Apple Core Quilt (ACQ) Progress Report

Getting myself back into the mood to sew again to take my mind off missing my son so much.....

I still have a very long way to go though. I still have a few more roles to add on to it. I am moving really slowly. I have not worked on it much as I am either busy travelling for work or flying off to Kedah to visit my son.....

Diane’s bags completed!

Yipppeeee! I completed both bags on Saturday morning! I put in the buttons at about 9.00am! I am so happy and relief! Now I can pack them up together with Diane’s goodie bag from the NNC 3rd Anniversary celebration and wait until I could find a time to go to the post office!

However, Diane, you might have to wait for at least another week before I could get to the post office as I will be travelling again this week. Patience, my dear, patience! *wink*

So, do you want to see how both bags look like? Here they are......

I think they are both lovely, don’t you agree? I did not design it, and so I can praise it. LOL! *wink*

Here's a close-up of the small clutch.

I had followed the pattern that Diane sent me almost to a T! I did make some very slight modification, but it was just because I thought it would look better.

Like I said in my earlier posting, the fabrics that Diane sent for the bags aren’t colours that I usually work with and so, it was quite a challenge to put them together to make sure that they turn out okay. I must say that I am quite pleased with the results. I think the colour combination is really nice! Diane made all the right choices in choosing her fabrics! I just made them work better together! *wink*

The big bag was fun to make! I learnt quite a few new techniques, and I was also introduced to this awesome Pellon Fusible Fleece which I find so amazing and a breeze to use! I must get more! If only they are made available here in Malaysia...*sigh*

I also love using the Sewline pink pencil lead that Diane sent me, and the square rulers Diane sent as part of the payment for the bag is really awesome! I love it! Thanks again, Diane!

Although the two bags are not part of a set but the fact that they were made using the same colour combination fabrics, they look like they were designed to be together, and they look great together!

The small bag or pouch was supposed to have some decorative stitches, but I decided to quilt it the same way that I had quilted the big bag so that they look like a part of each other and a set.

I think I had made the right decision. *wink*

The pattern calls for the three sides to be machine sewn together like an envelope, but I had hand sewn them together instead, both on the outside and on the inside as I thought that had I machine sewn the sides together, at least a 1/4in would have to be sewn in as allowance from each side. That would have made the bag smaller and bulkier, thus the reaon why I decided to hand sewn them together.

As I had hand sewn the sides on the inside and the outside, I think the bag should be able to handle the normal wear and tear. It also looks neater.

I love the pockets on the front of the big bag, and Diane had asked that I put another pocket on the other side even though the pattern only calls for a pocket on only one side. This method of doing the pocket is something new to me, and I might use it for future bags that I make.

I also like the way that the pattern calls for the inside pocket to also be made from 4 pieces of 5”x5” charm squares. I decided to quilt the pockets the same way as I did the front of the bag so that they complement each other. And, of course, you can’t miss my Aznique product tag. LOL! *wink*

I had used an overdyed threads for the quilting in two colours. The front is an over dye in browns, while the inside is an over dye in blue. Though the colours are different, but they do look good together as I had picked up the colours from all the fabrics used for both bags. I don’t know if you can actually see the subtle change in colours of the over dyed threads in the photo, but, I am quite pleased with the results.

Diane had sent me 3 pairs of buttons of different designs and had asked that I pick a pair that best suits the bags. You can see from the photos that the buttons don’t match in terms of designs, although they almost do match in colour. That is because, instead of 2 pockets as called for in the original pattern, Diane had asked that I make a pocket on each side of the bag, and so, I suddenly realised that I am going to be short of a button.

I wasn’t sure if Diane would want me to go out and buy a totally different button in matching sets to make the 3 buttons, but, as I did not have time to ask Diane when I sat down to finish off thge bag, I hope that Diane doesn’t mind that the buttons don’t match in design.

Luckily Diane had sent 2 pairs of buttons in almost similar colour though different designs. I think had Diane not sent 2 pairs of almost similar colour, I would have gone out to buy 2 new pairs.

