I loved my Scrappy Trips Around the World so much that I decided to do another. However, this time, I gave it a new twist. I arranged my blocks into a single radiating diamond (above) instead of multiple ones like my previous (below).
Both make use of 36 blocks of scrappy 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" squares and when finished, the new project should measure the same size... provided of course I stick to the same measurements for the borders. It's kind of difficult to decide which I like better, suffice to say both took my breath away (LOL!)
Ever been to a masquerade ball? You know, the type of party where you attend wearing some costume and a mask? Well, my Little One will be going to one after her exams but she had trouble finding a mask that she liked and that fitted her (face as well as budget!). So? It's Mummy to the rescue of course :-) Care to see how this Fairy Godmother waved her magic wand? :-) :-) :-)
First I made a template from paper before cutting out the real thing on elephant card. Then the headache started... I had to make this raised part of the mask where the nose will fit in (yeap, here's trying to be professional all the way... LOL!) Tricky but I managed it finally. Next, I covered the whole mask with black velvet (special request from Daughter). See the picture above on the right? Worth all the trials and errors, right? After that, the decorating began. Now that was fun!
Out came the laces and trimmings... Daughter said "not sure of what to wear for the night yet so please stick to shades of white and silver" and so your wish was my command :-)
And then some "curly twirlies" at the edge... needed to soften the look a bit so what do you think of that millinery corsage? Something still missing, you said? I know...I added some danggly ribbons and while I was at it, I also threw in a string of teeny weeny faux pearls.
Daughter was not in favour of elaborate stuff so I kept it simple (as compared to those colorfully ginormous masks I googled for samples)... and finally, it was to the post office... Pos Ekspress too! Looks like this simple mask is not as economical as we thought! Well, I hope Daughter likes it and will have a great time at the ball. Remember to be back by midnight, my little Cinderella... LOL! As for the rest of you, thanks for listening to my babbling today :-)
...Have not been very productive this past week. Gosh, the weather is so hot some afternoons, the air conditioning doesn't seem to work and you just feel like sticking your head into the refrigerator!!! Anyway, despite the discomfort, I've finally done up the backing to my Scrappy Trips Around the World and here's the proof :-) Enjoy!
While the heat has been a source of complaints for me, my plants seem to revel in it. Look....
So the moral of the day is... Stop complaining and enjoy God's blessings.... by the way, that chiding is meant for me :-)
Here's another quilt top which I completed some time ago that I hope to finish up for Little Miss Muffet's this October. Yes, I've decided to set myself some deadlines :-) so that I will have some finished projects on hand.
You can see for yourself that this one uses the Disappearing 9-Patch technique. It's another queen size spread in pretty pink prints and white eyelet cotton lace (which I love). Will post a picture when it's done... if it's done! *LOL!!!*
TA DAAAAH!!! If you like the vintage and country look, you will love this :-) As you can see, I finally decided to go queen-size (with a bigger quilt, you see more of the design) and so that's why the long blogging silence. I have been spending every free minute trying to come up with the additional 4 diamonds. It's obviously very tedious work - each tiny little square is 2" X 2" but the technique I learnt from Quiltville helped make this project absolutely fun.
Took a while for me to decide on the borders too but the effort was worth it, don't you agree? With so many colours in the diamonds, I thought I would go for a darker border and here the navy polka dot worked beautifully. Then, I used a light stripy fabric for another round of narrow trimming before finishing off with a broad outer border of smoky grey rose print to accentuate the squares and diamonds.
I'm almost there... I still need to do the backing (or haven't you noticed? LOL!)... Well, if things work out, I hope to put up some of my quilts for sale this Christmas. They should be available by late October - unless they get "hijacked" along the way to Little Miss Muffet's Closet :-) Thanks for dropping by and do visit again.
I am so thrilled with my latest project. It's called ScrappyTrips Around the World (and you can see for yourself why). I got this free pattern... and many more :-)... from Quiltville, courtesy of the very generous Bonnie Hunter. See the diamond? It is actually formed from 4 blocks (of diagonal strips) rotated and pieced together . Look below... I've got 20 blocks laid out on the floor. See how I've turned and twisted the basic diagonal blocks to form the radiating diamonds? No matching of colours, no scratching of the head - literally anything goes! This is SO fun... LOL!!! I have just 1 more diamond (4 more blocks) to go and it's done :-) ... but then, do I want a single or a double? That is the question ;-)
This is my first quilt for someone other than a member of my own family. I wasn't going to post about it for at least another month. It's a birthday present for a dear friend. I was suppose to send it out later next month but since she's in town, I gave it to her today... and now I get to show you all :-)
This is a rather funny gift cos she will need to work on it further! You see, she lives in America and I just couldn't get the right kind of batting here to finish it up. She would freeze with the flannel that I always work with (LOL!!!)
