SoChick Fabric Shoppe Re-Opens!

The SoChick Fabric Shoppe is now OPEN and shipping fabric again; this time it's from the mountains of Western North Carolina!

Finally, the time has come; my new studio space is ready, and I hope you are, too!  

Making room...
  As you browse the SoChick Fabric Shoppe, you'll find that premium quilting cottons and laminates have been reduced in price to not only bring you a great deal, but to also help to make room for new Fall Inventory of fresh fabric!

Also coming for Fall 2013, two new SoChick Sewing Patterns and a selection of fun handmade goodies from the new studio space... stay tuned!


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

It's Fabric Time! {Shop's Open, a Sale and a GiveAway!}

I am SO excited to tell you that the SoChick! Shop is up and running, with lots of pretty fabric!

When I started my little handbag business back in 2010, I knew that one day I wanted to sell the beautifully-fresh, and modern, premium quilting fabrics that got me hooked on bag making and sewing... I also knew that I wanted to one day put my designs into sewing patterns to encourage and show others that you can create beautiful, professional-looking items in your own home, with your own two hands... and sewing machine. *wink*


I happened upon Amy Butler's beautiful fabrics when I started my addiction in 2008.  Since her fabric, and fabrics similar to her's, are not available in my area, I took to ordering online.  Over time I learned what fabric I loved and couldn't be without.  While Wildflowers in Navy, from Amy's Daisy Chain collection, is my all-time favorite print, I knew when her Soul Blossoms Collection was released that I was hooked for serious! 

So, it's not really a surprise that, when the opportunity arose, I choose some of my favorite prints from Soul Blossoms to start my fabric shop journey.  I love the pinks and oranges, and the greens and aquas, found in these prints.  Plus, their versatility is where it's at... I believe Amy calls the colorways of Soul Blossoms a "Treasure box palette", because all of the colorways work so well together!

In my SoChick! Shop you will find fabric, fat quarter pairings and bag making kits (for my sewing patterns).  My Sewing Patterns are available in my Craftsy Pattern Shop, as PDF downloads... don't worry, I was sure to offer the link to my pattern shop under "Sewing Patterns":

There are several more fabric collections that I hope to add to the shop in the future, but this is where my fabric-loving-heart told me to start...  I hope you will love these fabrics as much as I do and see that you, "Everyday chicks", can create beautiful "Everyday Chic" items in your home, too!




Okay, okay, ready for this Sale/GiveAway?!


The Sale:
You may already know that my first Sewing Pattern: The SoChick! Market Tote is on Sale for $6... and if you don't know, now you know. *grin*.


Because I know you will love sewing this bag, and that you will come away from this pattern with new skills & inspiration, I am going to keep this pattern at the $6.00 Sale Price through Memorial Day!  A super great deal for a Sewing Pattern that you can download instantly, as a PDF file, has full-sized pattern pieces, full-color photos and extra tips & tricks to encourage your creativity!


You can purchase the SoChick! Market Tote Sewing Pattern HERE


The GiveAway:
I would love for you to help spread the word about my Sewing Patterns!  My goal is to sell 25 of my SoChick! Market Tote Sewing Pattern by Memorial Day... remember, it's on SALE.  Once this pattern's sales reach twenty-five, everyone who has purchased a pattern from 1-25, and beyond (though Memorial Day), will be entered into a random drawing to WIN a FREE SoChick! Market Tote Bag Making Kit.


My Bag Making Kits include all of the yardage, interlinings and hardware needed to complete the corresponding pattern.  The winner will have their pick from the Blush Blossom or Azure Kits.


I think that's a pretty great deal, don't you: Buy the pattern on sale, get a chance to win a free kit?! 


As a bonus, if you or your friends purchase the SoChick! Market Tote Sewing Pattern, leave a comment on SoChick's Facebook page telling me that you bought it, and have your friends tag you if they bought it from your recommendation... I may be inclined to do something super nice for my top sewing pattern referrer.


This journey gets better and better, thank you for joining me!  My heart is SO freaking happy!!! XxOo.


*GiveAway Deets: The GiveAway will become active once Twenty Five (25) SoChick! Market Tote Patterns are sold in my Craftsy Shop.  Sales beyond the initial twenty five will be included in the giveaway; all sales will be numbered in the order received.


Sale and GiveAway will run through Memorial Day, ending at 3:00AM EST on May 29th (this gives the west-coast gals a chance to get in on it till midnight their time.. *wink*).  


