April

Not much has been moved forward since last post. My few days return became another two weeks return. It feels like so queer and upside down! It has been really unreasonable busy to tidy up our home since March. Everyday, I pulled out a box and look into what is it inside then would take long time to decide if it stays or goes away and it almost repeated for the whole March then first part of April! I sent a box home with my friend who lived cross town; lots fabrics and tools for her to play with. Then few more trips to donation center for clothes and items that have not been worn or used for last 5 years. It was taught decision because they have been moved around with us all these time and my heart, hurts (however, I ended up kept all the Pyrex dishes, simply they are part of old time treasure hunts)! 

Finally, the house is all tidy up and ready!  This week, the selling house contract has been signed and we have started to prepare for our next new journey to come! We are uncertain about this upcoming changes and taking it very carefully and slow. This is part of the reason that I have been so quiet this year. So much sorting to go through and not enough time to do what I love!  There were times between sorting and tidy break times, so a few hand stitch was nice and making the nights a little longer and listening to the machine stitch sounds was lovely and i love that! 

It feels like I have just returned from a roller coaster ride and slightly feeling it is alright to take a rest now! I have accidentally stepped into emotional stages many times  a few times  then was able to step out quickly.  I am not able to write all this down now, simply it is nice to just let things float into each step and let things take their part! Maybe when all is settle down again...

The April goals are to fulfilled all the promises that were made in last few posts and will post them periodically. I will be alike Sunday drives once there are house showing appointments made.
Thank you for being so patient with me.  


Meanwhile, fingers crossed...



xxc

Blossom March

 -hello-

Do you love the hello sign that I found a couple weeks ago?  In the beginning of the March, I took two weeks off from studio and the {shop}. I decided to put good efforts to the house, finally! I learned how to professionally paint the walls without taping around edges and was up on a 16 feet ladder painting the walls. The first day, I had two shaking legs and one shaking hand that held a brush. Then other hand which was my left hand was holding way too tight on the ladder!  Um, if you'd ask me how the the edge of the walls turn out, I said not bad! The second day was better and the third day was even better!

After almost two years moved in the house, I am not as picky as I was first move in! I let go lots little things and though it could be done in a day! But turn out spent a good week to paint the walls, orgainze the boxes and adding up new fixtures and this and that.  The second week was looking for some greens and simple decorations for the living room. Also pull out some of quilts that friends sent me over the year. These friendships certainly made our home warm and cozy!

We did lots newish baking around here as well. I made some plain scones for the first time and it turned out a little too sweet and the dough didn't rise up which was a bit smaller than expected!  I've been thinking about making raspberry jams all winter long. It is so nice to go with English muffins and plain bread. If I ever get the perfect plain scone recipe, I'll share with you.

You know, I didn't think I'd be so productive in the month of March. It is one of the month that always feels so long and anxious to pass by! I continue pulled out more work in process projects and finish them like I mean to! Not stubborn this time....

The abandon Camelot blocks have been sitting around over two years now and I know they will never make into a quilt top! My coloring with fabric stash is changing and one of the block is not in the right scale. Oh.. all these self talk and dilemmas . So, finally I made the effort and transferred them into mini quilts! They turned out just perfect, i tell you! I almost think I could make the other 9 blocks after finished them and though have a wall of all sorts of minis around, but the true is they might be another w.i.p. sitting around. So, a better plan for the quilt is a must, such as making a block in a week or a block in two weeks? Also haven't settle the new color palette this time. So let me wait!

Hand-applique is the new obsession for me lately! It is something that I didn't take my time to learn when I first start to sewing. I have been getting great tips from other quilters and made some sample pieces before gone on the actual block. By the way, I even made a little light box! I will share with you next time! This is such a different and slower hand-sewing method, but I truly loving this process! I explored few more links on how to making stitches invisible { totally different kind of hand stitch} and make a better rounded up with corners with freezer paper.  It takes great effort and skills for all that perfection outcome, which I hope to achieve someday!  If you know and heard about Colonial Period quilts that is something I like to explore more in the future; this is the {book} will take you down to quilting history lane and a great read as well.

The afternoon is the time, I like sit around in the studio and pulling fabrics out for the appliqué blocks. It always take a long time! It always start as a big pull then do the adding and subtractive method when finalized the bundle. At night time, I try to finish the patchwork block if I could, but some nights are hard to push forward!

These new tulip buds are so new for me! I have been watching them daily! I discovered the flowers few nights ago and now would you like to take a guess of what color they are? and if any of you know if I could save them for next year? I probably the most excited person here; making observation each day and keep thinking I might be a great green thumb one day! {smile}

Today is another great accomplished day here! All the packages are posted included Lucky's package, a monthly trip to international market has made, and the house is all pick up, but let's skip the studio space! It is not qualify for neatness! It might need another rearrangement!

