Customer Love { ♥ }

I love my customers, they motivate and inspire me, and... well... they make me smile!  I especially love when my customers share photos of their SoChick! goods...  it's so fun to see where my creations call home!

Here are a few Customer Photos, thanks bunches for loving SoChick!  I love you right back!

~Jen ordered this Custom Messenger Diaper Bag when she was expecting her second baby, that sweet little boy she's holding; I am in love with the fabrics she selected! ♥

~My friend Alex knew about my sewing skills (and love for dogs) and asked if I would make some doggy duvets for her new family member, Oliver... of course I said "YES!".  I'm so happy to see that although Oliver has grown, he's still getting lots of use from his SoChick! beds! ♥

Are you the proud owner of a SoChick! Handbags creation?  I'd love to share a photo of you!  E-mail a photo to melissa@sochickhandbags.com so that I can feature it here on the blog!

XxOo~ Melissa

Meet My New Sewing Friend [Craftsy.com]

Yesterday I mentioned that I am participating in an After Christmas Sew Along. That will get me through my project in four weeks.  Today, however, I'm introducing you to a fabulous opportunity to sew something for yourself in 2012!


Meet my new sewing friend, Craftsy.com.


I received a nice little e-mail the other day from Quilters Club of America which told me about Craftsy.com and their Free Block of the Month Lesson!  Eeeek!


Craftsy is a great site with loads of Online Classes and Workshops for a variety of crafts, from knitting and crochet to sewing and quilting.

Source: blog.craftsy.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I have signed up for the Free Block of the Month Lesson, where we will make 20 blocks through the year and learn some great techniques as well as brush up on skills.  I have been told, via our Intro video, that I will have a completed lap quilt by the end of the class.  We will learn new takes on traditional blocks as well as some brand new block patterns.


I can participate in discussions and have already had a question answered in the discussion forum.  What a great way to 'meet' others who are working on the same project while getting personalized help from the instructor!!


The videos will be opened monthly and I can go back as needed... this is key for me since I am also running a business and this is merely a personal agenda... or is it?


Please go check it out... if you have wanted to try a quilt for yourself but never seem to find time to learn or fit a class into your schedule, this is totally something for you!


Enjoy and let me know if you sign up so we can chat about our progress!! Of course I'll share here, as well!


XxOo~ Melissa

Sewing for Me [After Christmas Sew Along]

One of my goals for 2012 is to get in more "me" sewing time.  This doesn't necessarily mean that I have to sew something for myself, but to sew something that allows me to use skills beyond bag design and construction.


I really enjoy quilting, though I've only ever made one quilt thus far.  A while ago (I'm embarrassed to admit how long ago, so I wont... we'll just go with "a [looong] while ago") I purchased the fabric needed to make a charm pack quilt for my older daughter.  I cut the pieces as needed and then put it all back into the box to finish another time.  Needless to say, I haven't earned Mommy points with as long as I've let it sit in that box.


[Enter: Sew Much 2 Luv and her 2012 After Christmas Sew Along]


Every Monday, starting {TODAY} January 2nd and continuing for 4 weeks, Karen will post a link to a flicker album where you can share photos of what you are working on.  There will be a new album each week.  On the Friday of that week, Karen will draw a random winner for the prize package for that week.... there's lots of great loot!!

(Check it out!) 

I figure that this will be a great way to get through a project that I don't want to put off any longer, while also helping me reach one of my first goals of the year.  I plan to share my progress in the flicker photos and with you here on the blog.


I am pretty excited to finish this quilt in 4 weeks! Woot!


If you decide to join the Sew Along, let me know so I can be sure to check your progress, too!


** Here is my first entry!**


XxOo~ Melissa

Reflecting on 2011 {Welcoming 2012}

Hello Friends! How exciting it is to be greeting you on the last day of such a great year.

2011 has been a year of growth and learning for my handmade business, SoChick Handbags, this blog, and myself. 

[Looking back] This year:

~SoChick! Handbags celebrated turning 1 year old.

~I Committed to Blogging, which has been a blessing

~SoChick was Fox Small Business' "Tweet Business of the Day" and featured twice on their site; Here & Here.

~I was named  "Scatter Girl of the Month" in November

~I was featured on many blogs, of which I am SO grateful.

~SoChick! became a vendor at our local Farmer's Market

[Numbers]:

265 Followers on Twitter - 339 Likes on Facebook - 101 Blog Followers via GFC - 2600 Avg. page views per month here on the blog!

SoChick!, the business and this blog have grown so much in 2011 and I can't thank my family, friends, and customers enough for the love and support!

Source: ohhellofriendblog.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I have goals and dreams for 2012, and high hopes that it will bring even more growth here, on the blog, as well as in SoChick! the business.

I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year, may 2012 be a fantastic year for you!

XxOo~ Melissa

Organizing for the New Year

We had a nice Christmas, spending time with our family.  My girls were so pleased with the gifts they received... now it's time to find a home for everything and bring some order to our home for the New Year.

