Experimental Scrap Quilt

Do you remember these quilts that I shared last spring?



Well, last year before I started getting a series of procedures (so around September), I was getting antsy. I wanted many projects done and have some projects ready for me to do in bed... You know, those type of things. I pieced five quilt tops that time, and I just finished quilting one of them over the weekend.


It's rather funny looking huh? Here is the reason why... I used up all the scraps from the boy's quilt to make this. I had absolutely NO design plans whatsoever. I just kept on piecing, adding fabric here and there and if there were parts that were too long I simply cut it to match the length.

I have a love for traditional quilts, but I have been mesmerized by modern style quilts too. I wanted to see what I can come up with, with leftover fabrics. So, it was sort of an experiment.
Because it was an experimental quilt, it was also perfect for me to practice machine quilting on. I didn't have to worry about making it so perfect.




I know I still have a lot to learn, but actually machine quilting is starting to become fun. I am not so scared anymore!


There are a couple other quilts that I basted and am thinking about quilting soon. It is so hard to decide what kind of design to go with it. I can't wait to get started though. :)

Vintage Pillow Case Quilt No.2

In the last post, I shared a diamond quilt I did, using machine quilting. This one however, I really wanted to hand quilt with big stitches. I finished sewing all the yo-yo's, and I am ready to share the pictures with you today.


Some of you might recall this quilt;


Yup, you guessed right, the hexagon with different fabrics are the same blocks on both quilts. I used them and I added white vintage sheets between the blocks. Isn't it funny how small changes can bring a whole new outlook on the finished quilt? (Who said it is just like our lives? I might use a quilt metaphor instead of chocolate as Forrest Gump did :) ).

I really enjoyed quilting this by hand.


I didn't plan it that way, but don't you think the colors are perfect for Easter?


I have plans with my family this week end, and it is going to be busy but a really fun weekend. I hope you are enjoying the spring, and finding some time on the side for yourself to be creative and make your soul happy. :)

Liberty of London Fabrics

I received a surprise package from my mom this week. It was filled with Japanese candies and treats for the kids. As you can easily guess from the title, I received more Liberty of London fabrics.

The reason why I didn't put "!!!" after the last sentence is, I have mixed feeling about this. L of L fabrics are not cheap; I would rather that she spend that money on extra food, drinking water and other supplies for them to prepare for the earthquake, since they are saying that a big one might be coming. I told her that several times on the phone, but she always tells me that she loves going to the fabric store and looking at the beautiful flower prints and it is very therapeutic for her. (By the way, she is not a sewer...). Then, she can't help herself from buying some for me.

After I thanked her and hung up the phone I kept looking at these beautiful fabrics...

My mom thought that this would make a beautiful summer dress for me. So, she sent 3 meters of this one.


They are all so pretty, but my favorite is the top one.


Then, this last one... When I opened it, it literally took my breath away. It contains 17cm X 18cm of 96 different prints! It has been a couple days but I can't stop staring at it and admiring each of the prints. I am so tempted to pull them out and open each fabric, but then I don't think I can put them back in to the case like before. I am contemplating to either use the whole fabric to make one quilt, or use them little by little over time. There are some big decisions to make. :)


I am grateful that my mom cares about me so much that she wants to do something to make me smile even from far away.

Psst... I am designing a special quilt for her birthday this year, and she has no clue. I will write a post about it when I am done making the quilt, just thinking about her reaction makes me giggle.

Vintage Pillow Case Quilt Finished

Several posts ago, I shared my vintage pillow cases quilt project in process. I don't know about you, but it is such a big deal for me to decide what to do next each step whenever I create something. Especially in quilt making, a quilt top can look totally different than what I first intended depending on what kind of quilting I do on the quilt. It is not unusual for me to complete a quilt top and not be able to finish it for several months (sometimes years!) because I have a hard time deciding how I want to finish it.

I already shared the process of cutting and piecing...




Are you ready to see how I finished this one? Ta da!




I thought about applying my newly developing (I can't say "developed" yet, it is in progress though) machine quilting skills on this quilt, but I couldn't help going back to the idea of doing hand quilting with large stitches.

