This is my first big applique project!!  I finally got all the applique all done after 3 years!!  Maybe another year before I can quilt it!!!  LOL 

Tulips N Anemones

 

When my sister and I pieced this quilt together (I cut and iron, she did the sewing), we pieced all the blocks the wrong way!  When I got home, I had to take take them all apart and redo.  This is what I have done so far.  I have yet to put the sashing and a border on it.  After that, I have to applique hearts in between the blocks.  

I am glad the top is done!  Like I said earlier, this is one of the easiest pattern to make.  Perfect if you are a beginner.  Easy cutting and piecing together strips of fabric only!!  

Ok almost done!!!  Just sewing the border and that's it!!  I won't be doing the quilting myself as I know I can't do as well as the pro!!!  I still do not have the confidence to do it on my own!!  I don't mind a small baby quilt but this one is a king size.  My Juki is in semi- retirement mode!! LOL  I have only been practising with it but without putting it on the frame!!

This is one of the best part in making a quilt top!!  Sewing the sashings and the borders!!!  I chose a dark brown print n cut it into 3" strips for the sashing. 

I put together 36 blocks for this quilt.  Decided to piece together  a 6 x 6 because if I did a 5 x 6 the fall would not be enough at the sides.  I think with the sashings and border I might just get a nice drop at the sides.  I like the idea that I don't have to get all the strips in line with each other!!  I only have to make sure that the joints at the green blocks are joined correctly in the middle!!!!

The alternate block with the lighter shade of  brown!!

This is the first block with the dark brown print.  The alternate block will have a lighter shade of brown print.  At first, I thought of making all the blocks with the same fabric but I didn't have enough of the dark brown print so I have no choice but to make the alternate blocks with the lighter shade of brown!!  This is a very easy patchwork pattern that I would recommend if you are looking for a fun and easy pattern  to make your next quilt!!!

Sewed all the strips together.  These are for the dark brown blocks.  Going to make alternate blocks with a light brown print.  I was going to make a one-block and one-color scheme quilt but I don't think I have enough of the dark brown print.  After sewing all the strips together the next thing to do is to iron then cutting them into 21/2" strips.

Started to make the heart of the block first.  The 81/2" square is perfect for this butterfly print.  If I were to cut it any smaller, I might not be able to see the butterflies!!  For the frame, I used a cream fabric with some bits of brown.   The cut for the cream fabric is 11/2" x 42". 

Butterflies

I saw this pattern in one of the quilting magazines.  I can't remember the name of the pattern but I know they used the fabrics from Begining's floragraphix.  The center of the block is quite large 81/2" x 81/2".  I have this butterfly print in my stash and I thought it will be nice to use it for the center.  The butterflies are quite large and it does look good when cut into 81/2" squares.  I chose my favourite colors...YELLOW, orange, brown and green to compliment the butterfly print!!!

Wow!  Time just went by like a flash!!  And this is how far I got on with my applique project!!  Not a lot but it will do!!  I was away for five days and as this a big piece I couldn't bring it with me to applique.  It does take quite a lot of time to do especially the yellow round flowers on the top right!  LOL 

I have added the sashings and now deciding if I should finish it off by adding a border just like the book or do it my way!!  I might just take a couple of days to think it over first.  :-)

Magazines fix!!!!

I asked Luke if he could get me a couple of quilting magazines while he was in Brisbane and he came home with these!!!  I guessed he must have bought all the magazines on the shelf!!  As they come in packs of twos or threes, I have four which are the same!!  LOL  Love these magazines!!!

I've added  the sashings but I don't think I have cut out enough strips for the remainder of the quilt!  May have to go digging into the scrap bin one more time! :-(  The book added triangles around the quilt.  But I don't know if I have the patience to do that.  I have to add at least a border to make it a single size quilt.  Thinking of doing some country applique on it.  Well, got to see how it goes after I've done the sashings!!

