Menu Plan Monday!

Sorry I’ve been kind of bad about blogging lately. Trying to enjoy these last few days of summer not in front of my computer! But have no fear, there are several fun blog posts in the works this week…sewing, crafting, cooking, AND Carter’s birthday post (better late than never!). I’m making up for lost time for sure!

For many of us, this is the first week of the new school year. We are crazy psycho busy this week so meal planning is essential. Really simple meals this week folks! Check out OrgJunkie for more great menu planning ideas. What’s on your back to school menu this week?

Monday: Hamburger Helper, bag Caesar Salad (don’t judge me! I spent 7 hours back to school shopping today!)

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday! Crock Pot Tacos with brown rice, and green salad

Wednesday: First day of school! Crock Pot Chicken Divan over brown rice

Thursday: Leftover Buffet

Friday: Homemade pizza, salad and Red Box…what should we rent, hmmm?

Happy Fall! Have a great week everyone!

-E

Who’s a Weight Watcher?

If you are a Weight Watcher like me (I am actually an employee too!) you probably LOVE your handy dandy pocket guide! However, you probably don’t love how beat up it gets while living in your purse. Of course the plastic sleeve we give out in the meeting is nice to have. And we have the wallet looking snap covers…functional, but not as cute as I would like. I thought to myself “hey, I could totally make a cute one with fabric!”…..and here it is!

This one is for a Weight Watchers co-worker, but I am for sure going to make one for myself too! Let me know if you are interested and I will whip up a few for the shop. Just let me know what colors you’d like to see!

Linking my pocket guide cover up to lots of parties this week!

Be sure to check out

and these GREAT blogs for lots of fun crafty ideas!

Monday: Grilled Lime Chicken with brown rice, homemade salsa, and guac

Tuesday: Bleu Cheese Pecan Chicken Wraps

Wednesday: Bfast for dinner! Scrambled eggs, bagels with cream cheese, bacon

Thursday: Leftover Buffet

Friday: Subway…we’re gong to Disneyland!!!

Weekend: no cooking for me! birthday party and girls night on Saturday and beach party on Sunday…whoo hoo!

Check out OrgJunkie for more great menu planning ideas!

Happy Monday everyone! -E

A recipe and a “green” craft!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! We had a nice visit with my mom and step-dad (and their dogs!) and had a great little birthday party for Carter yesterday…more on that this week!

I saw this tutorial over at Living with Punks and thought it was such a great idea to be crafty and “Green” all at the same time! Here is a YUMMY recipe for Green Chile Cornbread and pics of the tin can pin cushion I made from the green chili can!

I gave it to my mom for her birthday!

Green Chile Cornbread

(2) 8 oz pkgs of Jiffy cornbread mix

(1) 8 1/4 oz can cream style corn

(1) 4 1/2 oz can chopped green chiles, drained

1 cup shredded cheddar

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

Combine all ingredients until dry ingredients are just moistened. Pour batter into sprayed 9x13. Bake at 450 for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Super Cute Tin Can Pin Cushion

So fun! My crafty mom loves it!

Can’t wait to make one for me so I ditch my tomato pin cushion!

-E

A special thank you to all the link party hostesses!

Please visit their blogs and show them some love!

Back by popular demand…

…more Anthro-Inspired Rosette Headbands have just been listed in THE SHOP.

These are the perfect accessory. Feminine, casual with just a touch of fancy, and they go with EVERYTHING! A great compliment to any hairstyle and definitely spruce up that twisty-knot you rock everyday…at least they spruce up mine! 

I stuck to the neutral colors for this batch…gray, brown, black and gray, black and white…Last time I had several requests for bright colors, but those are the only ones that didn’t sell! If you are still feeling summery and want a brighter color look here. 

Here is the new batch…enjoy! –E

Sweet Baby Girl Quilt…machine binding tips!

I just finished this sweet little baby quilt.

This was a custom order for a friend who is attending a baby shower this weekend. The nursery is pink and brown so I made the quilt to coordinate. It’s an alphabet and ballerina theme with pink and brown and cream and aqua...very little girl! I used a layer of Warm and Natural quilt batting, backed it in a snuggly soft pink and brown flannel, and bound it (on the machine…such a cheater…see tips below!) in a coordinating pink and cream polka dot. I just love polka dot binding!  

 

 

 

I used a Super-Sized 9 Patch pattern which is GREAT because it actually makes 3 quilts! So yes, I have enough fabric left to make two more quilts. Just let me know if you would like one and I will get you on my custom order list!

