Looking for Fabric101? You've got it! {New Mini-Series}

**This post has been edited to include the links for all of the Parts of The SoChick Chick's Guide to Fabric**


If you've been around this blog for any amount of time, you know I have this thing for fabric... a slight addiction/obsession, what have you.  I love to touch it, cut it, sew and create with it; I'm not going to lie, I have some yards that I'm hoarding holding on to because I just can't bear to cut into them.  I could spend a lot of time talking about fabric (I kind-of sort-of do, ahem, Fab. Fabric Fridays), learning more about it, etc. etc...  I seriously do a happy dance every time the UPS man brings fabric to me, and am admittedly bummed if I miss the UPS guy and have to wait another day for said fabric.


Another thing I'm passionate about is teaching/encouraging others to sew, appreciate great fabric, and all of the beautiful things you can create when you mix the two!  Recently I've been testing the waters with teaching sewing lessons... so far so good, more about that another time... 


I find that when I'm teaching I have to fight the urge to just go on and on about fabric, mainly quilting cotton, and how great I think it is.  Not to mention all of the fun, fresh, modern prints that are available out there, from small shops and online, but it wouldn't be much of a sewing lesson if the instructor blabbered on about fabric instead of showing you how to thread a machine, right? Right!


... Light-bulb Moment... why not put all of the info here, on my SoChick Blog, for everyone to see?!  I mean, this is a blog about sewing and creating "Everyday Chic for Everyday Chicks!", riiiiight? Right!

So, starting next week I will be sharing a Mini-Series: 

Topics I'll cover:

* What is Fabric Grain? [Part 1: Fabric Grain]

* Pre-treating/Pressing your fabric. [Part 2: Pre-washing & Cutting]


* Measuring/Cutting [See Part 2]


* Fat Quarter vs. 1/4 Yard [Part 3: Fat Quarters & Pre-Cuts]


* Interfacing vs Interlining and why you NEED it. [Part 4: Interfacings & Interlinings]


* Beyond Quilting Cotton: some of my 'other' favorite types of fabric


* Tools, Tips & Tricks


My hopes are that this guide will be of some help to those of you who are new to the world of fabric & sewing, by having helpful info and tips in one place.  Plus, now my students can benefit from learning how to actually sew instead of listening to me babble about fabric, on and on and on... 


* * *
Coming Up Next Week:
- Mini Series: The SoChick Chick's Guide to Fabric 
- I'm Heading to The Original Sewing & Quilt Expo in Atlanta, GA
- My Stop on the Craftsy BOM Blog Tour, see Here for dates.


Have a great weekend!
XxOo~ Melissa

SoChick! Style Guide {with SoChick's Savannah Tote}

Happy Monday!  I hope you enjoyed the weekend, we did!  I got a lot of sewing done to catch up from time missed for sick days, I feel like i'm getting back on track again and that's always a welcome feeling!


Today I wanted to share one of the newer bags in the SoChick! Shop, but in a different-to-me way.  You may remember my post about this cool site, Polyvore, where you can style outfits, rooms, and whatnot... well, after having SoChick's spring photo shoot rained out, I thought Polyvore would be a great way to share how I envision my SoChick! Handbags being part of your life!


Today we are going to look at The Savannah Tote in Aqua Spring:

While Eloise, my dress form, is a very cooperative model (and classy gal, I must say), these Polyvore outfits really portray The Savannah Tote's possibilities, as I envision it:

Dress it up [Lady's Lunch & Shopping]

SoChick Tangerine/Aqua by thesochick


The name says it all, "The Savannah Tote", it's a classy bag that wants to have fun, too... just like the city it's named after.  This would be my outfit choice for a classy, springtime, girl's lunch downtown followed by shopping, shopping and shopping!


Because The Savannah Tote is nice and roomy, at four inches deep with four interior pockets, you can stash all of your necessities in it as well as some purchases, you know... to keep your hands free for the larger shopping bags. What's great about this style is that it can also pass for the office, in which case you can drop your planner and iPad in your bag, too!  Or, you can swap the dress for linen pants and add a cami under the cardigan for another great wear-to-work look!


Go Casual [Running errands & play-dates with the kids]

SoChick Tangerine/Aqua Casual by thesochick featuring a cuff bangle

Like, 98% of the time I'm a jeans and flip-flops kind of gal, so this is a great example of my idea of "Everyday Chic"!  Comfy cuffed boyfriend jeans with a basic, yet feminine, white cotton tank, dressed up with ruffly leather sandals, a necklace with "pop" and a gold cuff... I couldn't resist topping it off with the sparrow earrings to play into the sparrows in the tote's "Aqua Spring" print! Fun!


