Weekending

The house is finally slowing down! S is reading and settling herself in the night before the new week begin. It has been a full busy weekending for us! Yesterday morning, we decided to go on a nice Saturday morning drive, but the drive extended a little longer and became a trip to the near by city. We enjoyed the drive, the lunch and the talk together; just us!  Sometimes, it is nice to go without plans and S surely loved the little mini get away, so am i!

I meant to tell you all "Have a sweet day" on Valentine's day, but ended up spent 5 hours in the afternoon and submitted two applications that was due at 5 that day! It was a little unreal two applications in one afternoon, but surely made the day went quicker and felt accomplished! I hope you had a "sweet" day! Surely, it was sweet and cozy here~

At 6:45a.m. S greeted me in her sleepy voice, " Happy Valentine's Day, mama" then she fell back to sleep.

At 7:10a.m. S greeted me in her awoke voice, "Happy Valentine's Day, mama" and followed by a huge HUG!

At 7:45a.m. S greeted me in her ready to get off the car voice, " Have a nice Valentine's day, mama and I LUV you very much".. off she went...

At 4:45p.m., S greeted me in her super voice when I went pick her up, " Did you have a great day, mama? what did you do?? Did you miss me?" " Indeed, very much", I replied.

At 7:00p.m. S greet me in her light voice when we finished our supper, " I had a very good day and did you like my little treat I prepared for you". It was more than just cozy, I tell you.

Do you love Kales? The first time, I heard about Kale was use it for making healthy veggie drink, but I second the idea. Let me share our Kale Chip recipe with you. S loves them and asks me often if I could make them for her. It is one of the healthy treats she loves and enjoys. We would go through a bunch of Kale in one weekending afternoon and I am sure you'll love it as well.

Kale Chip
- One bunch of Kale, gentle washed and dry with dish towel
- Take off the Kale leaves and tear in smaller piece, so it would be easier to taste later
- Spare them in "lighter" baking pan.
- 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil; toss with the Kale leaves
- Dash sea salt in the baking pan
- Make sure the Kale is well coated with olive oil

Preheat oven at 400 degree and bake 15-17 minutes.  Enjoy~

This afternoon, I pulled out some of the unfinished projects and made a small list of what can be accomplish in next few days or next few weeks. A little organization for the sewing space and read a few books to remind myself, relax! The dinning room table is occupied by the fabric, tools, books, more fabric, and more tools at this moment; yes, clutter!!

The weekending is almost close to the end and a new week is approaching us! More applications are waiting for me and I do keep myself up and think positively now and then.  Thank you So much for all your encouragements and thoughts! It is going to be a little while before I hear anything back, so until then, bare with me~

xxc

Sew, patchwork quilt

Not sure how the week has gone, but surely full with fresh motivations and goals here. It has been a busy week for me, mentally and physically! Lots writing, lots editing, lots sewing, lots press, lots cutting, lots moments to self and lots singing sounds when the afternoon time is awfully quiet by myself then mood swings down again around the time to leave the house to pick up S.  Time to close the application forms and swing the mood back for a little peace.

Yesterday morning, my dear friend and I met for a cup of coffee then I talked a lot and she listened; talked lots possibilities and lots encouragement.  It is always, almost a treat to myself to spend a few hours outside the house at this ups and down moments, gain new fresh air and fresh mind...  after our coffee time,  we headed to the local fabric store to pick up the sashing fabric for the quilt and I did not go crazy, indeed.

It was love in first sight when I saw the tiny blue rose print. It kept calling me after I walked around the store. It works so nicely with the nine-patch blocks;  almost a little French blue and a little sweet country elegant to me. The blue rose print is soft and humble at the same time and this quilt is so about my dear friend E that I am making this quilt for! Generous, kind, humble and endless warmth each day, really!

There are various blue prints that really catch me and I am thinking to make a blue quilt for the summer and yes, more tiny blue rose print for the blue quilt that I am thinking, just simple squares, maybe just like this quilt, but smaller block size?? perhaps start with a mini quilt ?  The quilt top is finished and ready to transfer into a cozy quilt. I am thinking... maybe I need to hand this quilt to her before we move away. It might cozy her up with this unusual cold winter season and a label  for the back of this quilt is a must!

Having a new quilt in process made each day delight!   Next quilt to start is S' quilt.  She is quietly waiting for the special 10th quilt of hers.  Another day full with accomplishments and it feels fulfilled indeed.  This quilt makes me sing~

xxc

Swing patchwork

Belated Birthday Celebration:
Last Tuesday, S turned 10! Yes, so much to talk about this journey that we shared and hopefully a post soon with a birthday quilt, i promised! Prior to the birthday week, we talked about how to celebrated the double digit number! S asked for a day trip to the near by city, movie and dinner, of course a trip to book store and hang out with mama.  The drive to the city was unpleasant due to the weather condition, but we made it safe and sound! We've enjoy the audio books that we loan from the local library lately.

S and I stopped a few shops while we were in the city; getting new shoes for each of us then the stop at the book store was always dangerous! S wishes she could bring all books home and I, on the other hand wish to have all the fabric home, so between two of us, one of us has to honor the other on their birthday celebration.  Movie was sweet; we shared popcorn and squeeze each other's hand so hard when the movie story gets so touch or scary. Then there's a bit of tears running in my eyes when the storyline touches me, so did S.  Dinner was amazing! We spoiled ourselves and dined in a fancy restaurant. The drive back home was so much better with 100% visibility, a cup of coffee  accompanied me in the front seat, and a child who had most amazing day whom was asleep in the back.  This was part of weekending and a blessing day with the birthday girl of mine.

