reusable coffee sleeves

I'm not a morning person. Believe me, I've tried to be and it just isn't my thing. Travis can roll straight out of bed hit the shower and his day is a go. Me on the other hand it takes several long minutes to wake up and drag myself out of bed. I'm groggy and usually in a sour mood until I have a cup of coffee. If I don't have coffee i'm just not right for the rest of the day.

I decided to make some reusable coffee sleeves as holiday gifts (it is December 1st after all and Christmas is only 24 days away!!!) and they turned out so well that I think i'll be listing some in the shop soon. They're easy to keep in your purse, and work really well! Plus they just look plain cute around your cup o' joe.

Here's the array of patterns I made. Oh, and the best part is that they are reversible, so you really get two different designs in one sleeve. I also have some very special fabric I may use to make a few very special sleeves for some very special people (i'll share those later). 

I was thinking I may add some ruffles or flowers or some kind of embellishment to some as well. What do you think, leave them as is or add something extra?

These make great gifts. Teachers, postman, babysitter, co-workers, church friends...anyone that likes coffee (or hot tea!). Plus, I bet if you threw in a gift card to their favorite coffee shop you'd be the best friend a person could ask for (at least in my book).

Check the shop soon to snag one up, or you can email me at abstractgraceinfo@gmail.com and I can get one to you.

Giveaway at keepin it thrifty

You're probably wondering why posts have been, well...absent as of lately. Our little family went camping! We're back now and i've been preparing a few great posts to share soon, so stay tuned for those.


Today I'm so excited to be a part of Andrea's Birthday Bash Giveaway Week! If you hop over to Keepin It Thrifty today you can enter to win a grab bag of goodies from the Abstract Grace shop. So head on over, check out Andrea's blog and enter! (**Giveaway will end on October 20-@ 12 noon EST**)

boy bow tie bibs

So, I've mentioned recently that i've been sewing a TON for a boutique in town. I've been so extremely blessed that I've been given the opportunity to not only sell some of my Abstract Grace goods in the store, but collaborate with the store owner on some new items as well. 

I don't do a ton of sewing for boys, but my "Little Mr. Mustache Bibs" were a huge success in my Etsy shop, so I decided to work on a new design featuring bow ties! These babies aren't for Etsy though, they're exclusive right now to the retail shop The Bag Lady here in town, but I thought I'd share a few pics (sorry about the crummy iPhone photos) of them while I was finishing up the order. They turned out SO SO SO darling! I loved mismatching plaids with stripes, polka dots, and other fun boy patterns. 

It also got me thinking about how excited I am that my BFF who is preggers with her second child is having a BOY! I can sew boy things while living vicariously through her! Yay for little boys!

{play crowns!!!}

Often for me new projects come out of necessity. I'm constantly sewing for my little one, gifts for others, myself, for friends little ones, etc. I often try new ideas and try to put my own spin on classics. These play crowns came from the need for a birthday gift for a special soon to be 3 year old. I thought that she'd enjoy dressing up and pretend playing while wearing a unique accessory. The response I got was so sweet, I was encouraged to put a few up in the shop (HERE is the listing). So, if your little one wants a sweet dress up/imaginative play item they can have one too! 

Don't fret, boy crowns coming soon! 

Ella is modeling it here, but it has a nice cased elastic at the back so it's sure to fit them for years. Size wise, I'd say it fits 12 months to adult. (I can stretch it over my head). If you'd like to see a few other angles you can check out more pics of it HERE.

Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

{ruffled stationary}

How is everyone's week been? Hopefully great so far. Just wanted to share with you guys a new item in my shop! Ruffle Stationary! Folded notecards adorned with a fun sewn on ruffle. Each pack comes with 5 note cards & envelopes. Perfect for gift giving and snail mail! You can see them in my shop HERE.

{treasury!}

Just thought I'd share a recent Etsy treasury I was featured in...lots of my favorite things in this one...Anchors!

Second row, last item on the Right.

It's the Hello Sailor! Pink Striped Hair Clip! Yay!

{abstract grace: for the holidays! and a giveaway!}

Here are some new items sure to get you in the Christmas spirit! Quantities are limited, so get them while you can. I ship next day on most my items, and often ship same day if ordered before 12pm.

And...we're doing another giveaway with Rags To Stitches. Alissa is doing 14 days of giveaways on her blog, and i'll be participating starting TODAY!!! So, head on over to Rags to Stitches Boutique for all the info on how to enter and to see what awesome items from Abstract Grace you can win.