You can wear The Savannah Tote at the elbow, but also hike it up to your shoulder when running after the kiddos; again, since it has so much room, you can toss in a few diapers, a travel wipes case, juice and snacks along with all of your necessities, too! 


Of course these outfits highlight some of the season's hottest colors, ahem, Tangerine Tango, however, I think this color combo is super timeless; always a great pick for Spring and warmer weather.


Wasn't that fun!?  Okay, so now that we're all daydreaming of shopping in Savannah... time to get back to work!


Note: Some of the items I chose for my Polyvore outfits are extremely out of my price range, so if you really love them I'd recommend hitting up a place like TJ Maxx, to find similar styles.  Of course, SoChick! Handbags can only be purchased through my online Shop.  XxOo~M


* * *
Happening This Week:  


- A new option will be available in The Shop for The Pleated Tote as well as re-stocked colorways.


- Have you checked out the Craftsy BOM Blog Tour? Visit HERE to see who's the featured stop today!


- I'll be talking about Fabric later this week, too... stop by for some tips and info, you might learn something.  This will be especially helpful if you are new to sewing! *hint*

XxOo~ Melissa

Insta-Friday {Feeling Better}

So, about this mini hiatus I took from blogging... It wasn't intentional, really, I promise.  You see, the kids had a nice three (and a half) day weekend from school and my oldest chickie ended up bringing home a nasty stomach virus, which hit her on Sunday, to share with the rest of us.  I'll save you all of the details and tell you that we are all feeling much better after a few days of rest.  Whew!

Anyway, where has the week gone?!  I'll share the highlights (which are few) via an Insta-Friday post... linking up with Life Rearranged.

I was able to sneak in some sewing earlier in the weekend, prepping for new items... here's a sneak peek of some swirly pink fabric straps:

I also stitched up my February Blocks for the Craftsy BOM, but I'm going to wait to share those on the blog... you can visit me on Craftsy.com (TheSoChickChick) and you may have caught a peek if you're following me on Twitter or Instagram (Both @TheSoChickChick).

Next up is my Nan's grandfather clock, this is a seven day clock, meaning I need to "wind it" (raise the weights) once a week.  Every time I do, I open the front of it, take a breath in and am hit with all kinds of nostalgia of growing up and my Nan's home.  This was her clock, and all those years of being in her home have been sucked inside, they greet me every time I open that door... warm fuzzies. every. time.

Marilyn Louise, our 5 yo Boston Terrier, is always up for napping and snuggling... she's happiest snuggling under the covers snoring her brains out, so naturally she got some enjoyment out of us all being sick and resting.  Very recently, the pups have started sleeping in the girls' room again; they think they've gone to heaven every night when we say "time for bed", 've never seen two dogs run up stairs, jump in bed and lay still so quickly.  No, they are not spoiled... 

Well, there you have it... my week in photos.  This weekend I will be busy playing catch-up as there are lots of orders to fill, lots of projects going on and an upcoming trip to Sewing Expo (I'll tell ya more about that next week)... all of which means lots of coffee and maybe a late night, or two.

Don't forget that the Craftsy BOM Blog Tour kicks off today with Miss Print!! Pop over to say hi, you may find that you'll want to stay a while! Want the list of stops on the tour?  Visit my "Save the dates" post, Here.

Have a great weekend.

XxOo~ Melissa

Ready for a Blog Tour?! [Save the Dates]

Not long ago I introduced you to my New Sewing Friend (Craftsy.com)...  I told you about the awesome Free Block of the Month Lesson I signed up for (click that button in the right side-bar) and even shared the progress of my January Blocks. Soon, I will be sharing my blocks for February, but even more exciting is this awesome Blog Tour my SoChick! blog is going to be a part of:

The Craftsy Block of the Month Blog Tour starts on February 24th and will take you through 14 fabulous blogs!  Not only are you going to have some awesome new blogs to follow, you will learn more about the Free BOM Lesson, see different interpretations of current blocks, grab some sneak peeks at future blocks.. oh yea, and have a chance to WIN a $25 Gift Certificate to Fat Quarter Shop at EVERY stop along the way!

You read that right... Fourteen chances to WIN $25 to Fat Quarter Shop!  Wow!

Here are the stops and dates for The Craftsy Block of the Month Blog Tour:

Feb 24 - Miss Print

Feb 25 - Hoosier Toni

Feb 27 - Fresh Lemons

Feb 28 - Qubee Quilts

Feb 29 - Amy's Creative Side

Mar 2  - mon petit lyons

Mar 3  - Mel's Own Place

Mar 5  - Breakfast for Dinner

Mar 7  - Sew Paint Create

Mar 9  - SoChick!

