Simplify

Halloweeny

Halloween Swoon

(I swiped this photo again from Amanda's Flickr. Sorry Amanda, it was just too perfect!)

Nope, I'm not in Houston this weekend.  As much as I would love to be at International Quilt Market catching up with everyone, seeing all the fantastic new fabric and patterns, I am also glad to be home with the little people, fixing Star Wars costumes, trunk or treating, eating way too much sugar, and everything that goes along with Halloween.  

I just thought I'd pop my head in and say hello and let you know that patterns in the shop are on sale this week.  I don't do this very often, but since Ruby shipped last week, (and you know, I'm running out of room over here) I thought it might be a good idea to clean out some patterns to make room for new ones coming in the near future.   With fabric that is coming in the near future... Just keep that on the down low (low down?).

 

(the two In a Jiffy quilts, the Ric Rac one (second/third one down) is one of my favorites right now) 

(Jellybean)

(Swoon)

(Just Swell)

So head on over and pick up some Ruby patterns or anything else that tickles your fancy.  Like maybe getting started on your stockings since Christmas is 8 months away.  I'm in denial.

(Merry)

The code is Halloween31, and will take 31% off any order from my shop.  Even though Halloween will be over on Monday it'll go for a few days after that.  I'm a little slow getting this posted, what with all the Halloweening and sugar lows.

Also, sorry these aren't Halloween photos, just pattern/quilt photos.  Maybe I should have shown the scary ones?  Hmm...

Happy Halloween! 

 

Feeling Jolly

Guess who is over at the Jolly Jabber today?  Yep, me and my mom.  (Which is way more fun that what we are actually doing today. Me- cleaning house, still in my PJ's, mom- sick in bed for week TWO, poor thing.) 

You can read all about why we named it Ruby, which I think you'll like.  

A few of the prints are even reproductions of vintage fabric from my great-grandma's scrap bag.  Including the scallop print, which was the starting point for the line, and also maybe my favorite print.  Okay, maybe not maybe.  I love that one.

Oh, and this one...

Anyway, head on over for a chance to win a bit of Ruby, and make sure you check out their Swoon kit too, which finally in stock after mentioning it way back when. 

You've probably figured it out by now, but Ruby has shipped, and is available in stores everywhere.  Finally.  Phew!  It's a good day.  Even if I am scrubbing toilets.  

Happy Monday!

 

Farmer's Wife week...??

Thank you for all your supportive and thoughtful comments yesterday, I really appreciate each of you who took the time to say something kind.  I think the general consensus is that its okay not to like things, but not okay to be unkind about it.  If you can't say something nice, right?  But now it is time to move on, so... moving on!   

I've been meaning to post my Farmer's Wife update for a while now, and today seems like the perfect day to do it.  Most of these blocks were made a month or two ago during a 36 hour trip to visit one of my very favorite people (and sort of cousin) Nicole.  We farmed/sewed, ate cookies to our hearts content, and even visited a really great quilt shop.  And laughed until we cried.  But that could have been the sleep deprivation.  Anyhow, we sewed to our little Farmer's Wife hearts content, and here are the fruits of my labors.  Nicole's are over at her new sewing journal blog. 

15 new blocks, making 45 total.  I thought I had 54 (I think I told someone that?)  but sadly was exactly backwards.  Sounds about right.  I think I need to make 9 more tonight, don't you think?  I wish...

31- Block 65: Peaceful Hours (This just might be my favorite one yet...)

31- Block 70: Prairie Queen (I switched this one up a little bit)

31- Block 44: Gentleman's Fancy

31- Block 43: Garden Path

31- Block 74: Ribbons

31- Block 69:  Practical Orchard 

31- Block 25: Cups & Saucers

31- Block 107: Windblown Square (switched up a little bit)

31- Block 21:  Contrary Wife

31- Block 20:  Churn Dash

31- Block 23: Country Farm

31- Block 34: Flock

31- Block 111:  Wrench

31- Block 102:  Whirpool

31- Block 103:  Whirlwind

A few of you have asked about my Farmer's Wife piecing technique, and I'm going to put together a little post about that soon.  See, it would require me to take pictures with both hands in the photo.  Tricky.  Will have to have the husband take some during his lunch hour later this week.

