Welcome to the American Club Christmas Fair!

Jokamamo Textiles will be at :

American Club Xmas Fair

26 & 27 November 2013

Come along and check out all our hand crafted items made right here in Singapore  by us.

Baby Bibs, Burp Cloths, Onesies and Zipper Pouches, Hand crafted Modern Quilts, Hand Dyed Unique Quilting Fabrics, Camera Straps and Beautiful Lace Christmas Decorations.

Let the front desk know that you are there for the Christmas Fair and there will be someone there to welcome you and bring you upstairs!

See you there!

Marianne Bos and Jessie Moir

Ready for the Fair!

 will be at the Hollandse Club Fair this Friday 27th of September!!

Baby bibs, Burp Cloths, Make-up bags/pencil case, 

Designer Camera Straps,

 Onsies, Hand crafted Quilts, Hand dyed fabrics

 

Open from 10am to 5 pm at 22 Camden Park, Singapore 299814

The Fair is open to all so bring your friends and family.

See you there!!!

Marianne and Jesse

Screenprinting and birthday blocks

I have been busy despite the lack of blogging:

Last Friday I sewed together the blocks that I got from my friends at the ANZA Quilters for my birthday last year.

And I have started my Quilt University course on Screen Printing with Lyric Kinard.  Here are some of my first samples:

Newspaper stencil

Hmm Don't like the bleeding!

Oh Dear!

Freezer paper stencil

More bleeding!

On Paper - even worse!

Hmm think I need to do some more practice!

Will keep you posted!

Carnival Challenge Finished! - and with time to spare!

Yes it's true!  I have finished a challenge quilt with time to spare!

This is a challenge from the art quilters around the world group and the theme for Feb/March was "Carnival"

This quilt had been up on my design wall half finished for a couple of weeks and I just wasn't getting anywhere.  On Friday a group of my quilting friends from ANZA Quilters got together to do some sewing and their advice (kick up the butt)  was great and enabled me to finally finish the piece - and with time to spare.

"Carnival 2013"

Quilting detail

quilting detail

I know that some people are well organised and plan everything months in advance and that works well for them -  but when it comes to quilting, pressure and deadlines work wonders for me!

These pieces are quite manageable at A4 size and there is a new challenge every two months.  The next challenge for April/May is "Out of Asia"  Hmm think I will have plenty of inspiration living in Singapore!

Don't forget to have a look at all the fabrics at my online store!

Happy Quilting!

Another sneak preview/Arab Street

I had a great start to the day and got sewing early on my latest project - It is really humming along! (you can just spy it on the right hand side!)

Misty, was her usual supportive self

Later my friend Jesse and I headed down to Arab Street to check out some of my favourite shops.  I needed to buy some "bling" for my challenge quilt for the art quilts around the world group.  The theme for this month is "Carnival" and I have already decided what to do and how.  

We had a great time checking out the shops - you know that you go too often when they give your friend a discount due to me being a "regular"!

We also went and ate at my favourite Lebanese restaurant.  Yummy!!!

This week I will also make some more ice dyes as the last batch has flown out the door!  I guess that's a good "problem" to have! 

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Fabric, fabric and more fabric

My fabric arrived this week from Hancocks of Paducah and I am excited about starting  new quilt/s.

40 fat 1/4's Mod Century by Jenn Ski

Yesterday it was time to break out the dyes and fill some of the back orders from the British Club.

2 sets of clear brights

2 shibori dyes

Also I had done some bleaching earlier in the week and these were overdyed.

overdyed with red and purple

Needs to be redyed as I wanted it to be more green

3 x Onsies were also on the dyeing list:

All this dyeing was made much easier by the fan that I got for my birthday last week.  The kitchen was only a balmy 29 degrees instead of the usual 40 degrees.  Very pleasant!

Also for my birthday was a book by Pokey Bolton:

Oh what a great week!

Happy Quilting!

Bad mood blues

It's Official!

Yes, I was officially in a bad mood yesterday afternoon!

My day started off ok and then I decided to get a haircut (not my favourite thing) and then do some clothes shopping (definitely NOT my favourite thing!)

Needless to say I came home with very little (except frustration)  and forgot to buy some more ribbon which I needed.....

Solution:  Dive into the sewing room and make some more fabric postcards and Christmas Tags:

Ahh that's much better!

Organza bags

Today I thought I would try and make some small organza bags.......

After a couple of failed attempts, I now know why I don't like to sew with the slippery stuff called organza.

So it was time to go back to the christmas coasters!

Today was also a sewing lesson day and the girls are doing really well.  All but 1 student (who was absent last week) has completed their sewing machine drivers license and have cut out and started sewing their bag.  My youngest student is doing much better now that I have placed a large dictionary under the foot pedal.

I am really enjoying teaching and it looks and sounds like the girls are enjoying it too!

Maybe I could also get them in quilting.......

Happy Quilting!

More Christmas Coasters

Friday mornings is the time that I do my grocery shopping.  Not my favourite task but I guess it's only fair that my family want food to eat!

