one shabby chick

Sometimes it is rough living in Hawaii...

Like running out of Christmas trees since we can't just go out to a farm and pick one...

It's been big news this week.

Luckily I picked one up a few weeks ago...

Finished project - just can't share it....

Finished the Christmas present for my sister - who I should probably tell not to read my blog until after Christmas...

I'll just share a sneak peek...

 

The cookie party was fun - of course we had too much food and cookies...

 

and I forgot to take pictures until the very end and people had already left...

 

We had lots of fun - my sister-in-law (who is not a baker/cook and had told me she burnt half her cookies) actually won the "prettiest" cookie prize - they were pretty but of course I didn't take a picture!

(desserts which we didn't even eat - I had to force people to eat samples of the cookies to vote..we were all too full!)

(my cookies)

Tonight we are off to a "white attire" Christmas party (sans kids!) - Hubby doesn't have anything white except a t-shirt and I have two white tops and that's it - hope it's not a "strict" dress-code..and I need to get a new cell phone before the party too since mine died yesterday and it's my only phone!

Tomorrow we have a wedding in the afternoon and I think Sunday will be spend resting....I have a couple gifts left to get and some small ones to make - hope everyone has a great weekend!

The aftermath

Christmas was very fun - filled with family, food and Apples to Apples. I am ready for family game night again!

this is what you get when you leave your 2 year old alone with Christmas presents - water everywhere!!

At least they love the kitchen!

Yesterday the cleaning bug bit and I started with junk drawers - don't ask me why?! I was turning into a bit of a grouch and decided I was done for the day.

We turned on Mamma Mia and it was almost done when the electricity went out - on the entire island! Even Obama was in the dark.

It came on around 4:30am this morning but we had a long night with lots of thunder and scared kiddos. This morning I thought it was going to go out again but we were lucky.

I managed to re-arrange a few rooms today and pack up a lot of the Christmas decorations.

I got some fun fabric in the mail and am dying to start sewing again - hopefully soon!

Merry Christmas

Here's a photo of Hubby and I from the cheesy sweater party...

(poor hubby doesn't look his best but I looked ok and that's all that matters - right?!)

We are off to Bethlehem Village (aka our church's Christmas Eve service).

(this is from 2 years ago..we have even more things this year)

We (Hubby, my sister and I) are doing the craft booth and I spent the morning decorating our tent. It's really fun for the kids - lots of activities and then a message by our pastor.

I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Back in the saddle again

I'm back to sewing again (although I do think the sewing machine is in need of a little tune-up). I finished up my sister-in-law's enormous bag (man, that bag is big) and wrapped it before I took any pictures. I know - bad blogger. Maybe later I'll unwrap it for a little photo shoot.

Speaking of photo shoots, we tried to get one of the kids before our progressive dinner party on Sat. night (which was so fun - all the houses are super close...4 in all and we walked to each one after driving to the first house).

I want to do another one on the beach one of these days but these were good for some memories of Christmas 2008. I never send out Christmas cards - I don't know why - it just always seems like too much effort.

(I like the funny face ones)

Today I sewed up the boys' pajamas...and cut out Bela's. I'll finish them up either tonight or tomorrow.

I also made some toffee this morning which turned out great (thank goodness).

In addition to losing the sewing mojo the other day, I apparently lost the cooking one as well since I managed to severely burn a batch of toffee and overcook a batch of fudge (both had to be thrown away). Today's batch was totally fine and super yummy. 

I boxed up some for a co-worker of Hubby's (they carpool in to work together).

I also made this today.

It's for collecting sea shells (and the sand falls out of the screen). A friend of mine had similar ones for her kids and the screen had ripped so she wanted me to make another one. This is my prototype and is a present for Bela.

I really like the whole idea and am planning on making more. Maybe after Christmas I'll put some in my Etsy shop.

Not sure if I'll post again until after Christmas so hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas surrounded by those they love!

Cheesy goodness

But not of the food variety.

I was wracking my brain for a cheesy sweater idea when I spied two (gasp) Mary Engelbreit pillows that I've had for a few years (and picked them up at Price Busters super cheap - don't worry). They were on their last legs - unraveling and all and would not have made it through another Christmas.

I cut the fronts off the pillows and just sewed them onto the sweaters - easy and fast.

(I used a ball-tip needle)

I picked up the green sparkly number at Walmart on clearance since I really don't have any sweaters (just a few hoodies).

Hubby's isn't as cheesy as mine but I think his is a lot more comfortable.

Here's the fabric for Hope's bag. I'm not sure I'll get to it today as I have to make a hostess present and twice-baked potatoes to take tonight (and it's a grown-up party which is always fun).

This is a little apron (along with a bonnet) I made for my friend's daughter in exchange for a cape for my son. The cape is under our tree...along with a magician's set.

I made one for our little model too - it's going in her stocking.

OK off to mail out some Esty orders (yeah!) and get some potatoes.

Catching up

I'm still working at (slowly) posting things on Etsy...taking pictures and finishing up last little things like pockets on "Little Helper" aprons.

I cut out the Birdie Sling for my sister-in-law and am going to sew it up tomorrow. It's darker colors than I usually use and I am anxious to see how it comes out.

