You Asked, Now I Answer! [giveaway too...]

Wow!  There were a ton of questions.  This should be fun!  So, grab a cup of joe or whatever it is you drink (me?  Coke Zero!), sit and stay awhile!  :)  There is a giveaway as promised too.  :)

if you could spend a day with any 1 person (dead or alive) who would it be & why?

Great question!  I would definitely love to spend another day with my husband's grandmother, Betty.  She passed away in October of 2004.  She was the most amazing seamstress ever.  I would love to sit with her, and have her teach me everything she could - her tricks, secrets, everything.  Well, as much as she could in a day.  But I would also love some time just to sit with her.  Hug her.  See her smile, hear her laugh.  I miss her terribly.  She was an amazing person.  She also made my wedding gown!  It was gorgeous.  I will show the pictures one of these days... need to scan them.  :)  Betty had a part in playing who I am today.  She was an amazing amazing person.

How did you come to designing the things you do?

I was on a photo shoot on downtown Raleigh, NC.  I was shooting head shots of a model.  It was a really hot day - really humid.  I was sweating like crazy, and it didn't take long for my camera strap to begin rubbing my neck incredibly raw.  I remember it hurting bad enough to make me pull the collar of my shirt up and around my strap, but it never stayed up long enough to give relief.  I knew there had to be a way to avoid it, and cover it.  It hit me that I likely was not the only one having this problem.  2 years later, I am finding this to be true that "camera strap rash" is a common complaint.  Anyway.  We ended up moving from North Carolina to Arizona, and that's when I officially began *Shey*[B]!  2 years ago next month!  :)

What is your favorite fabric?!

This is a really tough question!  I really don't have just one.  I don't even have just 2.  I think I like about 10 fabrics obsessively.  Those would be Black and White Damask.   I go through this fabric faster than any other fabric.  I don't always buy it by the yard either... mostly by the bolt.  haha!  I go through almost 2 bolts a month sometimes.  I am recently loving Patty Young's Knits!  They are fantastic.  Hoping to sew something with them soon.  I about died when this fabric was released Cameras In Black.  I LOVE this entire line: Bontanica.  While I like her whole line called Glam Garden, I especially love this one and this one.  I can't wait for this fabric line to come out!  I just have to figure out what to do with it! :)  I love ALL of these.  They are simple, but fun to work with.  Love this too!!!  And this in the Pond Palette.  :)  I think I will stop there... I just love too much! ;)  But those above are my all time fabric.  What about you?  Have some favorite fabrics you'd care to share?

Hmmm...how did your hubby propose and what kind of wedding did you have? I love LOVE stories. 

My husband proposed to me one night after we went bowling with some friends.  It wasn't some crazy elaborate way to propose, but it was perfect in every way.  Elaborate is embarrassing and so not my style. :)  Obviously I said yes.  Then he proposed again when we got my engagement ring.  :)  He's cute like that.  Our wedding was very simple.  It was small.  70 or so people.  Not sure what "what kind" of wedding you had means.  But our wedding was great.  In fact, we were actually married at the court house on Nov. 16, 2001.  Why?  I was pregnant.  Nuff said.  haha!  We had our actual ceremony a couple months later on Jan. 5, 2002.  My husband and his groomsman wore zoot suits.  Something to this effect.  I wore my handmade by Mike's grandma; wedding dress that was totally gorgeous.  And my bridesmaids wore red strapless dresses.  It was a great day!

My question would be how did "Moona" get her name? I love it!

Actually.  Our dog's name is Luna.  But Zoe can't pronounce her L's very well, so she calls her "Moona".  It just kind of stuck.  :)

My Q is Shey B related!!! LOL!!! I asked it on your FB, but I know you are super busy (being super woman and all ;) ) 

I see you are expanding your products and making different items now. Do you plan on designing some kind of SLR bag?? I know a lot more goes in to those bags (pading, interior design, etc). Just curious :) ( I am on the hunt and can't find a bag that goes well with my Shey B strap!!! LOL!)

