A Holiday Giveaway & Discount

It's Labor Day in the US, and since we are off celebrating, we thought we'd spread a little bit of the celebration your way!

We're giving away one of Jennie's Design Challenge Bundles!  It was so much fun creating a project with these fabrics and we thought one of you might like to play with them too {you can find the Bedside Trio here & here, but the options are endless!}.

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment letting us know your favorite thing about Labor Day, or if you're not in the US, then a favorite thing about a holiday unique to your country!  The giveaway closes Monday, September 10, at 11:59pm and we'll draw a random winner.

In the meantime, we're also offering a special discount to our shop:

Just use the code LABORDAY2012 to get 20% off your order {please note, this discount is only available in our shop, not Etsy or any other retailer}.

Have a great day!

Winterkist Blog Hop

Maybe you've heard that there's a Winterkist blog hop starting next week at There & Back.  If you're not familiar with Winterkist, hop over to Monica Solorio-Snow's blog {The Happy Zombie} to learn a little bit more about her latest fabric collection featuring Gnoma Claus, snowflakes, and some bright colors to celebrate winter and the holidays!  So fun!  And a big thank you to Lecien USA for sending Katie this adorable fabric, which she somehow managed to cut up and share with us!

But wait...there's more.  This blog hop will feature three fantastic giveaways too.  And, you don't have to jump through any hoops to win either!  Just leave a comment on the posts and you're automatically entered.  You have five chances per week {one per post} to comment, and each week one winner will be drawn to win a fat quarter bundle of their choice from the very generous Fat Quarter Shop!  If you're like me, you've probably spent quite a bit of time dreaming about fat quarter bundles, so this is a great opportunity to win one!  What would you choose?

The blog hop starts on Monday, August 6th, and is full of Gnoma Claus inspirational goodness, here's the schedule:

Aug 6  Katie at There & Back
Aug 7  Rachael at imagine gnats
Aug 8  Jennie at Clover & Violet {That's me!}
Aug 9  Courtney at mon petit lyons
Aug 10  Sara at Sew Sweetness

Aug 13  Bianca at Sweet Diesel Designs
Aug 14 Chelsea at Pins & Bobbins
Aug 15  Rebecca at Sew Festive Handmade
Aug 16  Diane at from blank pages
Aug 17  Allegory at {sew} Allegorical

Aug 20  Kim at My Go-Go Life
Aug 21 Di at Random Thoughts...do or "di"
Aug 22 Jennifer at Ellison Lane Quilts
Aug 23 Jenelle at Echinops & Aster
Aug 24  Katie at There & Back

And here's a little look at what I've been working on!

Happy Easter!

I have a couple other cute Easter things to show you later, but am enjoying the day with these two cuties so it will have to wait!  Hope you're having a lovely day!

12 Days of Christmas (already!)

Wow, is it really October already?  I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by.  And already, I'm drooling over Christmas stuff {maybe the baby has me in the planning mode early}.  Anyway, in addition to making a fourth stocking, I've been dreaming of attempting a Christmas quilt {yes, I do need another project}.  Well, wouldn't you know it, I received an e-mail from Sara at Sew Sweetness about that very thing.  She's organizing a 12 Days of Christmas Sampler Quilt Along!

Here are the details Sara's provided:

Twelve bloggers will each create a unique 12.5" Christmas-themed block and prepare a tutorial to go along with it. The block instructions, available on each designers' blog, will be spread over a 6-week period, giving you plenty of time to join in! If you decide to quilt along with us, at the end of the 6 weeks, you will have a completed Christmas quilt top!

If you are planning on joining, the quilt top will require 12 fat quarters, or 1 layer cake. You are also more than welcome to use various solid/holiday scraps! In addition to that, you will need approximately 1-1/2 yard of solid fabric for the sashing.

Here is the schedule for each of the 12 blocks; on the respective date, you will be able to find the block/tutorial on the specified blog. You can also check back here after the date has passed, to find links to the tutorials!