What do you think, Diane? Shall I go out and buy 2 pairs that match or, is what you see acceptable to you already? Let me know, okay, as I can still unpick and repack everything up before I make my trip to the post office next week.

(I eventually got an email from Diane telling me that she does not mind having the buttons different on both bags. Thanks, Diane!)

I had fun doing both the bags and I must thank Diane for giving me the opportunity to learn something new from making the bags. I hope that Diane likes what she sees here.

Would you like to send me more patterns and fabrics to make more bags for you, Diane? LOL! *wink*

Bags of pink!

After coming back from the retreat in Penang, I was excited to get started on the two bags which I did not manage to complete while at the retreat as there was so much to do, but so little time to do them all.

However, I never managed to even touch the bags until the evening of Hari Raya Haji as I came down with a flu and a bad case of backache on Wednesday which lasted till Raya Haji day itself.

I think it had to do with the fact that I never had the time to fully recuperate from the traveling and excitement over the last 3 days in Penang as I had to go back to work the day after I arrived on Monday evening. I needed a break to recuperate from my break! LOL!

Anyway, not wanting the long weekend to go to waste, and after feeling much better after a much needed rest on Friday evening (we did not do any visiting to any relatives’ house this Raya Haji, except to visit my in-laws and talking to my mum over the phone, due to my bad backache), I slowly picked up the bags to work on.

I managed to complete both bags – the Four Face Bag

and the Lacey Tote – just before I had to get dinner ready.

I like both bags, but I think the Lacey Tote is really sweet, especially it being in PINK, and with the lace and all!

I can imagine myself having to walk really daintily and looking demure dressed in a flowing skirt carrying this lacey tote! LOL! *wink*

The Four Face bag, on the other hand, is more like the rough tough type of bag where I could just carry it around wearing jeans and dumping everything and anything inside it! LOL!

Both bags are made from printed corduroy, and yes, they are of the same motif. I could not resist buying the pink kits even though there were many other colours, but none attracted me more than the pink bag kits. *grin* I think it was also more because I did not like the fabric combination of the other colours, even though I thought I should make one in earth tones.

I figured I could always make the bags in other colours once I have learnt the technique of making the bags. I do plan to make more of all 3 bags that I have learnt at the retreat. Corine had already asked me if I had made more bags since I came back. *smile*

BTW, here’s the kit for the Hexagon bag which I never even managed to get started on.

I also bought the tea pots and tea cup pieces which I hope to appliqué some day. Yup! SOMEDAY! LOL! So, when will that day come? *grin*

We also got upon registering for the retreat a kit for a purse, but I never got the time to learn how to assemble it. I am hoping for when Corine comes to KL next time to learn how to assemble it from her.

Oh! Have you heard that she's coming to town very very soon and she's offering to teach a bag or two? Would any of you be interested to take up the bag making class?

I will tell more later in another posting. So, keep a lookout, or, if you can't wait, leave a comment here or email me offlist. If we have enough positive response, we might just start organising a formal class.

Anyway, back to what I got at the retreat, I also bought, couldn’t resist it *grin*, 2 pieces of one meter each fabric at Corine’s shop, and two rulers from Kelvin’s shop.

The longer one is actually in metrics because I have yet to have one in metrics. All my other crafting rulers are in imperial.

I bought the square one with the hope that my squares will be more squared up. Yeah, I know, I don’t actually need to buy a square ruler to make my squares square, but, heck, I just have got to have it! LOL! *wink*

My sewing friends will understand, right? *wink*

A new patchwork shop in Sunway Pyramid!

I told you in my last posting that after my exams were over on Saturday, 15th August, before I went home to take a much needed nap, I went over to Sunway Pyramid, to check out the new patchwork shop that had just opened there, right?

Well, I just couldn’t resist it despite being very tired and having to go home to still have some last minute preparations to do for my submissions to apply to sit for my professional exams.

