one shabby chick

Good Neighbors Pincushion Party

Amanda (aka Crazy Mom Quilts) was one of the first blogs I ever followed way back when. She makes the most amazing quilts and her love of scraps is well-known. I love her use of color and just her fun style.

So I knew her fabric line would be just that - colorful and fun! And it is!

I decided to do some scrappy pin cushions to help celebrate the launch of her new line, Good Neighbors by Connecting Threads.

These are 1.5" squares that I pieced together, quilted, backed with some faux burlap from Connecting Threads and then stuffed with some wool scraps and batting. Scrappy fun!

I don't think you can ever have too many pin cushions!

So if you would like to win one of these pin cushions and a charm square set of Amanda's new line, just leave a comment below (sorry my international friends, but this giveaway is limited to US and Canadian addresses only).

And there are so many cute pin cushions in our party! I LOVE Vanessa's (she has an awesome tutorial for it too). Go check them out:

9/1/2015 Amanda Jean – Crazy Mom Quilts
9/2/2015 Anna – Noodlehead
9/3/2015 Mary – Mary on Lake Pulaski
9/4/2015 Svetlana – Sotak Handmade
9/5/2015 Debbie – Esch House Quilts
9/6/2015 Holly – Bijou Lovely
9/7/2015 Carla – Grace and Favour
9/8/2015 Faith – Fresh Lemons Quilts
9/9/2015 Vanessa –  V and Co.
9/10/2015 Anna –  Thimbleanna
9/11/2015 Krista –  Poppy Print Creates
9/12/2015 Erin –  Why Not Sew
9/13/2015 Lee –  May Chappell
9/14/2015 Alex –  Tea Ginny Designs
9/15/2015 Cheryl –  Nap Time Quilter
9/16/2015 Penny –  Sew Take a Hike
9/17/2015 Amy –  During Quilt Time
9/18/2015 Debbie –  A Quilter’s Table
9/19/2015 Anne –  Spring Leaf Studios
9/20/2015 Melissa Corry –  Happy Quilting
9/21/2015 Amber –  One Shabby Chick
9/22/2015 Nettie –  A Quilt is Nice
9/23/2015 Adrianne – Little Bluebell
9/24/2015 Cindy –  Live a Colorful Life
9/25/2015 Amy –  Diary of a Quilter
9/26/2015 Chase –  Quarter Inch Mark
9/27/2015 Rene –  Rene Creates
9/28/2015 Erin –  House on Hill Road
9/29/2015 Nicole –  Modern Handcraft
9/30/2015 Teri –  Connecting Threads

Thanks for letting me play along Amanda! I know this is the first of many awesome fabric lines :-)

Thanks

Wow - I guess you guys are still here! Thanks for that! I loved reading all your comments!

And the winner of the pouch is....

Janine who said....

Glad to see you back! I don't blame you about instagram taking over blogging desires. It's SO easy to find instant visual representation and I love that I can peek into the worlds of my friends who aren't close by. And your projects look fabulous as always! Wish I could sew but after many failed attempts I'll stick with my knitting and just enjoy your bags to put it in ^_^

{Janine, will you send me an email with your address?}

Yesterday was my birthday and for the past two birthdays I've done a little challenge on Instagram. A lip sync challenge. I'm doing it again this year so if any of you feel inclined to join you can find the details here on my Instagram account.

It's pretty fun to get over your self-consciousness and do something a little wacky and fun. Go try it! I'm even bribing you all with a tote :-)

I've been sewing up lots of knife pouches...

and I still have a few more to make!

And then it's on to dresses and skirts for a local children's boutique.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I'm starting mine off with a birthday dinner with my family (and this cutie).

Finding my voice again

So yeah, it's been awhile. AGAIN.

Instagram has taken over any blogging desires I've had. But I'm realizing that as much as we can connect with people on Instagram, our voices don't really come through like they can on a blog.