Oct 25 - Julianna @ Projektownia Jednoiglec - Block 1: Christmas Truck
Oct 27 - Sara @ Sew Sweetness - Block 2: Santa Claus
Nov 1 - Kaelin @ The Plaid Scottie - Block 3: Christmas Hearth
Nov 3 - Jennie {Me!} @ Clover and Violet - Block 4 : Scrappy Star
Nov 8 - Elizabeth @ Don't Call Me Betsy - Block 5: Presents
Nov 10 - Riel @ The Q and the U - Block 6: Snowflake
Nov 15 - Jennifer @ Ellison Lane Quilts - Block 7: Tree
Nov 17 - Lindsay @ Lindsay Sews - Block 8: Noel
Nov 22 - Jessica @ SewCraftyJess - Block 9: Ornaments
Nov 23 - Sarah @ Fairy Face Designs - Block 10: Stockings
Nov 29 - Heather & Megan @ Quilt Story - Block 11: Wreath
Dec 1 - Kim @ My Go Go Life - Block 12: Peppermint Candy

There is also a 12 Days of Christmas' Sampler Quilt Along Flickr Group for you to join in! We'll be sharing our fabric choices, completed blocks, and questions along the way!

Hope to see you around for the quilt along!

Valentine's Loves

I don't mean to brag, but I've got to be one of the luckiest girls around.  I spent all day yesterday exploring with my sweet husband and little boy {doesn't he look too grown up these days?!}.  **Sigh** And to make things even better, the little one is full of hugs and kisses these days, I'm even teaching him how to blow kisses to say bye bye.  Oh, and he says "I love you" too.  And is constantly cuddling his stuffed animals.  I guess he gets some of that sweetness from his dad {but mostly from me...**wink**}.  I hope you don't mind a little mushy-ness...it is Valentine's, after all.

Better Late

I know I am a little late with my Christmas recap post...but I thought I'd share it anyway.

We stayed the night with my parents, and woke up to a yummy breakfast {can you tell?!}.

Silas enjoyed opening his gifts, but was more excited to get the toys out of their boxes than out of the wrapping paper.

And he couldn't wait to play with his Little People Farm!

He also discovered that he fits behind Grandma's and Opa's couch, much to his delight {he has been squeezing himself into the oddest places ever since}!

And the best gift of all?  Spending Christmas with both sets of grandparents, as Josiah's parents came all the way from Washington to visit Silas and his cousins in Maryland for the holidays!  It truly was a great first Christmas.

Slow Down

I really love Christmas cards, but rarely send them out.  I guess it is because I like to do them the old fashioned way {and by old fashioned, I mean the way people did it 10 or so years ago}: buy a box of cards, write a tiny note to each recipient, include a family photo, and hand address them...and wow, that takes a long time!  Amidst the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, making gifts, decorating, and the million other things I {and I'm guessing you} do this time of year, Christmas cards often get crossed off the list.

But this year, I'm going to slow down send them {even if it is the last time!}.  I just might have to spend every night this week writing them, but I'm okay with that.  I think hope that the attention to detail will make the recipients feel a little bit loved {since they are}, just like I felt when I received a handmade Christmas card last week.  Are you doing anything to slow down and enjoy the Christmas season?

Christmas Stockings

I wish I was posting a photo of the stockings I've just finished, except, I haven't even finished them.  I decided to make us intentionally mis-matched stockings {I've got more Figgy Pudding for mine and Josiah's}, that way, if/when we have subsequent children, I don't have to make everyone a new stocking.  Instead they will be the same style, just different fabric.  In fact, I am just now ordering the fabric for Silas' stocking, it was so hard to choose!  I finally settled on Makin' New Friends by Deb Strain for Moda.  I like how it is a little bit boy-ish and a little bit kid-ish {I can always make him a new one later, if I need one that's more grown up}.  Hopefully I'll have more Christmas stuff to show you soon!

