Patchwork News

** chive box on the left   ** Turnip cake on the right!

 ** Left to right  # 39 Grandma #40 Grandmother

 Left to right #30 Em

After you quickly scroll down pictures, you might want to close the page or maybe stay with me a little longer!

Have I been determined? Or shall I called it stubborn?  As of yesterday, I catch up all 42 Farmer's Wife 1920 Sampler Blocks! And today I made additional blocks, Hope and Iris, so I am forwarding the quilt along now{yay}!  I can't really explain the challenging of making 2, 3, 4 blocks some of the days and sometimes none for few days because I was so really unhappy that I am not allow to start anything new because I said so.  Pushing to get this project up-to-date, really is one of top list on 2016, but after a few weeks, I think I was stubborn for that! I also was determined using only Denyse Schmidt Fabric collections only! I think this decision is called stubborn after block number 10. I have had troubles to balance out and give nice contrast of the colors on some blocks!

That was the time, I made none blocks! I was thinking about getting {this} then it was between need or want? Then I decided not to make the purchase. Simply I knew I will not use it much then why invest it?  I had to say, it is good that I cool off the anxiety before click on the check out button.
I went through each print carefully then you can see that I rely on {Hope Vally}, {Chicopee}, and some {Hadley} collections a lot. And of course some other less contrast prints from individual collection.

Em block has the most piecing so far and sure part of that stubborn me was in, so when it was finished, I didn't make any more blocks for next 40 hours. I was so satisfied, so I rewarded myself making {these} blocks!

Grandma and Grandmother are two very special blocks for me! I used the prints that reminded of grandma.  I remember she always wore busy floral shirt and paired with wide elastic type of black/ dark brown pants. You might not know, but she was a Farmer's wife and lived very little of everything when the kids where so little. With eight children and a house that had no electricity back then; she done a great job for all that!  

When I got to block 23 Charlotte, I decided to take the first long break. I was craving for {turnip cake} and {chive box}. These are the food that easily can be found at home, but I had to make them myself.  I took a half day off to the international market. Have you visit one? I tried to stop by once a month. Likely to get some vegetables and fruits. Sometimes, I pick up meat from the meat department there. I enjoy spend time there; that's the the place I could hear multiple languages. I always peek in the spice aisle, but never buy anything. I always curious about the spices from other countries! Sometimes, I tried to bring different vegetable home. Likely I am the one ended up finish it! Oh, I think I am still quiet brave of trying out food!

Then I always, always, always bought more grocery from the list, but it is hard not to pick up a bag of Vietnamese mixed coffee, rice crackers, and extra cooking ingredients when I was there.

Most of the {Turnip cake} I had so far, never content turnip. It is actually made from {daikon}. I got four smallish daikon home that day then they were chop into long fine strips. Then I got a back of rice flour to added in, ground pork, dried mushroom. I put them in the rounded cake pans and put one at the time into the {electric cookware} that dad got me last summer when I was home. I believed 99.99% family back home has one! I think it is alike a slow cook here.  The cook time is 90 minutes and each cake takes about 180 minutes. While waiting the cake in the cookware, I started making chive box stuffing. Oh! This is the probably the most local small eat that you can find in my hometown. I was pretty lucky that day that they have fresh chive in the store, got dried tofe, rice noodles, some ground pork. The preparation of these took two hours then I mixed the seasoning from my memory, less or more!  All these ingredients went into a bowl and needed refrigerated a good afternoon to let the seasoning does its job. Then I started making the dough.... Um, we were all well fed that day!

The following week, I drove cross town to visit my friend and shared half of that with her. We had really great time because we haven't seen each other,  since last Thanksgiving. It was so nice that we spoke in our own language and had coffee and more cake she made!

After all that resting and great time! I was back to making the blocks with fresh mind and fresher ideas! I really think most of the blocks turned out better than just started! It was no surprised that so many blues and yellows are being used and so little warmer colors. I added the newest DS collection, {Eastham} last week. This collection reminded me so much of the Hope Vally and the texture is slightly different from the others as well! This collection blended really well with the last two collections, too.

