Memorable Holiday Mini Quilt

This my entry for the India MQG February Challenge. The rules are using your scrap and the quilt is about the most memorable holidays. For me, every  holdays have their own memorable moments, but what I always love is coming home to my town where I was born and grew up - MALANG. Even though now Malang has grown into a mini metropolitant city, but it still hold it own charm.

What I love most about Malang is it always blooming with flowers all around the cities. Hence, the flower fabrics I used in the border. Malang is a hilly town, surrounded by beautiful mountains all around. Whereever you turn your head, all you'll see is greenaries.

"Palm Tree Block"

Can U spot the palm tree there? It's one of Malang's trademark tree.

This is the view in front of the mayor office (Balai Kota). It's called Bunderan Tugu.

 (Image Source)

This Bunderan Tugu has several road branch which lead to different part of the city. It's surrounded by favorite High Schools (MY Highschool too!!) , hotels on one side, and the train station in the other.

(image source)

The garden is beautifully maintained which is a real treat for tired eyes:)

Here is another  famous landmark in Malang, Ijen Boulevard. With it's palm trees and big colonial houses, it's a great place if you want to just strolling or taking a walk. In the middle there are mini gardens with flowers and shrubs.

(image source)

The Apples Block

 Malang's most famous fruit. There are lots of apple orchards in Malang and Batu (a hill town 30 min from Malang). Malang's Apple is called rumbutter, it's juicy and crunchy and has this sweet tangy taste which I love the most.

Below is how the apple vendors sell their apples. This is a common sight when you're travelling from Malang to Batu or to Surabaya.

(image source)

and of course I always love to visit the sea. Indonesia is an archipelago, it has the most beautiful beaches in the world, whether the explored one or the un-explored ones. I spent my childhood exploring beaches with my father who was working in a coffee plantation. Most of the time, the garden were near the sea. Almost every holidays we spent discovering new beaches, white sands, black sands, you name it, we have it :).

Last year we went to explore another beaches. You can read the post HERE. So, this block is for those wonderful holidays at the sea.

All the appliques here are handstitched by yours truly. I'm not a big fan of hand quilting, though I enjoy doing embroidery now and then.:). I must learn to master the machine decorative stitching now that I got a new Bernette E92c ;)

Until then...happy quilting

Book Review: Design-It-Yourself Clothes

I always like to buy patterns and craft books. And if it comes with pattern it's even better, cos I simply can adjust it to my own or whatever size I need to sew. 

Sometimes, you see those adorable clothes on magazine or internet so badly and your tailor can not do it for you (I'm talking about tailor in India in general *wink*) or if  they  can, they will make a big hole in your wallet for the quality of sewing that below your expectation.

Then it's time you buy this book : Design-It-Yourself by Cal Patch. From the book flap: Cal Patch was a clothing designer for Urban Outfitters and Free People before creating her own label, Hodge Podge. She teaches sewing and patternmaking throughout New York City. 

It shows you how to draft your own pattern in easy way and how to modify it to whatever style you want. It give a comprehensive illustration from how to MEASURE your self, WHAT measurement is needed, right up to how to LABEL it. And of course how to modify it, now that's the best part. 

If you are like me, then this book is a MUST for you. Be it dress, top, tunic, knitted fabric, pants, skirt..you will find it in this book. 

Here are few snaps from the book

Knickers

Miho Shirt

variation of dresses and Tunics

Skirt

I tried  making the pattern. I made simple A skirts. And here they are:

The fabric is Indian chanderi cotton brocade. It has zipper at the side and I put lining too..

and for the teal one, I got this sarong fabric from Indonesia. The fabric is thick-ish so lining is not required :)

So, go ahead and get the book. It's worth all the penny. If you are in India, you can purchase it via Flipkart , which has wide range of foreign craft books and I wish they had magazines too..haha..

Until then...Happy Sewing