Weekending

Not like any rainy Sunday! This Rainy Sunday is just what I have been looking for! I'll be diving into quilting the birthday quit after here. The coffee will get rebrew for another, maybe 2 cups and warm up the strawberry cake in the oven then skip lunch since it is going to be a serious quilting day here!

I have knitted few more rows to the shawl and crossed fingers it will be cast off in another week or so! The second cake of the yarn is about to  finish and the yellow cake is getting thin as well. I can't decided when to stop the shawl as I "hope" it will be able to wrap twice of me ( that would need maybe another 2 cakes). But truly I will cast off even it won't be wrapping me twice.  

With 10 yards of extra fabrics that I received from the wrong shipment. I was able to make 10 pillowcases and have mailed them to two centers through one million pillowcases project website. It made me feel really good that these fabrics have been put in good use rather than sitting in the box. It would be something maybe you can help to make difference as well!

The week has been busy for me as I have been running around like a mad lady; on the bus then off the bus! The commuting time is longer than I like especially when the road is under construction and everyone, I mean everyone wanted to get on the same direction. This week, I had to run after the bus a few times then catch my breath then quickly swipe metro card and find a small spot to stand before all that happened the bus was already in motion. I was unbalanced and quickly find a pole that was closes to me, thank goodness I got one!  I always try to find a seating in the back of the bus and bring knitting project out and start adding stitches before I get off the bus.

I have been building some small houses this week. It is a project that I have in mind for so long and finally taking the time to work on.  These little houses turn out really darling and just perfect cups and mugs.  Lately I am so interested in small projects and getting them finish as I start! This coming week, I hope I'll be getting the floral appliqué finish and frame!

Oh, time for quilting! 

more later 

Weekending!

It seems most of the Saturdays, I wake up like everyday of the week; 6a.m.  I had used to sleep in, so  the day would started few hours later. I don't remember since when, that every Saturday, I would get up early and go have a very Cantonese style breakfast. It is a little car ride about 20 minutes to Flushing.  I love the car ride in the early morning because the city still asleep in some sense, but buses are running, subway is coming in the station and going out. Streets are already filled with people who might needed to be early for work or get themselves out just like me?

The Cantonese style restaurant is already busy! The window display have hung numbers of pork, roasted duck, and chicken. The steam from the hot stove top that you can see from the window is coming up and leaves the window vaguely to be seen, but the cooks are so busy, chopping the meat, getting the bowls of soup ready and adding more water to let the soup pot going for the rest of the day!

My favorite Cantonese style breakfast is a bowl of congee, a fried bread stick, and shrimp rice roll. Each time, I'd ordered the same dishes! While waiting the breakfast to come, they always send a pot of hot tea to start. I always like to watch people in the shop. The busy people that come in for a quick bite, carry out or people who take their time to enjoy a decent breakfast from a busy week, to slow them down a little. I like the way how early morning is less rush and the second pot of tea is just perfect to end the "course" meal! Sure, I just love that!  Some of the time, sharing table is very common here! A table of 10 might have 5 group of guesses, it wasn't a familiarly dinning experience for me, but then I found I really enjoy this " community table" that I had shared with strangers. Maybe they have had some thoughts just like me?

After the breakfast, I always walk  2 avenues down to a Cantonese style bakery where they sells so many delicious breakfast bread. That's where I pick up S' breakfast and egg custards for afternoon tea time. Um...   That is my Saturday routines!

Oh! I don't just coming here to share my Saturday routines with you! Finally I have the workroom organized! It is a better space to work around and better organizing of stash! I have found a bucket full of County Fair fabrics that have been store away! These fabrics are 10 years old now (wow). So finally, I made a 17"x17" tote for my weekly commute! It is just a perfect size for the bus rides. Then I used the remanning scraps made a 12"x12" zippered pouch for all the new knitting tools that I have in current.   It always feels great have new bags carry around! I've been using the new tote in the entire week and loving the roomy space of it, best of that my yarn project bags can be fit in together.

The second honey cowl casted off just yesterday! I haven't had time to do much knitting as my wrist started bothering me again. I had to let it rest for a few days, then yesterday I was able to work on it! The moss green is so pretty! I never though I like much of the greens, but then I discovered there are some pretty greens out there if I carefully search for it! Especially green yarns knit up beautifully!

So, the birthday quilt! You will not believed the second delivery was failed again, They had sent the same fabric that they sent on the first one. I actually had a good laugh that day before calling the customer service. I though the name of the print they sent me must be so closed to the one I ordered! So, here another 5 yards of fabrics (aaahh)!  That in total of 10 yards of fabrics! I have been thinking hard what to do with them and have decided to make them into pillow cases and donate them to hospitals. I really have felt not deserve getting all these "extras". So turning them into something useful might be fun! I'd be sewing all the pillow cases later this afternoon with windows open and the lovely Fall weather accompanied me (best)!

The third delivery (woo-hoo), yes! yes! It was the correct fabric! I did all the piecing backing and basting that same day! It is so nice that a new quilt for me! It is funny how I say because I haven't made a quilt for myself for awhile! I do love the opportunity for making myself something these days!  It feels like getting gifts daily from my table!

On the sewing tables these days are full with fabric pulls for custom orders, patchwork pieces to hand quilt,  planner to fill with other activities, time to sit down and plan the upcoming weeks and more yarns need to be order as I have officially knit up most of my yarn from the first order! It feels great and productive! I've already started my holiday making this year early! Finally first time that I feel I am prepared, and you?

Before the real cold weather arrives, I hope this is a long Fall season because it is just beautiful and lay back for some reason!

