Excited Already!

Are you excited yet about Christmas? I usually get excited early but this year I started thinking about it long before Halloween. Maybe it's because Kalli has been practicing her Christmas music for her concert at church since August. Maybe it's because I want to plan the purchases better this year. It is NOT because I'm excited about my next birthday which is in December. I'm perfectly happy with being 30 but not so excited to turn 31. Either way, I can't wait to put up decorations, wrap presents, attend parties! This year maybe I'll try Christmas baking. And maybe for the first time in 10 years of marriage we will actually mail the Christmas cards out (Don't hold your breath it has never happened)!

In the next few weeks I will be sewing a few bags for customers and am excited about their fabric choices! I'll post pics when they are done. Between bags I hope to make a few more gift type items for teachers, etc. I'm thinking fabric coasters, decorated dishtowels with monogramming, placemats, etc. These will be quick items that cost less. As they are made I will post pics.

Contact me soon if you would like to place an order for Christmas. I will limit the orders to make sure they can get done in time for Christmas. I hope you are as excited I am!

Beautiful Quilt Kit Giveaway!

Check out this for a sweet giveaway!
www.thequiltedfish.typepad.com

School Gear Obsession!

I am so thankful that I have had this week off work to spend with Kalli and Kole. I have tackled a lot of sewing projects this week. I'm definitely sad the week is half over. But that's a negative way of thinking. I should say I am HAPPY that I have 4 days left to get more done! That sounds better!

Of course some of my sewing projects have been for Kalli since the school year is quickly approaching. She asks everyday, "How many days until school starts?" She is so excited. Tomorrow we get to meet her teacher, Ms. Currie. After a little research I was told she is a new teacher but was a great sub last year. That's good news. While I usually like seasoned teachers, new teachers bring new ideas.

Here is a little sneak peak into what Kalli gets to take to school on Monday! She has a new messenger bag (not yet finished), a pencil bag (pictured), and a matching shirt (being embroidered). I will give you the complete look when everything is finished. Meanwhile, here is the pencil case. It certainly isn't perfect. I tend to not follow sewing directions well and make things up as I go. This was also my first attempt at putting a zipper in. But I think she'll forgive me!

I'm thinking of attempting a matching lunch bag, and reusable snack packs. Is there anything else you can think of that would complete the obsession with matching school items?

School Bag

Pictured to the right is the latest bag. It is a backpack for a precious little girl going into Kindergarten named Madlynn. I made my first school bag when Kalli started kindergarten. Madlynn I hope your Kindergarten year is absolutely perfect! Four more bags to sew this week. I will be busy!

You Have to Try This

My friend Judy called yesterday and told me of a great deal she found out about on www.moneysavingmom.com. Let me just say that Judy is a super savvy shopper! I have learned a lot from her. Well this deal was at JCPenny.com. Free shipping on shoes and a $10 off a purchase of $10 or more code to use. I got Kalli 3 pair of shoes for $2.14 each. I had to do 3 separate transactions but who cares? Then, she told me of an even better deal! If you sign up on the website below they give you rebates for things you buy. So I simply went to their website, typed in my email address and clicked on the JCPenny link. Then shopped for my shoes. First of all I got $5 for signing up then 6% of the purchases I made will also be in my "account." Then once a month they will send me a check for the money I have earned! No lie! Here is the link.

Ebates!

I couldn't be more excited!

Going Green!

OK! Here is a picture of my first ever "reusable sandwich / snack bag." I need some suggestions on what to call it. I'm thinking Kalli and Kole need 4 bags each. Kalli could probably go with only 3 because she doesn't eat sandwiches.

The picture of the inside didn't turn out to well so I'll try to get a better shot. The inside is lined with a nylon fabric that can easily be wiped out. You can also throw it in the washing machine. The pouch is closed with velcro inside the pocket and under the flap. I'll be working on the next few bags and may come up with a few other ideas. We'll see.

Also, stay tuned for another new idea I will be working on. This idea is original. Came straight from my very own head. I'm super excited about using it for myself and can't wait to share it with you!

Until then, suggestions on a cute name for the "reusable sandwich / snack bags" are appreciated. Also, become a follower of my blog and get a free "reusable sandwich / snack bag" (hopefully called something else soon) with your first bag order!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

During the school year I pack lunches as I'm sure many of you do. Have you ever noticed the number of plastic bags you use for sandwiches, snacks, etc? This summer is when I realized how many I was using. I pack a lunch and 2 snacks for each of them to have at summer camp. So needless to say, it's a lot!

Today I came across an article in All You Magazine that talked about 2 mom's who started a business making reusable sandwich/snack bags. I am in love with the idea of sending lunches and snacks without using those plastic bags.

