Friday 28 December 2012

finding time to sew..

Christmas is over and it went smoothly and was very low stress, just as I had hoped!
Now it's time to find some sewing inspiration. A work colleague is retiring next year and I wanted to make her a throw quilt as a farewell gift. We have worked together for 12 years and she has been at the school for over 27 years. Not a bad effort I think. My mind was ticking over, I love having to think of a new project.
She admired my Down in the garden quilt and commented how much she liked the fabrics so seeing as there is heaps leftover the fabric choice was easy. Now for a design. I ordered some more of the white on white fabric from the sunkissed range from ebay so that's the next step done-I have enough fabric to make a stitchery and plate backings. I am thinking of using the centre stitchery from down in the garden for the centre of the quilt. For the surrounding blocks I thought some dresden plates might do the trick so I pulled out fabrics to have a go at making one.
I made a trial one from my red and cream stash and it turned out well, very encouraging! (oops is that a new ufo now?)
then onto the 'real' one..
didn't turn out as well as the first one but a little snip and press and it was sitting ok. I like these fabrics even more as a dresden plate!

Yesterday I spent a stitching afternoon with some stitchy friends Elyte, Annie, Anne, Robyn and Jo. It was a great afternoon chatting, sewing and of course eating and I felt very inspired when I got home and I made another plate and ironed on the heads and arms for my third dolly border that I finished appliqueing the dresses for at our crafty catch up. I so need some inspiration to get moving on my swan lake project.
now there are two....


Another reason for the visit with Elyte and the girls was to collect my prize from one of the Bluegum Quilters raffles that I had won. The raffle was to guess how many yo yo's there were in a jar. Guess what the prize was?
The yo yo's!!
Do you think I have enough yo yo's?
My original guesses were in the box. The girls were quite helpful thinking of projects that I could use them for. Thanks girls. I thought I would collect them already stitched into a quilt? Isn't that what friends are for?

It has been lovely seeing all the Christmas gifts that have been sent and received, lots of ideas for next year! Maybe I will be able to maintain the momentum for the 1 christmas item per month with Narelle.
Roll on 2013 I feel I am suitably inspired to finish some ufo's and make some progress on my WISPS, maybe throw in some random projects too just for fun.
Must make a list!
Have a great day
Marina

25 comments:

  1. I think that you are onto a winner with those dresdens, they look gorgeous. Although I am partial to the red and white the others will look beautiful all sewn together into a quilt. I was tempted to sew together those yoyo's but couldn't deprive you of the creative enjoyment and pleasure. What are friends for?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Those Dresden plates are gorgeous... all of them. I'm looking foreward to seeing the quilt come together. What are you going to do with the new ufo... it's way to pretty to hide away.
    That is a lot of yo yo's you have their girl.... good luck with them.. and the resolution list ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congratulations on the win and I love your Dresden plate blocks. I have one that needs to go on to a centre block with lots of 6.5" blocks around it... yes I am Just Plain Nuts. Have a great New Year

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such an inspiring post. Maybe I should make some crafty resolutions too. The dresdens are pretty in both colourways....your friend must be very special.

    ReplyDelete
  5. both dresdens are very pretty.
    that is a lot of yo yos.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hello Marina,

    Love the project your are making for your work friend. Had to smile at you winning the yo-yo's. Have fun thinking up different projects.

    Happy days.
    Bev.xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love both the red and the sunkissed dresden plates. It's hard to choose which one I like best!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oooh I'm liking the Dresdans...in both colourways...huh what's with the yo-yo's coming in a box like that, certainly coming as a finished quilt was not an unreasonable expectation! *LOL* have fun playing with them into a project...enjoy the rest of your week...

    ReplyDelete
  9. wow marina those dresden plates look fantastic,i love both colourways.What fun to be stitching with your lovely friends and congrats on your lovely win,yep i thought the girls could've handed them over as a quilt too,lol.,enjoy your day.xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your dresdens are looking lovely - what a thoughtful gift for a friend it will be. I must join the 1 Christmas item per month this year - it seems like a great way to go!! I'm looking forward to see your yo-yo creations - what a fun prize!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The dresden plates look lovely in those pretty colours, oh the red one is very nice too.
    Gorgeous dollies coming together nicely.
    Enjoy the yoyo's.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love a pretty Dresden plate. Yours are lovely. Congrats on the win.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your dresden plates are beautiful Marina, I love both colours. And the dolly border is lovely. Hmm, I wonder what you will make with all those yo yos? I am inspired by you to make a Christmas item a month next year!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Those plates are just lovely Marina.....gorgeous fabric...

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have been busy, and what a great idea for a retirement gift. The yoyos will keep you occupied trying to think up projects for them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You have been busy, and what a great idea for a retirement gift. The yoyos will keep you occupied trying to think up projects for them.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your Dresdens - something i'd love to do someday - better add it to the list then!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Marina
    What a great win... but what on earth will you do with the yo-yos?!
    The dresdens are so pretty, I'm sure your departing colleague will be thrilled with your gift to her. Will we see pics of it?
    x

    ReplyDelete
  19. oh marina those dresdens are so lovely and I think your idea for the quilt for your friend is just great... are you sure she wouldn;t like some yoyo's in it... how funny!!! dollies are coming on now.. does this mean you have just shown us 3 UFO's???
    Hugz

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sounds like the perfect little get together and enjoy playing with your yo-yos.
    Gorgeous dresden plates ... I'm yet to try making those.
    Happy sewing!

    ReplyDelete
  21. So many lovely yo-yos and I love those dresden plate blocks. The red one is my favourite as I love the fabrics and colours. Also love the idea you have for your work friend. It is such a lovely happy range of fabric you are using too.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love the red dresdenplate. The YoYo's what are you going to do with it? I'm curious.

    I hope for you that you can make every month one Christmas Item.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The dresdens are lovely. That will be a wonderful gift.
    Well done with the yo-yos. They will great to use in a project.

    ReplyDelete
  24. The dresdens are so lovely and the quilt for your friend will be so pretty. I had a year or so of making 1 Christmas item per month - works a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The dresden plates are beautiful Marina. I can't wait to see this quilt... hope you keep showing pics of it's progress. Have fun with those yoyo's

    ReplyDelete

What is new....

 Now that a few projects have been completed and delegated to different quilters I can share my new projects. It was not easy finding the in...