Random: A little greedy!??

Hope your weekend and Monday were great!! I am not sure if my title is corrected in English version for what I am trying to say... Sometimes, my head  doesn't working the same way that I would like. Especially when I stay home most of the time during the summer and try my best speak our language to S.  My goal is to teach her speak and understand the language and the high hope is to read, someday!   I made a little needlebook for myself last week. The size of it is tiny! I am embarrassed to show you what I stored my needles in the past. It was a piece of white cloth and the needles are everywhere, could be found on floor, table, shelves. If you come here to visit, be careful! { smile}  I love how small the needlebook turns out! The wooden apple button is perfect for it! I hand quilted as always. I love the little hand touch to small projects.

Made these three tops for S over the weekend. The pattern is Ice Cream Dress from Olive +S. I used view A, but didn't added the button piece, so she can wear them as top. We pick out the fabric together, so she can be part of the making process. What I love about this pattern is very simple and quick! The yoke is a trick, but once I made a few I got the idea of turning and shaping!it  My sister has request one from me! I think I could used size 12 to make one for her, since she is very petite!

Aren't you in love with these wooden buttons? I have been saving these buttons for S' clothes. These buttons added zakka style of the clothes. I got these buttons when I was home last summer. There is a supply shop that I visit frequently and always have great found there. 

As you might know or notice. I am into paper piecing lately! The Y seam is not easy to get it right!  I drew all the lines and use pins to get the corner together. I hand-pieced this time instead of sewing sewing. It is actually faster than machine.

 I would like to make a little stash of spool blocks and save them for future projects. What I have in my mind is zippered pouches and mini quilts. It would be a great project to take with during trips.

I am convinced by S! Every since I made her a robe. She would tell me how comfy it is. I got myself a robe pattern and ready make a robe for myself this week. The fleece fabric have been sitting around and they would be perfect for the robe making.

I made this Scottie dog a few years ago. One of {to do} list is making a small Scottie dog for a birthday that's coming very soon. I would love to make another one with the wool fabric that I have been collected as well.  Do you like Scottie dog?? This is the pattern I used.

 Another top for S in on my list.

New fabric for more clothes! Lately, I have my love to spend time and making some garments. I love seeing S wear them and I love how we made the clothes together. This is another advance pattern I have in mind for her and myself. 

{Big book of Scrap Quilts} is a new book that I got! It has great information and ideas about using scraps and make quilts. If you like to see a few inside pages. I will be upload some images in flickr later today. 

My working table! I am working the 30's reproduction project again! It is a little messy around here, but I am working!! I think I am more than greedy sewing all the time! The weather is cool and lots rain and I am just sitting around all the time.


If you happen to view my past posts you might see blank images.. I did a very dumb action last week. I delete many photos from Google photo pool and I am not able to remember which images I put in each posts. Good lesson I learned!

xxC

Randome: w.i.p

After cutting for patchwork sampler I have save all the pieces and make them into a little patchwork piece. These retro prints are what I am all about lately! Thanks to friends who swapped their fabric with me, so I can have a small retro stash now, but I wish MORE! :)

The patchwork sampler is coming together. Spent majority of the time working on these little squares { 1.5X1.5"} for last two days. Thank you, Paula! I used most of the prints you sent to me! I love how these turns out!! I am a bit greedy to wish I have more mini tea cup prints, but I am happy the piece I received. :)  I plan on hand quilting the sampler, but not sure the quilting pattern. I might stay straight lines again. Do you have any suggestions for me?

When I first start making clothes I never pre-wash the fabric. After I pull the clothes that I made  from the washer/ dryer they would shrunk down one or two sizes. Later on,  I started pre-wash  fabric for clothes making. One thing that I learned is to use my overlock machine and go over the fabric edges. It prevents any threads caught in the washer and give clean look when pull out from the washer/dyer. The process might required extra 30 minutes, but it is worth the time and effort!  If you don't have a overlock machine, you can use zig-zag from your sewing machine as well.  After I pull fabric out from the dyer I would press the fabric again, just make it nice for cutting.

Three new tops pieces are cut and ready to assemble! They are all from the same pattern, as S told me that's her favorite top since I made her since  last year and I also made the same pattern in dress.  I stay busy during the day and finding times to play with S. We plan on biking to local farmer's market and also do some more sewing here.I will be quiet for next few days and wish you have a great weekend and have fun sewing as well!!

xxC

Random: mature

It is amazing how a child mature through schooling and experiencing differences in life. It is amazing to see how Stella stays with her commitment today, although the process was frustrated. Every day, I watch this child of mine mature in behavior and in thoughts. Each day, I try to capture her changes...

