JAQS Studio

New Fabric Collection in the Shop: Vintage Daydream from Riley Blake

2016-10-05T20:31:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous! Love the colors, love the florals. Check out this new collection from Riley Blake:

Spring Gardening - Seeds!

2016-03-05T14:54:00.001-08:00

Getting an early start on our veggie garden this year. We're starting off with some seeds - tomatoes, zucchinis, basil, bokchoy, spinach, peppers, kale, etc. Crossing my fingers for a healthy garden this year :). Beans and others will be seeded straight into the vegetable boxes once weather permits.

Breaking out the peat seed planters and popsicle stick markers.

Bundles & Fresh Starts

2016-02-13T18:12:00.001-08:00

My studio is all over the place recently. Projects that are waiting to be finished. Projects that need to be started. And tons of fabrics that need to be bundled up for the shop.

New blue quilt ready to be pieced...though I think I still need a few more prints to tie it all together.

Bundles and bundles - old favorites and new beauties awaiting their turns to be photoed and bundled. Need more hours in the day to complete this task.

Can't wait to work on my Autumn Square quilt again. I have a bunch of squares completed and just waiting to clear up some space so I could actually on it again.

Stars Quilt Progress - At Last

2016-01-18T18:10:00.001-08:00

A little down time = a little progress. Finally get around to basting this little beauty for my nephew this weekend. It's looking good :)

Gather up the quilt top.

Drag out out my giant bolt-o-batting. Warm & Natural - one of my favorites to use.

Layer and Layer...

Okay...okay...not quite done because I only did the top... still need to decide on the backing design. But at least it's progress right?? More to come.

Autumn Colors in Winter

2016-01-09T16:25:00.003-08:00

After the festivities of winter, it's been nice to just have a lazy weekend. Nothing like a lazy weekend without WIP progress :). This weekend I'm thinking of warm cozy autumn colors while cozying up next to the fireplace.

Looking for just the right color combos...

Sewing the little beauties into blocks...and much more to go ...

Happy winter everyone!

We're On Vacation :)

2015-12-15T17:51:00.003-08:00

JAQS is on a little vacation to paradise this week :). Aloha from beautiful Maui Hawaii. Stores will re-open Dec 16 and 17th. MAHALO!

New GIANT Wreath - DIY

2015-12-10T15:30:00.000-08:00

So, if you read this blog (or know me) you know I love wreaths. So when our fireplace looked a little empty I shopped around for a new wreath - a GIANT new wreath. Unfortunately the price tags ($$$++) was just too much. No fear - imagination and glue gun to the rescue :)

Check out my new giant wreath - it's about 4 ft in diameter.

My secret item? A giant HULA HOOP.

Here's a quick little picture peak of what I did.

I took an old hula hoop I found at a garage sale a little while ago (30 cents???). Attached some metal clothes hangers to make sure there will be enough fullness to the wreath and a place for all the stuff to attach to.

Then I attached 2 ever-green (fake) garlands around the wreath. Make sure to use floral wires to stabilize the garland before hot gluing it together. I lay out the garland the way I want it look before using the glue gun.

Next DECORATE. Add any type of flowers, ribbons, etc that you want. I (again) stabilized it with wiring first then went nuts with the hot glue gun :)

Love the new wreath and I know we'll enjoy here for many many years to come. And I saved a TON of money. The whole project cost about $50 per wreath (I made 2 - one for my sister).

A Etsy Treasury - Marigold Circle Napkins

2015-11-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

Our marigold cotton napkins are featured today in this beautiful treasury on Etsy:

Thank you so much for the feature and beautiful treasury.

Not Sewing - Just a Whole Lot of Cooking

2015-10-09T08:50:00.001-07:00

It's been a slow slow sewing season around here. It's been eerie taking a long leave from sewing ... between keeping up with the shops and having the kids around during the summer months, sewing is on the very very (almost) very bottom of the list. However, there has been some yummy cooking around here - take a peak :) ... I miss summer cooking already!

