Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus....there's two and a half hours left before the day is over :)

This is my first quilt in over 5 months and I am so proud and happy its finish.  After my accident, I had kinda completely stop any patchwork, pieceing and quilting.  I did try to make myself get into it but never got much started or even close to completion.  As december was approaching,  I had the urged to get back to patchwork again and for some odd reason wanted to make something christmasy but not sure what.  I have never made a christmas theme quilt before so I really did't have any fabrics to start with.  So I went to the quilt shop for ideas and bought christmas prints fabrics and had intended to make a wall hanging from a preprinted christmas panel.  I started cutting it up but my heart was just not into it so it got left stranded on the cutting table and then buried among piles of fabrics.  Finally december came and I still didn't have anything to show for.  I digged up the preprinted half cut panel and decided to give it another try but.....my heart says 'no'.  So it got buried again.  Finally I decided to look thru the christmas fabrics I had bought and just enjoy them and then an idea sparked......how about cutting up all the individual character/graphic and applique them on a piece of light color fabric and bind it and tada.....I have a wall hanging.

My heart got so excited I started immediately and cut up as many as I could and randomly auditioned them on the fabric......and out of the blue another idea came.....how about creating a visual tree in the background and using the appique as ornaments.......a star was born.

After I finally finished, my heart reminded me about the crystals I had bought at the show and I was ever so excited to try them on this quilt.  I was like a little girl in the candy store.....I couldn't stop adding more crystals.....thank you Lord for introducing me to crystals......I love them.

I was trying to show the lovely sparkle from the crystals from this angle but sadly it still looks better from the mirror

......getting to know my machine again

another idea sparked since I had made extra applique,.. I decided to try making refrigerator magnets.

 

Post Thanksgiving Trip

This year, to beat the traffic, we decided to travel the day after Thanksgiving hoping everyone is shopping somewhere at the mall on Black Friday.  I still didn't feel up to flying yet and really didn't trust the weather and with flight cancellations so we decided to drive somewhere close.

Glancing thru the Texas travel magazine, I found that Fredericksburg had a 'Christmas Lightning Celebration' on Friday evening.  Becos of someone's procrastination, not mine, we couldn't find a hotel room in Fredericksburg for that weekend but by the grace of God found a good one on the riverwalk in San Antonio.  Only thing is its an hour's drive away.

Since check in time is after 3pm, we decided to drive straight to Frederickburg and enjoy ourselves there till the lighting celebration in the evening then drive to San Antonio for a late check in and spend the next day in San Antonio and drive back Sunday.

I had a fabulous time in Fredericksburg.  I had been there onces before (actually wrote a post about it but never finished, hopefully will get it done soon).  Found a fantastic parking spot and good bathroom to use and then found some good maps and just started walking the Main Street where all the 'happenings' were.  We came upon a 'outdoor' kinda museum and the old ladies working the place were so pleasant to talk to (I really miss small town kind pleasant folks).  We didn't plan on doing the museum but these ladies were so nice and I just couldn't resist their invitation.  I am so glad I did it.  It is like walking into the past.  Its a museum of old buildings/houses/weekend homes/ - some restored and some intact, with all their original furnishings.  I just fell in love with them and spent over an hour or more walking from one historic building to the next and finally slowly dragging myself away from them cos if not, I would not have time to do other 'happenings' on the main street.

I took tons of pictures and I will share part of them in this post so as not to confuse myself.

The colored area is pretty much where all the shops and events takes place in Fredericksburg.

The Museum entrance

The first building as you enter the Museum ground is the Sunday House.

Sunday House-so quaint and simple in a very quiet spot.

Looking from the front door into the Sunday House.

Looking from the inside of the Sunday House to the front door.  Reminds me of  'Little House on the Praire' except this is one story.

Their school building with the entrance door at a corner.  So unique and very practical and maximum usage of the space inside

Again reminded me of the Little House on the Praire show.

This is what we came to see.  The lightning of the German Pyramid and.....

......the Christmas Tree.

Finally the lights came on after 7pm.  The figurines actually go round and round.  Very nice.

