Tuesday 14 November 2023

Time is flying....

 Seems like my blog has become a little neglected again, this doesn't mean a lack of crafting though.

Progress has been achieved on most of my ongoing projects I'm happy to say though not has quickly as I would like. Just need more hours in the day I'm afraid.

Latest row of the zoo quilt has been done, a plan has been hatched and implemented for the sweet Kathy Schmitz stitcheries and that has involved some fabric hunting, one of my favourite sports. Would you like to see ?



I am using up leftover background fabrics and also my small stash of leftover Liberty fabrics. I did need to do some buying to add to my stash as it didn't have enough variety. Thankfully GJ's sell and cut down to a 25"square so this was not an exorbitant expense and I could pick lots of styles. These dresdens were left over from a quilt I made a little while ago that I ended up gifting to a lovely work friend. Now I will get a version to keep-well that is the plan lol.

So it seems this is becoming a real leftovers quilt, you have to feel good about that.

A peek at some of the later stitcheries that were completed....






Christmas has been on my mind too..
This little pillow got finished. Poor thing was the last of the set that was just hidden in a drawer. But he's done now and ready for Christmas.


 



I got to go to a lovely sit and sew day at Kilmore quilters and there was a little retail therapy had.
This little ornament kit came home with me and was completed in my Festive flurry. There were plans to make more but I think this will do for now.


Well that is it for me for now.
Hopefully I will not leave it so long to make a post. 
Next post I will share the updates on my zoo quilt and Tilda quilt. Both are on the home stretch.

Happy days

Marina


PS stay tuned for some Elf antics as the time is drawing near for their arrival!!
There have been some new purchases for this year's antics. I think I really need an intervention lol.

Take care.












Monday 18 September 2023

September

 Good intentions just weren't enough and just like that it's mid September.

Some progress has been made on the usual projects and School holidays started this week.  All my hopes for social catch ups and sewing have been crushed thanks to our old friend Covid. I started to be unwell last Wednesday and thought I just had a flu as Covid tests showed a negative result but low and behold on Saturday I tested positive. It explained why I felt so bad. I am on the improve a little each day but I seem to feel to fatigued after very small exertions. That's life !

I do have some pics of the progress that has been made in the past month to share though.....


the next row is ready for the Who's who at the zoo....




Next hometown block done and the third prepped.


More crochet happening this is the third scarf being made. I love how the colours unfold.


Some squares for an un-yet decided project

two more blocks have been done from the owl and hare set. I still don't know how these will go together yet. 




That's me caught up and hopefully if I feel better I'll get to make some more progress on my works.

Happy days


Marina


Monday 14 August 2023

August

 Wow we are half way through August 

Where did that go? 

My hands have not been idle and I have been dabbling in different projects.

A work colleague was commenting on a scarf I made each time I wore it so I thought I would make her one. It came together quickly and she was so excited that I had made her one.

I only took a photo at the start...


Two more blocks of Owl and Hare have been completed and I was tempted by another little stitchery project I saw online. Of course I had to start it and a sewing day with the City girls and Gisborne girls at Kilmore quilters was the perfect time to make a start. It was a lovely day spent with crafty friends.
Both projects are enjoyable to work on  and I am trying to use different embroidery stitches that I might not usually use.







My Christmas Trees quilt has been finished. I used pearl 8 thread for the quilting and that came together a little rough in places but it's part of the charm. My two nine patch quilts are being basted by the lovely Tracee at Hummingbird quilting so that will mean two more hand quilting projects. Don't know what I am thinking??? 


Happy days...

Need to get back to some applique projects- think I'll concentrate on those this week..

Marina


(at work we have a tank with Green tree frogs. Last week we had to clean their tank. Think this fella approves of his nice clean tank. The smile says it all.




Sunday 30 July 2023

back to the grind

 It's been three weeks back at work and my blogging intentions have been impeded by the daily grind.

Not that there isn't anything to share........ just after working at a computer all day it's not something I want to be doing once I get home.

The sun is shining in Melbourne today and there is time to share my bits and bobs.

first off I'll share some new starts..