I actually made another quilt top using the same blocks that I used for this quilt with some other fabric, but those two quilts look different so far. I can't wait to share the finished quilt with you...well, someday. :)

Down Memory Lane / Pieced Bag

When I first started patchwork & quilting, there was nobody around me who did those types of things. Also, it was before the internet existed, I don't think the phrase "Google it" existed. After I got paid for my first job at 16 (seriously, I didn't make much but to me it was a lot of money...). I went to a book store and bought several books about quilt making. Slowly, I mean project by project I taught myself how to cut, piece, baste, quilt and bind to complete a quilt.

Since then, my quilt making skill hasn't progressed much, but the list of quilts I want to make is growing so much faster than I can do! Living in the capital of quilt making, I mean, you might have different opinions, but I am just saying, because Utah has so many amazing quilt shops, and it is so hard not to go in.

I think this bag was my third or fourth project. At the time I liked it a lot, but over time my style has changed, I don't care for it as much. Although, whenever I look at the bag with unmatched corners and seams with uneven quilt stitches, it humbles me and brings me back to where I started.

I think I would pick totally different fabrics for this if I were to make this now.


This hexagon was not paper pieced, I kind of like it though...



The bottom of the bag is even pieced and quilted...


There are two things that come to my mind while looking at this bag...

One, I had lots of patience before the kids wore it THIN.

Two, I LOVE LOVE doing hand quilting, but there are so many quilts that I want to make. If I were to hand quilt all of them, I wouldn’t be able to make them all before I die! I really need to get better at machine quilting. :)

Vintage Sheets & Pillowcases Quilt Top

I have been enjoying the mini vacation from my series of procedures. It has been almost 4 weeks since the last one was canceled. I was able to do some things that I have been wanting to start or finish.

I am off to get another procedure today, but I thought I would share one of the quilt tops I finished piecing. I actually started this project back in July. Then, I was stuck in the design decision and had to stop.

I used some of my vintage sheets and pillow cases from my collection along with new fabrics.


Made some cuts...


I wanted a quilt with triangles, but I wasn't sure how I wanted to combine them together, that's where I got stuck. Does that happen to you sometimes?
I finally made up my mind and pieced some of them together... (why did I say "some"? Because I used the same triangles and pieced a totally different quilt too! :) )


I am in the process of quilting this right now; I will share the picture of the finished quilt in the near future.

Have a nice week everyone!

A Finished Quilt During My Mini Vacation

I finished binding this quilt a week ago, and completely forgot to share the pictures.


Usually, with a quilt like this I would have chosen white fabric for the bias tape, but this time I wanted to do something I normally don't do... and you know what? I think I kind of like it.


Since that last procedure was canceled and we had to reschedule it, I have been working on some projects. I am going to be able to share a couple of the projects soon, and some not so soon, but I am enjoying this little "vacation time" from the procedures.

I miss having you all for my link parties on Wednesdays, but I decided that it is best to take a break until this medical craziness calms down. I don't know exactly how long, but probably a few months.

Having said that, what project is making you happy? What have you been working on?

Down Memory Lane ~Double Wedding Quilt~

I have more quilts that I made in the past and I haven't shared with you. Today I will talk about this Double wedding ring quilt a little bit. I started working on this quilt shortly after I got engaged to my husband about 17 years ago...



I was visiting the United States from Japan, and after a short while we were engaged. I wasn't expecting that to happen, so I extended the stay but after three months I had to go home (the visa only allowed me to stay for three month). Our original plan was that I would get a visa and come back to the US but I had a hard time getting it. We were separated for 6 month until he came to Japan to marry me (I still couldn't get a visa, and he had to go back for school, so we were separated for another 4 month after that...).



Long story short, it was a hard time for both of us. You can probably guess how I coped with the sadness and frustration... I made quilts. Before I left Japan, I made quilts for my mom, a bag for my sister, and this double wedding ring quilt.











It is done ALL by hand. I didn't know any fancy methods (paper piecing and such), so I traced, cut them by hand, pieced them one by one and quilted. I love hand quilting. While I was sitting and working on my wedding quilt, I forgot all my worries and loneliness... so I just kept on quilting. Not only that, I had happy thoughts about what our married life would be like, how I wanted to decorate our bed with this quilt... seriously, quilt making is so therapeutic. If you are not a quilter, you should try it!



