December Classes are Here!!

It has been a crazy couple of months here opening our Shop.  It has been especially difficult for me as the timing has been not so great.  The Shop opening was followed by an event in my life that has been so hard there aren't really words to explain it.  I have had to draw upon strength I didn't know I had and it has taken crazy amounts of sincere prayer and help from the Lord to be able to navigate these trials.  It has taken me 6 months to be able to get back on my feet and be able to focus on the shop. 

Thank you to all that have visited our shop for your patience and your support. 

Just when I think I'm going to make it I get hit with another trial...surgery on my right shoulder.  All those amazing hours playing tennis to cope with my stress and anxiety brought me to this!  I'm in a sling for 6 whole weeks...which means I have to do everything with my left (non dominant) hand.  Eek!!  Trust me, super tough.  6 months of therapy and and it is going to take me almost a year to get back on the courts.  This is going to be another extremely tough trial for me and my family.

BUT...getting back to the fun stuff:

Check out the December Classes...these are only a few I've got some great Holiday Gift Classes getting ready to start also.

Storefront Opening Sale

Storefront Opening Sale!
Save an Extra 30%
Use Promo Code OPEN30 during checkout
Ends 8/16/11

Come to our Storefront located in the Oaks Mall Plaza:
6785 W Newberry Rd, Gainesville FL 32608
Store Hours:  11am-6pm
Monday - Saturday
Closed Sunday

Storefront - BEFORE

These photos were taken 4/23/2011 a few days before demolition began.  It has been quite a process!  The space was a Hair Salon/Spa before and there ended up being quite a bit more work needed than we realized.


This is the front of the store from the Right side


View from the Left side


This is the Left Wall in the front of the store.  We shortened the wall and are going to leave it for a Display area.  This will be a rotating display...bed, kitchen, whatever goes best with the theme featured that month.


Right Wall in the front of the store.  We left this wall and will have another display area.  This is going to feature Baby/Kids items - probably going to be my most favorite part of the store


View standing from the front door - the view to the back.  Being that is was a Spa/Salon before - there are many little rooms throughout.  We took out all the walls opening up the store.


One of the many rooms in the middle of the store


This is in the middle of the store.  The view is looking from the Right Wall towards the Left Wall. The wall that juts out to the right of the open door is where the Classroom will be.  The door immediately on the right is the bathroom.


Another view of where the Classroom will be.  The bathroom door (on the right side of the photo) has been moved to the back and this smoothed into a full wall.


This is the far Left corner - the windows are actually the back of the store.  We are going to have the classroom in this area.  All the light coming in will be fantastic for the classroom.


This wall is directly across from where the classroom area is going to be.  Again, the windows are the back wall.


Front of the Oaks Mall Plaza.  We are going into the empty space upstairs between Tan USA and Great Southern Music - above the Nail shop.  The Elevator is just to the left of Tan USA - so we'll be just one store away from it.

I'm going by tonight to get some updated photos. I am SOOOO ready for the shop to open.  The new lines for Fall have arrived and my thread and a few display fixtures.  We have  a whole obstacle course now in the front hallway & piano room in our home!  In fact, maybe I'll include a picture or two of that!

So Much and Too Much

What a crazy last month it has been and I am sooo glad things are getting back into a normal routine.  Here are a few of the things we've had the last few weeks:

1. End of year Banquets/Recitals:  Baton, Gymnastics, Wrestling, Football, Tennis
2. Graduations:  Maegan's High School, Sophie & Lillie from Pre-K, Maegan from Seminary (early morning scripture study) and Maegan's AA Degree
3. Birthdays:  Maegan's 18th, Wade's 16th, Sophie & Lillie's 5th, Neices & Nephews and Austin's 14th coming up in just a few days
4. Monumental Events:  Maegan's College Decisions:  BYU or UF, Wade gets his Drivers License
5. Summer Begins:  Maegan has 2 weeks left of Summer to complete her AA then will begin work, Sophie & Lillie are now home...all day long...
6. Sports:  USTA Tennis League, Off Season Wrestling Practices & Tournaments, Spring Football & Games,
7. Injuries:  Wade hurt his hip during football and is able to rehab through it using Physical Therapy.  I hurt my shoulder playing tennis and we are hoping to avoid surgery with rest and physical therapy.  "D", a friend of Wade's (who always dates my neice), was in a terrible car accident Memorial Weekend leaving him with 2 broken hips, a punctured lung, and broken ribs.  "D" cannot put any weight on his hips at all and is wheelchair bound for 3 months.  Being a huge part of our family's life it has had quite an impact.
8. Chickadee Shops Storefront:  Slowly, but...slowly the store is coming together.  Lots of setbacks and hidden problems during the demo. Paint & Carpet is set to begin in the next day or so, A/C goes in next week.  Our goal is to open July 1st - with or without all the store fixtures/shelving/etc.

