Random: sew.. action!

the backing fabric has arrived... you know where i will spend my next few days...
until then..
have a wonderful weekending...

xxc

Random: sew, slow down

 {for elise}

 { small sewing tape}

 { for elise}

 { these two skirts reminded me that S used to wear skirts that i made for her when she was littler}

 { for S}

 { little girl v.s. big girl}

 { of course, scraps time}

 { sure, lots scraps}

{ they will keep me busy}

Our internet server won't be back up till the end of the week, so I try to get emails done before leave the studio here. Baby Elise turned one-year-old last Friday. She is very healthy and fun to be around! As I was focus on sewing S' quilt last week. I didn't make the time to make anything till last night. I made two spring skirts for Elise. They might be a little longer, but I think she will be walking by summer time.

After the green spring skirt was hung in the room. S asked if she can have one, but she would like the top trim with darker fabric. With those requests I can't say no! It used to take 1/4 of fabric to make one skirt for S, but this time was 1/2 yard of fabric. It is the time that I feel a little sad that she is not a baby girl anymore. She is a young lady! 

More scraps sewing in action! I am still waiting the backing fabric to arrive.. I am a little nervous with the completion of the quilt.. fingers crossed! 

The {strawberry coffee cake} is update! Enjoy if you make one!  I will be busy sewing again for the decoration tonight and more.. hope show and tell very soon.... 

xxc

Random: post weekending

 { S, plays}

 { more containers}

 {scraps, scraps, scraps}

 { more pinning}

 { all assembled in rings... }

 { my mini library}

{ a giant drawing string bag for S}

The internet server is down and I am blogging from school instead.  This weekending I intended a {weekending} post, but didn't make it work nor the cake recipe update.  We had a big cleaning job this weekend. We dust off every room of our home and rearranged the sewing/work room together. That result us a clean space to work.

S gone through her color boxes and try out each markers and she had good time making a rainbow strip in her space. On the other side of her space was mine and I was trying to reorganized the fabric and fabric boxes. 

After a good weekending sewing. S' quilt top is all put together. It looks very sweet together. Hope she will love it as much as I put it together for her.  Yes, she still doesn't know it is for her. :)  Hope the backing fabric will arrive anytime from now, so I can quilt it soon. I have a week from today to finish it.. plus a little decoration that I like to surprise her when she gets up on her birthday.

My new mini library is fantastic. They are used to pile up together and on top of books I have pile of fabric. It was hard to access to the books when I look for them. The old box that I found was perfect for the book storage. On top of the box is actually an old pie carrier. I storage our craft papers in them. It also helps S to get her supplies as she needed.

An overdue {drawstring bag} for S' reading tent.  It is measured 30"x30". She has her tent stored under her bed, but the wire is flexible, so it doesn't stay properly for her.  She was happy to have that taken care now. The fabric I used was from IKEA.  

The temperature is above zero and it does make everything twice nicer and easier! 

xxc

 

Patchwork Zippered Pouch

 { Scraps from M}+{ front}

 {back}

 {tab zipper sewing}

This zippered pouch is only finished project from last two weeks. It seems like most of projects are in working in progress stage and rather in large scale. The zippered pouch is made with many scraps that were sent from a friend of ours. Her tastes of the purple is great and of course many different type of fabric. I have never sewn dress shirt fabric before, but was fun to try. They are rather thin and a little stretchy. I added some of my own scraps and really love how this pouch turns out. 

I used { quilt as you go method} for the exterior sewing and lined with cotton fabric. Normally I don't line with any interfacing with lining fabric. I like the flexibility of the lining look. I miss play scraps lately as {girl one} and {girl two} are digging from the stashes. Now, I have colleted more scraps to play after they both get quilted and bound. It will be another few weeks still. 

Thank you for all the good thoughts! The housing department sent the work order in for us right away. Our door was locked when we got home and the key was able to get in and made the door click. They got us a new lock, so it is working.  {smile}

Oh.. Yes! Strawberry coffee cake recipe. I will get it write up this weekend and re-post it. According to Department of Homeland Security record. I will be getting the official letter anytime now for my interview and test.   fingers crossed!

Link up: {crazymomquilts: Finish it up Friday} 

xxc

Random: oh dear......

 {sometimes, they are the best of best}

 {zippered pouch to be}

 {S' single girl.. the background prints arrived, just in time}

 { strawberry coffee cake}

8 ounces cream cheese at room temp.
1 stick butter at room temp.
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped almonds

how:

preheat oven at 350 degree. butter and flour 9"x13" baking pan.
baking time: 40 mins.


combine cream cheese, butter, sugar till light and fluffy
stir in milk, eggs, vanilla.
add flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.

half of the batter in the prepared pan, scatter the berries evenly over the batter, dot the remaining batter over the berries, mix the brown sugar and nuts together and sprinkle evenly over the batter .

 { the chair needs a new cover}

 {brrrrrrrrBrrrr..}

 { weekending to do list #1 sort}

 { post-it everywhere.. accompanied by these lovely drawings by S}

 {late night shopping is dangerous}

{ a week left.. might need another a week on top of that}

It has been an extremely cold week here in N.D.  We have been in negative temperature since last week and is hoping it warms up next week. It has been a week of ... oh dear.. oh my week... We have had few weather related incidents. We weren't able to get in our home due to the door lock froze up. The key was not able to make the turn. We waited inside the car for half an hour and finally got some help.  So on and so on... It feels the week is long when things aren't going right. Yesterday afternoon the door was not able to open again and we were so lucky to get help from a gentleman. He helped us to get in our home and I wished I could offer him a cup of hot coco, but he was on duty; bless his good soul.. or we might not be able to get in at all, since the University closes at 4:30p.m. 

