one shabby chick

This little chick is going to Market!

OK so first of all - a winner!

And the winner is.....#27 - Veronica! Congrats!!

And yep, I'm heading to Quilt Market. It was a very last minute decision - I'm staying with Heather and had some extra miles and I'm SO excited about going!

I have always wanted to go to a Quilt Market so I'm so excited one of my dreams is coming true (and all you quilters/fabric lovers can relate to me - even if everyone else thinks I'm crazy about being excited to go to a quilt convention.) Ha ha!

And to celebrate (and maybe earn a little spending money) I'm having a sale in the shop. It was only 15% but I decided to up it to 20% instead.

So use coupon code Market20 in the shop - if you purchase anything before Wed., I'll mail it out before I leave, but otherwise it will ship out next Tuesday!

I just added a few new items too:

OK hope everyone is off to a great week!!

Settling back in

I'm a pretty independent person so when I was thinking of being gone for 10 days it didn't seem like too long. Boy was I wrong.

Don't get me wrong -  I had a TON of fun in Seattle and Salt Lake but I really missed my family.

Plus I didn't sleep good the entire trip so that had a little to do with it too.

And that altitude really threw me off in SLC! I'm a sea level girl, people - I felt nauseous and dizzy in SLC and couldn't figure out why until someone told me it was probably the altitude - ha ha!

I have been doing a lot of thinking about blogging and sewing and have more to share next week but for now I wanted to share my trip with you all (and write it down for myself so I don't forget!).

I went to Seattle first as one of my very best friends lives there. We grew up together here in Hawaii and she moved away after high school but we've always kept in touch. The last time I saw her was 5 years ago at my sister's wedding.

I had such a fun time....we went to a Sounders game on Sunday, walked along Pike's Market and did some shopping, wandered into this cool bar and discovered an awesome new band, and just hung out and talked.

She was also a great sport about hanging out with a bunch of quilters and talking about fabrics, blogging and quilting.

I arrived in Seattle late Friday night and Saturday morning we headed to Ballard and Dry Good Designs to meet up with Keli and Krista (and Krista's mom - who is the sweetest!!).

I've been emailing back and forth with Krista for a long time now so it was so fun to be able to meet her in person! They were on their way back to Vancouver but we got to chat for a little while and shop at Keli's.

She's just what I thought she'd be - smart, funny and super sweet!! I really wish we had had lots more time but am so happy I finally got to meet her.

Keli's shop is the cutest thing ever (and she is just so great! Super thoughtful - thanks again for buying that beer, Keli - that was so sweet of you!) - if you live in Seattle (or nearby) you HAVE to stop in - everything is so well thought-out and her fabrics and other items are gorgeous. I bought a few things that morning and then that night bought a little more :-)

Saturday night Katie had made reservations for a bunch of us to go out to dinner. We met at her house and she is just so down-to-earth! In my mind, she's one of my quilting heroes (she and Jacquie) and so to meet her in person and just have normal conversations about everyday stuff was so cool!

Heather and Jamie drove up from Portland (thank you SO much for doing that girls - it was so fun!) and Megan met us too.

It was so fun to meet everyone in real life that I had talked to online. We also met up with Krista, Sandi, Keli and CHARISE!! at dinner. I didn't even know Charise lived in Seattle and had no idea she was coming to dinner so it was so fun to meet up with another Ringo Pie-er! Plus she's just so great!!

Somehow I did not get a picture of Heather, Jamie and I together!! How did that happen?! Do you have one, Heather? I stole these from Heather!

We had a blast - got to sample Megan's husband's amazing wine - so good! Brought my mom home a bottle of one of his reds.

And then we all went back to Keli's and just hung out and talked for a while (and shopped). It was really so cool and kinda surreal :-) Talking about their books and projects and just quilting and fabric - it was like a mini-forum! Ha ha!

Heather and Jamie had to leave the next morning but we had coffee and breakfast and just talked and talked - and made a huge mess (ha ha!).

Loved hanging out with you two....so fun and easy - the best kind!

I spent the next few days hanging out with my friend and cruising around Seattle.