  Haha!  I wish I was super woman!  ;)  The simple answer to this is yes!  I absolutely plan to make camera bags.  The complicated answer is - yes, but I don't know when.  Time is not on my side right now.  But I do have some things in the works, and maybe by Christmas, camera bags will be available.  I am VERY picky about the design, and look of the camera bags that will come out.  I will not be making the entire thing out of designer fabric.  I don't like those - they get dirty so fast, and washing them can really make them lose their shape.  But, stay tuned!  What do you look for in a camera bag?

where is your favorite place to eat in Arizona? being from Arizona myself, i am always looking for a great little spot to get some grub, especially if it is a hole in the wall!

Favorite place... hmmm.  Well, I have a few.  

There is a restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale called "Frank & Lupes".  They have the best mexican around.  I love that place!

I also really like Blue Wasabi and Kabuki for sushi.  

I eat at Paradise Bakery A Lot!  Love their Asian Chicken Salad, Chicken Salad Sandwich and their Snickerdoodles.  :)  We also like Wildflower Bread Co.

My husband eats out a lot more than I do, and Chandler seems to have a lot of really great hole in the wall/smaller restaurants.  Both those above are a few I favor.  

you are quite the reader, fav book of all time?!

Yes, I definitely LOVE to read.  I'm really not much of a TV watcher.  But, man!  My favorite book of all time?  That's like asking me my favorite fabric.  haha!  I have a few...

Right now.  My favorite book that I have read so far this year (I have read 34 this year so far) is called The Iron King.  It was absolutely fantastic!  The 2nd book comes out next month!  SO excited!  Other books I love?  The Hunger Games series, City of Bones series, 13 to Life, Raised by Wolves, Girl In The Arena, Vampire Academy series, Hush Hush, Shiver & Linger, The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.  I am going to stop there.  I have really enjoyed a lot of books.  If you want to see what I have read my Goodreads shelf is on my sidebar.  I have 2.  One of them is books I have read and recommend and one of them is books I want to read.  :)  What books are you enjoying right now?

I want to know what your guilty pleasure is? Do you read trashy novels, take bubble baths, eat ice cream?

I don't know if this counts.  But I love donuts.  And I feel guilty after eating them.  But they bring me great pleasure.  And they make me smile.  But they add to my waistline.  And they taste so good.  But they are so bad for me.  But I don't care.  Does that count?  How about you?  Have a guilty pleasure?  Do share!

what's the funniest thing your kids have ever said? :)

They are a funny bunch, those girls.  Hmmm.  Now I am wishing I write all of them down!  OK, let's see.  

Zoe:  "I want to watch TB" (instead of TV), She shouts "YESSSSS!" and does a fist pump when she hears something she finds exciting, Prettycorn (Zoe's word for Unicorn).  But I think one of the funniest things was Zoe singing along to "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z.  She was in the back seat singing "New yooooooorrrkkk!!  deez stweets make ooo fewl bwand new.  New yoooooooooorkk!!  Yeah" - all while bobbing her head to the beat.  HILARIOUS!  She has also said "What up!" to a friend of mine before too.  hehe.

Angelina: When she was a baby, she called Chinese - Chiiinnneeeeeessseee - no joke.  Peanut butter was peanut butta.  Mostly Angelina said hilarious stuff when she was a toddler.  She gets pretty serious nowadays.  One thing I do remember was when she was in infant, she loved a song by The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Every time it came on she would raise her eyebrows so high they were almost to her hairline, and she would smile the biggest smile ever.  She was only 4 months old!  haha.

Unfortunately that's all I remember.  Lame me!

Which product is currently your fave in your shop?

As always I have a few.  :)  Love this, this, this, this and this.  But I mostly like everything.  :)

If you had the choice of living anywhere where would you live??? 

NEW YORK!  The Pacific Northwest, Montana or Wyoming.

And do you like AZ?? or you here cuz of your hubs job???

