Random: Log cabin step two

The sun is shining. The wind is gentle.  The windows are open again. Dear S is reading. The hood is quiet again! The basket is empty with cut fabric, but now storing  100 blocks of log cabin block. I made extra 5 blocks! I am thinking.. thinking of my backing.... something simple...

xxC

Random: Weekending

brr... Last night, we finally shut down few windows and pulled out our Fall sleepwear.  The sewing room keeps warm, but the floor is cool! This summer I gave away the area rug in the room, so I can see needles if I dropped any. We have many accidents due to "hidden" needles. I could go on more about it. We both are glad that we haven't had any needles into our feet ever since. .... This week, S was inspired by the book that she is reading and wanted to knit. We went to the yarn store in town and she picked out the yarn that she likes. She is committed herself on this project. I need to look up how to bind the scarf off soon! I am not good at knitting, but always admire people who do!! We love handmade scarves, mittens, and hats. We are so lucky that last year, our friend sent us many pairs of mittens. Soon, we'll need to put them.

This morning, I saw this {patchwork bucket} sat aside S' chair you can find {tutorial here}. She also has her new {zipper pouch} inside. {Patchwork bucket} is perfect for the small projects. She carries her bucket to her room or living room. She also puts KIKI inside for a ride.

Do you like to collect? I think we all do!!! S loves collecting stamps! Thank you, {Ayumi} for these cute animal stamps! You really know her well!! They are being cut down from the mail envelope and saved into the stamp collection bag.  There are also stamps from S' cousins from Taiwan. Stamps from other countries that I gave to her.  

Friday I took an hour break and ran to one of the quilt store here. I can't remember when was the last time I visited the quilt shop. The on-line stores surely have changed the why how I consume fabric and other materials. I was hoping to see Aneela Hoey's {sew stitchy} in charm packs and there are a few left, so I picked one up. I have been collecting Aneela Hoey's fabric in charm packs. It is hard for me to have all the fabric that I desire!  I am happy to have some in my collection!

For last few years, I have been collecting charm packs that are so cute and lovely! Many charm packs are gifts from friends to me.  So far, I don't have any plan for these charm packs. The charm pack box is officially full after I added the newest charm pack in. Maybe it is time to start thinking a project and use them.

 More scraps sewing!  Another patchwork tote??!

We swapped in two peach jams this week! Um... it is elegant taste.  We also got some fresh green beans for the week. Saturday coffee is the best! Super dark and we were able to enjoy a resting day at home!

More log cabin blocks in action! The attempt is have 100 blocks by this weekend then onto assembling next week?

S is knitting in her room quietly.  The scarf will be even longer when I go check on her later.  Lots pretty colors showing up already! Yeah! Green and blue are her colors now!! 

Thank you for sweet comments on the { patchwork pillows} 

Here are two suggestions for pillow binding . I am sharing with everyone now. If you have other suggestions I'd be happy to learn it from you as well! 

From Becky
I make both pillow front and back like mini quilts: first piece the front and sandwich it with batting to a muslin back and quilt it, then usually with plain fabric for the back and with an invisible zipper inserted at the halfway point, I make my quilt sandwich and quilt that. I put the two together (like Beth above) "wrong" (muslin) sides together. Since I have a serger, I serge the two togther first (nice, but not necessary) and then attach the binding as I would on a quilt. Hope this helps. --Becky C.

From Beth
I bind pillows the same way I bind a quilt - just sew the pillow top to the backing pieces wrong sides together and attach the binding. At least that is what works for me

xxC

Patchwork Pillows

Finally finally these patchwork pillows are done!! It took longer time than I anticipated! I used the scraps from {J's quilt} and patched each pieces as I go. Each piece is cut in 3"x3" wide. The pillow size is 16"x16".  This is actually my first attempt making pillows.  They turn out sweet! Of course, a little voice arose on my side and asked, is that for me?  I smiled!   S asked if she can make a pillow herself.  Of course, I responded to her.

These patchwork pillows are simply to make! I would like to try binding around the pillow next time! Do you know of a good tutorial on the pillow binding? Or you have one that could share with me? These pillows are really fun to make!! I am glad I take a step forward and try something new.  These pillows are on their way to their new home! I hope the receiver will love them!

S has finally made her mind that she is thinking a blue and green quilt for her 9th birthday quilt! Well, that result me many excuses to search for prints in blue and green.  I can't tell you how excited I am that I finally can start a new quilt for her!  I take pride of each process from searching fabric, designing the quilt, making the quilt, quilting the quilt, binding the quilt and surprised her at end! Hope each quilt will reminded her each year her growth and time.

Weekend is ahead of us! We'll be have our weekending soon!

xxC

Random: Sew, my friends....

Another parcel has arrived our doorway this week and this time it is from Elnorac.  Elnorac and I were talking about feedsack and decided to have a small feedsack swap. We shared some of our feedsack collection to each other. She is super generous sending some of her sewing tapes, too!! Each feedsack prints are so fun! I think the lipsticks one is super cute! No to mention extra special kitchen prints that she sent with.

Elnorac is super super super super sweet!!! She sent these super cute stationary in the package for S!! She also made the super cute pouch for S! You should have seen when S was opening these little packages! She was so excited and just kept telling me " I think this is so cool!".  Elnorac, you have spoiled her not just a little, but a lot!! S told me she felt that yesterday was Christmas already!!  S read the card that Elnorac wrote to her and was amazing how people learn about her via her mama's blog!  She is so shy and sometimes I must get her permission to write about her projects. Later on I show her Elnorac's Flickr images. I let her know that friendship can be made anywhere and true friends will always caring and willing to share!