With an good intention, I woke up early this morning to get the cake mixed before take S to school. We left home early, so I could stop by the local grocery store to pick a box of fresh strawberries.  I asked S if she'd like to have a doughnut for afternoon treat. We got two of them and I had my this morning. These are good. Indeed, very good!  When the days are not going right. They made me feel rewarding and comforting. 

I made another {Single Girl} and the background fabric arrived in no time. These are sketch print that I bought from {here}. I think S will love this quilt! She still doesn't know it is for her.. I keep myself quiet about the quilt  receiver.  She has been telling me how nicely the blues and greens that I used for this quilt.. {Oh.. I wish I have a quilt would look like this, mama}. On the other hand,  I am trying my best of best to get this quilt finish.. I have 10 days left.  

The the temperature has been making me feel cold all the time.  I wrapped myself in layers of clothes and S on the other hand doesn't seem need any more than a t-shirt and a hoodie sweatshirt inside her jacket when she goes out. I need to find some woolie socks to keep toes warm. Many quilts on top of our chairs and lots quilts on top of bed.  Our beds have additional down comforter on top and the furnaces is running in the 70's or higher when we are home. brrr.. send us some warm heat... 

I will be running this place a little slower than I would like for next few days... Hopefully to share {single girls} soon and hope you also stay warm if you are in a cold climate area. 

xxC

Random: i've been playing

 i've been playing here! can you tell?

to be continue..

xxc

Random: snow, sew, tea, coffee

all pieced, all pressed, all ready...

S gave me a big hug this morning, { good job, mama} she said.
the sewing machine is in trouble... the light bulb is out since last night and it is making some funny sound.  my detour of the day is taking her to the shop and get these problem taking care. meanwhile, i will be cutting second {girl} templates and enjoy the snow.  keep us inside as the news advise us stay inside over the weekend. we are getting down to negative 31 on sunday night and more snow falling..

meanwhile, tea and coffee will be brew over next few days as we might need them to keep us warm and toasty.

i'll be taking a few days off from here.. have a fabulous weekending

xxc

Random: That {girl}

Lots curves! Lots pinning! Lots fun!!  All 4 ring quarters are assembled and onto simple straight line sewing.  What to do with all the scraps?? Maybe a mini version of it?

to be continue....

xxc

Random: My { single girl} round two

 { blue and green}

 {sample fabric packages}

{ belated Christmas gift from Chase to S' mama}

{Belated Christmas gift from S' mama to Chase}

My {Single Girl} S who is trying to grow up lately has been asking blues and greens color combos from simple paper clips to a pair of green snow boots when it's time for a new pair.  I had different quilt in mind for her, but I waited a little too long to make all the paper piecing design. 

The second { Single Girl} quilt will be for her 9th birthday that is coming very SOON! I hope to have it done by the time she comes home from school and be surprised! She is asking if she gets a quilt this year, since I haven't mentioned anything to her. There are few arrangements I have had for the template pieces, but I decided to go with green to blue. It just seems appropriated and suits S.. 

 

When my friend went back to Japan this winter break. I sent some money with her and she bought two small sample packages of fabric. She was worried that I won't like it and wasted the money, but these fabrics are super soft and the colors are so elegant.

There are two belated fabric stash that S' mama found and bought {here}.  It is a great etsy shop if you are looking for Japanese fabric and other designer's fabric. My first purchase was super satisfied! They will be great for fuzzy cut and maybe a new abc sampler quilt soon.. ''

xxc

Random: {Single Girl} In process

Four of the ring quarters' pieces are sewn together, but I haven't cut the background pieces. Tonight will be pressing and  more cutting.  So far, the pieces looks great! Lots great prints and lots spring colors. 

What are you working on lately? I have 6 quilts working at the same time.. each day I work on a different quilt and I am enjoy my {quilting.good.ness}. I would like to add the 7th pieces as I would like to bring the birthday quilt that I have been wanting to make for mom this summer. It is her super belated 60th birthday quilt and she is turning another year wiser next month.  Have a lovely quilting time.

xxc

Weekending

 {S, the snow-builder}

 { banner}

 {messy, messy, messy}

 {buttons are on! }

 {S, the violinist}

 { banner}

 {stashes, stashes, stashes}

 {scraps, scraps, scraps}

 { found at Michale's craft store}

 { the time, i have been waiting for}

 { S' first quilt}

 {Single Girl}

{S, the sewer}

We both keep our pajamas on for the day. It feels really good and comfortable! It is the kind of Sunday that we both are feel being home and make it a casual day together. S is back in making mode this morning. She made a banner, one side is pups and another side is kitties.  It is up in her space at the moment. 

I was able to finish up some projects and added the buttons to the needle books. They are ready to mail out! It might take another few days to package up these and mail them out. It feels good to cross out lists and start the single girl quilt. All the pieces are being cut and sort. I think it is going to be a fun quilt to put together. Did I mention I plan making two of single girl?

S starts her first quilt today. It has been a long time waiting to have two sewing machines up on the same table. We both sew, chat and had tea together. It feels like having a sewing friend around! We talked about colors and prints. She asked if she could have some fabric for her backing and if she needs to design a backing for her first quilt, so on and on.  

Thank you for all the encouragements! It seems like April will be here in no time! The weekending time help out to plan each project and help out to get back to the schedule. Last week was challenging and long! 

xxc