Simplify

Quality time

Where am I?

In my (messy) studio spending some quality time with Bliss.

Which is a little ironic, actually.

Because if you asked me what bliss was?

I would be just that.

Well, maybe it would be a little cleaner.

And there would be Dr. Pepper.

Also, I caved and started a Thimble Blossoms/Bonnie & Camille flickr group today.  The perfect place to show off your Thimble Blossoms creations and anything Cotton Blossomy, Simple Abundancy, or Blissy.  

Please feel free to join and add your pictures, because so far I'm the only member.  And that makes me look extra lame.  Like, wearing glasses and writing posts about grammar lame.  Wait a minute...

See you soon!

Slippery slope

disclaimer:  sometimes you get quilting, sometimes you get beans, sometimes you get random late night thoughts and a dorky picture of me.  this is one of those.  

sorry.

(Yes, I wear glasses.  But only when I want to see.)

(I've been told I look smarter with my glasses on.  I think I look like a boy.  My brother Dallin, actually.  Hi Dallin!)

(I've also been told I look like Tina Fey.  Not sure what do to with that.)

So blogging, it's an interesting thing.  

Back in my Rigby High School days, I loved writing.  I wrote for the school newspaper, took the Journalistic English classes from Mr. Beck, and even had a few articles published in magazines.  All my life, (and especially through college) I loved to read and found quite a thrill in finding a typo or error in a book.  

Then one day, I started blogging.  And it's all gone downhill from there.  

In fact, I'm pretty sure Mr. Beck would have a heart attack if he read my blog.  You see...

I can't remember when to put an apostrophe in its/it's.

Auto spell-check has destroyed my Anne of Green Gables-esque spelling skills (C-H-R-Y-S-A-N-T-H-E-M-U-M)

And I am constantly starting sentences with and.

I can't stop overusing parentheses (seriously, I can't).

Grammar?  Forget about it.

...dot dot dot...

But most importantly, the exclamation point.  

I can't stop.  Here's why... I've used them for so long to show my excitement over something like an amazing quilt, darling baby, great post, etc.  If I suddenly stop using them, how will anyone know that I really am excited?  

So here's the deal.  I'm cutting back.  Way back.  So if you receive a comment or email without an exclamation point, know that I still heart you.  Really, I do. (!)

It's a slippery slope, blogging.  Don't you think?

Sorry Mr. Beck.

The calm before the storm

The fabric storm, that is.

It's that time of year, the time when 80 degrees is a daily occurance, we are eating Costco strawberries by the gallon, my sewing machine has been serviced and is ready to go, new fabric is on its way, and Quilt Market is right around the corner.  

I can do this again, right?

I hope so!  

A day or two ago, I mentioned to a friend that this is really the calm before the storm.  Everything is pretty calm, just your average amount of crazy, and then the fabric comes.  And then I sew, and design, and sew, and design, and stay up way to late, and sew.  This year will be extra interesting, because I'll have kids to get to school in the morning!  Should be an adventure.  

So I was thinking, before the storm hits and Bliss gets here (you know its going to be next to impossible to tear myself away from that!) would be the perfect time for a Friday Feature.

Featuring.....

Late Bloomer!

Late Bloomer had a fabulous debut over at Australian Homespun in January of last year, and is still one of my favorites.  (I think I say that about every quilt...)

Here is the original quilt, in all of it Cottony Blossomy glory:

And a second one out of Figgy Pudding by Basic Grey.  This quilt was sewn by my good friend/sortof cousin Nicole, who is a hoot.  Seriously. 

Isn't it fun in that fabric?  You know, even though Figgy Pudding is hard to find now, Basic Grey has a new line out coming out soon called Fruitcake which is equally as amazing.  

And brand new.  Just saying...

Tracy made this baby size Late Bloomer out of Hunky Dory, which turned out great!

Have I mentioned how much I love Hunky Dory?  I just keep buying more... and more...

She has a few kits for this quilt in mini and a regular size over in her Etsy shop.  

And last but not least, a mini quilt I made out of a mix of mostly Medowsweet by my pal Sandi Henderson, a little Hunky Dory, and my favorite, favorite red Moda Dottie.  

