I'm remodeling the Pink Fig site and it's a total pain! If you go over there and it looks weird from time to time, I'm sorry. It sometimes take several hours to update my changes and that is driving me crazy! One of the changes that has me up to all hours of the night is a store where you can buy patterns direct and possibly some kits with my fabric choices. Right now you have to go to my ETSY shop to buy stuff directly from me. I'm also looking into have a "real" website done, but that will probably take a couple of months to complete. So please bare with me! I'll update any permanent changes on this blog.

The logo above is a candidate to replace my old logo because I sometimes have a hard time fitting it on my pattern covers. This one is a little more simple and will probably go with more. What do you think? I often times like to let things sit for a few days and then go back. I find that something that I loved at first, bugs me later. Weird I know, but that's how my mind works. Even with pattern design! I have quite the stash of "almost" designs hanging in the closet here. Who has time for half finished stuff? I have always had that problem when I create. I start something, then get side tracked and move on to something else before I'm done with the first thing. My whole house is that way!

Tell me yours is too.

Kill The Fat....Jamie Oliver

This show is awesome!!!

I don't think I can let my kids eat school lunch ever again, unless Jamie can somehow get the schools here in California to get on board. If you watch the first 2 episodes and don't gag a little then you are made of much stronger stuff than I am!

So the question is how do we get our local schools to feed our kids good food that isn't processed? I was checking out his website and found that you can sign this petition to get involved in your own area. I wonder what it would take to get him to come to my kids school and then stop by to help me make dinner - hmmm.....That would be amazing!

Jamie Oliver...I could not love you more!

P.S. Only 54 of you are interested in the March Giveaway? It's Rachel Ray cookware! Are you people crazy or something? (Contest ends on Wednesday the 31st)

Kill The Fat...No Gluten?

Just so you know, I should be designing a pattern right now.

How come fat makes them look cute? Not fair.

So the war is raging on. I am holding my ground against my worthy and oh so annoying opponent, "the fat". It has camped out on my butt and stomach and is refusing to budge. What it doesn't know is that I have another secret weapon that I am unleashing. It's called, Hartman - my super healthy husband. The new and improved battle plan was set into action a couple of weeks ago when I spit into a little plastic tubes and I didn't drink diet coke all day long. That was hard, but not as hard as I thought it would be. Then I packaged up my spit in bio hazard bag and FedExed it to a lab who is analyzing it. The results are on the way and I'm positive they are going to show that my body is a little freaky inside. It needs to be rebalanced and re-set. Once that has happened "the fat" will die! I assure you I will show it no mercy.

I have been gluten free for almost a month now, (aside from that little slice of pumpkin cake I had the other night.) Oh man that was pretty much heaven. Why gluten free? There is a scientific reason behind it that I could try and explain, but instead I'll give you my version. Going gluten free for a month SHOULD reset my clock and my metabolism. When my labs come back saying, "girl your hormone levels are all out of whack!" I will willing take the supplements Hartman gives me. I probably wouldn't have done it so willingly a few years ago, but I am now a believer. I have worked out and watched what I ate for months now with no results aside from my biceps getting tighter and I am sick of it! Something is wrong inside of me and it will all come out in my spit. I will win this battle and when I do, I will help you on your way to win yours too. One more week of no gluten and then I'm heading to Tomatino's for some real pasta! I found the best definition for what a gluten free diet is HERE.

Next on the list, finding a supplement that will turn my gray hairs back to brown. Right now it's called Brazilian Brown from Loreal and it works pretty good, but only for 6 weeks or so.

Do you need to catch up on Kill The Fat posts? Check the right side bar under kill the fat posts 2010. You'll be glad you did!

Here is a sneak peek of my newest pattern....Hippy Chick

I know I have been promising a tween/teen version of my stripwork skirt pattern to some of you for over a year now and all I can say is I'm sorry! I don't know why this took me so long, but I'm glad it's finally done and I love the way it turned out. It's not exactly like the the girly stripwork skirt because I thought it needed to be a little more funky for the older girls and I added another option that has more of a bohemian look. I think with the changes it's still pretty girly!

Aren't my models so pretty? They were first timers and were so cute and fabulous to work with. They are also sisters, (can you tell)? My sister was a lot older than me so I never was able to have that kind of relationship. I pretty much got beat up my brothers throughout my whole childhood so I really enjoyed watching them interact with each other during the photo shoot. I have a ton of good pictures of them, but I think this one is my favorite.

The pattern will be available for pre-order in a couple of weeks. I'll post it here as soon as it's ready.

On a side note, check out Blue Cricket Design. She made the Girly Stripwork Skirt for her daughter's first birthday and is now doing a giveaway for the pattern. Pretty darn cute!

