A mini quilt

The mini quilt is finished a few weeks ago. I really had hard time to decide if I should try to make a cushion, but the more I work on it the decision was really towards to another mini quilt.  This is such a cute little mini quilt!

It is the first fussy cute mini quilt that I've worked on and it is additive! I was very lucky to have friends sent and shared their treasure prints with me to make this mini quilt I've also used some from my own stash.

I love how simple this mini quilt turns out and have used versatile prints to bring out the fussy center prints. The biggest investing in this mini quilt is choosing the fabrics to make the patchwork block. It is something that I am finding it as a serious decision to make it right and gives good contrast in betweens, colors, scale of prints,  and arrangements.  I love using small sashing to bring the patchwork blocks apart, so it is letting each block to be seen individually and able to focus on its own.  As for all the mini quilts, I like to hand quilting them. It added extra texture and loveliness to the small piece of patchwork.

For the binding, it is a old print from mama said sew for Moda. I love love use gingham print for binding. I particularly love using gray/white and black/white. The white is probably more off white, so it wouldn't be extremely white or  bright.

There are three blocks didn't make it into the mini quilt. I still have not decided what to make with them, maybe another mini quilt or this time could be a small cushion or a little coasters? um.. do you finding decision making sometimes is hard!

Each small patchwork block is finished 5"x5" and the center print is cut 2.5"x2.5". I'll be sharing the template soon, but still working on the links to get it ready for you. Stay turn!

xxc


p.s. Thank you for "thinking" of me! I am much well and improving! The treatment has started and I am learning different way of of consuming food and getting into new lifestyle. It is such a hard lesson to take. I have been slowly feeling the strength back this week particularly and hopefully after the treatment is done I will be the young me again! ( giggled)

Weekending: You make me, Smile!

Remember that I had made another Travel Outbound bag for another dear friend, the one with brown and sweet button print in the front.  Well, I also made one for myself used the vintage bias tape print , the one stuffed with sewing supplies, tools, pens, notepads, needle book. This is my newest sewing bag and love it so much!

Last weekend was a blissful weekend and lots traveling for me. I had a getaway sewing weekend with a dear friend, Jackie. I left early and thought I'd avoid the morning traffic, but it still took me an hour or so to get through Geo Washington Bridge/ Cross Bronx Expressway. I enjoyed the drive to the west and arrived in Pennsylvania a little past 10 in the morning. We had good coffee in late morning, ate pastry that she prepared, and a tour that in her home. It is so lovely to see someone's creative space in person and see where they create their beautiful works.

Later in the morning, we travelled together to Intercourse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Oh, I wished I had remember to bring my camera with me, but it was left out in the workroom back home. I snapped these photos with the phone. It was so special for me to see this part of the country. It is pretty, charm, and peaceful! Seeing some buggies and horses running on the roads and learning the new culture in the area. It is an open eye experiences.

We stopped a few fabric stores, fabric barns, and seeing all the Amish quilts is such a treat for me. These Amish quilts are so elegant! Every bit of hand quilting stitches bring out so much that labor of love within! I touched them and felt that special hand stitch by someone! Wouldn't it be so awesome to have a chance to see them work on quilt together someday?

Have you have Shoofly pie? I bought a Shoofly Pie home and YUM! It is not too sweet and not too sticky to the teeth! Next time, when I visit again I'd love to try the Whoopie pie. All the pastry looks so delicious and some of the hand woodworks are gorgeous!

Thrifting was another plan that I asked her if we could go before I visit her. I managed found two nice size pie pans, the one is less deep and great for making summer pies. I almost wanted to bring home a little bedside table, but letting that go as the space is limited around here at this moment.  The countryside driving was so much to remember as I haven't been in the country for awhile. Oh, Best!

The sewing times were fun and not as productive as I am alone in the workroom! But I love that we stop and visit/chat from time to time. We indulged the time together and sharing sewing tips to  each other! I stopped sewing to hang out with new fur friends that I made this past weekend. Aren't they the cuties?

It feels really special that I could actual hand all the things that I made for her in person! It made the trip extra meaningful and sweet. There are just things that I love about the creative community that I am in and people that I made cross over from the different platforms. Kindness friendship, encouraging days, and I'd say the most unique part is we all have something that we love and appreciate together!

Sewing trips can never go without stops in local fabric stores. See the little Santa and vintage floral fabrics? They will be table runners soon, both ends need to stitch up before I put away for the holiday. Lots reproduction prints were found in really bargain price and two of us could share the print together.

In the sewing weekend, I started a new quilt that used court step block that I drew from the Illustrator. I also managed to made a few fuzzy cuts for economy blocks and hope to finish few more before make into a mini quilt, more in later post.

This was my first sewing weekend with a friend and it was really special and one of a kind weekend! Have you gone a sewing weekend with friends? I thought that I might pack more than needed, but surely will do a better for next time. A few more sewing supplies that could added to the Travel Outbound Bag, such as a mini cutting mat, mini squared ruler... the list goes on!

xxc


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On the days of Handmade Gifts

Hello!  Happy Spring! 

Spring has slowly arrive here! I haven't seen flowers blooming in the neighborhood, but seeing people with lighter weight jackets on them for sure shows the change of the season. It has been nice to have window open from time to time, fresh air!