I had to sew up some curtains for my mom (for my brother's room) out of sheets - easy hemming stuff - before he arrives home tomorrow from college.

And I'm working on some hostess gifts for a few parties this weekend.

Tomorrow night we have a "Cheesy Sweater" party and living in Hawaii, we don't own any sweaters. I'm looking around the house at Christmas decorations I can somehow tack on to a sweater but not sure on a plan yet.

I'm thinking about making some fudge and toffee to go along with some potholders or something as a hostess gift for that party.

Sat. night we have a progressive dinner with a group of families - we used to do it when we were all little and they resurrected it again last year. I already have my gifts wrapped up for those hostesses (aprons and tote bags from the craft fair).

Not sure how all those things will end up going as there is another huge rainstorm headed our way.

Maybe I'll end up spending the weekend sewing...I do have a few "want-to-do" things on my list...like this, this and of course the pj's.

New fabric and a sale

I got some new fabric in the mail today - perfect for Christmas Eve pj's for the kids.

And my prize from the giveaway extravaganza - thanks Katy!

I also had my first sale on Etsy...thanks Tanya. I added a little ornament to the package as a prize for my first sale.

I haven't sewn any the past couple days....catching up on laundry and of course lots of time on the computer. It is still overcast but hasn't rained which is so good.

My sister-in-law had requested a bag for her birthday but since I am a lame-o and didn't make it in time I emailed her some patterns (and fabric choices) to choose from and she chose this one. 

I've had the pattern for a while but never got around to trying it out - now I can! I told her I'd wrap it up as her "birthday present that she can open on Christmas".

Not sure if I've mentioned this before but all the adults in my family (there are 9 of us) draw names (on Thanksgiving) so we only have to buy for one person (unless your hubby is not a shopper and then you buy for two people and pretend he bought the ones for his person). It's a lot cheaper - we have a limit and that way everyone gets some nice gifts and we don't have to stress about buying gifts for everyone - except my parents...who have to buy presents for all of us. I think it's a law.

We have my brother and brother-in-law this year so not many handmade options there. I have made my mom and sister a few things even though they aren't technically "on my list".

I am going handmade on hostess gifts and gifts for friends. I actually ordered this pattern for two sewing friends and gave them both a little stack of charm squares and a yard of fabric.

I have a few more sewing items on my to-do list so we'll see if I can get them done before next week.

OK off to Costco now....

Hey guys

Thanks for all the well-wishes on the flooding. We were very lucky and only had the minor damage to the living room rug.

And today the sun is FINALLY shining but I guess there's more rain in the forecast for later this week.

Lots of people had their homes completely flooded - I can't imagine how you even begin to clean things up.

I did make it to the craft fair (but didn't attempt to bring the camera).

Friday night we went to the annual Haleiwa town parade and watched while lightning and thunder (and lots of rain) boomed down (we couldn't believe they didn't cancel it). We were under a big beach umbrella that I was sure was a lightning rod held up in the sky. Hubby assured me we were safe.

(our front yard)

As soon as we left the parade, the floodgates opened again and it poured rain all night.

I woke up on Sat. not sure if the craft fair was even on or if I would even be able to set up. But God was good and the rain held off until about an hour before the craft fair was over.

We saw it coming and packed up before the rain started. We got drenched putting everything in the car but at least our things stayed dry.

I did well for the weather being as it was - sold all my aprons except for one and all the burp cloths.

I have lots of things left but have already gotten a couple of emails from people I met at the craft fair regarding my Etsy shop so my plan is to get things loaded in there by the end of the week. 

 

Yesterday we came home from church and took up the carpet (Hubby was smart and cut up little sections so we only had to move the furniture (and Christmas tree!) a little...we did manage to take out the angel with the ceiling fan but she's fine.

And today is my sister-in-law's birthday so a bunch of us girls went out last night to Yardhouse to celebrate. Happy Birthday Hope!

Today I plan to spend the day folding this...

and washing a pile just as big....

Result of a week of rain (and a washer and dryer outside) and too much sewing and not enough time spent doing household chores :-)

I do need a trip to Costco too - slim pickings in the fridge and I have a few last gifts to get. I can't believe how fast December is flying by!

So long Bloglines

Ok so I have finally had enough of Blogline "malfunctions" and this morning switched all my blog subscriptions over to Google Reader.

This weekend all the lack of sleep and going, going, going finally caught up to me and I spent yesterday in bed (watching this). I feel much better today but had my first dream about the craft fair last night :-)

I think I'm a little anxious and stressed about getting everything done.

I did get the tree up this weekend though (and decorated) so that's fun. I love getting out all the ornaments and the memories that come with them.

I love this ornament - I have a couple. Such a cute idea (from a local crafter).

I have a bunch that I've made too and one for every "first Christmas" for the kids.

I whipped this up the other night and think I'll make a few for the craft fair.

I wanted more of a bonnet shape than the last ones I made and this works nicely.

Unfortunately Baby Girl has a rather large head so this doesn't fit but a friend and I are doing a little swap and I think this will make a good addition to her swap items (I'm making her little girl an apron and she's making my son a cape).

OK off to sew some more!