It gets long:
It wouldn't be my intention to take you with me on this roller coaster ride on the job searching and wondering what our next journey would look like. Job searching gets long and it does affect our life. I thankful that we lived and surround with a group of supportive friends and all the encourage words and helps throughout the day. It is hard to express my gratitude in words with the extended friendship and kindness daily.  I keep my chin up when the alarm rings each morning and try to avoid self talk "what if " stories. Look forward new possibilities and keep a smiling mama.

Motivation:
Each day, we look for motivation to start of our day. Schooling, working, sewing, reading, baking,.. the list goes on. Lately, I list out all motivations to myself for the week then cross out what have been accomplished. Something to look forward and get excited about during this long process. It helps to see the accomplishments throughout the day and the week. Yes, motivation leaves us moving to next stage and perhaps new challenges?

Swing patchwork:
Finally patchwork is in action! My obsession of sewing small patchwork hasn't go anyway! It is amazing how we cut, press, sew, and repeat all these actions daily and still loving, cut, press, sew...
I {heart} patchwork and you?

Scissors:
We welcome the baby mini scissors to our sewing family this weekending. I wondered how many pair of scissors you have?  Happy Sewing~

xxc

A new triangle patchwork zippered pouch

 

The warm thoughts and hugs are received, {THANK YOU}. It has been a productive day here. The day is well spend and organized! So, this is the last second belated Christmas gift that I finished this afternoon. This is a long promised zippered pouch for my sister. When we lived in Taiwan last year, we {two of us and plus S} were crazy about the Muji pens from the department store! Not really sure  why the sudden we were all crazy about these color pens and recycled notepads, but each of us has more than we need for next 10 years, I think!

At the time, I made S a triangle zippered pouch for her new school's  stationary supplies and then later on made one for my sewing tools. Few weeks later we were about to move cross the ocean again. The patchwork piece was assembled the first month when we arrived states, but with all the changes lately it got postponed! Deep in heart, I know my sister wouldn't mind if this pouch never being finish, but it is always my pleasure to make pouches, clothes, and quilts for people I love and care.

I have modified the pattern a little for this pouch. It is a taller and wider pouch then the {tutorial} I wrote last Fall, but similar concept. I used 12 inches metal zippers and bound off with crossed weave fabric that cut in the bias. Lots fresh blue prints on this pouch and she probably will ask my why blue again when she receives it.

Another great accomplishment for the day is photographing! As you can see the 1/4" mark has a new blog head. The photo was taken 8a.m. this morning when the sun was on the far east side of the house. The morning lights are softer then the sunlights around 3p.m. in the afternoon. There are few nice lighting space in the house to take photos. It has been a pleasant photographing around this beautiful house that built in the 70's.

Last great accomplishment of the day is the reopen the {etsy shop} and completed the {shop story} and update some photos there. Enjoy a little bit of bio and story there~

xxc

Between times

Each morning, the alarm rings at 6:00 a.m., but the mind seems awake before hearing the sound. Slowly the right arm reach out the light stand then turn it on then next action would be searching the phone that being set by the pillow then slowly the feet try to locate the floor, since the bed is higher than the legs what is next, yes, the glasses to put on so the eyes can have correct vision then off the room to get ready for the day! It has been normal routine that's been established since school and job started.

Last Friday was the last day of printing job in the local company. It was a job that taken in a hurry and though it might help since we just returned! By week two, the working environment started negatively and difficult to be surround then it took a few weeks to make up the mind to leave the job.

Between these times, we are busy! New job search during the daytime and little sewing, merely no sewing for last few weeks. The mind seems like to speak for itself.. then there is some sadness approached and the little sadness hole became a medium hole then bigger! Thankful to so many kind friends who have been listening and writing emails to encourage and warm hugs from S.. and thinking possible new opportunities will come... so on

The new routine started beginning of the week.. The alarm still rings at 6:00a.m. and all the routine stays the same, but the stop for the coffee from the local cafe to local bakery where to pick up a donut and a cup of coffee. It almost seem a treat to self to start the long day process of searching and more searching opportunities out there. Then adding some sewing time help, too.  So slowly, the new routine help walking away the hole and looking forward the day start fresh and new...

Yesterday after majority of searching process came to a break. The start of cutting, sewing, pressing process began. As you noticed these prints and colors aren't the usual color schemes that you seen here. They are rather classic and mature. This quilt is for a dear friend who we are staying with since we moved back! She probably will not know about this quilt is for her until the day we move! So, would you help me to keep the cat in.. don't let the cat out?  The kindness of her to share her home with us and the generosity of her letting the sewing machine, cutting board and tools occupied the half of the dinning table and plus a corner for fabric storages!  priceless!

The simple nine-patch block is 9.5"x9.5" and will finished at 9"x9". There will be sashing added between each block. It will finished around 80"x80"; a nice size for her when she sits in her living room and read the paper and books.  All the blocks have been pressed and needed to look out sashing fabric soon, so this quilt can be ready; in case we move anytime now.

The accomplishments might seem small, but it helps to change the mind setting and help the day goes better! There will be few more sewing project slowly start and process; one step a day!

xxc