one shabby chick

Good Neighbors Pincushion Party

Amanda (aka Crazy Mom Quilts) was one of the first blogs I ever followed way back when. She makes the most amazing quilts and her love of scraps is well-known. I love her use of color and just her fun style.

So I knew her fabric line would be just that - colorful and fun! And it is!

I decided to do some scrappy pin cushions to help celebrate the launch of her new line, Good Neighbors by Connecting Threads.

These are 1.5" squares that I pieced together, quilted, backed with some faux burlap from Connecting Threads and then stuffed with some wool scraps and batting. Scrappy fun!

I don't think you can ever have too many pin cushions!

So if you would like to win one of these pin cushions and a charm square set of Amanda's new line, just leave a comment below (sorry my international friends, but this giveaway is limited to US and Canadian addresses only).

And there are so many cute pin cushions in our party! I LOVE Vanessa's (she has an awesome tutorial for it too). Go check them out:

9/1/2015 Amanda Jean – Crazy Mom Quilts
9/2/2015 Anna – Noodlehead
9/3/2015 Mary – Mary on Lake Pulaski
9/4/2015 Svetlana – Sotak Handmade
9/5/2015 Debbie – Esch House Quilts
9/6/2015 Holly – Bijou Lovely
9/7/2015 Carla – Grace and Favour
9/8/2015 Faith – Fresh Lemons Quilts
9/9/2015 Vanessa –  V and Co.
9/10/2015 Anna –  Thimbleanna
9/11/2015 Krista –  Poppy Print Creates
9/12/2015 Erin –  Why Not Sew
9/13/2015 Lee –  May Chappell
9/14/2015 Alex –  Tea Ginny Designs
9/15/2015 Cheryl –  Nap Time Quilter
9/16/2015 Penny –  Sew Take a Hike
9/17/2015 Amy –  During Quilt Time
9/18/2015 Debbie –  A Quilter’s Table
9/19/2015 Anne –  Spring Leaf Studios
9/20/2015 Melissa Corry –  Happy Quilting
9/21/2015 Amber –  One Shabby Chick
9/22/2015 Nettie –  A Quilt is Nice
9/23/2015 Adrianne – Little Bluebell
9/24/2015 Cindy –  Live a Colorful Life
9/25/2015 Amy –  Diary of a Quilter
9/26/2015 Chase –  Quarter Inch Mark
9/27/2015 Rene –  Rene Creates
9/28/2015 Erin –  House on Hill Road
9/29/2015 Nicole –  Modern Handcraft
9/30/2015 Teri –  Connecting Threads

Thanks for letting me play along Amanda! I know this is the first of many awesome fabric lines :-)

Finding my voice again

So yeah, it's been awhile. AGAIN.

Instagram has taken over any blogging desires I've had. But I'm realizing that as much as we can connect with people on Instagram, our voices don't really come through like they can on a blog.

So I'm back here....I love looking through my blog and seeing all the years gone by. And I want that to keep going. So I'm going to try and post at least once a week - that's a goal for now :-)

We had a pretty packed summer. Our family went on a mission trip to Mexico.

Actually Kevin and I were the leaders of the team (along with two young guys). I gotta say - it was one of the hardest things I've done...be a leader with my family there too. Cause I had to be mom to my kids but also mom/leader to 13 other kids too.

But it was an amazing time and I'm so glad we all got to go. I know we want to go back soon.

It was so fun being able to speak Spanish too.

We had some pretty rough living conditions but the kids (all of them) never complained and just went along with whatever we had planned. We had a great team.

I loved being able to spend time with this guy too - he was the hardest worker. I honestly didn't realize how neat it would be to go as a family.

Only problem was this little person developed a huge fear of flying which made airports the WORST!

She was ok after she got on the plane - just the anticipation was horrible. And a nightmare for her parents who were supposed to be in charge of the rest of the team too.

We did lots of work on the place we were staying and a few local projects too.

I mostly cooked. and cooked. and cooked. Lol! But I had so much help from the local missionaries and another family that came down there to help us (they were the biggest help ever).

We are back now (well, we have been for a while) and I'm back to sewing all the orders that piled up while I was gone.

And some fun stuff too!

Some baby items for Mai.

And some pouches are in the works for my shop.

And if you've read this far...and are still following me here - you deserve a prize!!

So leave a comment and I'll pick one of you to get a zip pouch filled with treats! Just say hi!

 

By the Block

I was thrilled to get the chance to review Siobhan's new book, By the Block. I'm a huge fan of her blog and everything she makes is just gorgeous (and super yummy).

