Pincushion

My friend once told me that she didn't understand why people like to collect things. For her, collecting something is like wasting time and money because after they get it then.. it just stayed in the cupboard, collect dust... so more works to do to clean them up.... arrrrrrrrgh !
I just listened to her back then....

I thought that her decision not to collect things was right. We would get over it, get bored and ignored it....
As time goes by, my interest to quilts grow...
A Quilter is a collector... no doubt about that. We collected fabrics, buttons, ribbons, pins, threads,scissors, books and of course pincushions. We never get enough of them.

Pincushion is a neccesity to every Quilter. No Quilter can resist not to have lots of them, so it become one of my collections. From that time, I never bother to agree with my friend anymore. For me, a collections is just showing who really are with the passions that we have. And my life is even sunnier that way !

So, if you have a passion that makes you a collector...( even without you realizing it ).. then just do it. Do what you like to do... collect what you like... just to give you a simple pleasure in your life.

First, I bought one, and then two... and more....
Now, I make them.... lots of them. It makes a great gift.
I use cotton fabrics, felt and yarn.... they are all cute...
don't ya think ?

Happy Collecting....
Luv,
Na

Flower Power

I never knew someone that don't like flowers.
We all do like them, with so many color shades and shapes, not to mention the fragrance. Oh they are heavenly sent !
They not only gives their beauty, but also makes our heart jump for joy....

Remember what it feels like when you receive a flower bouquet for your birthday...or anniversary... from some one that you love... or even from your secret admirer...
Flowers just can make your day brighter....
That is why if you have fresh flowers in the house... they gives you energy....
Try it !

Now, I am fortune enough to have a garden of my own.
The first thing I do in the morning is that I take a fresh air in the garden, enjoying them, watering them... talking with them... oh so much JOY !
I started my day with a positive energy that nature offers the best.

Gardening feeds my soul !
These are a plants I have in my garden...

Happy Gardening.....

Siapa yang tidak suka bunga? rasanya tidak ada ya....
semua suka bunga dengan segala warna dan bentuk... belum juga wanginya... wah harum bunga di ruangan sungguh menyegarkan !

Ini adalah foto2 bunga di kebun saya...
Bunga2 ini sering memberi saya energi setiap hari... memberi inspirasi...
berada di kebun dengan banyak bunga memang menyenangkan.

Selamat berkebun...
This frangipani flower... gorgeous isn't it?


Euphorbia flowers..

Pink Frangipani

Red Soka...

Luv,
Na

BATIK'S DAY

The beautiful BATIK is worn by Indonesian people especially today.
We are accustomed with Batik since we were a baby. YES ! when we were born, Batik cloth is used as a baby wrap and with Batik too, mother carries their kids.
Special and meaningfull Batik will be worn by people who will get married. ( Javanesse style Wedding ). And...believe it or not, Batik is used to cover somebody who died before the funeral service. So.... Batik is just a part of our lives.

I myself, love Batik. I am proud to wear it ( night and day ) LOL... 'coz many my pajamas are made of cotton Batik which is so soft and I had quite a few collections to wear for formal and informal occasions.

Since 2005, I collected Batik just because I want to make something out of it. I had my Grandma's and my Mom's Batik, Just like you can imagine, that I bought Batik on every . exhibitions I've attended. I never had enough of it. OH my !
I made lots of stuff from Batik. Dolls, pillow covers, Pin cushions... and more...

I learn to make batik too... and really like it. It is time consuming, but for me it become some kind of therapy to relax and enjoy my time.
Some day, I will make my own style of Batik.... I can't wait how it will come up!
There are lots of steps to make Batik. It takes passions and persistence. Sure it is not easy.. but the result is always stunning!

Batik is known originally from Java, but there are places spread all around Indonesia that carries Batik with their own style. I guess it will be my plan to visit the all those places. Because they all have the design, color and style of their own.

Enjoy the beautiful BATIK
Luv,
NA

One thing leads to another

The joy of quilting taking me to always challange my self, to do more project... to try a new color combination.. and dare to try an advance design....

The way I see my surrounding is changed forever. I'm now more aware to colors... and always dire to look for inspirations... My mind started to asked for stimulations... so I often sit in the magazine corner at book store.. and satisfy my eyes and my brain just by looking at other artist's work. I thank God that He leads me to the path where I can really be myself, where I can express myself without has to worry about others opinion.


As a quilter... I can say that Quilt exhibiton is the place where I felt so overwhelm. I spent hours just to browse from booth to booth.. taking picture.. admire them.. thinking how in the world they can make such thing like this.. oh how they put their heart to make quilts.

I never thought that when the first time I read a book about quilt can lead me to an exhibiton like this.


I bought and borrow quilts book and then just taught my self to make more quilts...
My mother and my sister are among the first to receive my quilts... They are happy and I am happy... See.. being a quilter can leads me to being happy too... LOL. Not to mention that making quilt can teach me to be patient. My character is shaped too....
And for me.. the satisfaction after one quilt is done can not be expressed with words...

Incorporated quilts with beads is a common thing.. especially for Art Quilts.. so there it is.. I was lead to the world of beads and buttons.... As you can imagine... I felt like a kid in a candy store when the first time I went to beads store.... Yummy!

No wonder after that, I took a class for beading.....and weeks after that... I was busy stringing beads....

Happy Quilting.. Happy creating.....
Luv,
Na

Quilts was the one that I fell in love with

Back in 1997, I felt like the whole new world was in front of me. It was time for me to fly. Whoa... you can imagine how excited I was. My visit to Half Price Book store and Dallas Public Library has given me a chance to know more about Art and Craft. That enrich my life up till now, and hope for so many years to come. Quilts was the one that I fell in love with.

The inspiration, the dream , the urge to do try a project...was coming when I flipped every pages of a book. That was magical. Almost every saturday, I spent my time at the library and check out books.


After months.. I saw myself get so busy trying to create things. My heart sang....
Thank you God for taking me this far. I want to grow and be fruitfull.

As advised, I started with a small project. A pillow cover.
I played save with those colors. Soft green and yellow. It was pieced and quilted entirely by hand.

Luv,
Na

Picking up a name

Finally this day has come!
I have been wanting to make my own blog for months... but only thinking about it didn't take me anywhere. So here it is.. I am typing my first post with a happy heart. Oh my, I am truly in pink!
Picking up a name was not easy, but last night I pushed myself to the limit. I asked my son and my husband to help me out. Starting with poppin' rocks, bunny's tail, colorful life, jumping jack and on and on.......

I ended up picking this name because it's originally Indonesian words.
KRiYa Apik. Kriya means creating things and Apik means beautifully done.

So this blog is about my creations that come from my heart and also random thoughts about my life.
See you on the next post ( oh, I can't wait...... )

Luv,
Na