one shabby chick

A few more things

The winner of the StudioCherie giveaway is #37.

Montse!

Congratulations! Email me your pattern of choice and I'll pass it along to Cherie.

Sewed up a couple more things for the trip:

A makeup bag - using this tutorial. (mine is a little bigger)

Some oilcloth bags using my tutorial here.

A book cover....

I saw this amazing list taker on Pinterest and loved her fabric choices. I couldn't find a book cover tutorial I liked so I just made up my own pattern.

I put the corner holders in for hardcovers and the long fabric sleeves for soft-covers.

As you can tell I LOVE this new Melody Miller typewriter fabric.

I also made a passport holder since we have 6 passports to keep track of.

Again, made up my own pattern - It didn't come out perfect but it's good enough to take on the trip.

And Hubby was in need of a new wallet.

He's been asking for a new one for a while. I think it was time.

Made it exactly the same as last time only I used interfacing instead of batting - makes it a bit thinner.

He got out all his "travel bags" so I could show take a picture of them all together.

Here's my purse all packed with handmade goodness....

Really hoping to do some posts from the road but we'll see how it goes...if not, you'll get a bunch of posts when I get back for sure!

I want to try and keep a journal of sorts on the iPad to help us document the trip. See you soon!!

Birthdays, babies and bags

I think I've lost my sewing mo-jo...at least for the past few days.

Who knows...I could decide to sew up a storm tomorrow!

I did sew up some drawstring bags this weekend.

Love Jeni's pattern!

I have 4 "artist" size bags (which are pretty big) and one (very big) laundry bag.

I lined my artist bag with fusible fleece and plan to carry my camera in it so it has extra protection.

Like I said, I used some of my favorite fabrics for these.

This is the last of that robot fabric but what better way to use it than in a bag for my little guy.

We have to get a little fishing tackle box to store all his lego pieces in for the plane too.

I made both the girls one...My oldest apparently does not need a drawstring bag (or that's what I was told) :-)

I also sewed up some oilcloth box bags (need to take pics of them tomorrow!)

They are perfect for storing lots of little shampoo samples that your awesome hairdresser gives you for the trip!

I also have one for all the chargers/cords.

We had a birthday dinner for Baby Girl on Saturday.

And little Parker came too! We all got turns holding him - such a good baby.

(Hubby is one of those guys that LOVES babies)

And Birthday Girl got some new outfits and traveling luggage :-) and an ukulele.

She wanted to take it on the plane but we told her no...although Hubby thought she could make some money by asking for donations to stop playing.

I do have a bee block to finish before I leave and will probably work on a couple quilts. I'm hoping to be able to blog a little from Costa Rica but not sure about the internet situation down there.

I will take LOTS of pictures though....

A new sponsor and a giveaway

 

I actually bought this pattern a while ago after seeing Jeni's awesome duffle that she made for Sewing Summit (which I'm trying to figure a way to go to this year!).

And after I posted it here and on Flickr, I had a little email exchange with Cherie. And I'm pleased to welcome her as my newest sponsor.

She has some amazing patterns in her shop as well as ready-made items.

And she's giving away a pattern here to one of you...any pattern of your choosing!

So head on over to her shop and let me know what your favorite pattern is...and then leave a comment here.

I'll pick a winner this weekend! Good luck!

My baby is turning six

Six...it sounds so much older than five. Not as little :-(

And she is growing up fast (and thinks she's about 16)....

What happened to our little baby?

Good thing we have another little baby to cuddle now (my nephew - don't want to start any rumors here) or I might start crying.

We were pretty sure we were done after 3 but now I can't imagine our lives without her....she definitely adds "spark" to the family.

She's been counting down the days to her birthday....and to her presents.

Must take after her mama :-)

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

Travel Handmade

Thanks so much for all the great tips!!

I spent many summers in TN and have visited a few places that you all mentioned but Hubby hasn't ever been before so it will be fun to sight-see a bit.

I think I may even get to meet up with Dana! She was one of my first online friends and in the first quilting bee I was ever in!

I can't seem to stop making bags for our trip!

Actually this pattern had been cut out for a while and I do need a carry-on bag, so I sewed it up.

I did change a few things (mostly because I was lazy). I didn't add a zippered pocket on one end or center pockets. And I didn't have any jute so I just made straps out of .....you guessed it - more velveteen! The straps are so soft though - I love it!

And for a little fun, I made the end panels out of Melody Miller's new Typewriter fabric - which is AMAZING!!! Seriously in love with that fabric!

It's a big bag - I will be able to fit a ton of stuff in it - and it came together really easily - great pattern!!

I also made us all little ipod zip cases for our headphones and ipods {Hubby didn't want one}.

I padded them with fusible fleece and put everyone's names on them (just free-motion quilted the names onto small pieces of fabric and attached them to the front piece before sewing the pouches together).

They are all hand-me-down ipods except for the oldest but I figured it would be nice for them to all have their own little case. 

I also cut out some "artist" size drawstring bags from Jeni's pattern. And one enormous laundry bag since I know we'll need it.

The kids picked out their fabrics (I may have helped "guide" them).

I have a few of my favorite fabrics in the mix on these. I've decided fabric is too fun just to have sitting on your shelf - even if it's some of my favorite fabric and I used the last little bit of it.

Hopefully I'll be able to sew them up tomorrow....although I do have a few things to do as we are having a birthday dinner for this little person:

Sunday she'll be 6 years old....she's been counting down the days - and asking me where I've hidden her presents :-)

oh....and I got the fabric for my new curtains....eeeeppp!!!

Any tips?

So I am beyond excited - we leave in 2 weeks!

