one shabby chick

Moved

So yesterday I moved all my fabric so it would be closer to where I actually sew.

When I re-arranged my room a few weeks ago, I put the shelf with all the fabric in an awkward place and was feeling like I couldn't really get to things easily.

So now I can't buy anymore fabric since nothing else will fit - LOL!

I have a bunch of random things today:

I am looking for a good pattern/idea to use for November for A Notion or Two - I'm using LOVE by Amy Butler...

Anyone have any great ideas/links?

I also got an email today about giving away some sets of these stamps on my blog - I'll set up a post when they get here - fun right?!

Bought myself a few embroidery patterns from this cute shop to make for this swap....I love the princess and the pea - it's so cute!

How cute are these pumpkin kits?

And we are definitely doing this art project for our next Art co-op class. I'm going to read the book and then we can all make our own "wild things". I first saw it here - always amazing ideas!

OK I need to stop playing with this new toy and actually go sew - my list is getting longer and longer!

A fun craft and an amazing idea

We made fabric-covered ponytail holders at the party.

I cut up scrap pieces of fabric and the girls all chose their favorites and had a blast.

I had a bag of buttons from Kirsten - she sells them at her Etsy shop. They are SO easy to make and so cute too!!

Here they are displaying their creations....

And I saw this blog a couple weeks ago (I think I linked from Jacquie's blog) and then today read this at Sew, Mama, Sew's blog - what a wonderful way to help and so easy too! I got a couple - I love how blogs bring us together to help out others - makes me smile!!

** Update on Bela - I took her to see the specialist today. Apparently her T4 level is fine and her T3 level is just a little elevated but nothing that warrants medication now. We are going to get it tested again in a couple months to see if it has changed at all. So good news on that front but it still doesn't explain the hair loss (he did mention Alopecia and I'm just praying it's not that). Guess we'll head back to our primary doctor and see if we can get the hair loss figured out.

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!

Taking a break

.....from my sewing machine (only for a few minutes then it's back to the grind).

I have spent the morning sewing up these...tops for little dresses.

These patterns are absolutely the best (plus they are so darn cute too).

I finished up the pants last night - 8 pairs - two each of sizes 2, 4, 6 and 8. I'm doing the same with the dresses.

Bela has embroidered some little critters and I've helped sew them up into little door hangers. She's selling them at the craft fair with me.

I just have to finish sewing them up (she stuffed them today).

Ok off to the sewing machine again...

Homemade

Tomorrow night we have a homeschool Christmas party and there is a cookie contest for the kids. We spent the the better part of the day shopping for ingredients and this afternoon (and evening) baking.

Bela is making these. I have to pick up the white chocolate tomorrow (to dip them in and then sprinkle with peppermint bits) since we couldn't find any today.

Big brother is making these.

The kids also have to take white elephant gifts under $10 so I made some homemade gingerbread play dough and picked up these cute cookie cutters on sale at Walmart.

My kids loved it - and it's much cleaner than rolling out real cookie dough :-)

We have to make the cookies tonight since I am spending the day shopping with my sister - fun! Hopefully I won't be too worn out for the Christmas party - we are even going caroling.

** OK since I made you read all of that I guess it's only fair I announce the winner of the giveaway....

Congratulations.....Susan Cahill. You're the winner! Thanks for entering everyone and I'm sure I'll do another one after the new year - they are just too fun!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

28

Timestamp: 2008-12-06 05:30:38 UTC

Worth It

First of all, Happy Birthday to my wonderful mother. She and my dad are in TN visiting family and tonight they are staying here for her birthday - fun!

Second, I won one of the giveaways yesterday...so the hours I spent on my chair in front of the computer were sooo worth it :-)!!

I think I'll close the comments tomorrow night for my little giveaway, so if you haven't had a chance to enter there's still time.

And lastly, I've been sewing away trying to make a dent in my to-do list (which just seems to grow instead of shrink).

These are little aprons for the craft fair. I thought they were going to fit Bela's age (6-8) but now I think they are more in the 2-5 age range.

(I've been playing with the stitches on my machine)

And I made one for Baby Girl to go along with her play kitchen.

I whipped up this bag this morning for my sister (she needed a gift for a friend's birthday today - the things we do for family).

And here is a sneak peek of one of the little dolls. I had trouble with her hair though (she's not done yet either).