When we were finally reunited and started our life together, I did, I covered our bed with this quilt. I was so happy to see one of my visions for our life together came true...until one day, my husband came out the shower and sat on the bed... on the quilt!



I was thinking; Wait a minute! That wasn't in my plan. It took me so many months to make this quilt... I took the quilt off the bed and decided to make a different quilt to warm my beloved right away. :)

OH! My First Quilt Market

Can you guess where have I been today...? Take a wild guess (I wish you can see me grinning).

International Quilt Market!!! Yes, my first one ever!!

I have always wanted to go to the Inter National Quilt Market. I don't know if you are familiar with the Market, but, lots of fabric and quilt designers will have booths and showcase their next product line. I know, some people say that Disneyland is the best place on earth, but to me this is it! There is a really big one in Houston every fall, and the spring one is held at a different location every year.

Guess what? This year it was held in Utah! It is driving distance for me and thought I had to go! I had no idea what to expect and I was little nervous at first, but it would be a huge understatment if I say it was a great experience.

IT WAS AMAAAZING!

I met several desingers that I admire and wanted to meet, and they were super nice. Un... Can I name Amy Butler, Sarah Jane, Sandi Henderson, Kaari from French General and so on... Oh, I was in heaven!

The market was very big, and I heard that the one in Huston is even bigger! I can't imagine... There was so much to see. It was a lot of walking, lot more than I normally do so I am gonna crash tonight. I am attending a blogger's meet up tomorrow night, I need my beauty sleep... (really, I need all the help I can get for a good first inpression. It is a little scary to see people in person from blogland. Most of them only know me in my blog if not they wouldn't know me at all).

I will post one pictue from the market though, I know one of my friends that couldn't come with us is dying to see this picture...


I have a lot going on next week, so I can't say when, but I will tell you more about the market soon.

Oh, know what I will dream about tonight. Good night everybody. :)

NOTE: I asked the desingners if I could take the pictures of their booth, and got permission to post them on my blog.

Down Memory Lane ~Irish Chain Quilt~

I wrote three posts about my quilts that I made in the past for Christopher, Michael and Rachel. I used "Down Memory Lane" as the title and as the intention of writing more about my other quilts.

Well, I forgot to do this for such a long time. I am going to write about my very first large quilt I made about 17 years ago, but before that let me tell you how my love for quilts and quilting got started...

Ever since I can remember I had a needle in my hand. I taught myself through lots of trial and errors... I tried to make my first quilt when I was 11, and I failed miserably. I didn't have a grandmother who made quilts, or classes that I could take. The next time I tried was when I was 17 and I had bought my first quilt book. I slowly tried my way up from small projects.

Growing up my sister and I always watched "Little house on the prairie". There were scenes where Mary and Laura were talking before they went to sleep, but my eyes were glued to those quilts on the bed. I really wanted to make one for myself. I know that's how my love for quilts started. I think that is why my early quilts were all very traditional or pioneer style (and there are other movies that had quilts in it, I loved that quilt in You've Got Mail. You know the scene when Meg Ryan was sick in bed and Tom Hanks visited her? The quilt was so pretty. I was paying more attention to the quilts than what they were saying when I first watched the movie).

Also, I thought "doing all by hand" is so fascinating and somewhat romantic. So, the cutting, piecing and quilting I have done ALL BY HAND. Now? Oh no, I still love quilting by hand, but I LOVE machine piecing. Also, I have a special place in my heart for whoever invented the rotary cutting system.

I have a book called "Old Swedish Quilts" by Åsa Wettre. The book contains a rich history of quilting, where it originated, how people lived around that era and such. It is very educational and insightful, I would recommend that you read it someday. There are many interesting things that I want to share with you from the book, but let me share this one part with you. Actually, this one part made me decide to make this Irish chain quilt in the first place.



"A tradition, which had its origin in England, stipulated that a girl must have twelve patchwork quilts in her dowry. The thirteenth was her wedding quilt and would be made only if she married. It was the most beautiful one, often with embroidery and with heart-shaped designs in the stitching."