Other patchwork news, I started hand-quilting on the mysmallworld mini quilt.  It will take awhile to finish, but has been a great side project. I also finished up the {Farmer's Wife 1930 quilt} top piecing! This quilt along was started August 201l and took me almost 5 years to put the top together!  Unlike other backing prints I ordered, I went for more something simple this time and have already added the quilt label on. The plan is get it hand-basted tomorrow then roll up on the hand-quilt frame! I am still deciding the quilting pattern. It might be simple, I hope!

I would like to apologized that I never get to post {Moon Pouch} preview! I never get my head down to write it up because my stubbornness and honest, so honestly I didn't have my mind on the writing! You might not know, but it takes longer time for me to write then talk. I would like to say {Thank You} for those of you who have checked out the {Moon Pouch}. I will have the preview post up over the weekend as I plan to write it up after this blog post! Maybe after dinner/dish/Lucky time tonight! promised!

xxc

A random post!

Slowly, I am going through our house again! Yesterday, I spend a good afternoon in the kitchen and going through our dishes and bake wares. I have decided to let go most of Pyrex dishes that I've collected over the years. I discovered these milk glass kitchen wares a few years ago when I was a thrift store love shopper. The vintage designs and the style was so special. I actually have never seen anything like these before.  Slowly I picked up a few here and there. Then I have a small collection, but the reality is I never uses many of them! They are the pretties kitchen decoration for me and another reality is if we ever move again, they will probably not be able to come with us.  Even though they have moved from town to cities, but time to simplify a bit of what we have here!

The ongoing studio arrange is coming along! I am tickled with all the new arrangements and I will share with you more later. I have "really" going through the space and arrange things around. However, it will still far from perfect, but it will be at least organized and sorted! I'll be taking a step down on fabric inquire for a while. Oh, I am a bit ashamed about the amount of the cloth I have hoard own. All the fabrics here might allow me to sew for a few years without a single purchase, but the true is good designs are hard to resists! But, really time to be a bit more simplify here!

After the birthday, I have a little personal goal, that is being more honesty to myself and take time to reflect a bit of the day now and then. Even though I am not blogging like I used to, but I have been blogging in my weekly planner daily since beginning of the year. In the planner, I write a bit of thoughts of the day, little bits this and that, or just doodling around the page. I do miss blogging days when everyone shared a bit of moments in their live. I don't think that you want to read my crappy and crazy days all the time (ha).  I have no time to do all the things that I wish to accomplish nowadays anymore! I found myself  get a bit upset for this simple reason! The self time, maybe happen during the late night when the house is quiet again, but my bed time is 10p.m. now! (oh, well)

But with all that a bit of thinking and sounded like a bit complaining (oh, I think more like whining)! I still am good! I just need to take one step a day like I do everyday now and keep my chin up! I found a little time to myself even the bed time is 10p.m. um, I try to make it 10:30p.m., when Fifi is online aka (my sista).  The bed time is always after midnight (as we lived on the opposite side of the global), while the conversation was going, I always doing something with my hands; folded as many fabric as possible, make as many hand stitches as possible, getting ready for next day's projects. That always resulted a pair of cute panda eyes for a few times, but it is so worth it! Yes, I whined more to her! Likely, sister talks never are serious! Just lots laughs and talks that never make any sense to other people.

So, I thought I should write a random post today for myself! Just to be free of mind writing! I am back on schedule again, that means I set up a schedule for myself! That means, I could see the free time I have during the week! Likely very limited with all the travel I do with S for the music lessons, but the Fridays have been my day and it expires at 3:45p.m.  I do my best to get all the tasks accomplished ( likely half way through the list) then on the weekending time, I am down in the kitchen baking goods for us!

Thank you for reading and everything! I want to be honest for one more thing, I feel guilty not able to reply your comments when you made one! I read them all and always smile from your comments and blessing that you send to us! For so many years, some of you are like oldie friends out there that I never met, but wish someday maybe randomly we ran into each other! I know taking time to write to a strange (me) is a lot of effort! I really appreciate all that....

