star quilt of hers

I have been trying to organizing my photo folders lately. I came cross the photo that I took last year. This is the 7th birthday quilt that I made for her when she was 7. She requested {pink}. It is almost the time to pull this quilt out for the valentine's day.  Just though that last year, we had so much snow, but this year we barely have any! wish a quick Spring time! 

House block tutorial

 

I'd love to share this simple house block with you! It is really easy and I have taken many photos for the process.  Note: all the seam allowance is {1/4"}

 Material: 

5 pieces of print fabric cut in 2"x2"

4 pieces of solid fabric cut in 2"x2"

2 pieces of solid fabric cut in 2"x4.75"

1 piece of print fabric cut in 5 7/8"x5 7/8"

1 piece of solid fabric cut in 4.5"x4.5" 

thread

sewing machine 

ruler

rotary cutter

Lay the 2"x2" squares in a nine patch look 

 Sew them together/ press the back seam open

Attach two 2"x4.75" on each side

Press the seam open in the back

Cut the 5 7/8"x5/78" square diagonally, this would allow you to have two large triangles then do the same to the 4.5"x4.5"square

 Lay the solid triangle on the face of the printed fabric. The triangle base should be parallel. 

 Corner to corner. 

 Pin the fabrics together with pins

 Press the back seam open 

 Lay the second solid piece on the other side of the printed fabric and again the base should be parallel. The triangle top should look like the above picture. 

 Pin the fabrics together then press the back seam open again. 

 Now you should have two parts { roof} and {base} to join together 

 Take your {roof} and fold in half then use your finger to press the center and create a line/point.

 Take your {base} and folded in half then use your fingers to press the center and create a line/ point

When you lay them open they should look like above photo. Then match the pressed line/point together.

 Pin your {roof} and {base} together 

I highly recommend to pin it all the way through to avoid the fabric shift. 

Open your pieces then press the back center seam open. Here you have a cute house block! The finished size is 7"x8". Enjoy!

2/10 edit: this post is linked up in { crazy mom quilt- finished up Friday}. Make sure stop by there and check out the links. So many great accomplishments that friends shared!

xxC

at home

 Thank you for all the well birthday wishes! She is thrilled that she has birthday wishes from all over the world! You all made her smiled and giggled! After the big celebration I managed clean up the apartment and get ready for the new week. It seems like I do that every week! The schedule never changed and just keep move on to the next one. I pull out the first quilt along that I participated three years ago.  The quilt is covered the couch and  lighten up the room so much more and brought some changes to the living room. We love the change!

This is the first baby quilt I made for Stella when she was 4. At the time, I just started serious about quilting and love design my own quilt patterns. It is tulips pattern I designed! During the first few years of quilting I've done most quilts by hand instead. I borrowed an older machine which wasn't good for straight lines and it didn't have good 1/4" seam to follow up.

The baby quilt has been washed over the years and it became very soft and almost vintage look compared the fabric stashes I have now.  I used 30's print for this quilt and this quilt has managed stay with Stella all the time and she is still loving this quilt when she watches movie on the couch. There is also a doll quilt for Kiki, the hipo.

The little baking that we've done together. The coffee cake is great! We kept went back to the kitchen and get a small slice. The tasty of the cake is very settle and I love it with the coffee this morning. We are talking about making a coffee cake every week, but likely we won't be able to eat the cake by ourselves.

The rosemary is gone a week after I planted. I think I { damage} it! I replaced the mint this time and it seems doing very well! I though I would give it a try and the south window has been great for some plant so far! I keep changing their location in last few weeks. This week, I'd like to plan basil and give it a try.  This summer I would love to have some herb pots for cooking. It would be so great to have a backyard garden for our home grown veggies. uM.. sPRING!


xxC

celebration of hers

Eight years ago, I left New York City with S in me. It was nervous, scary, emotion, and struggle. At the time, I was young and all I wanted was go home to be with my family. The 9 month pregnancy was long and bad until the month of delivery. Nothing I ate was tasty enough and I had much fruits at the time to allow me live. Shortly after I arrive Taiwan, my dearest grandma passed away in her sleep in suddent. It was a confused year of life and death at the same time for me.

The day before the delivery I was in doctor's office and doctor told me I better take time to walk and allow my body to get ready. That same night I was in pain, but I didn't think I was going to have the baby, since the due date is another week or so.  The morning arrived and I was ready! Dad was on his way to work and turned his car around and came home to take me to the hospital. When the doctor saw me, the first thing he said  was "I guess, the baby was playing hiding game with me last night!" I smiled!

