New Product in Etsy! - Monogram Sugar Cookie Charm

Hi sweet friends!

I am so excited to announce that a new product is finally listed in my Etsy Shop! It's not a pattern but an actual item that you can actually order and wear it on your bag! 

I've been working on this product for months trying to "mold" it into something where ladies of all ages will enjoy wearing them... and give to others as thoughtful gifts! What a perfect way to add sweetness to your everyday without gaining those extra calories... or caries!

It's an made-to-order item with a few options to make it personally yours <3 Customize it with soft yummy pastel colors as the letter frosting and how you want to hang it on your bag!

Letter A in Pistachio color with Ball Chain finishing

Letter C in Baby Pink color and Lobster Clasp Key ring. Letter B in Ice Blue color and Phone Strap finishing.

The sugar cookies are about 0.7 mm thick. Yummy!

These sweet little treats are available to order here.

So till then my friends!

Autumn / Thanksgiving Themed Sugar Cookie Pattern

The weather is definitely changing in Macao into one of my favorite seasons of the year - Autumn! Don't you just love the warm colors and the smell of roasted chestnuts in the air? I do! The chilling breeze is kicking in but, as usual in Macao, we will only get to experience the real Autumn weather around mid/end of December! 

It's during this time of the year that I get to feel pretty nostalgic. Warm memories of when I used to live in Portugal during my younger days starts to fill my mind leaving me thinking about those cold and rainy days. I could see myself walking home from school with a warm honey bread on my hand and a Walkman on the other. When I arrived home, Mom would be almost done preparing dinner while watching her Brazilian drama series.. My siblings would be in their rooms drawing and doing homework and Dad would be almost arriving home from work. I lived in a quiet neighborhood where pine and oak tress were abundant. Never ending piles of red and yellow leaves would take over most of the sidewalks and building entrances while the smell of soft rain lingered in the air. It was a very exciting time for us youngsters...because Christmas school holidays was just around the corner ;)

A new pattern set is now up in my Etsy! Here are little sugar cookies inspired by our love of Autumn days! Thanksgiving is also coming up so you'll see our little turkey fella in the package as well!

You can find the pattern here.

Wishing my friends a warm and cosy week in this lovely October... Stay well!

My Countryside Retreat...

Hello sweet friends! How I missed to be at this little corner of mine! With this fresh new start, I can't wait to get my hands back to work and to finally start to make those pending projects to finally move!

Since hubby will be starting his new job assignment very soon, we decided to take a little time off travelling before the busy days takes over. This time we ventured off to Philippines to spend some time with my mother and since she lived in the rural areas, we thought it would be a perfect way to spend those 3 weeks around nature to relax our minds and to make up for those 3 years spent apart from mom!

After arriving at the Manila airport in the evening we took the car and hit the road for the next 5.5 hours. The journey was pretty tiring...We crossed heavy showers and pitched dark roads but thank God and his Angels for their protection because, as soon as we knew, we arrived home safe and sound.. and happy to be snuggled in bed at 3 am!

After a tiring night, I woke up to this beautiful scenario... It never bores me to be surrounded with so much greenery! My mother's house is located, literally, in the middle of rice fields and it has such great countryside around it which never fails to make us feel so relaxed, calm and peaceful.

I can't explain why but I never felt tired waking up at 5:30am with the sounds of roosters and insects! everyday seemed to be different even thought I wake to the same landscape everyday..There's something about the countryside that always keep me looking forward to tomorrow and to be asking God for another beautiful day.

For the next 2 weeks we found ourselves driving through neighboring villages, crossing unknown shortcuts, pigging out in local fast food restaurants and savoring my favorite Filipino desserts! We also got the chance to visit Bolinao province, home of the breath taking Patar White Sand Beach. It was my girl's request to go to the beach since it was her birthday that day!

When you're awaken up by cheeky chirping birds on your roof you find yourself surrounded by this beautiful sunrise....

Road trips to narrow roads crossing rice fields with amazing view of mountains and distant farms are also my favorite things to do when you're in the Philippines...and it never fails to find myself in awe with so much beauty around me..

After 2 weeks of sunshine and fun and road trips, the rain decided to take over until the last days of our trip. During endless days of down pouring rains we cozied up at home enjoying mom's home cooking, drinking freshly brewed coffee and staring into the gloomy weather and over the freshly harvested rice fields...

Even in grey days I found it to be surprisingly beautiful and so relaxing. Going to bed and waking up to the sound of raindrops against the rooftop felt like it only happened in the movies... oh, I felt lovingly blessed that instant. 

I left all the craft sessions on hold but I did lots of drawings for future patterns. My mind was overflowing with so much ideas and felt the itch so badly to start sewing again! This was the perfect place to finally sew in peace and I have to admit that I regret big time for not bringing my felts along with me!

But why days goes by so fast when your having fun? Sadly our last day of our country retreat has finally come and now it's time to pack and face another 5.5 hour road trip to the airport and into the chaotic city.

A new life is awaiting us back in Macau and we are more than excited for what life will bring us. It's been such a bumpy and emotional journey for me and my family during the past 6 months being jobless but I'm so thankful and relieved that all our prayers have been answered, that all this fear, doubts and concerns will come to an end to finally get our lives back on track. I thank our families who have supported us with kind words and uplifting advises about being positive and cheerful during difficult times like these.. But above all, I want to thank God and his beautiful angels for opening new opportunities and for guiding us into this new chapter of our lives.

