Blooms~

As promised, another project finished. This time it is my sewing machine cover!! I've always wanted to make one for my sewing machine to protect it from all the dust, I use to just cover it with a random piece of cloth, now it can sit pretty on my desk with its new cover~ 

Pattern: Designed by Sophia Yu

Size: 16" W x 13"H  x 7D"

Beginning Date: 05-21-2015

Completion Date: 09-28-2016

Something new I learned from this project - crazy quilting! It was super fun, I can go on and on on assembling the pieces together. The final result is the front part of the sewing machine cover, which doubles as a pocket for all my rulers and scissors and stuff for easy access!! 

Because there is so many steps to finish this project, it really takes a lot of stamina to see it through. I think that is why it always take me so long to finish a project, I kind of loses steam halfway through, and it will sit in my drawer for quite some time until I dig it out again. It is always the last 20% that takes me the longest to finish, but I am glad I finally did.

So here you have it! Crossing off another project on my way too long to do list!! Now what should I work on next?

Another Finish~

I think 2016 is the year of finishing to me!!  After dragging on for more than a year, I finally finished my Hawaiian Quilt!!! I am very proud to say, this quilt is 99% hand quilted, everything except when attaching the binding to the quilt. Here it is on all its glory~

Pattern: From book "Meg's Hawaiian Quilts-Lehua" 

by Meg Maeda

Size: 21" x 21"

Beginning Date: 06-04-2015

Completion Date: 09-13-2016

This quilt was my very first attempt on applique, I have to say it requires a lot of patience!!! After this process, I think I have overcome my applique phobia, and will definitely try it again - even if it will take me forever to complete!!! 

I have also tried a double layer binding, which I think is very cool and makes the design stands out even more~ 

Believe it or not, it was the backing that gave me the most trouble. See all the red flowers? After washing, they kind of bled through all the layers and showed from the front in some areas!!! I almost faint when I saw it, luckily it wasn't too obvious... Note to self: BEWARE OF RED FABRICS!!!! I also made a tube for hanging, it was a last minute decision so I kind of have to improvise, but it all worked out in the end~ Right now I am working on finishing another old project, hopefully I will be able to cross out another project on my list soon!!! 

It is the Mid-Autumn Festival here in Taiwan today, which celebrates the mid-autumn harvest and traditionally is when family members will come home to help out. In the evening, the entire family would sit under the full moon and enjoy each other's company, telling stories about the bunnies that live in the moon. So I would like to take this chance to wish all my crafty families out there, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!!!

It's a Bird!!!!!

Hello everyone, have you have the Olympic fever? I have!!! With all that time chasing games, I suddenly find myself making so much progress on my stitching, since I usually do my stitching while watching TV. And the result? A beautiful bird~ Now I just need to find a frame for it!! 

Pattern: Uknown

Thread: DMC Cotton Thread

Fabric: 28ct Cashel Linen in color Summer Khaki 

Stitched Size: 5” x 5”

Completion Date: 08-18-2016

So what should I do with the remaining of the games? Finishing up another project perhaps? No worries, there is always something to keep me busy!! Now back to the games~

Quick update!

A quick update on my stitching progress, it is always such pleasure to stitch again after a long break from it. Can you tell what it is that I am working on?

After almost two years, my air plant (Tillandsia) finally flowered! It is such a great surprise!!!!! This is really a easy plant to work with, I just hang it there and give it a splash of water every time I water my plants. I read that air plants only flower once in a lifetime then it will die out to give way for the new pups, This will be fun to watch!!

For those of you in the US, happy Independence Day!!!! Enjoy your fireworks!!!!

Randomness

Hello my friends, I am still here!!! Can't believe we are in June already!!!! Where did the time go? Sorry for disappearing for so long, I have been very busy with work, but I have not abandon my quilting. Although the progress was slow, I have finally finished the hand quilting part of my Hawaiian quilt!!  I can see the finish line on this one~~~ So happy~~

This happened in May but I really would like to share this with you. All along in my impression, quilting is not a "main stream" hobby here in Taiwan. So when I hear that there is going to be a quilt show here, I was really surprised, and of course I had to go check it out!! To my amazement, that was a really nice show!! There are quilts from 21 different countries and over 400 show pieces, the best part, it is free!!! It is really interesting to compare the quilts from all the different countries, you can see the cultural differences in each quilt. I really enjoyed the show, learned so much from it!! Would definitely go again if there is another one in the future.

Now on to the next project!! I have pulled out my threads and fabric and am so ready to start something new. These are some beautiful colors, won't you say?!

My jasmine is starting to flower lately. The smell is so divine!! I can smell them while sitting in  my living room, such a wonderful thing~

By the way, Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe has been hosting some awesome giveaways again, I have listed the latest ones on my sidebar, be sure to join the fun if you haven't already!!!

Hello March!!

It has been a harsh winter!! I know we are in the sub-tropics, and should not be complaining about winter since we do not have snow storms or anything like that, but it seems like this winter has been unusually cold, and on the coldest day, we even had snow, even at the southern part of Taiwan!! I don't remember this has ever happened before. While people were amazed by this rare encounter of snow, I couldn't help but worry, there is definitely something wrong with our weather system, and we really should be more aware of protecting our planet.

Source: Flickr/Chi-Hung Lin

This is why I was so happy to see spring arriving!!! Finally, the sun is out, temperature raising, and flowers blooming!! Only after a long winter can we truly appreciate the beauty of spring~

On the quilting front, I am still working on my Hawaii quilt, it is coming along slowly but surely!!!

Hope you are enjoying this spring weather as well!!!!

First Finish of 2016!!!

Hello!!!! My friends!!! How is everyone doing? I am off at a pretty good start, I think!!! Presenting my first finish of the year~~

Pattern: From book "Mit Nadel und Faden" by Jutta Ortmanns

Thread: DMC Cotton Thread

Fabric: 32ct Lambswool Linen 

Stitched Size: 4.5” x 4.25”

Completion Date: 01-08-2016

I bought this booklet a while back, couldn't resist the whimsical birds~ While I was stitching it, I noticed a lot of half stitches in the design, don't know if this is common in Scandinavian designs. Not a big fan of them but pulled through in the end. Love the French knots, though!!! They made the whole thing pop~

Here it is framed. Nothing fancy, just a simple frame from IKEA. I have a confession to make. When I started this project, it was originally planed as a gift for a friend. But last night when my husband saw the final product, he hijacked it...... Sorry friend, I will make something else for you.... ;-)

Have a wonderful day~~