Simplify

A FQS Vintage Modern blog hop

(I realize I'm posting this a little early, but I'm going to be at a Scout banquet, running 800 errands with 3 kids, installing light fixtures, painting, and going to a bed at a ridiculous hour today.  Wasn't sure I'd make it back to the computer by then. Forgive me?)

Remember a while back when I mentioned that Fat Quarter Shop picked Vintage Modern for the Designer Mystery Block of the Month this year?  Well, there is a little blog hop going around (which you probably already knew!) and today is the Bonnie and Camille day (so make sure to go over and see what my mom posts about too!)

First of all, a big huge thank you to Kimberly for picking Vintage Modern, we just couldn't be more excited about it, and good grief, that quilt!  I happened to catch a sneak peek of it, and it is gorgeous.  

For the blog hop, we are supposed to show a Vintage Modern item clue, and have you guess what it is.  I bought it a few years ago, so it isn't technically vintage, but it looks a little like it could be.  I'm pretty sure it will be easy as pie to guess (probably second easiest, next to Anne's  ;-) but here it is just the same.

The clue?  It's my favorite.  :-)  

A bonus hint? You might find it somewhere in my book.

All you have to do is guess what the item is in the comments below.  If you get it right, you will be entered to win a layer cake of Vintage Modern from FQS.  Visit the other blogs to win a Layer Cake of their most recent Moda collection too.  Sorry, I should have given you the heads up a little earlier.  Just blame the house.  I do.

Wednesday 2/15 – Primitive Gatherings

Thursday 2/16 – Me and My Sister Designs

Friday 2/17 – Aneela Hoey

Monday 2/20 – Blackbird Designs

Tuesday 2/21 – Kate Spain

Wednesday 2/22 – Sandy Gervais

Thursday 2/23 – Bonnie & Camille

Friday 2/24 – Fig Tree Quilts

Monday 2/27 – Minick & Simpson

Tuesday 2/28 – Cosmo Cricket

Wed 2/29 – Sweetwater

Thurs 3/1 – Fat Quarter Shop – Grand Prize Entry Post

Fri 3/2 – Fat Quarter Shop – Winners Post

Happy hopping, and good luck!

Update

print from here 

Yes, please.

Also, thank you so much for all the encouragement and use of the word potential.  We think so too.  (Fingers crossed)  Just keep your fingers crossed too, will you?

And I wasn't joking about the chocolate.  

 

The maybe house

all photos except this one borrowed from the house listing

If you have followed me on Pinterest, you probably know about the maybe house.  It is what I've been calling the new house since October when we put an offer on it.  (Yes, October.)

I called it the maybe house after my husband pleaded with me to stop calling it the ugly house.  He insisted that even though it was ugly, he was not going to buy it if I kept calling it that.

So, it became the maybe house.

The maybe house.  

The outside isn't ugly just in dire need of a bath and some fresh paint. And grass.

The first time I walked through the maybe house, I whispered to the husband over and over "I can't.  I don't want this one.  I don't want to live here."  

(Photos ahead, prepare yourself)

the family room from the kitchen

I'm sure at one point the family who lived here loved it, but the previous owner had given up on it years ago and was renting out the rooms.  It was in rough shape.  As we walked through the bedrooms, each more colorful than the last, I cringed.  Navy ceilings, blue walls, fushia bathrooms, purple doors, pink trim, yellow banister.  The pink and gray tile throughout was bad, but the worn, dirty blue carpet was worse.  

the staircase with decor

I couldn't see past it to the wonderful floorplan that was under all that, or the potential the large (dead) backyard held.  I did, however, know it was the right neighborhood for our family.  It was where we were supposed to be, just not in this house.

the entry, living room, and future sewing room

We thought about it, looked at a few more houses, discussed what we would be able to tackle in the maybe house if we bought it, and put in an offer.  

my future bedroom

It's probably best that it took 4 months for us to get the keys. Because that is how long it took me to process it, come up with a plan to whip it into shape, and hunt for good deals on everything from carpet to toilets to banisters.  And pick out all new paint.  A lot, a LOT of new paint.  

