Random: Dumplings

The humidity is back to normal. On the 4th the humidity  reached the highest point of the week, but now we have some really nice breeze came in from windows.  Yesterday morning, I woke up early in the morning and start making these dumplings. It is simple and easy to make. I plan enlarge the pattern and make larger version.

 You might have remember my{ swoon quilt} that I made in April. I used the leftover scraps made a {patchwork handbag} and still have two pieces of patchwork left. I though would make another tote for daily use, but simply mistakes happened. The measurement was 2 inches off and I don't have much leftover fabric for making up plan. 

I saw these cute dumplings in Flickr few weeks ago and download the pattern { you can click and download your own}. These dumplings are fast to make the only trick is baste zipper by hand then sew that  would make the zipper stay in shape!

This is the {harder version} which is resulted very small, but I think it is fairly easy to make if you are a sewer who sew most of the time.

This is the {easy version}, which is the same to the other one, but only bigger.  I plan to enlarge this version to make a larger ones. I think these dumplings are great for storing small sewing project such as hexie patchwork or storing sewing needles, thread spools, and small scissors.

With two leftover patchwork pieces. I was able to make 4 dumplings. Yes, as I mentioned earlier. I am  sad that I had to wasted some of patchwork pieces in order to get the pieces cut. I saved some large pieces and I hope I will transfer them into something else. It is a great feeling that I have used up all my swoon quilt fabric scraps for different projects.

This morning, I set out two jars for sun tea. One is raspberry tea { of course} and the other one is rose tea. It is raining this morning and the weather is cooler. We are back in long sleeves and windows are half way down.

xxC

I { heart} patchwork handbag

 I { heart} patchwork

{yes, i really do}

The patchwork handbag just finished in time to share with you. I used the triangles that I cut off from the Swoon quilt top. Sometimes, it is hard to come up with a new ideas about scraps. I wanted to make a new handbag for myself and was thinking in a elegant style and with {pockets}. I keep telling myself that pockets are important this time. I made two inner pockets this time and decided to use hour glass block and Ayumi has a great tutorial for it! It is fairly simple and easy block. The between squares fabric are that Denyse Schmidt's Hope Valley and Suzuko Koseki's label print fabric. The handles are purchased from the local Joann store { any craft store might have carry them}. I design the bag pattern myself. I wanted something simple, but will fit the everyday outfit that I wear ( jeans and t-shirts).

Each time when I work on a new project I use camera to document periods of process { I am sure many of you do}.  Sometimes, I am always amazed how much time that have pass by or how much little detail that I have added on each time. Lately, I have been a scraps player! The idea is playing scraps and give them some new life! I promised my sister I would make her something this summer. I am still not sure what to make, but surely will be { patchwork style}.  I have another set of same hour glass patchwork top that's ready to make into a handbag. I haven't decided on the handbag pattern, but I think might be the similar style.

As far as the swoon quilt top! Yes! I am going to hand-quilt it! It will take me a while to get it finish, but I really like the imperfect stitches on the quilts. It just make it more {me} quilt. The swoon quilt is totally so cool and I really really wish I can have ten arms to get it quilted and snuggled it with every night! I will wait and I will keep you post about the progress!

xxC

My {swoon} and your {swoon}

When I first started the swoon project. I knew that Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt would be the stash that I am going for. After a few days playing and laying them next to each other. I knew with this vibrate fabric line I needed to add some solid or calmer colors, but  won't take away the attention of the colors and prints.


I played around with Kona chart, but wasn't happy with just solid colors. I went to few online fabric shops and look for something that's fun. I came cross the painters canvas by Laura Gunn . I also have two prints that I ordered in the past and really like texture on the fabric.

Without hesitation I ordered 6 yards of the charcoal print because I was thinking that I could use it for other sewing project. I was right! I have wanted to take a step away from the white background for quilting. I have been wanting to try something out of comfort zone and glad to let you know that I am very satisfy with this quilt top.

The day when we took the photos  it was was a sunny and windy day. I could not be more than happy to catch most of the colors on this quilt top.

 I think some of the other painter canvas that I included gave the settle feature to the quilt top piece.

 I really like the center blue block! It was the first one that I made! I have a little affection on this. It took me 2 hours for the first two blocks then later on I was able to understand the process and it went faster than the first two.

Overall I am so happy with this quilt top! I think the pattern is simple to follow and the fabric quantity isn't overly estimate, but just right!  ( I caught the kid bike in the back, fun!)

Original plan was get quilted by  long-arm quilter, but I decided to quilt it by myself. I have been searching for my backing for a couple of days now. This quilt won't get finish until this semester ends. I would love to hand-quilt this piece, but I know.. it will take me a while again.  Once again! I CAN'T be more than happy to have my quilt number two ready to be quilted. I have been searching for quilt number three's fabric. My friend is turning a big 5-0. I want to make a cozy quilt for her birthday! I have a few month yet to get it done, but I know I only have this summer to do it before school starts for me in the fall again.  I have a little stash of the Katie Jump Rope in the shop if you are interested! Let me know if you came from this blog.

xxC

W.I.P.