I felt like I needed to let go to release my stress, and visiting a craft shop is something I know that will let me release the overwhelming stress that I have been going through the last two weeks.

I went there after lunch. By the way, digressing a bit, I treated my son and hubby to Sushi King as a way of saying thank you for being patient with me for the past two weeks. *smile*

Anna Patchwork House is a very small but cute little shop at the CP2 parking level. One look at it and it would remind you of Quilt Gallery, because the things there are pretty much what QG has, well, almost, but, of course, much less because the shop is 2/3 smaller.

No, it is not a franchise, nor is it a branch of Quilt Gallery. It is solely owned by Anna and her friend.

I was told that she runs some classes, but I did not get a chance to find out more when I was there on Saturday for the first time . I only managed to stay there for only about 10 minutes as my hubby had an appointment with a plumber and so we had to rush back home.

But, I was there again on Sunday as I needed to go to POPULAR to get some stuff for my submissions. Was I making an excuse to go there again? *wink* Ssshhh...don't let my hubby hear me say that! LOL! *wink*

So, again, I took the opportunity to drop by Anna Patchwork Shop, this time, armed with a camera as I had earlier asked Anna if I could come snap photos of the shop to put up at my blog for my friends to see who might want to know more about the shop.

I thought that It would also be a good opportunity for her to promote her shop through my blog as I know that I have many readers here who are crafters, and would be happy to know that a new patchwork shop has opened up somewhere near their area.

Unfortunately, Anna wasn't there, but, her sister was, and she kindly called Anna to ask permission from her on my behalf if I could snap the photos.

So, here's the layout.....

As you enter the shop, you will be greeted by this WELCOME patchwork sign up on the wall facing the entrance.

To the left of the WELCOME sign are shelves of very lovely cottons, which some are very familiar if you visit Quilt Gallery often.

To the right of the sign are two big pieces of quilt which I presume Anna had made them.

Below that is the cashier counter and shelves of patchwork paraphernalia and gadgets. I would have wanted to browse longer, but Aiman was getting restless.

I only managed to, or rather, I just could not resist buying at least two pieces of fabric at ½ meter each before it was time to go for dinner. Seen here is Anna’s sister cutting up the fabric I bought. Pretty pink, huh? *wink* Yup, it HAD to be PINK! LOL!

Just below the WELCOME sign are shelves filled up with craft books, but mostly are on patchwork and quilting though she does carry some cross stitch books.

I did not have the opportunty to find out more about the classes that she is offering as Anna wasn’t around. However, there was this lady there who was working on a quilt which I find very pretty.

I also saw some lovely bags she made. I might want to take a class or two there someday if I know where I can put up Aiman as I go for classes. I will have to discuss that with hubby. *wink*

In the mean time, if you read this entry and drop by her shop in the near future, do tell Anna that you read about her shop at my blog. Who knows, I might get some commission from her for doing her some free publicity. *wink*

Getting back into routine and, hopefully....on track....

It’s been more than 20 days ago that I last posted here. I went into panic mode, remember, when I was told that the PTK course was brought forward by almost two months? I blogged about it here.

After that, I just simply dropped everything that I was doing, even having to reschedule some of my project meetings to prepare for one of the paper assignments that had to be submitted at the beginning of the course, which was only 5 days after the assignments were given out.

Even after the exams were over on Saturday, 15th August, I only managed a few hours of sleep (I hardly slept during the 10 days I was preparing my assignments and attending the course) before I had to start work on finishing up preparations for my submissions to apply to sit for my professional exams, which was due latest on the 17th of August.

I had wanted to take the following Monday, 17th August, off to recover from a very stressful and intense 2 weeks, but, as I had to reschedule some of my meeting the week before, I had a very packed week the following week.

So, it was back to work for me, but, without any breaks, I feel like I was about to faint from sheer exhaustion, mentally and physically, as the first 3 days of last week, I had site visits which means that I had to use physical energy to make my rounds around the project sites.

My hubby said that seeing me all stressed out has made him stressful too. He took a day off last week to de-stress even before I, myself, could find time to de-stress! LOL!

