"Focus and Smart".. done before NYE!

Today I finished this "clean look" quilt, before New Year Eve.. I'll be going to a party tonight!. 

My son said:"Finally mom you finished it!"..It took so long to finish this project, too busy doing some other things made this project untouched. This is going to be his quilt, I give it a tittle "FOCUS and SMART". I mix and match two blocks, 12 Ohio Star blocks and 6 Log Cabin blocks. My son is a smart young man (He's 18 last week) and he needs to focus on his dream...I wish him all the best.

Ohio Star means Smart.

Log Cabin block means Focus.

Simple Tutorial.

Cut:

Red  3 1/2" square (1x)

White 2"x 3 1/2" (2x)

White 2" x 6 1/2" (2x)

Blue   2" x 6 1/2" (2x)

Blue   2" x 9 1/2" (2x)

White 2" x 9 1/2" (2x)

White 2" x 12 1/2" (2x)

Sew white strips to red, left and right side.

Sew white strips on upper and below.

Next, sew blue strips with the same steps.

And last the white strips again.

Ohio Star tutorial, here.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!

Charm Pack Baby Quilt

I have 1 set of charm pack (42 squares "Grow With Me" from MODA), nice soft fabric with cute design.

I made half-square triangles from 5"x 5" precut fabric. I tried some background fabric for these nine four-path blocks but I prefer it on the white. It looks modern and nice. I hope this baby quilt will done by the end of this year :)

I took this picture for an idea about colors because sometime I will need it.. these yarns look so delicious (LoL).. My friend will give birth next month.. Ohh, I wish I still have time for knitting a tiny little hat and shoes too. 

LeMoyne Star : Big Star

Why would I want to sew fast? Do I need to speed it up?

Well, actually I like hand sewing, making applique project and sitting on my coach and listened to slow music.  But I want to challenge myself, so I chose an easy project with 24"x24" block size. I had to learn the tricks how to finish it quickly and correctly.

I made this LeMoyne Star block about 2 weeks ago, but I didn't feel to continue it.. I wasn't in the mood so I put it aside.

Yesterday, I started this project again...

Get Set !!! .. Set the right tools. Cut all the piecing fabrics or used precut fabrics.

Ready.. Sew !!! Make sure your spare bobbins loaded. Check the seam allowance, if your machine don't have a 1/4-inch foot you can put a strip of masking tape as a 1/4-inch sewing guide.

Chain sewing!.  Saves time and thread when sewing multiple units.

Speed-piecing!. Then press carefully, place an iron near the working space.

7 done, 2 more to go!

This song became the background music while I'm speeding up my work. The song tittle doesn't match but the music is great for a high speed spirit.. and I love Rob Thomas! (...)

Something came up.. Scary bee suddenly appeared at the window in front of my sewing machine. This buzzing bee scared me, I had to stop my work and run...

Today, I finish 2 more LeMoyne Star blocks and assembling the quilt.

Fabrics Hunting : Tanah Abang

Last week my sister asked me if I want to join her to do "Fabric Hunting".
Her text message : Sis, do you wanna go to Brotherland this weekend?.
I wondered: What is Brotherland?.. Is it a new place like Disneyland?.
Then she called me with her big laugh. It's Tanah Abang, sis!...(LOL) She got me!
( In Bahasa Indonesia: Tanah means Land, and Abang means Brother)

So we went to Tanah Abang yesterday morning. Tanah Abang is subdistrict of Central Jakarta, Indonesia. The subdistrict hosts the biggest textile market in Southeast Asia, Tanah Abang Market.

The best time to go there is in the morning (around 9AM we already there), because in the afternoon it's very crowd. People come from everywhere and the traffic was worst (we don't want to get stuck in there).

My sister is the best guide in Pasar Tanah Abang, she knows exactly the way from one shop to another shop. I always followed her, I don't want to get lost there.
Just in case I need to go there again, I have to remember the shop's name and their places so I took some picture of the shops with my phone camera... but still I don't think I can go there by my self :).

"Sumber Katun" is my favorite shop. Pak Mulyadi the owner is a nice guy. His fabric collections and the prices are nice. I like him because he will tell you if there is a defect on the fabrics, and he will let you choose if you want to buy it or not, it's ok with him.

