one shabby chick

Chugging along

Do any of you ever over-commit yourselves? I'm sure you don't right? It's only me - lol!

I'm slowly chipping away at my lists of things to do.

I'm in a fun little doll quilt swap with a few friends and boy did that deadline sneak up on me.

It's done now - whew!

I'm also working on a pattern for an online magazine - the deadline is Friday but I only need to finish up the binding, wash it, and take a few finished pictures.

(I used flannel on the back so it's so soft)

I had an order for a custom guitar strap which I mailed off today and  I made a few more while I was at it...

I thought Curious Grey would be perfect for some guitar straps.

And a Batman one - just cause. Need to get the hardware on these and then they'll be headed into the shop.

And these two pillows are in the shop right now...

I love these word pillows - they are so fun to make. I ordered some fun Japanese newspaper prints and will make some more when they come.

I have a big twin quilt that I need to quilt this week - Just need to work up the energy to lay it all out and baste it.

A few more items are on the list too...making myself tired just thinking about them.

Not to mention school, house stuff and laundry...always laundry.

I do have a question for any of you that homeschool and have kids with dyslexia. What curriculum do you use to help them with reading? Is there anything you've found that works particularly well? I'm on the lookout for my nine year old...thanks!

Is it January yet?

Let's just say the Hubs and I are WAY more excited about going on vacation then Christmas this year.

I want to start packing now!

And we have to pack for two totally different climates. Costa Rica's climate is pretty similar to Hawaii's - cool nights (you know, 60's - ha ha) and warm days.

But Tennessee in Feb.? I don't even know how to prepare for that.

Especially since the Hubs has only been in snow 2x in his life.....me and the kids - yep, just once! But don't get me wrong - I'm hoping for lots of snow. Well, you know, some snow.

I have a couple gifts I need to make still this week.

A few of Jeni's bags for my friends - filled with some elastic headbands, potholders (which I bought since they were a great deal) and a Starbucks card.

And the quilt for my coming-any-day nephew.

I forgot to show my awesome swap package from Jen in the Twitter swap we all did.

She sent me a gorgeous doll quilt...

some pez..

and a beautiful Black Apple print. So fun!

And the other day I came home to a big box of Laurie Wisburn's new line - Brrr! It doesn't come out until this summer but I get to play with and make something fun - I'm thinking about a Swoon quilt. I was SO excited when Laurie emailed me...

And I even got a FQ bundle to giveaway on my blog too...so stay tuned for that!

My poor mom has been sick with a cold and is now in the fog stage but still needs to go Christmas shopping so I'm off to help steer her around the mall...

weird

Feels weird to not have a big 'ol to-do list.

I do have a few orders/things to work on.

The first was some custom totes but those are done and ready to be mailed off...

I made another one too but it's all Lush deer and I didn't take a pic of it.

I joined a little Secret Santa swap on Twitter and sent this off yesterday to my partner - hope they like it all.

And last night, I pulled out these blocks and started working on this quilt some more.

So fun using tiny bits of favorite fabrics....

Lots to share

This is going to be a bit long - just warning you all in advance....

Finished up some iPad covers:

and my pillow for the Pillow Swap (got it done just in the nick of time!!)

I totally copied Faith's quilt - it's a very fun design to do but takes a little planning.

You can use scraps with it though so it's perfect! {My squares were 2.5"}

A custom camera strap in red:

We are in to our final weeks of AYSO - I honestly will be sad to see it end but will be glad to have my Saturdays to just relax a little {and sleep in!!}

The weekends seem so busy lately and it feels like I am constantly exhausted!

Yesterday we went to our church's annual Fall Festival.

The kids had a blast!

Baby Mason {I think he was one of the Jersey Shore boys - is that right Carly?!}

Here's the Queen of Hearts:

We recycled an old pirate costume as her top, the pettiskirt was from 4 years ago {seriously - you can wear those things forever!!} for my sister's wedding and I bought the wig for my son but he borrowed a blond one.

I sewed a little heart onto a fabric crown we found in the dress-up trunk....she looked so cute.

This little guy wanted to be a ninja so we googled how to make a ninja mask - of course he wanted to do it all by himself so it's a little loose but he was happy.

Here's our pirate - the only person I actually bought a costume for and just because it was super cheap at Costco a while back.

Actually, I did buy a few items for Clark Kent.

I saw Amy's picture of her hubby and thought it was a genius idea.

The dress shirt is from the thrift store and the Superman shirt is actually a child's large from Target that is now in our younger son's possession.

I really like this costume :-)

And our eldest was Napoleon....Dynamite.

And of course I made the t-shirt with the Silhouette.

* I made a tooth shirt for myself and added some wings and a puffy skirt and I was the Tooth Fairy - just don't have any pics of myself.

oh - I do have this one - me and my pirate...

baby showers and pillows

Finished up some pillow covers for the craft fair.

I didn't quilt them but added some muslin and batting on the inside so they are soft and padded.

Speaking of pillows - I need to finish this one up and get it in the mail soon!

