Turkey, anyone?

I started this turkey quilt years ago but never got around to finishing it. This is the tutorial I used; it's very simple with a Dresden ruler and some scrap fabrics. I didn't love the way that particular turkey looked, so I sketched my own version, but it's similar to the design featured in the tutorial.

My husband, somehow, found the quilt top. He brought it to my attention and asked me if he can use it for Thanksgiving this week. I was so touched! It is an ordinary and unfinished quilt top! He thought it was very cute. Well then! I guess I will just have to finish it.

I was afraid people may not know it's a turkey, so I stamped a few letters there just in case! I like the way it came out. These pumpkin fabrics came in handy; I used it for the back. I like it so much I may make  something else with it.

This adorable turkey is now on the wall ready to greet our guests this week. What are your plans for Thanksgiving? We are having a big party!

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Hidden Gem

Have you heard of the Makery in Los Altos? Have you visited this shop? If you haven't, then you are seriously missing out. I learned about this adorable place from Andrea, whom I met at this year's PIQF. Andrea: thank you for introducing me to this amazing shop! I am not quite sure how to describe this place; it's a retail shop for craft lovers and a DIY studio space for parties. They have everything a craft lover can dream of! Yarn, birthday goodies, fabrics, tools, everything -- you name it! The layout of the store makes this shop super fun; it has unique spaces for different crafts. For example, the room seen in the two pictures below is the "felt" room. Yes, that is just one of many rooms. I spent a long time at this shop.

That large area rug on the floor was made with felt balls!

 I spent a very long time looking at these felt balls. Who would have thought!? 

They carry everything you can think of for a birthday party. 

This is the cutting room for fabrics. 

That white basket you seen in the photo above was handmade with cotton pipping using a super large knitting needle. It will be a class offered through the Makery in the near future. I bought tons of felt balls and have plans to turn them into a trivet or some sort. I will be visiting this shop again and maybe host a party there! 

PIQF 2013

Wow! This is my SEVENTH year attending PIQF! It's the biggest quilting convention held every year right here in Santa Clara. I look forward to attending it every year. I checked out all the booths in two hours this year and barely had time to admire some of the quilts there. I wanted to rush home to my LO :)

Listed below are this year's highlights for me: 

American Jane
I absolutely love everything about American Jane. I made my Happy Camper quilt with a line by American Jane and that got me hooked! This was one of many booths that I couldn't wait to go to. I got tons of stuff and can't wait to sew with these fabrics!

 Classic and hard to find fabrics from American Jane. 

 I got a kit to make a quilt. 

The kit comes with a super cute bag! Bonus!

Honey Run Quilters

They carry funky and modern fabrics. I loved everything (i.e. mostly cotton-linen blend) they had. The three fabrics shown below are the newest collection by Echino. They are bold and quirky.

 "Echino decoro" collection by etsuko furuya for Kokka

 

 This is a quilt, a design from "Hand Quilted with Love," made with those funky fabrics. 

Sewline Fabric Glue Pen

English paper piecing lovers: you must get this pen! Say goodbye to basting your hexagons before piecing them together! All you need to do is glue the fabrics onto the paper pieces. Amazing... 

I got mine from "Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Co."

Check out this year's winners; their quilts are just so beautiful. See for your self. 

 First Place: The Magical Mermaid Castle

Best Wall Quilt: Life at the Water's Edge

A close-up of "Life at the Water's Edge."

I am hoping to go back again sometime this weekend! Be sure to check it out if you are in the area.

I am in Love!

Have I told you how much I love Japanese taupe fabrics?! I can't get enough of them. I love everything about it. The texture, the color, and how great they look when you put them next to each other.

This small quilt for a coffee table was made with various 1" hexagons. I hand quilted inside of each hexagons and around the entire piece. Japanese taupe fabrics show best when hand quilted.I really like the way this project came out. I decided on the hexagon as the final shape because it will be placed on a round coffee table.

I hope the recipients like it; I certainly enjoyed making it!

I see hexagons

Ever since my friends gifted the LO with the hexagon quilt, I have been itching to make some too. I had a few hexagons already made from awhile back, so I just kept going with it. This looks like it's becoming a quilt for a coffee table; cannot wait to hand quilt this little project. 

Love these Japanese fabrics!

Someone tell me why paper piecing is so addicting!?