We live in California and when it's salmon season, you get whole salmon EVERYWHERE. Here's a beauty we picked up. It was a pretty good sized salmon that I stuffed with lemons, onions, cilantro, green onions then seasoned with salt/pepper. Popped it in the oven for about half an hour. And YUM. Perfection :). Maybe next year I'll try it on the grill too.

We even brought back the lettuce wrap - haven't had these in ages. It's a great way to use up random things in the fridge. Here's this one with a little bit of chicken, carrots, sprouts and ginger. I think the hardest part was just making sure we didn't tear the lettuce.

Stir Fry :)! One of the (many) favorites around our household. It's a great way to sneak in a lot of veggies too for the kids ;) Take a look at the veggies!

Now on to fall cooking :) - I'm dreaming of stews, slow cooker ANYTHING and some yummy fall drinks. Oh yeah, and maybe even back to my sewing table for a new quilt or two before winter...here's to hoping!

Piecing - 2 Quilt Tops

2015-06-20T16:52:00.001-07:00

No, these are will not be going into the same quilt top...

Just one of those days when you need 2 projects going at the same time...

A spring-inspired yellow quilt top I've started a little while back - piecing in the borders together.

...and a little star quilt I'm working on for someone special :)

Happy Sewing everyone!

Hello Spring!

2015-03-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

Love this time of year (despite the mosquitos and allergies!). There's a freshness in the air in the spring time - a little mix of morning dew, roses and lemon blossoms to be exact...at least in our yard :). This year I started off with this little fun wreath project. My first handmade wreath and I think I might be hooked...

I used a wire frame and wrapped burlap ribbon around there to hide the frame. Then I loosely tied in more burlap ribbon with the cute little yellow ribbon I found in a $1 bin :).

The peonies I found online - they are gorgeous aren't they? I tied the peonies evenly around the wreath and topped it all off with a "W" metal sign I found at Michaels. Looks great and perfect for a little pop of color.

Happy Spring everyone!

Quilting Progress

2015-03-10T21:07:00.001-07:00

First off, I'm happy to say that I'm alive ;). It's been rough/busy few months, hence to complete lack of blog postings, but I'm back and happy to share some new quilts.

Here are a few finished quilts, binded and ready for their photoshoot. Something very peaceful and lovely about a stack of quilts :)

3 designs, 4 new quilts. All ready for the shop very soon.

Weekend Breakfast Treat

2014-12-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

Our kids LOVE doughnuts - particularly the ones at Krispy Kremes. I think one of their favorite part of watching them make them. So I thought - hey why not make some at home! So I stumbled upon this little recipe here for copycat Krispy Kremes.

I made the dough the night before and used the morning as the final rising state for the dough - after shaping it with cookie cuts. Then into the shortening fryer - be very careful about the temperature - shortening heats up very quickly and will burn your doughnuts instantly.

We made used both the doughnut part and the hole :). Frying was super fast.

After frying, let it cool for a minute or so and keep it in your favorite topping. We had plain sugar, glazed and glazed with sprinkles.

The verdict YUMMMM.

Happy Birthday Aya

2014-11-21T09:37:00.000-08:00

Our little girl is now 2. We celebrated her second birthday a couple of weeks back with a Frozen inspired theme - a little snowflake here and there. Olaf "Summer" inspired food :). Here's some pics of the preparation and party festivities.

A cake stand and some pretty cupcakes makes for pretty center piece and birthday cake. I love the way the lace wrappers for the baked cupcakes turned out and the little raspberry on top is the perfect touch.

I had a little extra batter left over so I made mini cupcakes as well. Perfect amount for a little mini-cupcake snowflake dish :).

The frosting dispenser I got from Amazon was perfect - super easy to use and frosted up all 30 cupcakes super fast - and pretty.

As part of the food table, I made little fruit skewers. Clean and easy for the little kids to eat - and fun too!

I love the way the little banner turned out for the utensils. A few little scraps of paper, twine and staples.

We also adorned the light fixture with these cute little paper lanterns and snowflakes.

