one shabby chick

A new year

I've been busy doing some serious cleaning.

Moving furniture, cleaning windows and screens...you know, the big stuff.

I guess it's because we have our windows open all year round but houses sure get dirty/dusty in Hawaii...red dirt too - ugh!

I love this kind of cleaning though...makes me feel organized and ready for the new year.

I've been thinking of goals for the new year too.

Sewing goals and personal goals.

I thought I'd put a list here so I can remember them and hopefully cross them off by the end of next year.

Sewing goals:

* Make a quilt out of the Material Obsession 2 book (any quilt but preferably one of these)

* Make larger quilts (see above)

* Take more risks - submit projects to magazines, etc. - I am a bit of a baby when it comes to this...probably because I don't like rejection and worry my work is not good enough.

* Push myself in the Ringo Pie Bee - I have to be honest...we are starting round 2 and there are some mega-stars in this bee. And I am just not up there with them. I have thought about quitting a bunch of times. But I'm sticking it out and want to try and learn new techniques and broaden my creativity.

* Finish my ufo pile

* Try new styles of free-motion quilting.

* Add new products to my Etsy shop on a regular basis.

Personal Goals:

* Read my Bible and pray more.

* Lose some weight :-)

* Save, save, save - I'm such a spender and really want to break that habit in 2012.

* Finish painting the kitchen - cause 2 years is too long to have it half-way finished, right?!

* Paint the living room floor (it's concrete) and walls - I'm over the red...I'm thinking a pretty grey (to go with this fabric for the curtains - I absolutely love the Drawing Room fabric I have now but they are old and one has a big rip in it...so time for some new ones)

* Finally get caught up on the laundry...oh, who am I kidding, that will never happen - lol!

How about you all...got any New Year's goals?

Take some action

I've been on a major cleaning spurt here so no sewing is getting done.

I have gotten some fun mail that I'm itching to cut into.

Storyboek:

and Riley Blake's Farm Fresh:

But I wanted to post today to let you all know about a wonderful way to give back and share some of the blessings we have been given.

Alissa has organized this wonderful fundraiser again (she did it last year).

Such an easy way to help out with a wonderful cause. Action Kivu is a non-profit that helps women who are victims of the conflict in Eastern Congo by teaching them to sew.

I cannot even imagine the struggle these women go through on a daily basis. To be able to help out in such a small way feels like the least I can do.

And she has even gathered some amazing prizes you can win.

So head on over and take a look - and help a fellow quilter/sewer on the other side of the world.

Can't get enough

Since I've been on a bit of a selvedge kick lately, as soon as I saw Angela's post, I was a goner!

I mean, seriously, how cute is that mug rug?

My sister and her hubby just moved to a new place and the kids and I visited on Saturday. And I discovered she is in serious need of some new coasters.

So these are mini mug rugs/large coasters.

They are about 6". I love them...really want to keep them for myself but we never really use coasters and they use them all the time.

I have plans to make a mug rug for me and one to give away too so stay tuned!

I also started on a quilt but not sure how I'm liking it.

I used this tutorial and I'm thinking about just a few (maybe 5) blocks floating on the front. I ordered some dark greys from here (she's having a Grand Opening sale right now!) for the background.

What do you all think?

I'm thinking about making one block out of all yellows and adding it to the mix.

I know I mentioned before but I'm participating in Modern Relief Japan which begins on April 4th.

A lot of us are donating quilts and there's a blog here which will have all the information soon. There are some gorgeous quilts to win!

I'm donating this one since it seemed so fitting with all the Japanese fairytale fabrics in it.

Japan

I just keep seeing those tsunami pictures and imagining if that had happened here. All our friends and neighbors homeless...the devastation. It breaks my heart.

(Alicia Bock)

Here's a few links to various blogs and shops doing their part to help:

This and That Japan - donating 15% of their sales

Poppytalk - links to different blogs and shops

TallGrass Prairie Studio - Jacquie is auctioning off a gorgeous quilt.

Oh Fransson - Elizabeth is auctioning off her amazing Tokyo Subway quilt.

Fabricworm - donating 2% of their sales this weekend.

I will be taking part in Modern Relief: Japan. I'm donating this quilt to the auction and will let you all know more details when it's up and running.

Leave a link in the comments if you know of any other shops or auctions!

Australia

It's just a little drizzle here compared to what's happening in Australia right now.

And Toni is organizing Flood Relief Auctions and I'm going to host one here on my blog.

 

 

Stay tuned later this week for more details - I am going to auction off this quilt with all proceeds going to the Queensland Government Flood Relief Appeal.

 

My little soapbox

I used to have a subscription to Cookie magazine - but they are no longer publishing it so apparently I now am forced get to receive a copy of Allure each month instead.

I'm sorry to the editors of Allure - but I don't want this baloney in my house every month.

 

I don't want my girls thinking they have to have the "perfect" body or wear the "right" make-up/hair to be loved or accepted or feel secure about themselves.

And I don't want my boys thinking that the ideal girl is the one who is the prettiest or thinnest.

Not that I would ever let them read it - but still, they could see the cover and read the "promises" it shares.

I know they get most of their beliefs/ideas from us (as parents) but society still influences them.

It just saddens me that this is the garbage that our culture feeds us - to be loved you have to be thin, young and beautiful.

Isn't it better to be someone who is honest, caring, a joy to be around - qualities that actually make your life better....I hope I am teaching those type of qualities to my kids - and that they look for those same type of things in a future spouse...

And it's not that I think all beautiful people are evil or shallow....

I think I just haven't picked up a fashion magazine in a while - you know, I've been reading all the quilting ones - just blew my mind a little.

(stepping down from the soapbox now)......

Sewing Seeds

HI all - thanks for all the de-stash shopping...I hope to add a few more fabric packs on Friday - probably fat quarter packs.

I saw this on Randi's blog - Sewing Seeds for Haiti.

 

Great way to help out a little with some sewing. She has links to a few different skirt tutorials...

Good news on the health issue - everything came back ok and hubby's fine...and the finances are getting better..gotten myself on a budget and am sticking to it.

And the crochet is coming along - taught myself the single crocket stitch and am practicing my rows using this book.

More Craft Hope

Well the quilt sold already - yeah! I sent an email with 2 more items...

  

Keep on the lookout - I'm sure some great things are going to be added in the next couple of days as word spreads.

At sewing class on Wed. I finished up Hope's blocks for The Block Swap quilting bee...

and last night I finished Carissa's block (it's 12" x approx. 26") for Common Threads - here's her design....

And I got the cutest fabric from Kathy at Pink Chalk Fabrics -

 

I had seen it in her photostream (or on her blog?) a while ago and had been waiting for it to come in so I snatched some up when it did - Baby Girl has requested a dress out of it so I'll see what I can do.

They are both going to be in ballet (Baby Girl had to wait until she turned 4) when it starts up again at the end of this month - she can hardly wait!

Etsy shop

Craft Hope has their Etsy shop up and running - keep checking back as they are adding new things all the time.....

 

I snagged one of Small Fox's softies - been wanting one for a while...I may have to keep it in my craft room and not let the kids touch it though!

craft hope

 

I know soon there will be lots of crafting opportunities to help Haiti and I know more than anything, right now, financial assistance is needed most.

Craft Hope is launching a great way for us to help...you can email in your donations for their Etsy shop or even buy some of the handmade items that will be available for purchase once their shop gets up and running.

 

I've donated this quilt and am thinking of other things I could make to help with the project - just wanted to let you all know in case you wanted to join in!

***All the details are here.

***Edited to add: Here's the Craft Hope Etsy shop!