This trip to the Philippines was all about recharging our hopes, minds and to remind us that life is a true blessing even if you have to walk through unknown and fearful roads. We needed a time off with nature to clearly plan out our lives after this very moment.. but most importantly, to give our hearty gratitude to God for listening to all our worries and concerns through our prayers...

So we are so done with this chapter...On to the next next one!

So that's all about my exciting and personal journey in the Philippines. Now let's get my hands back to work!

" The moment

you're ready to

quit is usually the

moment right before the

miracle

happens

Don't Give up"

Stay well my friends!

Free Pattern of the Month - Halloween Pumpkin Brooch

Hello my dear friends! I'll be going for a family holiday on this coming Sunday and I would like to leave you all this lovely gift before I go - A tutorial of how to make this cute little fella...Gotta keep that Halloween spirit flowing, guys!

I'll be away for more than 20 days and, sadly, I won't be bringing my laptop to keep you all posted... But I promise to show you all some photos when I'm back! 

Materials:

🍁 Main felts for the pumpkin brooch

🍁 Felt scraps for the 'cheeks' and 'stem' 

🍁 Small felt scraps for the felt behind the eyes

🍁 3cm brooch

🍁 1pc pearl bead

🍁 1 flower sequin

🍁 1 small piece of felt to secure the brooch

🍁 Cotton threads to match felts

🍁 Polyfil

🍁 Needles and scissors

🍁 Universal Glue

Step 1.

Cut all patterns and lay it onto the chosen felts.To position the eyes of the pumpkin, take a thicker needle and poke through all corners of the triangle eyes. I do this to avoid folding the pumpkin pattern. 

Step 2.

Take 1 pumpkin cutout and flip. Lay the pumpkin pattern onto the felt pumpkin cutout and, with a water soluble pen, mark the dots through the holes made on the previous step. 

Step 3.

Lay the eye pattern and join the corners to the dots. Draw the eyes using a water soluble pen. Cut out.

Step 4.

Take the felt scraps and place it over the eyes. You can secure it with tiny drops of glue on the edges to prevent it from shifting around.

Step 5.

Flip pumpkin and applique stitch the eye background and the pumpkin's eyes together.

Step 6.

Lay the 'cheeks' and backstitch.

Step 7.

Backstitch the smile.

Step 8.

Lay the 'pumpkin' onto 1 'pumpkin background' and applique stitch all around.

Step 9.

Position the 'stem' and applique on.

Step 10.

Stitch on the flower sequin and the pearl bead.

Step 11.

At the back of the other 'pumpkin background' cutout, lay the brooch at the top center and secure it in position by stitching it through the little holes of the brooch.

Step 12.

Place the little felt scrap over the base of the brooch and applique stitch. This will give a nice neat finish :)

Step 13.

Combine both 'pumpkin background' cutouts and blanket stitch all around but leaving a small entry for the filling.

Step 14.

Lightly fill with polyfil then close shut with blanket stitch.

And you're done!

Hope you enjoy this tutorial and I hope this little fella will awaken your Halloween mood! My little pumpkin brooch is approx. 5.5cm x 7cm but feel free to resize it and turn it into something different <3

So that's it my friends! Wishing you all a wonderful and crafty week! see you all again mid October <3

Kawaii Cat Coffee Mug Sugar Cookie Charm

Hello my dear friends! How have you all been lately? <3

It's blazing hot here in Macau which have become unbearable to go out during the day! What better way to cool off during days like these? Stay at home and happily make crafts with the AC on at full blast! But despite the hellish heat that we're experiencing right now, there's always an excuse to have that piping hot cup of coffee!

So I've decided to make this little cutie cat mug inspired by my love for cats and ,of course, coffee since I've realized that it will be the International Coffee Day in a few weeks! A day to celebrate the love for coffee? Yes! So here it is... a Cat Coffee Mug! I'm still deciding whether or not to sell It's pattern or sell it as a made-to-order item in the future... We'll see.

I'll be busy these few days doing some last shopping for souvenirs and requests from my sister before I go for my long holiday next week. I'll be slightly away for almost a month but I'll try my best to post some photos! My Etsy shop will still be open but If you have any questions regarding my patterns, please do leave me a note on Etsy. It will take me longer to answer since the internet connection in the rural areas are not the fastest or steadiest.. But I'll try my best to reply you as soon as I see them ;)

So till then, my friends!

Halloween Sugar Cookies Pattern

Finally! Just wanted to let you know that delicious and freshly baked Halloween cookies are now being served in my Etsy shop! 

Hope you all enjoy making them!

The Creepy Sneaks!

Hello September and hello friends!! How have you all been lately? 

I've been doing lots of sewing here in the past few days and so happy that I am almost done with my Halloween sugar cookies tutorial! Halloween, guys!! Oh I can almost smell sweet treats in the air! Who's excited? Do you love Halloween as much as I do?!

I'm in the middle of editing photos and writing up the step-by-steps so that it will be ready for purchase in a week before I go for my long holiday!

I have so much to do after I come back and I'm so excited to start with it already... I got all my supplies and info I need to start with this project so I can't wait!

How's your September starting? Stay well sweet friends!