Ummm.  No. I don't like it here.  I love the friends that I have met here.  I feel like I have grown here as a person.  I started my business here, my kids are making memories here as we are making memories together.  But, the heat is enough to make me want to pack up our stuff and get out of here, and fast.  But that is not realistic.  Is it???  :)  Seriously.  I don't think I could hate this heat anymore.  I despise it.  I loathe it.  Think of the worst word you can and that's what I think of the heat here.  Insanely Hot for 6-7 months of the year.  Gross.  Seriously.  Turn on your oven, stick your face in there once it's heated up.  And, welcome to Arizona summer!  That's how it feels.

We moved here for my husband's job... well, he no longer works there, but works somewhere better.  But it was ultimately my decision to make whether we moved here from NC or not.  And I guess you know what choice I made.  Do I have regrets?  Not really.  As much as I hate the heat here, NC just wasn't for us.  And AZ just isn't for ME.  Everyone else seems fine with this hades type heat but me.  Moving on before I really get to ranting!  LOL!  Have you ever been to Arizona?  In the summer?

What's your fave food?

"The Shallows"

"Is Google making us stupid?" -Nicholas Carr

My husband is reading a book that I might not have found so interesting 2 years ago, but I found VERY interesting 2 days ago, and very sad at the same time.  Not sad in a "makes me wanna cry" kind of way; sad in a "I can't believe these facts are true about people" kind of way.  I have continued to mull over what he was telling me about this book, and decided that I will be making some changes.

The book is called "The Shallows: What The Internet Is Doing To Our Brains" by Nicholas Carr.  The basis of this book is this... "an explosive look at technology's effect on the mind".   Remember, I haven't read this book, but had quite a detailed conversation with Mike about it.  Let's start with some facts... or the sad part as I might call it.

Fact: The average person reads 49 minutes A WEEK!
I was shocked by this.  That is 7 minutes a day.  Really?  That's it?
As you all know, I am not average.  LOL!  I read at least 25 hours a week.
Do you read?  And if so how much?  Blogs do not count.  ;)
Carr also pointed out that we should be reading things that make out minds think.

Fact:  The average person watches 35 HOURS of TV A WEEK!!
Wow!  The first thing I said to Mike when he told me that was "are you serious?!  That's practically a full time job!"  I just can not fathom sitting in front of the television for that span of time.
I am also not average here.  I watch maybe 5 hours of TV a week.
How much TV do you watch?  Movies are included in this, so include those.

Fact:  The average person is on the internet 19 HOURS A WEEK!  This may not seem like a lot, but those 19 hours are NOT including work hours.  Just browsing and goofing off on the internet.
I have lessened my internet usage considerably in the last 2 weeks, so as of this moment, I am on the internet (not including ANY work stuff) maybe 4 hours a week.  How about you?

I don't know about you, but those stats really got me disheartened.  I mean... what is so necessary that people need or want to spend that much time in front of the TV and that much time on the internet?

Now, let me be honest here.  I cringe when I hear someone say, "I hate reading.  It's so boring."  Why?  Because I used to be that person.  Yes, me!  I used to "hate" reading.  That is until I picked up a REALLY good book that I couldn't put down.  And I found the genre I enjoy.  Boom, done!  I am a reader, and find myself wanting to read instead of watching TV or being on the internet.  Now, I am the person that says "I LOVE READING!  There are SO many great books out there, and I can't wait to read them all!"  Now, if you don't like reading, I will still like you, of course!  ;)  I'm just saying maybe give reading another shot!

Carr also attributes people's excuses of having ADD to the internet as well.  He also states that the internet is like a drug and so many feel the need to get their "fix".