By the Block features 18 quilt patterns that are organized by theme - Squares, Half-Square Triangles, Crosses, Triangles, Log Cabin and Curved Piecing. Siobhan found that her quilting students lead very busy lives (like most of us, I'm sure) but were still eager to make amazing quilts so she wrote this book to help us all make beautiful quilts that "look complex but are actually simple to execute."

By the Block: 18 Surprisingly Simple Quilts

By Siobhan Rogers

Interweave/F+W; $26.99

I have met Siohban at Quilt Market and she is genuinely so sweet so I thought it would be fun to do a little interview with her.

1) ok because I am a sappy romantic, I saw in your acknowledgements that you met your hubby in a photography class. Want to share about that?

My poor ever patient husband.

I meet him my first year out of school (way back in 1994) we were both studying commercial photography and we were in the same classes. We have been together ever since. 

He helps and supports me in everything, I have had some ridiculous hair brained plans or interest over the years and he just goes with the flow. Deciding to write a book on quilting being one of them. I have been very lucky.

 

 

2) I absolutely love your half square triangle quilts - especially Hoo Are You and Go Big or Go Home. But I really am not a fan of HSTs - lol! Any tips on how to make them more enjoyable/less tedious. Or is it more just a personal preference with this block?

 

Thank you!

HST are funnily one of the first techniques/ blocks I experimented with many years ago as a beginner. It seemed easy enough to manage as a novice - cutting straight lines and sewing straight lines. I could get lots of effects and geometric designs using the simple HST it was just a matter of fabric colours and the direction the block was laid.

 

I agree that sewing the same block repeated 100 times can seem boring ....... I also have a habit of not trimming my HST units, I know for some that may be controversial but I don't have any issues piecing untrimmed HST or any issues with bulk when the top is being quilted.

 

I do find that sometimes I want a project that is in a round about way mindless, If that makes sense - If I have all my units cut and ready to go I can chain piece lots of HST and not have to think about much what so ever, which when you are a busy person with the usual family/ friends/ work and kids "Stuff" -  it can be nice.

 

I have found from teaching and being around lots of quilters that people enjoy quilting for lots of different reasons and this also usually drives what type of quilts people attempt to create or are drawn to create. Different life stages seem to have a little impact too.

 

 

3) I think this one of the few quilting books I’ve seen where I am in love with every pattern. I just love your bold use of color and scrappy designs - it’s how I love to create too. Do you keep a large stash at home and just use what you have or do you buy fabric with specific projects in mind?

 

I went through a stage of buying lots of fabric, I wouldn't say I have a huge stash of fabric but I do have lots!

Now days I know my style a little better and I am a bit more savvy with my fabric purchases. I have learnt that I tended to use what I had bought most recently and completely forget about the fabrics I had stored in the cupboard.

I make more of an effort to have a real look through what I have before I purchase anything new. It can be really hard when you see so many fantastic fabric ranges coming out to stay disciplined.

If I really, really want a new range and I have no specific project in mind I will buy a pre cut bundle, which is great for creating scrappy looking projects. I also find I am drawn to similar coloured ranges and most things go together.

If I see a fabric that I know I will use as the main background or I really want it to be the feature of the quilt I will buy 2 meters for a single bed design and 3 meters for a bigger quilt design and I try to use all my scraps as a pieced backing for my quilts - I like to use up what I have and then I don't need to go out and buy 6 yards worth of extra fabric just for the back.

You also need to keep in mind that in the last 24 months I have made over 30 big bed sized quilts......... Thats a lot of fabric.

 

 

4) I know I’ve told you before that I think you are superwoman - ha ha! I get so inspired by your designs, your baking and your photography and I know what it’s like to try and raise 4 kids at the same time. Any advice for busy moms trying to juggle a lot of things too?

 

Its all an illusion! My house is organized mayhem and I miss out on lots of social stuff because Im trying to get everything done or teaching at night. 

I am very mindful of people who don't have it so easy - families all over the world are working a huge amount of hours and still trying to run a family and not always in the easiest or happiest environments.

I have a leg up in life - My life is pretty uncomplicated. I don't have everything but I think I am incredibly lucky coming from a good area in a good country with access to everything I need.

I try to be thankful for what I have. 

 

I try to be "good enough" no such thing as perfect when your a mum and I usually carry a little mothers guilt around with me, like at the moment I have just booked to go to Spring Quilt Market and I feel slightly bad that I am leaving the kids for a week with my husband. 

Leaving the kids for a week also means that I must have some pretty good family support?!

Which I do. My husband does lots in the house and works full time, I also have my dad and in-laws that will drop everything to come look after things.

