The Best of Five in 2023

 

Here we are again at the end of 2023. Looking back, there were a lot of things going on. Even though I didn't write as much as I intended to do at the beginning of the year, but I accomplished one thing from my bucket list which is to reach 10K subscribers on my YouTube Channel!  

However, the blog is still very important to me as this is where everything started. Now, once again I join Meadow Mist Best of 2023 Linky Party to reminiscence how's 2023 had been. Let's get started! 

Here are the 5 best posts of 2023

1. Scrappy Patchwork Pouch

I love making stuff from scrap fabrics. I made a few last year and have a whole bunch of scrappy panels in my PhD bin which hopefully I can make into something in 2024. 

2.  Scrappy Wallet Video Tutorial

Another scrappy project! This time I made these small scrappy wallets and made a video tutorial too. These small pouches are very handy to use and also make a great gift! 

Small Quilted Wallet

3. 36 patch Block For Quilting Bee

After years, I finally participated in another quilting bee at Desi Quilters Facebook group. It was fun to make a few blocks every month and I learned a few things along the way. This will be another quilt to complete next year! 

4.  Patchwork Quilt Wallet

Another list that is ticked off from my bucket list is to start making a patchwork wallet.  I'm looking forward to making more patchwork wallets in 2024. Insha Allah. 

Patchwork Quilt Wallets

5. Kodomo Kids Wallet

This simple kodomo wallet is one of the most popular with my customers. It's so easy to make and kids love them. 

Alice in Wonderland & Red Riding Hood Wallet

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, reading, and leaving comments. I may not be as regular as I'd like to be, but I hope I will be able to share more meaningful content in 2024.

Here wishing you a great creative year ahead, I'm looking forward to reading your stories too (even though I may not always leave any comments, but I enjoy reading blog posts!)

Happy New Year! 

Elvira

Best of 2021

 Hello and Happy New Year! 

Cheryl at Meadow Mist Design holds an annual "Best of " blog post and I thought I'll join this year.  It's some kind of Instagram best of 9, but in the blogosphere, we can always go back to read the full stories. 

Looking back in 2021, here are my best 5 blog posts:

1. Let's make a charming quilted pouch  - 1338 Visit

This free basic pouch tutorial was made for Love and Healing Swap in Desi Quilters Facebook Group. 

2.  Potholders from Scraps - 802 visits

Another Video Tutorial from A Swap - We really had fun making potholders.

3. Adding 2 in 1 Zipper Pocket - 750 visits

This one was an additional tutorial for adding an exterior zipper pocket in a wallet. Make sure to watch the video too. 

4. Kawandi Quilt Finish - 630 Visits 

This is my personal finish quilt in 2021. A lot of learning!! And of course, another fave is my new Kawandi Pillow! 

5. Kawandi Style Mini Wall Decor - 611 visits

The quilt was not a Kawandi quilt but I quilted the Kawandi style. It took me a while to finish this and I learned a lot of things in the process. 

In 2021 most of us learned how to live amidst Covid with its new variants that keep emerging every few months. When I looked back at my Best of 2020 blog posts, most of the posts were about Face Masks. And now face mask is part of our must-have accessories, if I may say so. 

Thank you to everyone who visited my blogs, commented on them, and encouraged me throughout the years. Also, the wonderful bloggers who are hosting linky parties every week and give us a chance to read and learn from other bloggers, from different niches! I love reading blogs even though I don't always leave a comment. 

This year, I don't have any specific plans, but  I want to learn more about Kawandi, Kantha, and more hand quilting. Also sharing more tutorials and video tutorials.  On the family front, as the son is going to college this year, Insha Allah, so there will be a lot of focus on that front too. So, let's just do our best this year! 

Until next time, stay creative and stay healthy! 

Elvira

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Linking up to: 

Meadow Mist Designs Best of 2021

Quilting Patch 

and these wonderful BLOGS

Mini Tutorial - DIY Templates for Hummingbird / Periwinkle Block

This tutorial is based on the Hummingbird Block Foundation Paper Piecing by Redpepper Quilts. 