So with all of that behind us we look forward to what Summer will bring:

1. No School:  Did I mention yet that the twins are home all day?
2. Sports:  I took the summer off of tennis to rest my shoulder but I get to play 2 days a week!  Wade has 2-A-Days: Football in morning & Wrestling in afternoon
3. Rosemary in Brisbane, Australia:  This is a tough one.  My mom and I are very close as well as she is a huge part of Chickadee Shops AND teaches our Quilting Classes.  She leaves 4th of July to head to Brisbane where my little sister, Amanda, is due with her 3rd baby and first girl. 
4. Amanda's Baby:   It's always exciting for a new baby - but Amanda gets her first girl!
5. Travel & Camps:  Costa Rica, Wrestling, BYU's Especially for Youth (EFY), Youth Conference, Secret Surprise Trip to Las Vegas to see Garth Brooks
6. Chickadee Shops Opens in the Oaks Mall Plaza in Gainesville FL

Okay, so now I am overhwelmed all over again! 

Here is the good news!  Amanda is going to join me in keeping everyone updated through our Blog and Facebook page with all the Chickadee News & Highlights.  Very Exciting - besides, she is much better than me at all this stuff anyways :).

I've got so much to load and share..., Upcoming Lines, Christmas Lines, Patriotic Quilts (just the quilt tops are completed so far), a fun new Hexagon quilt I tried, and photos of the store and it's progress!  AND I'll give you a proper introduction to Amanda!!

Sassy Little Apron

I just got this pattern in (it isn't even up online yet!) and I couldn't wait to make it.

It turned out so cute and it was super easy.  I'll get the pattern up and some kits with it soon!

The Main fabric is Bliss by Bonnie & Camille and the Accents are Blush by Basic Grey.  Who knew they would go together so well!



Sophie & Lillie modeling their Aprons for me



Sophie LOVES to have her picture taken and she is always doing these poses and different smiles



Lillie's apron was accented in the blue/reds from Blush



Sophie's apron was accented in the pink from Blush

Finishing projects!

I've been able to get quite a few projects finished.  I guess I am really starting to feel the crunch with the store opening soon that I'm going to need some finished things for display.

Here are some photos of a few...there are more, I just haven't taken photos of yet!

Amanda's Long Awaited Bag:  we used the Laminated Cottons from Central Park by Kate Spain.  This will match the diaper tote bag I posted on before.








Bunny Wall Hanging:  I took a bunny drawing and enlarged it.  Cut it out and it became my applique pattern.  The tails are stuffed to add some dimension.  I used Sunkissed by Sweetwater.

Fabric Eggs:  I used the tutorial from Retro Mama.  Fabric is Fandango by Kate Spain

Maegan's Prom Dress!

It has been so crazy busy but I am excited to share some projects I've completed. 

Last weekend was Maegan's LDS prom.  It's her senior year and last year we made her prom dress (and my neice's too) but we both weren't super thrilled with hers, although my neice's dress turned out amazing!  Maegan has a tough body type to buy for and factor in all the immodest dresses it seems we are left with no other option but to make one.

2 weeks ago Maegan calls and says, "Mom. Will you make my dress?  You have 10 days."  EEK!  So off we went and looked for a great dress pattern that she will also be able to use at BYU. 

We used a simple pattern and since she didn't want cap sleeves added, she found a gorgeous scarf and we googled how to tie it into a shrug.  It matched her silver heels and turned out so nice.  It was a very easy pattern and we used black crepe as the fabric.  It fit her body really nice.  The best part is she can change the colors of her scarf/shrug and it will look like a different dress!


Maegan and her scarf tied as a shrug


This is me & Maegan


A view of the whole dress


Maegan & her friend Chandler

Sale! Sale! Sale!

I guess I have been a bit sale happy lately!  With all these new lines coming and us not yet in the store - I am running out of room!  So - I suppose it is good for everyone else to have another sale :).

3 Day Sale!

Save an Extra 20% off All Prices!

Use Promo Code APRIL20

Ends Friday 4/15

Lollipop Quilt Kit Give Away Winner is....

Sarah E from Canada!!

I'll email you shortly to confirm your shipping information.

These are so much fun - I am looking forward to our next one!

Give Away: Lollipop Quilt Kit by Sandy Gervais

It is time for a GIVE AWAY!





