Sunday Sponsor Spotlight {Sew Vintage & Bubblewrapp'd}

I hope your Sunday morning is as beautiful as the one outside my window... the sun is shining here and blue skies for miles.

Welcome to SoChick's first Sunday Sponsor Spotlight!  Much like Featured Shop Posts, the Sunday Sponsor Spotlight will highlight my lovely sponsors whose pretty ads hang out on the right-hand side of the blog... waiting for you to click and browse their Sites/Shops.

Let's take a look at this month's Sponsors:

Sew Vintage is Christy's Etsy Shoppe where she sells her pretty custom made pillowcases and vintage finds.  
Here are two of my favorites currently in her shop:

{Personalized Pillowcase via Sew Vintage on Etsy}

{Pretty In Pink Vintage Pyrex Bowl via Sew Vintage on Etsy}

You can also follow Christy on her blog, Here.

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You've seen Bubblewrapp'd on here before; perhaps you've been to Andrea's blog, too.  

I have made several purchases from Andrea's shop and love each and every one of them.

Take a look at her current block selection:

{Hey, love. block via Bubblewrapp'd on Etsy}

{Be mine. via Bubblewrapp'd on Etsy}

These are still my favorite blocks from my own Bubblewrapp'd collection:

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Be sure to pay these lovely ladies a visit and a huge thank you to Christy and Andera for being SoChick Sponsors! 

Are you interested in Sponsoring/Advertising on SoChick!~The Blog ?  Visit here for more info!

XxOo~ Melissa

Ashley of One In The Hand {Feature Friday}

Happy Friday and welcome to Feature Friday.  Feature Friday is my way of sharing handmade, sewing, and quilting shops & blogs with all of you, my lovely readers.  I love learning about other indie blogs and shops, so I hope you do, too!

Today I'm sharing Ashley of One In The Hand on Etsy.  Ashley is one of my "Tweeps" aka Twitter Friends, and, like me, she loves to craft and sew.  Read on to learn more about her Handmade Business and check out her shop... this cooler weather is going to have you craving one of her pretty knit and sewn coffee wraps and headbands!

Ashley is currently having a Sale in her shop and offering a Free Shipping coupon for SoChick! readers... Thanks bunches, Ashley!! 

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Hey, y’all! My name is Ashley and I’m happy to be featured here on Melissa’s blog. I’m always excited to read her blog to see the cute fabrics she’s working with, or her latest display at a handmade market. Also I kind of went bananas when she offered her Everything You Want To Know About Fabric AKA Ashley Why Are You Monopolizing The Comments Section Of All My Posts series . . . I’m a married mom of three kids and work full-time in higher education in Chicago, but besides all that, I have an Etsy shop called One In The Hand! I sew and knit practical accessories basically because they give me the opportunity to feed my fabric/yarn addiction. That’s a good reason to start a small business, right? ;)

Right now I make a lot of cup cozies which are great on your drinks in any season, and headbands for those days you want to dress up your hair (and the days you want to hide it). I’m excited to be adding some new home accessories to my shop this fall and winter, so keep an eye out for them! I do my best to re-use great materials for my items in order to cut down on waste and to provide cute stuff at affordable prices. It’s also very important to me to support my community so 10% of all my sales go to charity. This year I’m donating to Chicago’s Emergency Fund, which is an organization that provides immediate financial and resource assistance to folks going through a crisis or life transition.

You can follow along with my Facebook shop page where you can share your opinion on weighty matters like, “Should hot pads have loops or do you store them in a drawer?” BUT ALSO for awesome giveaways and stuff.

I’m making room in my shop for new items so everything is currently marked down 30%! As a So Chick! reader you’re also entitled to free shipping by using coupon code SOCHICK when you purchase something in my shop. 

One In The Hand

~ Quality ~ Function ~ Charity ~ Beauty ~

Shop: http://www.OneInTheHand.etsy.com
Blog: http://www.OneInTheHandBlog.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OneInTheHand

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Ashley's One In The Hand button will be on my right side-bar under "Featured Sites" for the month so you can easily find her shop!

Have a fabulous weekend!

XxOo~ Melissa

Sewing, Quilting, Handmade Blogs & Businesses: Let's Work Together!

Socializing is a favorite pastime of mine; we all know that networking is huge for businesses to be successful.  I like working with other businesses to get both of our names out there, and I love finding great sewing/quilting/handmade businesses and blogs.  After all, I learned a lot from blogs when I was first starting out, before my business was even a thought!  What I love more than finding new-to-me blogs and businesses, is sharing them with my readers via Feature Posts.

  Let's face it, as a one-woman show over here at SoChick Handbags, I don't always have the time to do awesome blog posts, while updating awesome inventory, as well as managing the other aspects of my business and family life.  By having feature posts, I can share and bring new readers/customers to other blogs/small businesses while offering great content for my readers, right here on SoChick~The Blog!  Win-win, see?

Want to be a Featured Site on SoChick~TheBlog?  

Here's the details:

- I'll host your 150x150 or 300x150 shop/blog button on my right sidebar for the month in which you are featured.  You can choose to also host my SoChick button, if you'd like. 