Hanging out with Meadowsweet was was almost as much fun as hanging out with Sandi.  And that is pretty darn fun.  You really should get some, a lot of some.  You'll thank me later.

As usual, for 5 days Late Bloomer patterns are just 5 dollars over in my Etsy Shop.  Head on over and grab one.  Shipping is just 2.00 on one pattern, or on 137, you know.

Thanks Tracy and Nicole for being a part of all the Friday Feature-ness!  If  you have some Friday Feature quilts (or any Thimble Blossoms quilts, for that matter!) to show off, please feel free to email them to me, or upload them yourself over at thimbleblossoms.com on each pattern page.  It makes my day!

Have a great (calm) weekend all! I'll be back soon with pictures of the storm... 

I love a good storm.

Past Friday Features:

March Friday Feature

February Friday Feature

January Friday Feature

December Friday Feature

Meet Max

Blog, Max.

Max, Blog. 

So we have a new addition to our (already crazy) family.  Maximus, our brand new (to us) ginormous yellow lab who is roughly the size of both of my kids put together.  He is one and a half years old, and was in need of a home. We are lucky to have him.

So far he lives quietly and happily in the back yard, slobbering up a storm, protecting us from bad guys and cats (according to Aiden), and playing with the boys.  

My little boys can't get enough of him, neither can the big one I'm married to.  

Life is good over here.  Crazy, but good.

Why I'm boring these days : A list

a peek at the mysterious "B"

So I've been told I'm extra boring on the blog/twitter front these days.  

It's true.  

Please blame the following people/fabric groups/cookie spokespersons for being too fun/delicous:

(names abbreviated to protect their identities)

*Friend came to visit this week, and after hours and hours of sewing, eating, and laughing about squares, she headed home yesterday.  Bummer.  Miss you N!

*One brother and his fam get here tonight to visit until next week sometime.  Can't wait to see you D,C, K(&B)! Other brother and fam early next week.  Sweet.

*A for being on track break for an extra extra long time, or so it seemed.  Love that boy, but entertaining him makes 'getting things done' tricky.

*The PDB for distracting me every night when I should be blogging. 

*Lunch today at Cafe Rio with a certain crazy/fantastic lady.  She's as delightful as you'd expect, and then a little more.  Thanks C!

*Planning, plotting, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of B, two weeks and couting. 

Hope to be back to full speed next week sometime.  I'll keep you posted!

-C

Feeling lucky

I'm not generally a lucky person.  Really.  In fact, one time, when we were still in school with two kids and only had one car, it just burst into flames in the parking lot outside our apartment.  Really, not lucky.

But lately, my luck seems to be changing.  Not quite sure what to make of it!

I've been meaning to blog about this for a week or two, but since I was such a lame blogger last week, what with my near death... cold, it's probably old news by now.  

Anyway, a week or two ago, this showed up on my doorstep.  

I love anything from Better Homes and Gardens, but I especially love American Patchwork.  This is along the same idea, just with antique quilts, which I also love.  

So imagine my excitement when I ran into this two page Moda ad:

Seriously, I was giddy.  Moda has published my photos in a few ads in the past, but never anything close to this.  (Thank you L!)

I showed the kids, the husband,  called my mom, you know, all the things you do when you are extra excited.

Then I finally got to the back of the magazine.  And I was on it-

-with my Moda family.  

And that, made me all the more giddy.  See, I still can't believe that I'm on there with all of those amazing designers.

I keep thinking they are going to realize that I stick out like a sore thumb amidst all that talent.

(Hopefully they don't read my blog!)

Because I just feel so darn lucky to be there.

Lucky to do what I do.

Lucky to know all of you.

Looks like my luck has turned.

Cross your fingers for the car. ;-)

I'm alive

Barely.

I've been sick.

Sicker than sick actually.

Cough, sneeze, nose, head, throat.

I still sound like a seal.

Don't believe me?  Call me.  

I sound pathetic.

Today is the best I've felt all week! 

Thank goodness, because I would hate to let an April 1st go by without the old rubber band on the sink sprayer thing joke.  The husband falls for it every year.  

So simple.

So predictable.

So, so funny.  

Here's hoping your laugh sounds less like a seal than mine does.

Happy April!