I wish I took more pictures of the cookie decorating table, but with all the kids at the party I didn't have time :). But here's a little glimpse of all the spindles that were used for the sugar cookies. The kids at a great time decorating their little snowflake, Olaf and other sugar cookies.

Great party and now we'll be gearing up for the holidays. Have a safe week everyone!

End of Summer Harvest and Draught

2014-09-10T07:32:00.002-07:00

We're enjoying the last tomatoes, zucchinis and basils as summer comes to an end.

Instead of gearing up for a late summer/fall planting we have decided to let our garden rest for remainder of the year. California is in a serious draught and it just seems wrong to be watering the garden.

We have already let our back lawn go...and planning on planting more draught resistant plants/trees and fake grass for the kids next spring.

Though we might have some good rain this winter (fingers crossed), we must still make a conscious effort to conserve as much as we can even when we're not in a draught.

NO no ... we are not getting rid of our vegetable garden forever...rest assure it will be back next spring. But we'll be renovating the water system to be more effective :)

Got Boxes?

2014-08-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

So things have gotten a little ... out of control? Summer activities, kids being at home and a whole lot of sunshine has taken it's toll in the living room. BOXES BOXES BOXES! Deliveries to our little shop continues but we had been lazy about opening them :(

Don't worry! They're mostly fabric restocks and shipping supplies so no outgoing orders has been delayed (PHEW right??). I'm grateful for these slow summer days and don't mind the build up of boxes for a week...or 3 ;).

As usually - the shop is always open and napkins and such must be made for our wonderful customers. Here's a snack that is ready to be folded and packaged by yours truly.

OH I just LOVE those bicycle prints! I can't seem to get enough of that fabric...and I guess I'm not getting enough since it's always backordered...eek. So I'm glad I have a few more yards left before the next big shipment.

Really random, but do you like the sight of thread? Like the little threads left behind after a good day of snipping? I do :).

Have a great week everyone!

Modern Color Triangle Quilt

2014-08-14T19:25:00.001-07:00

I've been waiting to make this quilt for a while...waiting for the right color combo to show up in my stash...

Now it's DONE :)

I'm happy to share this clean modern triangle quilt:

I absolutely adore the little pop of mustard yellow and aqua.

I backed it with a single piece of the Rainy Day fabric from Blend Fabrics. The colors match just perfectly...again a piece of fabric that I was waiting to use on just the right project.

I will be making more of these triangle quilts :) - they are SO fun to make and I adore the results.

Another addition to the JAQ Studio little Etsy shop HERE.

Quilt Information:
Modern Patchwork Triangle Quilt
Front: 100% Cotton Prints
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing: 100% Cotton Print - Single Piece
Completed Dimension: 41"x64"
Quilting Method: Straight line quilting along each side of each seam
Binding: Machine Stitched for extra durability

Sold HERE.

Lazy Summer Days

2014-08-12T21:19:00.002-07:00

Countdown to school begins as the last few days of lazy summer days ends.

Our comfy outdoor sofa has been a comfort for us.

The kids enjoying a mid-year sugar cookie decoration fun as we experiment with painting on frosting. They love all the fun colors and paintbrushes.

Perfect children cookies :)

Busy Summer Days

2014-08-11T14:31:00.001-07:00

The kids are off to grandmas today as I catchup with some studio work...ha housework can wait right???

Nothing like freshly cut fabrics to make this girl smile :). This one is ready for the new coral chevron quilt...hopefully in time for the holidays...we'll see.

And a little bit of flag bunting. My new favorite thing to do when I have a bit of time. It's a long process but fun. This one is for a shabby chic flag bunting.

Good times :)

No Linky Party This Week - Vacation Time

2014-08-04T21:06:00.002-07:00

I'm taking a short little vacation this week to hang out with the kiddos and catch up on the store cleanup work. Have a great week everyone and see you all next week as we continue our linky party :).

Take care!

Made By ME #137 Linky Party and Features

2014-07-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome! :) Another great week here - lots of great projects to inspire from last week's party - some highlights below. If you have something to share please join our party this week at the end of the post. Have a terrific week everyone!