Beautiful lights.  Just lovely.  Brought lots of smiles and laughter.  Very peaceful feeling.

After the lights came on around 7ish pm, we had dinner and started driving to San Antonio around 9ish and checked into the hotel around 11ish pm. I was totally exhausted by then and just wanted to crawl into bed but was talked into walking the riverwalk as tons of people were still around.  Finally got to bed around 3am.  I had a good night sleep and was glad we didn't have any concrete plans for the next day except to 'casually' walk the Marketplaz.  (Pictures will be on future post)

Thanksgiving Dinner Asian style

My family didn't practise this tradition at all nor in my culture or the country I grew up in.  I have only prepared the traditional thanksgiving meal maybe twice in my life and when we have lots of friends coming together.

This year we really wanted some alone time and have a low key celebration.  We chose to order to go from a recently opened Malaysian restaurant.  I am so glad we had it to go cos it was crowded and there was a line forming already when DH got there to pick it up.

This is what we had...........

Malaysian food

Stir fry Shrimp Okra w/sambal

Stir fry Salted fish Bean Sprout

Chai Kueh Teow-Stir Fry Flat Rice Noodle

Beef Rendang

Coconut Buttered Prawns

It was a delicious dinner and I am thankful we can get this foods here in Houston, Tx.  It sure help me not to miss home and the local foods.  Thank you Lord.

Antique or not

When I saw this Singer machine on the market, I was excited.  Not that I needed another machine but that it looks so cute (not literally cos its kinda big) but that it kinda reminded me of the antique singer machines but its not.  I was debating whether to get it cos I have two machines still in their boxes as I don't have room for them on my table.  DH encouraged to get it as an antique collection.  He thinks its a collectible piece.  So I gave in and ordered it.

When it arrived, I was so excited to try it and ...............ok, here goes........its not a bad machine but its loud.  It does not have a knee lift so if you are used to one, then it might be a problem cos I was constantly pushing 'air'.  For the price, I think its a reasonable machine.  I probably will not be sewing on it so it will be going back into the box soon.  I am thinking it might serve as a good travel machine for a class, retreat, but hmmm ..... I have but taken one class and have not gone on a retreat yet.

It is pretty to look at though..... :)

 

Weekend Outings

Since late September this year, I had the urged to get out of town or do something different on the weekends.  So on every available weekend I would check to see if there is anything fun and interesting going on within driving distance cos I don't feel up to flying at the moment.

So far in the last couple months, we have been to quite a few interesting places and I am late in my updates.  Usually its cos when I  get home, I just keep putting off down loading the photos and next thing you know another weekend is here and the cycle repeats itself.

So anyway, this outing was to the Bayou Art Festival.  We have known about it for a few years now but never seem to make it there for various reasons.  This year we actually made it there.  By the grace of God, we chose a good day to go, Saturday.  It was beautiful and not too hot so it made being outdoor pleasant.  It was not too crowded either so that was good.  I really enjoy the vendors and they seem to be professional artists too.  Overall a good variety of art works to enjoy from pottery to oil painting to metal/wood/leather art and I even found a art quilt vendor.

 Below are street artist.  Yes, they painted those out of color chalks.  Very creative and talented.

This pottery shop caught my eye and I just had to buy the piece.  It is very unique shaped and styled.  After talking to the potter, he told me that the piece was a mistake.  He was throwing a plate and it just didn't work out so he reinvented it to this.  Its like a vase with a handle.  I just think it gorgeous and love all the beautiful curves.

 

Hot Pads

I bought this pattern at the IQFestival show.  I actually have a book using this same techniques but for a different purpose.  I think it was for a bag and ornament.  I have been wanting to try it out but never go tot it until I was reminded again at the show.

The lady was demonstrating it and I just love the contrasting colors and striking outcome.  But it was alot of work.....lots of cutting and folding small pieces of fabrics.  Couple days ago, I decided to give it a try before I totally forget I even have this pattern.
 