Those of you who know me well know that I am not a "Save the Planet" kind of gal but I do like to do my part when I can. We do recycle and I talk about eating organic! I am growing in this area of my life.

I plan on making my own version of this sandwich/snack bag with the mounds of leftover fabric I have accumulated over the years. If you'd like to check out their website it is www.reusies.com.

I'll post a picture of my first reusable bag when completed!

No Two Bags Alike!

Check out the latest bag made for baby Ava! Thanks Bekah for your business! If you notice the Ava bag to the right of the page you will see that it looks a lot like the "Ellie" Bag on the slideshow. Although it does look similar it is not exact. All bags made are completely custom. I have made more bags than I can count over the last 6 years and no two are the same! That's the beauty of having your own custom bag. No one will ever have that bag! So enjoy your one of a kind Bekah. Thanks again for your business. I hope you love it!

Oh Snap those Cupcakes were Good!

While the husband is away the wife and kids will play! Today the kids and I had a lazy morning. After eating a late breakfast and working on bags for awhile we were off to the Roger Scott Pool. This pool has kept me sane while we battle the oil on the beach. Most days our beaches are still beautiful but it makes me a little uneasy to see the kids playing in the water when we don't really know for sure what's in that water. So we go to the pool often.

Yesterday I saw on facebook that one of my friends "likes Oh Snap Cupcakes" in Pensacola so that sparked my interest. I am all about supporting local businesses! So what better time to go for a cupcake than right after a good swim? Unfortunately I didn't "snap" any photos. I did almost borrow a couple of pics from another blog but wasn't quite sure if that is good blog etiquette. Probably not. So Kalli got the Chocolate Oreo cupcake, I chose the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cupcake, and Kole chose the Vegan Chocolate cupcake! Yes I said Vegan. They also have a gluten-free cupcake which is quite impressive! They were the bomb.com and I'm not even joking!

Treat yourself to this sweet treat this week. You totally deserve it!

Fabrics on the Way!

Here are a couple of pics of the beautiful fabrics that some of my recent customers have chosen for their bags. Need I say again how much I LOVE shopping for fabric? I think not! I'm sure I was born to own a fabric store. It would be downtown or in East Hill in a quaint little building housing only fabrics of utmost quality! Any investors out their reading this?

This fabric will be turned into a bag that is like the picture to the right under "Find the Latest Creation Here"



This fabric will become a kindergartner's backpack with matching t-shirt to be worn on her first day of school. She came up with the cupcake idea all on her own. Can you say cool chic? I think so! Sorry Sandi for ruining the surprise. I just couldn't keep this cute fabric to myself!

Busy Busy

I am steadily working on my current orders and are excited about how they are turning out. I think one of my favorite things about sewing is picking out the fabric. I have spent many hours looking at fabric online. Some of my favorite designers are Amy Butler, Robert Kaufman, and Michael Miller. Do any of you have favorites? I would love to know about them. Leave a comment I'll have a blast looking at them.

Next on the agenda is getting followers! If you become a follower of this blog the next time you order a bag you will get a special surprise to go along with it! I also plan on doing giveaways in the near future so keep checking back for updates!

TTFN!

It's All About the Accessories

KSAC Designs is back in the swing of things. After taking a very long break I am ready to start sewing again. Within days of announcing that I was back in business I had 5 bags ordered. Hooray! How exciting. So this weekend I will be working on the first 2 and ordering fabric for the next 2 and waiting on fabric for the last one. Meanwhile, the plans are brewing for Kalli and Kole's school bags. Some of you know that on Kalli's first day of kindergarten she was off in a fashionable appliqued t-shirt that included her name embroidered on it that matched her custom made back-pack. This made me quite happy. How perfect that she attend her first day of school with her name on her shirt. I thought it would make it easier for the teacher to remember her name during the day. And of course it was quite adorable! Last year I was a slacker and sent her to school on her first day in a standard Gymboree outfit. It was cute but not custom. So this year we are back in the swing of things! The plans are in the works for Kalli and Kole to have their own custom screen printed t-shirt (thanks to my awesome husband/designer/screen printer) with matching school bag. Kalli's will be girlie but no theme in mind yet. I'm thinking vintage super-hero's for Kole. So the search is on for the perfect fabric. I love being able to give my kids something no one else will have. It's so fun! I have to do it while I can. I'm sure one day they will not appreciate the handmade items but for now I sew!

If this has your wheels turning and you are thinking about the perfect custom made school bag for your pumpkin shoot me an email and together we can come up with a brilliant idea.

TTFN! Ta Ta for Now!