I have some new updates for the {shop} in next few days and a new update look for the blog soon. Then a update this and that next time when return here! I will share with you my little inexpensive light box and few more patchwork blocks! You can view the fabric bundles posting over IG... {on the right side of blog bar}.   Meanwhile, my goal is not to leave this space too long this time!



xxc

Scraps Player Quilt + a quilt along!

{finished 68"x66"}

It was last night, I made last stitched on the binding! S walked to me, and said, You finished the quilt ALREADY! oh, I was very fulfilled and proud of myself! It feels kinda silly for this whole making a quilt in a week and you need to know that this is not planned quilt! It just click on me like I must have that fabric!!

The love of this quilt is growing on me over last few days! It is not perfect, you know! You could see the edges of the quilt is not perfectly squared and the stripes is not perfectly straight. Honestly, all I was thinking was making this quilt!  My arms are so sore this morning by all the free-motion quilting. This time, I tried many new patterns on the quilt. It took a good 6 hours to quilt on a lap size quilt. It is also heavy as there are so many stitch lines all over the quilt.

Do you think it looks like a bit of pixelated image from a distance? It is really interested to see that I do use a lot of red when I sew, and lots of whites and blues! I am not surprised with all blue and whites, but reds? {laugh}

For the backing, I digged into some of really old prints from the 2010 and 2011. I found interestingly that fabric made that time has slightly wax in them, it feels like a little waxy! I went ahead and use them! So, my trip to the local fabric store was so not necessary this Tuesday, since I came home with few spool of threads only.

For the binding, it was purchased from an IG destash! It was in my to-go basket, but then I went back bring it back and though it is perfect for this quilt! I  heart and love how Rita at {Red Pepper Quilt} using black and white strips for her signature quilt bindings.

Alright, I need to jump right in this quilt along here! First, I like to give a big shut to Bonnie whom reminded me of the {pack patch quilt along} that she enjoyed a few years back and as I was working on this quilt I though I need not to procrastinated too much about everything and just have some fun to host another sewing along!

So, I am hosting a new sew along called {Scraps Player Quilt Along}. However, I have set this quilt along to a private group over Flickr. This quilt along is only going to take 15 days and by the end of the 15th day, you shall have a quilt quilted and bounded!

The goal for this quilt along is lighten or even empty out the scrap bins that have sitting around too long and being ignored!  I often think that I will come back to them, but likely the scraps start building up and overwhelm around the studio space!

Again, this quilt along is going to take 15 days! I found a long-term quilt along wears some of the interest out quick. So, if you up for making a quilt in 15 days challenge, you could send me your email or Flickr ID, so I will send you an invitation on this quilt along.

Here are the rules that you need to agreed before you sign up this quilt along:

- Committed finish Scraps Player Quilt in 15 days
- Using only scraps only
- No commercial products selling in this group
- Be encouraging each other
- Meet new friends, if you like to do a swap please set it as a private swap.
  We'll not hosting a group swap.
- Have fun! Tons for fun!
- Be spontaneous about this quilt along!

If you are up for challenge and love to join this quilt along, please leave me your email or Flickr Id in the comment form, only. The comment form is open till March 4th, 10 a.m central time. We will kick off the quilt along on March 5th.  and finish on March 20th. It will went by pretty quick and I suspect some of you might finish in a week term.

Alright! See you over at {Scraps Player Quilt along}

xxc

Three hundred sixty five, plus one!!

Between last {post} and this; Not a lot going on here! But I think I might be quiet wrong about that. I was under the weather for 8 days, to be exact. While everyone spent their {heart day} somewhere lovely. I was in bed, sniffling, puffy eyes, and coughing a lot! Oh, by the way, someone served me breakfast in bed,which was so lovely;  a bowl of greek yogurt, granola flakes, and tiny bit of honey drizzle on top! Then my lunch was the same serving then dinner was skipped!  I can't tell you how Thankful I am feeling now; actually feeling like a little toddle, just energetic everyday.

After I gotten better, my friend Staci came to visit. Whenever Staci comes to visit me, it is always early in the morning. That day, I made fresh banana bread and brew coffee from French Press.  I always like banana bread simple, but do love added some nuts in them sometimes.

Here is the recipe I use for last almost 15 years. I can't recall where I got this recipe, but it has been a great one for me.

1/2 C. butter (soften) 
1 C. sugar 
2 C. shifted Flour
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup banana mashed ( likely two banana would give you this much and a little extra, but that's alright) 
1 C. Finely chopped nuts ( optional) 

Preheat oven at 350 then bake 55-60 mins. 