So I'm back here....I love looking through my blog and seeing all the years gone by. And I want that to keep going. So I'm going to try and post at least once a week - that's a goal for now :-)

We had a pretty packed summer. Our family went on a mission trip to Mexico.

Actually Kevin and I were the leaders of the team (along with two young guys). I gotta say - it was one of the hardest things I've done...be a leader with my family there too. Cause I had to be mom to my kids but also mom/leader to 13 other kids too.

But it was an amazing time and I'm so glad we all got to go. I know we want to go back soon.

It was so fun being able to speak Spanish too.

We had some pretty rough living conditions but the kids (all of them) never complained and just went along with whatever we had planned. We had a great team.

I loved being able to spend time with this guy too - he was the hardest worker. I honestly didn't realize how neat it would be to go as a family.

Only problem was this little person developed a huge fear of flying which made airports the WORST!

She was ok after she got on the plane - just the anticipation was horrible. And a nightmare for her parents who were supposed to be in charge of the rest of the team too.

We did lots of work on the place we were staying and a few local projects too.

I mostly cooked. and cooked. and cooked. Lol! But I had so much help from the local missionaries and another family that came down there to help us (they were the biggest help ever).

We are back now (well, we have been for a while) and I'm back to sewing all the orders that piled up while I was gone.

And some fun stuff too!

Some baby items for Mai.

And some pouches are in the works for my shop.

And if you've read this far...and are still following me here - you deserve a prize!!

So leave a comment and I'll pick one of you to get a zip pouch filled with treats! Just say hi!

 

By the Block

I was thrilled to get the chance to review Siobhan's new book, By the Block. I'm a huge fan of her blog and everything she makes is just gorgeous (and super yummy).

By the Block features 18 quilt patterns that are organized by theme - Squares, Half-Square Triangles, Crosses, Triangles, Log Cabin and Curved Piecing. Siobhan found that her quilting students lead very busy lives (like most of us, I'm sure) but were still eager to make amazing quilts so she wrote this book to help us all make beautiful quilts that "look complex but are actually simple to execute."

By the Block: 18 Surprisingly Simple Quilts

By Siobhan Rogers

Interweave/F+W; $26.99

I have met Siohban at Quilt Market and she is genuinely so sweet so I thought it would be fun to do a little interview with her.

1) ok because I am a sappy romantic, I saw in your acknowledgements that you met your hubby in a photography class. Want to share about that?

My poor ever patient husband.

I meet him my first year out of school (way back in 1994) we were both studying commercial photography and we were in the same classes. We have been together ever since. 

He helps and supports me in everything, I have had some ridiculous hair brained plans or interest over the years and he just goes with the flow. Deciding to write a book on quilting being one of them. I have been very lucky.

 

 

2) I absolutely love your half square triangle quilts - especially Hoo Are You and Go Big or Go Home. But I really am not a fan of HSTs - lol! Any tips on how to make them more enjoyable/less tedious. Or is it more just a personal preference with this block?

 

Thank you!

HST are funnily one of the first techniques/ blocks I experimented with many years ago as a beginner. It seemed easy enough to manage as a novice - cutting straight lines and sewing straight lines. I could get lots of effects and geometric designs using the simple HST it was just a matter of fabric colours and the direction the block was laid.

 

I agree that sewing the same block repeated 100 times can seem boring ....... I also have a habit of not trimming my HST units, I know for some that may be controversial but I don't have any issues piecing untrimmed HST or any issues with bulk when the top is being quilted.

 

I do find that sometimes I want a project that is in a round about way mindless, If that makes sense - If I have all my units cut and ready to go I can chain piece lots of HST and not have to think about much what so ever, which when you are a busy person with the usual family/ friends/ work and kids "Stuff" -  it can be nice.

 

I have found from teaching and being around lots of quilters that people enjoy quilting for lots of different reasons and this also usually drives what type of quilts people attempt to create or are drawn to create. Different life stages seem to have a little impact too.