I'll have a semi- mystery quilt to show and tell you soon! I just need to find a good day to photograph and edit! It will before Thanksgiving time, I pinkie promise!

xxc

Belated birthday handmade

{ to be warn: Lots photos for the same project.. if you get tired.... scroll down quick}

{ Hope you have enjoy your trip down here}.

As you know that this is my last spring break as a student, but you probably don't know it will not be my last {fulfill promises break}.  Another S' birthday gift was a Ukelele that she has been hoping to have one to play with!  When the Ukelele order arrived, I waited till mid-night to open and check on the condition of the instrument. Then I realized it came with a  plastic bag to carry the ukelele. I knew I need to make her a zippered bag instead, but that did not happen till two nights ago.

S has been very kindly waited for me to sit down and design the template. We looked through my fabric stashes over the last weekending, but there are no prints that she likes!  I tried to convince her and set out prints together, so she can have some ideas, but then she rejected them all! Later, she told me, " Can you surprise me, mama?"  I can't tell you how I felt the moment she told me. It was a feeling that must. go. to fabric store right away and just find the right fabrics.

I spend long hours in the fabric store and tried to find the {right} fabric on Tuesday! Nothing floral, not too girly, not too boyish, not too pink, not too much colors, not too much shapes on the print...When I saw this blue and yellow polka dot with pup and kitty in them. I knew it would be a perfect print for S. Then since the blue and yellow might be considered a little boyish I went ahead and look for a softer print for the lining. The random polka dot print was a perfect match for it.

I came home with a stash of fabric and explained to S what I plan to do! The machine quilting took the action right away. As the process went, S asked if I could add  a pocket in the front for her. Of course! I replied to her that I can custom made any changes. She also asked for messenger strap for the bag. She waited till her bed time and wished to try her new bag on, but I had a zipper sewing mistake, so didn't make it before her bed time!

The binding is used bias tape binding, which allows to stretch a little more around the curves. After attached the bias binding, I went with hand-stitch to finish the binding, so it makes the bag a cleaner look.  Insert zipper was the most fun part on this project. I never sewn a zipper so thick and wide before and it really make the bag super sturdy look.   S picked out the handle print- Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt and it is just the right green to highlight the blue and yellow.

For the messenger strap, I went with clasp, so S can remove them if she is not wearing the bag on her. I am really proud to have this bag done during the spring break! S came home and was so happy to put it on and ready for her next lesson to come! Although it is a super belated birthday gift, but she was just happy to have a promise and strong bag to protect her instrument. 

I am making another one for my niece who has a Ukelele as well! It might be a perfect birthday gift as she will be turning 9 in July.   Now, I am onto finding the right fabric for her..
 

Note: I would like to let you know that I won't be able to host the incoming {weekending} link up party.

Link up: {crazymomquilts: Finish it up Friday post}

xxc

Before the double

 { warning... long post.. many photos.... sew on ...}

 {free motion quilting}

{9 rings for being 9}

{ the quilting label}

{ smaller than the twin, but will allow S to take with her anywhere}

{sorry for all the blurry photos below, but she is happy}

 {number 9}

 {what did you write, mama?}

 {silly goose}

 { her birthday cake}

 {not everyday that S gets to stand on the table}

{celebrated birthday with aunt, grandma, Lucky via skype}

{02.04.2013}

First of all, thank you. thank you. thank you for all the supporting and so sweet comments that you sent in the last two posts. I have read them all, but lack of time to reply to you still.  I know you all are anxious to see photos of S' 9th birthday quilt. Sorry for all the teased photos from last few weeks.

It has been hard to work on this quilt and not let S' notice something different. I worked in late night hours or worked the time that I would be home alone while she was in school. Some of the days that I had to pretended that I was just sewing {something}.  As she passed by my sewing space, she would tell me that she wished that she has a quilt has that greens and that blues. I keep myself very quiet about this quilt's receiver and smile back to her then she moved on. I felt ashamed that I fell asleep on Saturday night and didn't get the quilt quilted on time then I had a thought that it might not be finished.....