Here are some pics of items from the new Holiday line available here:

Candy Cane Korker Bow Clip

 HoHoHo & Noel Jingle Bell Holiday Hair Clips (Shown in Green)

 HoHoHo & Noel Jingle Bell Holiday Hair Clips (Shown in Silver)

 Holly Jolly Polka Dot Korker Bow Clip

 Plaid & Gold Korker Bow Clip

 Plaid & Stripes Button Bow Clips

Happy Holidays!

{black friday coupon code}

Get a head start on your Black Friday Christmas shopping by using our coupon code BLACKFRIDAY10 at checkout for 15% off your total purchase from Abstract Grace! This coupon code is good starting today and running through the weekend (11/22-11/28). Don't wait, get started now!


CLICK HERE - Abstract Grace Store

{props props and more props}

You're probably asking what that hideous styrofoam head is doing below. I picked it up at a garage sale for free over a year ago. It made it's way over 300 miles during our move earlier this summer, {try explaining to your husband why you must have the styrofoam head come with you, ha!}, and I knew i'd have a use for it eventually. 

With the boutique i'm a part of coming up, I immediately thought that this would be great for modeling my hair clips and headbands on my table. I had some pink tissue paper {just plain tissue for gift bags} lying around and my trusty Mod Podged, so I made like I was 5 years old again doing paper mache, and covered my styrofoam head. 

Please excuse the horrible 'before' photo, it was dark, gloomy and raining when I took this. Bad natural light means a crummy photo, but it was amazing weather!

What a transformation! Slightly shiny, new, bright, cheery, and most importantly useful. Can you tell that these two photos {'after' and 'in action'} we're taken on the day following the storm? Sunny skies, good natural light, much nicer photos. :)

Here it is modeling one of my Junebug Headbands. It's perfect! I'll be sure to post a pic of it in my table display next month. 

{crocheted hair bow clips}

I've been crocheting a lot lately. It's one of those things I find hard to resist doing once the weather starts turning, and the days get cooler. To me there's just something that equates crocheting and fall/winter weather.

Cheerful yellow crocheted bow hair clips. And isn't that cake stand from yesterday's post cheery as well? I've made a little bunch of these for the boutique next month and whatever is left will make it's way into the shop. If none are left, don't worry i'll make some more and add them. I'm thinking rich fall colors would be perfect for the season. 

{cachabons & vintage}

I've been waiting patiently for nearly a month for a small package to arrive. These little cachabons are all the way from China, and aren't they amazing! The muted but vivid colors, the size {they're so tiny tiny}, they're just perfect! I got them from this amazing Etsy shop. Seriously this shop has the BEST stuff for jewelry and hair clip making ever, plus they are reasonably priced. The only negative, the turnaround time is rather long, but hey...it's coming from overseas after all.

I'll be adding these little beauties to some clips with other vintage trims, and bows. Remember my recent score at the thrift store? I have plans for those vintage notions, big plans. When i'm done I'll have 6 pairs of the cutest clips ever. I wont be posting them in the shop until after my boutique in November. So whatever {if anything} is left I'll put them up for sale then. And of course I'll be sharing the finished product with you all when they're completed!

{covered wipes boxes-the greatest invention ever}

I've been sewing and crafting like crazy lately getting prepared for the Crossline Church Fall Boutique in Laguna Hills, CA in November. I'll have more details on that to come. I've been experimenting with some new products, and this is one of them! The padded wipes box! We've all seen the wipes clutches {here's a great tutorial and pattern for making your own} before, and they are great, but how about a padded re-useable wipes box for the nursery that matches the rooms decor/theme?

These wipes boxes are great because not only are they cute, but you can save money by buying economy boxes of refills (think Costco) and putting them into your box. Ahhh! I love them! I have one sitting on Ella's changing table and I love looking at it while I change her {i'll have to snap a pic of the one in her room so you can all see it in action}. They would also work great as a tissue box once wipes are no longer needed, or just order one as a tissue box with home decor fabric to match the living room, bathroom, etc.

The box on the bottom is not finished. It will have another round of trim at the bottom.

These would make a great baby shower/house warming gift. Unique and personalized to match the recipients taste/decor. Don't you LOVE LOVE LOVE that tattoo fabric? It's perfect for a boy, or girl. :)

Of course the top still opens and snaps closed. It was important to me to keep that function because of the convenience factor. No one wants to add any unnecessary time/hassle during a poopy diaper change. If these sell well at the boutique I'll be adding a few to the shop, and if you're interested in one now, custom or otherwise you can always email me about price and ordering one.