Wow... girls must have twelve quilts; the thirteenth was her wedding quilt... A couple of things; first of all, I am not English as you all know, but at the time I was engaged to my husband, (Ok, probably my brain was heart shaped and rosy pink from romance at the time) I REALLY wanted to make some special quilts for our wedding. Second, I bet those 12 quilts were done by many people back then, there was no way I could have made all 12 quilts and the "special" 13th quilt all by myself in several months. Not to mention that I did everything by hand at the time.

I designed my very first big quilt project on a piece of paper and started cutting the fabric. It took me more than 6 month to complete this one start to finish, and I made a Double Wedding Ring quilt and Grandma's flower garden quilts afterwards (I promise to share the story in the near future).

Over the years, my taste in quilts changed quite a bit, but I know my roots is in the traditional style. I would LOVE to make a Baltimore quilt someday!

I have favor to ask you all... do you have any movies that you like that had quilts in it that you liked? I know there are lots more I have seen, but I can't remember them all. If you have your favorite, please share it with me. :)

Shabby Apple Giveaway! and New Quilt

Shabby apple is doing an awesome giveaway for Tea Rose Home readers. Please head over to my sponsors' page, to see how you can enter. :)

Ok, after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, my blog became much more than a "craft blog" to me. It became my place to organize my thoughts and feelings about this tragedy, and getting the support I needed. I can't tell you how grateful I am for all your comments to show your support and the information to help the people in Japan.

I am slowly returning to my normal self, and so far I feel ok. There is a lot to worry about still, but my family is alive and ok, I can breathe better now.

The first two days I was glued to the TV and trying to get as much as information as I can. Between the crying and watching TV, I finished a quilt. Being busy really helped me to moving along.


I pieced this quilt top a loong time ago. I have a pile of quilt tops sitting in my hobby room waiting to be quilted, and this was one of them... Over the years, my taste in quilts has changed a lot, but I wanted to finish this. I started hand quilting this a while ago, but I finally finished it!



Right away I basted a quilt so I can start quilting. I pieced that one almost 10 years ago, and there are two of the same ones for my boys’ beds. Hmmm... It is time to finish them. I am so glad that I didn't make it too babyish of a design. They can still use them. I will share pictures when I finish them.

I love sewing and quilting, I like all the other creative stuff too, but those two things will be my greatest loves for rest of my life. Do you have anything like that in your life that makes you happy?

Tutorial ~ Square in Square Quilt ~

If you have been reading my blog for a long time, you might remember this picture and the post...





I went back and checked the date, and it was posted on November 4th 2009! Oh…my…gosh…, it was such a long time ago. The post was a sneak preview for the quilt I was working on and I meant to post the finished quilt soon. I am so sorry that you guys had to wait for over a year!!



The problem was I just could not decide how I wanted to finish the quilt. I pieced the quilt top right away and while I was busy working on other things, I kept thinking about what to do.



It's been so long, but I put together a quick tutorial for this quilt. I hope you will enjoy it. :)



Finished size 27" X 30" (it is constructed with 90 3"X3" squares)



{You will need}







I used Honey Buns from Moda, but you can make your own 1 1/2" wide strips by the width of the fabric and use them instead. I also used 6 strips for another project first, so I had 36 strips to make this quilt.



{How to}



1. Sort them and group by color.





2. From light color fabrics cut 90 pieces of 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" squares.





From darker color strips cut;







90 pieces of 1 1/2" X 1 1/2" squares

90 pieces of 1 1/2" X 3 1/2" rectangles

180 pieces of 1 1/2" X 2 1/2" rectangles



My Honey Buns had three main colors: pink, green, and blue. Since I made this quilt with 90 blocks, I made 30 pink blocks, 30 green blocks, and 30 blue blocks. When you are making this from scratch, this will make it easier to pick out the fabrics. You only need four different color schemes, one light, three darks.



3. Piece them together to make blocks. Use the pictures as a guide. Don't forget to press the seam after each step. It will make quite a difference on the finished quilt.

















4. Lay all the blocks to see how you want to piece them. Then, piece the blocks side by side first.





5. Then, piece all the strips row by row.





It took me over a year to decide how I wanted to finish the quilt...Here is how I did it. Since I made this for Rachel's room, I appliqued her initial "R" and added small pom-poms around the edge. You will be proud of me (little squeak!) I machine quilted this myself!





Rachel was so excited to see the quilt finished and hanging in her room. It took me long enough, but it's finally finished! :)