one shabby chick

A quick note

Just wanted to let you all know I added a bunch of HR/munki munki charm packs to the shop plus a few scrap packs as well.

Coupon code SEWINGSUMMIT is still in effect for 15% off!!

A little shop update

Some new iPad covers (more styles in the shop):

and a couple Kindle covers too:

And a baby quilt I finished for a customer:

 

I had plans to sew today but am feeling a nap might be needed instead?! We'll see....

15% off with coupon code SEWING SUMMIT is good until this Wednesday and then I'll be closing the shop until I come back!

Some cleaning

Which inevitably results in a destash!

So yep, there are a bunch of bundles in the shop....

and 4 HUGE boxes of scraps (and my scraps are not tiny)! I just couldn't stand my over-flowing scrap bins anymore....I know I need to get a handle on them but I just can't!

I was also thinking about cutting up some Heather Ross/Munki charm packs if anyone would be interested? I need to let go of some of the hoarding :-)

And....

Baby Quilts

I finished these two up last week and both are now in the shop.

This quilt started while I was playing around with piecing arrows a while back.

It's pretty crinkly now that it's washed - think that's due to all that linen and swirly quilting.

And this quilt was made after playing around with "orphan" blocks in my ufo pile.

I love how they all came together in this quilt.

And I tried a few different quilting techniques from Angela's book.

I'm working on a couple new ones now.

A twin quilt for a customer...

And I just finished the binding on this one last night - I can't wait to show it to you - it's just simple squares but so cute.

Oh, and this one.....

turned into this after I decided to add a word to the patchwork squares (I used Denyse Schmidt's Proverbial Quilt Pattern for the letters). Hoping I get around to quilting it this week.

And here's a lovely view from Saturday morning.

I'm on the AYSO board now and Saturday was picture day - luckily we have a great backdrop!!

** And I ALMOST forgot - all you local Hawaii peeps! Another quilter and I have been talking about starting a Modern Quilt Guild here and were thinking of having coffee this week (maybe Friday afternoon in Pearl City) to talk it over and meet each other. Anyone want to join in? Leave me a comment and I'll be in touch!

Where to start

So I'm leaving two weeks from today - eeek!! I am SO excited!

Sewing Summit and Seattle (one of my best friends lives there and I haven't seen her in years).

I'll be in Seattle for almost a week and then it's off to Sewing Summit.

I cannot wait! Meeting up with a bunch of friends - I think some of the Portland girls are making the trek up to Seattle.

Stopping by this lovely store to meet Keli and I finally get to meet Katie!!

Plus everyone at Sewing Summit too - it will be so fun to put voices and faces to everyone!!

And I have a ton of sewing that I've done/need to do.

Has anyone seen Elizabeth's weekender? OK go take a look, I'll wait here.

Amazing right?! When I first saw it on Instagram, I had to drop everything and start one!

Mine is a little wonky but I'm ok with that (but I totally followed the directions for once and put the zipper in the right way!).

* I made it like Elizabeth did - quilt as you go method and canvas and batting instead of peltex.

Just need to sew in the lining and it can be my carry-on for my trip!

I'm working on a baby quilt that a friend ordered.

It's all pieced together and basted. I'm planning on quilting it this afternoon.

I finally sewed the binding on the Brr! quilt so now I can hand-stitch it down.

This is on my design wall right now.

I loved all the fabrics I used in my Weekender so I cut 5" squares last night and put them up on the wall.

Which was when Hubby revealed something he'd been holding in for a while now - Apparently it really bugs him that I cut up the fabric so you can't tell what it is or read the words on it....so basically he doesn't like quilting - ha ha!

I laughed so hard at him - and then he tried to tell me how there was too much black in one area and I almost hit him :-)

I have another twin quilt that I'm planning to start this weekend and finish before I leave....plus 3 twin quilts for three sisters using Sarah Jane's Out To Sea fabrics - but those aren't due until the end of November.

I can't wait to make them - love that fabric!!

Oh and one last, but kinda big, thing.

Umm - Heather wrote a book and I have a pattern in it!!

Eek! I can't show you my pillow but I can say {whispers} - it has words on it!!!

It's on Amazon right now for pre-sale. It comes out in Feb. 2013!

Lots to share

I feel like life is flying by lately. I mean, I'm enjoying it and getting things done and trying to be in the moment, but I blink and another week is gone!

Monday started with a window-washing session which led to new curtains being made.

I have had yardage of this gorgeous Loulouthi Velveteen since January - just waiting for inspiration to hit and kick my butt in gear (actually I really wanted to re-paint the living room but that's not happening any time soon).

So Monday afternoon I whipped out these curtains - seriously - each panel took about 15 minutes.

