Wednesday 24 August 2011

block one, down in the garden

Block one complete! One major boo boo, I cut the piece with the daisiy chain too much on one side. I can live with it....for now.I have swapped a hexie flower for the dresden plate and left out a couple of the extra stitcheries. My fabric is busy enough I think for it not to matter.

I have completed my first stitchery from Michelle's pattern. I  have traced another two. I am toying with making them into smaller table mats for my great nieces to put cookies out for Santa. That way I can spread the love around. I started it at craft group on Saturday and it has been fun working on it this week.
I also did some unpicking last night. I had to get to 'pleats' out of my Butterfly hexie garden borders. Don't know how they got there but two did and they had to go!
I visited a site that had the worst quilts on display. Some of them were quite hideous. Some were judged on lack of quilting skills and they were terrible. The commentaries are quite funny and tongue in cheek. It made me think of my Sweet Nostalgia quilt. I got to the last block to machine stitch around and I developed a nasty puckery bubble, if you get what I mean. I nearly cried. After seeing the terrible bubbling on the winners of the 'world's worst quilts' I unpicked the quilting all around the error and smoothed it out and pinned ready to quilt it again. I know I just wouldn't have been able to let it go. It is my first go at machine quilting on something so big and I am moderately happy but I just couldn't live with 'punch in the eye'  unhappy when I know I could fix it. I may even get my quota of hand quilting done for the week. Three blocks is my target.....
Tonight I will need to work on my Christmas finish for the month.. Last night I trimmed my second lot of Tis the season blocks and cut fabrics for the borders. Hopefully I will get some sewing machine time tonight.
I leave you with some orchids from my garden. Surprisingly one of them produced five spikes. I was ecstatic when I found them. The doily underneath was my grandmothers made by my mum. I just love it.  It's so special to me.

Have a great week......
cheers
Marina

14 comments:

  1. Marina your stitching is just perfect...and how lovely are your orchids....wow to the doily....

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  2. Down in the Garden is just lovely lovely.... so much to look at and so pretty... it is going to be fantastic....
    and I do like that redwork stitchery - so much detail.. they will be lovely as mats. So the unpicking has begun... best you do it if you are not happy and I don't think any of your quilts would make the worst quilt show at all... I once saw a woman with a paper bag over her head so she wouldn't be seen with hers!! Oh golly... it's time for the Christmas goodies.. time flies. the orchids are lovely.. always so perfect.. and the doily is so pretty... you share the same talents as your mum... Phew... now I need a cuppa and snack...
    Hugz

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  3. I LOVE the colours in your garden quilt. It has just the right touch of busyness too. And the orchids! From your garden! I think orchids really are my favourite flower. They are just so delicate looking.

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  4. I really love your 'down in the garden' it's such a happy quilt.
    I've seen those little gingers somewhere before..teehee! I love the Cookie mat idea!
    Aren't your orchids something! Your beautiful crocheted table centre really sets them off.
    Michelle xx

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  5. Oh, I am so jealous that you finished your first block. I love it!! You did a fantastic job.

    Lots of great eye candy going on here today. Love it all!

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  6. Great work. Love the christmas stitchery where did you get it from??

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  7. That stitchery is just beautiful Marina, your work always amazes and impresses me.

    I know exactly what you mean about puckering on the back of a quilt though...hence my having to unpick all my work of last Thursday. I haven't been able to face it since....will attempt quilting it again tomorrow.

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  8. What is that top quilt pattern? It looks like something I would love!

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  9. Hi Marina,
    Your block is gorgeous and your Christmas stitchery just lovely. I'm glad you unpicked the quilt and requilted it.. it would have annoyed you forever if you hadn't. Love the orchids. I just bought my Mum an orchid covered in resin and made into a necklace. It's beautiful. The colours are still so true. There's something just so magic about an orchid. The doiley is beautiful too. Take care xx

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  10. Gorgeous! the garden inside is perfect, your blocks are coming along nicely. Love the red work stitching on the stocking picture.
    Keep the inspiration coming.

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  11. Hello Marina,

    A truly lovely post. Maybe you could embroider a ladybug or two climbing up the flowers to even it up. Good luck with your hand and machine quilting.
    Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

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  12. Hi Marina, I love your "Down in the Garden" block, is it really just one block? How many blocks for the quilt?

    Your Christmas stitchery is so cute. Good for you to unpick the quilt and do it again. The doiley is gorgeous, very special.

    Happy stitching

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  13. OOOO!! so pretty! all your blocks and your orchids. I have never seen any like that before.

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  14. Your garden block is perfect for this lovely spring weather that we have been having. You are getting so much done at the moment, even with a set back or two!
    There is a Quilts in the Barn exhibition in Wonga Park next week end. The theme is Jo Morton this year and it is always a lovely day. The Quilted Crow girls from Tassie will be there as well with their goodies to sell.

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