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

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

Sudoku Quilt Kit Give Away!

We are going to be Giving Away a Central Park by Kate Spain OR Perennials by Kansas Troubles Sudoku Quilt Kit!

HOW TO ENTER:  Every Comment 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.

ENDS:  Friday March 18th at 3pm EST.  I want to get this shipped to the winner Friday!

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 and choice of Central Park or Perennials.

Diaper Tote & Changing Pad

I got the Diaper Tote and Changing Pad finished using the Laminated Cottons of Central Park by Kate Spain.  This was much easier to work with than I expected.  I used a walking foot and that kept it from slipping.  What I found to be most useful was I used this 1/8" double stick binding/seam tape that was perfect for holding my binding in place until I sewed it.

I followed the same directions that I used when I made the sample Tote in Bliss by Bonnie & Camille.

I have a Diaper Bag to add to this set and then I'm sending it to Australia for my little sister's baby girl that is due in July!

  Diaper Tote open - Changing Pad in background

Diaper Pad folded in Tote. There is room for wipes and 2 diapers.

On the handle I added a velcro closure so the tote and can be attached to anything.

Back of Tote has a pocket

Here is a Tutorial.  I'll post pictures of each step soon!

Diaper Tote and Changing Pad Tutorial

Diaper Wipe Tote dimensions:  5.5" x 9.5" x 1.75"

Diaper Pad:  17" x 19"

Fabric:  Central Park Laminated Cottons by Kate Spain for Moda Fabrics

Diaper Wipe Tote Fabric Requirements:

  2 Coordinating Fat Quarters for Body and Lining

1/3 yard:  Body Fabric for Side & Back Pocket

1/8 yard:  Lining Fabric

Velcro for flap closure

Velcro for handle (optional)

1" Belting for Handle

CUTTING:

Fat Quarter for Body:  

Front: 6" x 10"

Back:  6" x 15"

Fat Quarter for Lining:

Front:  6" x 10"

Back:  6" x 15"

 Body Fabric:

Side:  2 1/4" x WOF

Back Pocket:  6" x 13.5"

Lining Fabric:

Handle:  2" x your desired handle length

Binding:  2 1/2" x WOF

Pocket Binding:  2 1/2" x 6"

1.  Sew Lining Side to Lining Front - clip corners.  Repeat with Body Fabric

2.  Line up Back starting with the bottom since it is longer than the front.  Pin in place.  Sew Lining Back piece to front/side piece. 

3.  Fold Back Pocket in half.  Bind pocket top edge.

4.  Sew Sides of Back Pocket to Right side of Body Back, lining bottom raw edges.

5.  Sew Body Back to Front/Side piece.  You now have a Lining bag and an Outside bag.

6.  This next part is your choice:  You can put right sides of Lining and Outside together and then turn.  You can tack the bottom corners of the Lining and Outside together and then turn.  I tacked the bottome corners and then turned it so the lining is correctly placed into the Outside Body Piece.

7.  Fold 2" of Handle Fabric in half and iron.  Open up and fold side to middle fold (it ends up only being a 1/4 fold)  - iron.  Do it again for the other side.

8.  Handle Fabric is now 1" wide.  Sew to the 1" canvas belting.

9.  Sew handle to sides of Bag

10.  I chose to make a neat little curve for fold over part of my bag.  The Bliss bag I did a Left to Right sloping curve.  This bag I did a half mood curve. 

11.  Figure out where you want your velcro fastener and sew to folding flap and to the body front.

12.  Bind raw edges of Bag - taking time to be careful as you turn the corners. 

13.  Turn Handles up and sew in place.

Changing Pad Tutorial

Dimensions:  17" x 19"

Fabric Requirements:  Coordinating Fat Quarters

Binding:  2 1/2" x WOF

Quilt Batting:  17" x 19"

Cutting:

Cut each Fat Quarter to 17" x 19"

1.  Layer Fat Quarter, Quilt Batting, Fat Quarter

2.  Baste edges to hold in place

3.  Bind Edges

These turned out pretty darn neat.  The biggest hurdle I had was the binding.  Trying to bind the curves was really hard.  I think I liked the way I did the Bliss Bag where it sloped Left to Right better than doing the half moon curve. I also like the way it looks better and I think that slope will hide some binding imperfections.  With the half moon curve it is very easy to have your curves not match up just right and it is obvious since it is supposed to be symetrical.

