Bitty Flower Table Topper

I started this last summer, using scraps a little pieces of some really pretty cloth. My Mom got me an acrylic template and pattern from a quilt shop in Temecula (when I look up the information, I'll put in the link), so cutting out the pieces was easy. But, I wasn't precise enough on sewing the pieces properly, and ended up with a lopsided circle...oops! I had to fold over a few of the petals to make a proper circle, and from a distance, I think it turned out pretty nice. Don't look too closely though...

The yellow petal was folded over to balance out the circle

I blanket-stitch-appliqued a center over in the middle

And added some hand-stitching as well as laizy-daisy embroidery with beads for effect.

Julia claimed it at some point and asked me to add some green, so the binding uses a Moda spring fabric which I think sets the whole thing off nicely. (Wine bottle is not for Julia!)

A second flower is in the works, all done in Japanese fabrics. Pictures coming soon!

Bento Bags

With three kids needing oBento every day, I set out to make them some cute bags. These are the first attempts, more to come in the future. They turned out just a wee bit too small to include the chopstick cases, but otherwise are really cute!

A tote bag with handles style, including a closing on top to give your lunch some privacy.

The girls want me to try making one with a thermal lining and a pocket for an ice-pack to keep lunch during the summer...that's next on my loooooooong list of projects!


A reversible draw-string style bag that fits nicely into the school bag.

I love making bags, they all turn out so different and are incredibly useful, even the mistakes! And are a good way to use up small bits of fabric.

Little Boy Table Mat

The littlest guy likes to eat breakfast at the coffee table, watching his currently favorite (Pokemon) tv show. Since the table is solid cherry wood and very nice, and since the little guy still spills, I thought a fun table mat would be in perfect order.

I drew the letters for his name free-hand and used fusible webbing to iron them to the fabric, then zig-zagged around the edges to keep them in place.

Added a little tag from some linen ribbon I picked up at a craft shop.

Nintendo Mario was the main theme of the fabric, but I decided to add some balance with this really cute purple fabric printed with Japanese rabbits, I love this cloth, I have to find some more, it fits into so many projects!

And finally, I drew some stars in the middle and machine-quilted them! All in all, it took about an hour or so from start to finish.

Here it is while it was still new!

Baby Boy Bits

A friend of mine had a baby boy recently, I put together this little set to send her. Blue is one of my favorite colors and I find myself drawn to blues a lot. Included in the set were a couple of bibs, a diaper clutch and a little basket. Of course, a fair share of mistakes were included as well, but they were fun to make. I have been testing out an automatic snap presser to put snaps on some things, and after going through 2-1/2 packages of snaps, I finally figured it out! Phew!

I made a small pouch for the mother as well, just a little girlie thing for holding little girlie things :)

Blame my Mom!

(Mom and my little girl)

The first time I picked up a needle I loved sewing, the fabric, the colors, making things. My first memory of completing a project was age 7 in France. My Mom taught me to crochet and I made a small baby blanket, which I successfully lost a few days later on a walk to the park. Around 12 I picked up cross-stitch and have continued with it ever since. Knitting came into my life for awhile, but I haven't been as passionate about it as the smaller needle arts.

I never considered quilting a hobby for me, especially in Japan as the patterns are all in, well, Japanese, and the measurements are all metric, and the Japanese method is all by hand. It would take me the rest of my life to finish off one quilt. But once my Mom forced a bunch of quilting stuff on me including some kits, fabric, patterns, needles, rulers, rotary cutters and cutting boards, including a few short lessons on machine quilting and strip quilting and tips on how to make the whole thing go quicker, I was hooked. She even gave me her Bernina as she was replacing it with a newer model, and I lugged it over the ocean with me, paying an extra $100 on overweight to get it here. You could say I have my Mom to love or to blame for this newest hobby!

Our house was obviously shrinking on us as I suddenly had no space to spread out my craft, driving me into depression over the thought of all that lovely fabric waiting to be used, and nowhere to work with it. My only space was the dining room and so the kids ate many dinners on the tiny pull out table by the TV as I couldn't bear the thought of spending an hour to clean up my stuff. So, we moved! I used the excuse of having 6 people, 2 cats, 1 dog and 3 hamsters in our small house as a reason for moving, but truth be told, I wanted my own room! And, lucky me, I got it!! A whole room just for me. Of course, I have to share it with English students who make an occasional trip to my house for lessons, but most of the time, it's all mine (oh, and the cat's, and Jordan's when he decides he'd rather play with me!)

I find that more than quilts though, I enjoy making bags of every type, working with new patterns and fastenings, zippers, snaps, closures, learning how to put in pockets and handles. And bags make such perfect presents, as much as I say I want to start making them for profit, there is someone's birthday and that bag has transformed into a present.

And so, blame it all on my Mom who must have known I'd love the new hobby! Love you Mom!

For a Girlie Girl!

My little friend Renee turned 1 last month, so I worked on making her this girlie tote for her toys. Suzy Zoo fabric along with Japanese polka-dot linen makes up the most of the bag, and some flowery pink for accent on the edges. Jordan's best friend Yoshi is modeling the bag for us!

I didn't follow a pattern for this bag, but sort of pulled it out of my own head this time. Now that I have the basics of a simple tote bag down, I can whip one up in a few hours. Without any distractions it'll go quicker!

Used a plain hot pink for the inside. Being a little kid tote, I didn't put any pockets.

Two blocks are made with the cute Suzy Zoo characters.

The other two have appliqued hexagons. I originally planned to make them into flowers, but as it was going on midnight and the party was the next day, I simplified the plan.

I have to say, the bag turned out pretty cute and overall I think I did a good job on it. The handles were reinforced with interfacing to give them strength and shape, and I think the balance of plain linens with bright pinks worked together well.

Pouches to go!

Backtracking to Christmas, I decided to make good use of my sewing skills and produced a few bags and pouches for my step-daughters and other family. I love working with colors and trying to mix colors and patterns for a fun effect. I wish I'd kept one of these for myself, but as I was running out of time, I was only able to make them as presents. The tutorial for these great pouches can be found at the Noodlehead blog.

A plain linen type cloth with polka-dots makes up the body, and an inner panel with 3 different fabrics and an appliqued hexagon.

Same style, just reversed the fabrics a bit and used a different hexagon.

Used a different background fabric, a linen-type with fun bright flowers on it, and a subdued darker fabric for the center panel. To brighten the center I put a bright green hexagon on it and added some embroidery detail with light colored thread.

Inside the bags I used a fun purple fabric which I bought for 50% off in town.

Made 2 of these Charlie brown themed bags for my son and one of our good friends.

Different styled bag which is really easy to sew up, the exterior is all Christmas scraps sewn together randomly, and a linen type darker fabric with polka dots for the inner panel.

Backside of the random Christmas scrap exterior.

Another bag in the same style as above, but with brighter flower fabrics which I found on sale at Jusco's Pandora House (if anyone goes to Jusco)

Inside of these bags uses a dark purple fabric decorated with Japanese rabbits, this is the year of the rabbit!

And when I remembered it, each bag got a little tag on the edge....

Close up of some fabrics I used. All are cotton and bought around me.

I love making bags, I think so far they are my favorite item to sew up, but I made a couple of hand made scarves, and those were pretty cool too.