{bunting, bunting!}

Here's a quick peek at some bunting I've been working on. It's decoration for the boutique in November and should look darling on the table. The concept in making it is very simple. Triangles sewed right sides together, turned right sides out, pressed, top stitched {not necessary, but I did it for extra structure if it needs to be washed} then sew some ribbon/bias tape/seam binding etc, to the top of them. If you would like to follow a tutorial with pictures there is a basic one here. Mind you, I did not put any letters on my triangles, I just left them plain. Once it's all finished, I'll share the final product.

{business cards...finally!}

Sooo...I ordered some business cards. I've been meaning to do it for quite a while now. I tried to get someone professional to do it for me, but the "gotta have it now" in me just couldn't wait. See, I have a boutique coming up next month and need some form of card to hand out. Plus, I'm always being asked about my site and store, but never have any thing to give anyone. You'd think someone with a masters degree in business would know the first step in self promotion! I just took my current logo and slapped it on, changed up the colors a bit, added my info and ordered them. They'll have to do for a first run. I used an online company and got 250 single sided cards made for less than $10.00, and that's INCLUDING shipping! I couldn't pass up such a great deal.

{giveaway!}

Some fun and exciting news for you all! Abstract Grace has teamed up with the fabulous blog Rags To Stitches Boutique for AG's first ever giveaway! Rags To Stitches Boutique is hosting the giveaway for us so be sure to check out all the lovely things there have over there as well. The giveaway runs Today {9/8} thru next Tuesday {9/14}. There are a variety of ways to enter and the winner gets a set of personalized name bead hair clips made by yours truly! Head on over to Rags To Stitches Boutique for all the details! Good Luck!

You could win these....{personalized of course!}

{mustaches & babies}

So, I've finally finished sewing something I can't wait to share! I've found thus far that dressing a little girl is pretty easy. Pink, ruffles, bows, frills, ya know...all that girly stuff. The selection of items that are wonderfully made for girls is huge. But what about little boys? I'm always on the lookout for something unique and fun for little Mr.'s...that's why I designed and made a boat load of these.

Yep, it combines two very boy friendly aesthetics, wood grain and mustaches. It's faux bois wood print {thank you Joel Dewberry} on one side while the other is soft brown corduroy. On the front is a corduroy appliquéd mustache. Pretty manly if you ask me. You can find them here for sale in the shop.

Oh, and while were on a mustache kick around here...

{manic sewing & baby legs}

I'm on a roll, a serious sewing kick. It's rather disturbing people, seriously. In the last week i've made about half a dozen baby dresses, nearly a dozen boutique burpies sets, and dozens of felt hair clips. I'm trying to build a decent stock for the shop, and hope that my endless sewing pays off...literally. I also have a few important meetings this week with some Southern California stores who will be stocking AG items {yay!}, so i'm feeling the pressure to sew and craft big time.

In addition to all the AG sewing i've made about 10 or so pairs of baby legs. They are made from adult socks, and every time i'm anywhere I end up buying a pair - they're always on sale! The prints they make for socks are perfect for cute little chubby baby legs. I even scored 4 pairs of Paul Frank socks {on sale!} that will be undoubtedly be my favorite of the bunch {no pics of them below, but I'll be sure to post some}.

Baby legs are quite possibly the cutest and easiest things to make for little ones. I think I enjoy this project so much because you can enjoy them on your child for quite a while. Anything that Ella doesn't grow out of in 6 weeks is a plus!

I've debated putting some of them up in the shop as well, but am not sure if I should. I feel like I have such a variety of items already that I may need to scale back a little on my selection. Hm, we'll see. Ella can't possibly wear all the pairs i've made her. Oh, and another great thing about baby legs is that both genders can enjoy them. The 3 blue pairs were a gift for a friend's darling little boy.

{Happy Thursday + Exciting News!}

I hope everyone is having a great Thursday. I know I am. I'm anxiously awaiting for the mailman, er...mail-person, to deliver a certain smart phone. (Yay iPhone!). I'll be tinkering around with my new toy the rest of the evening i'm sure, of course that's between feedings and dirty diapers.

On another note...I wanted to share with you all some great news! Abstract Grace currently sells items on Etsy, but soon we'll be available via retail store! The Seasons Gift Store in Diamond Bar, California is going to be stocking limited edition items. The Seasons Gift Store is located inside the Calvary Chapel Golden Springs building at 22324 Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765. We're also working on selling items in a few other select retail stores in the Southern California area. We're verrrrrry excited about being able to sell via storefront!

If you don't live in the greater Los Angeles area, don't worry, you can always get your items via Etsy.

We also have some great things in store for you for September and October...I'll give you all a hint. "Giveaway." Stay tuned and Happy Thursday!