Scrappy Quilt

I finished piecing all the blocks and came up with this.  I will add sashings all around the individual blocks.  I took some time to do this because it was actually tiresome rummaging through the  scrap bin!! First, look for the right size of scrap.  Second, iron the scrap.  Third, use the scrap master ruler to cut the triangles and the squares!! :-(
Will start piecing the sashings together tomorrow.  It is much easier to use pieces of good fabric to make this as it took a lot of effort to cut out the triangles and squares from scraps!!  No, I don't think I will make another scrappy quilt from the scrap bin!! :-(

Floral Fantasy

This is what I have done so far in this project.  The leaves and flowers are not as nice as it should be!  Can't get the curves quite right!!  It's taking up quite a bit of my time because one, the flower petals are small and two, my skill is limited!!  LOL  BUT I am trying hard to get them just right!!  I am working my way up so will do it section by section.

Holidays!!

Been away for holidays and did not do much sewing!  Took this picture while holidaying in Bali.  Will be getting back to some 'serious' sewing soon!!! LOL


Fun tote!

 This tote is bright and colorful as requested by Jayne.  Mix the kanzashi flower with a yo-yo and a button.   The magnetic button is inside the bag.  I was thinking of making a zipper  for the bag but wasnt sure if it will look nice or not.  This is  a medium size bag.  Good for a throw everything in kind of bag!

Jayne's MIL tote

Jayne asked me if I could make a bag for her mother-in-law and also another one for her friend.  She wanted a earth tone color scheme for her MIL.  I love brown so I thought..why not?.. it's earth color!!!  I bought the brown bag strap from my Japan trip and it came in handy! It also matches the brown button.  I love how all the things I bought come together in a project.

Aunty Marina's Bible tote

Got a request from Aunty Marina to make her a tote for her Bible and Mass book because her old bag handle is torn and it was a little too small to carry all her stuff.  She gets up early and attends the 630AM mass everyday!  I do not have the commitment to do that so the least I can do is to make a bag for her!!  LOL  I gave her the bag a few days ago and she is very happy with it!

Tulip hat

 This is the easiest hat to make!  You only need to use one of the template.  Tracing and cutting the fabric, I think took more time than piecing the hat together!  So far, I made 7 hats because it is sooo easy!!  LOL

All done!  This reversible cloche hat is light and soft enough to keep in the bag for use anytime!  I just love it!!  LOL

The rim of the hat is pinned in between the blue and the printed fabric.  

This is the rim of the hat.  I have to sew the two fabric together with the right sides facing each other then turn inside out.  I used the iron to press all round the rim.

Sew the top of the hat together.  First the printed fabric then the blue denim.

Made an emergency trip back to Miri last week.  I couldn't post any thing on the blog because I did not bring my laptop with me.  Anyway, these are all the cut out pieces for the hat.  For this hat design, two templates are needed.  The rim of the hat and the top.  I love this blue white combination for a reversible hat.

Drew the pattern on the wrong side of the denim using the template and the enlarger.  This is a reversible hat so it will be nice to have two different prints.  I still cannot believe how easy it is to use these templates! 

Cloche hat

Wow!  I haven't been blogging for more than a month!!  Time just flew by!  I went back to my hometown for Chinese New Year then came back for a few days and left for Japan for another 2 weeks!  Lots of sewing to catch up!!  While in Japan, I found some craft shops and bought this Clover hat templates.  With these templates, I can make 3 different kind of hats and a bag.  Unfortunately, the instructions are in Japanese.  So I'll just have to look at the picture and follow as much as I can!  Anyone out there who has the English version??  Would appreciate if you can send me a copy!  Chose this denim fabric and a printed fabric to make a cloche hat.  

Corrine's tote

My friend, Corrine, will be back from States during Chinese New Year and a few months back, she asked if I could make a tote for her.  As both of us are from Sarawak, the land of hornbills, I thought this fabric print would be ideal.  I hope she likes the color! 

I will be concentrating on making more quilts this year.  Still in the process of making the scrappy quilt.  Been sewing lots of triangles together.  Will try to piece the whole quilt as soon as I have enough triangeles and squares!!

Another Year...



Happy New Year to all!!  Another wonderful year has gone by!  Like they say, ' in a blink of an eye'!!  Made some resolutions and hope one or two will come true!!  It has been a year of learning and I am sure this coming year will also be one filled with many new projects and challenges as well!!!  This is one of the bags I made last year!! Made 2 bags out of 2m of fabric.  Not enough for the handles.  Just nice for the linings and the kanzashis!!  Am now in the process of making another tote for a friend.  After that I will stop making totes and start concentrating on making some quilts this year!!