Simplify

My little monkey

It's been a long time coming, this monkey quilt for my little monkey.  

He sat on my lap and picked out the fabric months ago.  I even let him loose in the quilt store where he chose a few more fat quarters to make it extra special.  

We worked together, just the two of us, to lay it all out, number each row, and pin the rows together.  After that, he sat on my lap and sewed every. Single. Square. 

We celebrated every time he opened two squares to see they were sewn together.  He could hardly stand waiting for me to iron a row so he could go show it to his dad.  Each row. 8 times.  We worked on it a little here and a little there, because the attention span of a four year old only lasts so long.  The same could be said for his mother's patience.  ;-)

He wanted it to be a "'C' - You're Adorable" quilt, just like his brothers.  So he drew a C, (the letter he does best) but not just any C, a bubble letter C.  This took some serious concentration.  And a very, very long time.  He was so very proud of his C.  After I traced it onto fusible web and stitched it on the quilt top, he was literally jumping up and down.

He helped me pin the borders and sew them on.  He helped me tape it to the kitchen floor and baste it with safety pins while he told me stories about his pre-school adventures.  He went to bed (grouchily) so I could stipple it and put the binding on. You see, stippling is not the best idea with a 4 year old on your lap. 

He helped me hand stitch the binding.  He was so excited to finish, that he unthreaded the needle each time he helped me pull it through.  

This quilt took longer to make than any other quilt I've ever made.  Ever.  

He loves it.  

I am not writing this post so you can tell me I'm a great mother.  I am definitely not writing this post because I believe I am a great mother.  I am writing this post because quite honestly, I never want to forget that once upon a time, my little monkey was small enough to sit on my lap and sew.

And that he loved it.

Three (more) things

Beware, this is the polar opposite of productivity, as mentioned in my 3 things post.  You've been warned.

So...I don't watch TV very often, due to my busy-body-overly-multi-tasking soul, but it is often on in the background.  Especially when I am working late and the house is a little too quiet.  You know what I mean.  

Anyhow, these make me smile every time I see hear them.  Since it is Friday, (aka the day of low productivity over here), I thought I would share.  Enjoy!  

Especially love this one.  But you have to actually watch it, not just listen. 

It's worth it...

   

And, of course, this YouTube gem:

 

Aaaah... now isn't that better than cleaning a bathroom?  And technically, technically, you've accomplished three things.

Niiiice.

Sunshine

There are few things in life that brighten a day quicker than a package in the mail from a sweet friend.  It's true.

And when you receive two packages with a cheery factor on a scale of 1-10 of 134, well, you consider yourself pretty lucky.

Barbara, the brains behind Quilt Soup, apparently thought I could use a little sunshine, and she was right!  That picture up there at the top is her brand new line of fabric, Simply Sweet.  And it is!  It coordinates beautifully with Bubblegum Basics, her crazy cute line before this one.  So darn cute.  (B- Why don't I have a picture with you to post??)

I was really hoping to have finished a Double Dip zig zag quilt for the Friday Feature, but just didn't have the time to get 'er done.  (I'm half cowgirl, you know. Well, sortof.  Hi dad!)  So anyhow, you'll have to use your imagination for now.  I'll keep you posted.  And Barbara, thanks for the sunshine! 

Another friend who spoils me on a regular basis, none other than Moda Lissa.  Her latest spoilage?  (Yeah, that is not the right word)  AQUA Moda Snuggles.  Oh my gosh this stuff is FANTASTIC.  I mean, words cannot describe how amazing it feels.  (BTW, Joanna has it available by the yard here.) Get a yard, or rather, a bolt.  You'll thank me. 

Lissa, Joanna and me in Chicago last summer-ish)

Thanks, L!  Heart ya.  And I suppose, you too J.  (go to bed!)

I'm telling you, a package in the mail?  Sunshine.  

Not to mention, a friend who sends a package in the mail?  Pure gold.

I would sure love to spread a little bit of sunshine too- leave a comment with something cheery in it, and you could get a package of goodies in the mail next week.  I'm just sayin'...

Sunshine.

Side note: If you noticed a deleted post in your reader, I'm sorry.  I accidentally posted it to the wrong blog. Yes, I have a separate blog for the grandparents and the like with all kinds of kid stuff.  Don't worry, you aren't missing out. It's boring, I promise.  Just don't tell the kiddos I said that. ;-)

The reason

 (Kim's first quilt.  Didn't she do an incredible job?!)

It seems I've been somewhat... reflective lately.  Not sure why.  I've been thinking a lot about how lucky I am to have a job I love, how difficult it is to balance everything, being content, etc.  