I will enter the total number of sales into a Random number generator and announce the winner here on the blog no later than June 1st!  I will also contact the winner via their PayPal email address used to purchase the Sewing Pattern.  For everyone's protection, your email address will not be shared. 
XxOo~ Melissa

Sewing Pattern Sale {SoChick! Market Tote}

For a limited time my SoChick! Market Tote Sewing Pattern is on SALE for $6.  Why? Because not only am I sure you will love making this Tote for yourself.. but Mother's Day is next weekend, and I'm sure you know a Momma that would love a pretty handmade Market Tote, too!

XxOo~ Melissa

Weekend Wrap-Up [Camping & My Craftsy Pattern Shop]

 What a fun weekend of camping with my daughter, her Girl Scout Troop and 2000 other Scouts from North Carolina.  We were celebrating 100 years of Girl Scouting... Wow!  I was a Girl Scout in 1st & 2nd Grades in Germany, my Dad is US Army Retired; it was awesome to be able to share this once-in-a-lifetime event with my chickie.

Of course we were super tired when we got home yesterday afternoon... basically we just laid around the rest of the day to recoup.


How exciting, though, to come home to some brand-spankin'-new SoChick business cards?! 

I ordered these from Moo.com and couldn't be happier with them!  It's great seeing "Fabric" and "Sewing Patterns" listed as an offering from SoChick!  Truly a dream coming true! (Is that over-use of the word 'true' or what?! But, it's the truth! *wink*)

Pretty fabric is on it's way to me and I can't wait to get it all checked in, photographed, and listed so that it can then make it to you! (Soon, so soon!)

In the meantime, my Craftsy.com Pattern Shop is OPEN!  Currently I have the SoChick! Market Tote Sewing Pattern listed for sale.  I felt this was a perfect pattern to start with because it's fairly easy to sew, teaches skills that can be carried over into other handbag & accessory construction, and can easily fit your personality when using your own fabric combos.   Bag Making Kits will also be available in my SoChick Shop as fabric is listed.

What I love about the SoChick! Market Tote as a bag... well, it's super versatile, the gathers in the bottom sides add a feminine-chic touch, it has two inside pockets to help organize (you can fit a TON in this bag), the sides fold in for a different look and it has a magnetic tab closure.  What's more, it's interlined with canvas which really ups the durability factor.  I love it!

I've also started a Flickr group, SoChick! Sewing.  Now, when you make something using one of my patterns, you can share it with myself and others!  I can't wait to see your spin on my sewing patterns!

P.S.- If you've purchased an item from SoChick!, you can share customer appreciation photos in the SoChick ~Customer Love~ Flickr group, too!

Have a wonderful Monday!!

XxOo~ Melissa

Want to Know What's Coming to SoChick?! [An Exciting Announcement!]

When I started my handmade business a few years ago I focused on making professional-quality handmade handbags using fun and fresh fabrics.  I always knew, though, that one day I planned to share my passion for handbag design and beautiful fabrics with others who sew and want to learn.  My dream has always been to encourage others to make beautiful things, after all, handmade is beautiful!  And, it's quite obvious that I have a thing for fabric, so...


I am beyond excited to share a few things that will be new to SoChick! Handbags & Embroidery late this Spring 2012....


[First]

My designs will be available for sale as full-color Sewing Patterns, in a downloadable PDF format!  I love the thrill of creating something new and am excited to share that passion and sense of accomplishment with you... I know you will love creating your own items that are "Everyday Chic for Everyday Chicks!", whether for yourself or for wow-ed friends and family!




[And...]

Not only will you be able to get creative with SoChick! Sewing Patterns, I will be offering fun and fresh fabrics to help you along!  Of course use of this fabric won't be limited to SoChick! Sewing Patterns... with premium quilting cottons full of fresh prints in beautiful colors, you can create all kinds of wonderful handmade goodness, and that, my friends, is what it's all about!


I am practically jumping for joy sharing this news with you and hope you are, too!  


Be sure to sign up for the SoChick! Monthly Newsletter (in the right side-bar) because, as the time nears, I will announce release dates as well as the manufacturers and designers I will be carrying.  Also, newsletter subscribers will be the first to know about great deals, specials, and how to snag great prizes as I celebrate this big, happy, step into the future of SoChick! Handbags & Embroidery.


Thank you so much to my super wonderful customers and friends who have been along through this journey, I'm happy to share this next step with you and excited for the new friends SoChick! will meet along the way!


XxOo~ Melissa