Colourful Fabric Coasters 可爱杯垫

As mentioned in my last blog entry, my next project is fabric coasters. Like dining table mats, coasters can also be a decorative piece that add style to your dining area. There are many ways one can design their coasters, mine is using different design/pattern of fabric and stitch it together. 

Coasters is a relatively easy sewing project, but the bias binding took me some time to finish. I must admit that the bias binding needlework is a bit messy. I tried mending the untidy part by adding a hanging loop using cute print cotton tape. It turned out unexpectedly better than the original look. Sewing is such fun, if something goes wrong, don't worry, you can either remove the stitches and do it again or you can also patch it up using your creativity. Likewise, we should not be afraid to make mistake in life. There is always a way to put things right. We learn from our mistakes and hopefully we become wiser over the years.

Here it is, my very own colourful fabric coasters. These handmade fabric coasters make a great housewarming gift. :)
 

Four colourful fabric coasters

Polka dot patches

                  Cute animal print patched with blue stripes

Coasters is great for protection against water marks on dining table

Great quick gift for housewarming

Handmade fabric coasters

Fabric Dining Table Mats 幸福餐垫

Our dining table is the central of our family. It is the place where we spend most of our time together everyday, share and talk about our days. When relatives or friends dropped by for a visit, it is the dinning table that we all gathered around at and chitchat. It is also my favourite piece of furniture where I prepare my bread dough and sew (my house is rather petite, not luxurious enough for a sewing room ^_^).

Since it is the heart of our family, I try to make it as pleasant as possible (it can be challenging when you have small children in the house haha..). I like how some restaurants decorate their dining tables, so pleasing that it makes the dining so much more enjoyable. I tried to replicate this (as far as possible) at our own dining area. Still working hard on it :) Recently, I dressed up our dining area with new fabric dining table mats to add style to our dining. Dining table mats not only enhanced the appealing of dining area, they also make eating and wrapping up after eating neat and tidy.

Coming up next is coasters ..

一个幸福的家庭往往都会拥有一个很和谐的氛围，家里通常都会有一个全部家庭成员都喜欢聚在一起的地方。就有如我们家里的餐桌一样，一家人用餐的时候总是充满着欢乐温馨的气氛。

亲戚朋友到访时，除了客厅以外，餐桌就是我们围坐在一起品尝美食，谈天论地的小天地。除此以外，我家的餐桌更是我制作爱心面包，以及进行种种手作的地方。既然我家的餐桌如此的万能，当然不可以委屈它，有机会当然要好好的装扮一番。

今天我就制作了这两个款式的餐垫，名为“幸福餐垫”。:) 
黑白格子配上巴黎铁塔的款式是我家男生专用的；褐百格子配上明信片的款式则是我家娇骄女所使用的。用餐时看到桌子上的幸福餐垫，原本的家常便饭顿时变得不那么家常了，食物变得更加有卖相，更加的美味。

希望就有如其名，幸福餐垫能够让使用的人永远生活在幸福的氛围中。

I made two different designs

This one is black & white checked with Eiffel Tower print fabric

This one is brown & white checked with vintage postcard print fabric

I made two pieces for each design - Black series

Brown series

Personalized Bookmark 个性书签

A friend will be leaving the country to further her study. Want to make a gift for her that is not too bulky and hopefully she can pack it in her luggage. ：）

She is a very lucky girl. She has very supportive parents and I don't think there is anything  that she needs and hasn't had it yet. But I still want to make her a gift. A gift of friendship. 

She is a booklover. The perfect gift for an avid reader, other than books, I guess it would be a bookmark. Not just any bookmark, a custom made bookmark :)   

I used fabric tape and ice-cream stick to make the bookmark. I also used some embellishments such as buttons, ribbon, lace and leather strips to add interest to the piece. 

What do you think? 

有个朋友即将出国深造，虽然无法去送机，但是我还是希望能够在她离开前送上一份小小的心意。

为了不加重她的行李的负担，我决定为同样是喜爱阅读的她制作了这两款独一无二的书签。希望这份心意能够让身在异乡的游子感受到友情的温暖。

Two handmade bookmarks

Navy blue with white polka dot fabric tape + sea lion shape button + 'Love' zipper charm

Chili red with white polka dot fabric tape + character buttons + leather strips

You haven't finished reading? Don't worry, I will 'mark' it for you ~ Bookmark

Baking Fun - Homemade Bagel 烘焙乐

I was contemplating whether I should write about my baking story in this blog. This blog is to share about my crafting journey. Well, I think many would agree that baking involves a little science as well as a little craft skill. One needs creativity too in baking :) So, the verdict: yes, I would include my baking experience from time to time in this blog.

I love bread, but not the kind you get from the convenient store. It's artisan bread that I love. I can eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner haha... 

Last Saturday, for a change in our menu for lunch, I decided to make bagel. I used the recipe in 'The Second Book of Baking for Beginners' by Carol, a Taiwanese blogger, here is her blog.

I also made egg mayonnaise and stew pork to go with the bagel.

Lunch served: homemade bagel with egg mayonnaise and stew pork.

Homemade bagel

Homemade bagel + egg mayo + stew pork

Lunch served!

Baby Gift - Part 2

In my last blog entry, I mentioned about the fabric ball. I initially thought of making one for my friend's little one. After finished sewing the fabric ball, my son asked if it is for him. Well, I told him it's for my friend's baby but I can make another one for him. So I made another one for my boy. This time my girl asked what about her. Hm..no problem I can sew more fabric balls. So in the end, I made four colourful fabric balls!

I used the free pattern given at Grand Revival Design. I must say the fabric ball is not very round, more like pumpkin-shaped haha..need to improve further (no complaint from the kids though :p). 

Later, I found a tip on how to make the ball round: "cut the shapes on the bias to end up with a round ball". Hm..I have to try making the ball again using the tip. More fabric balls!

Blue shade fabric ball

Pink shade fabric ball

Green shade fabric ball

Colourful fabric balls

Perfect gift for baby/little kids

Baby Gift - Part 1

A friend from my previous workplace has just given birth to a baby boy (well technically it's not 'just', it was three months ago!). I haven't bought anything for her baby as I haven't been going out shopping for a while. Help! 

Then I came across a sewing blog on baby stuff. That gave me an idea of making my own baby gift, something simple and practical. :) Searching though my stash of fabric, I found several nice print fabric that's suitable for baby. 

I made two reversible baby bibs. I used the pattern from ChickPea. I have also made a toy for the baby, a fabric ball. Will share about it in Part 2.

Baby bibs in beige stripes

The reverse side of the beige stripes baby bibs

Baby bibs in blue stripes

The reverse side of the blue stripes baby bibs

Two lovely baby bibs

The reverse side

Handmade baby gift