one shabby chick

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.

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Fall 2011

I have missed the last couple Quilt Festival's - not sure how?! Amy does an amazing job setting them up and it's so fun to see everyone's creations and read the stories behind their quilts.

This time I've chosen to share Bela's house quilt.

Or is it her star quilt?

It's two-sided and all the blocks are from two different virtual quilting bees I was in - A Notion or Two and the Block Swap.

It was such a fun quilt to make - all those bright colors.

And lots of Heather Ross and munki munki in the stars.

I quilted it with  1/2" lines - love the way those lines look so close together.

It's on her bed now....and it's so fun to look at each block and know who made them and the friendships that were started because of those quilting bees.

Here's Amy's post if you want to join in the fun!

A little tweak

Boy, my kids are wiped out from this weekend.

I have two taking a nap right now and they hardly ever do that but there was so much yawning and whining during school today I thought it would be best.

I did a little variation on my iPad tutorial and am making a few for the craft fair.

Instead of a flap, I left the top open and used an elastic rubberband and a button as the closure.

I like the way it looks. I have some in-progress here:

I just added the elastic part while I was sewing the lining and outside fabrics together.

And I have a few pillow fronts that need some backs....

Made them all with the Silhouette machine and iron-on vinyl.

OK off to pack up some fabric - there are still a few more sets in the shop and I lowered the prices on a few of the bundles.

A little destashing

Just feeling a little overwhelmed by all the fabrics {and a few that I'm never going to get around to using} so destashing in the shop.

Oops - forgot to add the coupon code for blog readers! Just type in 15off for 15% off anything in the shop! Thanks!

14

wow - 14 - is that even possible?

How do we have a child that is 14? And taller than me? And sounds like a man? And who just keeps growing?

I remember when we first brought him home.

We were both 23 and had no idea what we were doing. But thankfully we all survived.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy - I love you!

New artwork and a few forts

The kids have been building forts in their rooms after school for the past few days.

Adjusting things here and there...lots of signs like "No boys allowed" or "No girls". Sleeping in them every night. Blankets everywhere.

I like to keep things pretty tidy around here but I've just let it go - they are having fun and what's a few (or a million) blankets for a week or so.

Yesterday I went to vacuum the living room and found this sitting on the couch.

I had to take a picture - I asked him if it was a frog but he told me it was some machine from Transformers - I've never watched any of them all the way through.

 

I just thought it was pretty cool!

And I was going to make these canvases for the craft fair but I've decided to keep them all since:

A. There is no way they are not going to get smudged or dirty at a craft fair.

and

B. I really like them.

So now I have some new art for our walls.

These two are in our bedroom.

And this one is on the front door {and yes, I see that big crease down the center - need to iron it better!}.

I used my Silhouette machine, heat transfer vinyl, and Heather Bailey's new canvas fabric.

Now I'm off to cross off a few to-do items: Minky blankets.

Feeling funky

Still feeling sad and funky - not sure how to snap out of it but I'm trying to keep doing things and stay occupied.

And thanks so much for all the well wishes.

Did I mention that last year when I went for my Grandma's funeral, my Grandpa showed me a bunch of quilts he had made? Turns out after he retired from the Navy, he spent some time hand-quilting a few quilts. I'm hoping to get them when we go in February.

I made up some little pouches using this pattern after seeing Anna's gorgeous ones on Flickr.

I have a few more to finish (you have to hand-stitch the opening closed).

And I tried out this pattern I had bought a while ago. Trying to decide what I want to use it for - make-up bag? hand-sewing pouch?

It's really big and roomy - and scrappy - my favorite!

And did you all see Jeni's cute drawstring pouch tutorial? That's on my list too - my camera needs a safe way to travel.

Ok - off to make enchiladas for dinner for us and a family from church that just had a new baby - and I'm going to try and help the mom with her sewing machine - tension is off.

Mason and film reel

We had a little visitor this morning. His mama and daddy had a little staycation in Waikiki for their anniversary and they needed an emergency babysitter this morning for a few hours.

He was so cute - dancing and laughing. I had forgotten how much energy little people have - or how much you have to watch them esp. if your house isn't baby-proofed!

I finished the last block for Ringo Pie last night - it is Amy's month and her theme is cameras.

I had drawn out a sketch of three colorful cameras stacked on top of each other (like this) but seriously, who am I kidding - I am not Penny or Ayumi or Kerry - there is no way!

So I found this perfect linen panel in my stash and went from there.

I love Marit's block and did a little film reel of my own around the outside.

We are planning on continuing on for round 2 and I am so excited - it's a great bee with amazing ladies!

 My month was September and I asked for Christmas blocks - here's the ones I've gotten so far. You can see them up close in the Flickr pool.

oh and one more thing - head on over to Lulu's blog - she's giving away 10 patterns to 10 lucky people!!

This morning

It's almost been a year since I wrote this post.

And now I have to write another one - my Grandpa passed away this morning. It's so sad. I had been meaning to call him since I didn't tell him we had "officially " bought our tickets.

And now we don't get to see him again. He did tell me he didn't know if he was going to last until Feb. but I told him sure he would - he was stubborn...and hard-headed.

(see what that mower says - world's fastest! He told me it was his one indulgence - and boy does that thing go fast!!)

My parents are flying out tonight - pray for them (esp. my dad) if you think about it - all kinds of family drama ahead of them - ugh!

We are still going to go in Feb. - my uncle lives in Franklin and they are so excited we are coming and we have a few relatives that live close to where my Grandpa lives so we can go see the house and everything. Hubby has never been there.

I'm so glad I have so many memories of him - even though they lived far away, we would visit them almost every summer...one summer he even rented a pony for us.

He let me make caramels on his stove when I was about 12.....and always had sodas on hand for us.

I'll miss you Grandpa.

The New Look

So, how does everyone like the new look?  I, for one, am so excited about bigger pictures.

My lovely designer is Margi {her blog is between loads of laundry} and she worked SO hard on my blog {especially since she had never done a Typepad blog before and apparently they are way more difficult - poor thing...I'm making her a word pillow as a thank you, especially considering she did not charge me enough!!}.

And she just found out she's having a baby {#4}...Congrats Margi!

Go check her out if you are in the market for a new look...

And how cute are these little tags?!

I got them from this Etsy seller to use as some type of packaging at the craft fairs. Of course now Etsy is going to let you change your shop name so I'm in a dilemma - I'll figure it out.

And I got these little hats from a Heartsy purchase - so cute right?! Wishing I had another Heartsy coupon to use at the store because the girls both want a hat just like these.

And I tested a pattern for Jamie today. As I was putting it together, hubby came home and asked me if I had followed the instructions (since I told him how I hadn't followed them on the Weekender)...ha ha, yes I did - sorta.

I wanted to make a little boy pair for my nephew so I just omitted the ruffle at the top and that was all - aren't they too cute?!

I'm all set to make some more!

Hoping everyone is having a great week - mine has started off kinda crappy but writing this post had cheered me up a bit :-)