Sunday morning when I began to free motion quilting, S saw the half the quilt open for the first time and was upset that the quilt is not for her and I had promised her a {blue and green quilt} last year.  I had to hold myself as hard as I can and apologized to her that I didn't have time to make one this time { It was hard to see some tears and I wished to spill the beans at that time}.

There are many thoughts that I have had put into this quilt for Stella.  Eight Turning nine is a magical stage and the age about self-identity as far as I see from S. It has been challenging to raise a super Americanized child when I grew up in a traditional Eastern culture.  As she grows a little older it gets harder. There's a scale in my mind that I try to balance out, but sometimes it doesn't work as I wish. Sometimes, I feel lost in the motherhood, since I am teaching her from what I know from my mom. Sometimes, I forget to open my ears to listen to her words. Sometimes, I forget that we needed to work together with the problems. Yes, and sometimes, I am a bossy mama and these are the times S exercises her independence rights. Each year, we would go through the cycle of "growth" together; happy and sad. Everyday is a new learning day for me from S and it is not easy for me sometimes.

S is fun, silly, and independent!  Growing up myself didn't have to "think" much as my parents take care of everything for me, but it is hard in my adult life that I have to learn everything from scratch in the harder way. Then becoming a mama, I wish  S could learn to take good care of herself while she is young.  We are the BFF she says all the time, but sometimes, she forgets that I am the mama who still takes great care of BIG things.. so on.. but She is a great kid! There are much of much stories that behind this blog that we have shared and some of them weren't the best stories.

There are many {thank. yous} that I have for her!  She is a great companion and number one cheer leader. She takes great care and watch out for her mama and teaches her mama being a {mama}. It is bitter and sweet to see she turns 9 today, but I am so proud!

With all the crazy sewing from last few days and her 9th birthday quilt finally was done. It felt really good when the quilt was hung by her bedside this morning. I wish you could have seen her when she enter our home and saw these balloons this afternoon. It was a great surprise for her because she asked a small package of balloons that she could blow them up herself instead. She turned around and gave me a firm hug! It was the appreciation type of hug! The hug that I will always remember and the smile that she had was very sweet and happy!  She counted the numbers of balloons and checked the colors of her favorite; greens and blues.

Slowly, she opened all the gifts that were sent by our friends. As she finished the last opening, I told her there's one more present that is { somewhere, but not here}. She wondered around.. and slowly walked in the bedroom, but didn't even see the quilt on the wall. Then when she made the second turn around she saw the quilt hung on the wall, she hopped on her bed and give the quilt a big hug then told me, {You are a REALLY good secrete keeper, mama}.  She, of course counted the quilt rings numbers!  She jumped on her bed, up and down.. more ups and downs jumping... then I told her that I have left a message for her in the back of the quilt. She slowly turned the quilt and read the message. Another firm firm hug from her...these hugs are priceless...

Later the afternoon, she celebrated her birthday with Aunt Fifi, Grandma, and Lucky via skype. The cross thousand miles of celebration was another highlight of Stella's first day of being 9.  She made a few requests to Grandma for her incoming summer visit to Taiwan and a few requests to Aunt Fifi. Of course, she made few barking sounds to Lucky.

To end the first day of S being nine was to {let the adventures begin}. As my schooling is coming to the end, there are many of many adventures that I like to take S with. We'll be celebrating her double birthday {somewhere, but not here}.

Thank you for checking in with us and {thank. you. so. much.} for your best wishes that sent to us. It warms up two souls here.


About the Quilt-

- Thank you, Jolene aka {blue elephant stitches} for letting me quilt along with her. Have you seen her quilt? It is so pretty with all the scraps that she used for her quilt.
- Quilt pattern: {Single Girl} by Denyse Schmidt
- Quilting pattern: free motion quilting by myself; the idea about the pattern is growing sprouts as my wish to  S grow healthy and happy.
- Fabric selections: I will try another post to list them out in order.

As you know that I have another single girl quilt top is done and I will be working on the backing now and much more sewing projects to share soon~

xxc