Merry X'mas to all my friends all over the world

My watercress cake!!!

I love baking and this afternoon I tried this recipe for the first time.
Watercress cake. Yes , you are reading right, it's a green and delicious watercress cake.

A very easy recipe and the cake is really good.

Robert Kaufman sale at Fat Quarter Shop

 Hi everyone, 

I just want to let you know that Fat Quarter Shop is having a fantastic sale

20% OFF ALL ROBERT KAUFMAN FABRICS with coupon code: RK2014

This includes Kona,  Ann Kelle, Carolyn Friedlander, Darlene Zimmerman, and Many more!

This offer starts TODAY, September 22^nd until SUNDAY, September 28^th  at 11:59 PM CST

Don't miss it!!!

More sewing 4 home

Last month my bathroom went through e renovation and I needed some new accessories to match the new tiles and floor.

 First , I needed to make a padded cover to my stool

 I had some leftover fabric that was right what I wanted.

 Made an envelope cover, so i can easily wash it and sew some fabric cords to tie the cover to the seat legs

 I used some foam to put inside the cover

 And here it is. My new WC seat.

 With the little bit of fabric remaining I decided to make a top for my drawer cabinet

 I followed the black lines to do my quilting

 and I instantly transformed my new bathroom

I think it looks very nice, don't you?

I love quilting because...and a big challenge

Hi, September is National Sewing & Quilting Month. I decided to join Fat Quarter Shop and celebrate this month with all my blogger friends.
They invited bloggers to share their stories and to make a new project they had never tried before.
They also asked me to finish the sentence I love quilting because...

Yes, quilting is my therapy, it always makes me feel better even when things aren't at its best.

  When it comes to creative sewing and quilting, I’ve just about done it all.  But, I will say that working with something other than quilting cotton is definitely outside of my comfort zone.  The challenge I gave myself was to make  a piece of clothing.  I've always been very afraid to make clothes but this time I gave it a try.  Well, I’m so glad I did!   So that was also my challenge, to make a Kimono out of a rectangular piece of fabric.  Here is my first attempt sewing a garment.

Also to celebrate the National Sewing and Quilting month, Fat Quarter Shop also released a new and totally Free quilt project. It's called Color of my Heart Quilt Pattern

Unfortunately I hadn't enough time to make mine and show it to you on this post but I will make it, that's for sure.
Thank you Fat quarter Shop for this opportunity to participate and show my love for sewing and quilting!

I'm late, I'm late....

This last month was a real roller coaster. I visited my daughter in London, she recently moved into a new apartment and I went there to help her.
Then, she had to come back to Portugal in a hurry because she received a call from a portuguese hospital in order to be present for a job interview.
last September1st, I started a new job. The private school I worked in closed doors for they hadn't enough children to pay the expenses.
Conclusion: I haven't been able to get much sewing done, only these two swap blocks. I have to post them very soon or my partner will think I totally forgot.

Two friendship stars ready to go.

I love quilting because...

Hello my dear blogger friends.  Today is September 1st and it's officially National Sewing and Quilting Month.

Fat Quarter Shop is celebrating this special occasion with all their friends and costumers. They invited some bloggers to make a project they had never done before. I accepted the challenge  at once, of course!

I'll be making some accessories to my new bathroom and I will try to make a Kimono sweater out of a scarf ( don't miss it, it will be my first attempt sewing garments).

Not only that but FQS also created a wonderful quilt pattern, it's called Color My Heart and is absolutely free. you can find the pattern and instructions HERE.

 I'm sure you will love it as much I as do. It's a fun project and very easy too. All you need is a bunch of 5 inches squares. Quilting as been my way to escape all the bad things that happen in my life, it really makes my heart smile while I make things to give my friends and family. Make this great pattern and you're heart will be smiling too.

Coffe Koozie Tutorial by Fat Quarter Shop

I'm not a big fan of coffee but I love a nice cup of tea and Starbuck's hot chocolate makes me fell so good!!!
In order to prevent slippery cups from falling down or burnt hands  from hot cups, this Coffee koozie is just wonderful.

It's very easy to make and you can use your scraps. I used a mini charm pack, Double Chocolate from Moda fabrics.

