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!

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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Weekending

The berry pie didn't make it to the weekending baking! It was warmer than we anticipated! Indeed, we had ice cream and top with homemade strawberry jam, um.. it felt like summer again!  We finished our bread, bacon, used half dozen eggs, finished up the last banana and last orange juice for breakfast dinner and watched a movie, actually two movies.  You all have guess right, our fridge is ready to get fill in again! We are looking forward a cooler week again; I can't wait to make creamy corn soup and the parmesan bread sticks that S has been asking for years { I haven't bake any bread for 3 years, since the oven we had in ND didn't work quiet right when we first move }.

On the S' quilt news: S' birthday quilt is almost ready! The backing fabric arrived a few weeks ago and finally cut and piece together this weekending. The quilt label/message is on the paper, but need a few edits before transfer on to the backing.  You know, I will finish the quilt before S turns 11 {still have a few months}. I can't wait to lay the birthday quilt on her bed and surprise her on a day when she hops herself back from the bus stop. That will be a fabulous day in her life and mine as well! Can't wait!

Do you remember my {Scrap Stamp Quilt} project started last year? Since this summer,  I have had short visits with {scrap stamp quilt}. The stamp box that started last year is still pretty full even though I add a few patchwork pieces weekly.  The piece is cut in 1.5"x1.5" and finished at 1'"x1". The plan for this project is a queen quilt, but I see two queen size quilts as I have add cut and add more as I go. Do you have a stamp box?  I might need a second box soon!

xxc

Weekending

It is not a secrete that we love the season of Fall! We've added extra quilts to each room two nights ago and thought we might still need comforters as the season will eventually enter winter. Each Fall, I seem spend more time in the kitchen then I would in the other seasons. Likely I make chicken broth from the scratch in the Fall before the winter arrives.

Whenever I fix root vegetables I always wash them nicely before peeling skins off, then I saved all the veggie skins or save veggies that's almost too old for salad; celery in particular since S is not a celery fan.  I would throw all the " unwanted" veggies in a big zippered bag and store in the freezer. When I see the bag is almost full I would  buy a fresh whole chicken for us and for the purpose of making chicken broth.

This is how I fix the chicken; Preheat oven at 450 degrees, meanwhile seasoning the chicken with black pepper and salt only { If you like extra flavoring you can add some butter on the chicken, two tablespoons is plenty}!  I always add a little white wine ( about 1/3 cup) in the baking pan and the alcohol eventually will cook off in the oven then put the chicken in the oven for 40 minutes. The chicken always turns out tender and juicy. I always debone the chicken before serving then you know, I save all the bones and throw them in a zippered bag. I would find a day that's cool enough then I cook "unwanted" veggies and debone chicken bones in the pot then start making chicken broth.  All you need is add a bit more salt and pepper. You might be surprised if you try next time!

This is how I cook the broth; I always start with the burner High then wait for the broth to boiling ( about 10 minutes). Once it starts boiling I let it go for another 10 minutes then turn the burner to low for simmering; that's about 40 minutes { I always sets the alarm, so I don't  forget}. After turn the burner off, I let the chicken broth cool off to room tempter. It would take about 2 hours or longer before I drain all the "ingredients" out from the broth.  Then I pour the chicken broth into half gallon jars then put them in the freezer. It sounds like a lot of work, but between time I would be sewing and getting S ready for the night/day. I have been very lucky to have great chicken broth for years and there's no trick for making good broth. I've always being told by my friends use every bit of the ingredients you got!

Oh, before I forget! S says "Hi". She is getting to the age of not wanting herself being in the public, so I am respecting that!  She spends her weekending in her room more now as she likes the private time to herself, drawing, listing to music and sometimes she runs from her room to find me and tells me all the exciting drawing ideas she has then I would drop everything that I was working on and just listen! The conversation doesn't go very long, but all is about fantasy creatures that she made up in her mind, very interesting to hear what they can do.

I made another Kin-Cha-Ku {pattern here} this week and shipped it! It is always fun for me to pick out prints for small projects. There are lots prints that I pull out lately have been the kind of prints I tell myself, "Save it for Lifetime". Oh, I must admit it feels nice to actually cut into them lately. It is nice to see how these prints correspond to each other!  I particularly like the sweet and retro color scheme for this kin-cha-ku. It has over 22 prints in it! :)

Lately, I have been seeing myself using more basic color prints. These basic prints give more focus on the blocks that I've been working on. The new attempt has been quiet successful, but I would like to give it a bit more experiments before I share with you!

Nothing special about the "design wall" that I created! I hook a cotton string on two fine metal nails. Since there's no wall space for me to add a nice design board.  This simple design space works out well for now.  It is nice to see the unfinished projects on the wall and that reminds me they still need a bit more attention!

With a little more sorting through our moving boxes, I found my name tag that made by S two years ago. It makes me smile to find little drawings she tucked in my sewing space over the years. I always appreciate them and for sure seeing the change that she is making over the years.

We are looking forward next weekending already! As we are going to make another pie, I think it is going be a Berry Pie!

xxc