Source: richinnerlife.typepad.com via Melissa on Pinterest

From my experience, the New Year brings out the Organizing Issues in the magazines... and so I'm inspired to get organized.  It also helps that my little chickies are with their Grandparents this week! {True Story!}

I tend to over-do my Organizing To-Do list the first week after Christmas when the girls are away.  Here are two of my biggest "Personal" Organizational Goals for the week:


The Goal: Designating an "office space"
  We have a 3-bedroom home and I use one of the rooms for my studio.  Needless to say we have very little space... but we make the best of it.
The Plan:
  To paint the upstairs hall and move a small desk, which is currently in my studio collecting 'stuff', to the space.  I hope to store everything within the desk so that the space stays tidy and organized while providing a place for bills, business work and Homework... which will be much better than taking over the dining room.


The Goal: De-clutter the Girls' room to fit their new 'stuff'.
The Plan: [This week]  Sort through and organize their closet and bookshelves... possibly paint (this is the over-doing it).  I would eventually like to get them a loft bed for my older daughter, in hopes to free up some floor space... any input on that?


Here are some great sites for Organizing inspiration and tips:
Better Homes & Gardens
IHeart Organizing: Free Printables
Real Simple

And of course there are endless possibilities on Pinterest.com (Here is my Personal Organization Pin Board)


Aside from this I'm also prepping for major sewing of new inventory, anticipating the arrival of new fabric and prepping for tax-time (gag).


How do you plan for the New Year?  What are some of your biggest Organizing Goals?
XxOo~ Melissa

Happy Holidays from TheSoChickChick & Family

From our family to yours, for whichever Holiday you celebrate, we hope that it is filled with peace and love.

XxOo~ Melissa

Last Minute Tips for Decorating your Workplace Work-space {A Guest Post with Maire of Eat, Breathe, Blog}

The darling, Maire, is guest posting for me again today with some last minute tips for decorating your workplace work space. 

If you missed the last Guest Post from Maire, you'll want to check it out when you're done with this one!  It's all about caring for your Handmade Items. 

{Via}

Holiday cheer for your office!

Now that Christmas is but days away and Hanukkah has already begun, your office is likely aglow in holiday cheer. If you're still putting up decorations or looking for ideas about how to make your workplace festive, read on for some design ideas for office and cubicle decorations.

The rules:

• Know about office etiquette so that you don't misstep when it's time to decorate. There's little sense in being disciplined for something that can easily be avoided. If management has banned blinking holiday lights or noisemaking decorations, take their directives to heart.
• If you think something you're about to display might offend someone, think twice about putting it up. All sorts of holidays are celebrated at this time of year, including Hanukkah, Winter Solstice/Yule, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and even Festivus.
• Keep your work area clean. Don't let decorations impede your progress at work. You don't want to regret decking your cube or get in trouble with management.

Let's decorate!

• Wrap the Whirlpool refrigerators in the break room like a present. Cover the front of the fridge in gift wrap, add a ribbon and an oversized bow.
• Display a miniature Christmas tree on a table or filing cabinet. Invite your coworkers to bring in ornaments.
• Put out fake plants like poinsettias, which provide color and seasonal cheer but require no work to maintain.
• Offer holiday treats for your coworkers to enjoy, such as snowman-shaped cookies or a selection of hard candy. Keep in mind people who might be dieting or diabetic and consider including some sugar-free treats, which are widely available at most retailers.
• Display a menorah and blue-and-white items (Hanukkah), set out a decorative bowl of earth elements like pinecones and evergreen (Yule) or dried ears of corn and decorations in red, black, and green (Kwanzaa). Consider hosting a Festivus party.

In your cubicle:

• Choose one of your cubicle walls to be 'holiday central.' Display cards you've received, 'wrap' the wall with gift paper much like you did with the fridge, hang a small wreath, or string lights around the top of your cube. Be careful not to overdo it; a small decorated space can easily become cluttered.
• Be careful about burning candles. You might be in violation of a fire code and scents like pine, cinnamon, or sugar cookie can overpower your coworkers easily.
• Gift wrap your office supplies, like the pencil cup or stapler. Don't gift wrap items you need to use every day unless you're careful to maintain their functionality.
• Align bows atop your monitor.
• Change your computer's screen saver. Burn a Yule log, sit under the stockings by the hearth, watch harmless candlelight flicker, or write a holiday message that coworkers and clients can see as they pass by your workspace.
• Decorate with winter elements like snowmen and snowflakes.
• Hang candy canes from your cubicle wall and invite people to take them.

The most important thing to remember with decorating is to have fun. Adding holiday cheer to your office should be carefree and enjoyable and an activity that everyone in your office can enjoy. Happy Holidays!

Maire blogs on behalf of Sears and other quality products. She also enjoys crafting, treadmill running, and eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon.

XxOo~ Melissa