Wednesday 1 October 2014

what a day

Yesterday I got to entertain the wonderful city girls at my home. We had a great time spent chatting, eating and laughing with a bit of retail therapy thrown in for good measure. What more could you ask for?
I got some tips for my needleturn applique and after confusing Elyte, I tried to help her with some stitching.
Funny how when you do something without thinking it can be so hard to show someone else how to do it.
I took the girls to Jemima's patchwork shop, a shop run from home in Craigieburn. Can you believe that none of them had ever been before.....Some silly person didn't check their Tuesday opening hours and when we arrived the shop wasn't officially open but Shirley and Veronica were very accomodating and the girls and I got to do some spending. It's a great shop and has a wide variety of fabrics, something for everyone really.
I did notice that there was a big assortment of batiks that had multiplied since my last visit. I have found a fondness for them since making my aussie flag quilt. 
I'm afraid I didn't take pics of our get together I was too busy making cups of tea, stitching and chatting. Elyte was official photographer of the day so hopefully she will post pics soon.
the girls all commented that our get together was a therapy session, how appropriate that they come to the asylum...
thanks girls for a wonderful day!

It hasn't been all laughing and cups of tea all the time here...
The signature quilt is complete!! I finished stitching the binding and sleeve down this morning.
Hooray!
not a bad effort - started on the 12/9/14 completed on the 1/10/14. I think this is almost a personal best. I think it will come close to my aussie flag quilt.
hand quilted with crochet cotton( to speed up the process a little bit.)

 the left overs pieced into the back,
 I was very happy with how neat the quilting turned out, not many zig zaggy stitches on the back either. Wish I could channel that  permanently.

My third sweet William applique got done too.
I am using scraps from my flowers where I can. These are favourite scraps from a quilt I made some time ago. I have held onto them for ages, nice for them to resurface. I have cut out the two baskets for block 2 and 3. Hopefully they will get done soon.

...But a new project has taken priority... I forgot that I had promised to make a baby quilt for a friend who is about to become a grandmother for the third time. 
I picked up some fabrics from Jemima's yesterday to go with the stitcheries I have selected.
Was going great guns with the first stitchery when I ran out of thread. Typical!
Off to get some this afternoon so it doesn't hold up proceedings.
Will show you my fabrics and hopefully a finished stitchery next post.
Happy days!
Marina


19 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great fun time with your peeps :) I love the quilt that you made so quickly. Bright happy colours!

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  2. Sounds like a wonderful time was had. I've never been to Jemima's either! The one time I did go with a friend, she had forgotten they were closed that day! Although the girls have come to our NOTYQ Show. The quilt looks great, Marina. Your flower is very pretty too.

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  3. You do amazing work Marina, the hand quilting looks great on that very special Quilt.
    Your Sweet William blocks look beautiful too.
    Glad you enjoyed the day with the girls.
    Cheers R.

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  4. you are a machine!!!! the signature quilt is an outstanding job.... I really love it ... and lovely little blocks coming along.... I agree that days like that are definitely therapy days..... I await Elyte's pictures!!! we better make sure the place is open whereever we meet!!! haha
    Hugz

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  5. Hi Marina ,i can imagine how much fun you city girls got up to,lol,cant wait to see some pics.Wow i love the quilt,Julie will be tickled pink and your block looks awesome,hope you are having a wonderful day my friend.xx

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  6. Sweet William is looking very good. I think you have secretly done needleturn before!

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  7. You have worked magic on that signature quilt. It looks fantastic, and the quilting you chose is just right for it. I'm sure you girls had a lovely day together, and so lucky to be able to shop together too.

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  8. The signature quilt looks great such a special gift. The needle turn is looking great too.

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  9. That signature quilt is just lovely. Looks like you are having a wonderful holiday.

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  10. Well done of the PB, the signature quilt looks great...fun day with the city girls...oh yes, one thing to do, quite another thing to teach and have to consciously think about not just what you are doing but the how and why instead of auto-piloting!...Sweet William is moving along, are you aiming for a new PB???

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  11. Sounds like you and the city girls had the best time!!! I love your signature quilt. It looks fantastic. The sweet William appliqué is gorgeous!!! Well done xx

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  12. Sounds like a perfect day with friends.
    Well done on a great finish with the signature quilt. It is lovely.
    And the needle turn blocks are growing very nicely.

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  13. The quilt is so lovely ..I love it so much
    Have fun and enjoy xx

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  14. Thanks Marina, we really enjoyed our day. Very impressed with the signature quilt. Looks wonderful all bound and ready to go to its new home. I will really enjoy watching your Sweet William project grow. Thanks for your help with the stitching, I think that there is hope. I think that I will try the size 8 needles too.

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  15. By all accounts...it sounds like a perfect day...fun & friends. Your quilt is wonderful as too those stitcheries...

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  16. The signature quilt is such a stunning finish Marina, well done!
    Lovely stitching for Sweet William too, are you keeping tabs on Josie's progress? or just shaming her???! ha ha x

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  17. Love the signature quilt. Glad you had a great day with friends. Hugs.....

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  18. Well done on completing that quilt so quickly - it looks amazing. And what a fun day it sounds like you had.xx

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  19. Well done on the speedy finish - it looks great, very cheerful. And inspired idea with the quilting! I'm sure it was well recieved.

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