Blog Hop: Good Neighbors Pincushion Party

{image from crazy mom quilts}

Welcome to the Good Neighbors Pincushion party, a blog hop for Amanda Jean Nyberg of {Crazy Mom Quilts}.  Did you know that Amanda's blog was the very first quilting blog I discovered way back to 2007?  I love reading her process of making quilts and so admire her using scraps to make quilts, pincushions, and bags. There are so many awesome ideas that she shares in her blog and tutorials on how to make quilts. Amanda shares great tips as well! I learned so much over the year from her! 

I am so honored to get invited to join this pincushion blog hop! It was a nervous racking to start with {I was visiting my family while the innovation arrived my inbox and was so afraid that I won't make it}! The charm pack was sitting in the mailbox when I returned. Oh, I played the fabric in colors and patterns for a few days before decided to go with the simple patchwork style. I want to show you how well these designs and color work together, so keep the simple patchwork style is what I was after.   I also love how well these colors represent in person! The fabric designs on each print is so charm and well though out! This fabric line is 100% in quilting weight and great for hand-quilting as well. 

So, I couldn't resist making just one when I started making. There are so many possibility for this fabric collection.  I added my signature hand-quilting to the pincushion and that added some hand touched texture to it! They really turned out so sweet! 

The fabric collection, {Good Neighbors} is excessively by {Connecting Thread} and I truly hope you enjoy this party! There are more pincushion party to visit...   { please scroll all the way down}

9/1/2015	Amanda Jean	http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/
9/2/2015	Anna	http://www.noodle-head.com/
9/3/2015	Mary	http://maryonlakepulaski.blogspot.com/
9/4/2015	Svetlana	http://sotakhandmade.blogspot.com/
9/5/2015	Debbie	http://www.eschhousequilts.com/
9/6/2015	Holly	http://www.bijoulovelydesigns.com/
9/7/2015	Carla	http://carla-graceandfavour.blogspot.com/
9/8/2015	Faith	www.FreshLemonsQuilts.com
9/9/2015	Vanessa	http://www.vanessachristenson.com/
9/10/2015	Anna	http://www.thimbleanna.com/
9/11/2015	Krista	http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/
9/12/2015	Erin	http://whynotsew.blogspot.com/
9/13/2015	Lee	http://www.maychappell.com/
9/14/2015	Alex	http://teaginnydesigns.blogspot.com/
9/15/2015	Cheryl	http://naptimequilter.blogspot.com/
9/16/2015	Penny	http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/
9/17/2015	Amy	http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/
9/18/2015	Debbie	http://aquilterstable.blogspot.com/
9/19/2015	Anne	http://www.springleafstudios.com/
9/20/2015	Melissa Corry	http://www.happyquiltingmelissa.com/
9/21/2015	Amber	http://www.oneshabbychick.typepad.com/
9/22/2015	Nettie	http://aquiltisnice.blogspot.com/
9/23/2015	Adrianne	http://www.littlebluebell.com/
9/24/2015	Cindy	http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/
9/25/2015	Amy	http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/
9/26/2015	Chase	http://quarterinchmark.blogspot.com/    {Hello!}
9/27/2015	Rene	http://www.renecreates.com/
9/28/2015	Erin	http://www.houseonhillroad.com/
9/29/2015	Nicole	http://modernhandcraft.com/
9/30/2015	Teri	http://blog.connectingthreads.com/

Would you like to play with {Good Neighbors}? The Connecting thread is offering a charm pack for the blog-hop reader. Simply leave a comment in this post, U.S. & Canada only at this moment. The giveaway ends on October 1st. 2:00p.m. Central time

:: comment forum closed::

The winner goes to Katherine who wrote--

KatherineSeptember 26, 2015 at 10:30 AM

Sweet patchwork pincushions, Chase! I love how the simple design lets those fabrics shine and your hand stitching is the perfect compliment and finishing touch. I can see why you couldn't resist making more than one (and I'm so glad you made multiples! :o)
Thanks so much for sharing!

xxc

Hello! It's autumn season...

{Asian Pears: gifts from my dear friend}

{w.i.p. : farmer's wife sample from 1920. 

Total of 66 blocks finish and just need another 30 plus to finish. 

I can do this right?}

{decision, decision, decision...} 

{adding up basic prints}

{Actually the bread, didn't rise up as it described from the book?

 still not sure what did I forget to add or miss, but tasted so good} 

 { Best bread, ever}

 {my small world quilt}

 {You've guessed right! Its DONE} 

With some cool air coming in last few weeks; the oven has been quiet busy for all the treats and bread making.  Don't let me trick you. It was the banana bread batter in that fancy cake molding I got it from Julie for my birthday one year and have used it once before then it has been stored away for years { It is a super heavy baking pan}. The mini banana breads are are all gone by now! For some reason, it tastes better than when it was baked off as a loaf?! I know that did sound crazy with all the same ingredients and temperature in the oven.  I must said it is perfect size for an afternoon snack and when cut around the ring, it was just a nice mouth bite size!