Early Christmas {Part I}

I love surprises, and when it comes to gifts, I can be incredibly patient {unless I'm giving the gifts, I've been known to have to rebuy Christmas gifts because I gave away the original too soon!}.  So, waiting until Christmas for presents doesn't bother me.  This year, however, I've already received a couple fabulous gifts that I didn't even have to wait for.  As you know, I participated in the Scrappy Mug Rug swap on Flickr, and I received my mug rug last Friday.

Let me tell you first, that Friday was not such a great day for me.  Silas was a complete bear!  He is teething {finally} and sometimes nothing makes him happy.  Friday was one of those days.  When I was finally able to get him down for a nap I quickly walked out to the mail box and found the greatest package!  Not only did I receive the lovely mug rug pictured above {front and back!}.  But I got all the rest of these goodies too:

My partner was Pam of Uberstitch and she completely spoiled me!  The mug rug is going directly onto my sewing room wall, the chocolates have been eaten already, the coffee is in my bag for emergencies, and the snowman rug has already been hugged by Silas!  And the fat quarters?  High Society by Khristian A. Howell for Anthology fabrics {in the Lime colorway...perfect colors for me!}.  Talk about making my day!

Baby's First Christmas

My mom gave me a little something special this year for our Christmas tree, two Baby's First Christmas ornaments.  Before I even had a chance, my mom and dad bought the ornament I had been planning to get for Silas this Christmas {I picked it out at Hallmark sometime this summer...I just love Hallmark ornaments}.  But, also, in the bag with Silas' ornament, she gave me another Baby's First Christmas ornament dated 1983...my ornament!

And, it's a Hallmark too!  So now, both of them have a home on our little tree.  We pick out a {few} new ornament{s} each year that have some significance in one way or another, and it's fun to look over each of them while decorating the tree {I may even share a couple more later}.  What are your most special ornaments?

O Christmas Tree

Holiday Mug Rug for the Swap

We set up our little Christmas tree on Thanksgiving this year, with a baby both Josiah and I have been super excited to get decorations up {well, we usually are, this year we just acted on it quicker!}.  I had been debating getting a larger tree, since ours is just a mini, but Silas has convinced me that is a bad idea...

At least when we moved the box of decorations he can no longer reach the tree.  Also, I finally {four Christmases later} made a little tree skirt for our tree.  I stocked up on Figgy Pudding by Basic Gray for Moda last year, and am putting it to use this year!  I got a little carried away and ended up using 2 1/2" squares, but the result was worth it!

I'm so excited about these little festive touches.  And, of course, it is fun to see the look of awe in that little boy's eyes ever time we plug in the tree lights.  He may not know what's going on, but at least he is thrilled by the shiny ornaments and twinkling lights.  It's so fun being a mommy this year!

Father's Day Ideas

Sorry this is a little late, the spring seems to be flying buy, but here are some ideas for Father's Day gifts, good thing dads are forgiving!

Deluxe Metro Man Bifold Wallet - Sewlutions by AMO $60

Laptop Sleeve - Bikelane - I Heart My Laptop $39

Fine Silver Leaf Imprint Dog Tag Necklace - All Those 3hrees $32.50

TRIPLE TURBINES - Feral Empire $20

Rock Super Star - Stuck in the Coop $30

Feel free to add your own Father's Day suggestions in the comments!

Mother's Day Ideas

Here are a few of our ideas for Mother's Day Gifts, enjoy!

Mama Bird and her Little One - Modern Bird $48

Family Tree Necklace (original) - Natalie Gentilo $120

I LOVE YOU tiny text bowl - Paloma's Nest $18

Custom Address Family Established Rubber Stamp - Sweet Paperie $23.95

Family Name Wood Word Blocks - A Sign of the Times $32

Feel free to leave a comment with your Mother's Day suggestions as well!