3day retreat progress

I am so happy to report I finally got the six alphabets done.....well....at least outlined.........

Tomorrow I hope to get them all colored........ and hopefully maybe next weekend I can start on the center piece..........

Marriage D'Amour

My rendition of Marriage D'Amour

2nd Day Retreat Progress

I got carried away doddling and drawing and playing with my fabric markers.........I made a small art quilt for myself instead.....hmmm.......I love drawing and had learned about 'alphabetoons' from watching too much tv.....so this is actually the alphabet 'A' turned into a clown. I just loved it......I have been drawing up a storm since....... Ok....I reminded myself I really needed to start on my nephew's quilt.....so I thought instead of just alphabets......why not a 'alphabet maze'....that would be more fun right.......so here's the first one outlined in black.....

Here's the second one....and then I couldn't wait any longer to color them so .......

......I had so much fun coloring......I feel like a kid again........

......unfortunately....this is as far as I got .....only two blocks.......oh well.........but I had FUN...... :):):)

1st Day Cyber Retreat Progress

I just got back from Joann's as I was looking for alternative fabrics and........ I ended up buying more than I wanted to cos there was a sale........anyway, I did pick up two fabrics I thought I might be able to use for my nephew's quilt if I needed to - the top two (blue elephant and dark navy doggy fabrics). The cowboy, alphabets and beige, I had bought earlier on when I was thinking about this quilt. I also bought white and off-white muslin cos I couldn't decide.
After laundering and drying the fabrics, I set out to cut the muslin into 6 - 8" blocks for the alphabets which will spell out his name and I plan on drawing & color them with fabric markers.

This bigger piece muslin will be under his name which I really like to do a 'alphabet search' activity or something like that which will make it fun for him to sleep under.

Labor Day Weekend Retreat

I have been curious and wanting to join a cyber retreat @ Susan Round since learning to quilt so this weekend, I have a reason to join. I am going to work on my nephew's quilt as a special request from my sister who lives in Borneo Island.

She reminded me the weather is very hot so to please not make it too thick. Well, I just got back from several fabric shops and I think I will use bamboo batting cos I read it is really light and less warm than cotton.

My nephew is 6 (I think) so I am going to make a fun quilt for him. I have decided to draw and color alphabets in his name and in the middle of the quilt, to make a game or something for him to play with. Since I am in Texas, I bought some children cowboy's fabric which I hope to use as the main fabric. It is all in my head so we shall see how it comes out.

Take Out - Malaysian food

Chai Kueh Teow - Fried Flat Noodles w/veg & shrimp

Belacan Green Beans w/shrimp

Belacan Okra (Lady's finger)

Beef Rendang - Spicy Beef

Chinese Beef Stew

Cut beef into medium chunks.

Stir fry with lots of chopped garlic, onions, shallots, ginger in olive oil.

Brown the beef, add in cut carrots and softened chinese mushrooms. Add water to cover, soy sauce, cooking wine, canned stew tomatoes and let it slow cook for at least 3 hours at low heat or in slow cooker.

Tada...... serve with rice or noodles.

Oh....I also add in hard boiled eggs during the slow cooking.

Recycling my leftovers into Meat Buns

Meat Buns

Leftover roast pork and turkey cut into small piecesJalapeno cheese & chopped onions, garlic, shallotsStir fry chopped vegetables in olive oil and add in meats
Roll out dough (I use biscuit dough) and load it up with cubed cheese and meat fillingsForm into ball and glazed with egg wash. Bake @ 350'F @ 20minsTada....Yummmy.......

I freeze them individually and they make great breakfast, lunch or snacks. Just microwave ~ 10sec each side.....enjoy!!!

First circles & curves

I bought this kit at the Houston IQF last year cos I love the bright colors and simplicity. I have never done curves or circles before so I thought it would be a good challenge for me and it was. I ended up with my own method of putting the circles and binding on the cirlcles otherwise it was too thick and I felt they didn't lay flat.

Overall I had fun trying to figure my way out of this curve thing and actually quite enjoy them.

Been Busy

These 8 center patches were hand embroidered during one of my travels abroad. After returning home, I put them into a quilt. This is actually my very first quilt and I bought a book call "My first quilt book for children" to guide me thru it. I figure since it is written for kids, it should be relatively easy to follow and it was.

I saw this quilt pattern and I just loved it. I used my old fabrics I had from many years ago. I love the black with florals very much. I think this quilt came out alright. Only wished I had made it bigger. Maybe the next one when I have time.

This pattern was new to me and I love the out come. I have seen others who used many different fabrics but I only used two. If I have time, I will make one using different fabrics.