Big City Studios

Our 1st Home !

2011-09-30T12:13:00.001-07:00

I am so excited, exhausted & disorganized, but we are so happy that we now have our own Home! This fall Gene and I took the big plunge and bought a 1920's brick bungalow up in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago. After 2 months of long days, I can say we have pulled off a kitchen renovation with the help of my wonderful Family, and we have sucessfully moved in which is no small feat!

Big City Suds in Wicker Park

2011-04-24T14:26:00.001-07:00

You can now buy Big City Suds soaps while out shopping in Wicker park!! Real Naked Foods has opened its doors and they will be stocking Big City Suds soaps. We are so excited to be working with this wonderful small organic grocery store in the Chicago area. They are bring local, organic eco-friendly foods and products to the neighborhood of Wicker Park and we are exited to be apart of their shop

Where Do I Start?

2011-03-25T19:26:00.001-07:00

What have you been up to you ask?
Jeez where do I start?
I have been a busy little girl. If only I had more hours in the day and a maid to clean my house and a babysitter to play with my little ones... okay.. not really but, Things are crazy busy here. I spend 89% of my time with my little ones. Next month is birthday month, Winston will be three & Fiona one. I can't believe it! The good news is the kids are both starting to sleep through the night, so that will leave me a little more time to get some things done.

Big City Suds is rolling along. I have been working really hard on a new website. It is almost ready to go, and I must say I think it is looking pretty good. I have built this whol website, by my self and I like it! Check it out at (bigcitysuds.com). This will be our 3rd year at the farmers market and a few Wholesale orders are coming in, and I welcome more.. so tell your friends!

I have been working with a few more products, Felted Soaps.. and Bath Salts! I am excited to offer them this year and see if they take off. The felted soaps are so fun to make and use, I really hope they are a huge hit!

What It's almost Christmas?

2010-11-30T08:39:00.000-08:00

The summer was great and so was the fall, time has flown by with our new baby girl Fiona, to warm our hearts. she is such a delight! Our son is now out of baby-hood and on to the little man stage! The summer flew by with lots of soap flying off the shelves. It was great to have my wonderful friend Jen to help out with most of my shows, Fiona in tow. It was fun to have the girls out and about every other Sunday morning. Now I prep for my last three holiday shows!

Waters' Holiday Artisans Craft Fair | Chicago
featuring over 50 local artisans
Where: Waters Elementary School - Chicago
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Spring Has Arrived

2010-04-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

After a gloomy winter I have been looking forward to the arrival of spring and the birth of our daughter. We had a great trip to Indiana for Easter weekend. The flowers were in bloom and the egg hunt was a success. Our little guy would open one egg at a time, eat the goodies, then move on the the next. Good thing there were only about 12 plastic eggs!

Making Shoes!

2010-03-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

So I have been working on some news cloth baby shoes - Still sticking with my theme of re-claimed fabric although jumping into designer scraps instead of sweaters.. although I will try the pattern out of my sweater scraps as well... I bet they will be just as cute!

On a side note: We are getting excited for our new baby girl who should be arriving in the next 6 weeks. I have lots of little projects I would like to get done before her arrival. One of which was making a few pairs of shoes. So Thanks to all my facebook friends yesterday who gave me a little motivation. I needed that, Its hard to get things done at this stage in the game!

Cheers-

Marmalade

2010-01-31T17:06:00.000-08:00

After almost a weeks vacation in Florida I am back to the cold weather of Chicago. Not that I really mind, although I had a wonderful trip visiting my Dad, Pam and My grandparents it is always nice to be home. It was a very relaxing week minis my son crying every time i left his sight. I came back with a slight tan and a backpack filled with grapefruit. After examining my frig I discovered I had all the ingredient to make a Citrus Marmalade. It was a little more work to make than I thought but boy is it good and it also made about 14 8oz jars. They are so pretty but i will never eat that much Marmalade in my life time. So if you are in the mood for Homemade Marmalade send $3.50 via pay pal (cost to ship) to my account shannaukarch@yahoo.com and I will mail you out some! It's good stuff I'm telling you! :)

Now I am gearing up for February's Handmade Market should be a great show! If you are in Chicago come and see me! February 13th from noon - 4pm @ The Empty Bottle

Lip Balm -

2010-01-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

Lip Balm is the word for the week!