I get this.  100% understood this when Mike was telling me about it.  I used to be addicted to Twitter.  Needed to know what was going on ALL the time.  Now... I find myself not really caring as much.  Yes, I still like Twitter and all my Twitter friends, but to be honest, Twitter is a mind suck and a time suck!  Before you know it, 2 hours have gone by, and nothing has gotten done, and your brain hasn't gotten any form of workout.  The same goes for email.  Feel like you constantly have to check your email?  Or every time your iPhone beeps letting you know you have a new email do you feel that need to have to check it?  *insert the word addicted here in a sing song voice*

I feel like there is so much always going on on the internet, so it can make me feel less focused.  Hence the ADD remark in Carr's book.  So so true for me.  I hear many people say they can't focus or they have ADD, but I bet when it came down to it, it could be all that internet time.  The Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Emails, etc, etc so on and so forth.  And!  I bet most of you will end up skimming this post, because it's so long... am I right?  That was another thing Mike was telling me about that book.  So many skim or bounce all over the place, because they can't seem to focus.

Here is a great excerpt from Chapter 8 of Carr's book:

"The development of a well-rounded mind requires both an ability to find and quickly parse a wide range of information and a capacity for open-ended reflection. There needs to be time for efficient data collection and time for inefficient contemplation, time to operate the machine and time to sit idly in the garden. We need to work in Google’s “world of numbers,” but we also need to be able to retreat to Sleepy Hollow. The problem today is that we’re losing our ability to strike a balance between those two very different states of mind. Mentally, we’re in perpetual locomotion. . . ."




So... do you get it?  What is the internet doing to your brain?


I will write a follow up post about what I am doing to "change my brain".  Because Carr quotes studies and talks about rewiring the brain, and changing how we do things.  This conversation with my husband about this book has definitely shown me how I want to change my habits.  Is the internet a bad thing?  I definitely don't think so, but I think it's like everything else in life ... balance.




Ta-Ta for now friends!

XO,

Winners and Prayers

Hey friends.  Happy Saturday to you.  I have some winners to announce, but I have a prayer request.  When I got this message from my friend I got teary eyed.  I am sure you all know who Erin of The Vintage Pearl is.  :)  She is such an amazing person.  Though I have never met her in person, I have been friends with her for almost 2 years.  She has help me a lot with my business, and as you know, her business is just booming.  I am so proud of her.  She has accomplished a lot.
Anyway.  I got a message from her this morning that her mom unexpectedly passed away yesterday morning.  I am so sad.  Losing a parent would be so hard.  I have cried for her, prayed for her, and sent messages to her letting her know she is in my thoughts and prayers.  Would you all mind going to her blog and leaving some love for her too?  Click here.  Let's show her lots of thoughts and love and lift her and her family (especially her dad) in prayers.  Thanks everyone!  Life is precious.

The winners are as follows.

Winner of the t-Shirts are:  Sydney & Jodi

Winner of the Couture is: Ashley!!

Hurray ladies!!  Email me your addresses!  :)


OK.  So regarding the t-shirts.  We are going to have them professionally printed.  So stay tuned for that!  :)  And the angel wing shirts... LOTS liked those.... haha!  The wings were printed on the back of my girls' shirts.  Someone had asked that.  IF you're interested in a wing shirt, let me know.  Depending on the amount of requests I might just list them in my store.  We will see, though.  There are a ton of other designs I want to try out too.  :)

I also listed some more new stuff! WOW!  ;)  Check it...

This Couture sold, but wanted to show you all anyway.  It was Twilight inspired.  haha.  Figured it was fitting since Eclipse comes out WEDNESDAY!!  Yep.  I am meeting some friends on Tuesday night for dinner and a seat at the midnight premiere!  :)

Navy Blue, White & Pink.  :)

And my newest favorite!  The Pleated Chain.  LOVING that green ruffle!!!

Yep!  All but the Couture are available in my store now!  :)  Click here.


OK.  I missed out on the aquarium with my hubby and girls today to catch up on orders, because I am behind.  Better get back to it!


xo,

Giveaway winners!!

I know I have been a bad bad blogger!  Currently sitting in the corner with a dunce cap on.  Oh and writing, I will blog more, I will blog more, I will blog more...