{And just in case anyone is worried that I keep posting about us being gone - there are people staying at our house so no worries there}

I think Costa Rica will mostly be filled with seeing friends and family - and lots of driving. Maybe a little sight-seeing and beach-going too. I did tell the kids there's a beach called Playa Carrillo and they were very excited - it's close to my mother-in-law's house too.

But I'm not sure what we are going to do in Tennessee. My uncle lives in Franklin so we are staying with him and then driving to Martin/Dresden to see my Grandpa's house and visit some relatives for a day or two.

Here's my short list so far for TN:

* Chattanooga Aquarium - it looks really fun and is about 2 hours from Nashville which isn't too bad {as I type that I'm totally laughing since we can't drive more than an hour here without having to turn around}

* Adventure Science Center - again, looks cool...

* Parthenon ?

* Anthropologie and Philanthropy - ok that's just on my to-do list :-) along with visiting some quilt shops and meeting up with Amanda

Any other ideas? Good places to eat with kids? We have never been to Chick-Fil-A or Sonic so those might be on the to-do list {even though I know they are both fast food....}

lots to share

Happy New Year to everyone first of all....

We had a great New Year's Eve....and welcomed a new baby to the family too. My nephew Parker was born around 8 pm on the 31st.

We visited them at the hospital but can't wait to spend lots of time getting my baby fix.

And a not-so-quick re-cap of the past couple weeks....

Christmas Eve:

{our church puts on a Christmas Eve program called Bethlehem Village - we have shops filled with crafts and food - all free - and then have a short message after - this year we read the Nativity story and had some elementary-age kids act out the story}

our own little Mary:

my Roman soldier:

We all dress up and have our tents/shops decorated...it's fun and the kids love it. We had a perfume shop, candle shop, I had a carpenter's shop where we made crafts, bakery with lots of breads, market with fresh fruits, fried fish at the fish shop.....and a few more.

Apparently I did not take any pictures on Christmas day but we got Bela a camera for Christmas and she took a bunch - I have also told her she's our official vacation photographer.....still deciding whether I'm going to take my camera or not...

I did a little bit of sewing after Christmas. Two new bags for me:

241 tote by Noodlehead:

Used Loulouthi velveteen for both the inside and outside. Next time I think I'll use regular cotton for the lining.

And Liesl and Co. Day in the Park Backpack tote....sorry to say this pattern is out of print.

I've had the pattern for a long time and finally made it - I love it!! If you can find one, it is such a great pattern...very well-written. Clear instructions and such a beautiful bag....

And a few more snapshots from my week:

clean sewing area:

new fabrics:

start of a new project {Maple Leaf Rag from Material Obsession 2}:

Last day of vacation around here...poor Hubby is sick and is sleeping. I'm making tortilla soup for him and cleaning the house - exciting stuff!

Blogger's choice bundle

I stumbled upon this contest via Flickr...

Such a fun idea!

So I set about making my own little fat quarter bundle and here it is:

Fabrics are:

Hall of Fame Yellow Game Jersey

Taza Fushia Geo

October Skies Rosehips Pinstripe

Get Together Pink Squirrels and Nuts

Farm Fresh Yellow Plaid

Children at Play Pink Hopscotch

Hoo's in the Forest Pink Plaid

Domestic Bliss Pink with Cream Beaded Curtain

Get Together Gray Birds and Flowers

Children at Play Yellow Making Hats

Domestic Bliss Pink Time for Tea

Children at Play Soft Pink Meadow

Solids:

Bella Solids Peony

Free Spirit Slate Grey

Bella Solids Butterscotch

Go enter for your chance to win too - plus it's just fun designing your own fat quarter set!

A new year

I've been busy doing some serious cleaning.

Moving furniture, cleaning windows and screens...you know, the big stuff.

I guess it's because we have our windows open all year round but houses sure get dirty/dusty in Hawaii...red dirt too - ugh!

I love this kind of cleaning though...makes me feel organized and ready for the new year.

I've been thinking of goals for the new year too.

Sewing goals and personal goals.

I thought I'd put a list here so I can remember them and hopefully cross them off by the end of next year.

Sewing goals:

* Make a quilt out of the Material Obsession 2 book (any quilt but preferably one of these)

* Make larger quilts (see above)

* Take more risks - submit projects to magazines, etc. - I am a bit of a baby when it comes to this...probably because I don't like rejection and worry my work is not good enough.

* Push myself in the Ringo Pie Bee - I have to be honest...we are starting round 2 and there are some mega-stars in this bee. And I am just not up there with them. I have thought about quitting a bunch of times. But I'm sticking it out and want to try and learn new techniques and broaden my creativity.

* Finish my ufo pile

* Try new styles of free-motion quilting.

* Add new products to my Etsy shop on a regular basis.

Personal Goals:

* Read my Bible and pray more.

* Lose some weight :-)

* Save, save, save - I'm such a spender and really want to break that habit in 2012.

* Finish painting the kitchen - cause 2 years is too long to have it half-way finished, right?!

* Paint the living room floor (it's concrete) and walls - I'm over the red...I'm thinking a pretty grey (to go with this fabric for the curtains - I absolutely love the Drawing Room fabric I have now but they are old and one has a big rip in it...so time for some new ones)

* Finally get caught up on the laundry...oh, who am I kidding, that will never happen - lol!

How about you all...got any New Year's goals?

Year end sale

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Is it wrong that I already want to start taking down my decorations? I actually want to re-paint my living room too but the Hubs stopped that crazy talk.

I'll have to wait until we get back to do that!

Just wanted to drop in here and let you know I have everything in the shop 25% off for the next two weeks...

Ok off to straighten up a bit and maybe do some sewing? I want to clean but Hubby has the day off and I don't want to spoil his relaxing day with a massive cleaning effort.