That's a nice peaceful picture isn't it? It in no way represents my life right now. Why because it's that time again where I start to go a little crazy! Pattern deadlines are coming and I am sooo behind. On top of that I decided to take a little photog class to help me learn how to use my nice camera that I have had for over 2 years. You would think I would know how to work it by now, but no! I have just been shooting on auto all this time. Most of my pattern covers have turned out, but I don't want them to just be okay. I want them to blow you away with awesomeness!

So I signed up for Nicole's online Classes and I am loving it! She is a photography genius and the author of the blog A Little Sussy. I am learning some really cool stuff. Here are some pictures from my first week.

This picture above and this one are from a lesson on aperture:

This one is from a lesson on shutter speed:

Pretty cool!

If you want to polish your skills I highly recommend taking her class. It's very informative, easy to follow, and you get to do it on your time. I am loving it! If you end up signing up, tell her I sent you. Just for fun. Hopefully you will be able to see a difference in my new pattern covers. I should have some sneak peeks for you in the next couple of weeks.

On a side note, I'm feeling like I need to chill out a little so I'll be adding some SUPER mellow songs to my playlist in the near future (with no words) from all of my favorite chick flicks. Just to mix things up a bit.

Hartman said my playlist is girly.

VCB March Giveaway

CSN stores is hosting this months giveaway on my blog! How cool is that? So cool. They even let me browse through their websites and pick the prize. In my search I found all kinds of things I want, including this at their site home bars. Wouldn't that make the best sewing/cutting table? It even has storage and a ribbon bar on the side! I really, really need that.

For the giveaway I ended up choosing something I would love to have for myself from Miss Rachel Ray! Her cookware rocks! So here it is......

Bubble & Brown 2 piece stoneware baking set in GREEN

AND Bubble & Brown 4 piece 3 oz dipping set in ORANGE

I'm actually kind of jealous that I can't enter myself and pick myself for the prize because they match my kitchen perfectly. hee hee!

I guess I'll just put it at the top of my list for Mother's Day.

So what do you have to do to be entered? Just add yourself to my followers list on the right side bar (if you haven't already) and please leave a comment here on this post. That way I can track you down a little easier. Don't forget to check in every month for a different giveaway! If you are interested in hosting a giveaway on my blog email me at: vcbdesign@gmail.com.

This contest ends on March 31st. The winner will be announced on April 1st.

POM February Winner and March contest

I am sooooooooo sorry this is late. Have you ever had a days like these? Where you are trying to get something done and every time you sit down to do it something else happens that pulls you away. That must happened to me at least 20 times in the last 2 days. Okay, enough with the excuses! I'm just late. So here it goes...

The winner of February's Pattern of the Month contest for the Nie Nie skirt is....Leisel Payzant of Sugar and Spice Creations!

I love everything about her design. It's kind of Alice In Wonderlandish (which by the way was such a good movie!) and her pictures are stunning! I love how she took my funky little pattern and turned it into a more formal set. Pairing it with the Olivia Top and her use of elegant fabrics makes it unique and beautiful. Congrats Leisel!

To see all of the other adorable Nie Nie skirts that were made, check out my customer gallery.

Thank you to all of you who entered. I know you all worked so hard and I LOVE the pictures! Send me more!!! You are all so talented.

March's pattern contest starts now!

The POM for March is The Mia Top!I know this one is already a favorite for many of you. I love it too! It's perfect for spring an summer and it's so easy to make. The contest runs from March 6 to April 2nd and it's on sale in my ETSY shop.

Rules: Make the FEATURED pattern out of your favorite designer fabrics, take a picture on a model (either a child or a mannequin) send me the picture to put in my customer gallery. I will pick one of the submissions to win a prize. The winner will also be featured on my blog with a link to your blog, website, or shop address and will also receive a $50 gift certificate to Pink Fig Patterns or Vintage Chic Boutique. This can be redeemed directly through me or in my ETSY shop.

Check in for details on the March Giveaway for my followers (right side bar) on Monday. If you want to be entered in the drawing all you have to do is follow me.

xo

McCalls Pattern Book

I've been keeping a little secret for over a year now and it feels so good to finally get it out.

I have a design in McCalls Pattern Book! (it's under my own name, not pink fig patterns - just FYI)

How cute are those little girls? They did such a good job and do you recognize the fabrics? I used my aunt Lila's Soiree and Santorini collection. A little info on this pattern: I designed it, but it was written and photographed by the team at McCalls. I have had a few people ask me if it is written like a Pink Fig Pattern and it's not. It is similar to other patterns you have probably purchased from their pattern book. So, a little different approach, but you end up with an outfit that is still my kind of style :)

I will be working with them some more so keep an eye out when you're looking through those big pattern books.

I'm so excited!

Oh, and thank you for all of the entries for last months POM contest (the Nie Nie skirt). They are all so cute! I will be announcing the winner on Friday along with this months pattern.