I wouldn't be able to achieve half the things I do without any backup support.

In saying all of that...sometimes fitting in my design work means the kids bedrooms aren't as tidy as I would like or the clean washing isn't folded and put away or I haven't double checked the kids spelling words........

 

I make things (sewing, cooking and photos) because it makes me happy - I am so lucky to be able to share that with everyone.

 

 

I loved chatting with Siobhan and getting to know her a little better. You can keep up with her on her blog or Instagram and go check out her book - By the Block - it really is a great quilting book to have!

 

Thanks Siohban!

Wanderer by April Rhodes

I was thrilled when April asked if I wanted to play with her new fabric line, Wanderer.

(photo credit: April Rhodes)

I absolutely loved her first line, Arizona, and this one is just as spectacular!

I actually ended up doing a few projects because I had so many ideas.

The first thing I made was a little dress using a modified version of this dress.

I even used a little Arizona in the bottom hem.

I absolutely love patchwork so I made a pillow using 2.5" squares with this method.

And then I quilted it using matchstick quilting.

I stuffed a very big pillow in there. So it's nice and fluffy.

I used some Cotton and Steel double gauze for the back which matches perfectly with the gold colors in Wanderer.

I think that's one of my favorite things about this line - such a unique color way and soooo pretty!

As soon as I saw April's photo print in Quilt Market pictures, I knew I wanted to make a tote with it.

And lucky for me, Anna just came out with a new tote pattern!

So here's my Caravan tote:

I just need to add snaps to the front pocket.

I love the Serape print too - it's so colorful and really pops!

I used leather handles and a really pretty dark grey dot that I picked up at Dry Good Designs when I was there in November.

Metal zips - a little more effort but so worth it!

And I used her awesome border print for the inside of the zip pocket. 

There are still a few more stops on this awesome tour:

Sunday Feb. 15 - Nicole Morgenthau - finchsewingstudio.com

Monday Feb. 16 - Holly Hughes - hollygetsquilty.com 

Tuesday Feb. 17 - Shannon Cook - veryshannon.com

 

Wednesday Feb. 18 - Becca Bryan -  bryanhousequilts.com

 

Thursday Feb. 19 - Rochelle New - luckylucille.com

 

Friday Feb. 20 - Kate -  http://seekatesew.com

 

Saturday Feb. 21 - Me :-)

 

Sunday Feb. 22 - Caroline Hulse - sewcaroline.com

 

Monday Feb. 23 - John Adams - quiltdad.com

 

Tuesday Feb. 24 - Maureen Cracknell - maureencracknellhandmade

 

Wednesday Feb. 25 - Delia - deliacreates.com

 

Thursday Feb. 26 - Kelly - cutcutsew.com

 

Friday Feb. 27 - Christopher Thompson - thetattooedquilter.com

 

Saturday Feb. 28 - Jen - www.littlewifepowerhouse.com

 

There's also an amazing prize you can win!

 

 

To win :: follow April (@aprilarhodes) on IG and repost any of the Wanderer Tour photos with #wanderertourgiveaway and she will randomly choose a winner from the hashtags pool on March 1st!

 

Good luck!!

2015

Well, that was nice two month break huh?! Lol! First of all:

If you follow me on Instagram you know I haven't taken a break - I tend to OVERgram there. Just wish that would translate to blogging as well.

I do know there are people in the world NOT on Instagram - ha ha! I just take most of my photos lately with my phone so it's so easy to post them there. We do have plans to upgrade our camera soon so you might see more blog posts again! I still love this space so it's not going anywhere.

So what should I share first?! What I've been making these last few months?

I started a new Single Girl quilt (pattern by Denyse Schmidt) using an assortment of blues and greens from Cotton and Steel's latest collections.

I'm really loving this color way right now. Whipped up a quick baby quilt (well, top) last week in the same colors.

I've been making knife pouches....

and coffee bags...

and little dresses...

but what I really want to do is sew ALL THE QUILTS - lol.

I also sewed up some little sock sacks for a few knitting friends (pattern here)

and I finally used this amazing fabric I found on Etsy a while back and made some clutches/project pouches which I sold on Instagram (thanks everyone!).

So I've been keeping busy! What have you all been up to?

 

Winged Blog Tour

I'm so excited to be today's stop on the Winged Blog Tour.

I first discovered Bonnie Christine on her blog, Going Home to Roost and fell in love with all her graphic designs. Seriously - her blog is AMAZING - go check it out!!

I was thrilled when she started designing fabrics for Art Gallery Fabrics.

Her newest collection is Winged and it is so gorgeous.