I am in vacation mode!


We are taking our little get away trip tomorrow ! Haven't pack anything, but needed to do so before heading to bed. I have a mini goal for tonight! I'd like to accomplish this mini quilt  before we leave tomorrow. I plan to bring it with me and hand-quilt it during our get away, it will be relaxing.

The colors are so vibrate! I am a little bit nervous about the colors! It is off my comfort zone! No computer for me for next few days.  We'll enjoy good food, good friends, and good sleeps! We plan to be outside most of the time if the weather permits! It will be fabulous! It will be awesome! We don't celebrate Easter in our family, but I wish you have a great Easter week-end! 

Cheers!

xxC

{Swooning}

I took a few hours on Monday night and cut off the swoon block fabrics. I organized them by sizes and blocks. The system is working well for me! I was able to completed the third block this afternoon, but didn't get the chance to photography maybe I will show them all together when I finish the quilt top. I am attempting to finish all 9 blocks by this weekend, maybe! Three is done and 6 more to go.. I have the fourth block arranged and ready to sew and cut! It was a fabulous morning and afternoon here again! Stella and I took a long walk and enjoy the sunset. She is loving her scooter from Christmas! I also rode on it this afternoon! We had a little competition here actually.

It is so quiet right now! As the little girl is sounding deeply in her sleep and I am blogging. Dishes are done, house is picked, plants are watered, and the sewing machine is about to get start again. The kettle is on and I am about to brew a pot of coffee and enjoy this quiet night. Perhaps some music playing. I love late night working... my friend Julie calls me a "night owl" which is very true!

xxC

{swooning} one and two

I love {swooning} on the weekend. Here is my {swooning} one and two! I am so pleased with the both blocks.  It took a few weeks to decided the color for the background fabric. I have been working with white so much and white background surely give good depth of colors, but on the other hand I was thinking something else. When I saw Anna's swoon I was {wowing}. The gray background really alter the fabric colors and such. Then it took me another few weeks decided to go with painter canvas's charcoal.  It is like no going back when I ordered 5 yards. It is bit of scary! I questioned about it for a week then finally cut into these over the weekend.  What I love about this pattern is it really simple and easy to follow!

Today is a fabulously day here and I intend to read another 50 pages of assignment reading for a paper writing. It will be relax day here as all the windows are up and breezes came in and out! I shall brew a cup of coffee to sit and read.

xxC

{weekend} ing

Thank you for all the sweet and kind comments on {Stella walks in rainbow houses quilt}. The quilt has been washed and covered on Stella's bed! She told me, it feels so warm mama, how thick it is? She also told me it is probably because my hands touched the quilt too much, so make it warm ( as she refers me a warm blooded).  Are you enjoying your weekend? It is in the 70's here in N.D. Everyone tells me enjoy what we have now because we might have snow next month! I have been sewing, reading, housing cleaning, and watching movie all weekend now. As many of you know by now I always watch a movie when I do my sewing.  I finished three more {Kerry's house} this weekend. The one with blue sky needs a redo! It is quarter inch smaller. The freezer paper shifted while I was sewing.  My plan is making a mini quilt from these little houses. 

{Garden house}

 { sewing house}

 {toy house}

{fabric house}

{ more houses under construction}

I also managed finished two Swoon quilt blocks this weekend. It takes about over an hour for each block. I used many post-it for labeling sizes and that works really well for me. I have cut all the back ground colors together then two fat quarters each time when I start the new block. Surely it is a productive weekend that I haven't had in a long time. After posting, I am off more sewing and watching movie. Stella is making KiKi a new dress { I just hope she doesn't sew KiKi and the clothes together}.

xxC

are you {swoon}ing?

This is my third QAL project. I have been liking most of my QAL groups. I work as I go! No dateline and no pressure! No class to go in, but I can always enjoy friends all over the world share the same passionate that I do.  Over the weekend, I was refolding the fabric then arrange more in colors! I hope I am not the only one do so! I pulled out Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt yesterday and knew it is time to cut them into the {dream. quilt- swoon}. Actually I have a few prints missing! I think I ran into this fabric line at the end of almost sold out timing. Like many of quilters, I missed the first line Flea Market Fancy, but they are about in the stores again. I ordered my here , but they sold out one print already. I might need to look some places else. Katie Jump Rope is my very first modern fabric line that I purchased back in 2008? It was the time when I began looking for bright and modern fabric. I have been saving these for some time now. Yeah.. I know I am a hoarder { in a good way}!

 I put them all in the kona chart and was looking for the solid. I know.. No white, snow white this time. I have many quilts that used white as my sashes and backing. White won't go wrong with any colors, but I am looking for something fun and will pull the prints out more.. something interesting..

I pulled out all the stripes prints and played the colors, but thinking... I might also able to add some solid between prints.

Do you have any good suggestions? I am thinking Kona Ash, but it doesn't look right yet! I will keep playing before I am happy with the color. I though it might be cool if I could make two quilts from the same print, but different color arrangement.