some projects + handmade gifts

Hi everyone! How's it going?
I'm sorry for not posting for such a long time.
I feel I'm so behind. I have 1000+ unread posts sitting
in my google reader waiting for me. I really need to
catch up with you guys once everything settles down.

It has been a bit crazy over here, but
it's a very happy, positive kind of 'craziness.'
I just graduated from the college,
had a couple of good-bye parties,
and am getting ready for our wedding which
will take place at our apartment this weekend!! haha!
But I managed to sew up some projects in the last
week, that I want to show you guys today.




First off, this is a last minute gift I made
for someone who has been very nice and
supportive for us. I love this basket partly
because in my opinion, this is a great representation
of her character; cheerful and outgoing.
She takes ikebana classes, so I thought she
might like some traditional Japanese fabric
which I used for lining. I really love this.




This is one of my projects for a custom-order
by my friend Hilda in Venezuela. She wanted me to
make a fabric basket using the Eiffel Tower
fabric. I wanted the fabric to be the main one,
but then I thought I need something else
to give it a stronger impact which led me to
combine it with the animal fabric.
I think it is cute in its own way but
maybe the animal print is a bit too dominant.
I hope she will still like it.




This one is so happy and springy.
I really like the combination of the vintage-inspired
little flower prints. The poodles look happy
with lots of flowers surrounding them.




The order included one potholder which
she is planning to give to her mom, but
I decided to make two so that she can
share the same one with her mom.
I like how these potholders turned out
a lot; they make me happy to look at ;)




I just love making these pincushions
(well, obviously!)




I love this kind of pincushions too!
A great scrap-buster project!
This makes me want to jump into a pool.
It has been a perfect weather for
swimming here in San Jose.



Another thing I want to do today is to
share with you great handmade gifts I've
received in the past few months ;) I hope I don't
seem like I'm bragging but I feel so lucky to
own these goodies and can't help having
you guys take a look at them!



What can I say about this pink penguin
mini quilt made by my friend Mary as a
graduation gift for me other than the fact
that it is the cutest, most thoughtful thing ever?
I'm totally in love with this.
Mary has such impeccable quilting skills,
and her handcrafted items inspire me so much.
I'm especially impressed with how unbelievably
perfect her applique is.



Look how perfectly the curvy heart is sewn
on the potholder. It's like breathtaking to me.
I asked her if there were any books she used
to learn this skill but she kindly told me that
she learned it from her mom and never
refereed to any sewing books.
Maybe I need to take an applique class.




This is another master piece she was nice
to share with me. She used the metal measuring
tape for the opening part and proved to me
that it really works!! Several people have asked
me whether they can use a measuring tape to
make the puffy pouch but the only thing I could
tell was "yes, that's what I've heard."
But this really proves to me that it works
amazingly perfectly!!! Unlike the flex frames
that need some pressure from the sides to open a pouch,
the one made with the measuring tape can be
open without pressing from the sides.
It gives much more flexibility because 1) you can
cut the metal measuring tape into the
size you want and 2) it needs just enough
pressure to open the pouch. Also,
it will save us some $! I must go hunting
for the measuring tape next time I go thrifting!
Thank you so much Mary for your niceness and
generosity to share with me your master pieces!



One last thing I want to share with you is
these cards made by my blog friend Melanie!
She was so nice to send me several handmade
cards along with lots and lots of cute fabrics!
Aren't these cards so cute?! I really love
handmade cards and have wanted to make some,
and she totally inspired me to start making ones!
Those are too cute to be used, so I am keeping
them to myself! Thank you so much, Melanie
for the surprise package full of goodies!!!


Thank you for reading such a long post!
I'll be back after our wedding ;)
I'm so excited that Joe's parents and
his nephew are coming over for this weekend.
It will be lots of fun!

I hope you are having a great week!

P.S. I have a set of three placemats listed
in my shop! Please let me know you came from
here when you snatch it to receive a couple of
cute Japanese fabric stashes ;) !

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