maisie and the boys

motivational chocolate

2012-02-12T22:07:00.000+11:00

a good friend suggested the power of chocolate to help rejuvenate a lagging mojo, so with a Chokito and peppermint Crisp in hand I took the medicine prescribed by Dr Narelle and I was off and running!
I wanted to finish the binding on the flower garden quilt and big tick, it got done. I had a 'flower' sent to me by a fellow blogger and have always wanted to find a use for it- a pillow, a table topper..... I stitched it to the back of the garden quilt and it looks quite at home.

A happy ending!
While I was picking up the quilt on Friday I wanted to check out Jemima's range of cosmo threads. A lovely variegated cotton jumped out at me, oh no another distraction appeared....

Yesterday I had great fun cutting out the rest of my dollies for Swan Lake and started to cut the stars, 21 down. There will be 80 something in total so there are a lot to go. To give me a little incentive I had a play around with placing the pieces on the border fabric. I was a little unsure how all the fabric would look but I think I am quite satisfied with how it will look. It is only a rough placement but gives me an idea at least.

So I think next weekend I better stock up on some more choccies and watch out!

I have also been pottering with my christmas items, who knows I may even get something finished.... Only sneek peeks though as they may be swap goodies.

Hope you have had an inspiring weekend too....

cheers

Marina

end of the week...

2012-02-10T16:40:00.000+11:00

thankyou to those that left suggestions on how to fix the issue with not being able to comment. I have followed your instructions and have not had as much trouble as before.

Seems that there hasn't been much crafting going on here, just been shuffling the Penski file as I have been too pooped to stitch!

Last night I did play with my swan lake fabrics to get going on some more hexie flowers- I only need to make about 90 more.

This is the flower garden that I adopted from Niki in the UK last year.

Last year it was taken to Jemimas', my local quiltshop to be quilted. They have done a super job. I was just amazed at how different the quilt looks after it has been quilted. The photo doesn't do it justice.

It looks like it has had a fresh makeover.

now quilted....

now onto the binding.

Today I visited Ingrid's (Supergoof) blog and was so inspired by the progress she has made on her Swan Lake quilt. I have cut enough hexies to make 10 flowers and once I can get some more Vliesofix I will get cracking on cutting some more dollies. Still haven't plucked up the courage to cut the back ground pieces yet. I am such a coward.

I have been trying to find out what threads would give me the best effect with the blanket stitch applique for my dollies and have decided to give silk threads a go.

That is once all my dollies are cut out and ready to go.

For the centre I am going to give broderie perse a go. This morning I put the pieces on the background that I will use for the centre panel., just to get a little inspiration of my own. Looks a little sparse but the focus of the quilt is the borders not the centre-or so the pattern says.

Hope you find some time for crafting, I will desperately be seeking it!

cheers

Marina

commenting issues?

2012-02-10T08:44:00.002+11:00

Just wondering if anyone else is having issues commenting on blogs that require verification? I have tried to comment on several blogs today and when I have to enter the word verification the same word appears and when I enter the word it tells me that I have entered it incorrectly but shows the same word to re enter.
Commenting on blogs that don't have the word verification is fine but there is an issue with entering the word verification. Very frustrating!
Blogger help wasn't much help.....
Any suggestions?
marina

January round up....

2012-01-31T08:09:00.001+11:00

It's the last day of January so I thought it is time to double check my 'to do' list for this month and see how well (or poorly) I have kept on track.
my list included
a christmas item- fail, though I did prepare a pile of stitcheries to make throughout the year and I also signed up for a Christmas swap, Will that count?

Block 5 Down in the garden
Well I am nearly half way through. I started off by stitching the same thing all way round, eg the centres of the flowers and it felt is wasn't progressing at all so I decided to start in a corner and work my way around. I feel it is growing much quicker.