Though, this coming week is going to be SO SO busy!  I am only working 3 days this week.  Well, 2 1/2 days really.  Wednesday I am flying my girls out to my parent's house in North Carolina, where they get to stay and visit for 3 1/2 weeks!  I fly back home alone on Thursday afternoon.  Friday afternoon, my husband and I are leaving for Vegas for the weekend!!  I can't tell you how excited I am to get my hubby all to myself!  And not only getting my husband to myself, but getting my husband to myself while we escape for the weekend!  Such a rarity.

It's always so weird when my kids are gone the few weeks in the summer they are visiting their grandma and papa.  So quiet.  I slowly get used to it, but by the time they come home I am so excited and cry at the sight of them when the realization hits me of just how much I have missed them.

So, I hope to blog more this week.  Lord knows I have tons to share, just not a lot of time to do so.  I am so exhausted right now that I won't be mustering up the energy to upload, edit and post pictures of Angelina's school program, her birthday party, etc etc.  But I will very soon.  Perhaps tomorrow.  :)

For now, here are the giveaway winners I was supposed to post yesterday!

Winner of the March bag pattern from Melissa of May and Mae is Joy - winner of the June bag & fat quarters is Jacky - and the winner of the Sunday bag is Crystal!!!

Winner of the personalized name pillow by Marie of Bella Marie Designs is Julie!!!

Winner of The Pleated Poppy giveaway is Heidi!!!

Winner of the Lisa Leonard giveaway is Polka Dot Moon!!!!!!!

And, the Giveaway Day winner is Mary Keeley McAllister!!!!

Congrats to ALL the winners! Those who didn't win, go visit these stores!  They all offer amazing amazing items!!!

Cherish

It's almost 2am.  I am completely exhausted, but I can't seem to turn off my mind.  I don't know really what I came to my blog for... I can't really seem to form real coherent thoughts.  But I wanted to write none the less.  I'm sitting in my bed with the fan on way too high which is making my eyes burn.  Which is making me more tired.  Does that ever happen to you?  I suppose I could turn the fan off, but that would require me to move.  And I don't feel like it.

Moving on.  haha.  My husband is working very late tonight.  He is currently still at the office working on some real important project.  I miss him so.  He has been working late *a lot* lately.  It's been really hard for me.  I am not clingy by any means, but it's still nice to have him home... sitting by me in the living room, or hearing him breathe as he lays next to me in bed {now.  get your mind out of the gutter. ;) }  Or listening to him with our girls - their squeals of delight as he plays whatever they want him to.  They have even painted his toe nails before.  What a good dad.
When dad isn't home, our family isn't whole.  He is the piece to our unfinished puzzle, and we are dying to complete this puzzle.  But, sometimes life gets crazy and we get busy.  With work.  He works so very hard, and it's such a great quality to have.  But at the same time, I wish him to be home.  Soon.  It's only for a time... RIGHT?!
There is a reason my turnaround time is so long.  There is a reason I keep very strict business hours.  Because I know my husband will need to work late sometimes... or a lot of the time.  I can't just work all the time and have them care for themselves. That would not be fair, they need mom.  So, I am here.  When they need me, or when they don't.  I'm watching.  Because one day... they'll be all grown up, and as a mother, there's nothing worse than missing something.  Every milestone is cherished, remembered, never ever forgotten.
I want my kids to learn a good work ethic from their dad.  Because I don't think there's a better example of that.  My dad would also be a good example of that as well.
I want my kids to learn balance from me.  I don't mean balancing and juggling life and all it's insane activities.  I mean balance as in... there is no harm in walking away for a bit.  For example.  I have set business hours for myself.  And I stop when the time has come.  It will all be there for me tomorrow.

It seems a child's life is fleeting.  Gone in a blink.  And I don't want to miss it for the world.  I look forward to the people they will become, the lives they will lead, the people they will love.  So much ahead, but still so much right here right now.

I know... totally a random post.  Just lots of things on my heart right now.   And the above is just a fraction.  But, I am nodding off as I type this.  Best be going now.  :)  I will be back with a giveaway later in the day.