Simplify

Heads up

So yesterday I got some fabric I had ordered in the mail.  And when I went to put it on the new shelves in my sewing room I didn't have a spot to put it.  Not to mention I can't fit my Marmalade stash on there either.  Yikes.  Which made me think maybe, possibly, it might be time to destash.  Which makes me want to cry a little bit, I'm not going to lie.  I love all my fabric!  

In an attempt to keep myself off of Hoarders, I have listed/will be listing a few of the pieces I had lots of.  See, the odds I'm going to make 3 or more quilts out Aneela's (to die for) Walk in the Woods line are slim (though not impossible!), so I probably don't need the Jelly Roll, Layer Cake, and bundle I've been hoarding.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this.

Throughout the next month or so I'm going to be listing some fabric here and there in the shop (including a few bundles of some of our older lines I'm cutting into) so check back every so often.  And if there is something you are in search of (including yardage), feel free to email me and ask.  It can't hurt!  My email is up there at the top of the page.  

I keep telling myself, I'm not losing fabric, just making room for more.  

I might have a problem.

Yep, the new stuff

I know I say this every single time I get a new line to play with, but gosh, Marmalade might be my favorite.  It is just so bright and cheery, and was such a delight to sew with!  

I had 4 new patterns to show at Quilt Market, and while you've already seen them by now, I always have to post a few of the closeups.  And since I have an 18 month old assistant (who prefers running around in just a diaper at home, sorry) that has a hard time not being in the photos, a few of him too.   

All four new patterns are available in my little shop as paper patterns or PDF's, and have shipped out to your local quilt shops too.  If they don't have them, you can always ask!  

Anyhow, here you go.  Waaaay too many photos.  Again, sorry.

First up is Flower Girl

 

This is a fat quarter pattern, and the blocks are 16" finished.  Nice and big.  Oh, and this is a generous twin size, (78" x 96") since I've had a lot of requests for bed quilts.

I designed this one way back when Ruby came out, but decided to wait on it.  And I am sooo glad I did.  I love it so much in Marmalade!   Sherri pieced it and Angela quilted it.  Both did an absolutely fantastic job.  Thanks girls!!  

Moda is going to be selling kits of this wholesale, so watch for them at your local quilt shop when Marmalade ships October-ish.  

Dilly Dally

 

Such a simple quilt to piece, I love how this pinwheel quilt turned out.  It's made from 2 charm packs, white fabric and a border and is really quick and easy.  I pieced it, and you guessed it, Angela quilted it.  Like I said before, she's amazing!

(Nicholas was so helpful when I was taking these photos, can you spot him?)

 

Then Spools,

 

which you've seen, but I didn't want it to feel left out.  

I pieced and quilted both, and although the quilting pales in comparison to the last two, I'm still really happy with how they turned out.  What do you think? Straight spools or stacked?

 

And last of all, Charming bibs.  

 

I have struggled to find a larger size bib that I like for Nicholas, so I decided to make a few.  Don't worry, his aren't pink.  

You can make all 3 bibs from one charm pack, and a fat quarter for each back.  

Sorry, the boy doesn't come with the pattern.

And lest you think taking photos of this boy is all smiles:

Yeah, it's not.  

He's a little bit... difficult, this one.  Almost all the time. But gosh, he sure is cute. Even after the 8 or so packs of fruit snacks it took to get the cover photo.  

Okay, there you have it.  Which one is your favorite?

Mine is that little grouch in the bib, but what do I know? 

Quilt Market Spring 2012- the booth

Finally got some photos loaded today.  Hooray!   If someone could design a convention center with some good lighting I would reallly apprecaite it.  Sheesh!  Sorry these aren't great, but you get the general idea.

This is our booth this year at Quilt Market.  As usual, mom's stuff is on the left side and mine is on the right.  Works perfectly!

Before I say anything else, I need to thank my mom.  She worked so hard on this booth, painting fences and mailboxes, building awnings, hunting down windows, etc. Thanks mom, you are the best.  Sure love you!

My mom will post the pictures from her side of the booth on her blog in the next day or two, so I won't share those here (no thunder stealing ;-) but here's one or two:

 

And then a few from my side:

The adorable white table and chairs plus a bunch of other little things were borrowed from a really sweet girl who didn't even know us before the show, but was so generous and helpful and we couldn't have done it without her.  I was going to post a picture with her in it, but in one of them her eyes were closed, and the other one my eyes AND my moms eyes were closed.  So this will have to do:

Thank you Melissa!!! 

(So excited Moda is kitting my Flower Girl quilt, it even comes in a cute bag!)

Yes, Flower Girl and Dilly Dally were quilted by the A-maz-ing Angela Walters.  More photos and specifics on the quilts in the next post.  

LtoR: Flower Girl, Hopscotch, Spools, Charming Bibs,Dilly Dally, Piece of Cake 3

And that's it, the booth.  Amazing how much work goes into it, how long it takes to put up, and that it comes down in 45 minutes.  Then we do it all again next year!