When Stella was 5, I taught her how to use the sewing machine. The interest didn't stay very long! She is the kind of child who is all about books, drawings and playing music. Sometimes, if I work on a same sewing project for a few days she might wanted to know what am I doing. Just curious why it takes so long and how will to look like.  Since we moved two years ago, she never asked if she can sew with me. As a mama I am sad and disappointed. I wish we could sew together again and share some of my fabric with her! I dreamt about someday she brings me to a fabric store and share a fat quarter bundle with me or get some fabric for me.  Does that sound crazy? I would like to introduce some of the sewing fun with her!

Today she asked, if she can sew with me? I was dancing in my head! Quickly I pulled out another sewing machine from the storage room for her and she threaded it herself. She picked out 9 different prints and wanted to make a little quilt for KiKi. A simple and easy nine patch block is perfect for her to start! It took her a few hours to get the line straight and a few times to ripped the seam off ! She was frustrated and wanted to give up! I asked her if she'd rather sew on my machine? She sat on my chair and set the speed down to 1/2 and slowly making the patch. The mini quilt is not perfectly made, but truly it is her very first quilt!   When she has it made I saw a big smile on her face and quickly she asked me if she can stamp KiKi's name. She pulled out the stamping box and did all the final touch work for KiKi.  KiKi was resting in her new quilt this afternoon. S really had good time making this mini quilt today! I knew that I probably need to get a proper sewing machine for her, since the one she was using is misbehaving itself lately. There are hopes that she will ask to sew with me again. {I crossed my fingers and toes!}

It takes time to let my little bean to sprout. It is hard not to wish the little bean grows faster and stronger, but yet at the same time hope the little bean grows slower and enjoy all the fun time. I am grateful to see the maturity in her each day,week, month. Soon she will sprout on her own and I shall be.... ready!

xxC

Random: Distraction

Summer break gives us excuses for everything! From late bedtime to long sewing hours and more! I don't see the excuses ended until school starts again. Before summer break started I made plans for S and she is running  her summer daily schedule nicely, but have missed a few things... sometimes she gets *distracted* if there's something in her mind that she must DO.. 

Our friend in town has gone for summer vacation and we are cat/ house sitting for her! It has been fun for S and myself!!The friend has a great garden and tons veggies are available to pick and she asked me to pick anything that's ready to be pick or they will go waste! Fresh lettuces for dinner? Fresh herbs for cooking? Nothing better than fresh veggies from the garden. Her cat- Shony is a lovely cat!! He is a cute/ gentle cat!! Stella has asked if I could made a fishy for Shony last couple of days.  Of course, I said yes! But while in the middle of sewing and everything else, I replied later. later, later...  Today she asked me again and again and I got distracted by her asking the same questions over and over.  I stopped everything that I was doing then went look for fabrics to make a fishy. I found the last piece of patchwork piece that I made last then turn it into a cat toy!! S was happy and play with it after I finished it! When she hung the fishy on her neck I though that was just too cute on her!! I think I could make a little puppy for her to play for the summer. 

Are you having hard time to fix dinner meals during the summer time? I do! I am having terrible time making summer supper here! The weather is not good for a pot of  hot soup or any heavy dishes! Sandwiches were good for a few lunch meals then it gets old on the menu. Salad never gets old on me, but not for S! While making the patchwork sampler. I can't stop thinking what to make for lunch and dinner! I boiled half doze of egg today then save them back to the same egg container, but added { ready to eat}note. Hoping S might be interest in the hard boiled eggs?? 

The patchwork sampler is coming! I made 7 alphabets today and also did more math on the piece. I think it is a bit overwhelm to look at these numbers together. I keep a graphic paper book for many years now. I always put down idea of blocks/ quilts on this book. It is great of keep information on one book. As I look back in 2007, the quilt designs that I attempted were very traditional. The fabric colors schemes also have changed one me.

As you have noticed , lately I have been making patchwork zippered pouches for families and friends, but myself. I though I'd take a few hours in the afternoon and make myself a new zippered pouch! I was under estimated the time that I needed. I redo the binding and zipper twice before I was happy with the outcome. After I finished this zippered pouch was already late!