S' quilt is done! { Yes, you just hear my cheers???} The binding was attached on yesterday afternoon then hand-bound off last night! It was a perfect night for hand-binding. The air was cool and I was under the quilt all night. I have lots thinking moments while I was binding the quilt and big relieved after its all done! It was after 12 a.m. when I looked up the clock; it was late, but worth every single bit of effort to accomplished it! The other room was quiet by the time when I finished the quilt, so I quietly fold up the quilt and went downstair get a drink of water.  I'll be hand-writing a birthday letter, as I have done every single year and photograph the quilt then put in the room for the special birthday girl.

The quilting part is such a challenging, since it is a big big big big big BIG BIG quilt for a small sewing throat. It took two days for finish quilting part and used 7 fully winded bobbins. Total of 3 thread breaking down, and zero needle break up.

I feel like making my way catch up all the projects that I am behind and trying so hard to avoid starting any new ones, but I have to add one baby quilt. The fabrics have pull out and it will be a simple nine-patch quilt. I am thinking a roughly 35"x35" for the baby then will hand-quilt it. For some reason, I like to make baby quilt in around 50"x50", but it is actually too big to use!  But, I do love to see them dragging the quilt when they turn into toddler stage.

My also have join the Farmer's wife 1930 quilt along. Oh, yes! It is hosed by Kerry aka {verykerryberry}. You can read all it {here}. I have not start the block making as I am having a bit of dilemma with fabric choices here! I think something sweet and floral? or something pink and gray? um.. {just not sure}. I really would like to make this sampler quilt different from the 1920's and maybe this is making the fabric choices a bit challenging...

The week goes by so quick now! My sewing time is limited due to new changes of the new school year and lots drives on the freeway! It seems like finding that weekly pattern and organizing everything for myself is the key.

Oh and that freeway driving! I'd say a piece of cake now! { giggled}

xxc

On the other hand...

Over this weekend, I used up 14 yards of fabric for two quilt backings!  One is closed to a queen and the other one is a large full size quilt. I had lots great time making backing this time. S' quilt is basted with hundreds of safety pins and will be put on the machine soon. I will get so impatient by the time I am half way through the machine quilting, but I know if I hold on the speed and timing it will be a good one! And you know what? The cat was out of bag for this semi-secrete; the quilt! S is loving every bit of it, but still patiently waiting it to be done! I so forward this annually accomplishment of mine! Feel quiet special about this one of a kind gift!

While I am so ready for everything bit of this gift... I have a little incident on my right eye yesterday morning. It is not just pink, but still RED!  It stinks and a bit of sort as I blink...

Allow me to keep this post short and sweet... as I had promise to come back soon.

xxc

Before it all FALLs in..

Thank you for all the warming and kindly welcome back! I have survived the first week of middle school; YES! You have read it right! With all the nerves and changes that I made it through! New bus time and new A/B day schedules. You know what? I actually will get to be there this coming Thursday, just like what I did many moons ago in college!

I have been feeling very content after our summer trips! After Lots lots conversations with my families and lots walking time in the city of big apple. After return, I was able to decompressed with all the conversations that made. It has been a longest time that I redefined that meaning of doing what you Love and give yourself some breaks! It feels relief in someway and it required lots courage and encourage {Thank you all}!

Lately, I have been sewing with plans then fulfilled them.  Last Friday, I have made the fabric orders for S' quilt {Yes, I will show and tell when I have it all quilted and bound} then a semi-mystery quilt that I finished before we took off for our trip {this would be another story to tell when it is ready}.  I also purchased a new 40 yards of cotton batting as I have officially use up my last 40 yards of batting. That roll of batting made 15 quilts; big and small and all the hand-quilted zakka patchwork for the shop. That might had been one of the most wise purchase that I made. It least me 5 years and every bit of it was put in good use! I look forward another 15 quilt plus to make, another 5 years?

I must admitted that I am a slow quilter, not because I sew slow, but I procrastinate with all the fabric choices and the quilt design a lot and sometimes, not enough push self forward. Oh, maybe it is time to make a change and maybe it is time to do it!  I surely have few quilts that I have in mind lately. That pink, brown, and gray quilt... I am so attempting to start pulling the fabrics out and another only florals and retro quilt that I have been thinking then another quilt that's a bit of romantic and perhaps the colors that I never attempt before. Then a king size quilt that I really want to make, so that's 4 quilts already! But I will hold my houses and wait till I finish S' quilt and the semi-mustery quilt.  