So to sum up, thanks Mom, thanks Melissa, thanks Lissa, Cheryl, and all of Moda, thanks Sherri and Angela, thanks husband and boys, and thank you friends. Wouldn't have made it there this year without every single one of of you.  

I'm a lucky girl. :-)

A bunch of little things

  

Okay, it's been a while since you got a bullet post from me, but here's one of my super random posts.  Complete with more Instagram photos, since I am apparently too busy/lazy to load the photos from my real camera. Sorry!

( I'm @croskelley on Instagram, btw.)

*I took a few little breaks from work stuff and squeezed in some just for fun sewing this week.  One night I made one star from Minick and Simpson's gorgeous Ellen's sewing basket pattern and it was delightful.  I can't wait to make the rest of the blocks for the quilt!  

*For those who asked about the cute bag I was carrying in my super unflattering suitcase pulling photo, it is the Poppins Bag from Tiffany at Tiny Seamstress.  She was so sweet to whip one up for me out of Marmalade (floral) and Vintage Modern (houndstooth) before I left.  Love her!  And this bag.  

*The You are My Sunshine sign from this post is from Go Jump in the Lake on Etsy.  I got it when boy 3 was born, and didn't realize I hadn't shown it here.  I also have the This is the Life sign from them hanging in my family room (below).

*So Boy 2 got his first Home Run last night, and it was really, really exciting.  He's still grinning.  So am I.

 

 

 

*A little more sewing- A couple of baby boy quilts for a couple of my favorite people. (That hopefully don't read this post...)  I can't wait to finish these up when I get a few minutes.  This pattern is Pow-Wow from my friend Allison at Cluck.Cluck.Sew,

and I can't wait to make another one!  Or ten.

*If you haven't had Ben and Jerry's Half Baked, run to your nearest grocery store.  And buy two.  And please drop one off at my house.  Thanks.  :-)

*Posts that are coming within the next week or so, hopefully before school is out (yikes):  A few more Quilt Market photos, new pattern stuff, and a house update with things actually HUNG ON THE WALLS.  Finally!  

Better scoot, busy day ahead.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

If you like shifty eyes...

 

...then you will love the video ModaGene shot of our Quilt Market booth this year.  My mom was standing a few feet away from the camera grinning at me, and Gene was smiling and pointing at things.  Hence, my shifty eyes.  I only made it a minute or so into my portion of the video before I couldn't watch anymore.  Do I really sound like that?  It's like the Idaho in me multiplies a hundred times the second the camera turns on. My mom is really cute though, you'll like her part, and her quilts are lovely.  

Since I haven't unpacked my camera yet, Here are a few market shots via Instagram:

 

Marmalade bundles at Sample Spree

 

Our "porch"

 

My side of the booth- L to R: Flower Girl, Hopscotch, Spools, Charming Bibs, Dilly Dally, Piece of Cake 3

Hauling 4 suitcases (weighing roughly 200 lbs) uphill to the hotel after take down.  

Note to self, don't haul suitcauses uphill while wearing red pants.

 

Feet up- done with show.  Time to head to Jack Stack to celebrate.

For those who were wondering, all orders were sent out this morning, both retail and wholesale.  Sorry about the wait while I was out of town.  I still haven't figured out a way to get those paper patterns to climb out of their boxes and ship themselves, darn it, but I'm working on it.  I'll keep you posted.

the aftermath...

As for me, I'm  suffering from a severe case of Market hangover right now.  So much great stuff, wonderful friends, not nearly enough sleep, and enough Ben and Jerry's Half Baked to put me in a coma.  I'll be back soon.

In case you enjoy my humiliation, and I know you do, here are a few of our previous videos.  Enjoy...

Quilt Market 2011- the one where I can't remember what most of my patterns are named

Quilt Market 2010- the one where I have no lips

Last minute stitching

Quilt market is this week.  THIS week, people.  Yikes!  I'm working like crazy over here finishing everything up.  Printing has arrived, quilts are all quilted, catalogs are shipped.  Bindings are almost all stitched on, but may have to wait for the plane ride to Kansas City.  Pray you don't sit next to me.

This is the very last quilt to go in my suitcase, and maybe my favorite one this time around.  It is called Spools, and the pattern shows two ways to sash, either stacked spools or spaced.  

 

You can see a peek at 4 new patterns over in my shop.  I'll have more photos of those soon, I promise.

I quilted both of these on my sewing machine this weekend while catching up on Gray's Anatomy (Which good heavens, what the heck??  Anyone watch that last episode?) and a downing a jumbo size bag of peanut M&Ms.  It was lovely.

Yes, there is currently a crib in my living room.  I was working on some book photography over the weekend, and I borrowed the aqua crib from my friend Sara.  And no, I don't want to give it back!

Anyhow, I better get back to work.  I've got bags to pack, laundry to do (I'm pretty sure wearing yoga pants at quilt market is frowned upon), tball games to go to, and a bit of last minute sewing.  Can't complain.