 

 

3) I think this one of the few quilting books I’ve seen where I am in love with every pattern. I just love your bold use of color and scrappy designs - it’s how I love to create too. Do you keep a large stash at home and just use what you have or do you buy fabric with specific projects in mind?

 

I went through a stage of buying lots of fabric, I wouldn't say I have a huge stash of fabric but I do have lots!

Now days I know my style a little better and I am a bit more savvy with my fabric purchases. I have learnt that I tended to use what I had bought most recently and completely forget about the fabrics I had stored in the cupboard.

I make more of an effort to have a real look through what I have before I purchase anything new. It can be really hard when you see so many fantastic fabric ranges coming out to stay disciplined.

If I really, really want a new range and I have no specific project in mind I will buy a pre cut bundle, which is great for creating scrappy looking projects. I also find I am drawn to similar coloured ranges and most things go together.

If I see a fabric that I know I will use as the main background or I really want it to be the feature of the quilt I will buy 2 meters for a single bed design and 3 meters for a bigger quilt design and I try to use all my scraps as a pieced backing for my quilts - I like to use up what I have and then I don't need to go out and buy 6 yards worth of extra fabric just for the back.

You also need to keep in mind that in the last 24 months I have made over 30 big bed sized quilts......... Thats a lot of fabric.

 

 

4) I know I’ve told you before that I think you are superwoman - ha ha! I get so inspired by your designs, your baking and your photography and I know what it’s like to try and raise 4 kids at the same time. Any advice for busy moms trying to juggle a lot of things too?

 

Its all an illusion! My house is organized mayhem and I miss out on lots of social stuff because Im trying to get everything done or teaching at night. 

I am very mindful of people who don't have it so easy - families all over the world are working a huge amount of hours and still trying to run a family and not always in the easiest or happiest environments.

I have a leg up in life - My life is pretty uncomplicated. I don't have everything but I think I am incredibly lucky coming from a good area in a good country with access to everything I need.

I try to be thankful for what I have. 

 

I try to be "good enough" no such thing as perfect when your a mum and I usually carry a little mothers guilt around with me, like at the moment I have just booked to go to Spring Quilt Market and I feel slightly bad that I am leaving the kids for a week with my husband. 

Leaving the kids for a week also means that I must have some pretty good family support?!

Which I do. My husband does lots in the house and works full time, I also have my dad and in-laws that will drop everything to come look after things.

I wouldn't be able to achieve half the things I do without any backup support.

In saying all of that...sometimes fitting in my design work means the kids bedrooms aren't as tidy as I would like or the clean washing isn't folded and put away or I haven't double checked the kids spelling words........

 

I make things (sewing, cooking and photos) because it makes me happy - I am so lucky to be able to share that with everyone.

 

 

I loved chatting with Siobhan and getting to know her a little better. You can keep up with her on her blog or Instagram and go check out her book - By the Block - it really is a great quilting book to have!

 

Thanks Siohban!

Winners and the latest around here....

OK so we have two winners from the Paper Pieced Home Giveaway:

Winner of the book:

Patti McGarry from Pennsylvania

and winner of the pouch:

Bodil from Norway

I'm emailing you both - congrats!

I've been busy sewing and doing life here.

We had two kids go to prom a week ago (ahhhhh!!):

They all went as a big group and had a blast.

We were leaders at our annual spring break youth camp - we always have a blast and come home exhausted (it's two weekends in a row - senior high and then junior high).

(that's our elusive 3rd child - he's not a big fan of pictures)

And I've been sewing. A lot.

Our family is going on a mission trip with our church this summer to Mexico. Actually Kevin and I are two of the leaders on the team.

I'm planning on hosting a little fundraiser on Instagram to sell my handmade goods and all money will go to the trip. I'll post here when I get it up and going.

Anyway - back to the sewing.

I'm obsessed with this feather pattern by Christina - it's so cute! I'm going to have to put it to the side right now though - lots of dresses are in my future for this local shop.

