A purple quilt for my big girl.

Hello peeps,

Way back in August of 2013, I began planning (on paper) a quilt for my big girl.  At the time she was 7 years old.  I had been collecting different red fabrics for her, as she loved red back then, but she decided her new favourite colour was purple.

She chose the snowball (octagon) quilt block and I was very lucky to find a few metres of the turquoise dotty fabric in my stash, it matched the purples I began collecting beautifully.

Over many months I cut fabrics and slowly sewed the blocks.

I finally sewed the blocks together in May of this year (2015).  My big girl was thrilled.  I was relieved it was finally (almost) finished.  There are no long arm quilters here in Hong Kong, I arranged for this to be quilted in Melbourne on our next trip (in July/August of 2015).  It was quilted by Anita of Hillside Quilting.  My big girl chose the quilting pattern and the binding too.

I wish I could say why it took so long to finish.  I will admit I get easily distracted and start other projects.

It is finally finished.  That is all that matters to my big girl.

The backing fabric my big girl chose, it is called Unicorn Fable in Balsamtree.  It is from Art Gallery Fabric, designed by Sara Lawson.  The range is called Fantasia.

Her new quilt is on her bed, she can snuggle up to her very own quilt, made with love, just for her.

Have a lovely week.

Cat xox.

Grief, Loss and Love

Hello lovelies,

Our experiences shape us, mould us into who we are.  Last November, I was such a different person to who I am now, today.  Everything changed at the end of November last year when my beloved Nana died.  Very unexpectedly she had a stroke.  She had been healthy all her life, in her 60's she was teaching water aerobics (she taught water aerobics for 12 years).  She loved being active and the only time she slowed down was when she needed knee replacements.

I was still working through my grief at losing my Nana, when only 26 days later, by beloved Grandmother had a stroke too.  It was only a few days before Christmas, we were visiting Australia at the time, so I got to say goodbye and sit with her for hours before she left us later the same day. 26 days.  How do you process so much grief and loss?  To be honest, I was a mess for a few months.  I've only started to feel like myself again recently.  Of course I miss them both, I think of them often.   That early gut wrenching pain of their loss, it is now a dull ache.

Life goes on.  Life is so precious.  Every day is a gift.  Love is life.  They sound like cliches, but they are my truth.  I feel like a new person, that is not a bad thing - I have lived through this, I have loved and lost and I have come out the other side stronger yet more fragile at the same time.

Six months have now passed from when I lost my Nana.  Last week I travelled to Sydney to help my Auntie sort through my Nana's belongings.  I'm so glad I could help, to feel useful.  It was a very emotional few days, I cried so many tears.  We also shared many happy memories.  We talked about Nana, I asked my Pa again how they had met (to refresh my memory).  I packed a big pile of her clothes to bring back to HK.  I will cut them up and make some memory pieces to give to family members, to help remember her.

I have already cut up a pile of my Grandmothers clothes and made the first two memory bowls.  I have not been able to share them on Instagram or Facebook before now, they felt too private, to precious, they exposed me and my grief.  We humans are funny creatures.

So here are the first two "Memory Bowls" made from my Grandmother's cut up clothes. I will make more.  Soon I will cut up my Nana's clothes and make more memory bowls, to honour her memory.  But only when I am ready, grief takes time.  Grief can not be rushed.

Cat xox

A quilt for Poppy

Hello peeps,

It is about time I share with you two quilts I made last year.  Both were presents for dear friends having babies.  I didn't share many photos on social media when I was making them, I did not want the recipients to know what I was up to.

The first quilt was finished in August for baby Poppy. I wanted to make a quilt that their baby would grow into, that their child would be able cherish for years to come.

 

It had to fit in their modern, bright, inner city apartment.  The gender of the baby was not known before birth.  These friends have their own wonderful style and flair. I wanted to add to this, not clash with it.  

I thought hard and long and believed triangles would suit them and that the Carolyn Friedlander fabric range "Botanics" would be perfect. I added a few coordinating solids also.

This is the 6th quilt I've made. It was my first time sewing triangles.  I quilted it myself in very wonky lines, outlining all the triangles.  I love how the back of the quilt looks.

I learnt so much making this quilt.  I learnt to embrace "wonky" even more.  I loved making this quilt. It was made with love for our friends, their friendship means so much to our family.

 

I love the orange binding, I feel it makes the quilt pop.

   

It is quite big for a baby quilt, Poppy will grow into it. I can't wait for the adventures that Poppy and my girls will have together, in the future.

   

Here is a silly photo with me in it. Hi {waves}

I'll share the other quilt soon. 

Have a great week.  Cat xox

Felt Squishies go to Market.

Hi peeps,

Eeekkk, only one week to go until my very first market.  I am nervous and excited, I have no idea what to expect.

On the day, I will have a big bowl of squishies available.  I must thank my mum who made most of these for me on her recent visit.  What are squishies?, I hear you ask.  They are hand made little felt love hearts, for your child to squeeze if they are feeling anxious or missing you.

