A Cheerful Finish!!!

To tell you the truth, when I first pulled these colors together, I had my doubts. The original silk threads look more subtle. Will this be too bright? 

As it turns out, it's perfect! This unusual color combination is so bright and cheerful. I really like the look! Maybe it is the bright orange and blue, somehow it gives out a southwestern feel~

Pattern: Blackbird Designs “Birds of a Feather” 

Thread: DMC Cotton Thread
Fabric: 32ct Belfest Linen in color Country Mocha
Stitched Size: 10.5” x 12”
Completion Date: 06-07-2017

I stitched 2 over 2 in stead of 1 over 2 as indicated on the instructions, cause I like the plump look of stitches. I also love the different flowers on the border, they are so cute!!

The chain stitch around one of the flowers is also an unexpected touch. I kept it as the last thing to do and almost forgot about it!! Caught it at the very last moment, and I'm glad that I did~ 

Moving on to the next project!! What should I do? I think there is a quilt awaiting~ Thanks for visiting~

The Rose

Remember I talked about participating in a quilt for a charity event? Well, the event took place a couple weeks ago and I went to see how the finial piece turned out. I was so amazed by the final product, everyone's rose is so different and yet they look perfectly together~ Here is the quilt that I participated in, did you spot mine?

It is at the bottom row~~

This event is for supporting young mothers, hence the figures on top of the quilt. Twenty-four quilters participated in this event making the different quilt blocks, then each block was put together by some of the young mothers, making these quilts even more meaningful. At the end two quilts were made, and together, they raised over $1500 USD!! I am so glad I got to be a part of this, and I would do it again in a heartbeat~ 

As for my stitching, it is getting close. I am on to the borders, the end is in sight!!!! 

Thanks for visiting~~

Spring~

Happy Easter everyone!!! I have been busy - stitching and quilting this time!!! When the quilting studio I go to called for doing a quilt for a charity event, I signed up right away! After seeing the pattern, I thought, I could do this. It looks very similar to the sewing machine cover I did last year. Then I read the instructions......It requires paper foundation piecing...... Um... ok, I have never done it before. So I turned to the place where people goes for help - Google!!  Thanks for YouTube,  I learned how to paper piecing, and it is so much fun~~~

So here is my piece in its full glory!! It will be one of 12 pieces that will make up one quilt~ I can't wait to see it all put together!!!

 Pattern: Designed by Sophia Yu

Size: 12" x 12"

Beginning Date: 04-03-2017

Completion Date: 04-14-2017

On the stitching front, I have made quite some progress. Almost done with the main part, then on to the borders!!! I can see the finish line on this piece now! So exciting!!

Hope you are having a wonderful Easter weekend! Thanks for visiting~~

Something Blue

Work has been occupying most of my time these days, I've actually just came back from a business trip to China. Therefore, not too many progress on my stitching, this is where I am at right now.

While I was in China, I've also made some time to go sight seeing, visiting a very cute shop that I have my eyes on for a while - Brut Cake! This artist uses Chinese old fabrics to creat most of her works! Besides the regular bags and accessories, she also makes the cutest furniture! I saw one of her sofas in an exhibit once, and that's when I fell in love!

Coincidentally, while I was visiting a traditional town, I saw a shop showing how these old fabrics are made! There were even some quilts that were made with theses fabrics. Familiar patterns, but totally different feel~

Seems like spring is teasing us these days, giving us a glimpse of good weather, then suddenly turning cold and rainy again... But I can see from the new buds on my plants, that spring is not far away! Hang in there, people! Until next time~

Testing a New App....

Hello everyone! Hope you are all doing well in this winter morning! Today is Chinese New Year Day, first of all, as custom, may you all have a wonderful year of rooster!!!

As I relay more and more on my smart phone, I wanted to find a good blog editing app so I can blog on the go. After a little bit of searching, I decided to give this Blogo app a try. So far it seems easy enough to use, but I would like to hear from you if anyone have any recommendations or tips on this app. Any info is appreciated!

On the stitching front, here is my progress on Birds of a Feather. I am loving every minute of it!

Thanks for visiting!!

Almost Christmas...

Can you believe it is the end of the year already?! This year seemed to fly by in a blink of an eye!! December is usually the busiest time for me, but I did manage to make some progress on my stitching. I am really enjoying stitching this piece~

I needed a new Christmas wreath for the front door this year, cause the one I had accidentally dropped on to the floor and broke. With limited time and a tight schedule, I needed something simple and quick to make. So after a little research, I decided to put together this ornament wreath~ I think it is pretty festive, don't you say?

Although it is almost Christmas, we are still having some summer-like weather, and my plants seem to enjoy it very much, flowers blooming left and right~ My favorites are these violate blooms. Since both these plants have never flowered before, I had no idea what the flowers would look like, so I was very surprised when I saw them. Aren't they beautiful?!

And here are some reds that are blooming, adding a little Christmas to my balcony~

And finally, some orange and green in the mix!