And I whipped up a cute little basket from Kelly's tutorial - they really are fast and fun to make. I added in a few details - like leather handles and side seams.

I have two quilts over at Sarah's (aka Crinklelove) right now - can't wait to get them back - one is a very old WIP! She has a great special going on through the month of April! So I'll have some binding in my future too!

OK I'm off to SEW.....

The Paper Pieced Home (and a giveaway)

I absolutely love paper piecing (but it wasn't always that way).

I remember when I first started out, I was so nervous about it - probably because I was in an amazing bee with a bunch of paper piecing geniuses!

And I'm still pretty bad at translating my ideas to actual patterns but that's ok - because I have friends who are amazing at it and have patterns and books to help us all!

The Paper-Pieced Home: Quilting a Household One Block at a Time

By Penny Layman

Interweave/F+W

Penny is one of those friends and I can't wait to meet her in real life one day too. She has a pattern company with Kerry called Sew Ichigo and she just wrote the most fabulous book - The Paper Pieced Home : Quilting a Household One Block at a Time by Interweave.

I was thrilled when F + W asked me to review her book - it was an instant YES!

She has the BEST tips and techniques at the beginning of the book to help you even if you are new to this technique.

And my favorite part about the book? This great cd that you can put in your hard drive and print out pages as you need them!

This book is packed full of patterns and project ideas - there are so many, it's amazing!

I chose to do the Stack of Books block - it reminded me of the first block I ever made for the Ringo Pie bee (which Penny and I were in together).

I used the block as the front panel for a tote bag - isn't it so cute?!

This would be adorable as a library bag. The leather and sparkle canvas handles were a fun touch.

I also used the little mason jar block in the book and made two little zip pouches.

I used a stamp I have and made them little "aloha" jars. There are so many ways to use the projects and blocks in this book!

And the best part of this post - I have a copy for one of you to win too!! The book giveaway is for US addresses only (sorry international peeps). Leave a comment and tell me where in the US you live and you will be entered to win!

But I do have a giveaway for you international peeps!  I'll send one of you an aloha zip pouch! Just leave a comment telling where you live and you will be entered to win as well!

I'm one of the last stops on this book tour but here's a list of the entire tour if you want to check out everyone's amazing projects:

The Paper-Pieced Home

Blog Tour Schedule 

3/16       McCall’s Quilting / Sewing Machine Block

3/17       Love of Quilting / Review

3/17       Sandi Sawa Hazlewood  of Crafty Planner / Watering Can Block

3/18       Quilty Pleasure (Quiltmaker blog) / Review

3/18       Imagine Gnats / Rotary Phone Block

3/20       Verykerryberry / Lion Block

3/21       Artisania / Cast-Iron Skillet Block

3/23       Where the Orchids Grow / Lamp Block

3/24       Katie Blakesley of Swim Bike Quilt / Layer Cake Block

3/24       House on Hill Road / Oven Mitt Block

3/24       Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced / BBQ Grill Block

3/26       Pink Penguin / Allie-Gator Block

3/26       A Happy Stitch / Giraffe Block

3/27       Bijou Lovely / Jar Block

3/27       Two Little Banshees / Saucepan Block

3/27       Charise Creates / Espresso Mug Block

3/30       Karen Lewis Textiles / Couch Block

3/31       Poppyprint / Clawfoot Tub Block

3/31       One Shabby Chick / Stack of Books Block

3/31       During Quiet Time / Sleeveless Dress Block

4/06       Pat Sloan The Voice of Quilting / Author Podcast Interview

Good luck everyone!

 

Comments are now closed!

Sew Pretty For Little Girls Blog Hop

I am thrilled to be a part of the blog tour for Alice Caroline's new book, Sew Pretty for Little Girls.

In the UK it's actually called Little Lady Liberty (which I love). But the US title is Sew Pretty for Little Girls.