Next on the list was my Swan Lake quilt....
I have a total of 26 dollies cut out ready to applique and have made 14 hexagon flowers. Just need to pluck up the courage to cut in to the 9 metres of backing fabric.... Maybe next holidays, in the meantime I will have to set some targets for some more dollies and flowers.

Jack and Jill was a big tick off my list as it was hand quilted and delivered to a very grateful recipient.

Lastly on my list was to make up the cross stitch kits I received for christmas.

Got a little excited there and have made 5 pincushions.

I had an issue with my first two when stitching up the 'stuffing hole' and Lisa (at the Quiltery) suggested that I put a seam in the back fabric of the pincushion so I gave it a try and they have a nicer shape. I also managed to hide the seam with a piece of trimming. Thanks for your tip Lisa.

There was also an unplanned January project..... Appliqueing and quilting this wall hanging for No 1 son to hang in his class room. Mum pieced the top and it looks pretty snazzy. He is very happy with his hanging and I am relieved it is done.

Well there are quite a few pics there and I am happy with my list of finishes.
Not everything was achieved but there were those little distractions thrown in.
It all comes out in the wash...
Now to make a list for February!
Happy stitching
Marina

easily distracted?

2012-01-23T13:15:00.000+11:00

It seems like the above is true or maybe it's just that commitments to others that sidetrack me from what I have on my own agenda. I do confess that I sidetrack myself too...

I have completely finished this Jack and Jill quilt for a work colleague.

Here is a close up of the hand quilting.

Another friend decided it would be a good idea for me to personalize these little gifts for a set of twins that have arrived.

This is part of a hanging that will be for No 1 son's classroom. It is his first year teaching and he has been frantically cutting, colouring and laminating to prepare things to set up his class.
It is a bit of a family effort... My aunt sent this from America for me to do it, but Mum thankfully is doing the piecing and I am doing the applique and quilting.

It will have pieced books, and book shelves on either side.

Then there was this distraction.... I just had to cross stitch these in variegated threads. They may go into the Christmas basket. They are so quick and pretty to stitch. .I have made one for myself already and I think they would make nice gifts for crafty friends.
After all I can't keep everything I make?

Now back to what I was meant to be doing? Probably not...
Happy stitching...
Marina

day out in town...

2012-01-20T16:49:00.000+11:00

Today I realised that the holidays are quickly drawing to a close, with only a few more days to go! So sad...
I have been madly quilting Jack and Jill and managed to finish all the hand quilting. The binding is pinned, just waiting to be sewn.
A visit was made to spotlight earlier in the week and I found some more linen to do my new cross stitch pattern from Simone. I couldn't find the lovely vintage looking ones that she supplies with her patterns so had a go at tea dyeing my own piece using Russian Caravan tea. It turned out quite nice I think so there will be some more tea brewing happening very soon.
I was determined that I wanted some of the natural linen and thought L'Uccello in Melbourne would have it for sure. Unfortunately they didn't (but she is getting some in) but I was given an address for Morris & Sons in Collins street. It is an amazing shop with wools, cottons, tapestries, knitting needles and crochet hooks. Amazing shop.
I found my Irish Linen that I was looking for so I was very happy. The service was great. The young guy who served me didn't want to cut the linen crooked so he pulled a thread so that he would be cutting it accurately and I would be getting the correct size piece. Talk about service, very pleasant too.
Don't worry I didn't walk out of L'Uccello empty handed either. I found some beautiful shell buttons I was needing and some Czech glass ones I just wanted! Some trims and ribbons and I was done. I won't be waiting as long to visit as I saw there are a few other goodies that I 'need'.

even the way your goodies are wrapped is lovely

Love this embroidered ribbon.

Happy Stitching!
Marina

Lazy Sunday afternoon...

2012-01-15T16:43:00.001+11:00

The weather has decided to warm a little today. Looks like Summer will be coming after all! I would settle quite happily for the cooler weather we have been having.
I got to spend some time stitching yesterday while looking after my Dad so that Mum got to escape for the day and go on a road trip with her sister. Mum is always worried about leaving me in charge as she knows I will rearrange or put things away in places that will take her ages to find . As far as I'm concerned I put them in logical places that should make them very easy to retrieve. That's my defence and I am sticking to it!
Here is the progress I made....