I posted the coaster I made using the hummingbird pattern in my Instagram  and I love how cute it is. Now, I love foundation paper piecing but I don't like wasting the paper or the fabric. If I'm going to make them into bag or pouch, I usually use lightweight fusible interfacing as foundation paper, which is very practical. I wrote HERE about it .

This is totally inspired by the Japanese quilt books. I've learnt that many of them tracing the paper pattern on to the fabric or they cut the fabric according to the pattern shape and draw the seam allowance. That way, no paper and fabric waste but it's a bit slow process for an impatience people like yours truly ^_^.  And no, I don't want to collect more acrylic template ruler because 1) it's expensive 2) Amazon will take forever to deliver and by the time it arrives, my mood will be gone LOL. 

So, here's my jugaad (hack): I use lamination sheet!! 

I cut the pattern  pieces (without the seam allowance) and laminated it. Ehm, I ironed it using silk setting. Then mark 1/4 inch around the perimeter and cut on the mark. 

Now your DIY templates are ready and you can trace the fabrics using erasable pen or carefully cut using rotary cutter (I do this :D ) 

Stack your fabrics and you're ready for chain piecing. 

 

I need to arrange my pieces according to the pattern (I'm more of visual learner) to make sense to my brain.

Put together the center piece (C2) and  the right  piece (C1) right side together like the picture above and sew with 1/4" seam allowance. Repeat the process with the left piece (C3). Don't forget to press the seam towards the background piece. 

chain piecing done! Yay! 

Once done, straighten the triangle blocks and arrange them like shown in the above picture. Sew 2 triangles together using 1/4" seam allowance to make Half Square Triangle (HST). If you're a beginner, this 1/4" seam allowance is our lifeline LOL. It seems daunting but with practice it will come. Don't worry!! 

Now, sew the HST together with 1/4" seam allowance and your block is done! 

I am using cotton cambric for the background fabric here and it stretched a little with every ironing process, so I need to keep trimming to straighten it. According to the original pattern, the block should finish at 5 inch square, but mine is finished at 4.75 inch. But I'm happy, cos I waste less paper and fabric ^^. Now I am going to make few more. Maybe scrappy blocks? 

I hope you enjoy this mini tutorial and if you do, please share on your social media account so that many people can benefit from it. 

Happy Weekends!

Elvira

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Linky Party
TGIFF - Madame Tailor

Orphan Block Wall Decor Idea

One of the most precious gifts we have is time. If we only knew how much time we had left in this world, we wouldn’t get distracted and lose focus, wasting our energy and attention on useless, pointless, meaningless things. Wake up before it’s too late! ~ Mufti Menk

Orphan block in the hoop. I kinda like it !

I have a few orphan blocks and this is one of them. For now let it be on the hoop until I get better ideas.

I made this block as I made the previous ones, but this is from my recent scraps. There are tula pink from this Tula Pink Wallet and also Olaf print from this Mini Sling bag. The stripes are from leftover binding strips and the florals are from bifold wallet (here and here)

Scrap is always full of sweet memories. 

Have a nice day!

Elvira

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Linky Party
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop
Handmade Monday

Quilted Mug Rugs

Hello,

I finished 2 mug rugs last week and another 2 I still need to finish the binding. Though it's not making a dent in my UFO quilts piles, but I am happy that I am making (very) slow progress.

Very Hungry Caterpillar Mug Rug

I was wondering for a few days how to quilt these two very hungry caterpillar mug rugs. I love straight line quilting and also wavy or serpentine. But I don't feel like setting up my HV machine. So I decided to go organic. People love anything organic nowadays :) 

Since the blocks are quite colorful, I decided to use white thread and did the organic wavy lines. One thing I learn that to be creative, it really doesn't matter what machine you have. We should not limit ourselves based on what tools we have on hand, instead the limitation should make us more creative! 

Reversible Snack Mat

Quilted Mug Rug

When I took this picture, my son was about to have his breakfast and I borrowed the bowl for a quick photo session :D.  Don't you love the back of the mug rug? It makes this quilted mug rug reversible!!

Caterpillar Mat

As usual when I am not sure what to use for binding, the black and white stripe is always my first preference. And I love how modern it looked!

Hand sewn binding

The binding is machine stitched on one side and finished by hand on the back. I always use 1.5" wide binding for mini quilts, like placemats, mug rugs, or coasters. 

