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?



Add caption



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}

Now what...

Do you ever just feel like you are waiting for "the next big thing?"  The past few years of my life I have been working on and planning for the next big thing....In high school I was anticipating college, in college I was working hard to become an athletic trainer and convince a certain Mr. Hill to pick me.  Once married, we looked forward to finishing up Grad school so I could finally get my "big girl job." That brough us to Florida where we got our dog and started our little family.  Following Baby girl's arrival our hearts desire was to move back Home.  That brings us to now, 10 years since High school, I've got the loving husband, a sweet baby girl, the playful doggie, a home to call my own in a state I never plan on leaving again, a job that pays the bills, and my family close at hand {maybe too close}.  What more could a girl ask for you wonder?  I don't know, but I can't help but wonder "now what"  what am I working toward?  Where do we go from here?

I am trying to settle into the life of a working mom with a crafty hobby, but at the moment I am just unsettled. I am anxious to see what comes next!  I suppose if nothing is going to fall into my lap I will just have to make something happen wont I?

In the mean time I really need to organize the guest room so I can quilt in peace!

What I {heart} Wednesday

 Candy Pumpkins!  So many fond memories of this little sugary seasonal treat sensation. 


only the "big bag" will do!





Rain Check

I guess we had the typical Michigan fall weekend...chilly with a chance of rain.  Saturday we were supposed to go through round two of our family photos with my hubby's side of the fam.  But, outdoor photos don't work so well with misty precipitaion. 
So instead I will share with you some of my favorites from the shoot we had back in June.  Lilly is 9 months old here. We had fun shooting as we were wandering downtown Kalamazoo.  As the shoot went on it got closer and closer to Lilly's bed time, but she did good.
You can see more pics form this shoot @  Kim Miller lifestyle photography!


I just love those cheeks!



Smile Lilly! I know you want to...



My parents with my niece and nephew (that is Lil's what is going? on face)

  Shortly after these pictures were taken I donated all that hair (well 12 inches) to locks of love.  So once we cash in our rain check for our next round of family shots I will have a new look. I love cutting my hair, it is the fastest way to change something about yourself that is not perminent.

Happy Friday!



I need a nap :)

My Lilly has decided she is not a fan of teething and as a result is not a fan of sleep.  Poor baby was up at 3...then 3:15...then 3:45 and so on until about 5:30 this morning.  The hubby and I alternated between shifts of "sleeping" and baby rocking. 

Luckily for me and my coworkers I was able to get my Biggby "Super iced coffee" on my way in this morning.  Oh, how I missed Biggby when I lived in FL!  They have a new drink for the fall they call a "Chumpkin" Any guesses? {It's a mix of Chai latte and pumpkin spice latte} So good to be home...  



{iheartbiggby}



 So, what do you do on a Friday when you're sleepy, and would rather be at home sewing than in front of a computer at work?  {I would for one would not be  HERE or THERE looking at fabric I need for the pattern I am currently finishing up!} **wink wink**

Mitten State

I have been so in love with the weather we are having here, I am so thankful to be back in Michigan and out of the sweltering Florida heat.  I'm sure mid January I will be singing another tune but for now...I'm in love.   It is cool at night and mild during the day, perfect hoodie and jeans weather.  It has prompted me to get indoors finally though and get to work on all my wonderful projects.  I keep wondering why I have not gotten to work on all the tasks I have piling up but when you have a house to settle into somethings just take time.  I have had some time to do some online shopping however, my friend turned me on to this little shop and I think I am going to have to get something soon...I was thinking about this one.

or maybe this one...

So true..unless your from Texas then is is all Coke.

No internet?!?!

This lack of Internet is giving me a serious case of bloggers-block.  We recently bought our first home!  A great price on some great land only 2 miles from the main drag in town, but yet our back yard butts up to a soy bean field at the moment so you have a country feel.  The only problem with this so far has been...NO INTERNET!  I mean there are ways we could go about getting it {dial up I suppose} but it would cost us some serious $$ that we'd rather use for other things {like diapers}.  The fact that I can only blog now when I have down time at work or when I happen to be out in the evenings at my favorite Biggby is apparently too much pressure and I can never come up with anything good to say or report or comment on.... {UG!}

Rush Order

Thanks Kathy!  A lucky baby boy is the proud new owner of my latest quilt.  I used a Max and Wiskers charm pack and aqua blue minky to create this quilt, using my very own pattern I like to call Charmed Stacks.

 thank my husband for being such a willing quilt holder, and ignore his stinky running shoes...oops.

 love minky!  I was nervous about the aqua thread, but I like the end result.

 swirly minky goodness!

