quilts

I've been quilting a lot and trying to use up all my little scraps! My daughters mika and emi are having their room re-done with new walls, paint, trim and accessories! I am finishing up their quilts for the room. Mika's is a country cottage feeling quilt with reds, white, pink and flowers. Emi's is a fun quilt with lots of patterns and designs with the colour scheme of the rainbow!






Daichi's room was painted about 2 years ago and is still in great shape. So, his quilt will add character to his room. His quilt is a country farm boy theme. It has plaid, red, blues, and whites. Mika and Daichi's quilts are similar in style as they are block quilt pattern, while emi's is more of a mash-up and very kiddish (she is only 3 yrs old:).  All quilts will be able to cover about a full mattress. It is something they can keep for years!






I find quilting really fun, relaxing and so great because you can just see your quilt grow right before your eyes. I'm also making matching pillow covers. Mika and Emi's will have girly crochet trim to
finish off the look!

polymer clay

Polymer clay is so fun! It's so easy and turns out very well that my kids can make all sorts of things! keychains, necklaces, jewelry, buttons, etc... So many things to make with it and there are so many colours you can blend to make. Really fun and it keeps them entertained and I am so proud of their talent! I made totoro character and anpanman:)

sewing machine

My husband Manny has been going to auctions a lot lately at shackeltons and vittoria and he always comes home with goodies for me. He bought me a singer 99k antique sewing machine about 3-4 months ago. I've been busy with taking care of my parents health that I haven't really been able to use it and enjoy it. But, for the past 3-4 weeks I've cleaned it and oiled it up and it works so great! It's so pretty too with the black and gold accents and is a great looking machine! It has the original manual and some parts and the motor on it works great. I use this machine to make my origami butterflies and for sewing daichi, mika and emi's quilts. They are getting so close to getting done!

I have 3 singer sewing machines and 1 Norelco antique one that is for heavy duty sewing. The singer 99k is my fav and i'm thinking of selling my others to buy a janome or a singer!

origami sewn butterflies

I have been really enjoying making origami cotton butterflies. Here are some pictures to show you what they look like!

Make Soap

I've been making some homemade soap for a little while now. I really like using our milk from our La Mancha goats on our farm. I like using essential oils to lightly scent the bars and add no perfumes or pigments for colour. All natural and some herbs from our garden. I am want them to be simple and good for the skin. My goal would be that my family doesn't need to buy any more shower gel or soap bars and shampoo from the store. I'd really like to make a years worth of soap! I am ambitious, but I feel that is possible for me to do:)

I make soap using the cold process. Curing time seems long, but if you constantly make new batches while waiting for the last batch to be ready for use; time does really fly by. I like using olive oil, shea butter, sweet almond oil, bees wax, goats milk, essential oils (lavender, lemon,..), etc...I have very sensitive skin and so does my family. I just want to make soap that does not dry out our skin, but nourishes it and keep making soap until I find a few that I love and works well for me.

I got into soap making when I saw some tutorials on youtube. I think youtube is such a great way to try new things and start new things as well.

Let me know if you have any really great recipes, too!

Sewing

I really enjoy making things. It's always been a part of my life. Sewing is something I love to do! Machine or hand. Making my kids costumes and customizing or altering their clothes is nice to do, but fun for me as well.  I only have a basic singer machine, a vintage singer (husband bought it at auction for me) and a basic bernina serger. But, I get great use out of them and make many fun and pretty things!

I'm currently making a pretty girl quilt for Mika and a boy quilt for Daichi. Just simple squares, nothing fancy. Simple and very country-style, but also with modern touches here and there. And I want them to have something from me that is special and they can keep and have memories with.  I think I will also make a quilted cushion for Emi. She really likes lying on big pillows, so I think she'll really love a big, puffy cushion made from her baby clothes. I want her to have something special, too.

Felt is a material that I like to use also. I like making play toys for the kids. I made them plant vs zombie characters which was really fun!