i heart linen

Shop Update

Good morning all!  Real quick, I've updated with the 4 bags I posted this week.  If you feel so inclined, go take a look see.  I'll be updating the shop throughout the week here and there, so stay tuned. 

Also, I've been doing a lot custom orders.  Just in case anyone is interested.....If you see something that I've made either on the blog or in the shop that you'd like to have.  Let me know.....I'd be ever so happy to make one for you!

The Nice Aqua, Browns, Purples, & Hot Pinks

More baggy goodness for my shop update. 

I love these too.  I used these lovely Kokka fabrics that I found on Ebay some time ago. The colors are amazing in person, they really just POP!  These photos really don't do this fabric justice.

I added some more pin tucking as you can see.  I'm in love with the pin tucks!

Here are some shots of the inside.

Yup, more gingham.  I hope it's not too much combined with the outer fabric........

....What do you all think? Well I hope someone likes gingham.....because I certainly do!  I'm making a two or more of this bag for the store as well and I plan to use the same lining.  But I'm also thinking of making that particular bag made to order.  I thought it would be nice to have more lining choices than just the gingham.  Since you practically can put any fabric in and it would still be a really great bag.  If anyone is interested in having the bag from that earlier post feel free to contact me.

Anyhoo, gotta run!  The kiddies are getting restless......duty calls! ^_^

The Mean Reds

Having one of those days. 

You know.....when you wake up in the morning and lie in bed..........
and you think to yourself....."Maybe it's best if I just stay here today."

Yeah, I'm having one of those.....*sigh* .....The ppd rears it's ugly head every now and then.  But you kind of just have to keep on keepin' on.

Blah!

Another Sneak Peek

Another Shoulder Bag......I'm on a big bag kick!  Roughly the same size as this one. It's basically this pouch but supersized!  Aqua gingham lining.  I like this one too.....but the first one is my favorite! This will be in the shop on Friday too!

Friday - November 30th, 2007 - 10 am ET

Hi folks!  Quick post to say I will be updating the shop on the above date and time.  Here's a little sneaky peeky of what I've been working on!

I'm in love with this bag!  I'm going to have to be sure to make one for myself.  The bag is quite large, it measures 16" x 20 1/2" excluding the handle.  The handle is large enough to fit over your shoulder.  So it's definitely a shoulder bag.

Here's a shot of the inside.

Gotta love gingham.  I'm thinking of making one of these available in Aqua as well.  I'll post a few more picks as the week goes on.  Well, gotta run! Ta ta for now!

Vintage Me!

Rashida - Circa 1970-something.

I still have that Pooh Bear.  My grandma has a photo of me with him and he was way bigger than me at the time.  Just months old.  Love my Pooh Bear. ^_^

I've been tagged again!  Robin and Jen both tagged me on the same day! 

The Rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.   

    Did that.

2. Share 5 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

• I used to play the violin for several years up until my freshman year in college.  I stopped and decided that I'd rather play the cello.  When I met my husband I found out that he played the cello and stopped because he wanted to play the violin!  Match made in string instrument heaven!  Neither of us have learned the new instrument.  Mel's lost the desire to learn the violin, but I still want to learn the cello.  And I will! I miss playing music.

• Large groups of animals make me cringe.  Like flocks of birds, or a herd of cows, whatever....if there is more than three I'm grossed out.  Ick! Just thinking about it makes me want to pass out! It gives me goosebumps like crazy! Weird huh? lol

• I used to be a smoker. Yup, Marlboro Menthol Lights. I know, I know! Eeeeeeeeew.  (Sorry smokers)  But, yeah I used to smoke, a pack a day in fact and I was quite content in being a smoker. 11 years. I tried several times to quit and was unsuccessful.  The day I found out I was pregnant with my daughter Isabella I quit and never looked back!  Well, I tried to smoke one after Elijah was born and I thought I would die!  I gagged and put it out.  Now the smell just sickens me.  But I don't get down on people who smoke.  It's your body, do what you like with it.  If you like to smoke, go for it.  (It's not good for you though and I'd love for you to be around to read my blog. ^_^) *whispers* And your clothes smell stinky too. Eeeeeew.  I can say though I get the craving every now and then but my two babies are more important to me than a ciggy. So I never indulge. 

• I started training this week to run a 5k.  One of my girlfriends from high school did it and she partially gave me the motivation to do it.    Yeah you Darlene! ^_^  Also, the NY Marathon goes right in front of our apartment.  (We're mile 21 of the 26 miles.)  Seeing all of those runners go by is so exciting.  I thought to myself,  "I'd like to give running a try."  So I've been doing the Couch Potato to 5K running plan. It hasn't been easy.  Especially since the words "exercise" and "Rashida" are never heard together in a sentence! But it is fun and you feel great afterwards.

• I used to be afraid of hair when I was little.  hahaaa! Not just any old hair, but hair not attached to a human.  Like if there was a strand of someone's hair in the tub or the sink.........*shrieks* or a loose hair on the floor or anywhere!  *faints*  I dunno...I got over it though.  Now the only thing that makes me scream like a banshee is spiders and rodents, hmmm roaches too..... snakes...yeah can't forget those, pigeons....uhm....the word blue.....(just kidding about blue)...okay...so lots of things make me scream like a banshee. *faints again*

3. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.