This week I made two different lip balms, labeled, photographed, listed and sold them! Okay so I only sold them for 2 dollars a piece and sold only about 10 so I can't say it is making me rich but over all I will say it was a good week...

I had a craft show this afternoon and I can say that my Lip Balm was a hit!

Thank you Chocolate Orange and Coconut Vacation lip balm, with out you my show would have been a failure.

Now if I can just get a few sells on my etsy shop. I am not sure how you hit it big on etsy with soap... for now I will just take a few sales. I have to come to the conclusion that It's hard to buy soap or lip balm on line when you can't smell it before you buy it... but don't worry I am still going to try

If only you could smell a picture....I can only hope that some day u can.

BigCity products in a shop near you!

2009-11-18T17:42:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that I got my first whole sale order! You can now find my lovely made felted goods, along with my all natural hand crafted soaps @ Lemon Sky Unlimited. This shop is located at 6130 Northwest Hwy, Chicago IL. The shop owner, Jane, is such a joy to work with. She is full of energy and has a great eye for beautiful products. Her shop is full of vibrant colors and is quite stunning! Just check out the store front, bright yellow lemons on a aqua background! U Can't miss it!
You will be able to find a new product I have been working on, fleece lined mittens made from recycled sweaters. They are unbelievably warm and each one is unique.

My fingerless-mitts are also available, each one is 100% wool and great for the spring, fall or that cold indoor work space!

Last but not least you will be able to pick up my wonderfully smelling, full of lather, hand crafted soap. Each bar is 5oz and smells so good you could eat it. Showering will never be the same with out it! I am so excited about them!

So visit Lemon Sky Unlimited this Holiday season and get your self some great handmade gifts the store is full of them! Your friends and family will not be disappointed!

Fall has arrived

2009-09-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Crisp air of Autumn has Arrived! (lets not talk about winter)

I have the smell of apples flowing through my home. I have been making apple butter and canning it this week. It tastes so great and makes the house smell wonderful! My Great Grandparents always held a fall festival every autumn at there home, when i was a child. They made apple butter in a big iron kettle over a wood fire. I always loved those days running around with my cousins and eating apples that had dropped from the trees, not a care in the world. My apple butter is made in the crock pot, but no matter how its made it is a delightful addition to my toast each morning.

Craft Show Applications Due

2009-07-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

So applications are due soon for Renegade craft fair Chicago and DYI Trunk show 2009

I put together these two images for submition.. I hope I get in to one of them!! Now.. got to run little Winston is asleep and Its time to make soap!

First Farmers Market

2009-06-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Here are the dates for 2009

Jun 14, 2009 : Jun 28, 2009 : Jul 12, 2009 : Jul 26, 2009 : Aug 9, 2009Aug 23, 2009 : Sep 13, 2009 : Sep 27, 2009 : Oct 11, 2009

Hours:9 am - 1

Below is my set up ... needs some work but not bad for my 1st all SOAP set up!

Summers Soaps at Chicago Farmers Market

2009-05-31T04:42:00.001-07:00

I have been ask to sell Soap at the Independence Park Farmers Market here in Chicago. I am so excited... but now I have been making soap like it is my job... hey wait it is! Which is exciting. I making soap and love using hand made soap even more. I can tell a huge diffrence in my skin which is normally very dry. The image below is a Coconut Milk soap that i made last week. It turned out beautifully!

You will be able to find me @ Independence Park: 3945 N. Springfield Ave, chicago
starting Sunday, June 14. from 9 am to 1 pm

The other dates are June 28, July 12 & 26, Aug. 9 & 23, Sept. 13 & 27, Oct. 11.