Anyway, I must thank my hubby for being so patient with me the last two weeks. He was my `rock’ at times when I got so stressful that I could no longer think straight. He helped me get started on my paper assignment when I could no longer compute what was being asked, in my state of panic. He was there for me emotionally, even though all he did was just to sit next to me at the desk while I worked on my assignment and he, on the computer, doing his leisurely stuff or work which he brought home to keep me company late into the night.

Thank you so much, hubby, for being there for me and for being so patient. I love you!

I am just glad that the weekend is finally here. I hope to have some time to do my own things and do the household chores which some have also taken a back seat while I concentrated on my assignments and exams.

So, today, I was at Bangsar Village to run some errands, while my son attended his usual Saturday classes. After my errands were done with, I dropped by Quilt Gallery to find that the shop has gone through some renovation. Gill was not around, but Surinder was. It seems that it is a requirement by Bangsar Village that shops goes through some sort of facelift every few years.

The shop looks bigger now, and able to accommodate more students.

I plan to take one or two classes during this fasting month while I wait for Aiman to finish his Saturday activities.

I bought the materials already this morning and plan to sit down and get things organized to go for class next week, or the week after.

I need to also make a trip to Epal maybe tomorrow as I have signed up for a Baju Melayu class.

Oh, by the way, did I tell you that after my exams were over on Saturday, 15th August, before I went home to take a much needed nap, I went over to Sunway Pyramid, not only to have lunch, but also to check out the new patchwork shop that had just opened there?

Well, I did, and I will tell more in my next posting. Those into patchwork and sewing will want to know……. *wink*

A gift from Sweden!

As if getting presents from the US was not enough, on Thursday, I received a gift from Sweden! *wink*

Late last year, NNC organized a Birthday Exchange, which was actually initiated by me, but, as it came time to draw the partners, I find myself tied up with so many things at work that I could not find time to get around to setting up the partners, and I was running out of time as the end of the year drew closer.

I think I had more on my platter than I could handle. Kind hearted Margaret came to my rescue and offered to take it off my shoulder. Thank you so much, Margaret! I owe you one! *wink*

So, it was decided that the birthday partners shall be a secret. My partner’s birthday has yet to come, but I have almost everything ready, except for the card, and hopefully, when it is time to mail it out, I hope that I won’t find myself too busy to make the trip to the post office.

Anyway, on Thursday, 28th May, which was actually my sister’s birthday, a package arrived while I was in a meeting. My assistant placed it on my table in my room, and eagerly awaited for me to come back. The reason? He was eyeing all the lovely stamps on the package, because it was a package coming all the way from Sweden! LOL!

I told him that I will part with a few of the stamps when I have opened up the package, but, unfortunately, I could not find time to open up the package until I got home much later that day as I had work piling up, and letters for the day to clear. I only left the office at 7.00pm that day.

When I got home, as soon as I got dinner ready, I ripped open the package! LOL!

There were 3 individually wrapped packages inside the standard A4 size envelope, each tied up with ribbons. One even had a crocheted little motif on it. Very nice!

When I opened all 3 packages, I was in awe of what I saw before me. In the biggest package was this so lovely quilted runner in a block that I am not familiar what the name is for it, though I have seen it in some magazines before this. What is it called, Ulla?

The second biggest package contained what I think is a potholder, in a matching design to the table runner. Ooohhh! I think it is too pretty to be used as a potholder!

The 3rd package got me even more in awe as there were not one, but TWO very lovely quilted pouches in two different sizes made with very brightly coloured fabrics that was really eye catching!

The workmanship? AWESOME! I simply love the colours and it was simply ME all over the pouch, as it had bright PINK flowers on them! LOL!

As if the pouch was not enough, Ulla even added a small mirror in a casing in the smaller pouch. It was so cute! It’s definitely going into my makeup bag! *wink*

Thank you so much, Ulla, for all the lovely gifts! They are all so awesome! I love them all! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Hugs!