Weekend Wrap-Up [Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Raleigh, NC]

This weekend I met up with my Mother-In-Law in Raleigh, NC for The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo.  This was the Expo's first stop in Raleigh... I usually travel to Atlanta in March for the Expo down there.

It was a fun weekend, the event was a lot smaller than the Expo in Atl, but I liked being able to hear myself think and get my hands on good deals!  It was also a great opportunity to see new-to-expo-shops and new-to-me-shops... I found a few that I would love to visit when I'm in Raleigh again, like Wish Upon a Quilt.

A view of the Gammil Longarm Workshop and the Expo floor.

One of my most favorite shops, Sew It Up.  I've purchased from them the past three years and am so happy with their kits and patterns they offer.

Seriously, every time I'm in this booth I feel like I could sew one of these dresses.  Take a look at the dress I made for my littlest chick with a Pink Fig pattern that I picked up from Sew It Up at the Expo in March, Here.

Our view of Raleigh from 7 floors up in the DoubleTree Downtown.  Raleigh has such a pretty Downtown area full of shops and beautiful old homes.

To finish it off, we had dinner at The Pit.... Seriously good BBQ up in here!!

Like I said, I scored some great deals at the show... I'll share what I came home with in another post!

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Through Friday, June 29th... Save 25% on ALL Fabric in the Shop, Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry Prints, with code VACAY25 at Checkout!

XxOo~ Melissa

Summer Organizing {The List & Kitchen}

Usually, by the end of a school year, our home is a little lot less organized.  So, I've made a plan, and a list in my idea notebook, for organizing my home this summer. 


Between 12.5hrs of Gymnastics practice, School, and Girl Scouts for my Big Chick, and entertaining my Little Chick, I foresee very little time spent on major organizing projects once the new school year rolls around.  Not to mention I am absolutely horrible at putting things off.  I figure if I start now, I'll be able to get things together by the end of August... right? Right!


{My List of Projects}


-Kitchen Organization: Declutter Counter tops, Meal Planning Organization, Bead-board on backsplash, breakfast bar and in powder room.


-Laundry room: Shelving for storage and clothes hanging


-Dining Room: Dining Bench with Cushions/Pillows, Photos/Art for walls, Family Command Center wall.


-Living Room/Front Entry: Console Table with lamp and drawer/tray for catching keys, shades, etc.  Basket for shoes, Coat Hanger organization (behind front door), Slipcovers for sectional & chairs, throw pillows.


-Girls' Room: Finishing touches from Operation Organize.


-Master Bedroom: nightstands, closet organization


{The Kitchen}


So far I have made progress in the kitchen with just the bead board to be done.  I cleared the counters of clutter, everything has it's place, and I contained all of my coffee supplies on one platter for a more organized look.

We planned on bead board after the fire but haven't had a moment to do it.  This summer it will be done!  We'll install it as the backsplash and around our breakfast bar to protect the walls from the little feet, which tend to kick the wall at breakfast any time they sit there.


I'm considering using beadboard textured wallpaper in our dining room, which is attached to our kitchen, and the powder room... but the jury is still out on that project.


I'm hugely inspired by blogs when it comes to organizing my home.  Most recently I'm hooked on iHeartOrganizing.  I used Jen's tips to create a meal plan/menu for my family, so far so good. 

 I'd like to create a whole binder the way she has, we'll see how that pans out.


There were no sewing projects for the kitchen, though I think I may quilt a mug rug for myself. *wink*


Next up will be the Dining Room.


How do you organize your home? Have you ever worked with beadboard wallpaper? Have you ever worked with beadboard? Let me know if you have any tips!


XxOo~ Melissa

Weekend Wrap-Up {Coastal Living & Father's Day}

What a great weekend we had...


We kicked off Saturday with a 2.5 mile run, my husband, littlest chickie, and I. (Our oldest was at Gymnastics Practice).  It was nice to run with my husband, and have him switch off with the jogging stroller... a 3 1/2 yr old in a jogger is not easy, regardless that I've been running for a few weeks with her, ha.


We we got home I knocked out these SELF exercises from the SELF Drop10 Diet... I'm pretty much just using this for the exercise routines, and boy do I feel it.  I love this workout.


After a few more chores, we headed out to pick up our oldest from practice and went down to Harkers Island, NC where we took a ferry out to Cape Lookout National Seashore.  After living on and near NC's Crystal Coast for 7 years, I had yet to make it out to the lighthouse!  My husband, kids, and parents have all gone... it was about time!

It was a windy day but beautiful all the same:

Father's Day started with the little chicks making breakfast for their Daddy, my hubby, with help from Mommy (aka me, duh) which was followed by a family run, well for the husband and I... Little Chick sat in the jogger and Big Chick rode her bike.  We ended Sunday by grilling out at our house with my Dad and Stepmom.  Just as an FYI- you have to try Grilled White Peaches, Bobby Flay style... here's the Recipe... SO GOOD!


The next few weeks are going to be insanely busy, followed by a week long vacation at Fripp... so here I go!

Have a great Monday!
XxOo~ Melissa

Free Sewing Pattern and Market News

{Sewing Pattern/ Bag Making Kit Sale}

Now through the end of June, receive a free PDF Download* of the SoChick Market Tote Sewing Pattern when you purchase a kit from the SoChick Shop.

SoChick Bag Making Kits include everything you need to sew your SoChick Market Tote... The designer cotton prints (from Amy Butler's Soul Blossom line), interfacing/interlining and hardware... you provide the thread and sewing machine!  This tote is super awesome for summer as it holds lots and lots... makes a great Market Tote, of course, or a beach bag!