With only 3 days to make it before a last minute decision to take a 4th of July trip up north to join family I think it turned out better than I could have hoped for and from the sounds of things the new mommy to be loved it!

~Posted~



 It is officially official now.  Not only do I have my ETSY shop, but there are actually a few items posted!  I know...about time.  First to be posted was this little number. It is a super snuggly baby quilt made with Sweet Divinity fabric.  I like how it is backed with flannel, adds an extra snuggle quality.  Second to go up was this guy, made with Central Park fabrics by Katie Spain.  Love it, perfect size for a tummy time quilt.  Keep checking back, because I have 2 more quilts nearing the finish line ready to make their debut on ETSY. 

Things I {heart}...

 ~Shout Color Catchers~



{The pink fabric that started it all.}

 I made the mistake of washing this quilt on Friday night WITHOUT a color catcher.  Why? because I was out of them, and it was late and I just wanted to see it all washed and crinkled.  When I pulled it out of the dryer there were nice pink smears all over the green Kona solid.  UG!  What was I thinking?  My husband (all heroic to save the day) ran out for me to get some and I ran it through the wash again.


Still pink after the second wash!

 Note to self, if ever using a batik (which I usually don't) or heavily dyed fabric be sure to prewash! The quilt came out fine in the end, you can still see some of the bleed marks, but it kinda gives it that fresh homemade look (maybe if I say that enough I will believe it.)

PS- Shout is not paying me a cent for my shameless endorsement of their product.  It just works how it says it should, therefore...I {heart}

Kinda like a paper cut

I guess I got a little too carried away last night.  Over the past 3 years I have done all of my quilting on my sweet Craigslist find, a $60 used Sears Kenmore sewing machine.  I have made it work, and even taught myself how to free motion quilt on that machine.  All being said I think the results have been great.  It is a living example that you don't need a fancy machine to get started. Not saying it was always easy.  I had the occasional fight over tension, it doesn't do a very good satin stitch, and there is no fancy needle down feature.  However, now that I am back in Michigan...I call dibs on my mom's Bernina!  Last night while finishing the free motion quilting and ENTIRE 40x40 quilt in about an HOUR (that would not have happened on old Kenny), I managed to run over my finger!  Who does that?!?

Sorry if this is too graphic :)

It just looks like a big paper cut now, but it was a bleeder.  And for all who are wondering...the quilt is just fine, and waiting patiently to be bound.

Running Squared

For my very first Mother's Day my beautiful 8 month old knew her mommy enough to buy her an assortment of Moda Charm packs!  Well, OK...I can thank my husband for those, but I am thankful for any day that I get fabric great fabrics.  Today it is a few weeks later and I have only made a dent.  I have so many projects all at different stages at the moment I can barely keep it all straight.  I am working on writing 3 different quilt patterns and finishing up a few quilts to post on my shop and get that started. And on top of it all I have all these pretty fabrics calling my name wanting me to create something...I {heart}them.
 The first charm pack I busted open was Flurry by Katie Spain.  It is a fun assortment of Christmas themed fabrics.  I decided to cut them all up and make a table topper of some sort, and this is what I came up with, I call this pattern...


~ Running Squared ~

I think I am going to practice my hand quilting with this project.  Since it is a smaller project, and hand quilting is new to me, I think this will be a good place to start. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Let's get it started...

Simply Holly is "official."  It has been years in the making, but I think it is time for me to take my quilting to the next level, and begin sharing it with all of you.  I am pretty much self taught and I think there is no wrong way to do something as long as the end result speaks for itself. I started quilting more frequently over the past couple years because I am at that age where all my friends seem to be having babies right and left and I believe nothing goes better with baby than a beautiful snuggly quilt.  Here are just a few of the quilts I have made over the past year.  I have a few quilts in the works at the moment that will make their debu on my etsy shop.  More on those to come...  But here is just a snip of some of what I have done (sorry in advanced for the poor photo quality, its on my list of things to do :)

Patrick Robert



My Christmas Tree Skirt



Zachary's big log cabin block

Isabella's stars

Kaylee's yellow brick road