It is a semi-distracted day here...Now I am sitting here and writing this post and review my day. I think I  had many projects accomplished! I was happy to get  S' fishy done for Shony today. She liked the hard boiled egg and hope she will keep like them. Made 7 blocks and cut down and label all the squares I need for the patchwork sampler. Best of all, I finish a little zippered pouch for myself!  I shall cross out my title Distraction to Satisfactions!

xxC

Patchwork sampler

It is cloudy this morning and finally is cool off a little. I pulled out these retro prints yesterday afternoon. It was fun to go through drawers and change ideas. Here are total of 26 prints for the little sampler that I have in mind. I cut them into 1.5" squares and sore in color orders.  It might rather be a quick project since it is all squares base!


The little package we sent has arrived to my family. Mom loves the patchwork zippered pouch that I sent and my sister actually likes the one I sent to mom  as well. So that added back on more patchwork zippered pouches to make on my { to do} list. The scarfs are both love by them as well!!


Another full day of sewing here and bike riding as well!!


xxC

Randome: Sew. Fabric. Fun

Summer break result lots fun time here and there. I whipped up this zippered pouch this morning for Stella. Since it is for her to store her things { can you imaging anything from rocks to tiny papers that she saves??}, I asked if she'd like to have her name on the pouch! She stamped on the sewing trim with her name and I sew it inside the lining. She was happy to have her name in this pouch!

I though I'd put a little width on the base this time, so that would create more room to store anything that's thicker in sizes.  These are the patchwork pieces that left from the messenger bag I made for her last week. She was a little disappointed the little deer print didn't make it into the messenger bag.

This side of the pouch has my favorite color scheme put together. I love how tiny these umbrellas are! Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt is just wonderful for any patchwork making.

For the zipper,  I used the metal zippered as always! It is sturdy and great of patchwork style bags and pouches!!

Lately, I have spend more time on flickr and viewing amazing works by talented people!  I wasinspired by Jeannie's  Sizzix Die Cut Tags. Instead the Sizzix Die Cut machine I used a pair of scissors that comes with large teeth { I got it from Michael a few years ago}. I used the heating bone as Jeannie suggested and press linen on both side of the fabric. I used the fabric ink for the stamping and go over with iron to make it permanent. If you are getting ink for fabric, make sure there are two different types. One is for normal stamping one is for fabric. These handmade tags are going to be great for swaps and gifts to friends!

My second fabric Swap with Paula aka paulapatchwork. She spoiled me with these 30's prints and some hard to find fabric!! I love how tiny these tea cups are and the abc print is just adorable! I am a lucky person to receive these yummy prints! Thank you, Paula! xxx

Another busy day ...

xxC

Update: quarter inch mark shop

I have been working on these charm packs for awhile now!  I have added some of fun fabrics in each charm pack, so each charm pack is different. They are all designer prints and Japanese prints put together.  It is great for make a summer patchwork quilt for little boys or little girls or yourself.  For any beginning quilters it is great to start out simple patchwork making. If you make a patchwork quilt from this charm pack. It will be 36"x45".

You will need other supplies for making a baby quilt:
1 and 1/4 yard of backing
1 and 1/3 yard of batting
5 strips of 2.5" width for the binding.
It is also great for making patchwork totes/ placemat/ zakka making for your home! It is $8.50 per a charm pack and have listed in the shop! You will be able to see what prints comes with the charm pack on the second image of the listing.

Destash: 
As you know that I have been reorganizing my sewing space and went through my stashes lately. I am ready to apart these Heather Ross' Medocino fabric. I have not listed in my shop. If you are interested you can email/ leave a comment and we can work through paypal with payments.  I have also listed some more destash prints today! You will see more destash coming this summer as I have been more interested in retro and small prints lately. Storage space is limited in our 640 square feet apartment and we sure need a little room for other things.

Here are the prices for each print and shipping costs. Any prints that's not sold will go to my etsy and will sold as one listing and will not sold in separated print.

 print #        price                             U.S. shipping      World Wide shipping
1. 21"x28"   $ 6.50                            $ 1.80                 $ 3.00   {sold}
2.16"x44"    $ 18.00                          $ 2.50                 $ 3.75
3. 18"x44" {1/2 yard}  $ 20.00         $ 2.75                  $ 3.75
4. 18"x44" {1/2 yard}  $ 20.00         $ 2.75                  $3.75
5. 34"x44"   $ 28                               $ 3.50                 $4.25
6. 15"x44"   $ 17.00                          $2.50                  $ 3.75
7. 16"x44"   $ 17.00                         $ 2.50                  $3.75

I'd be happy to make a combine shipping for you if you purchase more than one print and will refund you any additional shipping cost after shipping via paypal.

xxC