Both these projects are pretty slow going. I doubt my Down in the garden block will be done by the end of the month. Soooo much stitching. Now I can imaging how the Vignette in Stitches group feel with all the stitching they have to do for their blocks!
I so want to play with my dancing dollies but I have made the start I wanted to for the month so they have to wait till next month to come out and play.
I also need to think about a Christmas item! Boy, a girls work is never done!

All the patterns were posted on Friday so watch out girls for the mailman/woman.
Still waiting for Karen to let me know her address. I will wait a few more days and if I still don't hear, will draw another name.

Happy stitching!
Marina

Cross stitch can be enjoyable

2012-01-11T20:43:00.000+11:00

Holidays are the best for crafting and I am taking full advantage of the free time.
I have finished not one but both of my little cross stitch pincushions. I have really enjoyed stitching them and have even ordered another one from Simone . I chose to have it emailed and at roughly $4.00 was a great price. The linen was a little tricky but I mastered it in the end but not before having to unpick half my border on the little vase one as by the time I returned to the start I discovered I was out by 1 thread!! I fudged it and thought nobody but me will ever notice it- famous last words. That was the problem-every time I looked at it saw the mistake. I traced back to try to find the error but didn't until I was going back doing the crosses. Well I had to unpick half of it and do it properly. Now it looks perfect (in my eyes anyway). My cushion making skills are another issue but practise will make perfect.
The fabric on the bird lady cushion is one I swapped for the kit fabric as I have a purpose in mind for this one and this fabric suits much better. (The trimming on the vase one has since been glued on and the buttons are a little personal addition.)

thankyou so much Els (and Simone) for helping me rediscover my enjoyment of cross stitch with these patterns. I will be off to spotlight this week to buy the cloth to continue with these little projects.
thanks to everyone who offered a home to my neglected patterns-Just waiting for Karen to make contact.
Happy stitching
Marina

the new homes are .....

2012-01-11T08:23:00.004+11:00

I think all the offers that are going to come in have, so I am happy to draw the names of the new homes today.
and the new homes are.....

Pattern 1 Els
Pattern 2 Karen
Pattern 3 Liz
Pattern 4 Lisa
Pattern 5 Marta

I will email you all to let you know so you can send me your snail mail addresses.

Karen please email me as I can't trace your email from your comment.

Happy crafting!
cheers
Marina

free to good home...

2012-01-07T09:39:00.001+11:00

I have sorted out some patterns in need of a new home. I have used the teapot pattern but the rest have not been used. They have been hiding in a drawer and would love a new home that can use them..
If you would like one or more please put the number of the pattern you are interested in with your comment and if there are a few people interested I will draw a name next Sunday.

pattern 1

pattern 2

pattern 3

pattern 4 (used)

pattern 5

Cheers for now

Marina

the new homes for the patterns are:

Pattern 1 Els

Pattern 2 Karen

Pattern 3 Liz

Pattern 4 Lisa

Pattern 5 Marta

I have received a response from everyone except Karen. Karen please email me as I can't trace your email from your comment.
thanks everyone for giving these patterns a new home!

making a list..

2012-01-03T19:05:00.002+11:00

Seems like awhile since I posted. I misplaced the camera and it only turned up today so now I can catch up on what I have been busy doing. The heat has been a great incentive to just sit inside with the aircon going and stitching away.

I have made a list of January 'to do's'...

make one of my cross stitch pincushions-have made a start
make a start on my block 5 of down in the garden
quilt the Jack and Jill quilt
make some hexagon flowers for my Swan Lake and get a start on cutting dollies out
Make one christmas Item

I have made some headway already....

started my cross stitch pincushion from Els. Boy that cloth is hard to count the threads on. I am enjoying the challenge and it's nice to do something different.

block 5. A lot of stitching to do. I substituted the centre written poem for the butterflies.

a start made on cutting dollies, heads and arms...

some hexie flowers started too........