Super cute pouch!!  S loves it more than anything! She loves the little sleeping girl  print. Just perfectly made and perfectly for a little 3rd grader!

She keeps this pouch on the side of her table and put all the new stationary in. You can read more about this pouch here.

 These just too cute!! She had a little picnic this afternoon when she came home from school.

She pretends she is drinking from the cup! She came home this afternoon and pull all the little treats out and play a little! A mini picnic quilt needs to be made soon!  S is a very lucky girl!! { Thank you, Elnorac}

The scrap quilt piecing keep me going this week. I spent 10-15 minutes each night and slowly piecing this scrap quilt top. I don't have a timeline for this quilt top, but it will just be a side project for now. It would be great if I can make it into a lap size quilt.  The top left corner pieces are from the paper piecing project that I did few weeks back. I saved all the little pieces then rejoin them together.

Lots fun prints and super small scraps! Some of these pieces were smaller than 1", but I enjoy the small uneven cuts. I sew about every scraps together!

When I woke up this morning the first thing came to my mind was pulling all the quilts out and give them a nice wash! Have you pull your Fall quilts out?  I have been using a small lap quilt in the sewing room during the late nights. I must admit that I enjoy the lap size quilts more lately! It is not too big for the washer and great size from room to room and easy for storage!!  sew, my friends, I have a desire of making a pink quilt lately! Pink, Purple, brown, and orange prints are hard to find in my stash. I am keeping myself open to these colors and hope to find some soon!

xxC

Random: day off

We have a day off here! It is labor day here in U.S. We woke up in our normal hours and started our day in the kitchen! Today/week of baking is {Almond Chocolate cookies}! Since S can read the measuring cups and spoons. She is the measuring lady!   She always tells me a little extra sugar would make the cookies taste so good! Of course, { sweet} is what she is after!

Nothing like homemade cookies! Extra care and extra special! I wish we could send some to my family, since they love the dark chocolate chip cookies! But most of the chocolate probably will melt down during the mailing process since it is still hot back home!

{ log cabin} blocks are almost done! Actually I have total of 81 blocks! I miscounted last time! That leaves me 19 blocks to go! I am excited and would like to get all the blocks on the floor next weekend, so I can have few layouts to decide for the final quilt top look.

 I got some new fabric yesterday. These are from JoAnn's. These are actually for a commission quilt that I will be working on later this fall! I think I might go back and pick up the gray prints for myself.  I enjoy the green print as well. It also comes with red-orange color.  I have few prints that I keep in mind from JoAnn's, but I know I must get {this} for myself.  Do we all wish that we can have all the fabric that we WANT?

My day off! I went to the store and got  few more plastic containers! As you know that We have less than a year then we will be moving! I have been downsizing lots things here! Few trips to the thrift stores and few bags of S' baby clothes to share with our friends here { It is very hard for me to give up these little things that I have been saving for years}.   The day has been sorting and cleaning. 

This is S' drawing from today! I still need to go to studio and  take photo of the other picture.  She is not completely done with this picture! She was giggling when I was taking this picture. The big puppy named Lily and the little puppy named Lucky! I though you might enjoy her drawing of the day!

xxC

Simple Market Totes

Late night storm came by and brought lots rain in! The air is cool and the sky is cloudy! It is perfect for staying home and sew! S is reading her books and asked for morning tea! It is in the process of brewing while I am writing the post. I made four market totes yesterday and had the idea of keeping them simple and easy pattern! This is probably the very first time that I didn't need to go out to get extra materials for.  I was able to use most of the fabric and rejoin them for the handles.  These fabric are woven fabric, which gives a simple Zakka making look! I got these woven fat quarters during the summer trip. I added some lightweight canvas fabric scrap piece that I have.   I just love these stripes print!! The blue stripes print was free in the fabric shop!

As I mentioned that my friend and I are swapping food weekly! Either veggies from her garden or cookies from my kitchen! We love the idea of sharing and trying different food/cooking! It has been fun!! I hope to surprise her with these market totes when we meet again next week! I can just picture her keeps saying " what? you made these for me??" 

Sometimes, I prefer simple sewing! It relax myself and a great way to give to friends who appreciate the handmade!  Tea is ready and we are baking for some sweets today! Today is the day for sweet treats!

xxC  

Random: Weekending in Septmber

Another quick and busy week has gone by! We are feeling settled in our new schedules and new school year! We celebrated second week of school last night and surely had great time again! We visited Farmer's market today and was glad that we made the last day of peach booth! These peaches are so sweet and juicy! We devoured a few when we got home! We plan to make apple sauce and  steam the green bean for later this weekend.  We enjoy the movie {KiKi's delivery service} this weekend.

Finally, the sewing mojo is back, but slow! I catch up two weeks of household works and only left the floor for tomorrow and some ironing to do! I finished 4 market totes this morning and promise you will show and tell tomorrow!  I spent a little more time today work on the {Log cabin} quilt. I will have another 32 blocks finished later this weekend that would add up to 74 blocks! My goal is finish all 100 blocks during the long weekend. It might be challenge, but it will keep me going.

Teaching has been great, but busy! I get to learn all my students a little more and I'd like to let  all my Norway friends know that I have a student from Norway! A very gifted and talented student!  The class size is smaller compared last two classes, but still enough students to keep me busy and work with them!

The Fall surely is slowly approaching us in the North.  Tree leaves are falling; the morning temperature is cooler. More hot tea less iced tea! More hot soup less simple sandwiches. More baking less ice cream. 

S has another picture made and ready to be photograph! It is in my studio now, so maybe next week I will take a photo and share with you!! Thank you for all the sweet words for her rhyme and picture. She giggled when I read the comments to her. She calls me { Stella's mom} once in awhile now, which made me giggled!

xxC