So are you all ready for Christmas? I'm getting there!!! May you all have a wonderful holiday!!!

Little Things

Making more progress on my stitching, as you may have guessed, this is from Blackbird Deign's Bird of a Feather pattern, it is distinctive by its five lollipop like flowers. I have changed out some of the colors, and am pretty satisfied so far~ 

I took my last stitched piece to get framed by a framer. I used to do my own framing using picture frames I bought from stores when I was in the US, but pre-made frame choices are so limited here in Taiwan, so most people take their art works to the framers for custom framing. This is my very first custom framing experience, from the front it looks pretty good, but I am not so sure about the back, where the thickness of backing board sticks out from the frame. I'm not sure if this is how it suppose to be, maybe I will try another framer next time.

I had some unexpected visitors on my balcony last week - three caterpillars which ate a whole bunch of leaves off my orange tree. I looked them up and they suppose are caterpillars of some butterfly, so I let them stayed on my tree. With in a few days, they have turned into chrysalis. What is interested is, one caterpillar crawled all the way to the bottom of the pot and settled there. Its chrysalis turned brown, whereas the ones on the trees are green. We will have to wait a few more weeks to see them turn into butterflies!! 

After being dormant for months during summer and hit by a major typhoon, just as I was about to give up on it, one of my rose bush finally start to grow new leaves and flowered!!! What a pleasant surprise~ Almost forgot what it looked like!

I had to go pickup some baby chicks for work last week, these chicks are all hatched that day, only a few hours old!! They are so fluffy and cute!! It is so therapeutic just by watching them and listening to them chirping. I wish I could smuggle one home!

Anyways, these are some random little things that happened these past couple of weeks. What is happening in your side of world? Thanks for stopping by!! And Happy Halloween!!

Quick Fly By

Just want to step in and give you a quick update. I have started a new stitching project, this one is very recognizable, I am sure many of you recognizes the circular flower in the photo below~ I think these colors are absolutely beautiful together, and is a perfect fall stitch project.

Since the turn of this week, I can really sense the autumn in the air. We do not have those brilliant fall leaves here that many of you northerners have (which I miss a lot), but the heat in the day have retreated, and chill breezes  are starting to blow at night. Can't believe we are at the last quarter of the year already!!! 

A Finish!!

I’ve heard from Vickie that my package have arrived safe and sound, so it is ok for me to show you my finish on Souvenir de France. After debating for a little bit on how should I finish this piece, I decided to make it into a flatfold~ Using Vonna’s flatfold tutorial as my guide, I finished it with a breeze, and I LOVE how it turned out!!! In fact, I love it so much that I might make another one just for myself~

Pattern: Blackbird Designs freebie “Souvenir de France” 
Thread: Gentle Art Cotton Floss – Garden Gate
Fabric: 32 ct Belfest Linen color Flex 
Finished Size: 4.375”x 6.625”  
Finishing Date: 04-18-2012

I chose a pink backing fabric for this piece, cause I thought Vickie would like it. Plus I think it would be a perfect match~ I also used a black sheer ribbon as the trim and top.

Absolutely love it!!!

Here is the whole package I sent to Vickie~ I’m so glad that she liked it!! Can you see there’s a theme going on here? ^^

Have a great week!!!

Souvenir de France~

I can’t believe it has been almost two weeks since I was in Paris!!! Some nights, I still dream about it. Paris was that good!!! To remember this wonderful trip, I’ve been stitching Blackbird Design’s “Souvenir de France”. Just finished it today, and I’m still thinking about what I should finish it into. I’m going to throw the finished product into my Paris souvenir giveaway, so if you would like to be included for the draw please leave a comment in my previous post saying so, there are still a few days left until I close the entry on Easter Sunday~

Pattern: Blackbird Designs freebie “Souvenir de France” 
Fabric: 32 ct Belfest Linen color Flex
Stitch Size: 3.875”x 6” 
Completion Date: 04-05-2012

Since we are talking about souvenirs here, might as well show you some of my souvenirs beside the stitching stash I showed in my last post. All of these besides the three dolls were from Paris~ I bought some tea, a few cups from Starbucks, cup holders, truffle salt and foie gras paste, and the white thing is actually a fragranced stone that you can hang in the closet~ I found the three dolls at London Heathrow airport while waiting for my connection, they are just too cute to pass by!!

While I was going through my photos from the trip, I came across this photo which I took at the Grand Trianon in Versailles. This beautiful scroll frame was in the room that once belonged to Napoleon’s mother, and later Empress Marie-Louise. I’m not sure who exactly that it belonged to since all the introductions were in French, but I could imagine them sitting here in that room stitching and chatting away~

Nina asked to see more photos of the city, well, here is a small collection of it. I had so many wonderful memories from this trip, and I know it will stay with me forever!!!

(click on photo to enlarge)

Thanks for visiting, and Happy Easter!!!!