• Mefuza - Sisal Factory
• Lynn - Craft Stew
• Jodie - Jelly Wares
• Oiyi - Oiyi's Crafts
• Concha - Saidos da Concha

4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

    K....I did that.

5. Don’t break the chain!

 Ugh...Chain letters.  I'm not a fan of them....but I'll be a good sport! ^_^

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Love Bella and Elijah

Fall-ing

Couldn't resist posting some pics of the magnificent colors I've been seeing from my window lately.  Fall is my favorite time of year.  How could you not love all of these delicious colors that mother nature made for us? 

Love it.

Speaking of Fall, here's what I've put together for my Fall Swap.  I know it's late, but at least it's still Fall! Luckily I have a very sweet and understanding partner.  Thanks Larah, I hope you like what I've sent! 

• Some yummy Spiced Hot Chocolate for "a cold blustery night". (That's what it says on the canister lid. ^_^)
• A nifty notebook (For some cabin fever writing.)
• Some Ferreo Rocher (Perfect for nibbling with a good book.) 
• A few wooden buttons and funny little woodgrain binder clips.  (I found the clips in Staples, looks like they only sell them in the store.) 
• One of Melissa D's lovely cards. (It matched so well with my yellow/brown theme.)
• And finally a special little zipper pouch made by me!  (What makes it so special?  Scroll on down and see!)

Tada!

It's flu season!  A girl's gotta have tissues handy!

Here's what Larah sent me!

I love this bag.  She made it from a 1974 Butterick pattern and "some old mod fabric my grandma has had in her stash since about then." Thanks Larah's grandma! So cool. It looks really good with my  trenchcoat.(Mel always teases me when I wear that coat and says I look like Inspector Gadget. haha)   

She also sent me some fun buttons and trim. Vintage I think.  Oh! Some really funny cards too.  This one is my favorite.  Cracks me up!  I put it on my refrigerator.

Thanks Larah! Really fun swap!  And thanks to Chara Michele for organizing it!  You ladies rock!

And one more lady who rocks....Linda of dalinda-Plonka.  She passed along a "You Make Me Smile Award" to me and it made me smile.   So sweet of you Linda, thank you! You make me smile too.

Be sure to check out her site.  She make the cutest things! See.......

So before I go I'm going to pass on the "You make me smile" love:

Kayla @ just like sew - Craft lady here....definitely one to watch. And I'm so jealous of her crafting table! haha

Candace @ Sparkle Power - Cool vintage finds in her Etsy shop.

Laure @ At Home At Home - Really nice blog about things for the home. 

That's all folks! Ciao!

BOO!!!

Did I scare you!? No? Oh poo. Maybe next time. ^_^  But I'm sure you're probably surprised to see me finally posting since I've been so scarce lately.  I blame today's schools. lol Actually, I've just been straight up  t-i-r-e-d. (I'm hiding out in the bedroom with the laptop right now. hehe) I really needed this little bloggy hiatus, but now it's time to come back to blog land.  I just miss you guys!! ^_^ I've been lurking a lot of my favorite blogs and seeing all types of cool things happening for the holidays, swaps, A LOT of really clever and lovely crafting.  There are some amazingly talented people out there! I love it!  But now I'm feeling left out and I'm ready to have some fun again too! I've got so much to post about and share with you, so instead of bombarding you with my ramblings I'll just post a little at a time.

First, my husband and I have been trying to reorganize our lives a little.  Things have gotten a little willy nilly around here since little Elijah's arrival.  Hubby thought it would be a good idea to paint one of our walls with chalkboard paint.  We can right our goals, make lists, keep track of things and of course Bella would have fun doodling on it.  I have to say, I wasn't quite sold on the idea. But, since I'm usually the one to get their way with what goes in the house I figured I'd let him have this one. *snickers*  So off we go to find chalkboard paint. 

(I haven't done one of those fashion drawings in a few years.  Nice to know that some of my schooling stuck with me!)

Some of Bella's lovely artwork.......my little Pa-Bella Picasso. ^_^

I'm pleasantly surprised with the results. I thought the black would be too much, but it looks just fine!  We didn't do a large section of the apartment, just a little nook.  And oh my how fun it is!!!! I almost forgot myself and had to remember to share the chalk with Isabella! "Oh yeah...uhm.....you're right honey....I'll share with Bella....*pouts*"

Bella loves the chalk wall too. But now I have to teach her that not everything can be scribbled on with chalk.  The rest of the apartment is fair game in her eyes now!

I don't know why we didn't do this sooner.  I was almost ready to run around the apartment painting all the walls with this stuff!  But I came back to reality.  So, okay. Hubby scores.

Mel - 2
Rashida - 1,364,689,534

(He get's 2 beacuse he suggested removing the TV from our bedroom, it was sucking the life out of us.)