Here are the other shops that sell cotton fabrics.

 And here's the results of my hunt..

and these batiks are my favorite.

Quilter's say:
I love quilting and have plenty of material witnesses... And my husband lets me buy all the fabrics I can hide! (LOL)

Spinning Rotating Mat.

I have a new tool in my sewing room. My sister in law bought it for me. It's Spinning Rotating Mat .. Ohh, I love how it works!.

Rotating Mat, making quick work of your entire quilt cutting with one easy movement. 

Eliminates the need to turn your body, or work your way around a project. Simply cut, rotate, and cut again for quick, effortless results. 

The convenient 17" square size is perfect for taking to class with you where you may not have a lot of room. And I had a bag for it, a perfect Batik bag that I bought from Yogyakarta.

Quilting Projects and Cookies

Someone said: One quilting project, like one cookie, is never enough !

I said : Yup, agree! :)

White Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies, so yum!

(View) My first.

(View) My second.

(View) My third.

Chocolate Chips Cookies, do you want some more?

Xmas Table Runner

My quilting friends asked for a fun project, they want to make it as a Christmas gift.
I learned "Less Than Traditional" technique when I joined "Cipete Quilt Community Gathering" last month. I love this pattern, easy to make.. and I know my friends are going to love it too!

Tutorial here.
I used two different reds for the top, not because I planned it that way, but I run out the poinsettia fabric. I fussy cut them and I've got only 10 circles.. but thanks God I have another red fabric. And still, it turn out nicely! :)

I liked to make my friends happy when I give them the pattern. So I put my pancake recipe in the middle of the template.

And I told them to make a lot - lot of pancakes if they want to make a blanket.. and we all laughed together!

Hmmm.. should I make a lot of pancake too for this one? ... LoL

Tutorial: Less Then Traditional Technique

Less Then Traditional Technique used 2 pattern: circle and square. And we need 2 different fabrics, or you can use more if you like.

I made 6 1/2" circle template and 4 1/2" square template.

Using the circle template, mark the circle on the wrong side of the fabric. 

Place 2 fabric right side together, then sew on the line.

Cut the circle with 1/4" seam allowance.

Mark 11/2" line on the fabric that will be for the top.

Place the square template for your guide when you mark the 11/2" line. 

Cut the line using the sharp scissor. (Only on one side of the fabric!!!)

Then cut all around the seam allowance about 1/2" distance.

Turn all the circle through the hole.

Press them.

Draw the line using the square template on the top side. (Draw only on the side that we will join/sew them)

And place the hole on side that's going to be in the hidden curve.

Pin really well at the same point of your two circles.
Then sew on the line, sew only one curve first.

After flatted the curve on the first row, you can go to the next row.
Sew together first row and second row.
Applique the curves, with hand sewing or machine.

Notes: 
If you notice on the picture above, for the top I used two fabric: red with small motif and red poinsettia flower motif. I will tell you later why I made the circles with two differrent red, wait until this project done ;) 

On the picture below I fussy cut the poinsettia flower, isn't nice?

Life is Beautiful

Every morning the air was chill and fresh in this rainy season. While I was enjoying my morning coffee I did some drawing for my next project. 

My morning coffee 01 : I am home, the place where I belong. (I just got back from Bali)

My morning coffee 02 : In the fate of love. We loved with a love that was more then love.

My morning coffee 03 : Heart is a basket of love.

My morning coffee 04 : The butterfly counts not month, but moments, and yet has time enough.

My morning coffee 05 : Love is like wind, you can't see it but you can feel it.

My morning coffee 06 : One should grow in love, like a tree thats grows. Takes root for trunk and branches, leaves for nourishment, and age for strength.

My morning coffee 07 : Home is where my coffee always tastes so yummy!

Soon I will start to sew,  after I finish a few more patterns. I still need two or three more block designs. The theme of this project is "Life is Beautiful". I've got flower's garden, lovely hearts, basket of flowers, butterflies, stars in the sky, trees, and home sweet home.

I think I will draw some pets, like cat and rabbit  to complete it :)