This is crazy patchwork of course, done using the stack-and-slash method. Started sometime last year, I only got to finish it two months ago. This quilt top is huge (sorry, I forgot to take the measurements but it's easily king size) and it took me some really crazy hours to complete! I worked with mainly yellows (her favourite colour) with dashes of browns & greens. It turned out really well and I am thrilled that she loves it. Happy Birthday dear friend!
...Was eager to wrap up the diamond scrappy quilt I showed off yesterday as I wanted it ready the minute I decide to head back for my parents'. So I spent the whole morning and afternoon (today being a public holiday) sewing up the backing and tying together the 3 layers of fabric (I had lined the inside with flannel so it will be nice and warm at night). I thought the checky fabric I bought a few days ago would go well with the huge diamond in front... and it did :-) But let's see how it looks displayed...
Voila!!! Yes! I love this! Even my other half was admiring it so that should say something! LOL!
Finally I'm ready to showcase my very first scrappy quilt. Measuring 82" X 82", this queen size project is built up from light and dark fabrics. As you can see, I have been working around 3 main shades - reds, browns and greens... and I just love how it has turned out!
This is definitely no week-end project. In fact, it took me weeks to gather the fabrics and months to get them to evolve into this 392-carat (392 scraps!) diamond. Although it was relatively easy to make, I won't be doing another one real soon! Getting scraps was a monumental task... I cheated in the end and bought some of the fabrics (LOL!)
Now, I'm sure you will agree that a mega project like this one deserves an extra special owner and there is none more worthy a recipient than my beloved parents. This is their belated birthday present :-) ...and I had better get down to work on the backing too or this will soon become next year's present!!! (LOL!)
...Not the live ones but these that are etched onto smooth white china...
I just acquired this 5 piece serving set today. This will come in handy when I throw a popiah (spring roll) party... or a satay (kebabs) party but of course that's just an excuse to add on to my collection of crockery (LOL!!!)
Although the design is similar to what I have, I noticed the made is different. The set is also more stoneware-like than fine bone china... but I'm not complaining :-)
EEEEEEEEK! I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into one of my favourite shops today! A coffee pot with matching cups and saucers in the same rose design as my tea set was beckoning to me from the shelf at the main entrance. It only seemed right that they came home with me so I didn't even think twice! :-)
You know, eon years ago, I had been drilled by my Home Science teacher that coffee goes into a coffeepot and never a teapot (God forbid!)... I even had my own little memory verse to help me remember the difference...
Drink hot coffee, drink hot tea Coffee in a coffeepot, not a teapot, you clod! That one may be squat and jolly But the coffeepot? She's tall and stately!
I have often wondered where my collection of rose crockery came from (if only they could speak!). Well, these ones don't say on the box but the word Japan is glazed on the bottom of the containers so I'm wondering... or is that a red herring? I've decided it doesn't matter, I still love them all - don't you? By the way, did I mention that the shop had quite a few other accessories of the same design. I just didn't have enough time to today... guess where I'll be heading first thing after work tomorrow?! LOL!
I know it's mid-week and I'm not on school break or anything but I just had to have a go at these :-) I call them Rapunzel's dream bands (LOL... I think she would rather let go her long hair than have it all braided up!) They are relatively easy to make except for the fiddly part when you have to turn the tube inside out - that took ages! - but the outcome was worth the while.
I love them, especially this one, it being a rose print of course ;-> It's not just the colours or the patterns... the fact that it's soft and gentle on my head yet able to hold back my hair (instead of those hard plastic bands with teeth biting into the scalp) makes me one to keep them all!!! ...and did you notice, they are reversible? Two in one :-) I will definitely make some for Little Miss Muffet's Closet. Well, that was a nice distraction ... now back to work and reality. Thanks for stopping by.
What do you do when you are at your busiest and you need to get away from it all? Well, I play with my fabrics... and I HAVE BEEN busy :-) Here is a whole lot that I cut up the last couple of days (weeks?)...
and pieced together using the Disappearing-9-Patch technique...
into this :-)
The colours didn't turn out like what I expected (wonder what I was expecting anyway?!!) but I do love how the arrangement of the reds resemble the wings of butterflies. I've a problem though - now I'm in a dilemma as to whether I should just finish this up as it is or to extend it to queen size. OK, I absolutely refuse to think for now. I will just stash this away first and start on something else that does not tax my grey cells. So much for my Butterflies in Flight, have a great weekend and thanks for dropping by.
