Friday, March 25, 2016

Blossom March































 -hello-

Do you love the hello sign that I found a couple weeks ago?  In the beginning of the March, I took two weeks off from studio and the {shop}. I decided to put good efforts to the house, finally! I learned how to professionally paint the walls without taping around edges and was up on a 16 feet ladder painting the walls. The first day, I had two shaking legs and one shaking hand that held a brush. Then other hand which was my left hand was holding way too tight on the ladder!  Um, if you'd ask me how the the edge of the walls turn out, I said not bad! The second day was better and the third day was even better!

After almost two years moved in the house, I am not as picky as I was first move in! I let go lots little things and though it could be done in a day! But turn out spent a good week to paint the walls, orgainze the boxes and adding up new fixtures and this and that.  The second week was looking for some greens and simple decorations for the living room. Also pull out some of quilts that friends sent me over the year. These friendships certainly made our home warm and cozy!

We did lots newish baking around here as well. I made some plain scones for the first time and it turned out a little too sweet and the dough didn't rise up which was a bit smaller than expected!  I've been thinking about making raspberry jams all winter long. It is so nice to go with English muffins and plain bread. If I ever get the perfect plain scone recipe, I'll share with you.

You know, I didn't think I'd be so productive in the month of March. It is one of the month that always feels so long and anxious to pass by! I continue pulled out more work in process projects and finish them like I mean to! Not stubborn this time....

The abandon Camelot blocks have been sitting around over two years now and I know they will never make into a quilt top! My coloring with fabric stash is changing and one of the block is not in the right scale. Oh.. all these self talk and dilemmas . So, finally I made the effort and transferred them into mini quilts! They turned out just perfect, i tell you! I almost think I could make the other 9 blocks after finished them and though have a wall of all sorts of minis around, but the true is they might be another w.i.p. sitting around. So, a better plan for the quilt is a must, such as making a block in a week or a block in two weeks? Also haven't settle the new color palette this time. So let me wait!

Hand-applique is the new obsession for me lately! It is something that I didn't take my time to learn when I first start to sewing. I have been getting great tips from other quilters and made some sample pieces before gone on the actual block. By the way, I even made a little light box! I will share with you next time! This is such a different and slower hand-sewing method, but I truly loving this process! I explored few more links on how to making stitches invisible { totally different kind of hand stitch} and make a better rounded up with corners with freezer paper.  It takes great effort and skills for all that perfection outcome, which I hope to achieve someday!  If you know and heard about Colonial Period quilts that is something I like to explore more in the future; this is the {book} will take you down to quilting history lane and a great read as well.

The afternoon is the time, I like sit around in the studio and pulling fabrics out for the appliqué blocks. It always take a long time! It always start as a big pull then do the adding and subtractive method when finalized the bundle. At night time, I try to finish the patchwork block if I could, but some nights are hard to push forward!

These new tulip buds are so new for me! I have been watching them daily! I discovered the flowers few nights ago and now would you like to take a guess of what color they are? and if any of you know if I could save them for next year? I probably the most excited person here; making observation each day and keep thinking I might be a great green thumb one day! {smile}

Today is another great accomplished day here! All the packages are posted included Lucky's package, a monthly trip to international market has made, and the house is all pick up, but let's skip the studio space! It is not qualify for neatness! It might need another rearrangement!

I have some new updates for the {shop} in next few days and a new update look for the blog soon. Then a update this and that next time when return here! I will share with you my little inexpensive light box and few more patchwork blocks! You can view the fabric bundles posting over IG... {on the right side of blog bar}.   Meanwhile, my goal is not to leave this space too long this time!



xxc




Thursday, March 3, 2016

Scraps Player Quilt + a quilt along!










{finished 68"x66"}

It was last night, I made last stitched on the binding! S walked to me, and said, You finished the quilt ALREADY! oh, I was very fulfilled and proud of myself! It feels kinda silly for this whole making a quilt in a week and you need to know that this is not planned quilt! It just click on me like I must have that fabric!!

The love of this quilt is growing on me over last few days! It is not perfect, you know! You could see the edges of the quilt is not perfectly squared and the stripes is not perfectly straight. Honestly, all I was thinking was making this quilt!  My arms are so sore this morning by all the free-motion quilting. This time, I tried many new patterns on the quilt. It took a good 6 hours to quilt on a lap size quilt. It is also heavy as there are so many stitch lines all over the quilt.

Do you think it looks like a bit of pixelated image from a distance? It is really interested to see that I do use a lot of red when I sew, and lots of whites and blues! I am not surprised with all blue and whites, but reds? {laugh}

For the backing, I digged into some of really old prints from the 2010 and 2011. I found interestingly that fabric made that time has slightly wax in them, it feels like a little waxy! I went ahead and use them! So, my trip to the local fabric store was so not necessary this Tuesday, since I came home with few spool of threads only.

For the binding, it was purchased from an IG destash! It was in my to-go basket, but then I went back bring it back and though it is perfect for this quilt! I  heart and love how Rita at {Red Pepper Quilt} using black and white strips for her signature quilt bindings.

Alright, I need to jump right in this quilt along here! First, I like to give a big shut to Bonnie whom reminded me of the {pack patch quilt along} that she enjoyed a few years back and as I was working on this quilt I though I need not to procrastinated too much about everything and just have some fun to host another sewing along!

So, I am hosting a new sew along called {Scraps Player Quilt Along}. However, I have set this quilt along to a private group over Flickr. This quilt along is only going to take 15 days and by the end of the 15th day, you shall have a quilt quilted and bounded!

The goal for this quilt along is lighten or even empty out the scrap bins that have sitting around too long and being ignored!  I often think that I will come back to them, but likely the scraps start building up and overwhelm around the studio space!

Again, this quilt along is going to take 15 days! I found a long-term quilt along wears some of the interest out quick. So, if you up for making a quilt in 15 days challenge, you could send me your email or Flickr ID, so I will send you an invitation on this quilt along.

Here are the rules that you need to agreed before you sign up this quilt along:

- Committed finish Scraps Player Quilt in 15 days
- Using only scraps only
- No commercial products selling in this group
- Be encouraging each other
- Meet new friends, if you like to do a swap please set it as a private swap.
  We'll not hosting a group swap.
- Have fun! Tons for fun!
- Be spontaneous about this quilt along!

If you are up for challenge and love to join this quilt along, please leave me your email or Flickr Id in the comment form, only. The comment form is open till March 4th, 10 a.m central time. We will kick off the quilt along on March 5th.  and finish on March 20th. It will went by pretty quick and I suspect some of you might finish in a week term.

Alright! See you over at {Scraps Player Quilt along}

xxc