Another thing that I got done was putting out a small garden below my patio. I put out two tomato plants, 8 peppers and one eggplant. I am pumped to see how everything grows! Hopefully by summers end I will be making home made salsa! Wahoo!

My Secret Room-

2009-03-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

I have a Secret room....

and I am so excited!

So the little room in the back of our home was to be the baby's room, when the baby was still "the baby" living in my warm belly and going every where I went. We set up this little nursery room..with the bed, changing table, rocking chair.. art work... Well today all that remains of that cute little nursery for our son, is the art work... He has since taken over our room. But that is okay because I now have a Secret Room!

I am supper excited about it. I have set up my sewing/craft area, although I am still working on some shelving so the photo of "the area" will have to wait.. but today I will show you that I have organized my thread. How exciting!!

While crafting I also share this room with a piece of equipment I have always wanted! A treadmill! I am running at home now even in the dead of winter, with 3 feet of snow out side! Now that is exciting... ever since Winston was born I have wanted to hit the gym to burn off that extra pregnancy weight.. but could never make it! Actually ever since moving to Chicago I have wanted to go to a gym, but they are few and far between.

To burn off that weight I took to the streets with my stroller, but walking and running are not the same. My love for running has always been strong, I ran cross country in high school. Was running lots of races when we lived in Philly.. even completed a marathon! But ever since moving to Chicago running has been hard. The weather is awful most of the time, except those 3.5 months of summer we get, and running out side in the city has never held my interest after growing up in the country. Start - stop - start -stop .... that is why I love my treadmill. I hit start and away I go...and I can use it any time I want! Yea! Good bye Pregnancy weight!

Now I just wait for Nap Time!

Soap and Vacation.

2009-03-10T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Soap Samples are done!

http://www.chicagostylecrafters.etsy.com

These will go into a spring sample bag with a Urban Garden Theme!

My hand made soaps are Orange Oat and Lemongrass.

We just got back from Florida, we had a great time! We took Winston to the beach for the first time. He had a great time with the sand.. we have some wonderful videos of him digging!! Gene and I had so much fun with him and the family.-
Winston started walking this week its very exciting~!

The Holidays are here to Stay!

2008-12-05T18:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! - This is a photo of My front door, Just finished my Wreath this evening and put it up on the door! Not bad for someone who has never made a paper wreath before. It cost me only about 5 dollars and took about 8 hours. I hope it makes it through the holiday season. Just a little newspaper, tape and glue holding this puppy together!

Well if you haven't heard, I am now as SAHM (stay at home mom) ... which is okay... They Laid off about 25 of us before Thanksgiving, but now I have more time for My son and my self! Hint the 8 hour paper wreath above!

The snow has started to fall here in the Chicago Land area and we are gearing up to get our Christmas tree this weekend. We have been having a great time with Winston's. He has been growing so fast. Sitting up all on his own now and scooting along on his belly to get to things! He will be crawling in now time! Then watch out! Wild man on the loose!

I have been updating my etsy shop! BigCityfuzz.etsy.com Check it out!! Yes I actually have some items in my shop and more to come! I have been trying to do a listing a day, but am not quite there yet! I Made my first sale last week on Cyber Monday! some Blue fingerless gloves! (see below) I liked these best out of all of the ones i have made. I will be at the Empty Bottle here in Chicago for a craft show, * Handmade Market at the Empty Bottle - Dec. 13th*

Come out if you can! There will be all kinds of great presents for others or your self! :)

A Crafty Fall

2008-10-08T21:44:00.001-07:00

This fall has been quite crafty, I must say. To kick start the end of summer. My friend Marcie and I dyed some yarn. We went the kool-aid route and the yarn came out beautifully. Now I Just need to make Winston a sweater... ya right! okay some soakers for his cloth diapers. I am not a big project knitter, I like my projects small in hopes that I can finish them! I hope to make some hats and soakers out of this beautiful hand dyed wool yarn!