I think the deadline is Tuesday.

I also sewed up a "congratulations" banner for my sister-in-law's shower tonight.

We are having a circus theme so I used blues and a red binding. I cut the letters out on the Silhouette and then just ironed them on to each scallop.

I am heading to my friend's house in a little bit to help decorate so I'll try and take some pictures to show you all.

And I bought some canvases yesterday to try and make a few to sell in the shop.

I got 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 since I'm not sure how to ship anything bigger without it possibly getting bent.

I'm waiting on some vinyl I ordered too and once it gets here, I'll put some in the shop.

Email me if you are interested in a custom order....They are $35 for the 8x10's and $45 for the 11x14's.

Alone

That's how I spent the 4th - pitiful, isn't it?! My family went to the beach in the AM and I stayed home with the boy since he couldn't be convinced to go to the beach (I think he has a fear of it now).

He is doing SO well and not wearing his sling and using his arm a bit to - kids sure heal fast!

So I stayed home with him and finished the quilting on this:

But in doing so, I managed to wear myself out completely. I've had a sore throat for a few days now and just feel exhausted but stupidly tried to play soccer on Sunday and then that evening we had a party for the birthday boy with our family. I just overdid it.

So instead of bowling and fireworks, it was a movie and binding for me. And some trashy tv.

I'm still feeling tired today but I'm  trying to just take it easy. If I don't get better, I may have to head to the doctor.

I did get some very fun mail today though.

My swap package from Naomi:

So fun - can't wait to cram all my plastic bags in this.

She also sent two knitted dishcloths, a linen handtowel, and a super cute potholder. Love it!!

I also got these gorgeous fabrics (from here)....

I want to use that black newsprint fabric in a quilt like Amy's.

And I finished up the binding on Bela's quilt today (while watching soccer, of course).

Just need a tall person to come home and hold it for me so I can take some pictures (my giant son is at the beach - he's now 5'8" - how did that happen?!).

Finally, some sewing

I have one more binding to finish and then these will be sent off to my swap partner for this swap.

Along with a secret present that I can't show until she receives it.

Got them quilted and all the bindings sewn on last night and then hand-sewed the binding today while watching listening to the soccer games. It's really hard to watch soccer and sew at the same time :-)

I'm down to the wire too since the deadline is tomorrow...

I also sewed up this block for the Ringo Pie bee.

I used this pattern as a guide but cut my freezer paper 10" x 12" and just drew the pattern on myself.

I am always SO intimidated every month in this bee - there are seriously some amazing talents in this bee - have you seen this block? or this one? Wow!!

This month's theme was summer and my kids love watermelon in the summer.

I attached the seeds using fusible webbing and then just free-motion quilted around them to keep them on.

Projects

Working on catching up on things this week.

I have one project taking up most of my time which I can't share right now - sorry! {I will as soon as I can though!}

Finished up these quilting bee blocks for Jessica for Busy Bees. We got to play with her new fabric!

Just didn't have enough gray for the final border around the second block. But she said she has plenty.

And I'm working on a diaper bag/tote for a customer too.

I have started listening to Harry Potter on audio so it makes for some fun sewing (yes, can you believe it?! I have never read any of the books or seen the movies...but now I'm through the first book and am starting on the second one.)

And as I was writing this post, the mail came and I got my wonderful swap package from Melissa.

Lots of goodies and a gorgeous pouch!

Look at all the embroidery! Thank you so much Melissa! I love it!

And the other reason why I blogged today....

To tell you all Tula Pink's new line is at Fabricworm!! I just saw it this morning...

I already snagged some of those raindrops - I am seriously in love with them! And they come in oilcloth too! Ack!

** Edited to add:

Just spotted LouLOUthi by Anna Maria Horner and Erin McMorris' new line, Summersault at this Etsy shop!

Fried

Oh man, I am so sunburned.

Yesterday Hubby played in his semi-final soccer game. They were the underdogs. After an EXCITING game plus two 10 minute overtimes, they won in penalty kicks. Way more exciting than one of my games!

Then I had a game later in the afternoon with no subs so now I'm quite toasty. And a little dehydrated.

I did finish up my Pretty Little Pouch items for my swap partner this weekend.

I started quilting the first block I made and just wasn't too happy with how it was coming out. I cut it in half and made a little pouch out of it which I liked way more and am sending it along with these two pouches since they all match well.

Hope my partner will be happy.

I have a few custom things I need to work on this week - camera strap, pillow and a tote.

I'm also going to make a quilt for a friend of ours. Her mom's blog is here and is so encouraging to read and it just causes you to put things in perspective and to realize what's really important in your life.

Her favorite colors are blue and red so I'm trying to think of the perfect pattern to use.....

Keep Sweet

So Heather finally got her half of our little swap....

I sent her this pillow.

I was trying to figure out what to send her and then came across this poster in her favs on Flickr. So I emailed Monica and asked if I could use it and this pillow is the result.

The Sweet Hot Yams are a bunch of talented ladies! This was so fun to make and Heather loves it so I'm happy!