And now, I kinda love that maybe house.  It is so much easier now all that blue carpet is gone. 

Now that you've seen the before, I'll be checking in regularly with updates.  

Wish us luck...  

Rainbowy

Good morning!  

Well, at least it is still morning over here.  We are off to a bit of a slow start today, still in pjs, eating breakfast, toys everywhere, you know.  Typical Friday motivation.  Am I the only one who is completely spent by the time the weekend rolls around?  Sheesh.

So remember a few months back when I got a little bit of the very last of Bliss?  Well, a few days ago the same thing happened, but this time with Miss Ruby. (Thaaank yooou Moda!)

Even though part of me wants to hoard every little bit of Ruby I can, since I know this is the last of it, I did manage to cut up a few bundles for the shop.  (There may have been a few nudges from the husband, as they were living in the hallway since my sewing room is...full at the moment). Two rainbowy, cheery little bundles.  

Scallop bundles and tiny dot bundles.  Perfect basics.  Especially if you are a sucker for red, aqua and gray like I am.  

Oh, and some Ruby charm packs.

Snatch one up if you'd like.  

Or maybe I'll just have to keep them all, darn it.  

Take that husband. 

Happy weekend ya'll, and if you get the urge to rip out some carpet, remove warped baseboards, or get your paint on, feel free to head on over.  

Really.  

 

In print

 

Two very exciting things came in the mail last week.  Both in magazine form.

First,

 

Did you recognize those sweet little heads in American Patchwork and Quilting this month?

Yep, my little munchkins (well, 2 of 3).

I took this photo a few months ago for a Moda ad featuring Jenn Ski's new fabric line, 10 Little Things.  This fabric is beyond cute, such a darling line.  The numbers book is a free pattern that goes with the line, designed by Angela, and is just genius. Genius!  My boys didn't want me to send it back.

 

 
And seriously, don't you want to eat those little baby toes?

Second,

 
Its that time again, time for another issue of Quilts and More to hit the stands.  This Scrap Lab Joanna and I got to work with Jo Morton and her fabric, just 5 fat quarters, to made a few fun projects.  

 

I made this little X pillow, which is super easy to put together.  (I plan on making one out of Vintage Modern for the new house.  Keyword: plan.  Gosh I have a lot of plans!)  I would have taken a photo of it here, but it hasn't been returned yet.  Soon, I hope!

Joanna made a fun, simple little bag,

 

and Jo made a beautiful table topper.

 

The instructions for the bag and pillow are in the Spring issue of Quilts and More, and the table topper instructions are over at the website.  Like Joanna said on her blog, this Scrap Lab gig sure is a great one!  I feel so lucky to be a part of it.  To see previous Scrap Lab projects go here, here, here, and here (my favorite, for obvious reasons).

On a side note, this issue is packed with great stuff by some of my favorite people.  Kate, Sherri, Monica, Vanessa, Aneela, and Lauren + Jessi, are just a few of them. Good stuff, people.

Magazine day is the best day, much better than only bills day, pure junk mail day, or house signing day (which just happens to be tomorrow.  Yikes!  An unhealthy number of befores and afters to come.  You've been warned.)  

Thanks American Patchwork/Quilts and More/Moda/cute boy heads.  It's a good day!

 

Eight

Eight seems old to me.  

I guess not in the grand scheme of things, but to say I have an eight year old makes me feel old.  And makes him seem ginormous.

(ginormous)

Thanks boy, for making me a mom eight years ago today.  For being the absolute best big brother to your little brothers. For telling me my lasagna is so good that if you had ten thumbs "they'd all be up".  For making this whole mom gig the best thing ever.  I am so proud of you.

 

You are going to do amazing things.

I just know it.

(please pick up your Legos before I come tuck you in)

Love, mom