New Organics Available Exclusively at Jack's Choice!

If you are looking for hand made, all natural products, but haven't seen them available at ABChic Designs, you are in luck! I am now producing 100% organic cotton caps, and they can only be purchased from Jack's Choice. You may choose from 4 accent colors, and styles are available for boys and girls!

Giveaway and Auction for the week of October 18-25

This is just a quick heads up for any fans looking to get a discount price on some of my items!!
I'm offering a 50% off custom hat to the winner of the October giveaway at Ava Lee! Be sure to check out the giveaway album for LOTS of freebies from some really awesome pages. Click here to visit the Giveaway album.

PLUS, I'll be doing a random drawing at the end of the month for 2 coupons! Please visit the Monthly Coupon Giveaway Album to enter!
I am also participating in an auction at Ladybug Alley Designs. There are plenty of premade items as well as a custom hat up for grabs for LESS than 50% off!!!! You can't beat this price so be sure to check it out and get your bid in. If you were already planning on ordering a hat, you can't miss out on this deal! Click here to see all the discounted items up for grabs!

My New Upcycling Adventure!

I've been "upcycling" things for a long time now, without actually calling it that, but now I've decided to share some of my creations with you! I can't guarantee they will all be beautiful or even functional, but my latest one is both!

I am notorious for shopping at thrift stores, and usually I can find nice items that need no restoration. I thought this was the case with a lovely heathered beige racerback top. I was beaming when I made it home with a clothing item for ME instead of the kids, so I tossed my new treasure in the washer, and waited anxiously to try it on.
After sitting in the dryer through dinner, bath, and bedtime with the kiddos, my shirt was ridiculously wrinkled, but I had to see if it fit me well, so I tried it on and took a look in the mirror. It was perfect! The neckline didn't plunge too low for my boyish chest, the racer back straps hit directly in the middle of my back so I could even where my favorite convertible bra. The lighting in my room is horrible, so I stepped into my bathroom to take a good look at myself under the vanity lights, and that's when I noticed a nasty little stain lurking just under the right shoulder. This orange monstrosity could only be the left overs from some tomato based dish gone awry.

With a pout on my face I tossed the garment into my "remnants" bag and forgot about it.

A few weeks later I had just finished working on some lined clips, when I glanced up at the pin board hanging above my craft table. This board is covered with small crocheted embellishments, unfinished bows, and fabric rosettes that have not been used on other projects. A small crochet bow caught my eye, and I knew what to do!




 I grabbed my glue gun, and lay out a piece of cardboard to cover the only work space not taken over by other projects - my bed!

With a squeeze of the trigger I swiped just enough glue on the back of my little bow to affix it securely atop the unsightly spot, and "viola!"

My top was reborn, and after a quick once over with a hot iron, it might be one of my favorites :)

October Update

It's my favorite time of the year, and I am BUSY! This season is the perfect time to start thinking about things to keep you cozy, and my handmade accessories are sure to do that.
Here are a few of my favorite recent orders :)

This little sock monkey was made for a local newborn, and turned out better than I ever expected. I was very excited to see it featured as the owner's profile picture the day after she purchased it!

 These fun football hats were my first attempt at embroidered applique on crochet, and couldn't have turned out cuter. I'm sure the siblings these were made for will be cozy and cute! 

I absolutely love this Minnie Mouse hat! The polka dots on the bow were a last minute idea, but definitely complete the design.

I can't forget the Oklahoma fans! 

Mooo! 

These little guys will be nesting in a precious nursery soon! 

A steady stream of orders is keeping these hands full of yarn, so I haven't had much time for blogging or auctions, but I have managed to sneak in a sponsorship in the giveaway at Ava Lee. It's not open yet, so check back later in the week for a chance to enter!  Many more orders are awaiting my attention, so I will post again when the giveaway starts!  -Stefanie, ABChic Designs

Just a Quick Update...

These fingers have been busy stitching, so I haven't had much time for typing, so here's a quick update before I get back to work! I'm happy to say that I've had a lot of new orders coming in from people around town, thanks to a Facebook group created by a local woman hoping to sell some valuables she didn't need any longer. She now has over 4,000 members from my hometown and the surrounding areas! I live in rural Oklahoma, so that is a big number for these parts! Loving the local support! <3<3<3

 I've been jotting down some of my patterns, instead of relying on my keen memory (LOL!), so I  MIGHT be 

selling some patterns in the near future :)

I've also got just about ALL of my ready to ship stock in auctions all over Facebook. I'm working with an amazing jewelry maker based right here in Oklahoma from Capturing Essence. Her 800 Fan Auction is full of goodies for fall, and they are priced to sell. The auction at Creations by Candice will be ending on September 30th, so you still have time to enter for a chance to win 50% off any custom hat from ME! For a second chance to win be sure you check out Divinely Crafted, and visit the 1000 Fan Auction happening this week! Last, but not least, be sure you visit Imy & Me this week to get a deal on some unique goodies. 

Back to the Daily Grind...

The holiday weekend was a nice break, but now it's back to the daily grind. I'm writing this post very quickly because our one-car family has lots of the agenda, but I wanted to let you all know what's happening with ABChic Designs this week. I am working on some really fun projects!! I've got a baby bearded beanie in the works (too cute!!), another family of owls, a precious little poncho, and an owl ear flap hat for little miss Maddi, my sweet blue-eyed baby cousin :)
Since my hands will be busy hookin' this week, I'm grateful to the wonderful ladies at Little Bat Designs and Creations by Candice for hosting and letting me participate in their auctions! BONUS points for adding a few giveaways as well! Be sure to stop by for an awesome discount price on pre-made products, AND the chance to win 50% off any custom hat AND 25% off any one item (cannot be combined).  Two auctions means two chances to win!

