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Sunday Stash #5 - Shade of Purple

Hello again,

Purple Fat Quarter Bundle
Do you know there are so many different shades in purple, like violet, mauve, lilac, lavender, iris, etc.

Batik Bali - Purple Bundle
This check purple is a shot cotton or a woven fabric. We call it handloom here in India. It's good for any sewing project, like tunics, short dresses, or even a home decor. 

Purple - Violet Shot Cotton 

Mauve Shot Cotton

Wine Color Shot Cotton

Shot cotton or cotton handloom is so breathable. It's my fave during the summer months. Especially in a place with high humidity. Besides, it's good for other things too. I made a couple of pouch, table runners and bags. 

And here is the sneak peek of what I'm working on using Bali Batiks


You can check more fabrics here:



Until then,

Happy Sewing


Pdf Sewing Pattern Sale - Holi Special!

Hello,

Happy Holi to my Indian friends! And if you plan to sew something this long weekends, I am currently running a HOLI special for All the Pdf Sewing Pattern in my shop! Grab one and start sewing for your loved ones! Ah the coupon code is HOLIHAI.  The sale will be valid through Monday! 


You also can find the link on the right panel of the blog. And if you have any question, you can always email me

In the meantime, I almost finish with my pending orders. Well, February indeed was a busy month for me. I thank God for that.


I made a few family passport holders as custom orders from my Etsy Shop.


I am also happy that I finished off a couple of prints. Those who know me, I hoarded quite a lot of  fabrics whenever I travel abroad with the plan to make wallets. Well, the plan is still on, but the sewing has been very slow lately. 


This travel print is the new print and I will be listing it in the shop shortly. Sewing the same pattern using different print really made me so happy. Because I get to use up my stash! Ha! 

Now, I have this log cabin bag to complete. I'm a little bit behind the schedule this time. I always love the patchwork making process, but when it comes to quilting it, I always think like 100 times even for the smallest project. After perusing pinterest, youtube and blogs and asking opinions from my expert friends, I finally decided to do the echo quilting!..well, more about it in the next post. Now, I better finish the bag! 

Here is the sneak peek


Stay tuned for the bag photo in the next post!

Until then,

Happy Sewing





Sunday Stash #4 - Indian Silk and Brocade


Hello and happy Sunday!

Welcome to another Sunday Stash Post. This week it's about Indian silk. 
Indian fabrics are rich in colors and not to mention the variety of prints and design. Be it cotton or silk or other woven fabrics. Let's take a look!

Cotton Silk brocade with small golder flower in matte gold
Brocade is still considered as one of luxury fabrics. In India, most often seen in Sarees or party salwar kameez or lehenga. 

Paisley Chanderi Cotton Silk

Besides, bags and handbags made of silk brocade become very popular. The stunning fabrics need no complicated design. Even a simple evening clutch will look stunning if made using these silk fabrics. 

Indian brocade

Many Indian designers also made a matching evening clutch and shoes using these silk brocade. 

Cotton silk with golden border
More information about the history of Indian Silk and brocade can be found HERE.

cotton silk chanderi
All the chanderi silk and brocade are now on 40% OFF. Use the code DESTASH40 while checking out!


I hope you have a relaxing Sunday!

Until then,

Happy Sewing






Wednesday WIP Log Cabin blocks

Hello,



Don't you love those fabrics? I got the bundle from my trip to Japan last year. I got quite a lot of fabrics last year and happy that I finally got the perfect project to use them. 


I am making another log cabin bag for a custom order. So excited!!
I cut the stripa 1" wide this time and I am doing a chain piecing. 


I am progressing quite fast and love the result so far. Ah, I got that new tool from my recent trip to the Tokyo quilt show. The roller is perfect for pressing small blocks!  The other one I bought was a needle threader, which really awesome! I always drop my thread whenever I am hand sewing. Definitely by best buys!!

Isn't this cool??

I hope to finish this bag by early next week because I still have a couple of travel wallet orders that I have to complete this week. My sewing room have been quite busy since I came back from Japan and I am happy with the mess! 

What are you working on this week? 

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Sewing,


Linky Party:





Mission Accomplished 2 - Kanazawa in Winter

Hello again,

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Mini Log Cabin Quilt
Before my Japan trip last January, me and my friends discussed about taking a quilt to Japan and take quilt photos with snow background just like those quilters we saw in Instagram.  Since I would be traveling solo, I decided to take mini quilt. I completed this quilt just 2 days before my departure. It was a hectic week!!

