Simplify

Heels

Today, I am content.  

You see, today I got to spend time with my family, sew with a friend, find a great deal on pair of comfy shoes (not the ones in the picture- they are definitely not comfy), ruin a pot of Mac n' Cheese, drink a Dr. Pepper (or two), get a few things crossed off my to-do list and flip through a stack of papers that put an enormous smile on my face.

Also my pajamas are pretty cute.  

Can't ask for much more than that.

"Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels..."

So- a needle pulling thread

Saw this in an email today and it made my Friday.  Which is tough to do.  It is Friday, after all.

 I'm so moving to Belgium.  Anyone want to join me?  

Happy Friday!

note: Want something else to make you smile?  Check out all the good that Fat Quarter Shop is up to here.  

My job

When I was a kid we had a running family joke about my mom's business. You see, she has been the brains (and the talent) behind her company Cotton Way for 20 years now.  

(Mom at market)

Anyway, we used to joke about somebody calling her business line and the conversation going something like this:

(sanity disclaimer:  She never actually had this conversation.  We just joked about her having it.)

Mom: Hello, Cotton Way.

Customer:  Hello!  May I please speak with your shipping department?

Mom:  Of course!  Please hold.

Mom:  Helllloooo!

Customer:  May I please speak to accounting?

Mom:  Of course!  Please hold.

Mom:  Helllloooo!

Customer:  May I please speak with the designer?

Mom:  Of course!  Please hold.

Mom:  Helllloooo!

Customer:  Could I place an order, please?

Mom:  Of course!  Please hold.

Mom:  Helllloooo!

This went on and on and on.  Maybe you had to be there, but we loved it.  You see, my mom, she did it ALL.  The shipping, the sewing, the designing, answering phone calls, etc.  (Not to mention, feeding a family, raising 5 kids, and keeping our house clean, despite its five messiest residents.)  

(in the Moda warehouse a couple years ago.  I like this picture because I look busty.  Sortof.  I'm not.)

And now?  That's the world I live in.  I'm the mom, the designer, the sewer, the shipper, the one answering emails and filling orders.  I write on each envelope, I sew every stitch.  

I love it. 

I love my job.  

(dorky picture of me at Market)

I am so thankful for the work that I have, that I am able to help provide for my family while staying home with my munchkins and doing something I love.  So very thankful.  And oh so very thankful for each of you for making that possible.

So today, that is what I want to do.  Just say thank you.  A big, fat thank you. 

Thank you.

Yep, you.

Thanks.

note:  All orders placed before midnight last night have shipped and are on their way.  Thank you! (again)

double note:  New strike offs are here.  A new line on the way.  So very excited about it!  New, new, new!

The swing of things

(I'd give my right arm for these eyelashes)

Anybody else having a hard time getting in the swing of things this year?  Just me?  It's taking me a lot longer to get back on my regular schedule after the holidays.  You know, kids in school, working like a crazy person, etc.  I guess I am getting older, maybe that's it? 

So anyway, what better way to start of the new year (only a few weeks late!) with another Friday Feature?  This month?  Wild Thing!  One of my very favorites, but you already knew that. (There are some great quilts in the comments section on the Wild Thing page at thimbleblossoms.com, by the way.)

The original Wild Thing quilt was auctioned off for Benson and Claire a few months ago (Another big thanks to Kimberly, Vicky and Amy!)  Here are a few pictures of it before it found a new home.  

(Hi Amy!)

My second Wild Thing quilt (out of Arcadia from Moda) was for my little wild man nephew, seen here. 

Don't be fooled, he is huge now.  And even cuter (can you believe that is even possible?!).

Then one made out of some Simple Abundance goodness

It came to Market with me last Spring. 

 (Behind a very tired me and mom)

One that my sister Tracy made as a custom order for the darling Rochelle a few weeks back.  

Love this!

edit:  Kits are now available in Tracy's Etsy shop for baby size, lap, and twin size quilts just like this one.  Snatch them up quick!

And most recently, one made from some Nicey-ness by Heather Bailey that I got from those lovely Fat Quarter Shop ladies. 

Canon seems to have claimed this one for the time being, as you can see in the first picture.  

He runs the show here.

I really love his eyelashes.

So you know the drill- Wild Thing patterns are 5 bucks in my Etsy shop for 5 whole days.  Head over there to grab one, then send me a picture if you make it!  I would sure love to see!  

Happy Friday! 

*Past Friday Feature:

December Friday Feature

Favorite...

Shortcut:  Moda Home crochet throw from my mom

(THE reason I wanted to learn to crochet was to make a granny squares throw.  Now that I have one, I don't have to.  Phew!)

edit: Whoa!  You girls sure love a crochet throw.  This one was not handmade by my mom, it is a finished product available from Moda.  You can find it here.

Deliciousness: Cafe Rio Fire Grilled Chicken Salad (yum)

Work of art: Aiden's drawing from school yesterday

Fabric line at the moment:  Simple Abundance

(Predictable, I know, but it might be my last chance to say that, as new strikeoffs should be here next week-ish!)

Second favorite fabric line of the moment:

Martinique (YUM)

Way to lose a crown: Riesens

Jolly soul: Well, Santa, of course (thank you!) 

Reading material/eye candy: Quiltmania

(Not sure where you can buy this retail, but if you ask for it at your LQS, I know Moda/United Notions carries it)

edit: Oh, and Laurie talks about it here!

Page of said reading material:

(Yum)

Garb:  My new Christmas Eve polka dot PJs

(Note how I blend into the chair so nicely.  And that I got three BBW soaps in my stocking.  Santa must know me well.  And think I need soap, apparently.)

Twitter inspired purchase:

Place to be:  Home.  Always home.

Oh, and these bowls.  YUM.

What are your favorite things?

Happy New Year

Anybody else a little confused where 2009 ran off to?  There is no way it is 2010.  (I feel old.)

Regular blogging (possibly with actual content!) will resume soon.  I've been taking some time off to spend with the fam, start a few more projects (see Martinique, above- YUM), and watch more late night Seinfeld than I'd care to admit.  It's been lovely.  However, school starts up again on Monday after a looonng break (out since Turkey Day) and I'm pretty sure I'm ready to get back to work.  

I think.  

I hope.  

Because good heavens there is much to do.  

Bring it on, 2010.

Happy New Year!