On Wednesday we met up with Katie and Charise again and caught the ferry over to Bainbridge Island.

We did some shopping and then met up with Kathy for lunch. She is so great! Really down to earth and friendly and so smart about her business. We even got to visit Pink Chalk Fabrics and do some shopping - she has a great team there and what a fun place to work!! Love the space - so bright and open!

I just loved how unassuming everyone was - they may be big names in the quilting world but none of them acted like it and I loved that!

And the weather was gorgeous the whole time I was there - sunny but cool.

I made my first trip to Ikea! And yes, I had to pack an extra box to bring home...

I'm really wishing I had gotten my phone out more and taken more pictures! Of Seattle but mostly of the people I met up with - seriously wishing for a do-over in that area!

On Thursday I flew out to Sewing Summit but I'll save that for another post.

Numbers

Days until I leave: 2

Things on my to-do list: 1 million

Things I should be working on but am instead fooling around making a new ipad case: 2

Days until I meet Katie, Heather, Jaime, Krista, Krista, Keli, Megan and Sarah: 3

Days I get to cruise around Seattle with one of my oldest friends: 5

Days until Sewing Summit: 6

Days until I'M TALKING AT SEWING SUMMIT: 7

Yep, you read that right!! John aka Quilt Dad had a last minute work conflict and I'm so bummed he won't be there!

And I am talking in his place - aaahhhh!! It's one of the four lectures on A Creative Journey so that helps as it's something really personal I can talk about.

I'm pretty nervous and already have a few fun surprises that I wrangled up (let's just say my sponsors rock!!!).

OK I'm off to spend the day at the Water Park with my family.....and try not to think about the million things I need to do!!

A few quick things

Hope everyone is ready for a fun weekend - we have a few birthday parties to go to and I plan to quilt that custom twin.

I keep getting emails asking about whether people can use my tutorials to make things to sell and I figured I should write something here so everyone will know.

Yes, by all means, you are welcome to use any of my tutorials to make things and sell them (not commercial sales but you know what I mean - ha ha!). I just ask that you credit back my tutorials when you do...thanks!

And I added a little sidebar thingy that will hopefully make it easier to follow me no matter what blog reader you use - let me know if it works ok....I'm not super tech-savvy.

I uploaded some ipad covers and guitar straps into the shop yesterday.

And finished the quilt I was working on. Here's a sneak peek:

and the back:

And I'm so happy - I booked my airplane tickets to go to Sewing Summit in October! I'm actually going to Seattle for a few days first as one of my best friends lives there so I get to spend a few days with her and then fly to Salt Lake - I am beyond excited!! Best part is - I used miles for both tickets - woohoo!!

Any of you going? 

Our Beach

We spent two days at the beach, one at the beginning of the trip and one near the end...

and we called it OUR beach since the name of the beach is Playa Carrillo :-)

(yes, those are horses just running around loose on the beach)

We, of course, can go to the beach whenever we want but our cousins from Missouri never get to go.

Playa Carrillo is about an hour's drive from Nicoya - not too bad. We spent two long days there - taking lunch and staying until it was almost dark.

The kids had a blast - the waves aren't very strong right now and it's shallow for a good distance into the water.

Plus there are coconut trees for shade since the sun is so much stronger there. We had to keep reapplying sunscreen so we didn't get burnt.

There were playmates for everyone - from the oldest cousins to the littlest ones. We played soccer and took turns with the one boogie board.

 

Hubby was standing by the road on our first trip to the beach and a truck drove by and stopped.

Turned out to be a friend that he'd known since they were kids and now he has a surf school right on the beach and rents out surfboards. His wife teaches yoga on paddleboards too.

So on our second trip to the beach, we went down and rented some surfboards and all the older cousins had a blast trying to catch waves (he wouldn't let us pay him though!!).

So if you are ever in Playa Carrillo, look him up - his name is Jon and he owns Chillasana Yoga and Surf School.

(my father-in-law)

Hubby took the GoPro took and took lots of videos at the beach.

 

We all said next time we go, we have to do more "touristy" things and visit places we've never been - like Tortugero National Park. Not sure if that will happen though - we were there 2 weeks and still didn't see all the aunts, uncles, cousins...

