Thursday, June 10, 2010

some projects + handmade gifts


dream14

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.


Last Minute Gift

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.


forhilda2

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.


forhilda1.5

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.


forhilda1

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 ;)


forhilda3

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


forhilda4

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!

forhilda6

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.

forhilda5

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.


forhilda8

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!

forhilda7

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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31 comments:

  1. Congrats on all the big accomplishments and your upcoming wedding! Love the baskets you've made. :)

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  2. Congratulations on graduating and I wish you a wonderful, beautiful wedding!

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  3. Oh wow! I knew you must have been having your graduation about now, but I didn't realise you were having your wedding now too!!

    Such a wonderful happy time. I hope you enjoy every minute of it.

    Congratulations on your graduation.

    And Congratulations to you both on your marriage.

    Cheers,
    AJ

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  4. Congrats on the wedding this weekend! I hope you will share pictures with us -- I'm sure you will look gorgeous! Have a wonderful time!

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  5. Congrats on graduating college! I hope your wedding day is wonderful, you must be so excited! :)

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  6. Wow! I love your projects - those baskets are beautiful! The handmade gifts are so wonderful too - your friend Mary has amazing quilting skills. Congratulations on your recent graduation and also your wedding this weekend. Wishing you a fabulous and glorious day.

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  7. Yay, how exciting that you're getting married this weekend! Woohoo! Best wishes!

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  8. Oh my gosh, the wedding is this weekend?!?!? Have a wonderful time Ayumi and Joe and congratulations to both of you. Way to go on the graduation, isn't it a wonderful feeling of accomplishment? So much happening for you...that's just peaches.

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  9. Congratulations on your recent graduation and also your wedding this weekend!! I hoppe you show us some pictures. I love your handmade gifts. These fabric baskets are amazing!
    Hugs from Spain an be very, very happy!
    Liliana

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  10. Congrat for the upcoming wedding , also the graduation! Look at what you STILL made in your buzy happy days, wow!! Pretty stuff as usual. Love all :)

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  11. All the best for your wedding this weekend! I hope it all goes perfectly - and you know even if it doesn't you won't care a bit because it will still be your wedding day and the start of something wonderful, and that's all that matters.
    xxx

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  12. the best to you and you honey. I hope you guys have a great wedding!

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  13. I LOVE all of what you made!
    Wow!
    And right before you're getting married too!
    Congratulations!

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  14. lovely lovely items! enjoy your wedding day! It'll go by fast. :)

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  15. FELICITACIONES POR TU BODA!, CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR WEDDING, MY BEST WISHES FOR YOU.

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  16. Congratulations on your graduation, and I hope your wedding fills you with the most beautiful memories forever!

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  17. Congratulations on your graduation and your wedding! Very best wishes for your very special day.

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  18. Congratulations on graduating!
    I'm getting married this weekend too, sooo exciting! The best of luck on your weddingday and for your marriage:-)
    Hugs from Synnoeve in Norway!

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  19. I hope everything runs perfectly this weekend for you Ayumi. Good luck and congratulations. And congratulations also on graduating. Oh and cute crafting as usual!

    Jenny

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  20. Congrats on everything!!! Love your bags, and all your gifts.

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  21. Best wished to you both on your wedding day and wishing you a lifetime of happiness.
    Have a beautiful day.
    Elyte

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  22. CONGRATULATIONS!!!*_*
    These things are soo nice :3

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  23. Congratulations on your wedding and graduation!!!
    Wish you all the happiness in the world :)
    The presents from your friends are so sweet and heart-warming! And the little cute things you stitched are as precious as ever!
    ~Hugs~

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  24. All I can say is I love all of your cute projects. Congratulations too!! I need to get busy, I love the little buckets they are just so much fun.

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  25. Congratulations on both your graduation and your wedding. How exciting for you.

    Best wishes for a wonderful future together.

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  26. Just wanted to add my congratulations too! I hope the weekend is wonderful for you :)

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  27. Amazing art,,Nice work,,keep it up it spreads a lot of love and affection,,,

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  28. When the going gets tough, the tough get going

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