one shabby chick

A Kickstarter Project and a shop update

Ok first of all, I've done a small shop update - you can check it out here.

Camera straps, kindle cases, guitar straps and clutches.

I still need to write about Sewing Summit! But it will have to wait - I also have the most amazing sponsors who were so willing to help out when I emailed them a week before Sewing Summit.

They sent patterns and fat quarters and bundles and I got to give them away during my little talk :-)

A few packages didn't get there in time which ended up being kinda great actually!

Cause when I got back I saw one of my sponsors, Studio Cherie, has a Kickstarter project!

She makes amazing patterns - I'm sure you have all seen her duffle bags on Flickr.

I made one before our Costa Rica trip.

Well, now she is printing her patterns to sell in shops.

And, if you are a supporter of her Kickstarter project (at the $12 level or higher), you get exclusive rights to buy her patterns as soon as she releases them! Everyone else has to wait and buy them only from shops!

I love supporting small businesses through their Kickstarter projects - such a great way to help out our sewing community!

She has a ton of different levels - they range from $5 (and you get a free pattern!) to $265 (where you get 6!! handmade items). 

And I have a giveaway to go along with this!

I have 12 luggage tag patterns from Cherie to giveaway AND 48 fat quarters from Sew Fresh Fabrics (thanks Peg!!) - so 12 winners will win a pattern and 4 fat quarters! How awesome is that?!

And, Cherie doesn't know I planned to do this, BUT if you support her Kickstarter project, you can leave 2 additional comments so you have 3 chances to win!!

Go check it out - such a great way to help out a fellow sewist!!

So, to enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me your favorite candy (since it's Halloween) and if you support Cherie in her Kickstarter project, leave 2 additional comments!

Giveaway will open until next Wednesday, November 6th!

Giveaway is now closed - I will announce winners shortly!

Life

Boy, life gets full sometimes, doesn't it?!

And not in a bad way - just full.

Lately our family has made a more conscious effort to look outside ourselves  - to mentor some younger kids, invite families over for dinner and open our home up more too. Which is SO outside my comfort zone - I like my tidy home and to be all by myself - ha ha! But I know it's what God is calling us to do and it's just requiring more time and effort on my part.....and letting go of some selfishness (I have plenty to let go of - believe me)!

We are all FINE after the tsunami warning - it was just an eventful (and long) night that didn't really result in anything - thank goodness!

And I am praying for everyone on the East Coast where there is a real threat and very serious damage already!!

The pop-up boutique was a fun night and something different to do. I didn't sell a ton of things but I have a huge craft fair in two weeks so I'm glad I don't have to make as much stuff now! But my to-do list is still very long!

And if I get my act together this week, I'll get things listed in the Etsy shop too!

I have a great giveaway coming up tomorrow - stay tuned!!

a winner, a pop-up shop and other things

ok first of all - the winner of Pat Bravo's Rock and Romance giveaway is:

#2 (according to random.org) - Jeannie!

Congrats! I've sent you an email!

I still have to write my Sewing Summit post but I've been busy gearing up for this pop-up boutique!

It's tomorrow - October 26th at the Mercedes Benz Showroom on Kapiolani Blvd. from 5-9pm.

I have some new clutches:

camera straps:

guitar straps:

coffee cozies and a few other things.

Stop by if you are local - it's $5 admission which includes drinks and pupus (that's appetizers for all you non-Hawaii peeps).

Did I mention my things will be 20% off too?

And I meant to post this sooner (as there's only one week left) but I met the awesome crew of Threadbias at Sewing Summit and they have a super cool Kickstarter project here.

Go check it out and support them - such a great idea!!

OK I'm off to finish up a few things but I have another giveaway soon + another great Kickstarter project to share with you too!

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.

Rock and Romance tutorial and giveaway

I have a TON to catch-up on but first I have a giveaway and a pillow tutorial!

I was so excited when Pat Bravo's team contacted me about playing with her latest line, Rock and Romance.

I really love her vibrant use of color and have made quilts with two of her previous lines, Summerlove and Indie.

This line is just as beautiful!

I decided to make a pillow to showcase all the different prints and did a take on a chevron/zig zag.

Materials needed:

9 FQs of Rock and Romance (you aren't going to use the whole fat quarter)

piece of batting approx. 16" x 22"

backing fabric

Assembly:

Sort your fabrics into light and dark piles. I used 4 different dark prints and 5 different light prints (you can use more light prints to make it even scrappier).

From each of the 4 dark prints, cut five 3.5" x 5.5" rectangles.

From each of the 5 light prints, cut eight 4" x 6" rectangles.

Take one of your light rectangles and place it on top of your dark rectangle, right side down. You are going to be covering one corner of the block. You don't need to have precise corners as that's one of the benefits of this block - it's supposed to be imperfect!

Sew across edge of light rectangle using a 1/4" seam. Press seam to one side.

Repeat on opposite corner of the dark rectangle using a different light fabric.

Press seams and trim rectangle back down to 3.5" x 5.5" - trim excess dark fabric under corners as well.

Repeat with remaining 4 rectangles of the same dark print, alternating light prints as you desire.

HOWEVER - when you start the next block, you will need to sew the light fabric in the opposite corners of the block you just finished. It helps to line it up on a design board or cutting mat so that you make sure you are sewing the light fabrics to the right edge.

(see photo below - it helps explain this)

Take remaining sets of dark prints and repeat above instructions.

When you are finished with all 4 rows, sew blocks of the same print together vertically, then sew rows together.

Press finished top and place on top of batting piece.

Quilt according to your preference.

I did stitch in the ditch along both sides of each zig zag and then down the center of each zig zag as well.

Trim pillow top and finish using backing/closure of your choice - I made an envelope closure for my pillow.

And now you have a finished wonky zig zag pillow!

Now - who wants to win some fabric?!

Pat Bravo and Art Gallery have graciously offered to give one winner a FQ bundle of Rock and Romance in one of the colorways and a Goddess dress pattern!

And you have 2 chances to enter.

1) Leave a comment letting me know what you are currently working on - it doesn't have to be sewing...gardening, knitting, laundry, you name it.

2) Like Pat Bravo on Facebook or Twitter for a second entry and leave a comment here letting me know that you did (or already do).

OK giveaway is open until Sunday, October 21st! Good luck!

Comments are now closed - thank you!

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!!