It's full of fun sewing projects for the little girls in your life.

And out of Liberty fabrics? What could be better?!

The book is broken into three main categories: Blissful Bedrooms, Twirly Girly Garments, and Pretty Little Things. 

My first project on the to-do list is from the Pretty Little Things category: a sweet belt for my little girl.

She picked out a Cotton and Steel octopus print which is very similar to Liberty lawn and will work fantastic in the project - just need to find the time to sew it up!

I love all the pretty projects in this book that are perfect for little and big (like me) girls!

How cute are these lampshades?

and the floor pillow would be perfect in the living room to curl up on.

I love fun and practical patterns and this book is full of them!

 

How cute is this little doll?! I love it!

 

The best part is there is a fun blog hop and a few chances to win a copy along the way! Go check it out:

Mon 2nd – Alice Caroline

Wed 4th – Crafting Not Cleaning

Thu 5th – Sew4Home

Fri 6th – Bloom

Sat 7th – A Spoonful of Sugar

Sun 8th – Fabricworm

Mon 9th – Pieced Brain

Tue 10th – Pretty Nostalgic

Wed 11th – Olivia Jane Handcrafted

Thu 12th – One Shabby Chick

Fri 13th – Sew Creative

Sat 14th – The Last Piece

Mon 16th – Victoria Findlay Wolfe Quilts

Tue 17th – Sew Crafty Jess

Wed 18th – Stitchery Dickory Dock

Fri 20th – Molly Flanders

Sat 21st – Fabric & Flowers

Sun 22nd – A Bright Corner

Mon 23rd - Follow the White Bunny

Tue 24th  - Straight Grain

Wed 25th  - Sew Justine Sew

Thu 26th  - Tracey Jay Quilts

Fri 27th  - Feather’s Flights

Sat 28th  - Monkey Do

Sun 29th  - Miss Print

Mon 30th  - This Blog Is Not For You

Tue 31st  - Sew Scrumptious

Wanderer by April Rhodes

I was thrilled when April asked if I wanted to play with her new fabric line, Wanderer.

(photo credit: April Rhodes)

I absolutely loved her first line, Arizona, and this one is just as spectacular!

I actually ended up doing a few projects because I had so many ideas.

The first thing I made was a little dress using a modified version of this dress.

I even used a little Arizona in the bottom hem.

I absolutely love patchwork so I made a pillow using 2.5" squares with this method.

And then I quilted it using matchstick quilting.

I stuffed a very big pillow in there. So it's nice and fluffy.

I used some Cotton and Steel double gauze for the back which matches perfectly with the gold colors in Wanderer.

I think that's one of my favorite things about this line - such a unique color way and soooo pretty!

As soon as I saw April's photo print in Quilt Market pictures, I knew I wanted to make a tote with it.

And lucky for me, Anna just came out with a new tote pattern!

So here's my Caravan tote:

I just need to add snaps to the front pocket.

I love the Serape print too - it's so colorful and really pops!

I used leather handles and a really pretty dark grey dot that I picked up at Dry Good Designs when I was there in November.

Metal zips - a little more effort but so worth it!

And I used her awesome border print for the inside of the zip pocket. 

There are still a few more stops on this awesome tour:

Sunday Feb. 15 - Nicole Morgenthau - finchsewingstudio.com

Monday Feb. 16 - Holly Hughes - hollygetsquilty.com 

Tuesday Feb. 17 - Shannon Cook - veryshannon.com

 

Wednesday Feb. 18 - Becca Bryan -  bryanhousequilts.com

 

Thursday Feb. 19 - Rochelle New - luckylucille.com

 

Friday Feb. 20 - Kate -  http://seekatesew.com

 

Saturday Feb. 21 - Me :-)

 

Sunday Feb. 22 - Caroline Hulse - sewcaroline.com

 

Monday Feb. 23 - John Adams - quiltdad.com

 

Tuesday Feb. 24 - Maureen Cracknell - maureencracknellhandmade

 

Wednesday Feb. 25 - Delia - deliacreates.com

 

Thursday Feb. 26 - Kelly - cutcutsew.com

 

Friday Feb. 27 - Christopher Thompson - thetattooedquilter.com

 

Saturday Feb. 28 - Jen - www.littlewifepowerhouse.com

 

There's also an amazing prize you can win!