I have been making hats the whole month of September, I want to get my shop on etsy set up. Yes I know, I keep saying that... but after this craft show and our trip to W.V. I hope I can sit down and get a few hours of on line time to get it going! Here is one of my hats worn by Winston.

Here is my set up from the craft show! I think it turned out nice, I got a lot of complements on my hats! and a few bites... The lip balm was also a big seller! Last weekend we also made a batch of hand made fig soap! We stirred if for almost 3 hours before we could pour! Now we wait! I am excited to try our first batch! I know it is going to be wonderful!

Winston arrived ....

2008-07-13T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am now about to go back to work from my 12 weeks of parenting bliss. I love my new roll.. Mom! Winston has my heart, he is such a good little boy. He was born on the 23rd of April and let me tell you that they call it Labor for a reason. With out any pain medication he arrived at 6:43 in the morning after 21 hours of labor. He is absolutely perfect, and I am starting to have separation anxiety at the thought of leaving him... he is such a good baby. We have done lots in the last 12 weeks. He has gone to 2 cubs games, 1 wedding, 3 trips to Indiana, 1 trip to Kentucky, a visit to the aquarium as well as the Zoo and numerous other little outings. He is a great traveler and loves being out side. Spring baby's are the best I must say. (not that I have had a Winter baby) but it has been great to get him out side and push him around in his stroller. I also love to strap him to my chest and go. He has a few different baby carriers all of which are fun to travel with, they put him to sleep in no time. He is growing so fast, born 7lbs 8oz, he is already up to 15lbs, that is over a half a pound a week. My time with him has flown by, I would have loved to give birth in Sweden were they give mothers a year and a half with there new Born's. It will be hard for me to go back to work, especially since i am still nursing him, but I know it is best for our family. We have a wonderful friend who is going to stay in our home with him, we couldn't have been luckier! and let me tell you, Gene loves his little boy, I can't imagine our life now with out the little guy! I think he is beautiful!

Okay ...so our life is about to change?!

2008-04-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

Can we handle it?

I sure hope so!

We are both getting excited for the new arrival to our family. We were up on the roof top of my office one night last week taking photos for our web site. We have both been trying to get some things done that we have been putting off.

Gene has been working on our web site and I finally submitted my hours to the NCARB... (what a pain) Now I wait the 3 months to find out if they think I am done with my IDP program so I can start testing...

The photos above were a few from the roof deck photo shoot, we have been meaning to add photos to the web site forever... but the extra cold winter created a delay... but I do believe spring is around the corner at this point. I am not sure if we got any good photos but I am hoping there are at least one or two we could use for now.

Photos my self always hard to like... but I love that in the last 3 posts on this web site I have had on "The Green shirt" How funny! Yep my attire has been slim through out this pregnancy and this green shirt is the softest cotton known to man and the most worn!... It sure will be nice to get a few things once this little dude pops out!

Gene and I just finished an architecture competition for a temporary out door art gallery. We submitted few weeks ago.. and have been waiting the announcement of the winner. As usual we didn't win, but they did list us in the Honorable Mention group, which was a great feeling. It takes so much work to do these competitions and often there is not even a "Thanks for entering" One day we may win one! check out our entry here! you can click on our names and it should pop up. (Shanna and Gene from Chicago!) Let us know what you think....

Okay off to bed for me, only 5 days left until our due date and we need our beauty sleep, before taking on the new roll of PARENTS....

2 weeks and Counting

2008-04-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

(Does 12 days sound shorter?)

2 weeks and Counting. Or Does 12 days sound shorter?
Can you believe it? I can't.... time has gone fast and slow all at the same time.... Right now I guess I would say time is slowing down. We have officially moved into our new apartment! I must say it was the longest move EVER! We started on February 15th and didn't not completely finish until March 30th. 6 long weeks of lifting, shifting and arranging...But it was all very worth it, we love our new apartment, its almost like our own house.

