can’t wait to score and issue, these are over the top cute!
Congratulations Kathy. It is so wonderful to hear about someone choosing the path that they are happy about and grateful for – you have chosen correctly!
Thank you for sharing your story. And I love those hotpads — I’ll be making some up for Christmas definitely!
A very neat story that gives me hope as I await the birth of my second baby…living in toddler/baby craziness right now as my machine collects dust. I also have to say, as a graphic designer, that I believe your awesome/unique ability to select and match fabrics is what gets you selected for the cover photo! Attractive projects make attractive photos…get the best placement! Here’s to many more years of goodness ahead for you and Pink Chalk.
What a wonderful post ~ so inspirational. I started sewing late in life and now can’t imagine my life without it. I love all the projects you’ve shown. Now to look for the magazine!
I am so happy for you, I will be right there to get the magazine, I just cannot wait to receive it!! Congrats!!!
Congratulations!
I knew we were kindred spirits – I am a CPA also! I think balancing out the analytical, numbers side of the brain with the creative, stitching side is the way to go!
Thanks for sharing your journey and your process! I’m constantly amazed by your attention to detail – I guess it’s those skills that served you well as an accountant too. It’s good for me to remember that just because I’m not doing something I absolutely love at this stage, it doesn’t mean that that opportunity will never come for me.
I’ll be watching for the magazine to hit the racks near me – I definitely have to make that door hanger. I was wondering just the other day if the business side meant you weren’t getting to sew like you used to, since it seemed like there was less sewing on the blog. I’m so happy to see its just the forum that changed, and definitely for the better! Thanks for sharing with us.
(Just because I know there is sometimes a sense of entitlement to certain content from blog readers – I feel compelled to add the post script that this was in no way, shape or form a complaint. And, it may just be my imagination anyway, since I didn’t actually go back and look at recent and old posts. I was just curious about the impact of the business on your life, and this post definitely answered my idle questions.)
And now your mother is misty eyed, perhaps more than misty eyed, more like choked up. You are an inspiration to everyone who reads your blog. You are living your dream. I LOVE your new Christmas patterns for the hot pads and door hanger. XOXO
i just saw this mag @ spool and thought of you!… and smiled!!
Congrats on the magazine cover! I really enjoyed this post. You are SEW cool!
What a wonderful post; I had no idea you used to be a CPA! I love reading stories like yours, it gives me hope
Congratulations on the magazine article, and those projects are so cute!
Those are great! Congratulations on the cover!!! Thanks for sharing your story.
I got my copy a few days ago, and your projects are great! Congratulations to you, Kathy. I can’t think of a nicer person to be getting all this well-deserved recognition and success.
I am a bit late w/ my congrats, but it is heartfelt all the same! I just came from a TV shoot w/ Quilting Arts and my 1st free motion piece will be in their Quilt Scene magazine’s Oct issue. So I know just a tad how you feel. Your projects are very worthy of the front cover! So fresh.
I’ll add my congrats with everyone else. I really enjoy reading about your journey and share that desire to create…it’s so amazing how it can shape our lives.
Beautiful Post! Congratulations on the cover. ;o)
Well of course this made me smile. Yay for you, Kathy!
Hi Kathy, Those Christmas trees are so gorgeous! I love that you recommend fabrics to make them with – coordinating the right fabrics is the hardest part sometimes. Just wanted to say that I love your blog and fabric store, so I too, love that you are following your passion!
Good for you!!! Love the patterns….will have to pick that mag up.
Kathy I am so thrilled for you! I especially love the door hanger. I remember when we were kids, you taught me to sew…that A-line barbie doll dress in a handful of fabrics from Degonias. You had a passion for it even then and you continue create and shine. Your post inspires those of us who are still standing with our toes curled around the diving board and trying to jump!
Congratulations Kathy! Your talent is VERY inspiring and I have loved watching it over the past few years.