It can be made in a breeze, sew the squares together, use some left over fabric for the back and if you want to be on the safe side ,you can use  either a thick ou a double layer batting. Afterwards, quilt it as you like. I used a decorative stitch along the seams.

Then, just use the pattern from Fat Quarter Shop, click HERE in order to find it. If you have any doubts you can always check the great You Tube video that  Fat Quarter Shop made.

Et Voilá! A beautiful Coffee Koozie to use everywhere, to offer to a friend

or just to enjoy while you're drinking your favorite beverage.

Riley Blake sale at Fat Quarter Shop

Fat Quarter Shop is having a great sale, all Riley blake fabrics are 20% off until August 14th.
Hurry up or you will miss this great opportunity!

Finished!!!...almost

The table topper I made for my daughter's new apartment is finished. Well is almost finished. I still have to sew  and lock all the loose threads.

Instead of a hand sewn binding I used another technique and sew my biding on the right side with a decorative machine stitch. It's a very quick way to sew the biding and the final result is quite good.

To quilt the border I first made some free hand designs with a water soluble pen and then free motion quilted it following the lines as accurately as possible.

Moving forward

I'm back in business.
My daughter is moving into a new apartment next week. She and her boyfriend are moving to a small apartment in the hospital residence. they won't have to share it with no one else, YEAH!
So I had to make some stuff to help her decorate it.

A table top ready to be quilted

I had to stop my FMQ last year due to an elbow tendinitis, but today I got adventurous and tried it again

 As you can see I'm a bit pout of practice but I think my daughter won't mind

I'm half way through.

We have a Winner!!!

With the help of Mr. Random, the winner of my giveaway was just found.

And who is it?

The lucky winner is Barbara from the U.S.A.
I've just sent you an email Barbara, send me your address please.
Congratulations to there winner and thank you so much for all the quilter friends that participated.

Celebration Giveaway

 Fat quarter Shop is sponsoring my giveaway.
To celebrate my "quilting return" I'll will be giving away a wonderful Fat Quarter bundle that was generously donated by my favorite on line shop - Fat Quarter Shop.

Fat quarter Shop is a fabulous on line shop. It's full of gorgeous fabric and the costumer service is fenomenal.

This is the bundle I will be giving away

The giveaway will be open until June 30th and it is very easy to enter.

 Here's what you need to do:

1- For one entry, just follow my blog and tell me in a comment, if you already follow just tell me so.

2- for a second entry, visit Fat Quarter Shop site ( click HERE ) and tell me what is your favorite item.

3- If you blog about my giveaway, you will get a third entry, just tell me in your comment you did it.

Easy, isn't it?

The winner will be announced on July 1st. My great friend Mr. Random will help me choose the lucky winner.

Good luck everyone!!!

Happy Birthday Fat Quarter Shop

Guess what? It’s FQS 11^th Anniversary and they are having a shipping  promotion starting Monday June 16^th till Sunday June 22nd.

All U.S. orders over $40 will have free shipping and all international orders over $40 shipping will have shipping 40% off.

What are you waiting for? Just click HERE and celebrate too... With lots of fabric. Of Course!!!

My first piece of clothing...Yeah

Hi everybody. I'm back!!! And this time is for real.
No more complaining about my daughter or my job. I'm determined to get it all over with.
New life new mojo. Clothes.
I want to learn how to make clothes but I had to star slowly so I found a wonderful tutorial and made my first baby dress.

 It's not perfect but I'm pretty pleased with the final result.

 Now I will have to enlarge the pattern and make a bigger one with matching pants and a pacifier holder .

Next time I'll try some nicer buttons or even some colored snaps. Just wait...

Why did I become an Herbalife Independent Distributor?

When my 22 year old daughter went away to work in a London hospital I got into a depression swirl.
Didn't want to work,sew, anything but eat. I put on some weight and that made me feel even more depressed.
Then, by chance I met a friend that had been taking Herbalife products for quite a while and she convinced me to try them.
That really changed my life. not only did I loose the extra weight but I also got out of that depression state. I fell more energetic, my students also noticed the difference in me.
I felt so good that I thought that I should pass on the word and help more people.

If you want an healthier way of life, Herbalife is the answer. If you have any questions or doubts just e-mail me and I will gladly give you all the information I have. ( dfelgueiras@sapo.pt).