This weekend we were able to get the little boys room put together.. the bed and the changing table, organization of clothes and the washing of bed linens. I will have to post a photo of his room at some point. We still have art work that needs to be framed, but everything is starting to come together. We also did the hospital tour which scared me a bit, I must admit. Me, someone who has never had stitches... but I will say that North Western Women's Hospital is an incredible facility. So it will be okay, I can not wait to meet this baby boy... (at least they told us its a boy, It would be quite the shocker if it wasn't). I have learned a lot about my child over the last 38 weeks. yet I often feel like I don't know anything about hi.

Here are 3 thinks I do know
1. He gets the hic-ups once or twice a day...... May be he likes to eat as much and as fast and I do?

2. He likes to dance.... We hooked up the ear phones to the belly a few days ago and boy did he know know to move.

3. He sleeps a lot. ......He is not one to make big moves but rather gentle little shakes and snuggles.

It will be fun to see what personality this little child will have. I still can't believe a baby is going to come out of this funny stomach bump that I have been carrying around for almost 10 months, It is such an alien-ish experience.... but It will be so worth it all when we meet him. I am looking forward to getting my pre-Prego body back, not that it will ever be exactly the same, but then again, my body was ever a knock out slender shape to start with. Although I can say I will miss the little tugs and shifts of this child with in... it is such an amazing experience that some women never experience. I hope I will have the opportunity to experience it again.. it is truly amazing!

The weather has starting to turn to spring, which is nice. We had high 60's this weekend and sunny! Which was great as Chicago winters seem to last forever! This weekend we were able to grill out in the sun on Saturday and go out for breakfast on Sunday followed by a hike to the park 4 me to lay in the grass and read about the herb garden I am planning for this summer and For Gene to run a hole mile and a half. It was a beautiful spring weekend.

Okay I have rambled on long enough... take care.

31 Weeks... and I could use a BEER!

2008-02-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

Time is quickly approaching! We are so excited yet we have so much to do before the little boy is allowed out of the sauna... yep that's what I am calling it now. He is in the belly which is his own personal sauna, all warm and safe. Mean while mom is hashing it out in the real world, carrying him every where she goes! :) Yet I am enjoying almost every minuets of it.....

So here are the top 3 things we have to do before he can come out ....

1. Move:
we found this great apartment that we love! We get the keys this weekend, which is so exciting. It has 3 bed rooms, on the 1st floor, large kitchen, bath our OWN washer and dryer which is a huge deal here in Chicago. People love laundry mats here! and a great deck with a shared back yard! We are so excited... although moving sucks especially 8 months pregnant!

2. Unpack:
Yep we are not even packed and I am thinking about unpacking....yet good thing is we have 6 weeks to move...
I am really looking forward to setting up the baby's room and figuing out what I have and what I need.

3. Baby showers:
The girls at work are throwing me one here in Chicago at a spa! Which will be great fun! Then.. my good friend Chas, who is pregnant with twins, is throwing me one in Cicero. I am really looking forward to both! so he can't come too early! :)

Wish me luck, I will keep you posted.

We are Having a little BOY!

2007-12-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Our big news for this week is that we will be having a little boy join our family, and we couldn't be happier. They said that he looked healthy and he is growing right on target with my due date of April 19Th. We are really excited and I know Gene was amazed with the technology of the ultra sound machine. He just stood there trying to figure out how it was working. When they told us that we would be having a little boy, he was all smiles with a little laugh. All I could say was "I told you" For some reason from the beginning I knew we would be having a little boy.... I know! So it's time for I can look for anything! I will hold my hopes for little pink bows for next time...

We had a great Thanks Giving. I can't believe time is flying by. We went to Murray over the Holiday and had a nice time with Gene's family. Now I know that Christmas is just around the corner. Now it is time to create an action plan for my Christmas shopping, I have yet to start. I find my self thinking about the baby all the time, and what we are going to need for him. Although last night I was busy @ my sewing machine. Marcie and I are sharing a table at a craft show Saturday located at the Empty bottle . I hope I will find some nice hand made gifts there! I hope I can gather enough things to sell... Mom is sending up some of her earrings and I have a few hats and knitted booties, as well as some tag blankets I can sell. I guess we will see what I can some up with. I may even make some Big City Lip balm if i can only find all my supplies.