Here's my finished hot pad.  Lesson learned for next round.....use thinner fabrics.  All the folds of the fabric adds up to a pretty thick pad.  Also use more contrasting fabrics/colors and for the binding too.  That would really make it pop.  Enjoy making these and would make a good group project with someone cutting, folding, putting it together, sewing them on and binding. 

 

Bling Bling

I don't know why but after my introduction to crystals, I wanted a crystal phone case for my phone.  So now my phone is 'bling bling' too.......I was looking for my initials or Hello Kitty (yes, I still love it) but no can do......they didn't have that.  So I picked this one.

 

Christmas mood

Couple of weeks before the IQFestival started, for some odd reason, I had the urge to make something Christmasty.  I didn't know what to make......but I knew it had to be small so I could finish and enjoy it before the season is over.

Maybe a hotpad and oven mitts?......no,  coaster?....no,  quilt?.....no, too big so probably won't finish on time,  ok.....only thing left would be wall hanging.  Now, what kind of pattern and how big?  I dug thru my stash and amazingly didn't find  anything christmasty.

I decided to visit to the quilt/fabric shops to generate some ideas.  And I found these beautiful colorful fabrics.  Now, I am over energized with ideas..... :)

I picked up a few pre printed panels which could become wall hangings.  I can make two different wall hangings ....... hmmmm....... I can sense my project growing already....... :)

My heart, hands and mind are excited to put these together.  I hope they can all work together and produce a completed project within the time frame ..... :)

Now these below were accidental buys.......they looked so gorgeous on the online photo and I couldn't wait any longer for the IQFestival to start so I gave in and ordered them.  But they didn't arrive till the day the IQFestival started and I was at the show......I should have waited.......never mind......they are pretty and I can see pants and bags made from these already.

 

Shopping @ IQFestival 2012

The IQFestival in Houston came and went just like that.  This year I went to the Winners Circle on Tuesday evening for the first time as my quilt made it into the finalist.  Then I went to the Preview Show on Wednesday evening which ended @ 10pm.  Thursday thru Sunday were full days for me ~ 12noon to 7pm.  Praise God for a very good pair of thick cushioned comfortable shoes or I definitely would not have been able to make it.  I lose about 5lbs from all the walking which was a huge blessing.

As a reward this year I let myself splurge.  From previous years experience, I had witness ladies checking in their full shopping bags so they could go back and do more shopping.  I thought they were crazy and I would never do that.  Well....guess what....never say never......I did the unthinkable.......by mid Thursday afternoon,  my hands were full and shoulders killing me and I called DH and told him I don't think I could go on and he suggested I go check my bags ....and I did....I had to or there was no way I could go on.  My feet were fine but not my upper body.  Now, I finally understood those ladies.  They were the smart ones.

So what did I buy......well, there were a few items on my shopping list this year and Praise the Lord, I found them.  But along the way, I got side tracked with many more other items.

I was looking for a nice quilt hanger and found this.....

.... for my next quilt project, I was looking for gradation fabric and found these......

.... I am always on the look out for 30's fabric and found these lovely fabrics

..... love florals and stunning colors so had to get these

..... decided on a new modern quilt for DH and got these with the pattern

..... rewarded myself with this kit cos I just love houses and buildings and color red

..... the lady that demonstrated this rulers was very nice and friendly to me so I had to get this and other goodies.....

..... for another quilt project, I was looking for metallic and gold and stunning fabrics and had to get these

..... I gave in and bought these Swarovski crystals and tools.  I refused to buy them during previous show cos they were very dear and I just didn't know how to use them but this year, they had a demonstration and newer better crystals which didn't need glue.

..... on Saturday evening right before closing, I chanced upon these metallic threads and just had to have them.

...... these, I just got carried away and were impulse buys

 

 

After the show closed on Sunday, I had to decompress the following week.  All the excitement for 6 days and now its all over.  Where did all the creativity and inspiration go.....oh well, I will fine them again hopefully soon so I can start on my next quilt project.  My ideas are in my head and my brain cells are often chewing on my fabric stash to see what I could do with them or if I needed more......:)

 

I had taken quite a few photos of the quilts at the show and plan to put them into a video so it would be easier for me to download.  Hopefully I would get them done before the year is up.