We are Giving Away a Lollipop Quilt Kit by Sandy Gervais for Moda Fabrics. The kit includes the Pattern, Covered Button Kit, Charm Pack, & Fabric to complete the Wall Hanging!



HOW TO ENTER: Every Commentor Like on our Blog or Facebook will count as an entry. For every order you place on http://www.chickadeeshops.com/ you will get 1 entry for every $10 spent.  This is open to EVERYONE - International also!



ENDS: Friday April 8th at 5pm EST.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I WIN? We will post the winner on our Blog, Facebook, and on http://www.chickadeeshops.com/ Site. Notification will be sent to the winner via Email for the shipping address

Diaper Bag

I am SO excited about this bag.  I wanted to make a bag for my sister and for her baby on the way - it is baby #3 BUT, it is going to be her FIRST girl!  Since I have a house full of girls - with only 1 boy, I love girl stuff.

I had planned on making her a bag out of the Central Park Laminated Cottons by Kate Spain.  I practiced on the Diaper Wipe Tote and was ready to take on the bag.  So we picked a pattern and uh...it was a What The Heck project - which is one of those 'where the picture is super neat yet you follow the directions to the T and what you made doesn't really look like the picture' project.  I'll post some pictures of that but I'm too excited about this bag.

I went online and found some bags that I thought were neat and played around with the pattern until I got exactly what I wanted.  I made it in some leftover Bliss by Bonnie & Camille from the Diaper Wipe Tote project.  I cannot believe how easy it was and it turned out EXACTLY how I had hoped.  Bags like this one were selling for $150!! 

When I make Amanda's bag tomorrow I'll take some pictures and put up some tutorials for how I did some of the details.  I've got so many ideas of other bags I wish I could stay home and work on these tomorrow!  That will be a bonus when my shop opens...I get to say, sorry honey - I have to work on this project for the shop.  Wonder if he'll go for it.

Diaper  Bag

by Chickadee Shops

Dimensions:  11.5" x 14.5" x 6"

• Magnetic Snap Closure
• Adjustable Straps
• Converts to Stroller Bag
• 6 Interior Pockets
• 2 Side Pockets
• Large Back Pocket has Velcro Closure
• Interior Zipper Pocket
• Hard Bottom with Nickel Feet

Front of bag - flap closes with a magnetic snap closure - handles have an adjustable slide so the strap can be lengthened or shortened

6 Interior pockets and a Zipper pocket

Straps are on D-Rings with a Swivel Clasp - converts easily to a Stroller Bag

Back Pocket with Velcro Closure

Metal Nickel Feet with Hard Bottom

Frolic Panel Quilt

 

I love panels. They are great ways to make a quick project or gift. But every time I pull out the panel and say OK – I am going to make a project with this panel…the little bit of creativity I do have seems to escape me and I end up just looking at the panel. And I mean just looking at it – completely lost on what to do next.

I end up going through magazines, websites, and blogs to try and find out WHAT to do with the panel. And at the end of the day, I’ve spent all my sewing time looking for what to make and don’t even get a chance to make it!

In the latest 2011 Quilt Almanac, I found a Trapunto Quilt pattern that I thought would work great with a panel. I made some changes and love how it came out!

Frolic Panel Quilt

Finished Size: 47” x 57”

Fabric Requirements: I used Frolic by Sandy Gervais

• 1 Frolic Panel

• 1 ¼ yard Solid Brown

• 2/3 yard Green Leaves

• ¾ yard Stripe

• 53” x 63” piece of Batting

• 1 ½ yard Backing Piece

• 7/8 yard Pieced Backing Border

 

Cutting Directions: I “cut as I go”. This way I can get accurate borders and adjust for variances in my seams.

• Fussy Cut Panel to 23” x 35”

• Fussy Cut 4 Flowers to 5 ½ x 5 ½” keeping dots on the borders

• I saved the Cream Dot strips that I cut off the Panel for the Green Leaves Square Borders

• Solid Brown: 2 - 1 ½” x 35” (1st Border)

    2 - 1 ½” x 25”

• Stripe Fabric: 2 – 3” x 31” (2nd Border)

   2 – 3” x 37”

• Solid Brown: 2 - 2 ½” x 34” (3rd Border)

    2 - 2 ½” x 43”

• Green Leaves: 2 – 5 ½” x 28” (4th Border)

      2 – 5 ½” x 35”

        2 – 4 ½” x 4 ½”

• Solid Brown: 8 - 2 ½” x 5 1/2” (4th Border)

• Solid Brown: 6 - 3 ¾” x WOF (Outside Border)

• Stripe Fabric: 5 – 2 ½” x WOF (Binding)

• Pieced Backing: 42” x 52” (Backing Center)

• 6 – 5 ½” x WOF (Pieced Border)

Iron & Starch your fabrics. This will help your strips keep their shape.