I'll get some pictures posted of each step!

Thanks for looking and let me know if you have any questions!

A busy weekend

Last weekend finished the last high school wrestling weekend for us.  Wade made it to Regionals and his first match he goes down with a knee injury.  I deserver major mom points for not running out on the mat! 

He is already doing so much better but tomorrow is our follow up with the doctor.

On the storefront, I am waiting for the lease to be delivered.  Once we get this out of the way the demo can begin! 

I got my Central Park by Kate Spain laminated cottons today.  I am SOO excited.  I have spent the last little bit looking for ideas to make some samples of.  Something more than a table cloth! 

I think a diaper case, changing pad, diaper bag is a great place to start!  This will be my first tutorial for the blog!

Cheerfully and with patience...

We found out Monday that a national chain hair salon and submitted an application to the same retail space I had (it wasn't quite the Happy Birthday news I had been looking for).  Unfortunately, they submitted first.  When I questioned my agent, he said, "During negotionations, they did say someone else was looking at it, but I hear that all the time.  I guess it wasn't a ploy."  UGH!  The landlord offered 2 other locations located in the same plaza.  One is upstairs and a tad bit smaller, the other is downstairs and bigger.  My knee-jerk reaction was I am so going with the downstairs one.  I don't want to go upstairs and I didn't really like the space and there were a dozen other reasons.  So we began negotiations on that space. 

The next two nights I prayed over this decision again.  As "J" & I read our scriptures before bed I kept waiting for that inspiration aha moment where I would know the answer.  This morning as I was doing my usual scramble, again I thought about just not getting any answers that I felt really good about.  I didn't know what to do.  After a great morning playing tennis - it always seems to clear my mind - as I was driving home it hit me.  The upstairs location.  As I thought about it and what it had to offer, that feel good moment hit.  The feeling that I didn't have even as we were in negotiations for the other space.  I called "J" and said - HONEY!  I know this is crazy and we've already worked so hard on this other space, but I want to take the upstairs place.  As usual, my loving husband just listens to my antics, hears my reasons why, and without question says, I'll call the agent.  I had an appointment in 2 hours and he was leaving to go out of town for the next 3 days, so for us to see it - a lot had to happen considering the listing agent lives 6 hours away.  30 minutes later - our agent called, had gotten a key, and we were on our way to see the space. 

This is where things aren't so great. The space is in terrible shape and will need to be gutted and rebuilt out.  Even with all the added work, it still felt good and right.  So we put in our offer for this space and the waiting game begins again.  This afternoon I get an update call stating the Landlord is out of town until next week.  Oh my heck!  What a test of my patience. 

Tonight as I read through a talk given by Elder L. Whitney Clayton at General Conference, he talks about Alma in the Book of Mormon and how the Lord will give us strength and support, in His own time and way (that is the tough part).  He shares a scripture in Alma:  "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." 

What jumped out at me on this scripture is not only do we have to have patience, for the Lord works in his own time, but again we are promised that our burdens will be made light and we can handle them with ease.  The biggest part was how Alma submitted "cheerfully and with patience."  Patience is not so easy for me, being cheerfully patient is usually not how I will be described.  But his has given me a gentle reminder to be cheerful and patient.

It is a good thing that the rest of the week will be super busy.  Thursday I have a tennis match, the twins have gymnastics, & "W" will need to be picked up from wrestling.  Friday "W" & I will be leaving early for Jacksonville, FL where the 2 day Regionals wrestling tournament is being held.  We'll end Saturday with the Gold & Green ball.  Somewhere in their I need to prepare for Sunday - I am teaching the lesson in Relief Society.

On a fun note, Central Park by Kate Spain arrived today!  I love her fabric designs - those little animals are so dang cute!