Finally, another quilt completed... This one is the result of many added hours of stolen time, nap time plus a few sleepless nights :-) Well, when one is working, one has no choice but to make some sacrifices. Anyway, that is how I "make" time for my passion (obsession, my better half calls it!)
I've purposely made the quilt bigger than the standard single so this one measures a good 150cm X 186cm... should cover every inch of the body... with enough to throw over the head for those who sleep with the lights on (LOL!!!)
And now, it's time to release my baby into littlemissmuffet's care... Feeling a little pensive of course but I know whoever adopts her will love her just as much as I do, if not more.
If you have been following my blog, you will remember I was down with the pumpkin bug a few months back. Hah! Have a look at this...
I decided to make a pumpkin pincushion again this morning... to complement the etui box of course. The only problem was I ran out of the checks. Hence, the maroon suede for the bottom half :-)
What do you think of this? I just so adore the vintage rose print voile, don't you? I hope I can bare to part with this when the time comes! Hmmmm... perhaps, I should think about duplicating this... seriously (LOL!) Then again, maybe not in the near future. I just may not have the time as the school mid-year break is coming very quickly to a close. There's just so much to do before term starts again. Well, we'll see.....
I had always wanted to make another etui box ever since I successfully completed one last year. What held me back was of course the fiddleliness (if there's ever such a word... LOL!) which can equate to several hours of frustration, sweat and tears! Well, with the holidays here, I just had to give it another go :-)
First, I rummaged through my stash and found this very delicate rose print voile - just the thing to give it that vintage look :-) Then, I matched that up with a peachy check for the inside. After what seemed like endless hours, this etui box was birthed!
This time, I made a square-based box instead of the earlier pentagon-shaped one. Of course, this saved me some time but the main reason of course was the fact that I wanted a different outcome. Not bad, right?
I must say I love it... love it, love it, love it..... but do another? Hmmm... what do you think I''m thinking? LOL!!!
HELLO THERE! Look what I made today... another patchwork bag for littlemissmuffetscloset. This is so trendy with jeans and will be a great carry-all for those casual weekend outings. I used two of the test blocks from my Roses & Blues quilt project and added some vintage lace as an after thought.
This is my third attempt at fabric bags and although I enjoyed working at it and am thoroughly satisfied with the outcome, I would like to try something other than the tote for my next bag project. I sure wish there were classes here that can teach me how to make some nice dinner or party clutches... Well, until one comes along, looks like you will be seeing more totes in future - at least in different shapes and sizes I hope (LOL)! Thanks for dropping by.
While visiting blogs a few weeks ago, I came across the Disappearing 9-patch tutorial by Rachel Griffith. I had seen this pattern on quite a few quilters' projects before and had been wanting to try it but those numerous rectangles and squares just kind of put me off. So I was pleasantly surprised by the simple instructions but great outcome. Thanks a bunch Rachel :-)
Naturally, I was also eager to try out the block on a finishing. A quilt was out of the question as that would take months... at least for me (LOL)... and what I wanted was instant gratification! And so..... this was the result after some head-scratching :-)
Here is the second project of 3 that I mentioned in my last post. Actually, this piece was started last year but I got distracted half-way! So yesterday I thought I would try to at least finish up piecing everything together. The going was better than expected and I managed to get all the borders done :-)
This quilt, in lovely shades of blue, beige and green, is worked round the darker rose print. I wanted to try sashing again but dreaded the extra work so I had the blocks joined up into bigger blocks of four first. This makes much lighter work as there is less sashing involved. The final product turned out pretty neat and I am more than pleased.
When the whole works is done, I intend to put this into littlemissmuffetscloset. Meanwhile, I must learn the art of "letting go". I tend to get a tad too attached to all my "babies" :-( Have a great weekend.
... to catch up on all my projects. Wishful thinking, I know :-( You see, while tidying up (or trying to, at least) my sewing corner, I noticed the 2 scrappy quilts I started some time ago that urgently need my attention. However at the moment, I'm working on 3 really exciting projects so I've had to make a mental note to come back to them later. What's taking up all my attention, you ask? Here, let me show you my latest "latest" - waiting to be pieced together :-)
Don't you just love the colour combination? Needless to say it was love at first sight the minute I saw the rose print in the shop. I found the unusual pastel blue-green dotty material among my stash and decided to use it because it gave such an interesting contrast to the light peachy fabrics I used. Even the simple gingham had its role. And in case you think it was a breeze for me here, I assure you I had had to work on it for several days. In fact, my initial blocks didn't come out the way I wanted and had to be recycled so look what I churned out...
