one shabby chick

Zakka Along 2.0: Patchwork Please

Hi everyone!

Lindsey and Debbie have once again organized an amazing blog hop and I'm stop #17 (wow!!) on the Patchwork Please sew along!

Ayumi is dear online friend and her book is filled with so many amazing projects! I have a bunch on my to-do list and this bag is now one of my favorites! 

This week's project is the Handy Market Tote and I loved this pattern!

I love Ayumi's use of a cute Japanese print for her pockets but I decided to try this technique and make my pockets patchwork.

The pattern went together very well - she gives great techniques for sewing up your bag and lightbulb: do what she says - it really works (this was for me and anyone else who tends to just wing it)!

I used some of my favorite fabrics in the patchwork, some Koi by Rashida Coleman-Hale for the straps and lining and Essex linen from Robert Kaufman (love this fabric) for the outside panels.

Such fun little details in this pattern!

And now the best part - I have goodies for you!

Leave a comment on this blog post and you can win all these goodies:

 

5 packs of thread from Aurifil / Fabric pack and stickers from Form and Fabric / Charm pack from Pellon

 

You can also enter to win by sewing along with this week's project and linking up on Debbie's blog!

This week's prize is pretty awesome:

3 yards of Pellon 520 Deco-Fuse and a fat quarter bundle from Spoonflower!

Thanks so much to our sponsors this week!

   

 

And in case you wanted to check out all the other great projects in this book - here's the schedule:

June 3: Penny | Sew Take a Hike :: Bell Pepper Coasters

June 10: Maureen | MC Handmade :: B,L,D Towels

June 17: Anna | Noodlehead :: Lettered Tea Cozy + Pouch

June 24: Angela | Cut to Pieces :: Polka Dot Cafe Apron

July 1: Lynne | Lily’s Quilts :: Diamond Patchwork Placemat

July 8: Lindsey | LRstitched :: Yum Yum Apple Bib

July 15: Sukie | Don’t Ya Know :: Dino-Mite Hat

July 22: Jennifer | Ellison Lane :: Book for Baby Quilt

July 29: Krista | Poppyprint :: My Scrappy Box

August 5: Kerry | Very Kerry Berry :: Swedish Bloom Time Quilt

August 12: Tamiko | Patchwork Notes :: You’ve Got Mail Wall Pocket

August 19: Monica | Happy Zombie :: Happy Hexagon Trivet

August 26: Krista | Spotted Stone Studio :: Piece of Cake Shopping Bag

Sept 2: Lori | Bee in My Bonnet :: Triangle Patchwork Box Pouch

Sept 9: Amy | During Quiet TIme :: Vintage Pencil Case

Sept 16: Svetlana | SOTAK Handmade :: I love My Ipad Quilted Cover

Sept 23: Amber | One Shabby Chick :: Handy Market Tote

Sept 30: Deb | A Quilter’s Table :: Sweet Trips Embroidery Pouch

Oct 7: Leila | Where the Orchids Grow :: Prettified Pincushion

 

I'll pick a winner next Monday! Good luck!

Comments are now closed! Thanks to all who entered!

a 13 year old

 

Somehow I missed the birthday post for Bela here on the blog - Instagram is just so easy and convenient lately.

She turned 13 on August 23rd so now we have two teenagers in the house!

Hubby wanted to make her birthday the BEST EVER and she really wanted to go on a hike for her birthday so we had her three best friends spend the night and went on an amazing hike.

I always try and do something crafty with the girls for her birthday and I think this was maybe the most fun yet.

We made dream catchers:

I bought a bunch of embroidery hoops and we used scraps of fabric, yarn, crocheted doilies and ribbon to make them - I love how they turned out!

The girls were thrilled too!

The next morning we set out on the hike. It's up in Kahana Valley. You have to drive past a bunch of houses and then park and walk past a few more to get to the start of the trail.

The first part is a semi-paved road and then you get to the trail. At this point you can walk about 5 minutes down a hill and get to the rope swing and river (that I will tell you about later) or you can take a path off to the right and go on a two hour hike that will end up at the river.

We wanted some adventure so we went on the two hour hike - even our littlest did it. It's fairly muddy (we were lucky it hadn't rained too much before the hike) and there are a few little creeks you have to cross - one you are probably in about knee deep. But it was fairly easy and there are even snacks (guavas and mountain apples) along the way!

There is pig-hunting in the area but we didn't see any pigs (our friend did have a run-in with one on this trail a while back though so be careful if you go on this hike!).

At the end you come down the trail to this beautiful scene. The girls had so much fun on the rope swing and just exploring the area. 

Middle of September already?

Wow - how is that possible?!

I have a ton to share with you - two amazing hikes here on Oahu, a bunch of things I've been sewing up and something very exciting happening today:

I'll be on the radio later today with Pat Sloan - listen in if you have time! It will be available to listen to after the show as well!

OK I'm off to write about the hikes now...

Destash (with a coupon code)

 

So...I've been feeling cluttered lately and the only way to remedy that is with some cleaning and re-arranging.

I think I've talked about this before - I'm not the only crazy one, right?

You all do this too?

So I re-arranged the living room and school area a teeny bit and took a few bags to the donation center.

Then I got to work weeding out my stash a little.

Seriously, when am I EVER going to use all this fabric?

I'm not. Bottom line. So I let a few things go and have listed them in the shop.

And lucky you, there's a coupon you can use for even bigger savings.

10% off with coupon code: notcrazy

Ha ha - thought it would be fun to do a silly code.

There are fabric bundles:

Scrap packs:

and even some selvedge packs:

Waiting on some magnetic snaps so I can finish up some more quilted totes and get them listed in the shop as well:

They have a faux leather/vinyl bottom panel and back in some nice, bright colors.

I am having so much fun with them!

18 years

So it's our 18th anniversary today.

And it's a holiday here in the US so we get to spend the whole day together!

I've written about how we met on my blog before....here and here.

God is so good - it's His grace in our lives that has gotten us this far.

I truly am so blessed - my husband is the kindest, most unselfish person I know.

Plus he's so darn cute too :-)

It has been a wonderful journey - these 18 years of marriage. Not always easy, not always happy or peaceful sailing. But ALWAYS worth it!

And I look forward to many, many  more.