Tom Yam Soup

Tom Yam soup (Lemon Grass soup originated from Thailand I believe), with egg noodles, beef balls,seafood balls (shrimp, squid, fish), bean sprout and cilantro. I had not cook this for a while and we were kinda craving for good soup and lots of meat and veg and less oil and no msg. It seems that these days, most of the restaurant add lots of oil and msg into their broth and barely any meat toppings. Eventhough we order the extra large, we would still feel hungry but can feel the msg effect for the next few hours. So pretty much I was forced to cook so we can enjoy as much meat and veg toppings as we like without all the bad extras.

First RWB String Qult

I was so eager to try making my own string quilt after learning how to make one at the International Houston Festival couple years ago. They had a charity booth there inviting everyone to make a block for the soldiers. Since it was my first time making a quilt block, I stood by watching the 'demo' for a while and after the crowd had left, I asked whether I could attempt to make one and the lady was so nice & inviting and walked me thru it. Yeah.......I finished my first real quilt block there and donated it. After I got home, I started pulling out all my fabrics to design a block and this is the result............a finished RWB string top......I am not sure how I want to quilt it yet...........

Prayer Quilt

I had learned about Prayer Quilts a while back and been wanting to make one for myself with all my favourite bible verses on the back. So I gathered some of my favourite reds, browns and greens and took off on the project. It was a learning experience as I had to learn how to make a bargello quilt at the same time and how to transfer the bible verses to fabric. I was so glad to finish and love the color combinations.

Mini Tuscany

I made this to compliment the wall behind my piano and also to tie the theme with the rest of the house. Just love making this art quilts.......

Chicken Fried Chicken

Been craving for some fried chicken so I hunt thru my freezer and pantry and found I might have enough ingredients to make me some chicken fried chicken for dinner................First pound the chicken breast flat between two sheets of wax paper.

Then coat it in flour seasoned with black pepper & sea salt.

Then dipped it in an egg wash (egg beaten w/ water or milk)

Then coat again in seasoned bread crumbs. I made my own by toasting some bread, chopped it in food processor and season with own favourite seasoning (dried onions, garlic, chives, bell peppers, salt, lemon, red peppers)

Pan fry in olive oil for about 3 mins each side.

Ta da.......serve over rice or pasta or even make a poboy......yummy...enjoy.

Garden Stakes

I made these garden stakes as a donation to a local quilt guild's silent auction gift basket fund raising. I saw these lovely cat and dog molds and have been wanting to make something with them so when I was approached for donations, I volunteered something pottery but didn't really know what I was going to make. I love pot gardening so after fooling around in the studio, I came up with these stakes. I really love the way they came out especially the dog with the fire hydrant and the cat with the fish and yarn.......:):):).....

Take Out

After picking up my quilt from the show yesterday, we decided to order take out from a restaurant we have not frequent for a while. We were both starving so of course we ordered everything we could think of that was good before.

We had stir fry snowpea leaf & chinese brocolli, salt & pepper squid & shrimp, chinese fried chicken and ginger & green onion crabs. They were yummy....... we actually finished the crabs but had lots of leftovers for today.....:):):)

First Show, First Ribbon

Praise the Lord for a good weekend and for the courage to enter my quilt in a show. I took up quilting as a hobby and for keeping my sanity but never to compete so I surprised myself when I did (thru several friends' encouragement). I really didn't think mine was good enough as I was self taught and pretty much didn't abide by any quilting rules as I didn't know much about it. So to my surprise, when a friend called to tell me I have won a blue ribbon, I had to ask her what blue means. You see, I grew up in Asia till I was 16, and we never did the ribbon thing but rather went with 1st, 2nd, etc.... or gold, silver, etc.... I am really humbled by this experience and by the judges comments. It is very encouraging and sweet. Praise the Lord for HIS blessings.

Detour

I took a break from fabric art to pottery art............ been wanting to make a pot for my garden and play with some new molds I had purchased quite sometime ago........so I went down to the studio and next thing I know I was in there the whole day......:):):)The front - I tried capturing the frogs climbing into the potThe back - and the turtle going for the flower and leaf

Overall I am quite happy with the result but I will not know until it is fired which won't be for a while. It has to dry first and with the hot weather ......I will probably wait till cooler weather to fire up the kiln.

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..........