These days, I have been getting the workroom organized! Rearrange the workroom a little bit 
{moved the book shelves, moved around sewing books, moved sewing table to face off the window, moved every sewing containers, and ordered a super sturdy coat rack as the one we had collapse one night during dinner time and it was scary as no one in the workroom, you know...ha}!  It has been a better space to work , better lighting and much functional as previously the space is filled with containers and thing that I tried to hide. Now the light is coming from a different direction and much comfortable during the afternoon hours.

I have been sewing many gifts lately! You probably don't know that I am a slow holiday gift maker. Time always runs shorter during the holidays, birthdays, and special days for me! Even though I have notes overall the planner for myself during these special times. It seems that I am late, always!

These days, I try to make gifts when I can! When there is a free afternoon and a Sunday morning,  I try to get few ideas down and start working on. Likely I spent an hour or longer pulling out fabrics then work around with colors and do a little adding and subtracting on the fabrics. No doubt that would be the one afternoon for me. So, the holiday gift making is not working well for me. Then I turn around thinking maybe sending gifts do not need to be birthdays or holiday times. It could be anytime, just like little care package to warm and surprised someone!

It has taken me a few weeks to prepare a small package for my dear friend. I wish to make something  that she can enjoy and things that would be useful for her. It actually is hard to sew gifts for someone who also sew!

I couldn't think of a better bag for her, so I made her a {Travel Outbound Bag}, as she travels often to visit her families and overseas. I used {Astuko Matsuyama} fabrics since we shared our love with Astuko Matsuyama fabrics, one of my favorite Japanese textile designer and hers as well. I used vintage floral trim and linen tape for the bag to added and given extra elegance. For the inner panels, I used linen/cotton blended print that have saved for years. It just seem a perfect print for the bag. Also made a leather full to accompany the bag.  It turns out just really nice and sweet! Now, I want to keep it! {smile}

Also, I knew she just had her studio reorganized! It is so neat and organized as she shared with me. I though a mini patchwork quilt would be so sweet to add to her studio wall. I used four patchwork blocks from the {mini patchwork sample pattern} and hand quilted throughout the mini.  I kept the fabric usages more vintage, retro, and used lots small scale prints. Now, I hope she likes it!

There is a scrappy style hot pad holder for her kitchen, since she cooks and I do, too!  I also made a few hot pad holders for myself. Tea is something that I love/enjoy and hope she'll take some times to sip a cup of tea while she has a moment. Oh! Yes, no wrapping paper for me to wrap gifts. I try to keep wrapping minimal whenever I can.  Likely wrapped gifts with one or two sheets of tissue papers then a hand writing card will be set on top.

Meanwhile, I am also preparing another set of gifts for another friend. I made a scrappy style patchwork zippered pouch; pattern can be found {here}. We shared love of scrappy style patchwork for sure!  I also made a Travel Outbound Bag for her!  I'll show and tell for later post as I think it would be different story to share in a separate post.

I have been adding more to make list these days. Mother's Day is coming and I would love to make it on time for mama as oversea post is always taken a good two weeks period. I am guessing if I made an outbound bag for my mama she might try to travel outbound to see us?  fingers crossed!

The blueberry pie that made from the magazine was delicious! I made two in a week! The first one was made with the the equal amount of ingredients from the book, but it was too sweet, so second one was cut down on sugar and blueberry usage, which turned out just perfect!

Most of you probably have made {Lasagna} in your kitchen. A few weeks ago, I have made a Lasagna dish for first time ever, it turned out really tasty! It taken 3 hours to make it, I know it sounded really crazy with the timing.  While lived in Iowa, I have watched my friends made a few times in their kitchen, but never try on my own.  

The hearty chicken noodle soup was served one night and plus following night. The good broth was made from turkey bones, chicken bones, cut off vegetable skins, and onion heads that have saved in the freezer.  mmm.. have you try? It is the best broth ever! I always let it boil for a good half hour then turn the heat to low for another good 2 hours. During the cold days, the apartment is filled in that good familiar smells. Rice crispy is long gone before I could get a second. Few more ingredients added to the grocery list since a Lemon Chiffon cake and a Pound Cake are calling my name. Also a request for another chicken pot pie for dinner. Indeed, I've been homesick and this time is my Iowa family-friends and the land! It feels good that I could make these food to remind us, the time and life we were there and still there by heart!


{About Ocean Wave quilt in Scrappy style}
Awwee... Thank you for tagging me and the kindly responds in the {post}! I've enjoyed seeing your ocean wave lately! It is really one of kind, in your fabric choices and colors! I have set the quilt top aside and getting ready to piece the quilt backing, something bold and versatile to compromise the quilt top.

{About Handmade patch-works}
It has been a year since I discontinued selling my handmade patch-works via Etsy Shop. I have been receiving emails over this past year and asking if I'd reconsider listing my works in the shop. I am afraid that I am not able to offer my works now. My move to the city have had big and small impacts to the life. I have only been working on small scale customer orders behind the scenes as it seems work well with time, space, and everything else. If I ever do again, I'll for sure let you know! Thank you for kindly asking as always!

{A Sidewalk Pouch} 
Thank you for your enthusiastic and supports on {A Sidewalk Pouch Sewing Pattern and Kits}! Some of the kits have been sold out and have a few in the shop. It is surely a different pouch making approach and lots small details go into the little palm size pouch!  I hope you enjoy and love it!

{THANK YOU}


xxc








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