Charmed Stacks

  My Newest addition to the ETSY shop is this original pattern Charmed Stacks.  I made this particular quilt with Moda's Lovely fabrics, bound in a pretty pinky-salmon color, and backed with a yellow with pink and blue flowers.  I love that this pattern used exactly 1 charm pack, and goes together SO fast since it has NO seams to match up it is a very easy and forgiving design.

Not only can you find this quilt available for purchase but the pattern as well is available in PDF format on my ETSY shop.  It is a 40"x40" quilt so it is perfect size for crib quilt, tummy time mat, or a wall hanging. 

19 sleeps till Christmas

I love December!  I love Christmas!  It is no secret around me I could watch Christmas movies or listen to Christmas music any time of year {and I do} So when the rest of the world is finally accepting of my love of Christmas cheer it makes me especially happy.  The tree is finally up and the stockings are hung on the mantle.  It will be our Christmas in our new home, the first time in 4 years we wont have to travel, and I am so happy about that.  It is time for some great traditions to begin...

But for now I will share my first attempt at some hand quilting.  A table runner made with Flurry fabric and some Kona solid {too bad it is way too big for our little four seater dining room table, but maybe some day...}

There are Great Aunt Ruth's stockings hanging in the background {going to be family heirlooms for sure}

It is 6 blocks long, these blocks are made with 2.5" squares simply pieced together with solid Kona white. I like how the red pops on the white. I learned a lot about how to {or how not to} tie down a thread, and turn a corner, etc... I like hand quilting I will definitely be doing it again.

Photo Mania



Loves of my life!

We had family photos taken this year in June and October.  I'm just starting to sort through them all decide what size, how many, and where they will be hanging.  It is proving to be a difficult task.  Since we moved into our house in July we have managed to paint just about every room, but I can not bring myself to punching holes in them to hanging any pictures, so the frames are piling up looking for a home.  So, I think it is time. 

I gave you a peek of Kim Miller's photography, so here is a glimpse of Tracy Harrison's.  

Like my black eye?



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Just a walk in the park



Dad and Mom in law, Greg, Me, Lilly, Kieffer, Keller, Christie, Tessa, & Tiny



Parenthood

Oh, the joys of parenthood! {Seriously cut into my crafting time}  Seems like this is the year for serious change in the Hill home...first a baby, then a move from FL to MI, then we bought our first home, then last week the Hubs got a job and Lilly started her adventure at day care, and I sold my first quilt on ETSY!

Good changes, great changes, happy changes....I hate change, I am ready for things just to be "normal" for a while.

The first week in day care means we had a sick kiddo! I have not done much of anything this past weekend other than snuggle with Lil'.  I have never seen her so miserable in my life.  But after rupturing an ear drum and finally getting the antibiotic to kick in she is starting to show glimmers of her old silly self. {what a relief}

Silly Lilly

Next on my agenda is to keep her happy and healthy while I start to baste my special order quilt and get it ready for some hand quilting just in time for the 4 day weekend!  {YES}

Chi town

It was always a big deal growing up in South West Michigan to be able to go to Chicago around Christmas time.  The hustle and bustle, the big shops, and the lights!  It was something I really looked forward to.  Since this is my first year back after our 4 year adventure to Florida.  This year I get to go TWICE!
Next weekend I head over on a "bus trip" with my husband's sister and mother.  It should be a fun kick start to our Christmas shopping.  The next trip will be when my best friend Jen (who I have not seen in a year!)  comes to visit me from TN the week before Christmas! It should be so much fun.
So today, as if I need an excuse to get in the Christmas spirit, I have my Christmas station playing on Pandora Radio while I do a little on-line browsing to write up my Christmas list for Santa! 
Our family is so full of Christmas traditions!  I can not wait to see what new ones begin now that we have a little family of our own!

What is on your Christmas list?
 {North Face jacket (ching ching $$)}
What is your favorite Christmas Carol?
{O Holy Night! a close second is Amy Grant's Tender Tennessee Christmas} 
What is your favorite Christmas Movie?
{Christmas Vacation!!!}

20% OFF

In an attempt to move the quilts in my ETSY shop so I have an excuse to start making more (as if I needed an excuse) I am offering 20% off!  Use the coupon code simply20 at checkout! There are 2 girls baby quilts and one Christmas throw quilt!

What I {Heart} Wednesday

RUNNING!

Hubby and I have been "training" for a 5K in November.  I would not quite call myself a "runner" at the moment, but I am someone who can run...  We just got to week 8 in the couch to 5K program {solid 28 min run}. It is a great way to get into running and not feel like you want to burn your shoes and never squeeze into that sports bra again after the first week of barely being able to complete a 10 minute jog!  Yesterday was quite chilly but Lilly loved riding along in her stroller all bundled up {napped the whole time} while her daddy and I hoofed it along this pretty trail.



Vicksburg Trail



On that health note....I had to say bye-bye to the candy pumpkins, they were not helping the cause any {I have no self control}