Time Flies....when you are busy

Time sure does fly past when you are busy - or should I say swamped!  But that is a good thing!

The last couple of months have been hectic with the kids sewing classes both after school and during the summer holidays.  July was frantically busy with parents looking for activities for the  kids at the end of the school holiday season.  I met some really lovely families and had a great time teaching!

Ella's camo skirt

Lara's Owl Pj's

We have also been busy making more commissioned t-shirt quilts and even got to self deliver one in Sydney while visiting my daughter who is studying there!

Jamie's t-shirt quilt

The ANZA Quilters in Singapore went to meet up with the  MANZA Quilters in Kuala Lumpur for a few days at the beginning of September and we had a fantastic time!  We did a jelly roll race quilt, fabric postcards and fabric baskets.

Jelly Roll quilts

Fabric postcards

Fabric Baskets

Thanks ladies for a great couple of days! We hope you will come down and visit us in Singapore soon!

Tomorrow I will be at the Scandinavian Fair which is being held at the Danish Seamans Church.  This is a beautiful building in Mount Faber here in Singapore.  My husband and I would often walk past this church and I am looking forward to spending the day there.

Lastly, my daughter has made a brand new website for me and it looks fantastic!  All my fabrics are now on there ready to go out the door.  Now to find some time to do some dyeing as well.....

Check it out at:
www.jokamamotextiles.com

Well thats all from me folks!  till next time....

T-shirt quilts and Kids sewing classes

June was great being on holiday in Holland, visiting family and seeing the sights.  But now its back in Singapore and back to work!

July was a busy month teaching kids sewing.  A lot of my regular students are still away on holidays so it was great to meet some new students that were able to take lessons during the day. Here are some of the things my students have made. (photos posted with permission)

Alexa's baby hat

 Georgia's (age 7) first Jelly Roll Quilt

Millie's (aged 8) Wrap around circle skirt

I have also been busy making more t-shirt quilts for  customers:

Not quite sewn together yet, but hopefully will be finished this week.

Back to work!!!

The last few weeks have been busy as I have had visitors since the end of May for my daughters high school graduation.
Now that calm has been restored, its time to get back to work and do some dyeing!

Devore cut silk rayon scarf

Shibori - Turquiose and Fushia

jokamamotextiles.etsy.com

I also converted the bedroom back into a sewing room and reorganised it with a lot of help from my friend Jesse:

Thanks Jesse!!!  I hope I can keep it looking this good!!!!

I have been doing more sewing lessons over the holidays and have some really lovely students, sadly one of them is moving back to Australia.  I will miss her and I  hope she will continue sewing.

Well that's it from me - time for ANZA Quilt group.....

"out of Asia" challenge

Yes its been a while since my last post.  Life has become quite hectic as we have house full of guests that came to celebrate our daughters high school graduation.

The sewing room has been converted back to a bedroom and our children have all been shuffled around to make room for grandparents. The sewing machine now sits in the hallway but is still usable.

The screen printing course is on hold until the end of the month but I did manage to finish my "Out of Asia" Challenge today (ok only 3 days late!) http://aroundtheworldin20quilts.blogspot.sg/

This quilt is based on the shop houses that are at Boat/Clarke Quay in Singapore.  The shop houses are along the Singapore River.  The are very bright and colourful buildings.

The school where I was teaching  kids sewing classes has closed for the summer holidays and won't reopen until mid August but  I have got some new students from other schools as well.  That is the good thing about all the international schools here having different holidays!

More information about the "kids can sew" programme can be found at:

http://jokamamotextiles.com/kids-sewing-classes

Happy Quilting

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!

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!