This pretty patchwork tote is now sitting in the blogshop http://littlemissmuffetscloset.blogspot.com my daughter set up recently. Do feel free to pop over for a visit. You might want to take her (and other goodies) home ;-)
I know... I'm kinda behind in all my projects. I've really been bogged down by school work of late. Then, with dad suddenly taken ill two weeks ago, I've also had much on my mind and crafts just wasn't part of that picture. Thank goodness he's now on the road to recovery and to celebrate that, let me share with you the other half of my hoard (as promised)...
Now, what do you say to this? Pretty huh? Of course, I DID try not to give in to impulsive shopping but I guess I didn't resist too hard because the next thing I knew I was walking out of the shop grinning from ear to ear. As if that wasn't enough, I went out a day later and added these cookie jars!
I am thoroughly excited, totally enraptured! I've just finished piecing together Roses & Romance and after putting in the borders, I thought I would just sit back for some reflection.
Well, with all humility, I think this piece of work is just fabulous and I am really proud of it . Looking at it, I feel so... irrepressibly exalted? elated? exhilarated? Words fail me (LOL!!!)
This project is definitely my most satisfying so far. I have also changed my mind about keeping Roses & Romance for myself as there is someone (my other darling girl) who deserves my blood (poked my finger while pinning the pieces together!) sweat (sewing in the hot afternoon is not my cup of tea!) and love (this goes without saying) :-) Deb will be graduating this July and what better gift can I give her (without burning HUGE holes in my ever shrinking pockets) than this? :-) :-) :-)
OK, I must scoot out to town to get the flannel and backing material now. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend :-)
While out window shopping with a friend yesterday, I came across some pretty crockery bearing the very design I am collecting. Needless to say, I brought (... I mean bought) some of them home :-) Here's part of the hoard...
First, I was taken up by the very unusual shape of these decanters which came in 3 sizes. I got a large one to use as a teapot...
and a medium one as a creamer. I also found this cute little jar I thought will do great for my sugar...
The cup and saucer came in a slightly different colour (more pinkish brown than pinkish purple). Unfortunately, I couldn't resist the unique shape of the saucer... so I picked up six of each :-)
Here then is the set I put together. The other half of my hoard? Let's leave that to another day, shall we? :-) Have a good weekend!
Isn't she a darling?! I'm referring to the coffee mug below of course...
Ever since I bought the Rose tea set, I've been meaning to get some coffee mugs to match up (I appreciate that not everyone is a tea freak like me!) However, this task proved more difficult than I thought (living in a small town, choices are sadly lacking)... until I was introduced to another rose design by a colleague this morning - who also gleefully told me she bought up the last four mugs at the shop :-(
This inverted-pear-shaped china from Avon is covered with an abundance of roses of an almost similar pattern as mine and costs only RM6.90. Of course, the first thing I did after school was to scurry off to the nearest Avon dealer, praying hard as I drove along that I would not get the "Out-of-stock" response!
VOILA! Did you notice that as pleased as Punch expression? My turn... I bought up the last six mugs in the shop (LOL!)
I wonder when the sewing ladies want their next get-together? They can have the privilege of using them first ... and I will have the pleasure of keeping you all posted :-)
In another few days, my younger one will be leaving home to pursue the beginning of her dreams - she's heading for the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur where we have enrolled her for the South Australian Matriculation Program. Well, what better gift is there to go with her than a quilt made with warm loving tender care? It will definitely be a wonderful reminder of her home, a place where she knows she's loved - and a sanctuary she can ALWAYS return to whether she is 18 or 81 (LOL!!!)
Looks familiar? I actually made the quilt top some time ago but never got to do the backing - no excuses, I procrastinate on them all the time (LOL)! Usually I would start off on another quilt as soon as I finish piecing the blocks of the other - my weakness! Well, at least I got the backing for this one done :-)
Because of the weather here, I usually do not put in any batting. However, I did line this quilt with flannel since it is for use in an air-con room. I like the feel and weight of the finished piece and I think I will probably do the same for my other quilt tops.