Now for those machine binding tips…

• For making and attaching binding to the quilt…I use this AWESOME tutorial at Crazy Mom Quilts
• Don’t get me wrong…I do enjoy binding a quilt by hand, but because I needed to get this quilt done rather quickly, I didn’t have the time to spend 3-4 hours binding. I had seen this tutorial at Red Pepper Quilts that details how to tack down the binding on the machine instead of by hand. Great tutorial and great comments in her comment section that definitely helped along the way. Since this was my first time, it’s not as perfect as I would have liked, but here are the things I learned…
• IRON!!! Once the binding is attached, you will be working with one side at a time sewing corner to corner. Press the binding out with lots of steam, then press it to the back with lots of steam. Make sure when you are pressing it to the back, you are covering the stitch line where you sewed the binding to the front of the quilt.
• Pin well!!! I saw in the comment section that someone said to use small binder clips instead of pins…GENIOUS! I did that and it worked well, however I didn’t iron super well on my first edge which meant it didn’t get binder clipped as well as it could have which meant I had a few little “holes” that I had to touch up by hand. I ironed and binder clipped very evenly on the other three sides and it turned out much better. So much better in fact that the next time I used this method of quilt binding, I will make my strips 2.25 instead of 2.5 because there was a bit of excess once it was sewn down. 

• Finally, you are just stitching in the ditch on the front of the quilt sewing corner to corner backstitching at the start and stop to really tack down the corners. Repeat on all four sides…so easy and SO much faster than doing it by hand.

Hope you all are having a blessed day! -E

Menu Plan Monday...and a few other ramblings!

Hi there! Hope you all had a great weekend!

This is going to be kind of an ADD all in one post :)

My weekend was filled with lot of sewing for custom orders and stocking the shop, but I did manage to get out of the house to go the OC Fair!

A few pics from the day…

YUMMY Australian Battered Potatoes :)

Carter investigating the giant germ…

As far as the sewing goes…I got an apron done that has been in my stash unfinished for about 3 years…yes YEARS. How’s that for procrastination? Feels so good to cross that off my list! It will be posted in the shop later this week so stay tuned for that. The colors are very fall…just in time for all that cozy autumn cooking! I am also working on a baby quilt for a friend who is going to shower this weekend. Love how it’s turning out. Here is a sneak peak at the quilt top. I will post the finished quilt tomorrow when it’s all done and pretty. I have more of this fabric and can make 2 more quilts so let me know if you are interested!

And onto our menu for the week! Busy week ahead. Family coming into town and my son’s 6th birthday party on Saturday…my head is spinning with everything I have to do this week. Good thing I already know what we’re having for dinner!

Monday: Spaghetti & meat sauce (tomato sauce my hubs made!), garlic bread, salad

Tuesday: Ginger Chicken, brown rice, broccoli

Wednesday: Cream Cheese Chicken over pasta, salad

Thursday: Roast Chicken, Rice, Salad

Friday: French Dips with salad

Wow…we are eating a lot of salad this week…I’m am side dish challenged!

Hope you all have a great week! -E

New Shop Listings!

It’s been a busy week at Sew Chatty! Lots and lots of sewing to re-stock the shop. I am very ready for the weekend to start…we are going to the OC Fair tomorrow! Mmmm…fried! What are your weekend plans???

Here is a recap of all the fun things that were listed in THE SHOP this week!!!

SHABBY BLOSSOMS!

Ruffled Checkbook Covers

Ruffled Coffee Cozies

Networking.

Today I am linking up to the Society of Socilaprenuers where they are talking about networking both online and offline. Networking is so important for small business owners. It’s how you get yourself and your brand noticed. I do A LOT of networking. It’s something that I am working to get better at everyday. I want my business to grow and if I’m not doing my part to get noticed…it never will!

Network Online…

• My Blog…My blog is my main vehicle for growing my business. It’s where I talk about the new things I’m making and where I share about the happenings of my little family. I think it’s important for my blog readers to get to know the person behind the business. I am so thankful to my bloggy friends who host link parties. I am able to share my business with hundreds of people each week by linking up to other blogs. I have had lots of sales in the shop from people who saw a link to my blog on another blog…it’s magic I tell you! I also post links to new blog posts on my Facebook Fanpage and Twitter, but I will address that more below. I am going to be doing a blog redesign soon to make it more user friendly and give it a more professional feel…really excited for that!
• My Etsy Shop…as soon as I list an item on Etsy, I “share” it on my Facebook page so that all my friends can see it. I have been lucky enough to get listed in two Etsy treasuries thus far. That’s pretty fun! There is a lot of room for me to grow in the networking of my shop. It is my weakest area for sure. I know I can promote with them in a “Showcase” but I don’t want to spend the money just yet!
• My Twitter…I love Twitter. At first I thought it would be really lame, but it’s actually really fun! I have the same philosophy with Twitter as I do with my blog…a good balance of business and personal. I post links to new blog posts and shop listings, but I also post random things throughout the day like a verse from my Bible reading, what I am making for dinner, funny things my son said, etc…again it’s letting people see the person instead of only seeing the business.
• My Facebook…My Facebook Fanpage is growing. I have nearly 200 fans at this point. With the fanpage, I can keep my customers up to date with new products and shop listings, blog posts, pics…I can update my status to alert them of sales or if I just burnt myself with the glue gun…again! I also have my fanpage linked to my Twitter so if I post something to the page it sends a “Tweet” too. Two birds one stone…less work for me!
• My Flickr…Flickr is also a networking area that I am continuing to learn about. I have the basics down. I post pics of my products, give a short but detailed description, tag them, and post them to groups. The more people that see my things, the more my business will grow. I love that!

