The Stash-Busting blog hop

I am excited to be back here to host a stop for Stash Busting blog hop for Kim Kruzich's new sweet book titled Retro Mama Scrap Happy Sewing! I've always admired her cute works over her blog for ages, so it was really exciting to know that she wrote a book!! Before seeing anything, I knew I'd have to get it because I knew it would be awesome. And of course I was right!! This book has 18 super cute projects that you can create from scrappy fabrics! Every one of them is just so cute and adorable and you will find a perfect gift for anyone from young children who would enjoy stuffed toys to your friends who love pouches!

I made this Take it East Cross-Body Bag from the book. I am so happy that I made it for myself! I rarely ever make anything for myself. Even when I think I am making something for myself, I end up giving it away if the result is good. This bag is an exception. It turned out nice because of Kim's easy and thorough instruction but I don't have the gut to part with it.

The functionality is amazing. It is a perfect size for a very quick outing like grocery shopping. It is rummy enough for my wallet, cellphone, some snack, one diaper and wipes. It has a nice zippered pocket which I am sure I will be using something to hide from my girl like chocolate. I am pretty sure I will be using this almost daily from now on. I'll have to make a smaller version for my girl because she is loving it possibly more than I do.

I used Liberty fabric (Japan print) and 100% linen for the outer and my Lighthearted fabric for the lining.

See the blog hop schedule here and be inspired by talented ladies playing with the book :)

If you are a UK resident and would like to win a copy of Retro Mama Scrap Happy Sewing, a copy 50 Fat Quarter Makes and some beautiful fat quarter bundle, remember to enter the giveaway going on over here!

Winner of Make it Take it

Congratulations go to Tamie! I will contact you shortly!

I will be back tomorrow morning!

Hope you are having a nice week so far!

Messy!

二日連続ずっと雨でずっと引きこもってしまったぁ。明日外に出してあげるのが楽しみだな。歩乃歌は毎日新しい言葉を発してるから面白い。最近は、「すごいね～！」と「待ってよ～！」をいっぱい言ってるよ。

Two rainy days in a row meant we never got a chance to leave the apartment for two days. I can't wait to take her outside tomorrow. Honoka has so many new words she can say now everyday. Lately she likes to say "Sugoi ne" (Impressive, isn't it) about everything especially when she can accomplish something. She also says "Matte yo!" (Wait for me!) very often.

Make it Take it Blog Tour

Welcome to this stop for Make it Take it blog tour! Krista Hennebury, the author of this beautiful book, Make it Take it, has been a very lovely friend of mine for years. I couldn't be happier when she shared with me the news she was writing this book. She is a very talented quilter/sewist but to me, what makes her very special is her friendship. She has always been willing to help friends in need, teach them, and support however way she can, (not to mention this amazing alphabet quilt she has put together with friends for my baby!) This book's theme is around 'sewing together' which I think is appropriate and perfect for her first book. She has years of experience in attending retreats, sewing with friends, and teaching. Unfortunately I have never had a chance to sew with her just because we live way too far away from each other, but her MQG has always been the guild I want to attend the most partly because there are many other members in it that I've known for years and have admired as well!

I am just so honored that I was able to contribute my project for this book filled with ubber talented people. To be honest, I was nervous because I knew most contributors including Krista herself are way beyond creative, and I didn't know I could come up with something that is up to the standard! Well, but this is very typical of me to feel inadequate, but this was an opportunity I had to right jump in!

I ended up designing these bags for her book. When Krista asked me to come up with a design for her book, it was right around the time I made this bag over two years ago. I had a lot of requests to make it into a pattern/write a tutorial on it, so I suggested the project for the book, and Krista kindly accepted it. I need to warn you that there are minor corrections to my pattern. Here is a link to a correct instruction. (See the part squared in the yellow line under the cutting instruction: in the book it asks you to cut two pieces but you only need just one.) So sorry about this!

There are so many things I want to make in this book! So far I've made these double scissor keepers which are designed by the lovely Amy of During Quiet Time. This is so fun and easy to make, and it is such a great project for quick gift making. It is very likely your sewing friend has scissors that need to be organized in a pretty, handy way like this, but it isn't likely she already has a cute keeper for her scissors, right? I am giving these to my mom and my mother-in-law as birthday presents. Now I know I need one for myself too because it is perfect for my great Kai scissors my friend Mary gifted me :)

Fabric used for these is Denise Schmidt's older fabric (floral) and my Lighthearted (text).

Here is the blog tour schedule!

Friday, April 3 Blog hop kick-off: Right here!

Monday, April 6: Berene at Happy Sew Lucky and Amy at During Quiet Time

Tuesday, April 7: Leanne at She Can Quilt and Felicity at Felicity Quilts

Wednesday, April 8: Martingale Inc. at Stitch this! (check out their Rainbow Round the Cabin staff party!)

Thursday, April 9: Krista at Spotted Stones and Krista at Krista Withers Quilting

Friday, April 10: Lynne at Lilys Quilts and Cindy at Live a Colorful Life

Saturday, April 11: Ayumi at Pink Penguin and Krista at Poppyprint

Sunday, April 12: Kristie at OCD: Obsessive Crafting Disorder and Christina at Sometimes Crafter


I hope you will get your hands on this fabulous book and make lots of things from it with your friends! If you would like to win a digital copy of this book, leave me one comment! The giveaway will close on the 14th and a winner will be announced soon after that. Good luck :)

The winner of The Paper-Pieced Home is...

Thank you to eveyone for your sweet comments on my previous post! The winner of a copy of The Paper-Pieced Home by Penny Layman is...

Marco!! Congratulations! Could you do me a favor to email me your mailing address for your copy to be sent to? Thank you!!

Hope you are having a lovely weekend wherever you are! Let me leave you with some pictures from last week where cherry blossom trees were amazing here in Tokyo, Japan!