house on hill road

Hello there.

I feel like the blog has been neglected a bit lately. And when I start feeling that way, I also feel that I need to check in even though I don't really have much to share. I know it's my space and that I can do what I please, but I like it here even when there isn't much going on.

So, hi.

I just got over a terrible cold. No fun.

The girls should be walking in the door from school any minute and I just pulled chocolate chip cookies out of the oven for them. Nice, right? Selfishly, I am hoping that a little treat will help make homework and chores and errands go smoothly, but it's probably just a wish. Doesn't hurt to try, though.

I've been sewing a bit. It's a little project that I have to keep under wraps for the time being. That said, I pulled out the nice fabric for it. That Liberty of London up there? It wasn't doing me any good sitting on my shelf so I cut it. It felt great. I should do that more often.

I've got a mess of scraps that need dealing with. Most of them are small-ish in size. They'd be perfect for potholders and the like. I've thought about making little kits with the scraps and batting, plus a pattern for a few different types of potholders. They would be reasonably priced. What do you think? Is there any interest in that? Let me know.

I'm scrapbooking, but I guess that deserves a post of it's own. Soon.

Ok. The girls are home. I'm going to make some smoothies to go with cookies.

Camera straps!

All these glorious patchwork strips have been turned into camera straps that are now available in my shop! I'm pretty excited about this group of colorways and even considered holding one back for myself, but I didn't. The fact is, I couldn't choose which one to keep.

If you are so inclined, please take a look. I'll keep the shop open until December 15th or the merchandise is sold out. I'm happy to ship straight to your gift recipient and enclose a gift card if you need one - just let me know in the notes to seller part when you get to paypal. I'll also ship overseas, but cannot guarantee Christmas delivery. Generally, anything shipped overseas by December 5th should get there, but unfortunately the post office won't make a promise, so neither will I.

Time for me to clean up the sewing mess and get this house spiffy for Christmas. Back here soon.

The shop is back open

I've re-opened the shop. There are a number of camera straps available if you are so inclined.

Happy Friday. I hope your weekend is great!

The shop is open

Some scenes from my workspace in the family room yesterday afternoon. Fabric scraps work well for an impromptu coaster, in case you were wondering.

I've just re-opened the House on Hill Road Shop. It's newly stocked with patchwork camera straps in six different colorways. I had a lot of fun putting these colorways together. It had been over six months since I last sat down to make camera straps and I had forgotten just how much I enjoy pairing prints and colors. And as I was getting the shop ready to go, I was amazed to see that I have now made 40 different fabric combinations into camera straps. It seems so crazy - 40?  My god- that is a lot! Please take a look, if you are so inclined. I appreciate all of your continued support. My blog readers and customers really are the best. You know it.

Shop news

I've been busy sewing up patchwork strips for camera straps. Consequently, there is a shop update planned for Monday, July 18th, the exact time to be determined. Most likely I won't be able to make any additional straps until after my kids are back in school. I mention that in case you might want one as a gift.

All righty. Back to it. See you soon.

Five new colorways of camera straps in the shop

This is one of five (!) colorways of patchwork camera straps that I just put in the shop.  I finally broke down and cut into my Hope Valley stash.  I love these prints so much - I am not sure why I waited so long to use them.

Have a good weekend, everyone.  See you back here next week.  I actually have some finished things to show.  Woot!

What I'm working on

I'm trying to make December enjoyable.  Imagine that!  For me, that means cutting waaaaay back on my own expectations of myself and, in turn, I hope that will reduce the holiday stress.  To that end, I am making just one gift this year.  Shocking, but true.  I spent some time working on this one word proverbial quilt last night and this morning.  I really like how it's coming together.

Also coming together are the latest batch of camera straps.  The final shop update for 2010 will take place on Friday, December 3 at 2:00 pm EST.  Everything sold on Friday or over the weekend will ship on Monday, December 6th.  Anything sold after the weekend will ship within two business days.  I am happy to ship overseas, but I cannot guarantee Christmas delivery.  That said, in my experience, air mail to most places any other time of the year takes about 10 business days.  You might want to keep that in mind.

It's 50 degrees outside.  I'm going to take this opportunity to hang the garland.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. And I am getting kind of giddy.

Camera straps in the shop

I just updated the shop with camera straps.  Just a reminder that there will only be one more camera strap update after this in 2010.

Also, it looks like there are a few of you hankering to make pillows.  I see a pillow challenge on the horizon.  Details to come!

Shop, quilt and pillow talk

Not that kind of pillow talk. Sheesh.

I spent a great deal of time sewing this weekend.  Those scraps on the floor are just a small portion of the big pile left over.  Consequently, I have three new colorways of camera straps that will go in the shop on Thursday.  I'll update it at 1 p.m. EST.  Sound good?  I don't think there will be any scrap bags yet, but if all goes well, there may be something else.  I hate to be cryptic, but it's all about timing such. And speaking of timing, there will be one last shop update in late November.  So it's now or November to get a camera strap before the holidays.  Just so you know.

I took this photo last night with quilts on the brain.  Specifically, how I really want to make one or two, or five right now. Right. Now.  The more I look at it, though, the more I feel that my family room needs some new pillows.  I had those chairs slipcovered this summer and got stalled on the re-decorating front.  I have this crazy notion to make a pillow a day for a week.  At least that would give me something to blog about.  Until I manage to get to the quilts, that is.

Shop update postponed

I'm postponing the shop update until Wednesday, September 22 at 12:30 EST.  I hate to do this with little notice, but being sick most of last week just put me behind in all endeavors.  This will be the biggest group of camera straps to date - five colorways and a total of 48 camera straps.  If I have time, I'll put a few scrap bags in there too.

