My first group quilt :)

Sometime back, 6 of us from our FB quilt group got together to make a baby quilt or one of the other members who just delivered a baby boy. Realistically, I knew it was gonna be tough to commit to the project, but I went ahead and signed up for it anyway :) A forced deadline is always a good incentive to start & finish something new :)

The subject was appliqué, any design and color, on a blue block. I wasn't ambitious, especially since it's my first ever appliqué work, so I chose a simple dinosaur motif.

If you look closely, the machine satin stitch is irregular in places (especially around corners), so I'm glad you can't see them! To make up for the simple design, I added some hand embroidery in dark green DMC floss.

The other ladies did a fantastic job on the quilt. I especially love the bright rocket! I don't remember who pieced it together, but Kak Aida did the hand quilting and it's yummy...

The smiling, chubby recipient is Zila's baby... Isn't he just so adorable on that quilt?

It was a fun experience, and I'd definitely do it again in the future! I missed out on 2 more group quilts after this one due to work commitments, but you betcha I'll be signing up again soon!

Stuck..

Things are a little slow on the sewing front right now. Last weekend we had a family wedding, so my sewing time was pretty non-existent except for some last-minute alterations to my daughter's baju kurung. I did manage to attempt some piecing of the next pleated wristlet, but since I didn't get around to cutting out the lining yet things are put on hold for now. I'm trying this version without a quilted, padded lining to see how it would be.

I feel somewhat stuck... I want to sew, but between too many things that I want to try, have to make and wish I could make, I feel a bit overwhelmed by the possibilities. Add to that the limited opportunities I have to sew, the (self-imposed) pressure to make full use of any available sewing time is internally stressing me out.

Ok, am putting a stop to the whining now... Need to focus on the next item to make, from all the things on my wishlist... Maybe a few minutes sketching out a rough pattern & imagining the possible fabric combos would do me some good. Isn't that really a great thing to look forward to? :)

New book!!

Well, not so new la, but still my most recent sewing book...

I've only tried the bag on the cover so far... Relatively easy instructions to follow, so I'm looking forward to trying out another pattern soon.

I've got several other books on my 'want' list... Have to find a way to keep my inner shopaholic in check :p

I miss sewing!!!

I had to travel overseas for 11 days recently, and I gotta say, I miss sewing! When the departure was near, I realized that I sadly didn't have a portable needle case, not even a handmade one!! I should get cracking on a cute one soon for future use hehehe...

I stacked up on potential portable projects... I stashed 2 charm packs in my luggage, bought some tiny hexagon templates as well as my larger ones, loads of tiny scraps supposedly for the tiny templates plus the nearly-completed set of potholders for my friend that I wanted to handquilt.

After all that packing, what did I accomplish? In the end I only managed to make some large hexagons and sew some snap buttons on a fabric tray I almost finished heheheh... I had such big plans :p

Of pouches and potholders

Yesterday was another good crafting/sewing day. Since I'll be travelling for almost 2 weeks soon, I wanted to cram as much sewing as I can in the time I have left! Next Saturday will be the last Saturday before my trip... Gasp!

Anyway, I had my goals set down for yesterday. I wanted to complete at least 2 more multipurpose pouches (one of which I plan to use as a gift for my just-married staff, to put the wedding card & angpau we collected in), as well as get cracking on some potholders my colleague requested. I was planning to hand quilt the potholders when I travel heheh...

The pouches went over pretty quickly, save for some minor grievances with the machine in the beginning (the more advanced it is, the more delicate *sigh*)

Then I pored over my book again for the potholder effort. Trying to make sense of the pictures and adapting the design & measurements were a bit of a challenge (the book was in Japanese), but I basically winged it when it came to certain parts I wasn't clear on. Just finished whip-stitching them closed today, so I can show them to my frien tomorrow & bring them along for a bit of hand sewing later yeay!

It was a good day!

Now, I have 5 days to think about what else to make next Saturday that I can hopefully bring along for the trip... Too bad I can't sew on the flight!

Productive weekend :)

After a very tiring week (which will be repeated over the next few weeks... *sigh*), I hunkered down to business on Saturday!

Got out tracing paper for a new pattern I wanted to try out & got to work tracing & cutting it out. Then spent some time trying to choose fabric that I like but won't miss if the project turns out bad hahaha...

The new bag went pretty well in the beginning, until when I hit the handles... I tell you, I'm sorely tempted to never make this bag again!!!