We love squishies in our house.  They have saved the day on so many occasions when Abbey has been upset before school.  I find one in her school uniform pocket most days if she is having a challenging week.  Some weeks she won't use her squishies at all (she has two of them).

Her squishies have been through the washing machine a few times too - and survived.

We have been using these little felt squishies for years now, they really offer comfort to children.

Have a great weekend.

Cat xox

All stitched up with love.

Hello peeps,

I recently commissioned Sonia from Dandelyne to make our family portrait.  This is how we look, all stitched up.

It warms my heart looking at it, our little family frozen in time, made out of fabric and thread and stitched up with love by Sonia.

I supplied the fabric for our outfits, some of it sentimental.  The purple paisley fabric used in Abbey's dress is vintage.  I bought a remnant of this fabric at an opshop (charity shop) almost 20 years ago.  As a teenager, I made a mini skirt out of it.  Unfortunately, the skirt no longer fits, but I have kept it to re-purpose one day.  I love this fabric.  The fabric used in my dress is Liberty, I adore Liberty.  Enough said.

How cute are Zoe's pony tails?  Love them!  And the head band in Abbey's hair, perfect.

Sonia really captured us perfectly.  I have never met her, we do not know her.  She managed to make us perfect by looking at photos of us, how clever is that?

You can find the Dandelyn shop here and her facebook page here.  Do pop in and be amazed at what she can stitch up.

Thank you so much Sonia, you are one clever lady!

Happy day to you.

Cat xox

Sewing as therapy

Hi peeps,

A few months ago, we saw our beautiful, usually happy,  then 6 year old daughter very upset.  She is a sensitive soul and can be so very, very sweet (not all the time!)  She has always made, and kept,  friends easily.

It is very difficult as a parent, to be watching as other children treat her feelings with little thought or go against their word.  They are only 6 and 7 year olds and so often completely unaware of how their words or actions can hurt another.  Our girl was hurting.  She was so upset one day, she would not get on the school bus.

I found this situation very confronting.  Part of me was angry yet part of me understands that they are only 6 and 7 year old children, emotionally very young.  Part of me is so, so sad that this happens to anyone, let alone our sweet girl.  Abbey has had very little exposure to this type of behaviour before.  We talk about feelings and behaviour with our children all the time.  I feel Abbey is a very thoughtful child.

So we are now learning how to cope with it. Learning how to make her stronger, more resilient.  This is not an easy task, for her or us.

How have I been dealing with this?  By sewing, of course.

Here are some pretty photos of some lovely flannelette fabric I have been sewing with, making newborn baby gifts.  This flannelette is the softest I have ever sewn with, it is so lush.  Not to mention, the colours make my heart swell with happiness.  I needed this happiness in my heart when it was aching for our big girl.

Have a happy day.

Cat xox

NB: this post was written many months ago.  It has been edited, almost deleted and almost published so many times.  I can report all is well in Abbey's world now. 

I made my very first quilt (photographic evidence I did it)

Hey peeps,

I made a quilt!  From start to finish, I made it.  My mum helped a little too with piecing the top.  It was gifted to my Grandma on her recent 90th birthday.

I first talked about it here.  Here are the photos documenting the making of this quilt.

The backing, stuck to the floor with tape.  We had to move our couch to have enough room, we do live in a very cosy tiny apartment. 

   

 Pin basting, making a quilt sandwich with the backing, batting and quilt top.  

All pinned together, ready to quilt.  

Oh my gosh, I am quilting this!

 

 Quilting complete, removing the pins.  

 The backing, quilted.

   

 Beautiful binding, ready to attach.  

 Quilt top all trimmed and squared up, ready for binding.  

 Hand sewing on the binding.

   

 Finished. The front.

   

 My mum holding up the quilt.

   

The back.

   

 Oh my gosh, I really made this!  

 The label. 

 

I can honestly say the internet help make this quilt.  There are so many great tutorials and so much information on the web now about quilting.  So thank you, interwebs.

The good news is my Grandma loves her new quilt.  It makes her nursing home room so much brighter.  I feel better, knowing she has a hand made, with love, quilt to keep her warm and remind her she is so dear to us, even if we live in another country now. 

I faced my fears, and I finished this quilt on time.  I can honestly say I loved making this quilt.  I want to make more.  I now have 2 more quilts on the go and fabric collections to make another two.  I want to sleep under my own hand made quilt one day (soon).  I want my girls to sleep under a mumma made quilt.  You could say I am a "wanna be" quilter now.  That is fine with me.

Have you made a quilt?  Did you enjoy it?

Happy day to you.  Cat xox

My (very first quilt) Creative Space

 

Hey peeps,

I am making a quilt!  Yes, I am.  I really am. It will be for my Grandma, who turns 90 next month.  She has recently moved into a nursing home.  She does not want to be there, she wants to be back at home. I can't blame her, but she needs lots of help with everyday things and the nursing home can help her with these.

