hazel brown and gang

New home...

2010-03-17T13:17:00.000-07:00

oh my goodness...you're probably wondering if I can ever stay put!! well, we had been having some website issues and I thought it was probably a good time to revamp the site and with that, came a new home for our blog! so check it out...we're now at www.hazelbrowndesigns.com/blog/ (and you can also get to it by the link at the bottom of our homepage.

thanks! and I promise...we'll stay there for a while! : )

Nora Fleming...

2010-03-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Wonder if you've all been following the story of a little 2 year old girl who was battling cancer (Neuroblastoma) down in Texas...Layla Grace Marsh. Her story is courageous and makes your heart break at the same time. Read more about her at www.laylagrace.org

My friend Nora, owner of Nora Fleming, has a giant heart and wants to reach out and show support. Please visit her site and know that 20% of your purchase will be split between the Marsh family to help with medical bills and the Texas Children's Cancer Center.

www.norafleming.com

It's Friday!! Let's work...??

2010-03-05T07:55:00.000-08:00

HUH? Well, yes, I have to get some things done around here...

My husband got me hooked on this Hazelnut Latte from DD...I'm not a coffee drinker...wish I was because it smells sooo yummy! But I'm a whimp and can't handle it. So he found me this goodness in this cute little package. The other cute package of Play-Doh is for my kids...keepin' them busy so I can get some things wrapped up to enjoy the weekend!!

I'm getting a big order shipped out...(phew!) and working on new dresses and more fun tees!! Getting a donation together for the Celebrating Neuro-Diversity Benefit and the Team Matthew Fundraiser at BlackFinn.

I love that this little business can help others and make a difference, even just a little bit.

M is for March...and Mayhem...and Matthew...

2010-03-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

We survived the month of birthdays and even a visit to Chuck E Cheese for Niko's 6th birthday party. Lots of cake, birthday dinners, trips to toy stores and splitting nails on unnecessary plastic-sewn-taped-twist-tied boxes containing plastic toys and hundreds of other teeny tiny pieces!

Wow...how is it already March? Well, this month 10% of all sales (before sales tax) will be donated to Team Matthew. I had mentioned before that Sophie's classmate has a little brother who has been diagnosed with AML and been undergoing chemo treatments. While it's in remission, he still has a long road to travel, more treatments and we thought we could just do our part to help out.

visit www.furibondo.blogspot.com to follow Matthew's progress.

Thank you for your help in advance!

Team Matthew...

2010-02-24T07:46:00.001-08:00

My Sophie has a fellow classmate in her pre-school who has a little brother, Matthew, who has AML (acute myeloid leukemia). He's about Madi's age (almost 2). It breaks my heart. BUT on the upside, he's already gone through chemo (with more treatments ahead) and is in remission! They are doing fundraisers and blogging about it at www.furibondo.blogspot.com
Check it out and say a little prayer.

Kiss me, I'm Irish...

2010-02-22T20:44:00.000-08:00

Perfect tee for whether your Irish or just feelin' lucky. Request to have it made in a different color!
Order yours by March 3rd to receive it in time for St Patty's Day.

Weekend Woes...

2010-02-19T18:02:00.000-08:00

It seems I spend all week hustling and bustling and juggling the lives of 7 people, yearning for the weekend to get here so I can just "relax"...only to draw up more work for myself (and my husband, of course). Sometimes I find myself sitting on my couch, or even just standing in the middle of the living room staring at walls...which ones to tear down, which ones to put back up, what color should the walls be, move this here, move it over there...

why can't my kitchen just look like this?

or this...?

or even this...???

but instead, it looks like this...

I have ideas in my mind but just can't bring them to fruition. Paint the cabinets, don't paint the cabinets...put up a wall, don't put up a wall...move the fridge, leave it where it is...hack off half the counter, decisions, decisions. Not risky...I guess. We painted our walls that yellow with a green undertone 4 1/2 years ago and i've hated it ever since it went up but too lazy to pick and choose another color...which I'm bad at anyway. How am I supposed to know what that 1 inch by 2 inch color swatch is gonna look like on the entire wall?

The only thing I LOVE about my kitchen is that sweet little blue-eyed Madi who's been caught snatching something off the counter. I love her so...she's a yummy one!

so, stay tuned...i've got ideas churning and just need someone to kick me in the butt to do them! what do i have to lose?

Lock down...

2010-02-07T17:49:00.000-08:00

so I finally went to the Take Care clinic at Walgreens on Saturday morning. The cough I caught from Nikolas turned into a little wheezing, on and off fever, headache, and other ugly symptoms. So I finally went to the Take Care clinic at Walgreens. A diagnosis of "walking pneumonia or bronchitis", an inflamed ear, a prescription for a steriod, zpak, and ear drops, later...I have planted myself on my husband's comfy chair and strapped the laptop on my, well...lap.

So things I've accomplished over this weekend:
1. Worked on the February newsletter for HB Designs
2. Played around on facebook, my personal account and HB account...LOTS
3. caught up on Keeping up with the Kardashians
4. played around with hot rollers (can't figure out how those things work still)
5. submitted photos of Sophie and Livi to a talent agency in Chicago
6. looked up cub scout packs for Nikolas and learned they start in the 1st grade so that's probably why I don't know anything about it yet
7. looked up ski lessons for the kids
8. got a brief catch up lesson over the phone on Grey's Anatomy from a friend...
9. looked up places to get my nose pierced...I've been wanting to do this forever...I'm just a big ol' chicken.
10. kind of paid attention to the Super Bowl game (kind of because I'm blogging right now in the 4th quarter).

Game Time...