Meanwhile, I am destashing many fabrics via the @quarterinchmark_detash account in Instagram. I am letting go lots fabrics that I don't think I'll pick up in using and hope to light up space a little. If you are interested, come have a look!

Thank you for all the best birthday wishes! So smitten by all the message from cross over the world, friends and families! (hugs)

more later!

October weekending

October is here! Gosh, my favorite month after all! The weather is just so beautiful last few days and finally the AC plug is off the extension box. The sunlight is softer and the temperature is just perfect for 3/4 sleeves shirts and warp around with a shawl! 

It has been such busy week here, for me! Getting things change around in the workroom, sorting through every little tins inside/outside boxes, drawers, and somewhere up and above where I regular forget and lazy to found out; dust everywhere... caught, caught from all the dust..  Still more to discover... 

The fabric stashes are unfolded from comic cardboard now. The wrapping around cardboard system didn't work so well for me since I started nearly 3 years ago. Mainly some of the fabrics are getting shorter the 1/2 yard and needed to be folded instead. So, here are piles of folded fabric and there are nicely wrapped around with cardboard. Soon, it is unorganized and that was just something I didn't anticipated first!  I've spent  few afternoons redo them and sorted them by colors (finally) and soon will mixed in the 30's reproduction as I "think" I am ready to blend them in colors now! 

I've spent more time in knitting these days. The new Honey Cowl is getting close to finish, another few rows, maybe?  I love the challenge of this pattern and you bet, this is my third try and so close to be mistake free.  I simply love how the stitches created within and the texture of it and elegant look.  

My second shawl is growing so quickly! I've randomly added two extra colors in between. The pattern which is really simple and I am getting fluent in all different knitting stitches these days. It is so nice to have a take with me project during the bus ride, car ride, and a break away from the computer works. 

And that quilt I mentioned last weekend? It is finished! <<yay!!>> I though it would take me a whole week to piecing them together or longer, but it is done! The row piecing went rather quick for this quilt! The trickiest part is matching the points and that did took some time and I used seam ripper to get them right a few times as well! The backing fabric is on its way to me and is a perfect fit for the quilt top! Once the backing arrive it will be a big job to sandwich all pieces together and start endless machine quilting. 

and I would like to start another quilt soon! All the fabrics around here need to be use and that's what they are here for! Sometimes, I have no idea why I am hoarding saving all these fabrics! Maybe just not enough of the time and good plans. Maybe we all need another sew along quilt project together, something simple and fun! Maybe when January comes and things are slower here and I'd love to run a sew along. 

I haven't had time lately, but did pick up a bag of apples from the grocery store on my walk back from the bus stop, since I though I need apples! Since then they are still sitting on the kitchen counter top and I might just turn them into apple sauce or apple crisp. Let's hope the tempurture turns into 40's this coming week and that would be my fairly excuse to stay in the kitchen for making the pie dough (fingers crossed). 

My sadly news is that the last spoon full of Iowa honey is long gone this week.  It was a jar of honey that Julie gave me as a farewell gift last year.  This past week, we've been needed extra lemon honey tea and took generous spoons of honey every time when we made the tea. I'd be searching new honey locally soon and probably will find some delicious honey in the city. 

and my patchwork... is coming soon! Just really slow this time!

more soon...

Between Stitches

After 1700 plus miles and nine states of road tripping, I was ready to sit down and simmer through  adventures that made with papa. He has returned home almost a month now! It seemed just yesterday that he was sitting in the kitchen and having coffee with me.

I have been working between stitches; knitting and hand quilting throughout the summer time.  Knitting is really addictive once the stitch concept start making all the sense and comfortable with different knitting stitches.  I've finished two cowls, one for me and the other one for S, and a mini cowl for a little friend. There are few more cowl patterns I would like to try later this Fall.

My goal of knitting a shawl might not be too far to reach! While watching the tutorial online last week, I've also followed and cast stitches on. Pause the tutorial as I move on the stitches. There were some simple mistakes that I still make, such as yarn in the front rather in the back. After a few tries, I have GOT it! You know, that felt so encouraging! I've studied different yarn weight when I found something that don't understand, asking lots questions about what is better type of yarn to use, and really have my hands on!

After so many years of learning to knit, I really have feel this year is the year that the timing was right! Perhaps I've made friends who sew and knit this year?!  The shawl that I started yesterday is growing and it is not perfect! I made mistakes on even and odd stitch row (bummer), but I've decided to keep on going this time rather than taking it apart ( I always do when so many mistakes in between rows).  Shawl making is coming pretty quickly I have to say!

I am a newbie to this whole knitting hand craft side and loving learn and discover new skills and knowledge! I probably need to start watching for all good yarn sales for now and if you have a place you like to look, please share with me!

Alright, maybe enough of knitting talk! Hand quilting has taken most of summer time as well! Picking up some work in progress projects and really have them finish rather than sitting around! I like cross off projects and have a new project start on the side!

During the late August, I sat down and finish quilting the French Country Inspired Quilt for my friend. It made to her 60th birthday! The quilt top was sitting nearly 4 years in the box! It was finished 77"x90"! I really love how it turned out! The colors are really mean for E;  blue, white, and rose buds. When I first started it, I knew I wouldn't make a scrappy and colorful look quilt for her, since it is not her! Something match her personality and her home! But then I wanted to add some radomes of "scrappy" style into the quilt, so the nine-patch blocks were randomly place before piecing together.

Summer went by quicker this year particularly! Most of the time we were on the road and home for a day or two doing laundry then pack again for next adventure! Our favorite visit this summer is Niagara Falls and Thousand Island! You might not know, we stopped for every soft ice cream service! Papa's favorite treat all time here!

Thank you for loving the {new tutorial}! I was eager to work on it when things were slowing down a bit here!

More later,

xxc