It got done anyway, and I guess it wasn't too bad :) It's not as nice as I thought it'd be though, not really my kinda bag... Next attempt would be a pleated pouch perhaps :)

This was a productive way to spend the weekend :)

P/s got my daughter to take these pics hehe... Good thing the bag hid my tummy!

Thank goodness for quick projects!

Got this done in a jiffy last night, yeay! So I got to satisfy the sewing urge a little... But then once I got going, I wished I has time to do more!

That's OK though, at least I felt better once I was done :) I admit, it went a lot faster cos everything was cut & interfaced, so all I had to do was put it all together hehehe... I need to have more stuff all cut out & ready whenever I needed a quick sewing fix!

Now all I need to do is sew on the Velcro tabs and add a decorative button... Then it's good to go!

The urge....

... to cut fabric and sew is very strong!!! Especially when I'm as tired out and stressed out as I am right now...

My head's too tired to think of what to make though.... Maybe I'll just finger some fabric first...

Of coasters & pincushions...

I set a silent goal for myself this past week, to sew at least a little bit (1/2 to 1 hr) each night. I had gotten started on these coasters last weekend after working on a wonky log-cabin block (which I'll share once I decide what to do with it :p), and wanted to keep the momentum going.

By Friday, I had these all completed and blind-stiched too... a set of 4 unique, wonky scrappy coasters :) I just love the bright fabrics!

They're even reversible, if you feel like using the other side for a change :) the backing used home dec cotton.

Friday, I finally tried my hand at making a pincushion. When you think about too many patterns that you wanna try, it can actually delay the process of actually making the item itself (very common happening for me :p). In the end I just went with some binding scraps we had in the house and fashioned some patchwork out of them... Whaddaya think?

I'll put all these in the shop for sale... just as soon as I figure out the costing & price :)

All in all, not a bad week right? It's nice to put your hand to something other than customer orders for a change, and enhance your skills in the process :)

Have a good crafting week ahead everyone!

Long-overdue update...

I know it's been a really long while since my last blog post... too many internet restrictions during the day, no time at home to go online after work (adjusting to a new work place too!), little kiddies + hubby + home to manage as well in the limited time available... this poor blog's been neglected...

Thankfully I did manage to squeeze in some sewing each week (well, 1 day each week only to be honest), in between fulfilling orders...

Tried out this modified version of diaper/cosmetic/multipurpose pouch... one for myself, one as a gift and another as a sample for the shop (the sample's been sold! :D now gotta make another one soon...) I love how simple yet practical it is! It fits 2 diapers, one bottle of baby powder, one nappycloth (as emergency towel if necessary) plus one romper... roomy kan?

My mom & I rushed this quilt for my cousin's new baby... simple center fabric, one border plus hand-quilted circles in the center & stitch-in-the-ditch quilting around the center panel...


I have a mini project completed too... will put that up soon! And as always, there's a long list of things that I wanna try to make... I'll get to all that eventually, insya-Allah!

We got a bunch of gorgeous new fabric for the shop too... drop by Beverly Collection or look us up on facebook (Beverly Collection) for sneak peeks!

In the meantime, keep crafting people! :)

Time Wanted!

I've got so many things in my head all planned out, future projects - a laptop sleeve, a freestyle mini quilt, a handbag for my daughter in time for Raya, a patchwork bag experiment - on top of the current things we're making for the shop... and no time to do any sewing!!!

Sigh... Didn't get any sewing done for my mom last week... This week, only managed to do some hand-quilting earlier today but no more... ironing chores are waiting for me :(

Here's to more craft work time this week!

Sewing dreams...

With the new baby around, I'm having less and less time to sew :( I can't even sew when he's asleep, cos he sleeps only with me beside him... so of course la mama pun tumbang then hehehe...

The only guaranteed time I have to do that, is on Saturdays when I go to the shop with my mom... there, I'll have a few hours to cut fabrics, dream of projects to work on, sew, and play with fabrics... bliss... :) So far over 2 Saturdays, I've only managed to cut pieces for 2 bags on 1 day, and sew them up the next Saturday... at this rate, it'll take me forever to start & finish all the projects I have in mind...

I'm looking forward to creating my own sewing corner in our house soon... imagining the perfect sewing/cutting table, plus shelves/cabinets for fabrics and notions... and hopefully by then I can slip away for short periods away from sleeping baby and do some creating... A woman can dream, can't she? :)