My Brother and Olivia also arrive next weekend for there weekend Christmas play in Chicago. So it will be great to see them.

Pie and pickles

2007-11-14T17:39:00.000-08:00

I go from craving Cherry pie to pickles in less then 2 min. How is that possible you ask? I am still not quite sure! But I have a love for both. So they say that if you are craving sweets you are having a little girl and if you are craving sour things you are having a little boy? How can I explain my addiction to sour patch kids. Those little chewy candies that burn the taste buds off them after 10 candies ... they are so good. I have been trying to to eat as much meaning limiting my self to say only a pack ever 2 days instead of every day... I go to the dentist next week and I just know that they are going to find all kinds of cavities after all the Candie I have had in the last few months! wow... So I think I am starting to feel this little one move around a bit... its a funny feeling that I can't quite explain... not a flutter because what exactly is a flutter but definitely pressure and tickles but only for a moment and then it's gone..

We are looking forward to our up coming Thanksgivings I say that in a plural tense because we go home to have dinner with my Dad this weekend and then on to Gene's folks the follwing weekend! It's going to be great- but I better keep the work out up or I could explode and then I never will be my normal self agian! Okay enough for today!

17 weeks.

2007-11-11T14:35:00.000-08:00

Next Wednesday I will finish my 17Th week. It has all been fun so far, except the being tired and not being about to "hang out" any more.... but my pregnancy has been easy, no sickness, and very few mood swings! (in my opinion, guess you will have to ask Gene for the full scoop on that one)- I have done a lot of planning and studying up so far which as been fun... I guess we will see how useful it all is in the Baby arrives. This weekend has been great... yesterday we went out with Marcie and Matt to the Hand made show for etsy here in Chicago. We got our names on the waiting list for next month.. which will be a big one with Christmas coming up and everything. I will need to get on the ball and get some things make for it... I have started on some hats again as well as some baby burp cl0ths. - I also have managed to get some pumpkins carved. Yes i know I am almost 2 weeks late.. but better late then never! :)

Until next time....

Now November?

2007-11-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

I really can't believe that it is November all ready. October flew by in a blink. After our travels to Charleston, and New York and all the fun I was having a work.. I just blinked and October was over. Fall is definitely here in Chicago. My neighborhood is full of yellow and Orange leaves and I am wishing I would have got my 2 pumpkins carved for Halloween. Yes I bought 2 beautiful Orange pumpkins but now they are just sadly sitting in the kitchen with no faces on them. Is it silly to carve them after Halloween? Perhaps I will do that to night.

With the new baby on board I have felt so tired and lazy. I have not been motivated to knit at all, and I can't explain why that is. I was a knitting addict until 17 weeks ago. Now... nothing. Although I have been sewing on my singer a little, I made a few hats last weekend which I will try and post on here along with my Pumpkin faces. Yes!! I am going to carve even though It's past time! :) Better late then never.....
See you tomorrow.

Shanna

A new place to bee....

2007-10-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

Life has been out of control lately and I have had no time for blogging/creating/art/knitting- should I go on. But at this moment in time, I feel I should start to make time and space to keep friends, family and you up to date! I have been working pretty hard at work lately (I am an architect in training as the say) so my current project is now heading into the construction phase so that means I won't be working as hard, or maybe I should say not as long (that is my hope anyway).

We are also expecting a new "little bundle of joy" in the spring and I figure this is a good time to start a new blog. This will be a place were I can post photos of my crafts as well as my family. We are very excited about this new addition to our family. We currently are only a family of 4 . Husband and wife and 2 lazy orange tabby cats, so this new addition to the family will be all kinds of exciting. I have never been a Mom before, this should really be an adventure, I hope I can share my adventures with you here......