I suppose it goes without saying, that just about everything has its ups and downs.  Even (especially?) running a small business.  There are aspects of it that are pull my hair out frustrating, but there are things that give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside, and make me want to keep doing what I'm doing.  Keepin' on keepin' on, if you will.

This is one of those things.  The happy warm fuzzy kind, not the hair kind.  ;-)

A quick background...

I got an email back in November asking if I could re-list a pattern so an extremely thoughtful husband could order and give it to his wife for Christmas.  Of course!  (I may have thrown in an extra pattern, because that kind of thoughtfulness just deserves it, don't you think?)

Then, just a few days ago, I received the following email from this sweet husband's 'darling wife' as he called her (What a keeper!).  I asked her if I could share it with you, luckily she said yes!

Dear Camille,

I wanted to write you a great big thank you!  I just finished my very first quilt last Friday and it was with your help that this was accomplished!  I took a beginning quilting class in the fall and was bitten by the bug.  I had not actually completed a quilt, but I found the pattern for "Peppermint Posies" on your etsy shop and directed my husband to it, telling him I wanted to make that for next Christmas.  Little did I know that he ordered the pattern from your shop to put in my Christmas stocking!  I got both Peppermint Posies and Wild Thing in my stocking, and my husband said you included the Wild Thing pattern of your own doing!  Thank you Camille!

I decided to just go ahead and give it a try!  I got started in January, hoping to have a decent looking quilt finished for my daughter's 1st birthday in mid February. Well I'm happy to say I put the finishing stitches in the binding at 1:30 Saturday morning, and pulled it out of the dryer just in time to get it wrapped for her birthday party Saturday afternoon.  It is a wonderful pattern with very clear instructions, so thank you!

I don't know why I feel compelled to write you to tell you this.  I know you are very busy, and I don't know if you will even care.  But I just wanted you to know that your company and your designs will always have a special place in my heart.  It was my very first quilt, and our gift to our daughter on her very first birthday.  It is my hope that she will treasure it and use it always.  It is very special to me :)

Happy Tuesday to you!
Kim 

A beautiful first quilt for a beautiful little girls first birthday.  That, right there, is the reason I do what I do. 

And why I love it so.

Double Dip day

I am having a very difficult time believing that February is half over.  But I've heard that might be the case.  Crazy, isn't it?  Looks like it is just about time for February's Friday Feature... (this wouldn't come as a surprise if you cracked the code in my last post ;-)

Really quickly, I just have to tell you how much fun you have made Friday Feature for me.  I love hearing your thoughts and appreciate your excitement and encouragement.  To sum up?  You guys are fantastic.  Thanks for making it a success!

This time around, it's... 

Double Dip

I love this pattern, I love that I can whip up a quilt in a few hours that looks more complicated than it really is.  I love that I can cut out the whole thing in no time, and I love that it's a two-fer.  I love two-fers.  1 layer cake, two lap quilts.  Or one big one.  It's really up to you.  

This version was so much fun for me to sew, I used the Nicey Jane leftovers from my Wild Thing quilt, and it turned out exactly the way I hoped it would.  That rarely happens.  

You may have noticed the straight line quilting on this one, as it is something I don't do very often.  I wish I had some profound design rational behind it, but in all truthfulness, my walking foot was on my machine and my darning foot was buried somewhere on my sewing table.  Easy choice.  I love the way it turned out.  I will definitely be doing this again in the future.

Tracy and her sister-in-law Christy (hi Christy!) whipped up these adorable versions out of Oz by Moda.  

Love these!  They have a few kits and a couple of quilts available in their Etsy shop, I would hop over there I were you. The kits include ALL the fabric for the quilts.  Quilt top, borders, binding, ric rac and back.  Niiice.

...and cute!

And of course, the original Double Dip duo out of Simple Abundance. 

Isn't it great how you can separate the colors in the line and come up with two completely different quilts?

You know the drill- Double Dip is on sale over in my Etsy shop for 5 whole days for 5 bucks. Check it out.  Or not, it's up to you.  ;-)

Happy Friday, all! Here's wishing you (and me) an extra long second half of February.

Unless you live somewhere cold.  Because that's just mean.

*Past Friday Features:

December Friday Feature

January Friday Feature

Soooo...

My sister Tracy is pretty awesome.  She made this Piece of Cake quilt for one of her customers, along with matching shams and a bedskirt (not shown).  I'm having some serious quilt envy right now.  You may or may not know this, but I have a bit of a thing for red and aqua...

Did I mention that it is backed in my favorite red dotty Moda Fabric?

*Sigh*

 

Like I said, serious quilt envy. 

Also, come back tomorrow for something fun- I don't want to give it away, but it rhymes with Schmry-day Schme-ture.

I'm so tricky...