*** So, here is a little tip for this recipe; after 50 min. of baking time, I like to insert a clear stick to check if the center is well bake, if it comes out running still. You can actually now turn your oven off and let it set in the oven for 15-18mins then insert the clear stick in the center again. If it comes off clean then it is ready!  Try it, let me know if you like it!

Then I made few batches of Kale Chips from time to time.  All you do with fresh Kale is you take the green part off from the stems then wash them really nicely { I would give them a nice cold bath in the kitchen sink after wash}.  I always spread washed Kale on top of clean dish towel.  Then place them in a baking sheet drizzle olive oil/ veggie oil works as well. Then sprinkles with salt! Some people recommended used sea salt, but honestly I just use regular salt for ours. You will need to bake it at 400 degree { so do preheat your oven} and bake for 10 mins. My last batch turn out pretty dark! Well because I totally forgot about it while chatting with mom over Skype. All I knew was the whole house smelled quiet funny at the first, then I realized I totally forgot the Kale was in the oven.  Lesson learned from that day; Now I have just stood in front of the oven for the quick baking dishes. Just because I knew if I went somewhere without setting the timer, I will not remember it at all! Oh..

You might have noticed that I am into miniature sewings lately! It has been in my bucket list for some time now! It is quiet challenging and frustrating when I first start it! It takes longer time than the larger patchwork pieces! I have not gone mad, but I think it is that time or phase again. Change is good! Change brings new fresh outlook of everything. Change is scary, but I am taking it quiet slow! I am more satisfied of getting these little tiny bits of patchwork pieces together and just kinda feel silly that I waited this long to take a step forward.  There are few more patterns have printed out and I'll be digging in them very soon!

So, many of you might know that I made a quilt top in less than 4 days {yay}! Just finished that quilt top this morning around 10:30a.m. I have really not gone mad! Really!  Oh, everything comes with a tiny bit of motivation, do you believe that or say so? I have been slowly checking off the w.i.p. works and getting clean out all the things in the studio here.

It might had been the week before last week, I was so proud to tell S about all the new studio arrangements I made. She looked around then quickly replied to me: Well, I think you just moved these fabrics from here to there and these fabric folded differently. I didn''t think you've gotten any better! and by the way, mama you've got way to many fabrics. ---- blink blink her eyes then off she went.

Oh, S was so true about it. I did move the fabric boxes down to the sewing table again and moved the scrap boxes to the other side. Folded the fat quarters in thirds, so I can fit them all into the containers.  So, last Friday, I dropped everything and started cutting all my scrap fabrics { like I really mean to, clean up}. I, maybe stubborn again about this whole cleaning and making it happen mode again {laugh}! Here I am, made a quilt top in less than 4 days! My goodness! It will never happen to me again! I had really great time by myself and thanks to all loves and hearts on the quilt over {Instagram}! All I did was sewing straight-line, paying no attentions to all the prints. Just piece them all together! Yes, chain piecing is the method.  So I will go ahead and quilt it soon! It would be this week, I plan on it! I just need to find the backing fabrics for it. Likely I will try to use what I have in the studio.  Alright, you probably tired of me talking about this by now..

The new FW1930 blocks have to the wall and the last 48 blocks have taken down! It is so nice that every block's unfinished size is the same! I can't tell you how much I like and have been so challenging by this quilt along! It is not because of the blocks are difficult, but the effort I put in this quilt along is slightly different the others! I really am looking into a perfect quilt sampler quilt at the end, so am trying so hard to make it perfect!

March will be coming soon and I hope to finish S' 12th birthday quilt top and if I am stubborn enough I'll have it done! Oh, she just sent her little hint to me over the weekend about the quilt idea, which I have been waiting for. You know, I'll be checking on fabrics again. Likely using lots fat quarters, fat eighths, and half yard cuts!  I'll share with you when I have it finish! I think she is kinda anxious to see the new birthday quilt and so am I, ready to make this quilt for her!

Next time, when I return here, I will share the quilt {from the top} and let's call it Scraps Player for now! Then S' quilt?! then few more little bits of this and that need to get ready to ship out! Then I'll be back here to share with you more of bits and bobs!

With an extra day in February, I hope you've gotten all your errands done and agendas cross off! I have; finished a quilt top, gone to grocery stores, gotten fresh flowers, done monthly bookkeeping and a clean/ready start working table, and have dinner planned in my head!

Best of all, wrote a blog post! And off to start sewing soon...

Thank you for continuing visiting me here! I have so much going on here, so I can only come here a few times a month and hope this will improve soon!  Thank you again for checking out the {moon pouches} and thank you for all the emails and this and that! The March preview will be towards to the end of the March. I have gotten all the pieces ready, but needed a good sunny day to photograph. I hope to come back here before the next preview, but I can't promise you at this time!

Meanwhile, crossed fingers for better and warmer weather for us who have getting spring fevers!

xxc