Example 150x150 Ad

Example 300x150 Ad

- I will have "Feature Friday" posts twice during each month.  In a Feature Friday post I will highlight your business/blog and give a short description (which you provide) along with one or two photos from your business/blog/product.

- You may also choose to share a sewing/quilting tutorial or fabric-related DIY, which will receive it's own weekday-post during the feature month. If you'd like to offer a giveaway or discount to your shop, email me and we'll chat.

- All of this is FREE and includes shout-outs on Twitter and Facebook, because Social Media is where it's at and this chick is all about Social Media!

Stats:
~ 4500+ Page views per month
~ 150+ Followers via GFC
~ 470 Likes on Facebook
~ 445 Twitter Friends

You can read previous "Featured" posts, here.

   I like for Feature posts to tie into what SoChick is all about, "Everyday Chic for Everyday Chicks".  Take a peek around the blog and you'll notice that while I like timeless design for my bags and accessories; I'm drawn to beautifully fun and fresh fabric, I also like tattoos and rock music.  If you think our businesses/blogs would be a good match for one another, go ahead and shoot me an email: melissa{at}sochickhandbags{dot}com

I can't wait to get to know you, work with you, and share you with my readers!

I'm currently seeking Sewing, Quilting, Handmade blogs and small/indie businesses to feature for September and October.  

XxOo~ Melissa

[Featured Site] Fairly Fabulous Crafting Slumber Party!

Okay, seriously, how super exciting does the title of this post even sound?! If your answer was "VERY super exciting", you're right!! 

[Via FairlyFabParty.com]

When Meagan, from Fairly Fabulous, contacted me about sponsoring this event, I couldn't possibly say no; with help from Alyson, of Eisley Rae, this Crafting Slumber party is going to be Fabulously Fun!

Check out the site for more info:

[Via FairlyFabParty.com]

While I wish I could make it out to the Southern Cali Desert, I'm going to have to settle with sending some swag for the Chicks who will be attending!  Meagan and Alyson are great blogging/twitter friends, not to mention very crafty chicks, so I'm more than happy to help out and wish them lots and lots of luck with their Fairly Fabulous Event!! 


Registration is now open, what are you waiting for?!


XxOo~ Melissa

[Featured Site] KD-Quilts & An Awesome Hexagon Quilt (In progress)

Have you noticed a trend here lately in the world of SoChick!?  Yep, there is more of a focus on sewing and fabric... most recently, Quilting.  I'm going to blame it on the super awesome "Block of the Month" lesson that I signed up for, HERE.  But also, it's my way of sharing my love of sewing in general!  What do you think?  Leave a comment below to tell me! 


Today I have Kristen of KD-Quilts to tell you about herself and a project that I think is just too cool!


Enjoy!


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Hello! My name is Kristen Danis and I blog over at KD-Quilts.com. I am a twenty something SAHM and have been 
sewing for years, but seriously started quilting 3 1/2 years ago. I got into quilting after I found my 
obsession for fabrics. Since I also have an obsession with blankets and pillows, quilting proved to be the 
perfect hobby for me! 

Last year I was blessed with the most amazing little boy! I have also turned my hobby into my business to allow 
me to stay at home with the little man, and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world! I specialize 
in custom and memory T-Shirt quilts as well as little quilty accessories and original PDF quilt patterns for 
sale in my shop (www.kd-quilts.com/store)

When I'm not sitting at my machine, you can find me playing, catching up on cheesy TV (love me some Real 
Housewives!) and knitting or snuggling under a quilt reading a good book.





Melissa asked me to share my super long term project with you, my hexagon quilt. 

When the little one was itty bitty, he wouldn't sleep in his crib until after his late night bottle. So he would sleep in my arms for hours and I was stuck on the couch. I needed something to do since I'm horrible at sitting and doing nothing. I 
figured it would be a perfect time to have a long term hand sewing project, and there is just something about 
those little hexagons of fabric!

I decided I wanted this quilt to be truly scrappy, not repeating a single print. Also, when I make quilts I 
want it to be big enough to snuggle under, and this quilt is no exception! That means I'll need over 2,000 
prints. When this quilt is finished, it will all be 100% done by hand, including the piecing, quilting and 
binding. So far I've got 1 row of 4 all finished!

I keep an update of all my hexie progress on my blog, www.kd-quilts.com, as well as all my other quilting and 
sewing adventures. 

Thank you Melissa for having me on your blog today! 


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All by hand!  Sew awesome, thank you Kristen for sharing!


XxOo~ Melissa

Meet Quilter & Fabric Designer Pat Bravo! [Featured Site & A GiveAway]

Busy, busy, busy, getting the shop ready to re-open; meeting several speed bumps along the way which are slowing me down, but that's never stopped me before; I'm determined.  I get excited every time I step back and look at what's cookin' for the Shop re-opening on Monday, January 30th... Save the date!


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Today, I'm sharing another [Featured Site] from the list over to the right.  This quilter and fabric designer's patterns and use of color, oooh the colors, make me swoon... not to mention I daydream of all the lovelyness I could stitch up with such beautiful fabric.