Somehow I couldn't figure out the instructions so I went with a different hair method. Poor girl has some big war scars underneath that hair from my first attempt.

I'm addicted to making these scrappy wallets - they are so fun! 

Bela has gotten in on the crafting action too and is making some embroidered door hangers/ornaments for the craft fair. She does the embroidery and I sew them up for her (she gets all the profits).

Oh one last thing - have you seen this amazing product - what a fun new thing!

Giveaway Madness

Forget Black Friday...how about Giveaway Wednesday?!

The list is just insane over at Sew, Mama, Sew! I'm not even halfway through it but thought I'd take a break and post a giveaway here. I totally spaced on joining in the long list but then you faithful readers can have a better chance.

Since it's Christmas I thought a Christmas giveaway was in order.

So here it is:

A little snowman wearing ice skates...

And some fun Christmas fabric.

Just leave a comment and I'll pick a winner this weekend sometime (and international readers are welcome to enter).

Have fun surfing the giveaways - oh and check out this one too...Who doesn't love a new craft book?

And after seeing these adorable dolls by Hillary, I had to start on some of my own for my girls. I post sneak peeks later. I just picked up the book this weekend and the dolls were at the top of my list.

Jingle bells

I put up the rest of the Christmas decorations today. It was the activity in our advent calendar (what a coincidence - ha ha!).

Yesterday after church a friend and I went and did some shopping and saw a movie. The movie was ok - not as funny as billed to be. But it was nice to get away for the day and spend time with a good friend.

I picked up a wreath at Costco and now am anxious to go buy a tree....loving the smell.

I looked in vain for an advent candle wreath of some sort so we settled on a makeshift one for now. We've never done the advent candle thing (not sure what else to call it) but I think it's a fun tradition to start and will help the kids grasp the true meaning of Christmas.

We also have an advent elf that I bought (last year?) from Garnet HIll. It looked super cute in the catalog but it's a little creepy in real life. But he's staying.

I usually fizzle out on the calendar but this year I want to do all 24 days. I bought all of them a book yesterday for one of the days and a Christmas puzzle to assemble another day. I looked at this amazing list for activities/ideas.

I think I'm going to write the activity for each day on a little tag and then put it into the pocket the night before...this way I can plan things around already scheduled activities.

I'm making some sets of burp cloths for the craft fair...here's the first two sets.

Scrappy wallets

I had been trying to think of some small items I could make for the craft fair and decided on some little wallets/coin purses.

I sewed up one with just two different fabrics and then I spied my coin strips. They are so perfect and I already have them sewn up so it's not that much work to finish them.

I added a layer of batting and a layer of fusible fleece to make them soft and add some shape to them.

I love these snaps too - they go through all the layers so well.

I made a larger one I thought could even be used as a camera cozy.

I promised my sister-in-law I'd make her a guitar strap so I've ordered some cotton webbing (to use as interfacing) and I'll give you guys some sneak peeks when I get it started (I think it will be a Christmas gift).

** It seemed time to change up the blog - I want to go back to the all-white version once I get a new banner made.

Inventory

I haven't sewn much the past couple days but I'm trying to make up some stock for the craft fair on Dec. 12th.

I was going to do another one at our church's annual Christmas dinner but it was cancelled because of a rock slide due to the heavy rains last weekend.

But I'm loving all the sewing so I'm just gonna keep sewing anyway. I figure I'll have stock for some Spring craft fairs next year (or an Etsy shop).

I got these in the mail today - business cards! And apparently I have an Etsy shop (but nothing in it - yet)! I figured I would put it on the cards in the hope of getting some repeat customers (from the craft fairs).

I'm a little nervous about the whole "Etsy shop" thing but guess I need to just dive in.

I'm using the small ones as price tags - I love them.

I have had these quilts finished up forever and just needed to wash them. Now they are crinkly, priced and ready for the craft fair.

Back:

(this one has pink chenille on the back)

I have had trouble figuring out what to price things - especially the quilts. They take so much time so I priced them accordingly and figure I can always give them as gifts (or keep them all) if they don't sell.

Of course I'm keeping this one...my first long-arm quilt.

 

I think I'm gonna hit a few craft fairs this Sunday....that's about the extent of my Thanksgiving weekend shopping - except for online of course!