CRAFTS & DECOR

DIY Soap Painting from Sew Can Do

Old T-shirt Pom Poms from 3 Peppers

Storage Container Duct Tape Crafts from With a Blast

FOOD

Sugar Kiss Cookies from The Diary of a Real Housewife

Easy Strawberry Muffins from Gal On A Mission

SEWING AND KNITS

Peasant Blouse from Howling At The Moon

Finished Quilt from Stitch by Stitch

...and onto this week's "Made by ME" Linky Party.

Happy Linking everyone!

... and don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Made By ME #136 Linky Party and Features

2014-07-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hello there :). Great highlights to share with you from last weeks' party. Don't forget to add yours this week at the end of this post.

FOOD

Mini Lemon Pies with Blueberries from Gingerly Made

Homemade Marshmallows from Eliza Ellis

BBQ Ranch Chicken Salad from The Diary of a Real Housewife

CRAFTS & DECOR

Easy Fabric Swatch Banner from Let's Drink Coffee Darling

Card Box Tutorial from Buttons and Paint

SEWING AND KNITS

Mini Quilt from Sing While Crafting

College Days Quilt from Quilt Art Designs

Party after the jump...

...and onto this week's "Made by ME" Linky Party.

Happy Linking everyone!

... and don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Made By ME #135 Linky Party and Features

2014-07-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting! It's been a busy summer here and I'm sure a lot of you are feeling the same way. So thank you EXTRA for taking time out of your day to share your fantastic projects :).

Here are some highlights from last week's party - scroll down to add your project to this week's party.

FOOD

Shrimp Tom Kha Soup from Reviews, Chews and How-Tos

Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cheesecake Bites from Pink Recipe Box

Tres Leches Buddies from A Dash of Sanity

CRAFTS & DECOR

Fabric Charm Bracelet from QuintonWench

Duct Tape Key Chains from The Crafty Blog Stalker

Swing Set from The DIY Dreamer

SEWING AND KNITS

Summersuit from Kuka and Bubu

I Love Sewing Mug Rug from USS Crafty

...and onto this week's "Made by ME" Linky Party.

Happy Linking everyone!

... and don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Made By ME #134 Linky Party and Features

2014-07-08T13:00:00.000-07:00

Happy linky day :)! Some great highlights to share and don't forget to link up your special project this week at the end of the post. Have a safe and productive week everyone!

FOOD

Salmon Egg Breakfast Sandwich from Pink Recipe Box

White Chocolate Caramel Corn from A Dash of Sanity

Freshing Strawberry Lemonade from Gal On A Mission

CRAFTS & DECOR

Red White Blue Water Balloon Flip Flop from Fluster Buster

Brown Bag Utensil Holder from The Life of a Crazed Mom

SEWING AND KNITS

Vintage Baby Rag Quilt from Ode to Inspiration

Card Holder Wallet from Learning Curve Crafts

Big Girl Briefs from Kuka and Bubu

Party after the jump....

...and onto this week's "Made by ME" Linky Party.

Happy Linking everyone!

... and don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Made By ME #133 Linky Party and Features

2014-07-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hi there :) - great highlights to share with you from last weeks' party. Can't wait to see what goodies you guys are working on this week - scroll down to add your project to the party this week.

FOOD

Clean Eating Pecan Pie from Luv A Bargain

Coconut Raspberry Blueberry Ice Cream from Vintage Zest

CRAFTS & DECOR

Glitter Paper Flower Frame from The Crafty Blog Stalker

Ikea Hack Lack Shelves from The House on Stanford

Aluminum Can Dimensional Star from Crafty Journal

SEWING AND KNITS

DIY Custom Ottoman Cube from Sew Can Do

Sunrise Quilt Pattern from Sewing Lab

Elephant from Kuka and Bubu

Party after the jump...

...and onto this week's "Made by ME" Linky Party.

Happy Linking everyone!

... and don't forget to visit our fellow bloggers :)

An InLinkz Link-up