Had a bit of a dilemma. A friend requested for a baby quilt and although Baby is not due for some time still, I was apprehensive whether I could meet the deadline. So when my 1-week mid-term break started a few days ago, I plunged into the project and can now finally show off this :-)

She asked for a sky blue theme. This is my interpretation... a combination that is sweet, whimsical and shabby chic.

I decided not to follow any specific pattern or measurements as I had limited stock of the materials I picked. With that issue settled, I just allowed my imagination to take over and my inspiration took flight :-)

The blocks were getting a little monotonous until I added the thin blue black border. I didn't want it too overwhelming so I used the dusky blue polka dotty fabric (3 pats on the back for stashing this some time last year! LOL!) to bring down the contrast.

I lined the quilt with fleece and backed it using fine checks in baby blue. The finished quilt measures 36" X 45", slightly larger than the standard size of 32" X 40".

I wanted to do stitch-in-a-ditch to hold the 3 layers together but it didn't turn out like what I wanted. I finally opted for the traditional hand-tying technique (back breaking as I was working on the floor!)

Labels: 2011, Baby Quilt, Craft, Patchwork

See? Not very neat because there were so many layers. But this was the best that I could do... and just to give you an idea how obsessed I was with sewing straight lines, this project took me more than 5 hours and at the cost of 2 broken sewing machine needles! :-)

However, I do like the pencil case and I will probably be churning out more soon :-) Thanks for dropping by. Have a great weekend.

Labels: 2011, Craft, Patchwork, Pencil Case

It took me a few years but I finally made good my promise to my daughter. I sat down this morning and made her the bible cover she wanted :-)

I know I have been sitting on this for too long... 5? 6 years? Perhaps even more? I guess the idea of trying to make something to fit was just far too daunting during the busy schooldays. But since it's now the long school break, I have no excuses. LOL!

This lovely huge silver vintage button was not what I picked for the bible cover. I had actually sewn up a smaller, off-white flower-shaped button which I thought matched the white polka dots perfectly (but which my daughter thought otherwise!) so that's how we ended with this one.

Labels: 2010, Bible Cover, Patchwork

Getting carried away, I know! Just can't seem to get tired of making these - which is a good thing cos I keep remembering dear friends I have left out... but these will be the last batch... The rest, I will have to make do with some other gifts.


I'm looking forward to the new year. I hope to get back to my patchwork quilt after this... and maybe some cross-stitch projects too. There are two or three that have caught my eye. Meanwhile, have a great weekend! I know I will. Love the last minute Christmas shopping - such fun :-)

Labels: 2008, Crafts, Patchwork

What sex is a Christmas tree? Male or female? FEMALE, of course - it wears a skirt!!! LOL!!! Almost forgotten about this little treasure of mine as it has been so "safely" kept away :-) Don't you think it's beautiful?


A dear friend of mine sewed this some years ago and it holds many precious memories of her, especially so now that we are thousands of miles apart. Just love all the bright and Christmas-y colours :-)

Labels: 2008, Christmas Tree Skirt, Craft, Patchwork

Completed another two runners over the last couple of days (in between spring cleaning and house decorating... LOL). This one is going to be a Christmas gift for a friend in the States, which means I better rush it off to the post office later today.

Notice that the table runner can also be used as a chair back? :-)

Here's the other displayed as a Christmas wall hanging...

Told you I was running out of Christmas fabrics :-( but I think this one got away! Adding the wreathe gave it the right feel. I may just keep this for myself - I kinda fell in love with the paisley borders :-)

Hope I can make a few more before "closing shop" for Christmas... Wouldn't want to turn this passion into a nightmare!!! LOL!

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

Our patchwork group met for tea yesterday and although a few had gone off for their year-end break, we still had a good time... and quite some ambitious plans!!! There's been a suggestion to do a friendship quilt for the church. For this, we need at least 10 - 12 kindred spirits. At this juncture, we are even thinking about "importing" back a few friends who have moved away from our area. The idea is to take up only one block each. It's going to be a free-for-all and the design will be controlled only as far as colour and size are concerned. This should be interesting - if it comes to pass (LOL!)...

We are also thinking about putting some of our stuff up for sale (to finance our passion!). However, none of us has any experience in business or marketing. For starters, an IT savvy friend has helped me put up a table runner on e-bay to test out the market. Nope, not this one here :-)

This is a piece I churned out this morning... which already has a home and is therefore not for sale :-)... A friend shared this design with me. It's a freebie from Cherry Lane.

More table runners before long? Probably... LOL!!! Thanks for dropping by and happy stitching, patchwork or otherwise :-)

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

Another table runner sewn up and ready to move to its new home. This time a more Christmas-y effect was achieved using red tartan (I totally forgot I have this in my stash).




Let's see how it looks displayed on my old cane furniture... OK, passed the test ;-)

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

With me and my big mouth promising to come up with Christmas gifts for friends (the kind that you make yourself!), I thought I had better get my act together today and start the production line moving! Three hours on and this is the result...

Hmmm... maybe I should not have stinged on my Christmas fabrics (but I'm in short supply and I have to ration that if I'm thinking about doing more). Can you see my little snowmen? Aren't they just adorable? ...Maybe I should dig deeper into my stash, I think I need more reds and greens, yes?

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

With Christmas round the corner, I was inspired to piece up a table runner. I couldn't find any ready pattern so I cooked this one up! It took a tad longer than expected... lot of trial and error... and plenty of patience (Lol).

Well, it turned out pretty neat, I must say. I just love the star in the centre (it took like forever to get that together) and the Christmas-y colours. And just to let you into the secret, my initial idea was to have 3 stars in a row but I was just too impatient to see the outcome!

Here's the back... I used red checks... and a little red tassel to finish off the end. And now to let you see how it looks displayed...

There! What do you think? And my display table? It's just an old sewing machine but it has a pride of place in the house. Quite an antique actually. The machine was already missing when we found it but I wasn't too bothered because I was more interested in the legs. It didn't cost us much those days but I'm sure I would have to pay a small fortune by today's standard.

Hmmm... some what bare, you say? I agree whole-heartedly! Time to go Christmas shopping :-)

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

At the moment, my friends and I are into quite a bit of patchwork. Here's what one of them have to show...

Using the same technique (strip-piecing) she did for her first two projects (both were blankets) she churned out this chair pad over a weekend... no sweat :-)

Her latest is this piano cover. Notice the colours? Such vibrant yet pleasing hues for the eyes. Naturally, it has become the topic of conversation for those visiting her. I wonder what she will cook up next :-)

Labels: 2008, Craft, Patchwork

OK, I'm back... for a while at least. Have had to take a hiatus to attend to the family and some health issues that came up. Here, I thank God for the support given by friends and loved ones. I know I may still have to run off again when the need arises, but that did not stop me embarking on a new project :-) For the past two days, I've actually managed to spend some time on my latest passion. Here's a peek...

I hope I have not bitten more than I can chew (Lol)... because this round, the finished piece is good for a double. The design is by Jullie Wallace who took inspiration from the 1890s scrap quilts she saw while travelling in America. Mine will probably not be reminiscent of the colours of that period (Remember, the fabric stores here are rather pathetic) but I do hope I can at least re-create the patterns of that elegant era. The project so far...

I'm really enjoying this. Since it's a scrap quilt and there's really no particular arrangement of the blocks, I just can't wait to see the outcome. Also, I love the fact that I'm finally getting to use up all my "bits and pieces" :-) Well, time to get back to more stitching... and thanks again for dropping by!

Labels: 2008, Crafts, Patchwork