Saturday 27 June 2015

a day of retail bliss!

For my birthday that we don't like to mention, the girls at work gave me a gift voucher for Patch and quilt in Gisborne. This was an amazing gift that I was looking forward to using!
Elyte had mentioned a trip to Patch and quilt to attend the book signing for Irene Blanck's wonderful book of patterns published by quiltmania. I hit the road with Thelma and Louise (aka Anne and Elyte) and we headed off to Gisborne. Now a visit to Gisborne would not be complete without a visit with the Gisborne girls so we met up for Coffee then headed off for some retail therapy and to see Mary and Irene.
Of course we had a fantastic and frivolous time and I even made a new friend. Wonderful isn't it?
would you like to see my goodies....
I have been inspired to add to my blues stash, some gorgeous fabrics and some wonderful inspiration in Irene's book. There are quite a few of the projects that are on my new to do list, now that I am such a fan of needleturn applique. I also booked in for a class with Irene for August-so exciting.
Can you tell that there was some laughing involved?
 Here's a pic of my companions for the day.....don't they look so demure and lovely?
 Well not always.....they can be silly and lovely. and you knew I would post it didn't you?
the silly girls are ... tania oops meant tracee, marg, tania, anne and elyte at the back

thankyou girls for a wonderful, fun and inspiring day!!  Sorry I didn't share


Now to share some quilting because some of you asked for it....
Nearly finished this edge border, My stitches are getting a bit neater. Another border to quilt and then it will be on with the binding. I can't wait but I know there will be a few more weeks to go.


Hope you all have a wonderful crafty weekend. I hope to make a start on my latest baltimore block.I am way behind well according to my agenda anyway.
Happy days!
cheers
marina



















Monday 22 June 2015

some pretty pictures..

Nothing much happening here, quilting is filling most of the crafting time I get. 
I am working on the end panels of my Park Avenue quilt. I am quilting a lattice design and I am liking the effect.
I had quilted around the wool applique but decided to unquilt it as there were too many uneven and puckered parts. 
As I wasn't well I didn't stay at applique class last week, just popped in long enough to pick up the pattern and any tips that might help. I still haven't started mine as I can't seem to find my bias maker. I'll get to it this week hopefully. In the meantime I have some pics of the rest of Mum's Once upon a time blocks and her baltimore blocks. She has gone great guns with her recent block. I think she is going to leave me for dead this month.
block for June
 

the lovely princess...
the frog prince and regal accessories.. There are two of each block.
Won't be long and mum will be sewing them together.
Hopefully next post there will be some progress on one of my projects...
have a great week
Marina

Sunday 14 June 2015

popping in

It's a beautiful sunny day in Melbourne this morning and I have had a rotten cold this past week which has seriously curbed my enthusiasm for most activities, including sewing.
It's been a lovely two weeks at home, besides the cold, and back to work tomorrow.
Yesterday was a day I was hanging out for, a great day spent at a sew-in with Sunbury quilt group.
Anne, Robyn, Elyte, Tania, Marg and Sue were there and we had a back up Marina as well (another Marina from Gisborne) another new friend too, Gabbi. Funnily Marina and I seem to sit together when we have been at sewing things. Can make for interesting conversations when someone calls our name or when we talk about each other as it sounds like we are talking about ourselves in the third person.
Sue was taking some incriminating pics , I was busy stitching (for some of the time) but I am a little worried about some of the photos that may turn up lol. There may have been some silliness.
It was lovely to have a laughing day with the girls thanks for the great day out!
I have some lovely pics of some gorgeous gifts that have made their way to my place and to the sew in yesterday. I wouldn't even mention the occasion but I do want to acknowledge the lovely gifts so I have to put it out there.  
 this parcel of lovelies arrived from Els in the Netherlands. Those fabrics are going to make some gorgeous Sweet William baskets... and the little dolly is an 'upside down doll' so cute.
 this loveliness arrived from Fiona (bubz rugz) Such beautiful stitches! I have always wanted to stitch this design. No need now I have a beautiful one of my own!
 A gorgeus pincushion from Robyn very regal don't you think (and so appropriate) and a very pretty charm pack from Elyte, my mind is already swirling with options for using this!
 Straight to the pincushion shelf for this treasure!
 thought I would share these as they have a sewing theme, from my wonderful SIL.
And the reason for all these gifties, you might have guessed...

 This morning our no 3 son insisted we come out and look at his car, this is his baby and he is slowly doing things to it to improve it (and sap money). It is a lovely old Panel van from the '70's. It can only be driven in fine weather as he doesn't want it to get wet and it has to be garaged so it isn't in the weather. What a princess!
Well we had to come out immediately to look at the tyre rims. Well aren't they amazing (yeah whatever)!
I told him I must take a photo and blog about it it's so amazing as I am sure my crafty friends would be dying to see it........(please insert sarcasm here)
Just had to share the excitement and joy with you girls.

It's so amazing it deserves a close up...

There you are motherly caring and sharing done for me now..
Now will share just one more pic... Had to have a play with Sweet William blocks just to get an idea of how it was looking. It will need to be a bit bigger but I just need to work out how much bigger. I might even make the blocks all facing the one way? Another option.  It's so exciting to see them together. Won't be long and I will get to making the extra baskets. In the meantime there is still some quilting to do...and a quilt to bind and wips that need attention, ufo's to work on etc etc etc... I know you all understand...

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday
cheers
Marina

Friday 5 June 2015

sweet obsession and quilting

I have been obsessed with working on my sweet william blocks and loving it..
Here are my latest blocks. I only have one left to applique and then I will need to decide how much longer to continue this love affair. Whether to stop it at 20 or keep going.
I don't really want a huge quilt just a lap size quilt would do, so I have some thinking to do.

 This block wasn't included in the patterns but was one of the blocks that was on the original 1800's quilt.
I managed to draw it freehand and make it up. I was happy to try to incorporate some of the original blocks that weren't used in the modern pattern.
 the original quilt had a block with pomegranates on it so with some help from the internet I found a design that had pomegranates that transferred well to my basket
 I really enjoyed this block, a chance to use my favourite purples and some special green fabrics too.
 This has to be one of my favourites....
It looks a little wonky in the photo but it is a little more even in real life. Loving it!

Now that these are done I thought I should get back to my Park Avenue hexies quilt.
I thought I was only half way through the quilting but to my surprise I had actually quilted three quarters of the quilt. Woo hoo bonus!! I am feeling quite enthused and keen to get this done.
the quilting is a little over the shop and I foolishly backed it in a red fabric that is very unforgiving with my uneven stitches but at least it looks acceptable on the front, I just won't show anyone the back.
It's been wonderful to snuggle under this especially seeing as the weather has turned quite cold at night.
Here's to a great weekend!
hope you all have a good one too.
I'm off to snuggle some more and quilt my little fingers off.
happy days
Marina

Monday 1 June 2015

baltimore block 3

Block 3 is done and dusted. The top of the vase sits a lot better in real life so I don't think I will unstitch and redo. Other than that I am quite happy with it.
 Another sweet william block done too....Only five of this batch to go!
Then I will need to decide if I want to go as big as the pattern as that will mean another 19 blocks to be made. A smaller version would definitely be more practical but I will wait and see....
All part of the fun.
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...