First block of this project came together pretty quickly. The joys of large pieces


Next is my Owl and Hare stitcheries. I have had the printed linen sitting there for quite a bit and thoguth now is the time to start it. It's been a long time since I have done a stitchery project. I consider my Petite poche more an embroidery project.
lovely stitcheries to work on, not quite sure how they will come together but there is plenty of time to decide that......



Nearly all the trees have had some quilting around them.... Then the borders will need some quilting too. More big stitches with pearl thread. Lovely

Some crochet distraction happening too.... using up some leftovers.
and finally a little blanket for Little Miss' toy pram. Peppa Pig approved!





Finally some pics from a visit by my little festive friends who popped in for Christmas in July at work....

Up to their usual shenanigans..






Happy days


Marina

Wednesday 5 July 2023

Be Prepared

 Another finish has opened the floodgates for a new project, I am going to start something new totally guilt free!

My red and cream 9 patch top is done and I am very happy with the result. this will join my scrappy 9 patch in a pile to be hand quilted.


speaking of hand quilting.... my Trees quilt has been basted and I have managed to quilt a few. I am using a perle 8 thread and big stitches. I have forgotten how much I enjoy hand quilting. When I first started quilt I hand quilted all my quilts- a matter of economics at the time. Over the years I have hand quilted quite a few larger quilts but now I will save it for smaller lap quilts as my hands don't quite enjoy it as much as I would like.


the finishes have meant that I can pull out some projects to prepare for sewing, thus the post title.

I thought it best not to neglect my Who's who in the zoo.......I just had to mark the pieces around the freezer paper and trim them down. Row four is ready to go.



I prepped the pieces for my new start.


A friend who is not a fan of applique has asked me to do the centre piece for a new project and I am more than happy to oblige.... so I made a start on the plastic templates for this loveliness. 


Some lovely fabrics to play with too!

As you can tell by the productiveness I am currently on school holidays.
Only a few more days to go sadly and then it will be back to the grind.
I'll definitely make the most of the time that remains.

Happy days

Marina

Wednesday 28 June 2023

on target

 I am feeling pretty happy that slowly I am ticking things off my list of UFO's.

My scrappy 9 patch is done. I am hoping to hand quilt this one.




the red Scrappy 9 patch top is moving towards a finish too. This is the layout I have decided on for the outer border. I have completed this first one and sewn it on.



There were some extra trees added to my Christmas quilt and I decided to add a border to pad out the size a little more. The border fabric will also be the backing fabric.
This will hopefully be a hand quilting project.


Updated to do list:

Basket Case - 2 sides of final borders to go  Top completed

9 patch- red and cream outer borders to be done (a few more hexie flowers for the final border to be done) - Borders in progress, one completed

9 patch scrappy top - two borders to go/two done Top Completed

Scrappy hearts quilt - borders to be planned and done

Petite Poche - 4 new  embroidery blocks added to the pile

Who's who at the zoo- half way through applique blocks - Row 4 Prepped

Aussie animals - centre top done, borders to go.

May Gibbs hearts - pick up and go project, need to count completed hearts. wisp - Hearts all appliqued waiting to be sewn together.

Another couple of ticks and I'll feel quite happy to start something new.

Tomorrow I have a friend coming over with a project for me to do the applique on. (I did the applique on her blue and white Laundry Basket quilt). Perfect arrangement as I don't mind applique and I won't have to do all the piecing!

Happy days.


Marina






Tuesday 13 June 2023

Celebrations!!

 I feel like popping a champagne bottle....

I have had a big finish and I'm very excited to take it to be quilted as soon as I organise a backing for it.

Here are the stats...

Design  :      Basket Case by Irene Blanck

started   :      27/09/2020

completed    12/06/2023

Needleturn applique, using mainly Tilda fabrics for the applique.



Very happy with the result. It's been in progress for quite awhile but now it's done.



Happy Days.



Marina


Time is flying....

 Seems like my blog has become a little neglected again, this doesn't mean a lack of crafting though. Progress has been achieved on most...