*The PDF will be emailed to you within 24hrs of purchase.  Because the Sewing Pattern is emailed as a PDF file, for free with purchase, there are no refunds for kits purchased during this sale.


{Market News}
I will not be at the New Bern Farmer's Market this weekend as planned... I will return on Saturday July 7th.  In the meantime, I will be holding an Instagram or Facebook sale this weekend!  Be sure to "Like" SoChick Handbags on Facebook to get the latest info on the sale!  (You can also follow me on Instagram @TheSoChickChick).


When I return to the Market in July, I hope to have sewing patterns and kits available for purchase at my booth!


Have a great weekend!


XxOo~ Melissa

Weekend Wrap-Up {In a rut, life, the beach}

I've been in a bit of a blogging rut lately... I'm guessing it mostly has to do with being busy in life. So, here's a quick rundown of what I've been up to; I'll get back in the groove, I know I will!

School is out for summer!

Gymnastics Practice for my oldest Chickie continues (12.5 hrs a week); I am so proud of her.

This weekend my oldest also moved up to Junior Girl Scout. The Troop had a bridging ceremony and cook-out, it was great... her troop really is a great group of girls, parents and leaders. This year, Girl Scout's are celebrating 100 years of scouting... and I'm so happy she has been a part of it!

I am now heading to the New Bern Farmer's Market on a weekly basis, for the most part.  Next Saturday will be the third in a row, and any of you crafty gals who participate in Markets will know how this works... lots of sewing for market! I love meeting new people, chatting and catching up with the regulars.

The past two Sunday mornings we have gone out to walk the beach, I hope this stays a regular occurrence.  It makes for great family time and we all love the ocean. Both of our girls have grown up by it... its amazing that living 15 miles away keeps us from the beach as much as it does.  We'll change that this summer.

With that being said there are a few projects I'm working on, another Sewing Expo that I'm attending, oh and I need to catch up on my Craftsy BOM.

Sigh... Summertime and the living's easy... or busy... but I'm enjoying it all!

Found this shell on a beach walk... blocks by Bubblewrappd 

Have a great Tuesday!

XxOo~ Melissa

Scrappy Summer Wreath Tutorial

I bought a floral wreath form a while back because 1- I can never find them, and 2- it was on sale.  It had been hanging in my studio, neglected, ever since... until I decided I needed something on my bare front door!


So, here's my:

Here's what you'll need:

I'm not exactly sure how a wreath is measured, mine is 8inches measuring the inner diameter, or 12inches measuring the outer diameter.

The scraps I used were:

- Amy Butler's Wildflowers in Navy, from the Daisy Chain collection, leftover from my Pinterest-Inspired Roman Shades.

- Aqua colored Linen

- Amy Butler's Dancing Paisley in Limestone, from the Soul Blossoms collection,... available in my shop, here. 

Next, I cut about 60-65 strips of fabric measuring 13 inches long by 2 inches wide.  Since the thickness of your wreath may vary, I'd cut a strip to test out first, then measure your remaining strips from there.

Then, you just tie your strips onto your wreath.  I made sure to tie right over left, left over right, so that the ties were even and don't pull off.  Also, since I used three different fabrics and am a little OCD about pattern, I alternated my fabrics to create an even pattern. 

 If you are using a bunch of miscellaneous scraps, you could tie them on completely randomly and get a cool effect!

Once I was finished tying on all of my strips, I fluffed the ties and turned them slightly to the front of the wreath.

I used a little piece of twine to create a loop for hanging and up my wreath went... I love it!

Since all my fabric was leftover from past projects, and I bought the wreath form on sale, this wreath cost a total of $3.00!!  And it wasn't as tedious and time-consuming as I thought it may be... Win/Win.

Have you made a scrappy wreath? Do you think you'll make one?

I'd love to hear your thoughts and/or see a picture of your wreaths!

XxOo~ Melissa

InstaFriday {Sewing, My Pups and Winners}

This week went by so quickly.. I guess that's what happens when Monday is a Holiday!

Here's the rundown of my week via Instagram, I'm linking up with Jeannett!  You can follow me on Instagram (thesochickchick).

Always nice to start the week with a Twitter Swap... Kristen from kd-quilts stitched this quilted pouch for me, I love the fabrics!  She also stuffed it with lots-o-scraps, all of which I'm itching to use!

Tropical whatever-it-was Beryl came through on Wed., So I took the time to cut and prep some items for this weekend's Farmer's Market.

I love my poodle boy, Conrad, with a clean shaven face and ears... apparently he thinks that being fresh from the groomer means he can lounge on the couch.  Although, my youngest chickie doesn't help with the confusion when she calls him to lay with her... ha.

A little of what will be at the Market this weekend.

Marilyn, our Boston Terrier, rules the roost... Conrad thinks she shouldn't be on the couch, well.. at least not in his spot!

I'll be at the New Bern Farmer's Market tomorrow, June 9th and June 16th... so I'll be sewing lots in between... if you're in the area, come by for a visit!!

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GiveAway Winner Info:

 This sale has ended, and while I didn't meet my goal to kick-off the GiveAway, I did e-mail something special to those who participated!  Thank you! 

The Advocare Spark Energy Giveaway had two participants... lucky for them, because they are each getting a prize!  Thanks for entering!

Have a fabulous weekend!

XxOo~ Melissa