Some cool chalkboard paint links if you feel so inclined:

• Apartment Therapy (How to make your own chalkboard paint)
• Martha Stewart (Make custom color chalkboard paint)
• Real Simple (Create a wall mural with chalkboard paint)
• Domino (Kids room)

Next, my dear, dear, dear friend Charlene and I did a private swap that seems like it took eons for us to complete.  Ha!  I think we have to be the slowest swappers on the planet!  But it's mostly my fault.  I decided to go and have a baby in July.  I know!  Like I'm married and wanted to start a family or something! Sheesh. (Okay, let me stop joking around before someone takes me seriously!  My two pumpkins are the loves of my life!)  Anyhoo, I digress.  A few weeks ago I received this nice big box all the way from the lovely lush and green Singapore!  I ripped that box open like my life depended on it and was pleasantly surprised to find brown paper packages tied up with string!  How did she know that these are a few of my favorite things?!

Charlene's the best!  She made this lovely tote bag with white linen. J'adore!  It's hanging on my wall in my living room and I'm afraid to use it.  I don't want to get it dirty.  Hmmm...maybe I can frame it. ^_^

Lot's of cutey pie goodies.  The little fan I love!  I always have a fan with me during the summer (it's the southern gal in me)and Bella broke mine this year.  Now I have a replacement yay!  Speaking of Bella, she loves the little bag with the kitten on it.  She wears it when we go outside and uses it to collect leaves and twigs.  So cute!  And the pear card holder.  Just perfect for my moo cards!

A little hippo stapler and a Bella size Hello Kitty thermos.  (It's so funny because I used to have a thermos just like that when I was going to school in Tokyo.  I almost fell over when I saw this one, it brought back a lot of girlhood memories. *sighs* ^_^)  Some fun magnets and musical cows!  Elijah is quite found of the cows.  You pull the string and they play this sweet "music box music" and their heads move from side to side. 

A pretty green lantern and some lovely jewelry....Charlene did you make those?  A copy of "Simple Quilt's" by Yoshiko Jinzenji (ISBN 4140311371) and a notebook to use while creating culinary delights!

She also sent me tons of yummy snacks, but those never made it to this little photoshoot, but they were yummdy yummdy yum!!!!! Thank you Charlene!  We must do this again!

Well, that's all for now, more to come this week.  I've got a shop update coming up this week and maybe one more after that. Bags, bags, bags baby! I'm thinking Friday the 23rd, but everyone might be too stuffed from all the turkey eating.  So I may change it to Monday the 26th. I dunno. I'll let you know.

Tag. I'm it.

Tifi tagged me....so here goes!  ^_^

FOUR THINGS ABOUT ME!

Job's I've had:

1. Cocktail waitress at a nightclub
   I worked at this really popular nightclub in New York City for about three years.  I worked in the VIP room.  So much fun, met celebrities, saw the craziest stuff happen, made lots of cash, had a blast.
2. Benefits Assistant at Time Warner's corporate office
   So cool to work right across the street from Radio City and Rockefeller center.  The perks were great!  We got to screen tv shows and movies before everyone else.  Free magazines! (InStyle, People, Sports Illustrated, etc.) Discount on your cable bill!  Woot!  That's one job I miss having.
3. Intern at Amnesty International
   I used to have a huge crush on one of the guys in the mailroom.  I'd do any task that would involve me going in there! teehee!
4. Front Desk Clerk
   This hotel in Florida near Disney.  Ugh! That job was the worst! They had this indoor pool and the entire hotel smelled like old chlorine and the floor was always wet! Ick!  I didn't last long there.

(Yup, that's me with Elijah in the BabyBjorn!)

Places I've Lived:

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Orlando, FL
3. Dobbs Ferry, NY
4. New York, NY

Foods I Love:

1. Sushi
2. Okonomiyaki
3. Onigiri
4. Tarako Spaghetti (Makes me think of this commercial. ha!)

Websites I Visit:

1. Bloglines (Everyday! ^_^)
2. Flickr
3. Etsy
4. Any site that sells fabric

Places I'd Rather Be:

1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
3. Does Target count? okay, okay...hmmm...Koh Tao, Thailand
4. Any beach that has calm,clear, warm water and white sugary sand

Movies I Love:

1. Breakfast at Tiffany's or any film with Audrey starring in it come to think of it!
2. The Women (Love, love, LOVE this film. The one with Rosalind Russell. Favorite line: "Oh, poor creatures. They've lost their equilibrium because they've lost their faith in love. Oh l'amour, l'amour. ")
3. All About Eve (  Gotta love Bette Davis!)
4. The movie my husband filmed of us hours before my daughter was born.

TV Shows I Watch:

1. Madmen (Addicted! I download it on iTunes, that's how much I love this show.)
2. Anything on Noggin (The kids love it!)
3. NY1 News
4. Golden Girls (Lame I know,lol, but it reminds me of my grandma, it's her favorite show!)

People I Tag:

1. Charlene T. of scrap_a_bee
2. Marisa of Quilt Otaku
3. Chara of Chara Michele
4. Stefanie of Artsy Momma