Today's featured site is Quilter and Fabric Designer Pat Bravo!

Visit Pat Bravo on Facebook!

When you first land at Pat Bravo's website you are immediately captured by its beautiful design, browse around a bit and you'll learn that Pat is from Buenos Aires, learned to sew when she was 9, moved to the US in 1989, is a self-taught quilter, fabric & sewing pattern designer, and owner of Art Gallery Fabrics (with her Husband)... whew!  Inspiring? I think, Yes!

Some of Pat Bravo's fabulous fabric [via]

I love Pat's fresh prints and use of color (the pops of color in her collections are nothing short of fantabulous!)... I especially love that her site is filled with inspiration as well as Free Projects:

For Sewing

For Quilting

Every time I look through the fabric collections and projects, I find myself adding something else to my "to-sew" list; when reading Pat's Bio and visiting her Facebook page, you can really feel her passion for what she does and I ♥ that!

I am super happy to tell you that Pat Bravo has been generous enough to share a taste of her lovely fabric with one lucky SoChick! reader, by way of a Free Fat Quarter! (You can use your FQ to make a small accessory, add it to a scrappy quilt, or fall deeply in love with Pat's fabrics and feed your addiction by buying a whole FQ Bundle to make an entire Pat Bravo quilt, using one of her Free Projects of course... Probably this is what I would do, seeing as there is always a good reason to buy more fabric!)

Enter to Win a Free Fat Quarter from Pat Bravo:

Mandatory Entry:

-"Like" Pat Bravo's Facebook page and leave a comment here telling me that you did so.

Additional Entries:

-Leave a sweet comment on Pat's Facebook page and tag SoChick! Handbags & Embroidery*

- Share Pat Bravo's Facebook Page with your friends*

- Facebook or Tweet about this giveaway*

*Leave a comment here for each additional entry [Include the link to your Post or Tweet, please]

GiveAway Deets:

-GiveAway is open through Monday, January 30th at 11:59pm EST, the winner will be randomly drawn via Random.org and announced here on my SoChick! blog on or around Tuesday the 31st.

-This giveaway is open to everyone... because everyone could use more super pretty fabric in their life, right? Right!

-The Fat Quarter will be of Pat's choosing

So get on it, and enjoy! 

***REMEMBER: If you comment as "Anonymous" be sure to leave your email address or some way for me to reach you should you win!*** Xo~M

XxOo~ Melissa

Meet Tiffany from The Paisley Tab [Featured Site]

You will notice on the right sidebar that I have some links to other blogs and sites... I decided that I don't really care to call these "Sponsors" (I don't charge for space over there), these are now SoChick's "Featured Sites", which I feel is a much more appropriate term.  These are sites that I enjoy; whether they are other handmade shops or blogs, I think they have something to offer my readers and are worth checking out!


Today's featured site is The Paisley Tab.  Tiffany has a great blog about sewing, coffee, and fashion, etc... (She had me at "sewing" and "coffee" *wink*) as well as a cute handmade shop.  Read on to learn a little more about Tiffany and her blog, then go check her out!


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Meet Tiffany:

I'm a thirty-something year old girl, crazy in love with Jesus Christ, my husband and kitty: vera.  Obsessed with coffee, fashion, sewing, and traveling.  I live a blessed life.  I’m originally from central Illinois, but am now reside north of Indianapolis.  My blog started back in 2007 - I picked up blogging and dropped it soon after.  I dabbled in it here in there in 2008, 2009, but finally became serious about blogging in September 2010.  In the beginning, I mostly blogged about fashion and coffee (hence the name coffee talks and cat walks) But over the course of the past year, I picked up sewing and started blogging about my new hobby and the stuff I was making.   

- ~What is your favorite craft/hobby and why?

Sewing!  When I’m not sewing, I’m day dreaming about sewing.  I studied fashion merchandising in college and was required to take numerous sewing/clothing construction/tailoring courses.  That was 10 years ago, and I knew I wasn’t going to end up going into fashion design, so I wasn’t into that part of learning my degree – therefore, I did what I needed to do to get through each class to pass.  Now – I’m a crazy, die-hard sewing addict & just wish that I would’ve had the appreciation for sewing back then.  When I decided to get back into sewing a year ago, I had to retake sewing classes and read up because I had forgotten everything I had learned. 

-  ~What is a skill or craft you would like to learn? (This can be related to your business/craft/hobby or something you don’t currently do, i.e.- learn to sew, hand embroider, knit, crochet, scrapbook, etc.)

Does cooking count as a skill I’d like to learn?  I know how to cook, but I’d like to improve on it! 

-  ~Share one fun quirk about yourself. (Are you a closet neat freak? Do you have a favorite book you read over and over?  Do you keep a secret stash of candy in your craft room ?  Go ahead, spill it!)

Secrets…..hmmm?  I kiss my cat on the lips.  I’m obsessed about my kitty, she is my only child. ;)

I’m also a little obsessed with reality tv. 

Thanks bunches for being a part of SoChick! The Blog, I am excited for my readers to get to know more about you!


XxOo~ Melissa