All right.  I'm turning the sewing machine off and going to bed.

Oh, and don't forget that Meg is hosting her Kids Clothes Week Challenge this week.  I plan on joining in as soon as I can. Jane actually wants me to sew her something!

Shop news

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I knew I was fighting something after I slept for 9 hours on Thursday night and 11 hours on Friday night.  I felt good on Saturday, but yesterday I woke up with an achy body.  I'm resting up, drinking lots of tea with honey and hoping that tomorrow I'm back to feeling myself again.

I had planned on updating the shop this week, but it'll be next Monday, September 20th instead.  When people email me and ask when I will have more camera straps available, I always respond that I will announce the update a week in advance.  Consider this the requisite announcement.  I haven't pinpointed a time yet - I'll let you know that later this week.  I'm going to try to have five colorways available this time.  I also plan on doing two more shop updates this year - one in October and one in November.  More details on those specific dates as they get closer.

Back here soon with more news. Until then, take care.

Shop updated!

Stunning patchwork camera straps. Five different colorways. Get 'em while they're hot.

You can now find them in the shop. 

Shop update on Friday

That is a whole pile of happy, if you ask me.

I had planned on updating the shop on Thursday, but a quick consult of the calendar alerted me that I can't be home in front of the computer.  So Friday it will be.  Friday, April 16 at 12:00 noon EST to be exact.  Expect at least three colorways of camera straps and, if I really get my act together, scrap bags.

Now I need to figure out how I am going to keep the critters out of my raised beds.  I didn't have that problem last summer, but something(s) had fun digging in there last night.  I don't think I lost anything, but I don't want to either! Time for chicken wire, I think.

Hope Monday is treating you fine.

There are camera straps in the shop

I've just updated the shop with some camera straps including some made with my dwindling stash of Flea Market Fancy.  If you feel inclined, please take a look.

Now I am running off to the 4th grade valentine party and then to run some errands before the weekend.  I hope you have a good one.  We plan on watching the Olympics!  Yay!

Update on the shop update

Here's a sneak peek of what I've been working on for the shop.  It's snowing here and school has been canceled today. Most likely, it'll be canceled tomorrow, too.  I was counting on sewing all day today and now, with my girls home, that's unlikely.  I'm going to change the shop update from tomorrow to Friday, February 12th at 12:00 noon EST.

I'm also working on the after school snack cheat sheet.  I hope to have that posted for downloading soon, too.

Shop update tomorrow

I love twinkle lights.  And this year, I threw caution to the wind and loaded up the tree.

The shop update will be tomorrow at 11am EST.  It's a smaller update than I had hoped for - only 17 camera straps in three colorways.  I wish I had more to offer, but I am feeling pretty ill.  It's just a cold, but it has wiped me out.  If I am feeling better this weekend, I will probably sew up some more to offer next week.  No promises, though.

Back to my chicken soup.

Winners and shop talk

I hope those of you celebrating Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday.  Ours was lovely, but more on that in another post.  Business first today.

Thank you for all the thoughtful comments on my last post.  I am amazed at all of you and your generosity.  If you are looking to be inspired in your giving, check out the comments.  They are filled with wonderful examples of how we can help others.  One that stuck with me was making donations in teachers' names instead of giving them a token gift.  I think that is what we will do this year.

The winner of Color Your Cloth by Malka Dubrawsky is: #106, Lesley.

The winner of Quilting for Peace by Katherine Bell is: #95, Emily.

Lesly and Emily, please email me (hillroad at bellsouth dot net) your shipping address and I will get the books out to you.

After lots of thought, I have decided not to offer the notepads for sale in the shop at this time.  I know that it will take me more time than I think (everything does!) and one thing that I am short on at this time of year is free time.  I would rather spend those precious hours doing things with the girls or making gifts for my family.  So for right now, no notepads.

But there will be camera straps!  They will go in the shop on Monday, December 7 at a time to be determined.  I will post the time here on the blog at some point in the next week.  Sound good?

That's all the business.   Hope you have a fantastic weekend.

Party favors

I made these little notepads for Kate's birthday party favors.  The second graders started learning cursive last week so I thought it would be fun to have a little practice pad.  And stickers.  And a gel pen.  I mean, who doesn't like a gel pen?

Making these got me thinking about who else on my list could use some notepads.  The teachers for sure.  And I already whipped some up for the nephews who can write/scribble and some for Jane's friend that has a birthday today.  They were fun and fast to make.  I am thinking about putting some in the shop next week if there is any interest.  They would be made to order because of the personalization and there would be choices for fonts, color ink and lines/no lines.  Two or three sizes, too.  They'd be available for a limited time so that I could ensure delivery before the holiday.  What do you think?

And speaking of the shop, there will be some camera straps before the holidays.  I haven't set a date yet, but it is looking like the first week of December due to Thanksgiving.  I'll set the date and time next week and post it here.

All right then.  I'm off to cook dinner.  Later.

Shop update

 

 

 

 

Just so you know, I just updated the shop with 35 camera straps - 7 of each of these colorways.

All right, now I am going to vacuum.

I've been working

There hasn't been much happening around these parts except sewing and I like it that way.  Of course, my family would probably love it if I would stop long enough to do the dishes or the laundry, maybe even vacuum.

Shop update will be Thursday, September 3rd at 1:00 p.m. EST (New York time).

Back to the sewing machine.  Maybe back here tomorrow.  Maybe not.