Mar 10- Spin the Bobbin

Mar 12- Diary of A Quilter

Mar 14- Ellison Lane

Mar 16- Old Red Barn Co

Be sure to save the dates, you wont want to miss a single stop along the way!  Want to share the excitement with your friends/blog readers? Grab a Blog Tour button to the right!

See, I told ya I had lots to share! *wink*

XxOo~ Melissa

{New Product} SoChick's "The Julie" Wristlet

I swear I am bursting at the seams with wanting to share all kinds of things that I'm planning for SoChick as well as what is already in the works, but I have learned from experience that good things take time... so I'll have to settle for sharing this {New Accessory} with you today! Yay!!

I am super excited about this piece!  This past fall, a friend of mine really liked my framed clutches and asked if I could make a wallet or wristlet for her.  She wanted something that could hold a few cards, cash and her phone, and be easily hands-free if needed... of course I was up for the challenge! 

She loved what I made for her and I love the design, too... so here it is, named after my friend, Julie:

 ["The Julie" Framed Wristlet]

.

Aside from the beautiful shiny silver metal frames, here are some features that make "The Julie" such an awesome accessory:

Zipped Coin pocket and removable wrist strap (featuring shiny nickel hardware):

"The Julie" Shown in Aqua Spring

Isn't the big ball clasp on that frame just stunning?! Drool!


Inside you will find four card pockets that can hold up to two cards each; this 1 inch deep wristlet has enough room for your iPhone, lipgloss and cash.  If you have a small set of keys, they will fit in here, too... if not, you can easily clip them to the wrist strap... hello hands-free!

Shown in "Just Peachy" Chevron

 While some of the new styles in The Shop are not available in all of the new fabrics, "The Julie" is!  


The most recent colorways in The SoChick! Shop are "Just Peachy Chevron", "Cobalt Sunshine", and "Aqua Spring"; these fun and fresh SoChick picks feature quality fabrics from designers Heather Bailey, Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry... who happen to be some of my personal favs!

* * *


Would you like to win some SoChick! swag?!  Visit Andrea over at Bubblewrapp'd and enter the SoChick! GiveAway!




Have a great Monday!
XxOo~ Melissa

February Is National Embroidery Month [Yay!!!]

I heart embroidery! Mostly, for me, it's machine embroidery... but I appreciate all types!


I plan to stitch something fun later in the month, but for now I wanted to share some fun-stitchy-embroidery-yummyness with you...


Enjoy!


{Embroidery floss in a rainbow of pretty Colors}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{Beautiful hand embroidery! I love the little bumble bee!}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{A stunning example of free-hand machine embroidery}

Source: flickr.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{One of my Go-To Sites for Embroidery Designs!}

Source: urbanthreads.com via Melissa on Pinterest

{Example of a cool Urban Threads design, Ahoy Matey, that I used for some gifted scarves}

Do you embroider by hand or machine? Planning to stitch up something for National Embroidery Month?? Leave a comment, I'd love to hear about it!


XxOo~ Melissa

Fabulous Fabric Friday [Dreaming of Fabric]

It has been a while since my last Fab. Fab. Friday post and I really want to share this one, so today its happening on a Saturday... yippie!


Today's will be a quick one, but packed with awesome fabric!  For starters, if you've read my about me posts you know that I have a wide taste in music... well, that also transcends to the fabric I love.  Today is a great example of two "Coming Soon" fabric collections that are completely different styles, but have captured my heart and [soon] my creativity.


* * *


The first is LillyBelle, by BariJ, for Art Gallery Fabrics:


I love the way Bari describes this collection on her site, "gorgeous gardens", "graceful chateau"... and LillyBelle, " She's strong and fierce, bright and clever, sentimental and soft. LillyBelle goes where I dare to dream she can go."  The florals and pops of color grab me, as do the geometric prints.

Source: barij.typepad.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Source: barij.typepad.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Of course I LOVE the sketch of the pretty framed purse!


* * *




Next, Tula Pink's rockin' NightShade:

Source: tulapink.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I love her story of the Von Black Sisters; the lace bird print and of course the pirate references.  These are going to lend themselves to some cool and funky stitching ideas in my idea notebook...

Source: tulapink.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Plus, when collections have colorways such as "Absinthe", you know its gotta be cool, right? Right!


* * *


I am super excited to see both of these collections in 2012... what are some things you would make with them?  What collections are you looking forward to?  Leave a comment and lets talk Fabulous Fabric!


XxOo~ Melissa