Saturday 24 August 2013

happy sewing....

It's been a little while since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been stitching away. I have still been visiting blogland regularly just been negligent in posting.
Now what have I been up to you may ask? Of course you may ask...
On Friday I put the last stitches in my final Once upon a time block. I started this project in September 2012 and have managed to get it done in the 12 month period.
Last night I got out my trusty Janome and we worked till late at night to get it together. Some early morning sewing while the princess' were still in their beds and ta da.......
 I'll apologise now for all the photos...
 watch out for the mandatory stray thread, I spent ages trimming and picking them  up and one still got through.









Now I am hoping the quilt police don't visit to check my piecing but it was a random putting together and the effect is just how I wanted it to be. Bright, happy and scrappy.
there you have it, I just love it..... 'Once upon a time' by Smee Designs...
but wait there's more....
the second border has been finished for my Swan Lake quilt...

and the last little finish....
The August block for Sweet Stitches..... by Kathy Schmitz
(for the eagle eyed there is a small line next to the 'w' that wasn't stitched when I took this photo but has been fixed before I basted the block for quilting)

This block almost didn't get done as I had stitched half of it in a very dark navy and it looked hideous. I was ready to throw it out but luckily sought advice and took it once given. The advice was to try a lighter colour. I bought a lovely greyish blue in a cosmo and unpicked all the dark stitching and started over.
It was perfect and matched my blue for the border exactly. I am going to enjoy hanging this mini in winter.
Much happier thanks...
The background fabric is a white on white with a snowflake pattern. It has been in my stash for ages and was perfect for this block.
Now to quilt July's and August's blocks. They are basted and ready to go...

Have a great weekend!
cheers
marina



38 comments:

  1. It looks great Marina! No problems with quilt police surely!

    Your snowman is trying to make me think about Christmas - but I can't do that yet....

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  2. Congratulations on you Once Upon a Time quilt. I love the happy, scrappy combinations you used.......now you need a grand child!
    Swan Lake is looking as beautiful as ever. I think you made the right choice for your snow man, it's a very nice shade of blue thread.

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  3. Wow....and another great big wow....your project are amazing....

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  4. Marina you have been very busy love them all but my favourite is the once upon a time quilt its gorgeous well done on such beautiful work.xx

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  5. such a lot of stitching you have been doing... I just love your once upon a time and the scrappy fabrics are perfect ... too sweet .. and well done for the next border done... it is going so well... I do love your snowman block and so glad it wasn't binned ...
    Of course I had to hunt for the line you hadn't sewn ... I still find stray threads on some of the quilts I am using ... tut tut...
    Hugz

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  6. Well you may have been quiet(at least on blogger) but you have certainly been busy. Love the quilt.

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  7. Those stitching fingers sure have been busy. Amazing Once Upon a Time quilt, love the happy scrappy brings out all the gorgeous details of your stitches.
    The Snow man is perfect. Love those colours in the border.
    Enjoy your border ladies.

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  8. Love it all Marina...little frosty is so cute xx

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  9. WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!

    I adore it all. You certainly have been busy and everything is just wonderful. Your stitching is just perfect.

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  10. Your once upon a time is fabulous! It's the most fun quilt ever.... wow! That snowman is so cute too. I'm not scared to think of Christmas.... I'm terrified! ;o) All of your monthly blocks are beautiful... been checking them out. As for Swan Lake... what can I say... I want it!!

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  11. Oh WOW !!!!!! Your "Once Upon a Time " quilt is gorgeous..... Well worth all the work you put in..
    Swan Lake is coming along beautifully..
    And I love your Snowman block...
    You have been busy.

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  12. As usual, beautiful stitching and use of color!

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  13. Your quilt has come together beautifully. Love the fabrics you have used with all those gorgeous blocks. Love the other projects too and that snowman stitchery is stunning.

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  14. Oh MY! that's one of the nicest quilts I've seen. And your workmanship looks fantastic to me! Great Job !!! :)

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  15. I love it too Marina! It looks fantastic. So is your Swan Lake quilt. Your snowman is just gorgeous.

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  16. Oh Marina you have been a busy girl, your "Once Upon a Time" quilt is wonderful, congratulations.
    Swan Lake is progressing beautifully, and the little Snowman is gorgeous.
    Hugs R.

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  17. Your 'Once Upon A Time' is amazing!
    Well done on a fantastic finish and some great progress too.
    You've been very busy :o)

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  18. Love the Once Upon a Time - especially that glamorous frog with the rose!! The Quilt police can go sit on themselves the quilt looks stunning! Love the snowman stitchery too, your work is beautiful.
    xx

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  19. what al lovely stitchery pattern Marina.

    Swan Lake Quilt, how big will these Quilt be?

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  20. Love the Once upon a Time quilt and your mini is gorgeous. Glad that you kept going and you sure have been busy.

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  21. Wow so much show and tell...absolutely loving your Once Upon A Time, the colours and fabrics are fabulous, so fun...so much work in Swan Lake, well done on being two borders down...the little snowman is so cute, such a lovely blue...

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  22. Hello Marina,

    Oh my goodness, you have been busy. Stitching, stitching and more stitching. I love them all, you certainly have some wonderful projects on the go. Who are the quilt police??? Women who have nothing better to do!

    Have a great week Marina.
    Bev.

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  23. You have been busy. I love love love your once upon a time, and your Swan lake is coming along beautifully.

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  24. Oh wow Marina! Your quilt is just stunning, the border works so beautifully with it and the colours are so lovely. Your swan lake and little snowman are gorgeous too. You have been busy!!

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  25. Once Upon a Time looks fabulous, cheery and bright. Having watched the stitching of each block it looks very familiar, and I have felt part of the journey, without the work! Good to see the progress on the Swan Lake quilt. Is the motivation still there?

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  26. Your Once Upon A Time quilt is brilliant. It looks great. Very much worth all the time and effort put into it.
    Love seeing the borders growing on the Swan Lake quilt, too. So good!
    And of course the stitchery is great!

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  27. Beautiful work as always Marina. I love your finished'Once upon a Time' and the Swan Lake border.Lots of pretty stitching.

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  28. Just wonderful Marina , your stitching is gorgeous , you should be so proud! I love the snowman too ,you have been very busy and accomplished a lot , wonderful !

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  29. Your stitching looks fabulous and the mini block is sensational. What a marathon effort to finish the Once upon a Time quilt, you must feel so happy with it. Well done!

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  30. Hi Marina, GORGEOUS stitching. I love all your projects, really lovely. I adore your Kathy Schmitz stitcheries (I love all her work). Your stitching is really beautiful. You have been busy!! xx

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  31. Love your "Once Upon A Time" quilt Marina.

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  32. Once Upon A Time is so lovely Marina. And Swan Lake! Love that quilt. Another beautiful stitchery.

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  33. Absolutely love your once upon a time quilt Marina, so bright and happy an your stitching is fabulous.

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  34. congrats on your finished top. I just love it.
    You have been keeping busy with your other great projects too. well done.

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  35. Wow, you've been busy!
    Wonderful quilts and the snowman stitching is so lovely!

    Hugs,
    Tatyana

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  36. Hello Marina, I enjoyed reading your post...love the scrappy borders on the Once Upon a Time Quilt.... a lovely choice of colour for the snowman...hugs lyn

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