Checking In

Hello everyone! It's been a while, so I thought I would write a quick post about what's been going on... The full story is here A Heart to Hold. I'm starting a non-profit to help other families who have lost babies.
Several people have asked if I'm going to be sewing for my shop for the holidays this year and right now, I don't have a really good answer. Some days I feel inspired, and other days I don't. I have some fun girlie fabrics that I may turn into stockings later, but it's all sort of up in the air. I can say, for sure, that I will be doing a limited amount of custom work this year. If you would like a tree skirt or a table runner or placemats to match stockings, I have some figgy pudding left and would love to something along those lines. Please send me an email or convo me on Etsy.
Thank you for your continued support while I work on the things that are very close to my heart right now. Abi

A Short Break

Hello everyone. I wanted to take a few moments to share some news~ Our beautiful son, Corbin David, was born still at 41.5 weeks on January 19th. He weighted 9 pounds, 13 ounces and was 21 inches long. We are absolutley devastated.
I'll be taking a break from creating for the shop for the next few months to work on some personal projects. I plan to be back in the late summer with some fun things in the MonkeyTree Creations shop and I'll be opening a second MonkeyTree shop for fabric (it's currently empty, but that will change in mid-summer).
Hope to see you when I return from my break, Abi

Tool Belt

I hope that everyone had a lovely holiday season! Between shows, custom orders and growing the baby, I've been an awful blogger (find me on facebook, I'm better there, I swear). The baby is due any day now, and I'm filling my time with as much rest as I can get and some fun projects for my home and family. I wanted to share today's project.
Zilla loves a book called "Monkey With A Tool Belt" and while we were reading today I asked him if he wanted a tool belt like Chico Bon Bon (the monkey in the story). I ask this every time we read the book, which is about a billion times a day, and for the first time, he said yes. So off I went. I had some sock monkey fabric and coordinating banana fabric in my stash that I thought would be perfect. After a little trial and error, here's what I came up with;

There is a hammer loop on the right tie, but Zilla's too skinny to use it right now. The tools are from his Green Toys Tool Set, which I can't say enough good things about. Their toys are awesome! The back of the apron and the hammer loop are both made from banana fabric. I'll probably add a little bag for his bolts and things later. He loves the apron, I loved getting something done in an afternoon and Dave loved seeing my fabric stash shrink a little, so the project was a winner all around. : ) I enjoyed making this so much that I'm planning on turning it into a pattern that I'll be carrying in my Etsy shop later this year. If you are interested in being a pattern tester, please let me know!
Thanks for stopping by! Abi

Custom Work

Today, as I sat sewing with my friend Mary, we had the best conversation about custom projects. Normally when I sew, I think about the project I'm working on or house things... it's normally pretty zen. There's white noise (the machine), regular noise (normally music or a video), the feel of the fabric. For me it's very relaxing. When I'm working on a special project, my mind frequently wanders to what will happen to the project when it's done. Where will it go? Will the family enjoy it? Will it brighten a mom or aunt's day when they open it? Will they use it and love it like I hope they will? From time to time, I get an answer to these questions...
This year, a customer contacted me about a set of stockings that I made for her last year. It was her first married Christmas and she wanted something fabulous and special. This year, she wanted a custom tree skirt to match them. I hunted far and wide for coordinating fabric and was able to come up with some! Woo-hoo! Quilting projects tend to be a little more intense than regular sewing projects because of the time, effort and love that they take, and this one was no different. I was very happy with the finished skirt and was thrilled to find out that she was too. What do you think? I sort of didn't want to send it, but knowing that it was going to someone who was going to love and cherish it sure made it easier to part with.
Have a great week! Abi

A Little Help

Sometimes people ask how I do it... This time of year, crafting is a part time (or more) job which means a whole bunch of stuff that I usually do gets added to Dave's plate and that the house is a total and utter wreck until...oh... about February. Just how do we get it all done? I thought I'd share some behind the scenes MTC info...

Big MTC secret reveal here~ I am "outsourcing" the bulk of the handwork for stockings this year to my excellent friend Mary. She claims to like hand work (which is my nemesis), and so we've reached an arrangement. I couldn't be more pleased. And I honestly feel that her handwork is higher quality than mine, so it's a win-win for everyone! (THANK YOU MARY!!!)

Shows~ Since we downsized to one car, we are going to need some help getting tables and things to shows this year. Dates are already on the calendar with some friends who have a truck. They've also agreed to watch Wills so that Dave can build and break down my booth because I won't be able to do that this year. My fab new SIL has agreed to be my second chair sales person and I'm looking forward to hanging out with her during the slow spots.

Shipping and Photo taking~ Dave's taken on most of these responsibilities this fall so that I can better walk the line between too much work and not enough sleep. I think it's working out, and the look on his face when I brought home a real tape dispenser for the "shipping department" was awesome!