(me and my sister-in-law)

First few days

Been in a bit of a funk since getting home. Guess it's just jet lag and reality crashing down at the same time.

I am trying to adjust my attitude today - been focusing on all my blessings. We are all healthy and just got back from a wonderful vacation. I have an amazing husband and 4 great kids....truly blessed!

OK so onto the trip...

We had a long day of traveling. By the time I went to sleep in Costa Rica, I had been up for more than 36 hours. My brother-in-law and I had a little contest going to see who had been up the longest {I won - but not on purpose!}. The day before he had driven to the Costa Rica border {from Panama} and then rode 2 buses to get to Nicoya.

We didn't know if they were going to be able to make it as they had just been in CR for New Year's but thankfully everything worked out and he, his wife and 2 of their boys came for the first few days of our trip {they couldn't stay very long}. It was so wonderful to see them.

My other brother-in-law and his wife came too. They live in Missouri and we all planned the trip so we could go at the same time. They have 3 adorable boys - 10, 7 and 20 months. My younger son and their boys bonded instantly.

We all stayed in my mother-in-law's house. There were 3 bedrooms for the 3 couples and then one big room with a bunch of mattresses for all the kids.

There were cousins everywhere - some of them had never even met before but they were instant friends.

It was so great being able to stay in the same house with everyone and pass the whole day together. We didn't get sick of each other once :-) And the kids didn't fight at all - amazing!

We did stay up late every night just talking....so great to see family!

We arrived mid-day on Thursday and drove about an hour from the airport to my mother-in-law's house.

We spent the rest of the day hanging out and talking. Friday we went to a local "ranch" and there is a pool there that you pay a few bucks to swim in for the day.

We all got pretty burnt - the sun is so much stronger in CR than here...closer to the equator. And apparently I did not take a single picture that day - ugh!!

The kids had a blast....I don't think my little one came out of the pool the entire day.

It was really hot there - in the 90's every day.

Saturday we rented a soccer court and all played soccer - so much fun!

A few more cousins rode the bus from a few hours away and spent the rest of the weekend with us.

The boys played basketball later in the afternoon too and then we had a big party at my mother-in-law's other house (she and her husband own a shooting range and they have the cutest cabin there that they live in).

She owns a restaurant in the center of Nicoya and is a very good business-woman (hence the multiple houses).

There were a bunch of birthdays in the family in January so that was what the party was for. We had chicharrones, yuca, roasted pork, chimichurri and a few other things - all the foods I had been dying to eat.

We took the time and took a bunch of pictures of all the family too.

{missing two siblings - they weren't able to make it}

{missing 2 spouses + 2 siblings}

I handed my camera off to a lady that was there when the time came for a picture of the entire family (there were a few - 15! - missing) but she couldn't hold it straight and ended up taking three of our feet only :-)

I stole this one from my sister-in-law's Facebook page.

Wishing now that I had paid more attention and gotten photos of each family too - kicking myself for not doing that now!

Not to worry - we have LOTS of pictures...that's it for this post though! It's taken me all day to write it.

Been cleaning, doing laundry, making black beans.....off to do more of the same!

We're back!

We made it home safely last night after the most turbulent flight I've ever had.

(Flight #1 of 3 yesterday)

I have LOTS to share and am still exhausted - the luggage is still piled up in the living room and probably will be there for a few days.

(playing soccer in Nicoya with all the cousins)

It's so bittersweet coming home. Feels like we've been gone forever and yet it all went by so fast.

(downtown Nashville)

Can't wait to start re-living the trip here through my posts. Hope that's ok with all of you - there are going to be lots of posts about family, Costa Rica and Nashville.

(cousins)

I want to document it all and this feels like the best place to share it.

(boots at my sister-in-law's house)

I'll eventually get back to sewing and I'm sure I will be itching to start sewing soon...

(the view at my sister-in-law's house - Grano de Oro, Costa Rica)

But until then, you'll just have to go along for the ride {if you want to...if not, tune back in later}.

(Papagayo Beach - Costa Rica)

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....

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!!!