 

 

To win :: follow April (@aprilarhodes) on IG and repost any of the Wanderer Tour photos with #wanderertourgiveaway and she will randomly choose a winner from the hashtags pool on March 1st!

 

Good luck!!

Oahu Modern Quilt Guild

I have been meaning to write this post for a long time. We have an official Modern Quilt Guild now on Oahu!

We meet every month and have sew-ins scheduled throughout the year as well. 

Here are our first set of elected officers :-)

(Sue, Alli, Megan, Mai and Sarah)

They have all done such a great job getting the guild up and running (along with Trinia).

If any of you local ladies are interested in checking out, let me know - it's really a fun group and very welcoming to newcomers.

I'm excited for all the things they have planned for this year - we have a bag sew-a-long going on now and are planning our first guild quilt too.

So don't be shy, come check it out and join in the fun!!

A quick trip

Every year the hubs and I are blessed to be able to go to the Calvary Chapel Youth Worker's Conference in Murrieta Hot Springs, CA.

It's such a great time to spend some time together (and poor hubby needed a break from work) and we try and do some fun things while we are on the mainland.

This year (and last year) we went to Mosaic - it's a church on Hollywood Blvd. and we listen to their podcast so it's so fun to go for a Sunday and hear Hank or Erwin live. We got a great airbnb up in Hollywood Hills and it had a gorgeous view.

Then we headed out to Murrieta and were there for four days - I of course was on yelp scouting eating locations - lol - and I had been following an amazing place on Instagram that is in Temecula and we ended up going there twice. Eat Marketplace - so, so good. I highly recommend it if you are in the area - they even have kombucha on tap - mmmm!

We had a wonderful time at the conference and have made some great friends there. On Thursday we headed back to LAX and flew to San Francisco for the night. I had been before but it was hubby's first time. We stayed right near Union Square - I don't know if us country folk were prepared for the big city. Ha ha!

We had so much fun though - walked for hours on Thursday night. Had dinner at Naked Lunch which was really good and then walked down to the Ferry Building and all around.

 

The next morning we got coffee at Blue Bottle, rode the cable car, walked some more, and then met Amanda for lunch at the Ferry Building.

I was so excited to finally meet her after knowing her online for forever!! We had lunch at one of the cute cafes there and then walked all around checking out all the goodies. Wish I had had more time to cruise around - got the BEST cookies of my life from Miette. Oh my goodness - their gingersnaps are amazing.

Then we rented a car to drive up to Redding and stay with my brother-in-law for a few days. But before we left San Francisco we drove around Golden Gate park and went to the Sutro Baths. So pretty - I love how different the beaches are on the Pacific Coast compared to Hawaii.

I actually got to catch up with TWO long-time online/Flickr friends and they both happened to be named Amanda. Ha ha!

We met up with mrsmcporkchop and her wonderful hubby on the way up to Redding and had such a fun time at dinner with them. I'm so thankful for both these ladies and their long-time friendship (and for driving out of their way to meet up with me) - love you ladies!!

Our visit to Redding was wonderful too. It had been a few years since we saw my brother-in-law and his family and I know Hubby really loved spending time with his brother.

We got to go snow-tubing up on Mount Shasta - it was SO fun!! It was only the second time I'd ever been in snow!

Redding is such a pretty town - loved the sundial bridge. Next time we will have to bring the kids.

We really packed a lot into our trip but it never felt rushed or jam-packed. It was so fun hanging out with friends and family and just seeing new places.

And getting to spend time with this guy. That was my favorite part.