1. Corner Blocks: Sew a ¾” Border to the Green Leaves 4 ½” square. I used the cream polka dot strips I had cut from the panel. Trim to 5 ½” x 5 ½”.

2. 1st Border – Solid Brown: Sew the 1 ½” x 35” Solid Brown strips to the Sides of the Panel. Press. Sew the 1 ½” x 25” Solid Brown strips to the Top and Bottom of the Panel. Press.

3. 2nd Border - Stripe: Sew the 3” x 37” Stripe Fabric to the Sides of the Panel. Press. Sew the 3” x 31” to the Top and Bottom of the Panel. Press.

4. 3rd Border – Solid Brown: Sew the 2 ½” x 43” Solid Brown to the Sides of the Panel. Press. Sew the 2 ½” x 36” strips to the Top and Bottom of the Panel. Press.

5. 4th Border – Pieced Sides: Sew a 2 ½” x 5 ½” Solid Brown piece to the Bottom of a Flower Square. Sew the 5 ½” x 35” Green Leaves piece to the bottom Brown Solid piece. Press. Repeat this same process for the other Side Strip. Keep in mind the placement of these strips – Left Side will have Flower Square at Top, Right Side will be Green Leaves Strip at Top. Sew to Sides of Panel. Press.

6. 4th Border – Pieced Top & Bottom: Sew a 2 ½” x 5 ½” Solid Brown piece to a Green Leaves Square. Sew a Flower Square to the other end of the 2 ½” x 5 ½” Solid Brown piece. Add another 2 ½” x 5 ½” Solid Brown piece to the other side of the Flower Square. Press. Sew the 5 ½” x 28” Green Leaves piece to the bottom Brown Solid piece. Press. Repeat this same process for the other Bottom Strip. Keep in mind the placement of these strips – Top will have Green Leaves square on the Left. Bottom will have the square to the Right. Sew to Top and Bottom. Press.

7. Outside Border – Solid Brown: Take the 6 – 3 ¾” x WOF strips and sew them together making 1 long strip. Measure Quilt Sides & Trim to Side Dimensions. Sew to Sides. Press. Measure Quilt Top & Bottom. Trim to Dimensions. Sew to Top and Bottom. Press.

Quilt Top Dimensions: 47” x 57”

I'll post pictures of the pieced backing soon!

8. Pieced Backing – Main Piece: Take your 1 ½ yards. Trim down to 42” x 52”. Press

9. Pieced Backing – Borders: Sew your 6 – 5 ½” x WOF strips together into 1 long strip. Trim to 4 – 5 ½” x 52” strips. Sew Strips to Sides. Press. Sew strips to Top and Bottom. Press.

Pieced Backing Dimensions: 52” x 62”

10. Layer, Quilt, & Bind using your Favorite Method.

Ta Da! A Quick and Easy Panel Quilt!

Please let me know if you have any Questions!



March Madness...Comes to an End

Although March Madness has ended for us Florida Fans, we'll keep it going through the end of the month.  Which means just 2 more days before the sale is over!

I have Florida Football to look forward to next...Only 167 days to Kickoff!

March Madness Continued...

Alright...for those of you following with my March Madness - The Gators are moving on to the Elite 8 which means the Chickadee Shops discounts are moving up with them!

Discount is now up to 42% ...

Use Promo Code ELITE8
for an extra 32% off all prices at Chickadee Shops

Go Gators!

March Madness

I am a huge sports fan and tonight is going to be a dilemma...Do I cheer for Florida or BYU? 

VS      

I am a UF graduate and have been going to Gator games since I was a little girl.  In my family ALL everyone has attending either FL or BYU...and my oldest, Maegan, has BYU at the top of her list for school next year.

Definately time for some March Madness

Save an Extra 30% off all prices - INCLUDING Sale Items!

Use Promo Code MARCH40 during checkout

Sale ends March 31st, 2011

http://www.chickadeeshops.com/

I suppose it really isn't that much of a dilemma for me because I am a Florida gal through and through. 

SO...here is a fun twist to the sale.  If Florida wins tonight, and makes it to the Elite 8 - starting tomorrow, I'll take another 2% off.

If Florida makes it to the Final 4, I'll take another 2% off.

GO GATORS!!