Facebook Fans - Friend or Foe?

I make a lot of connections on my Facebook fan page. It has been a wonderful resource that allows me to connect to people locally and worldwide. I am able to display my products to a huge audience at no monetary cost to me, but there is a cost to networking on Facebook.
I have spent countless hours uploading and editing pictures, writing descriptions, and promoting auctions on other fan pages, and the end result is 2 - 3 small sales IF I'm lucky. Every "liking party" or networking event takes time that I could be spending producing new items for my page and Etsy Shop.
I believe that my time is worth something, but I'm not naive enough to think I will be turning enough profit from my home-based business to pay myself an hourly wage in the first year. It starts to feel like I'm spending a lot more time on Facebook than actually doing what I intended to do when I started this, which is to create beautiful quality handmade items people will cherish.
The second blow to my creative mojo is that when I stop participating in networking events for a few days to focus on my craft, my fan numbers not only stop going up, but I LOSE fans. It is very disheartening when you spend hours visiting, liking pages, and leaving thoughtful comments only to discover someone else is spending there time going through and disliking pages! I wonder why they take the time to do such an unnecessary, and hurtful thing? I know, it's not like my best bud de-friended me, but it does take it's toll when you watch your fan  numbers go down. I'm left wondering if I've done something to maybe, annoy my fans. Too many posts? Not enough new products? Am I missing the mark all together?
To this end, I am not sure if I need to care about my Facebook fans, but instead turn my attentions to the people I am talking to and engaging with on a regular basis. My ego doesn't need another beating from people I don't even know!  I am always open to new connections whether it be through Facebook or not, but instead of celebrating my fan numbers, I think I'll be celebrating my success gauged by the satisfaction of my customers :)

Summer is finally ending!

Well, after school was postponed AGAIN! I decided to just give into the crazy. My girls have been exceptionally looney as well, so it's been fun around our house, lol :)
I haven't gotten much work done recently, but have managed to eek out a couple of pumpkin hats and a precious little football earflap hat. I still have to finish the detail stitching on it and make the tassels, but pictures will be posted once I finish it.

     I am ecstatic about Monday! School is starting, the A/C in my car will be fixed (I've been driving my dad's, and I've been SO paranoid that me or the hubby will wreck it!), and I've OFFICIALLY banned myself from hosting another auction for at least a month! However, I am participating in a few auction being hosted by some wonderful vendors :)
I'll be sure to post about them once they start.
I can't wait! COME ON FALL!

For those of you who are fans of summer, I do not mean to bash, but here in Oklahoma it has been over 100 degrees for 2 months now, and I am DONE with heat, at least for a while :-)

Auction and giveaway next week!

     I promised myself I wouldn't host another auction for a while, but I just feel like there's no good reason not too. Who needs their sanity anyway, right? LOL :D
So I want to have a daily giveaway to draw in customers, and I'be scheduled it to start on Monday! I'm a glutton for punishment.&nbsp; If you are a vendor or know one who wants to list some products send them my way >>
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=254884437874673

Only one more week

Well, it's only one more week until school starts, and for the first time ever...I CAN'T WAIT!! I love my kids, and spending time with them is awesome. However, we have pretty much had our fill of one another since the summer was extended a week due to construction on the new high school. My oldest is going into Kindergarten and my youngest will be staying home with mommy for one more year. It's amazing how much more work I can get done with just the  younger one here! She is much more calm, quiet, and cooperative when her sister is not here. I'm already working on stuff for the fall and winter, and I've got so many ideas and not enough time to do them!

I'm also SUPER excited about the prize I won from Photography by Teresa in the 1500 Fan Celebration at Girly Girl Boutique / Barrettes Unlimited!! Hopefully, I will soon have beautiful professional photographs of some of my designs! Thank you both for your generosity and hard work!

what i've been working on...

Owl hat, Apple hat, pumpkin hat, chocolate kiss hat, candy corn hat, camo diaper cover and hat, girlhood fall hat, chunky black cap...yes, I've been busy!

Little owl family

ABChic Designs (@ABChicDesigns) has shared a Tweet with you: "ABChicDesigns: Finished owls in a coloful nest made from my feather rainbow throw/wrap :) http://t.co/tyWBjy9" --http://twitter.com/ABChicDesigns/status/99350949902032897

Summertime...

I'm in southern Oklahoma, where currently the temperature is around 110+, and has been everyday for 2 weeks. My house is moderately cool, around 80 degrees, but I still can't bring myself to pull out the yarn until after the sun sets! I think I need to switch modes to get any work done, so I'm going to try to stitch some jewelry today for the first time!!! We'll see how it turns out if I ever motivate myself to open the curtains, and let the sun in so I can take some decent pictures, lol! Wish me luck!

Faceless Owls :>

http://twitpic.com/5xikxa
Just a few little friends I'm still working on. They need faces, but I just had to share :)

Come Celebrate with Me!

Click Here >>  1500 Fan Auction and Giveaway!
Search for my page on Facebook at ABChic Designs, then check out my 1500 fan auction and giveaway.
There are 10 wonderful items that will be given away to a randomly selected auction participant on Sunday at midnight! To be eligible to win a prize you must bid on at least one item from the vendor offering the giveaway prize. Every item is marked down to an amazing discount price! Stop by and celebrate with me!
-Stefanie