For this crazy patchwork, I used the stack-and-slash technique on 7 different types of fabrics. I started out with 10" X 10" squares but these were later trimmed down to 8" X 8". The piecing-together was a breeze since no sashing was involved. The finished work measures 54" X 68" and is made up of 48 blocks (6 across and 8 down).
Well, I have certainly enjoyed making this quilt and now it's time for it to live up to its usefulness. So... Crazy quilt patchwork silk My Sleepy Princess All tucked in, ready to rest Keep her snug, keep her warm Let God's sweet dreams form!
OK, you can have a peek at my progress on Roses & Romance. I finished making all 63 blocks this evening :-) and as expected, I just couldn't wait to piece them together so that kind of settled yesterday's dilemma - I left out the sashing. I also decided to do a 7 X 9 this round instead of the previous 6 X 8. That's because this one's for me, remember? (LOL!!!)
This is by far my most exciting piece and I should know cos I've been grinning from ear to ear the whole night. Yeap, I'm sure this quilt will bring the user endless sweet dreams :-) Talking of which, it's time to hit the sack. Good night all...
I'm in love with my new project! And this time, it's for ME (LOL)!!! I've even got a name for it - Roses & Romance :-)
I have had the rose print and eyelet fabric stashed away for quite a while (probably intended for a dress or a skirt) but I finally decided I could put them to better use in a quilt. So, out they came.....
Here are some blocks already made up. As you can see, I'm never tired of crazy patchwork.
For now, I've just laid the blocks next to each other (and I must say I love the effect) but I wonder if it would not be even better if I were to put in some sashing... Well, we'll see :-) Thanks for dropping by.
Like a toddler learning to walk, I am slowly making some headway. I know the tension is not quite right and I may even have added or minus a stitch somewhere but I'm determined to complete this bookmark... and I will post it when it's done - even though the end result has become a dirty grey (LOL!!!)
YES! Tina's gift arrived yesterday and I just can't thank her enough for her generosity. She had these cross-stitch magazines that she wanted to give away and all we had to do was ask. Well, Tina not only sent me the mags I requested but also two more others. I was truly over the moon and would have put up this post earlier. However, I could only run through the magazines today as I had to give them time to "recuperate"! I'm not joking :-( See my pix and you will understand what I mean. The postman couldn't get the package into my letter box and so he conveniently just left it on top. The rain came and the rest was history! I know, I really felt like crying! I had to so gingerly separate the wet pages to dry. Thankfully, they didn't rip apart...
Twenty-four hours later... you can see they survived the mistreatment! Well, I have already picked out one or two patterns for myself. I will be sharing these treasures with the ladies in church and hope to encourage some of them to pick up cross-stitching again. Wouldn't it be nice to have some kindred spirits close at hand? :-) Thanks for the blessing, Tina {{{HUGS}}}
It's been a while since we ladies had what I call a show-and-tell. So when someone suggested morning tea today, eight of us came together, bearing empty stomachs (lol) - and all our handiwork!
Now, when women gather, they are never short of food, agree? Look at this yummy spread below... Thanks a bunch to our generous hostess :-)
Right, so much for the appetizer (lOl!!!), back to the main agenda... Here is a friend's first. She did a replica of my first project, but with different fabrics of course. Turned out pretty cool, eh?
Of course some of us are already onto our second or third project - and one has even lost-count!!! Look at this lady's beauty of "darks and lights". She's making a queen-size bed spread out of this. It's not finished so I will take more pictures of it only when she's done. Besides patchwork, we are also diversifying :-) Some of us are going to pick up the dying craft of tatting. Note I used "dying"? We had to scour the whole of Alor Star for the shuttle and thread and only finally found some left over stock in an old dingy shop - the price was hardly yester-years' though! Anyway, I've done crochet and knitting before but never tatting. Somehow, I've always had this picture of myself with two left hands! Worse, when I picked up the shuttle and thread, I was all toes!!! The shuttle was dropping all over, the thread got tangled up every now and then, the knots wouldn't fall into place... However, I will persevere. So watch out for my tatting project :-)
I loved my Scrappy Trips Around the World so much that I decided to do another. However, this time, I gave it a new twist. I arranged my blocks into a single radiating diamond (above) instead of multiple ones like my previous (below).
Both make use of 36 blocks of scrappy 2 1/2" X 2 1/2" squares and when finished, the new project should measure the same size... provided of course I stick to the same measurements for the borders. It's kind of difficult to decide which I like better, suffice to say both took my breath away (LOL!)