Mom later on came to the hospital and sister cancelled all her teaching classes just to be with me. My aunt rode her scooter from her home which was on the other side of the city and was there to be with me. We all cried when I was in the labor room! It was a quick delivery. I was in the hospital at 9a.m. and S was born at 2p.m. that same day afternoon. She didn't let me suffered the pain too long, but it was the day that I understood what the real motherhood is like. All mother sacrifice themselves and hold it as much as they can to take care of their babies and the families are as well! S was a beautiful baby! I counted her ten fingers and ten toes the first time I saw her. I saw her big eyes like mine and she is alike a baby-Chase. I think! Mom told me she is very alike me when I was a baby only she is prettier and cuter!

Within last 8 years, we have been through so much together! We are like {BFF} that's what she tells me all the time. She is sweet, smart, funny, and creative! She is a world traveler and always enjoy what she is doing! She is there when I am sad! When I was sick she takes good care of her mama and each night after tuck her in bed. She reminds me { sleep early}. I think I could go on and on about her and little things that we share! Sure, she is my most valuable and the only one I will keep if I need to pick! 

Eight means a lot to her! She has been counting and crossed off calendar days. We planned the big day together and she was so surprised to see the birthday notes were everywhere in the rooms. She was a bit shy when I sang the birthday song 3 times. When grandma called her on the phone early the week, she was so happy to tell her that she will be 8 in two days. Grandma told her, her birthday package is on its way. It has becoming a traditional birthday package from Taiwan. All the gifts and loves are compressed in the box! She is loved by many! Never a single day that was left out with unattention or being lonely. Perhaps the only thing that I am guilty about is not able to spend much time with her on weekends, I have to bring her to school when I work. We are together counting the day, mama graduate from school and move away somewhere that we can real settle in and begin our farm home somewhere.

The cake was made the last minute and still very tasty! Look through her cold birthday photos. All the birthday cakes are strawberries and whipped cream! I think next year, I will try something different. We went to brunch with our friend and S invited her friend to join movie with her. We came home and made the cake and hoping the cake to cool off quick, so the whipped cream could stay! It was a fulfilled weekend here with her celebration!

Her birthday always reminded me how to appreciate mothers. It is always nice to have her as my little supporter, yet there were days that we get mad at each other! I think it is { like mother like daughter} thing and it doesn't change! I always believe that each year I grow into a better mom and person because of S.

S asked me not to wrote S on the blog post, but Stella, so I will do so after this post! She is named after {Frank Stella} . When she was 4 I took her to the museum where they have great collection {Frank Stella}'s artwork and told her how special her name is. 

My love to her is grater than any and only wishes she is {happy. healthy. appreciate life}. 

xxC

Processing

I wish I could steal some of the time this week to make the eight blocks, but I failed! This week went by fast! Actually I am not remembering what I did mostly, but I knew I was sewing a lot and preparing classes! Brainstorming some fun assignments for the students, but I am sure they might not on the same boat as I have wish! That's ok! I will try again!

I am running out some energy each night lately! Last night, I was reading my text book for the class I attended. I think after few pages my eyes were half closed and the text lines became black lines just like {----------------} <-- { unclear} then the move  I made was straight to bed!

This morning when I woke up I realized the chapter I supposed finished were the wrong pages! The next move I made was straight to kitchen and made some tea for the day. When the clock strikes at 6:50. I arose my voice and woke up S for the fresh new day.  She was up with messy hair and rolled up p.j. pants. Looked very cute from a mom's stand point! An usual day here as always!

The day at school wasn't bad! I enjoyed the class that I attended the professor is amazing! He is knowledgeable in his study of area. The two hours and 30 minutes surely went by fast quick! Came home and realized, boy I filled the scraps bowl again! Very much likely it will be save for something special again.  Nothing better than fun scrappy projects.

I shall disappear for the weekend as I commit myself to S for a full Saturday date with her and a Sunday fully studio day myself! I will take many photos then share later on..


xxC

February First

Before the first day of February ends I reminded myself a post is needed! I finished the first house block for S' 8th birthday quilt. I think she'll be ok if I have eight made by this Saturday and light up 8 candles around it! I am a bit busy this week, but hope I will have eight made!! fingers crossed!!

xxC

Random: looking around

 Some of the days, I like to pull out these fabulous magazines and baking books. I used to bake a {tone}. The oven always was on after picked up S from school. New things to try and questions to ask friends who are expert in baking. These old good time that I had slowly put away. I wanted to make some comfort food for Kim{ the piano teacher} and the family, so I went through some of my favorite baking book again and again. I think the Danish chocolate looks great! Perhaps a cheese cake as well?

I look round our home and moving around the plants. Some of them are doing so well! A few is slowly coming. Our south side is in the kitchen instead the living room, so moving them to the kitchen. The idea is hope they can get more light and be happy!  I also look around our home and though it might be the time to look through some S' older paperwork and might need to sort them through. The paper recycle bin is more than full. Some of the older books that she was studying with might be a good time to go through and decided what stay and what not! I am feeling a spring cleaning here! Do you?

xxC