2010-02-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

I love thinking up promotions because my brain just works that way. But drop us a line and let us know what you LOVE about our new Spring additions! In return, we'll give you 14% off your entire purchase through the end of February.

And don't forget to enter your name in our monthly drawing to win a FREE gift!

Spring is here..spring is here...

2010-02-04T14:07:00.000-08:00

It's the best time of the year! I must be watching too much of Little Bill on Nick Jr with the kids. Either that or I've had to sit them in front of the television one too many times to get some things done.
Anyway, spring has arrived at HBD and we hope you're loving everything you see! Very ruffly and sweet for girls and fun tees for boys. Keep checking back for more. We will be adding new items weekly. We had every intention of having a "SPRING 2010" line for HBD...specific styles in specific fabrics...but our mind wanders too much and we want to create everything in EVERY fabric and then some. So, lucky for you, we're keeping at our "one or two of a kind" motto and since a lot of the items are "made to order"...we thought you might as well choose the fabric you want it in.

Here are the fabrics we're lovin' on...we'll be updating this selection, too, as we can never stop shopping for fabric.

So shop around and if you see something you like but want it in another fabric, email us! We'll be happy to make it for you! Otherwise, you're free to purchase one of our ready-made creations!!

Happy Shopping!!

All in a day...

2010-01-24T17:31:00.000-08:00

We train them early here at the Brown house. When Nikolas was about 2 years old, he used to steal spools of thread and stuff them in the back of his pick up trucks, leaving a tangled mess all over the house. These days, Sophia snags any scrap piece of fabric, ribbon or other embellishments she can get her hands on and creates her own little masterpieces. Now here's Olivia, creating fine art with my pins. She kindly asks, "How can I help you, momma?"...as she scoots her way behind my stool, steps on the stool next to me and grabs the pin cushion.

And eventually, we made these Navy Flounce Pants! We love them! Olivia had them on as pants and Sophia tried them on and they were cute as pedal pushers...hmmm...we'll have to decide before Spring is revealed!

Let us know what you think!
Now, it's time for us to take a break...

Out with the Old...

2010-01-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

in with the NEW!! Well, not quite yet. We're still busy creating new pieces for Spring, however, these items are left in inventory and are marked on SALE!!! Everyone loves a sale, right??

Here are a few pieces...you can find the rest at www.hazelbrown.etsy.com

Itching for Spring...

2010-01-12T10:04:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I couldn't wait...I've made all this stuff and can't show anybody!!! Except for you, who's reading this blog right now...

We are working to create the pieces to our Spring 2010 line and will be hosting a Preview Show in February. But for now...I'd like to spill a teeny tiny bit of beans...

One of our Spring pieces...modeled by my Sophie. Navy and gray cotton fabric with pops of lime green and bubble gum pink flowers! Oh...it's delicious! And what do we say about the big giant blossom on the front? All I know is I can't wait for Spring to get here!!

Stay tuned for updates on the Spring Preview. We'll be showing the Spring line and taking custom orders. We're also planning on some shows for the warmer months, so we'll post them here as we confirm the dates.

Back to sewing!...

Welcome, 2010!!...

2010-01-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

Whew...I hate to sound like a scrooge but I'm actually glad that the Holidays have passed. It sneaks up on me every year but I think it did especially because I had the baby just a few weeks before. Oh well, the kids made out like bandits...5 garbage bags of toys came home with us from our Christmas Eve celebration at Lolo and Lola's (my parents). That doesn't include the gifts that were at home under our tree. Totalling 3 1/2 garbage bags that I snuck into the baby's closet for future "treats". They don't even know they're missing.

Here's a quick shot of the aftermath...

So....BIG HUGS to welcome 2010! I feel refreshed! Both at home (now that our tree is down and kids are back to school) and with HB. New, fresh, fabrics and adorable new styles! We're busily working to create inventory for Spring and it should be available *fingers crossed* by early to mid February.

We are also working on pinning down some events for the year. We'll keep you posted on this blog as we get some dates finalized.

AND...with that said...we are hosting home parties!! Treats for the Hostess with the Mostest when you book a party!! It's fun, laid back and you'll enjoy specials that we don't offer online!

Contact us with any questions!!
www.hazelbrowndesigns.com

'Til next time...

Stay warm...

2009-12-04T10:10:00.001-08:00

Now, how adorable are these? I feel kind of weird tootin' my own horn, but seriously, they're the cutest! And my girls LOVE them!

They're so versatile...you can wear them 3 different ways.
Wear them with the ruffle down and they're adorable over a cute pair of flats.
Wear them with the ruffle up and they poke out over your winter boots.
Or wear them on your arms to get longer life out of your short-sleeve tops in the winter!

LOVE THEM! Your little girls will love them, too!

New Addition...

2009-11-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

I'd like to introduce you to the newest addition to our little gang...Fiona Lily. Whew...and a big girl she sure is...she was born 10 lb 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches.

She fits in with the gang perfectly! Her older brother loves to feed her and give her kisses. Her oldest sister loves to sing her lullabies and the older but little sisters love to watch her eat. They all think she "IS THE CUTEST!"

She is now a week old and life at the Brown House has resumed...we celebrated Thanksgiving with family at our house and are enjoying the time we have with daddy as he'll have to return to work as well.

It's amazing how a week ago, our family was so anxious to meet this little girl...and today, she's the newest member and we love her so much and couldn't imagine our gang without her.

As far as work goes...it was never far from my mind...I constantly have ideas spinning around my head and while I've been taking it easy and resting, I've also been noting things and sketching things and today I was feeling almost ready to hit the sewing machine!!

I promise more goodies to come! and soon!...

Follow us...follow us...

2009-11-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

We will be posting things from the business, our home life, and everything in between! Stay tuned! We are working on some great things!