Cyber Monday Offer

Welcome to Cyber Monday!!

I am offering a FREE coffee cozy with each purchase made today. Just mention you saw this offer here.

Visit my shop for great gifts! http://etsy.me/9PjKBr

Happy Shopping!!




(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

This Is My Life

I've started this blog post at least a dozen times and I never get it done. I guess it's because I don't know where to begin to explain how my life has been since my surgery...much less understand that "this" is my life now.

My surgery didn't go as planned. The doctor believed I had mild to moderate endometriosis before my surgery and after opening me up...he found stage 4 endometriosis. He chose to close me up after 30 minutes without removing any of the endo. I woke up in the recovery room and my doctor was there...which was odd, and I asked him if he got it all and he said, "I'm sorry, the endo was to severe, I didn't take any out." He left to speak to my husband and let me tell you...I have never been so angry and so scared in my whole life. Just like that my life changed and I have a life-altering, chronic, painful disease with no cure.

My options at this point include suppressing my hormones with Lupron (which ultimately puts me in menopause) or...hysterectomy. At 34 years old I never expected to be told I should remove all my reproductive organs.

Since you heard from me last I've had to recover from a surgery (which sucks when you know it's all still in there), look for another doctor to give me a second opinion, fight with my original doctor for my surgery video and medical records, find out the 2nd Dr agrees with the first, send my records and video to a 3rd doctor (an endo specialist in CA), my MIL was in town to help with the kiddos, I've had work to do, kids to care for and I've had lots of product to make for the upcoming craft show.

At times it feels like I have t*u*n*n*e*l vision...where endo is all I think about. How can I change my lifestyle to make endo better? What about the future? What about the family history of cancer...would hysterectomy save me from further illness in the future.

It's a long road ahead of me. One full of unknown and no guarantees.

I dream of going back to this moment...before I "knew" what was growing inside of me.

My kiddos have been so amazing. They are always there asking if I need anything and offering snuggles to make my tears stop.

I LOVE my babies!! I'm the luckiest momma!!

I've spent more time in this dark space then I ever hoped...

Staring at my art desk...wishing I had more energy to be creative.

The emotional side of this roller coaster has been pure hell. One minute I'm angry, the next I'm sobbing.

Without my art I would be a complete mess. It gives me something to focus on for a time and it makes me feel good...something I truly need right now. My heart hurts and my art has healed the tender spots.

But I can't wait to share you all that I'm working on...

Here's a sneak peak!

(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Surgery Tomorrow

I have surgery in the morning and I haven't gotten to nearly enough of the items on my to do list. That includes the tutorials I had planned to share. I hope to be back as quick as I'm with it enough to type :)

I did want to share with you some information on the show I'll be apart of mid-December. My beautiful friend Ann over at Swing Time Designs is putting this amazing shin-dig together and it's all to support the arts program.
So if you live in the Portland or Southern Washington area stop on by!!

(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Button Cover Rings Tutorial

This tutorial accomanies yesterday earrings tutorial...

The make the rings, we used larger button covers and we glued the rings to the back instead of earring backs.

Fabric Scrap Twist Ring

This ring is super easy to make. You'll need a scrap of fabric roughly 1" W x 22" L

You can use a longer or shorter piece, depending on how large you want the ring.

Using a glue gun, apply a small glob of glue to one edge and fold diagnolly to the other edge.

Begin twisting around and around, applying small globs of glue here and there to hold fabric in place.

With 1/2"-1" left, glue and fold under. You'll attach the ring to the base of your twisted circle with E6000 or your glue gun. I've found the glue gun doesn't hold as well against the metal.

(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Fabric Button Earrings Tutorial

My daughter and I made a few sets of these over the summer. We both had such fun and they are super CUTE!

What you'll need: Fabric fabric, button cover kit, earrings backs, E6000, scissors

Follow the directions on the button cover kit. Use the circle on the back to cut out a fabric circle.

Use E6000 to attach earing back. Set aside to let dry completely. 

 We even made matching button rings and fabric twist rings. Tutorial coming tomorrow.

 (Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Features On....CraftStew

I was just notified that my Hardcover Journal was featured on CraftStew. It was included in a post called 50 Handmade Gift Ideas. I'm so pleased to be in the company of such great crafters. Jump on over to check it out.

 

(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Hip Chicks Studio Sign

I wanted to make a sign for my studio and here is what I came up with.

This was actually my second try...the first one turned out terribly :) But that happens...more often then not. Do you ever notice how many tries it takes to create new designs. I always have such high hopes for my projects, but seeing I'm kind of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of artist...things don't always turn out the way I invision.

If you are like me, don't feel bad or let those "bad art" days get your down. Learn from them. Grow and realize that we all have similar days. Oh and the amazing, fulfilling, excitement that comes from a success day in the studio will make those days all the more worth it.

Apply Mod Podge to the wood and apply paper.

With sandpaper block shave off the edges.

Apply rub-on letters

Distress the edges

Apply glue in the center of the ribbon ends and pinch together.

Apply glob of glue to wood and attach ribbon. Then I used a thumb tack to hold securely in place.

I drilled a hole in the right side and used an old metal drawer handle. I wanted to sign to have a hook and this worked perfectly.

(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).

Crafts and Surgery...do these go together?

I was given some life altering news recently, which has taken me some time to come to terms with. As I mentioned in my previous post I had my gallbladder removed in late August and after a "longer then normal" recovery I was gearing up for show season with lots of new and exciting crafts, as-well-as lots of super fun tutorials...but I still wasn't feeling very well and after many doctor appointments, I've been diagnosed with Endometriosis (or so they think) and I have to have surgery on November 16th. Two surgeries in a little over two months!!!

Seriously?!

It's taken me a lot of soul searching, a lot of tears and a lot of talking to my hubby to come to terms with this diagnoses and how bad the timing is. I was forced to cancel out of a few shows, but I am still working towards two in December. More details to come!!

And that's where my title comes in. I have a week before surgery and about a two week recovery a head of me, yet, I have LOTS of product to make and not sure how I'll get it all done. I had a great plan to get all my sewing projects done before surgery and then work on my art projects during recovery...but let's be honest...I could barely read one article in a magazine or finish an entire half-hour TV show during the last recovery. So, I'm starting to panic a bit here. How on earth will I get it all done??

I have to tell you how excited I am about the projects I'm working on though. There are some old favorites and some new ones. I'm working on new comfort Connie dolls, so if you wanted to order one for that special little girl (or boy) in your life...you better do it soon. ;)

On a non-show note...I'm creating craft kits for special events. My idea was to create fun projects that can be done as a group. Like at a baby shower, wedding shower, birthday party, or slumber party. You'll be able to order the number of kits to fit your group and I'll mail them to you. Then you invite all your special girlfriends, serve some wine and yummy food and get crafting together. Each person will leave with a finished project. I have lots of kits in the works, but the Scrabble tile pendant is finished and ready to go. The kits should be listed on Etsy sometime this week. But if you are interested, please feel free to contact me. And make sure to keep checking back for further annoucements on all the other fun craft kits!!





(Copyright Information: This pattern, including text and images, is copyrighted to Heidi Cogdill, Hip Chicks Craft Too. No part of this pattern can be copied, shared, distributed or sold. All rights reserved. No commercial use of this pattern is allowed (which means you cannot sell the finished product).