Time Out of the Studio

Last week was VACATION week. We geared up to take the kids up to the snow for their very first time. It was a blast. We got lucky with the weather: a little snowfall, a little sunshine and a whole lot of snow EVERYWHERE. It was absolutely beautiful.

The kids are still young (4 and 2) so we spent a lot of time building stuff...like snowmans:



...and enjoying the views:



After an exhausting 3 days in the snow, I welcome the warmer snow-less weather back :). Though I love dressing up the kids in layers of clothes, snow bib, snow jacket - so they could keep warm and so I could see them look like little marshmallows :P - CUTE.

OK back to the Studio!

-Q

Fabric Love #4 and Fabric Giveaway!

As some of you may of notice, I've been doing a Fabric Love series for a little while.   This week I am also including a Fabric Giveaway.  Leave a comment for a chance to win!

The free fabric this week is for (1) fat quarter:

Farmdall Crossings - In the Kitchen Pattern #DE7191C from Alexander Henry Fabrics:

Here's the details on how to win this fabric:

What?
Fabric Love & Giveaway

How does it work?
Each Sunday JAQS Studio will feature fabrics on Fabric Love (either available on Etsy and/or used on a current project) and 1 or more of the fabrics will be available for a Fabric Giveaway.  Just leave a comment on the post.  By the end of the day Tuesday, a random comment will be chosen and the lucky commenter will receive the Fabric Giveaway for FREE.

When? 
Post will go up on Sunday and comments will be accepted until a random comment is drawn - usually around Tuesday night (PST).  I will contact the lucky winner and mail her/him their new-free fabrics :).

Farmdale Crossings - In the Kitchen is also available at my Etsy shop along with these fabrics:

Fabric Love #4

Farmdale Crossings - In the Kitchen by Alexander Henry

Woodcut Garden for Michael Miller

Echino Canvas by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka Fabric

Don't forget to leave a comment by Tuesday for a chance to win a fat quarter of Farmdall Crossings - In the Kitchen.

This Giveway has been completed.

-Q

The Little Things

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and enjoy the little things in life :)

Even small beauties like crayons could brighten up your day:


Crayon scraps are lovely like fabric scraps :)

-Q

Child's Play - Hot Air Balloon

This one is for my little guy Asher: Child's Play - Hot Air Balloon -



I featured the fabrics a little while back since they were picked by my 4 year old son. He insisted on having these wonderful hot air balloons in a quilt:

Kokka Japan Air Travel

Can you see why?  Aren't they adorable??  Doesn't hurt that he is completely fascinated by anything that flies and color things :).

To show off the fabrics I used the same pattern I used for Child's Play Kohana that I made not that long ago.  Same quilting pattern + different fabrics = Total different quilts:

One for a little girl and the other one for my little boy. Which one do you like more?? I can't decide. :)

For the back of the Hot Air Balloon Quilt I used solids - one from the quilt top and one that mimics the baby blue sky that the hot air balloon remind me of:



The binding are fabrics is Pimatex Basics Stripe-Pistachio by Robert Kaufman:

The stripes offsets the circles real well, while the colors matches it perfectly. I'm glad I found this fabric for this quilt.

This quilt is now owned by my son and he is loving it.




Quilt Information:
Child's Play: Hot Hair Balloon
Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids.  Showcase fabric: Kokka Japan Air Travel
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing: 100% Cotton Solid (Amy Butler & Kona Solids)
Completed Dimension: 52" x 63"
Quilting Method: Double Straight line quilting along each seam
Binding: Machine Sew to Front and Hand Sew to Back (Pimatex Basics Stripe-Pistachio by Robert Kaufman)



I will be sharing this quilt at these wonderful Linking Parties.


-Q

Fabric Love: Kokka and Alexander Henry fabrics

Adding to JAQS Studio on Etsy.  This first fabric is used in the Spring Wheels Quilt I'm currently working on:

Starling from Alexander Henry Fabrics

I LOVE this shade of turquoise/blue color. Along with the cute little blossoms is fabulous. Itching to use this in a future quilt :) :

Farmdale Blossom from Alexander Fabrics

Kokka Kokka Kokka. I absolutely adore Japanese fabrics. Here is a new one from my stash. The little girl and little animals are the perfect cute print for spring/Easter projects:

Little Girl print from Kokka

So many fabrics to adore!

-Q

Spring Wheels Quilt Preview

Here's a glimpse of my latest project - Spring Wheels:



It's a celebration of warmer weather to come - and yes I am tired of the cold cold day and nights and current hail and snowfall. I am a Californian and anything below 65 degrees F gives me the CHILLS :P - only slightly exaggerating...

Cheerful birds and warm colors:



Colorful windmills that reminds me of colorful spring days:

-Q

Sewing Room Apron & Tutorial

Ever since I got my cutting table I have become ultra paranoid about my shirts running against the table - and yes, I was cutting fabrics on the floor before :P.  So to help with this new problem I have made myself a Sewing Room Apron:


Simple apron that would cover above the belly button and about half way down the thigh - perfect for using around the sewing room. 

Here's how I did it:

1. Cut your fabrics:
• Top fabric: ~21" x 17"
• Lining fabric: ~19" x 13"
• Ties: 2 pieces 21" x 2.5"

2. Make the 2 ties: Fold and sew raw edges 1/4" and fold together to form two strips for the ties

3.  Put together the apron top:
• Fold 1/4" and sew down all raw edges of the lining and top fabric
• With the top fabric right side down , place the liner right side up on top of the top fabric.  Make sure that the liner fabric is about 1 inch lower than the top fabric.  
• Fold down the two short edges of the top fabric over the liner and sew down.  Make sure that the top fabric is sewn so that the edge of the liner fabric is completely covered
• Fold down top edge of the top fabric about 1" over the liner fabric.  Insert a tie on each end of the folded top.  Sew down the top edge and the inserted ties.