This morning however, I nearly got side swiped by a taxi and then nearly ran a cyclist over that rode straight through a "STOP" sign.  She even gave me the "what's your problem" look as everything went flying off the front seat!

I decided it was probably safer to head off into the sewing room this afternoon and get some sewing therapy.

Yesterday I had cut lots of 4 1/2 inch squares of Christmas fabric and today it was just putting them together using the instructions on the www.anzaquilters.blogspot.com website.

Easy as!

Yep feeling much better!

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Coaster

Today I found some time to get back into the sewing room.....but what to sew?

I was given a big box of Christmas fabrics and the plan is for the ANZA Quilt Group to make Christmas Coasters for charity.

Here are my first 2 coasters:

This is a really easy pattern and can be found at www.anzaquilters.blogspot.com .

Tomorrow I have my sewing class again.....can't wait!

Happy Quilting!

sewing classes for kids

Wow! Has it REALLY been that long since I last blogged!

School has been back now for nearly 3 weeks and I don't feel that I have done anything "productive" in the sewing room.  (sewing names into uniforms doesn't count!)

The last two weeks though have been interesting...

Firstly, a quilter called Sue from Canada contacted me and said that she had read the article about me in last months Canadian Quilter and that she was coming to Singapore with her husband.  It was lovely meeting her and she came along twice to our ANZA Quilt group.  We are always delighted to meet other quilters from around the world!  Just drop me a note and let me know when you are coming!

Secondly, one of the new mothers at school is also a quilter and she is just as nuts about fabric and quilting as I am.  (Madness loves company!).  She too has come along to the ANZA Quilt group.

Thirdly, I have started sewing classes at the school.  I had 4 students on Tuesday and 4 today.  They range  from grade 1 to grade 8.  It was soo much fun and I am hoping that they enjoy sewing as much as I am enjoying teaching it.  We are using the kids can sew program.

The sewing machines that I bought in New Zealand last month are great and easy for the children to use.  The speed control button  is especially helpful for those that are "heavy footed"!

Now that life is getting back to normal again, I am hoping to do some more dyeing and make some more postcards for the Singapore Quilt Challenge on 16 October at the British Club.

Watch this space!

Happy Quilting!

More clothing samples

Yesterday and today I have been busy sewing some more samples:

Square neck top with shorts (aka shorty pyjamas)

Skirt with back split (would look great with a plain coloured tshirt)

I realise that the fabrics are a bit bright but these are for kids.  The top set would be a great set of pyjamas and the skirts would look great with just about any coloured tshirt.

Hopefully my "Big Plans" will all be finalised in the next week.....

Watch this space!

Clothing samples

I realise it has been a while since my last post..... The school holidays are in full swing and although I only have one child at home at the moment, its been hard getting motivated to get into the sewing room.


I made a visit to Arab street and found a couple of great material shops with fabric at reasonable prices.  I also bought thread, elastic and ribbon at this great little shop at considerably less cost than if I went to Spotlight.  For once I got home and felt good that I got a good deal and didn't get ripped off!

Lately I haven't been doing any dyeing or quilting but have been making other things instead.

My son Luke asked me to print a tshirt for him with a picture from his favourite computer game - Minecraft for his birthday on Wednesday.

I used an iron-on tshirt transfer and it looked good....until it went through the wash.  Oh dear!
Round two involved printing the picture onto a fabric sheet, fusing and sewing it to the tshirt.  Hopefully this one will stand up to washing a little better.

Here is what else I have been making....

Childs Denim skirt

small drawstring bag

Child's Peasant blouse

I realise that making clothing is not normally my thing but these sample pieces are all part of an exciting Master Plan!  WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Quilting Marathon

Yesterday was a 6 hours quilting marathon to sew a baby quilt for a friend.  The label will go on today and then it is finished.

On Mothers Day (last Sunday)  my darling husband and children bought me two great books.
Skydyes by Mickey Lawler
Traydyeing by Claire Benn & Leslie Morgan

so....earlier this week I also tried my hand at painting some fabrics.

Some of the colours are a little light and I have to watch that my horizon is straight and doesn't follow the curve of my hand!!!

Happy Quilting!!!

Tie Dyeing Results

Here are the results for the tie dyeing that I did yesterday:

And something a little easier on the eyes!

Today I also went to the Schmetz distributor in Singapore and met with General Manager  Rajan Jain.  He was fabulous and helped me out with  a retailer of Schmetz Sewing Machine needles here in Singapore.  Thanks Mr Jain and it was nice meeting you!  Now I can catch up on the free motion quilting challenge without having to worry about  sewing machine needles that break all the time.  What a difference good tools can make!

Also it is the last couple of weeks that my quilts will be on display at "The Loft" Cafe in Chinatown.
The address is:

"The Loft Cafe"
1st floor
cnr Smith St and South Bridge Road

They do great coffees and waffles too!

Today I also managed to get the flickr slideshow working again on my blog.  Yippee

Yes it was a great day today!!!