Kanazawa Station
This time, I was not very fit throughout the trip. I had a sore throat and my nose kept bleeding due to the cold and dry weather. For me who grew up  in a tropical country, winter (snow or no snow) is always tough. Besides the winter eczema, the nose bleeding business is really bothersome.

Anyway, we decided to go to Kanazawa with the grand plan to visit Gokayama or Shirakawago. But then, man proposes God disposes! Weather was not cooperative during our stay in Kanazawa.
Since the other three girls, brought their suitcase, we decided to take a taxi to our rented Airbnb. The problem with Japan is there was hardly any people who can speak English. Thank God for the google translate. But, you have to write a proper English sentences for Google to translate it properly. Or else another long  conversation will take place.




The attendance In the taxi stand at the Kanazawa station was a nice old man who tried to help us. When we showed him the address, he could not make out what is what (it was written in English). After several minutes, he took me to the information center and thankfully, there was a lady there who spoke a decent English. After another  lost in translation conversation, the lady decided to call the house owner, and finally we got our address written in Japanese (pheeww)!  Happily the attendant took us to the other side of taxi stand et voila, our fancy SUV taxi!! We were surprised, between thrilled and worried, praying it won’t be too expensive LOL. Luckily we travelled in group!! The taxi driver was a nice gentleman, he didn’t speak English but tried his best to tell us any landmarks we passed along the way. He even got down to check out if the house we rented was the correct one.
Arigato gozaimashita

The house we rented via Airbnb in Kanazawa was a two storey house. It’s called the Ibaragi House. Luckily we were on the ground floor. The Japanese keep the house key in a mini box with combination lock. It was a little tricky to open, especially when you were cold and in a hurry. After several attempt ( and a message to the owner later) we were able to unlock the house. The Ibaragi house was very compact and comfortable. The sliding door on the other side of the house remind me of Lee sang Yoon drama! Hahaha. Anyway, we were quite comfortable there since the owner provided us with extra blankets, electric heater and hot water bags.

The Ibaragi House  Airbnb Kanazawa


After settling down, we decided to brave the cold and walk around the city. 
 



The city is quite impressive with big brand shops, but I love to see the indie designers shops. Most of these shops have either French or English name.


 I suppose many Japanese love French vintage theme or English Victorian theme.

coffee shop in front our rented home

can you see the star?




The next day, we thought of going to Gokayama, but we were too late plus we were uncertain with the weather. It was raining and snowing in the morning when we left the house.

breakfast at Mister Donut - The donuts we had did not contain any lark, mirin, or sake. We asked and apparently they have all ingredients listed in their computer!! 

A window display remind me of my son's concert before the trip! 


 We decided to get a one day tourist pass and go to Higashi Chaya district, where we can see the old Japanese houses which mostly are souvenir shops or tea shops (Chaya literally means Tea house)

the loop bus - a hop on hop off bus

A cafe as we enter the Higashi Chaya 


 By the time, I felt a bit feverish and I ran out of my antibiotics! (sigh!). After strolling a bit, me and Kak Jenny decided to go into a noodle shop. She loved her noodle soup esp Soba!! I could not have anything since there was no halal food. So I just enjoy a cup of matcha aka green tea with lots of sugar! Hey, I need energy, right?!


my matcha and my log cabin bag


Noodle Shop & Souvenir shop
The vintage shop next to the tea stall
look at those patchwork bag made from kimono fabrics!! 




Me and my quilt again ^_^


After a bit of photo session  near the bus stop, we decided to go to the Kenrokuen Garden and Castle. The 2 girls – mbak Belly and Kak Ria, went ahead to check out both,  while me and Kak Jenny, decided not to go. By the time it was raining and snowing intermittently.  

Kanazawa Castle 
We decided to catch the loop bus and got down at the mall near our rented airbnb ! But not before I took another photo in front of the castle gate! 



the Kanazawa scene as we were leaving 

Hopefully, next time we can go and check the castle and the garden and hopefully in a friendlier weather!


Thank you for the beautiful memories girls! <3

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

 Now, mission accomplished!

Until then,

Happy Sewing



I will  write more about Japan trip in the next posts. Subscribe to my blog via email so you won't miss interesting post!


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