I have basted the Jack and Jill before Christmas and made a start on the hand quilting.

At the end of the month I will hopefully have made a decent dent in the list.

On another note...

Today I got to experience a wonderful piece of live theatre. I was offered a ticket to see 'the Importance of Being Earnest'. It had Geoffrey Rush acting in the role of Mrs Bracknell. It was an absolute hoot. I really enjoyed the humour and cleverness of the play. Seeing Geoffrey Rush live was the icing on the cake. He is just unbelievable. The two actors that played Algenon and Jack were super too. It was impossible to not watch them interact.

If you are in Melbourne and get the chance to see it-go for it.

Am enjoying the cool change today....

Happy stitching

Marina

visiting the Garden...

2011-12-29T09:27:00.000+11:00

Well Christmas is over and the New Year around the corner. We had a lovely Christmas and more importantly, a low stress one.

Over the past few weeks I have been plodding along with the stitcheries for block 3 and 4 of Down in the Garden, putting off the actual piecing of the blocks. Last night I decided it was time to put them together so that I could tick them off my 'catch up' list.

block 3

block 4 (this block is just missing the hexie flower on the yellow check square)

I am quite happy with how this is coming along. Block 5 will be a marathon of Stitching which doesn't put me off at all and the bonus is there is no Piecing!

progress so far....

Another item on my catch up list was to do a few rows of my Park Avenue Hexies.

I am happy to say there are three new rows to this project. I have another two to add on and then the task of making fill in hexies will be on the cards.

Narelle (of pins and whiskers) is co ordinating '1 christmas item' again for next year. I have chosen my first Christmas item to make and have put my magazines with Christmas patterns to one side for easy access to lots of inspiration.

That's me up to date for now.......

Hope that you all have a great and safe New Year!

See you next year!

Marina

It's beginning to look a lot.....

2011-12-21T18:27:00.000+11:00

............Like Christmas.....
This week I received two lovely surprise envelopes in the mail.
One from Melody and one from Fiona....
Big Hugs to you both I am so chuffed by these, the workmanship in both is just fantastic. You are both such generous and thoughtful blog friends.Thankyou X

a lovely santa from Fiona, (bubz rugz)

a hexie doilie from Melody (house on the hill)

My new project for next year will be the Swan Lake (dancing dollies) Quilt. I found that a most talented quilter, Ingrid, is also making this quilt and hers is just magnificent! The blog is called Supergoof and I first found this blog when I was doing the Life is beautiful quilt, check out this version of it. Ingrid makes the most amazing quilts. I am just in awe of her workmanship and if mine is half as good as hers I will be more than a little happy!
Pop over and have a ~~drool~~ look see. Feeling so inspired just looking at the progress
that is being made.

I'd like to wish all my blog friends a very safe and joyous festive season spent with those you love! Thanks for taking the time to visit and thankyou for your friendship.
hugs....marina

sparsely stitching...

2011-12-18T11:02:00.000+11:00

things have been pretty hectic here what with the silly season in full swing.
An important event took place this week too. No 1 son had his graduation ceremony where he received his Teaching Degree, not just a degree but a pass with first class honours! He was absolutely over the moon as he didn't know until he was [presented with his degree. We are so proud of his achievement and we know how much work he and dedication he has put into his studies. He already has a job for next year so this was just the icing on the cake. Well done my boy!
Sewing has been pretty sparse over the past week but only four more working days and it will be happy holidays!
Yesterday the sewing group I go to got together for our Christmas lunch. We are a varied bunch with lots of different interests. This shows when it comes to our Khris Kringle gifts. I always gift a stitched item, another two do the most magnificent, fine crochet, another crochet, you get the picture...
One of the girls makes lovely crafty bags and I think I was the only one that hadn't received one yet. Well yesterday I received mine, tailor made to my personal interests and tastes. As you can see from the photos it fits my goodies perfectly..
DH will be happy as I won't have to leave my stitcheries and scissors all over the chair arm.

