one shabby chick

Thanks

Wow - I guess you guys are still here! Thanks for that! I loved reading all your comments!

And the winner of the pouch is....

Janine who said....

Glad to see you back! I don't blame you about instagram taking over blogging desires. It's SO easy to find instant visual representation and I love that I can peek into the worlds of my friends who aren't close by. And your projects look fabulous as always! Wish I could sew but after many failed attempts I'll stick with my knitting and just enjoy your bags to put it in ^_^

{Janine, will you send me an email with your address?}

Yesterday was my birthday and for the past two birthdays I've done a little challenge on Instagram. A lip sync challenge. I'm doing it again this year so if any of you feel inclined to join you can find the details here on my Instagram account.

It's pretty fun to get over your self-consciousness and do something a little wacky and fun. Go try it! I'm even bribing you all with a tote :-)

I've been sewing up lots of knife pouches...

and I still have a few more to make!

And then it's on to dresses and skirts for a local children's boutique.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I'm starting mine off with a birthday dinner with my family (and this cutie).

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!

 

Winners and the latest around here....

OK so we have two winners from the Paper Pieced Home Giveaway:

Winner of the book:

Patti McGarry from Pennsylvania

and winner of the pouch:

Bodil from Norway

I'm emailing you both - congrats!

I've been busy sewing and doing life here.

We had two kids go to prom a week ago (ahhhhh!!):

They all went as a big group and had a blast.

We were leaders at our annual spring break youth camp - we always have a blast and come home exhausted (it's two weekends in a row - senior high and then junior high).

(that's our elusive 3rd child - he's not a big fan of pictures)

And I've been sewing. A lot.

Our family is going on a mission trip with our church this summer to Mexico. Actually Kevin and I are two of the leaders on the team.

I'm planning on hosting a little fundraiser on Instagram to sell my handmade goods and all money will go to the trip. I'll post here when I get it up and going.

Anyway - back to the sewing.

I'm obsessed with this feather pattern by Christina - it's so cute! I'm going to have to put it to the side right now though - lots of dresses are in my future for this local shop.

And I whipped up a cute little basket from Kelly's tutorial - they really are fast and fun to make. I added in a few details - like leather handles and side seams.

I have two quilts over at Sarah's (aka Crinklelove) right now - can't wait to get them back - one is a very old WIP! She has a great special going on through the month of April! So I'll have some binding in my future too!

OK I'm off to SEW.....

Back to school + ramblings

We finally started school this week.....so no sewing has happened so far. But I did a HUGE meal prep today using this book and I'm hoping it will help with sewing time.

I sewed up this fun Heather Ross charm quilt last week using some older Mendecino and the new Far, Far Away - it's so soft and feels very similar to her older lines. Plus her designs are just the cutest!

 A few weeks ago I celebrated my 40th birthday - eek! We had a fun time over on Instagram with a little lip-sync singing challenge.

I sewed up this fun bag for the winner.

and one for last year's winner too - oops!

And some new ipad cases for the shop:

 I can't get enough of those Cotton and Steel fabrics!

Hubby made me the most amazing birthday present - a new sewing table. I absolutely love it!

I have a big to-do list of sewing for a few shops in town and a long list of quilts I want to work on. Hoping I get in some sewing time soon!

And I haven't forgotten about picking a winner - I'll do it soon I promise!

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?

Hey there

Well...again...it's been a while.

I do keep thinking about how I need to blog and not just book reviews or giveaways

(although I'm sure no one minds the giveaways).

First of all I have a winner for the Patchwork Please giveaway.......

Karen H (sent you an email!)

I've been sewing a lot lately - getting ready for craft fairs that are coming up.

Little bloomers (I used this pattern - just changed the legs a little bit):

some new ipad cases:

and mini ones too:

I also tried out some fun scrappy garland (don't know where to hang it though)

and these cute coasters that I think I'm going to make as Christmas gifts to go along with some other handmade goodies. (tutorial here)

I had a pop-up shop last night at Honolulu Night Market (it was super last minute, like one day notice).

I did ok - made my booth fee and a little more but I was hoping for a better night (sales-wise).

It was SUPER fun to spend the evening with my hubby though. There were all kinds of great food trucks so we sampled lots of yummy foods and checked out all the interesting people that stop by these events.

He had never been to a fair with me so it was a fun change to have him (and he did all the heavy lifting - yay!)

This morning left me in a bit of a funk as I was comparing myself to other local crafters and measuring my success in light of theirs - never a good thing.

But as I walked to the car (to head to church), I just rehearsed in my mind all my blessings - and it changed my mood rather quickly.

Hope you all had a great weekend and are looking forward to a new week. I know I am - have a few ideas I want to try out soon.

And an Etsy update (with a coupon) will be happening in the next day or so! I have lots to load up!!

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. 

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.

Thirty-something

39 actually.

And this week has been pretty fun so far.

I have a hilarious contest/sing-a-long happening on Instagram if you are on there.

And I figured I'd have a fun giveaway over here to celebrate too.

My wonderful sponsors donated three amazing giveaways so three of you can win a great prize!

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment telling me your current favorite song.

Mine happens to be Titanium (which is part of the contest on Instagram).

Giveaway is over. Comments are now closed. I'll announce the winners soon!

summer in snapshots

(my two oldest on their way home from Mexico - they had a day layover in LA)

(Junior High - 10 foot long ice cream sundae)