Apple core patchwork WIP

Meanwhile, I also started apple core patchwork. I'm doing hand piecing this time. It's going to be a tote bag, Insha Allah. I'm sharing the progress photos in my Instagram

Also, more mini quilts are queing to be quilted now. I have so many projects  going on at the same time. I tried to stick on one project at a time but somehow never work out for me. 

But as long as I can be creative, I'm happy! 

What about you? What project are you working on right now? 

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Sewing

~ Elvira~ 

Linking up to:

Handmade Monday
Finish it up Friday
Show Off Saturday

Sunday Stash 14 - Fabric Sale

Hello there,

If you're a member of Chezvies Fabrics Club on Facebook, you  maybe aware of the de-stashing that is currently going on in the shop. Make sure that you turn on the notification sign so you won't miss the new post.

Let's take a peek of what fabrics are currently on Sale. 

Grey Cat & Arrows

Yellow Nursery Set

Paris and London Landmarks

Barbeque (BBQ) Theme

Japan Design Patchwork Print

Anchor Set

Star Bundle

I also added a couple of fabric blenders that you can mix and match them yourself. Some fabrics are sold per half meter and some are already pre cut,  it either comes in bundles or single fat quarter. You can also request for special bundle.

I will be adding more from time to time, as my goal is to reduce my personal collection. Last but not least, if you sign up for Club Member, you will also get Coupon Code that you can use whenever you purchase something. 

Thank you for stopping by!

Have a love day.

~ Elvira ~

Saturday Recap

Hello,

Today morning I took this photo of my makeshift photo booth. The morning light was just perfect today! Perfect day for photo session.

I found these block in my UFO bag and did a prep work. Now they are ready to quilt! I think diagonal grid line quilting will look good, what do you think?

Another prep work was cutting these batting for pillow covers. So excited for this project. It's simple wholecloth quilt kind of cushion like this one, which I think will be perfect for your summer decor. I will finish the quilting of all the front panels then will finish the cushion covers.

I finished quilting 4 tops for now. I  love this green chevron so I thought just following the gap in between each chevron print and loved how it turned out. The wonky lines turned out really good. I will take a better picture next time!

One happy mail! yes the Hex n More ruler from Jaybird Quilts. I wanted to make something like this and my friend, mbak Belly, suggested I get the ruler. 

and of course I had to try it! Jewel Hexagon - one block at a time!!

And this Nautical theme wallet is what I am currently working on. It's a single travel wallet! So excited to work with new fabric!! I hope to complete the orders before mid of next week

That's all for my Saturday Recap! Most are still in a WIP stage which hopefully I will be able to complete some of them tomorrow. The boys are going for another round of Avengers movie so I have a few hours undisturbed sewing time! 

What about you? What are you working on this week? If you completed something or have a new listing in your shop, do LINK UP in my new link up party Handmade Happiness!

Until next time!

Another Log Cabin Sling Bag

Hello,

And the log cabin sling bag is done and on it's way to the new owner. I took a bit of time to complete this one and happy that I did. 

Quilting taught me to be patient. From cutting the small pieces of fabrics and putting them together and finally make them into a final product is a learning process. 

walking foot quilting

Just like what I learned from one Kdrama Show - Master in The House/Jipsabu

"It's coming from you, it's your style. It's the same with art. When you keep doing it, you start to see your own style. It's all you. You will find your color. When you have the rhythm, you have a wisdom" - Jeon In Kwon

I love making patchwork and quilt, especially small ones and quilted patchwork bag has been on my bucket list for a long time! After I went to the Tokyo International Quilt show last year, I sort of have an "aha" moment!

Don't be afraid to try something new. If anything goes wrong, you only have to unpick the stitches and do it again. 

The best way to learn is by doing. Stop Waiting and bring your ideas to life TODAY! - Tara Gentile

Quilted bag stats:

Fabric - Yuwa Fabric Japan

Half Circle Echo Quilting 

(thanks mbak Belly for the idea!)

Fleece Batting

Leather Strap

Finished Dimension: 9" W x 9.5" H x 1" D

Until then,

Happy Sewing

Linky Party :

Handmade Monday

Finish it up Friday

Show Off Saturday