My little small world quilt along has been making good movement! The part one is finished, but I am not satisfied with the fabric choices on the bottom part. Oh, it was a very poor decision on the last minutes pulling fabrics out and make it look fine, but when all the piecing have done. It doesn't look quiet right! I didn't use good contrast in colors and prints and also didn't think through the arrangement before I even traced the pattern on and start piecing. For the part two, I play with fabrics before I start sewing and it seems working much better! This is a challenging quilt to make. Not because it is difficult to sew, but it makes me think quiet a bit in colors, contrast in prints, and also has lots sewing skills involved! I love building my small world; slowly, but steady!

I couldn't make you all an apple pie, but I use {this} for ours. The things that I changed were, used salted butter, so I eliminated the salt from the dough ingredient. No nutmeg for our filling and just 1/16 salt for the filling and 6 apples for ours. The pie is half gone and will be gone before the end of the week and make sure serve it warm with some ice cream! That puts big smile on everyone's face!

The Fall is really approaching and I am liking it a lot! Because I can really open the windows and no more humid air in the house. I am liking it a lot because it will be soup and baking season here, for me! I am liking it a lot because I will be in woolies and sewing with a quilt on the chair soon. I am liking it a lot because I like the cool air in the morning when I wake up. I am liking it a lot because just like some of you have a Fall birthday that might coming up! um.. I will go on and on, but I am just LOVING it a lot!

Before I leave I like to tell you I will come back soon just like what I have promised last week!

xxc

Welcome Back, to you and me!

Welcome back, to you and me!

It took me awhile to think about what to write and share again! I haven't been writing and visit this space for 3 months. I feel a little hesitate and wonder if anyone still visit me here!

I am not sure where to start and keep deleting what I wrote.... Oh, I hit a wall, so really excuse me if I am being scatter! This summer has been so long and short at the same time. So much going on and just not enough time and space to catch all the little details! I though I'd share some of the projects that I've been working on lately to start with.

August is a month that's so hard to push forward! After all the summer trips, we were so ready to go nowhere and just stay home! The quilt that I look forward to finish is S' 11th birthday quilt. During the last few week nights, I started a few patch blocks per a night then eventually was able to accomplish this quilt top. I did the happy dance that day when I finished press the back of seam allowances! Of course, S suspected the quilt is for her! Oh, I shouldn't have Stella Joy on the wall...  Oh yes! That's paper piecing that I have been working on lately! Something that I know I'll do more now and probably will have a quilt made from paper piecing soon! I am excited this quilt will be ready this Fall and of course the 12th birthday quilt should started now since it only take me a year to finish S' birthday quilt! The 12th birthday quilt might be challenge, since there's no hints for me to start thinking about the colors and patterns.

After all the summer feasts, all we really miss is the simplest dinner that I prepared every day. Our kitchen is started get busy again as I have been in and out most of the days. We are thinking an apple pie for celebrating the first week of school! Maybe this Friday when I get time off again! You probably don't know that I started exercise again. Not the crazy lifting or extreme bodyworks, but simple way of getting some energy and body strength. We have been getting up early on the weekends to Gray's Lake for a good morning walk/run!  While everyone seems so enjoy their walk/run, I had to push myself to go on this. Indeed, I am slowly down so much more in last few years. It isn't able getting old, but there aren't any body strength in me. Maybe that's why I was so sick after our traveling this summer? After that good morning run/walk, we would make our way to the Farmer's market! It is so rewarding for us! I always get a breakfast bowl and a house brew coffee and S gets her strawberry yogurt top with super sweet cream and chocolate syrup!  

I always look out for the fresh ingredients and S is always look out for the pups that hanging out the market! Oh, yes! How we wish Lucky is here! He would probably make lots good flurry friends and we probably will meet some new friends that way! We always bought some really good corns from the same local farmer and visit the same veggie booth! This past Saturday we even tried homemade root beer; it was delicious!

Summer is great, but I am looking into the Fall arrives! It will be lots soup time and lots warm lighting up downstair and upstair! I pulled out the quilts that we've been using this morning and put on the clean ones. I slightly think that I am so ready for this coming Fall and Winter! Oh, and I plan on making a Fall quilt! Lots brown, lots pinks.. different level of gray??

Our summer is officially coming to the end. School starts today and we have a middle schooler in house now! How did that happen? It is a bit unreal and I had some pinkish eyes this morning. It is really sweet and bitter moment! I would like to Thank You for writing to me for asking about us this summer! I must apologized that I didn't get back to you... I know you'll understand and Thank You!

I shall leave now and will be back soon! hope will be more regular from now on!