To conclude today's Farmer's Wife update, a picture I stole from Angela with some of my favorite Farmer's Wives:

I met up with Amanda, Angela and Jessica for breakfast a couple of weeks ago while they were at the Sewing Summit, and I was in Utah for a BYU game with my fam.  They were so nice to come meet me and spend an hour chatting, laughing, and you know, being their sweet selves.  It was lovely, as are they.  

I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  I sure love my quilting/blogging/farming friends.

 

Links:

Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-long on Flickr

Farmer's Wife book

My Farmer's Wife posts 1, 2, 3, 4

Amanda and Angela, brains behind the QAL

 

On being nice

I don't like to post about ugly things.  When I get cranky comments, I ignore them, delete them, etc.  When I get mean emails, I deal with them privately.  Today I got the following comment, and just couldn't ignore it.  It was posted publicly on my blog, so I'm assuming Beth F. won't mind if I share it with you.  

 

"While I can appreciate that you love your kids and want to show them off, this blog that you're running is a business...and when you ignore it or only post occasional pictures of your kids with no content that attracted your readers in the first place, well, count me out. You are off my list of blogs. I have limited time and I just can't afford to waste it when there are so many other bloggers who are devoted to their business. I just wish the mommy-bloggers would acknowledge who they are and not try to run a business from their blogs and vice-versa, that the business bloggers would acknowledge that they are trying to sell some product and make some money, not pretend we're all friends."

 

Beth, this blog is not my business.  This is my personal blog.  It is about my life.  Sometimes it is about sewing, sometimes it is about Dr. Pepper, sometimes it is about my faith, and yes, sometimes is it about my kids.  It started out as my personal blog, and will continue to be my personal blog.  The past year of my life has been spent with a darling little boy that is growing too fast, at t-ball and soccer games, helping kids with homework, and trying to do my best to juggle all that and design patterns, fabric, and ship orders.  I am sorry if my life isn't as interesting as you would like.  You know, you can always skip over posts that don't interest you.  (Just a suggestion.)

The people who read my blog and leave me comments are my friends.  I count them as such, and hope they feel the same about me.  In fact, many of my closest friends in real life started as blog friends.  I don't know what I would do without them.  I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without their encouragement and support.

I apologize if you don't find my content to your satisfaction, or my life as full of sewing as you would like.  It isn't as full of sewing as I would like, either, but these little people more than make up for it.

I am a mother first.  Not a business owner, not a designer, not a wannabe photographer.  I will always be a mother first.  And last.  And everywhere in between.  The rest of what I do is just icing on the cake.  

To those of you who support me in everything I do, for your constant kindness and support, I thank you.  Really.  

Now if you'll excuse me, I am on my way to the school to pick up my kids.  Then I'm going to help them with their homework, feed them dinner, make them practice the violin, take them to soccer practice, put them to bed, and maybe, if I'm lucky, get a little sewing in.  

The very best kind of day.

Good grief

I don't have anything particularly interesting to talk about or show you today. (sorry)

Just snapped a few pictures this afternoon and had to shout from the rooftops how much I love. this. kid.  

Love him.

Especially the bed headed, fresh from a nap, smiling with his eyes closed, onesied version of him.

Perfection.

10 months

It was bound to happen, I know.  Somehow I forgot about the boy turning 10 months old yesterday until today was half over.  Oops.  Only a day late, not too bad.  Anybody else having a difficult time remembering what month it is?  Just me?

Anyhow, 10 month old Nicholas is much the same as 9 month old Nicholas.  Just faster, smarter, and a whole heck of a lot more stubborn.  Good heavens, this child has a strong will.

I secretly love it.  

 If I was a nice mom, surely I would allow the boy to climb up onto the coffee table, pull all the food out of the fridge and pantry, stick pieces from my wooden baskets in the dvd player, play with (eat) his brothers tiny Legos, and bang on my laptop keyboard to his hearts content.  While watching Sesame Street.

He asks so little. 

Sadly, I am not that nice.  Poor thing.

But oh my goodness, I love this boy.  His smile, his laugh, his enormous personality.  The way he giggles on his way up to his bed for naptime, the way he tries to chew corners off of his blankets.  The way he thoughtfully gums his food and how happy he is when he eats what we are eating.  How he sings in the tub.  (Even while he is trying to climb out.)

Yep, I love him.  Stubbornness and all.  Especially his chubby feet and his combover.  

Even more than last month.   

 

*quilt is 'A' you're adorable (named after the song) fabric is Look and Learn by American Jane