new mug rug

Do you know what’s the rage these days? Apparently it’s a mug rug! It’s a fancy word for a mini coaster quiltn thingie, haha… I had to try out free motion quilting the other day so I made this one real quick. I am SO scared of stippling and you could definitely see it in this one. Oh, well.. practice makes perfect. I did try it out on a bigger piece and it’s a complete mess. I just don’t understand how it works. Any tips from stippling experts?

On another side, there’s happy, happy news! I’ll be at the Quilt Market in Houston this weekend, yay!! I’ve been busy making the perfect bag to bring there. I’ve made two, and neither feels just right. If I still have the time, I might make another one. It’s hard deciding what to bring and wear… there’s too many fabrics to use and I want to use them all while walking around the booths. Oohhh, I just can’t wait for the weekend to arrive!

one

My boy is one! We had his birthday party at a local park last week and it was fabulous. I ordered the food and the cake from my friends who loved to cook and bake, so the preparation is stress-free. I only have to prepare the goodie bags and sew a shirt for the birthday boy.

The cake is specially ordered to match his fishies shirt. I love, love, love it that they went together swimmingly! When we cut the cake, all the kids want a piece of fish on theirs. The small kid on the boat is ordered from here. It totally makes the cake.

The shirt is, of course, from an Oliver + S pattern and Heather Ross fabric. It’s freaking difficult to sew the collar on so tiny a shirt, but I kept thinking, ok it’s only one shirt and it’s for a special occasion. It does have one tiny pucker on the back neck, but with a perfect pair sleeves. I can live with it. And how can you resist those fishies?

Happy birthday to my sweet baby!

kitchen swap

I signed up for a Munki kitchen swap ages ago and I’m ashamed to say I just finished it last week. I had to extend the deadline by two weeks, with a special agreement with my partner, of course. It’s on it’s way to Australia so I’ll just post a few pictures for now. We agreed on some coasters and a table topper with a touch of linen.

Here’s a neat stack of the coasters.

That goldfish one on top is my absolute favorite! Almost everything is pieced from my scraps, I just have too many of them. I seriously have to thin out my scrap box to make room for some more. It’s amazing how those scraps could fill up a space so quickly.

On other news, I’ve just come back from a week long cruise in Alaska!  I didn’t say anything because I’ve been reading everywhere NOT to post what you’re doing and will be doing for safety reasons. Or is that only a concern for Facebooking and Twittering people?

Anyway, the views are breath taking and the whole trip is wonderful, not counting the horrible plane ride to and from Seattle with two kids. Luckily, the in-laws are traveling with us so we have more helping hands. They are leaving us in three days after a six week long visit, that would mean I’ll have to cook again! Boo…

Now, I’m officially back on crafting mode and I have an ice cream date with Cristin coming soon!

more olympic knitting – baby version

I managed to get a few shots of baby playing (or getting tangled up) with my knitting before his big sister said, ” No, baby! No toy!”

ice cream!

stockings – 2009

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying your gifts! I surely love wearing my new necklace (thank you, Papa!) and reading my new book. Our Christmas tree is still in our living room and Abby kept on asking me, where’s presents? I guess that’s a sign for me to clear it out soon.

Here’s our Christmas stockings for this year. I used this tutorial to make the plush initials and pinned it to the stockings with some safety pins. The alphabets are real easy to make, I was tempted to make more if not for the pressing time. A great way to use scraps and those pesky small pieces of batting. I just have to sew slowly, but like she said, no one will know if your O is crooked.

Papa is off for the whole week and we have a new dresser and a big girl’s bed to built from Ikea. Hot chocolates, leftover Christmas cookies, and a New Year’s Eve potluck is on the way. I’m signing off until next week!

on top of the world

Almost two months and look at those cheeks. Abby was never this chubby so I’m always amazed when I see him.

No crafty things to show you because I’m busy working on my swap projects!

show and tell

Stash and Dash bags from an Amy  Butler’s pattern. I get to keep one and the others are for my mom.

Pincushions made totally from scraps. Yay for scraps!

Big sister’s mess and little brother at three and a half weeks.

one week

baby!

September 2, 2009

1.26 am

6 lbs 11 oz

Baby Christopher is here and I’m officially on maternity leave. He came two days ahead of his scheduled c-section but otherwise we’re all doing fine!