Networking Offline…

• Me…When I leave the house I make sure that I am a reflection of my brand. I know that may sound weird, but other than my blog, I am my best marketing tool! I make stuff people can wear so I need to wear it! You will often see me out and about wearing a Shabby Blossom, a top that I made, or carrying my super cute bag filled with must have accessories that are also handmade by me! My master plan works. Ladies stop me all the time and compliment what I am wearing so you better believe I carry a giant stack of business cards with me ready to give to my new customer.
• Networking Groups/Chamber of Commerce…Looking into these currently so not too much to report yet, but I know they will be invaluable to my little business!
• Craft Boutiques…Boutiques are essential. While online shops like Etsy are GREAT, craft boutiques get your products in front of your customers in a way that is more tangible. And let’s face it, people like when they don’t have to pay shipping! Get online and find out about all the craft boutiques going on in your area and sign up to do a few a year. Meetup.com is a great resource for finding local craft boutiques.
• Stores…When you are ready…which I nearly am…get your items in a store (or several). I am gearing up to sell at a salon where my friend works. They have a little boutiquey shop in the front of the salon where they sell all sorts of cute things and I just know the ladies would love my products. I will be meeting with the shop owner soon to hash out all the details, but I am pretty excited about it!

Well, there you have it! All my networking tips on and offline. I have to say, aside from the actual creating of my items, networking is really fun for me! I love to meet new people and introduce them to Sew Chatty. Link up your networking tips by clicking the link at the top the the Socialpreneurs. Have a great day!

-E

Shabby Blossoms Are Here!

Proud to announce…my line of Shabby Blossom hairclips/pins launched today!

These little Blossoms are the perfect versatile accessory. They come in a set of 3 for you to mix and match and each includes an alligator clip and pin-back securely attached to the back. You can wear it in your hair or attached to your favorite top, sweater, bag…wherever you want! I sometimes wear mine clipped onto my pearl necklace if I’m feeling extra fancy! If I’m feeling casual I often clip them to a hat. Tons of possibilities from one little Shabby Blossom…perfect!

I currently have 4 sets available in the shop.

Enjoy! –E

 

 

Menu Plan Monday!

Can you believe it? I actually have a menu to post today! We have been crazy busy lately and I have really been slacking on my home management duties. No more. I am getting back to my normal cooking/cleaning schedule now so that when the new school year starts I am prepared and not a disorganized mess! Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning tips. Happy cooking!

Monday: Grilled Chicken, sautéed corn and zucchini (from my friends garden), garlic bread.

Tuesday: Baked Beans…I am bringing them to a big potluck at church. Our pastor was on Wipeout and his episode airs tomorrow so we are having a BIG viewing party. Be sure to watch! He is “the extreme pastor”!

Wednesday: Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas, green salad

Thursday: Crockpot Chili, brown rice

Friday: Homemade pizza night! Homemade whole wheat crust with homemade pizza sauce…yum!

Saturday: OC Fair…fried everything!

Sunday: Not sure yet…maybs we will have friends over for Sunday dinner.

 

There you have it. Have a great week everyone!

The start of my new wardrobe.

Well, I bit the bullet this weekend and decided to try my hand at dressmaking…more specifically…shirt making! I hit the pattern sale on Friday and scored some cute patterns on the cheap. It was definitely challenging, but I am super proud of how they came out. A learning experience for sure. I learned that I am a 10 even though in the stores I am a 6…vanity sizing much? I learned not to use 3/8” elastic when a pattern calls for 1/4” elastic…ugggh. And I learned that if I get stuck because a pattern is very vague…YouTube and Google are my best friends! Here are my two new tops…

1) Simplicity 3835

Here it is in action and a party we went to Saturday night.

Yes, I made a matching Shabby Blossom!

2) New Look 6895

Hope everyone had a great weekend! Lots of fun things coming to the shop this week so be sure to check back. Happy Monday friends!

-E