We visited her in February when we were in Melbourne.  I immediately felt that her room needed some more hand made goodness.  She has been able to bring a few items of furniture from home.  My step-dad installed some shelves, and they have been filled up with family photos. I felt she needed a happy, bright quilt for her bed.  One made with love - so my mum and I got started right away.

I had "won" some fabric charm packs (pre-cut fabric squares) in the Let's get Maybelle to the Ellen Show charity auction.  We used two packs of "Honey Honey" by Kate Spain for Moda and part of a "Trade Winds" by Lily Ashbury for Moda.

The charm pack squares were all arranged and sewn together over a few days while I was still in Melbourne. I added the border to the quilt top when I got back to Hong Kong. The border is "Petunias" by Phillip Jacobs for Rowan, Westminster Fibers (pastel colour way)

Yesterday, I finally found the courage to make the backing.  We had chosen more of the petunias fabric (in different colour ways).

Today I will finish sewing the petunias backing together.  Then I will be ready to quilt this.  This is what I am scared about.  I have never done this before.  I'll read a few more (hundred) online tutorials.  I hope I'll be ready then to quilt.

If you can recommend any great online tutorials, please let me know.

Wish me luck!

Happy Creative Space Day to you.

Cat xox

My (tooth fairy pillow) Creative Space

Hi peeps,

OK, this is not really My Creative Space for this week. I am embarrassed to say this cute little Tooth Fairy Pillow was made (many) months ago.  Better late than never to share, right?

I wish I could say this was my amazing original creation, but it is not.  I found this fabulous pattern and tutorial years ago on the web, and thought I could not come up with a better one.  It is cute, practical and very easy to make. I had it printed out literally for years before it was needed.

Poor Abbey was one of the very last of her peers to lose her first tooth back in October 2012.  She was 6.5 years old, and so desperately wanted to be like all her friends.  Her two front teeth were wobbly for months, so many months.  It gave me plenty of time to finish her tooth fairy pillow at least (not that it takes very long to make.  I just took a while to make it in spits and spurts)

I just knew she had to have a doily skirt.  I threaded some fancy ribbon through the bottom of the doily shirt to add some more pretty.

I cut up one of the Shropshire boy's old silk ties to make the yo-yo.

I did not have many doilies to choose from to make her skirt.  There are not many op shops (charity shops) here in Hong Kong, and the ones I have been to did not have doilies (boo!) As a result, the best doily from my stash gives Ms Tooth fairy pillow a builders smile, otherwise known as a bum-crack.  Oh dear.



Luckily, Abbey does not care.  Neither do I to be honest, it is kind of funny actually.

Have a great weekend!

Cat xox

Overcome

 

Hi peeps,

Today Zoe went to kinder for the first time.  It was an orientation session, so I stayed there with her, we played with toys and met her new teachers and class mates. She had fun.  Inside I was an emotional mess.  The realisation that my baby girl was all grown up hit me full force.  I managed to keep it together at kinder but when I got home, I was so overcome with emotion.

So we had a tea party. To cheer me up and to celebrate this milestone.  We drank tea and ate apple cake together (I was so glad I made that yesterday!) We talked about her morning at kinder and how much fun she will have there and all the new friends she will make.  I gave her lots of cuddles.  She gave me comfort when I had a cry.  She patted me on my shoulder and very seriously told me it will be ok and that she loves me.  That only made me cry more, but it did make me smile too.  My baby girl is growing up but that is OK.

How does time go so fast, yet so slow at the same time?  Only 3 years ago today, I was 36 weeks pregnant, awaiting Zoe's birth. Now she is a big kinder girl. I am so proud of you, my darling girl.

I hope you have a great, less emotional day, than me.

Cat xox.

Lisette Passport Dress

Hi peeps,

Wow, some more sewing for me.  Yes, I finally made the Lisette Passport Dress for myself, I have had the pattern since early March.  I love this one so much more than the Lisette Continental Dress that I made last month.  To be honest, I have hardly worn my Continental Dress.

The sizing, for me, was again all over the place.  I adjusted as I went along, taking some length off the bodice and tapering the armholes, as they were gaping.  Next time, and I am sure there will be a next time, I will remove 1cm from the bodice horizontally, as the bodice is still a little too big on me.  I noted all my changes on my pattern pieces so next time it will be much quicker and easier to make.

 

I used a light weight, denim-like fabric that I found at the fabric street market in Sham Shui Po.  It is a great fabric to dress up, I knew I wanted to add a pocket and use a different fabric for the armhole.  It is nice and light, perfect for the warmer weather in Hong Kong now it is summer.  I can add a skivvy and tights and wear it in winter too.

Here's all of me, feeling like a dork posing for photos.

I'll definitely be making this dress again.  First, I have these two other patterns I want to try.  When I decide which dress I like the most, I'll be making some out of these fabrics that I love.

Happy Creative Space Day to you.  What are you making/baking/crafting today?

Cat.

* Flower brooch made by Cam from CurlyPops.
** Necklace made by Lauren Williams.