Nice thing about velveteen - you don't really have to iron it!! I was really lazy and just folded the selvedge and hemmed each side, serged the bottom and top and sewed the channel for the curtain rod - easy!

They look so great! I love them! I still need two more panels on the big window but it works for now and I'll wait until I see it on sale somewhere.

I hung up some of the "old" living room curtains (they had some rips from a curtain removal gone wrong) in my bedroom - this is one of my favorite fabrics of all time. And now I still get to see it everyday.

This week was all about catching up on Bee blocks.

Ringo Pie:

I wanted to make one more block for Tamiko's "Magnum PI" theme and went with a pineapple - very Hawaiian.

Doesn't that Chicopee fabric look just like the outside of a pineapple?!

And Leila's month is September and she asked for "favorite things".

She said we could do whatever we wanted - favorite fabrics, foods, blocks, places, things...

So I used some of my favorite fabrics and two paper piecing patterns I had wanted to try out.

Ayumi's ice cream bars (I love ice cream):

and Sew-Ichigo's latte pattern (love coffee too!):

I got a little carried away with the latte pattern (I have more planned - believe me!) and made a couple of mug rugs for two friends.

I used some of my new Spoonflower fabric in the latte blocks.

(It's this one since I've already gotten lots of questions about it on Instagram)

And in case anyone needs to do some shopping this weekend:

Southern Fabric has the whole shop on sale - 10% off with coupon code: newshopper10.

Pink Castle Fabrics has a cool new Stash Builders section and the entire section is 15% off this weekend with coupon code: stash15.

Fabricworm has 10% off all Robert Kaufman fabrics through 9/21.

And MichellePatterns has a cool new mini-book all about writing your own PDF patterns - I'm totally buying it! It's 50% off right now too with coupon code: patternmaking.

OK hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

A new look

So it started out innocent enough...

I wanted to change my banner and maybe make some new business cards.

Carly came over for a chat and we decided on a trade....some shop goodies for her mad skills.

(seriously - check out how cute these arrows are!!)

 

Then I decided to download the trial version of Photoshop Elements.

And that's when it all went wild - ha ha! Not really! But just look at that sidebar!

I couldn't help myself...and it's toned down!

Before there were cute little birds everywhere - and I must have tried about 20 different banner ideas before going with this one.

I updated my personal and business Facebook pages and my Etsy shop - it's just so fun.

But I'm done now and it's back to sewing!

And I need to announce the winner of Miss Matatabi's giveaway!

#45 - Patti!

Congrats! I'll be sending you an email soon!

I finished up the Indie quilt just before I had to head off to the baby shower last weekend!

Such gorgeous fabrics! The mom-to-be loved it!

And this custom passport wallet is on it's way to New York:

I have a few things to sew up tomorrow - ipad covers, crayon wallets and passport wallets.

But before that my under-8 girls have their first soccer game. I'll be the coach on the sidelines cheering wildly!

* P.S. I got most of my clip art from this cute Esty shop - the Ink Nest!

Shop Update

Just wanted to drop a quick note and let you all know that I finally got the zip pouches and clutches finished and I added them to the shop this morning.

17

17 years of being married to my best friend and soul mate today.

I wouldn't change a single thing. Even the hard times have brought us to where we are today.

I read all my past posts about out anniversary back to him yesterday - I think he was embarrassed.

He said it's only by God's grace and I whole-heartedly agree.

I am beyond thankful for this man that is my husband.

My wonderful sister took all 4 kiddos on Friday night.

We grilled some steaks and just hung out. I love just spending time with him. It's comfortable - in the best way!

Then I woke up on Saturday morning and he wasn't there. He came home a little while later with lattes and breakfast burritos....so sweet!

We really don't have any plans - it's nice having your anniversary on Sept. 2nd - it's always close to Labor Day and a holiday!

So think we'll probably just hang at the beach and enjoy our family.

Hope you all get to do the same!!

And if any of you want to read them - here are the links to my anniversary posts:

12th

13th

14th

15th

16th

Umm...wow, I've been blogging for a while! And totally missed my Blog-versary in July!!

A couple of things

Yesterday I quilted two baby quilts - yeah!

Have the binding on them now and just need to hand sew it.

One is for a baby shower tonight so I need to get on that!

I also worked on some clutches and zip pouches today.

I'll have them finished tomorrow or Monday and will get them in the shop.

I love all the bright colors and leather corners.

MichellePatterns is having a sale so if you want to pick up the clutch pattern, now is a good time.

And I made a blogger bundle for Pink Castle Fabrics - eeek! My first one!

It's called Hawaiian Sunset.

Plus you can get 20% off with coupon code LABOR20!

OK I'm off to try and bind like a maniac!!