Happy Holidays!

It's the last month of the year 2012...
I hope everyone had a good year.  I feel like I didn't complete the list of what I wanted to do this year, but now I already have a new year's resolution.  "Eat healthy food and stay healthy!"

One of a few things that I completed this year.  Jewelry making! 

 I took a couple of classes at French General and made this beautiful necklace.  Well it is originally a bracelet but Kaari (owner of French General) suggested to add wide ribbon to make it into a necklace.  I love this and want to wear it to holiday party!

I bought these bracelets at local craft market.  I'm really NOT a big fan of jewelry, but I found that it is fun to wear the different colors and styles everyday.

As a crafter, I wanted to make more fun bracelets, so I bought a couple of books and materials.  I'm going to make braided bracelets with some natural stones.  I will share with you once I completed!

This is my iPhone looks like right now.  So cute! isn't it?  These wool felt trees and snowman are made by my Japanese friend.  You can visit her blog from here. 











I wish you Happy Holidays!
-Keiko

Summer

 It's summer and very hot where I live!  So my son and I decided to go to the beach one day.  Even it's 100 degree here in the valley, it's about 80's at the beach.  It's only 40 minutes away, but totally different world!  We rented a single surrey (the kind you sit next to each other) for an hour.  If you know my son, he is very athletic and loves to bike fast.  Well, I'm the opposite.  I just wanted to go slow and enjoy the view.  Guess what??  We ended up going faster than I expected.  My legs were sore afterwords...

 We had Fish & Chips for lunch.  This small restaurant had dollar bills all over the ceiling and the wall.  What a view!

 During the fourth of July holiday, my daughter came home with this dog "Scooter" which she was dog-sitting while her friend was gone to Hawaii.  My husband and I were kind of against about bringing a dog with her at first.  But after we met him, our thought changed.  He is so cute and friendly.  He brought a lot of laughs into our family.

Isn't he so cute?

One Year...

One year has passed since the earthquake & tsunami in Japan. Many people are still not back to their own home. Recovery takes long time.

Friends at Prairie Queens Quilt Shop made quilts for the people who are still in need of help & love. Total of 59 quilts are going to deliver by Lecien Corporation.

Thank you everyone...

Pams

The person whose name is "Pam" must be born with very creative talent.

My friend Pam made this pretty tags at Art of Craft event held at French General. She was hesitated to make something while we were playing with French General new paper line. But then at the end of the event, she picked up some leftovers from us and made these. How clever is that!

Pam Garrison was one of the instructor at "Art of Craft" who taught Sailor's Heart. She brought her samples to show us what we can do with buttons, felts, and stitches. Her idea is endless. I learned many techniques from her during the workshop.

At last, Pam aka PKM(Pam Kitty Morning) is my friend. Wow, how exciting to say that I have a friend who is so famous! She is a fabric designer (Lakehouse), pattern designer, and famous blogger! The display is from the booth of Quiltin' Cousins at Road to California Show. Very cheerful and pretty!

Today, I'm putting the borders on the quilt that I'm sewing for French General using their new line, "Petite Odile". Oh boy, Kaari did it again! This line is beautiful! I love the color, I love the print, I can't wait for this line to hit the quilt shop! I can't show you the image yet... Be patient! It will come soon!

Happy quilting!
Keiko

Happy Valentine's Day!

My son called from school to ask me to bring something nice for his girlfriend to ask her out for Velentine's Dance.

So I baked cupcakes this morning. One is for her and one is for my son from me. Maybe I have to wrap one for my husband??

Love,
Keiko

p.s. It was delicious!

New Year's Resolution

The year of 2012 has been started and January was already gone... I thought I had my new year's resolution written somewhere and forgot where I put it. Pretty bad start... you think? Actually, I've been busy as I planned.

My 2012 started with fun events. First, I attended Prairie Queens' Quilt Retreat in ocean front hotel. I arrived there on Friday evening and had dinner with my friends. Then sew and talked till late at night. I finished a quilt top for my mother's best friend who moved back to Japan. She was very nice to my mother so I decided to make her American map quilt as the memory of living in America. We had a wonderful time at retreat and it was so hard to leave on Sunday afternoon.

Next weekend, I went to "Road to California" show in Ontario, CA. It took me about one hour and 15 minutes one way, but it was worth driving. Many beautiful quilts to look at, and so many shops to enjoy! As you know, since we moved last summer, there are no quilt shop in my town, so this was heaven for me! Only downside was I hurt my shoulder carrying my slightly heavy purse.Last weekend of January, I attended "Art of Craft" at French General. This was my second year to attend this event. I took 5 workshops this year, started with bracelet making taught by Kaari Meng, the owner of French General. Jewelry making wasn't my thing, but I love this bracelet. I always thought that Jewelry making was so difficult (well, it is still difficult for me), but hey! I can do it!The second class, Sailor's Valentine, was taught by Pam Garrison and Charlotte Lyons. We created our own versions of the heart inspired by the one created during WWI. This was my favorite workshop! Using ribbons, laces, buttons, ric rac, the imagination of design came endless. I definitely have to make more than one!The third class, Chocolate Truffle Box, was taught by Michelle Jorgensen. We decorated the wooden hinged box with papers and fabrics. Under the glass top lid, we build the layer of beautiful flowers and things, finished by gold German dresden. NO WAY, I'm not going to put chocolate in this.On Sunday morning, my shoulder was hurting really badly. I probably got too excited and overworked the day before. The class was taught by Molly Meng, Kaari's sister from San Francisco. I really wanted to make this "12 month pocket memory book", but I just watched and thought about designs during the class.
The last workshop was "Beeswax Journal" taught by Anna Corba. The journal covers needed to dip in the hot beeswax during the workshop, so I pushed my shoulder pain to design and make the covers. I tried to cut least papers, so it kind of became too simple. But lucky me! I found the floral basket paper precut by someone for me to use. Not bad, isn't it?
Thank you, all the instructors!!! I had an amazing weekend with new and old friends creating something totally beautiful and fun to make!

So, at the end, can you guess what my New Year's resolution was? "To spend more fun time with my friends." Life is too short and if I don't spend "good time" with my friends, I'm going to regret so much later. After the moving away from my friends in SF bay area, I really realized the importance of the friends in my life.

Happy Crafting!
-Keiko

Quick Project for Christmas Present

Good morning!

It's already the last month of the year. No wonder it's been cold recently! And only 19 days till Christmas... I haven't complete Christmas shopping yet. Have you?If you were planning handmade gift but worrying that you don't have enough time, here is a quick & easy project for you. "Annie Pouch" designed by me, is a perfect handmade gift for your family and friends. You pick three fat-quarters and start your project today! It's great for carrying the small project such as applique, stitch work, or English paper-piecing hexagons. I usually recommend to use floral fabric for lady's cosmetic pouch but you can also use kids print fabric to make a perfect pouch for Nintendo DSi, Sony PSP, or iPod, etc. Once you made one, you would want to make two, three, four and more!
Send me the pictures of your "Annie Pouch" by December 20th, 2011 and one of you will win the surprise gift from me!

Thimble Creek Quilt Shop has "Project Weekly" right now. This special kit includes the pattern, the fat-quarters (Pam Kitty Morning's new fabric!) and the magnetic snap. If you want the quick start, this is the way to do! You can find the kit from here.

I wish everyone peaceful holiday season!

Happy quilting!!!

-Keiko