4. Voila!  All done :)

I use this apron ALL the time.  I try not to get it all greasy and yucky so I resist using it in the kitchen (hehe save my kitchen apron for that job).  Now I am free to lean up against my cutting table all I want without having to worry about wearing down my shirts.

Thanks for stopping by and remember I like to share my projects at these creative linking parties.



Project Details:

Sewing Room Apron

Fabrics: Robert Kaufman's Metro Cafe, Natural Moda Solid, Sky Blue from Moda

-Q

My Weekend Wrap Up

This weekend, I had many chances to sneak away to the sewing room...and the results??

• My sewing room got a little messier :P

•  I got A LOT of cutting done. Cut up fabrics for THREE projects :). Super happy about that.

This is about 1/10 of the piles...

• I now have MUSIC in my life again.  I couldn't resist but I got a IPOD Nano and a little speaker setup.  Initially brought for jogging, this Nano has found a second purpose in the sewing room.

And yes - that is Keith Urban .... dreamy :P

How was your weekend? 

My next task?  Probably tidy up the sewing room a little :P...and then a whole lot of sewing...

-Q

Simple Valentine

So this Thursday while I was dropping my little ones off at preschool, the teacher brought up how the kids were exchanging Valentines THE NEXT DAY!  EEEK!  After a full day at work, cooking dinner, and getting the kids all setup after preschool - I get to making a Simple Valentine.  (yes yes I could have just picked some up at a store, but you know me - I like homemade :)).

Here's my version of a Simple Little Valentine:




Step 1:
Gather up some construction paper and cut circles (as many as you need Valentines) and a ton of hearts.



Step 2:
Recruit a 4 year old to help 'design' each Valentine arrangement. The circle being the 'card' and the hearts as the decor.


Step 3:
Glue the hearts on.


Step 4:
Attach yarn.


ALL DONE :). They all turned out great. My son was smiling and having fun throughout the whole process and that's what it is all about right? :)

Have a sweet Valentines day.

As usual, I love to share my project @ these linking parties.

-Q

Celebrate Seuss Pillow - Revisited

Hello again Dr. Seuss Pillow.  I am submitting this to Rachel's from Stitched in Color/Blogger's Pillow Party!



These 2 pillows are designed the same, but they vary by the fabric cut.  I made sure that each pillow gets a good number of characters on them.



The pillow tops are pieced together and then quilted to create an extra comfy feel. It also created a sturdier pillows that hold its shape very well. As you can see I love to quilt and I tend to quilt all my pillow tops as well :).



For the back of the pillow I repeated the colors from the pillow top but cut it larger. One of the pillow I used off white and green solids and the other orange and blue solids.



Both the pillows turned out beautifully and they add a very fun touch to the boys' room.




I am also joining in @ the VERY cool Blogger's Pillow party!

A Jammed Pack Weekend

What didn't I do this weekend???

The most important was celebrating my sons' birthdays. Happy Birthday Asher and Silas!  4 and 2 - Fun!  Let the chaos begin continue!



I was able to sneak in a little bit of time in the sewing room to do this:

...gather fabrics for the Spring Wheels quilt:


...make more cloth napkins. Napkins are like socks - they 'disappear' :P:


...some hand binding @ night:


...and organizing my new fabrics :) - I'll share some in the next Fabric Love:


All this along with co-hosting the kids' birthday party for 30+ family/friends, cleaning the house (TWICE), mad-dash shopping trip to Whole Foods (reminder to shelf: DO NOT shop right before Super Bowl Sunday)...and other 'routine' stuff. I'm exhausted.

-Q

Fabric Love

Can't help but to think of spring.  I want to say good-bye to the cold winter days.  As much as I love snuggling up to a warm quilt - I want some SUNSHINE.  That's why this week I am loving these two fabrics.  Reminds me of spring :)...and I used it in my newly finished quilt: Child's Play Kohana.

Currently available @ JAQS Studios on Etsy :)

Farmdale Blossom

Novo Blossom

I used both these fabrics for the Child's Play: Kohana Quilt



-Q

Child's Play - Kohana is now Complete

I present to you Kohana:



This quilt is based on my Child's Play pattern is for a very special little girl: Kohana.



The front of the quilt is designed to showcase a fabric in the larger rectangular area. For this quilt the showcase fabric is Kokka Trefle-Little Miss that I got from Fabricworm a little while back.

This is a very lovely 3 layered fabric with a whimsical design. I love the simplicity and playfulness of the Little Miss as she sits with a background of beautiful tulips and daisies.

The compliment Little Miss I used a variety of cotton prints - some of which I will showcase on my Fabric Love #2 post coming up.



One of my favorite elements in this quilt is the binding - Barbara Jones Summertime Pin Dots Steel. I love the way it goes with the reds in the quilt :).



For the back of the quilt I chose a completely different fabric:



Sorry I forgot which fabric this was and used it before I had a chance to write it down... Here's a look a glimpse of the front of the quilt with the back - side by side.



I thought the slight contrast of the front and back played very well together. The whole quilt is very pretty and I really enjoyed making it. Hopefully Kohana will enjoy for years to come :).




Quilt Information:
Child's Play: Kohana
Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids.  Showcase fabric Trefle: Little Miss
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing: 100% Cotton Print and Solid
Completed Dimension: 52" x 63"
Quilting Method: Double Straight line quilting along each seam
Binding: Machine Sew to Front and Hand Sew to Back

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

I'll be sharing this quilt at theses lovely Linking Parties.

-Q