Zilla watching on the weekend~ as show dates rapidly approach, I recall the frenzy of last year, where Zilla was small enough that I could put him in the bouncer and work with him in the room. This year, not so much. That kid is a button pushing fiend. It's remarkable. He can figure out how to make anything turn on or do something within 45 seconds of getting his grubby little hands on it. With all the beeps and noises that my sewing machine makes along with all of the buttons, he has fits of delight when he sees it and sequels and jumps when he sees it turned on! He's been spending some quality time with the Grandmas during the weekend so that I can get a little more done. It's good times for everyone.

Have a great week, Abi

Stella's Project

Creativity comes and goes in cycles for me. There are two primary mediums that I work with, and I can trace cycles with these mediums back to 5th grade. I love fabric and am heavy into one of my fabric cycles right now. My other medium is paper. I love making, sculpting, touching and collecting paper. A few years ago, before I got back into fabric, my mom gave me a Stampin' Up! Simply Sent Kit that included everything that I needed to make a bunch of cards, and I was totally hooked! I'd signed up to be a demonstrator within the month. I still stamp when I can (which isn't very often right now), and turn to SU for the bulk of my materials.
Things I love about Stampin' Up!~
their stamps are AMAZING! You cannot compare them to anything out there quality wise.
their paper is organized and sold by family, allowing me to coordinate without having to think too hard about it.
their catalog is FULL of great ideas and fun projects.
While I was involved in SU, I met the most wonderful lady, her name is Stella. She's local to me and has been in the top 100 demonstrators for the last 5 years. She loves being a part of the SU team and her passion for what she does totally shows! Aside from that, she's real, and funny and of Polish descent. I hope that says it all. : ) Stella and I have coordinated on several projects over the last few years and I always enjoy working with her, so when she contacted me about this project, there was no way that I could pass it up.
Two days after the Holiday mini came out, she sent me an email asking if I could use the new fabric to sew bags for team at a special SU meeting she was going to. I'd been salivating over the SU fabric since the mini arrived and could not pass up the invitation. She ordered the fabric and I got to work with it as soon as it hit the mail box! I made a set of coordinating bags for her gifts and am so pleased with the results.
These bags aren't available in my shop right now, but if you are interested in ordering a set, please let me know. I'm happy to make them!
As a side note, Stella has been undergoing chemo and radiation treatment for cancer. While her prognosis is excellent and she's hanging in there, she hasn't had a whole lot of time or extra energy to dedicate to her business. If you are thinking about checking out SU!, order from her!!! SU is still offering Simply Sent card kits, and I would encourage you to check them out! They really make it easy, and a hand stamped card is the perfect addition to any gift or special occasion!
Have a great week everyone!!! Abi
P.S. don't forget to find me on Facebook!

SU Demonstrators, some info about downline or customer gifts~
bags can be made in sets of three and can be lined with SU fabric or with coordinating solid fabric.
marker storage bags (like these guys but with SU fabric!) these would be great gifts or add ons for marker clubs.
do you have an idea about something that you would like done with the fabric? I'm happy to work with you to develop a custom item.

And I'm Back!

Here's why I've been gone~The MTC family is expecting another little boy in January. We are so very excited. **big huge giant smiles**
A few things that are going on with the business;
Facebook- find me on Facebook! it's an easier medium to handle right now with gearing up for show season, incubating our new little one and holding down my day job. I'll still be posting here, but it will be less frequently and mostly to share projects and other special things that need more than a line or two.
Free Shipping- I'm offering free shipping on all orders to the US. No limited time, no codes, no refunds and no monkey business. Just free shipping.
Preorder special- I'm offering 15% off all orders for custom capes, stockings and chalk mats placed before 10-15. Orders placed between 10-16 and 10-31 will be discounted by 10%. Contact me via email or through etsy for more info or to arrange details. Free shipping to the US applies on these orders as well.
Show Schedule- As of today, I'm confirmed at the St. Mary show in Sacramento on 11-6 and the Holy Rosary show in Woodland on 11-19 and 11-20. If you are local (or want to make a special trip!), come by and say hello! I'm planning on adding one more show to my schedule in early December and will update as soon as I have info. All of the shows I'm confirmed at are currently set up as events on my Facebook page. If you want to add them to your calendar, head on over!
Custom Embroidery- I have the capability to do custom embroidery now. If you a name or monogram put on something, such as a table cloth, super cute trick or treat bag or onesie, let me know. My sewing schedule has a little give right now, and I'd by happy to try to accommodate you.
Whew, I'm so glad to have all that business out of the way. I have a super fun project to share with you a little later this week, as my fabric for the project should be arriving tomorrow. I can't wait to share. : ) Abi