I love her use of color and all the fun designs she incorporates into each print.

Here are some thoughts from Bonnie on her inspiration for this line:

i have always noticed the very first butterfly each spring. it has been one of the sweetest sightings for me each year. it means a new season is upon us, warmer weather is on it’s way and fresh blooms will be emerging from the ground. it also evokes this feeling within me of inspiration- like all things are possible. the butterfly’s journey from caterpillar to butterfly is one that i’ll never stop marveling at.

this feeling of spreading one’s great wings and soaring is one that connects with me deeply. a long time ago i decided that i would pursue my dreams no matter what. i would make great sacrifices, journey into the unknown put my heart and soul on the line to live my creative dream. that is what winged is about. spreading your wings and flying into the unknown.

I know it might be cold in some parts right now but maybe seeing these pics will warm you up just a bit!

I used two of the prints from the Winged line - Bird's Peck in Dalia and Mimicry in Hazel.

I paired them both with some soft caramel leather and make a couple of large clutches.

This fabric is feminine but at the same time very modern and is beautiful for so many applications!

I've used it in quilts, little girl skirts and tote bags and zip pouches.

Bonnie even has a free quilt pattern here that you can download.

I'm so excited to see what Bonnie has in store next - she's truly a talented designer and I'm so honored to be a stop on her Winged Blog Tour. 

Go check out Rossie's hexagon pillow from yesterday and tomorrow Katie Covertino is continuing the tour on her blog, June-Park.

You can see the full blog tour list right here!

A winner

I'm always a little behind in picking winners for giveaways. The winner for Melissa's book is:

Ashton McClelland said...

This would be perfect for my home. I consider myself a modern seamstress and I am currently looking for home projects I can refresh my home with! Thank you for the chance at winning this awesome giveaway!

Congratulations! We should have the book emailed to you shortly!

School is in full swing now so I'm grabbing time to sew when I can in the afternoons.

Finished up a baby boy quilt for Tini Manini (a local children's boutique):

And started a new quilt using Katie's star technique:

I have WAY too many in-progress quilts right now - it's kinda ridiculous!

Ok I'm off to make a dent in my to-do list!

Summer Living

OK so another 3 months have gone by - can I blame it on summer?

How about I just show you what we've been up to?

We spent a lot of time at the beach.....

and I've been doing lots of sewing:

experimenting with leather

having lots of fun with Cotton and Steel fabrics

making lots of Jane Market totes for friends

 

Have gotten obsessed with a new shorts pattern

 

and with making patchwork panels

more beach days

and now school and soccer are about to be in full swing. I'm not ready!!

So, how did you spend your summer?

Bee-autiful Bee Quilt

I took a few quilts to Idaho to have quilted while I was there.

This one has been a ufo for a while! I looked it up - 2010!!

I absolutely love it - the colors are so gorgeous! The pinks and oranges are so fun - this was the best bee!

Such a talented group! I kinda miss being in a bee but it's nice not to have the pressure every month!

I sent a bunch of Denyse Schmidt fabrics for this quilt along with some Heather Ross and Kona solids and told everyone to make wonky log cabins.

I loved seeing each block appear on Flickr (you know, that social media we used before Instagram - lol).

The back is that wonderful Ikea print and a little Leah Duncan Meadow.

I entered this quilt into Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival!

Woo hoo I'm back!

I know - it's been a while!

I am still here and still sewing - posting pictures all the time on Instagram in case any of you want to follow me on there (oneshabbychickhawaii).

I just haven't been into blogging. Part of the reason is my camera won't upload photos to the computer anymore but I finally bought a card reader so I'm back in business!

And my first order of business is to post about one of my favorite quilts.

I made this quilt last month when I traveled to Idaho for a little sewing retreat with a few of my buddies.

I had seen a few cross quilts on IG and Flickr (Ashley's and Rachel's) and had been dying to make one. Rachel has a great little picture tutorial on flickr that gives you all the sizes you'll need.

I had also been wanting to make a low-volume quilt and decided to pair it with my collection of Suzuko Koseki fabrics.

I cut everything out before I went to Idaho and even made some blocks beforehand.

So while I was there, I sewed the rest up, finished the quilt top and back and then left it at the Quilt Barn to get quilted.

(Amy and I had too much fun in Idaho)

I chose a super cute circle pattern and I absolutely love how it turned out.

Then I decided it needed to have a better photo shoot then just in the back yard so we ventured down to the beach this morning and took some pics.

My son was such a good sport!

I rewarded him with ice cream on the way home.

 

I entered this in to Amy's Bloggers Quilt Festival too!