Here is the progress on my block four of Down in the garden...
Over Christmas I will sew the blocks together (hopefully). It's quite slow going at the moment.

I have also been working on Jack and Jill, it's ready to quilt....

Hope you have had a crafty weekend...
Roll on Christmas..
Marina

Christmas spirit....

2011-12-10T20:55:00.001+11:00

The tree is up and the decorations have been distributed amongst the various vantage points in the lounge room...

I really enjoyed putting out the decorations this year..
I also picked up this lovely this morning..
There are some aspects of it that I am not 100% happy with but will have to live with it, I am afraid. Now to find somewhere to hang it... And where will I put it after Christmas is over?

just love this frame, not sure if it suits 100%, but I just love it.

love the red matting

I have been busy working on my down in the garden stitcheries for block 4. I just need some extra time in the day! Anyone have any spare?

Hope you have had some crafty time...

cheers

Marina

better late than never...

2011-12-05T09:00:00.001+11:00

Now that the silly season has started it is getting harder to find time to do what I want but there are ways of working it if you try...
I have nearly managed to finish my gingerbread candle mats, just a little more binding to sew down on one of them... I remembered I had these lovely little candles in the cupboard and thought they would look gorgeous for a pic.. I have had them for about 30 years, just so cute I think..

Sunday I had to accompany DH to his shooting club Christmas shoot, sounds exciting doesn't it? Not many, in fact not one, of the other wives went so it was a perfect opportunity to do some stitching in the car (the weather was cold and drizzly). I would say it was quiet stitching time but at a shooting range there isn't much chance of quiet.
My progress on Rosalie Quinlan's new stitchery..

I have changed the colour of the thread as I wanted a more antique pink.
I also took my Christmas Wreath to be framed. It will be ready next week and should look fabulous. I was going to gift it but after the cost of framing I think I will be keeping it for myself. Then I will just need to find a place for it?
Here is a pic of the stitching for my Down in the garden block 3. I haven't pieced it together yet but it is all stitched..

This morning while I was downloading my photos the 'parcel postie' arrived with a wonderful package from the lovely Carine from Belgium! We have been exchanging patterns and emails for a little while, and she sent me these treasures and some patterns to keep me busy....

A lovely heart and pin cushion. I love the little girl and the terrier picture, just perfect!

Here is a close up with my crooked finger in it for size reference. These little owls are just adorable. It will make a wonderful addition to my pincushions. Thanks so much Carine!!!

there we go, I think I am all caught up with show and tell of what's been happening here.

Hope you have a great week!

Happy stitching.

marina

Jack and Jill

2011-12-01T07:55:00.001+11:00

Last week saw little stitching happening and thank goodness that Septimana Horribilis is over. I did make some doilies though and I enjoyed the change of craft a lot. On the weekend I got to pick up needle and thread again and how soothing that was!
This week has been much quieter on many fronts. We are childless this week as No 1 son is away with friends and no 3 son is away on camp. We had to call back no 2 son (who is not living at home at the moment) so that we didn't miss the others too much. I think he enjoyed a little only child attention. This week is a little insight into what it will be like when it is just me and the fella. Very quiet and peaceful I must say (and Tidy!), I could get used to this...... I do miss the boys but they are having a ball at their respective destinations.
Again my projects have to play second fiddle as the child this quilt is intended for has arrived a few weeks early.... I thought I better get a wriggle on. Mum graciously appliqued the faces and drew the lines for me to stitch the faces.
I have finished the applique and just a little more embroidery and then I will have to decide on how to put this together. The quilt is for a friend at work for her new grandson. I am hoping it won't be too girly, she was happy to still have the Jack and Jill.
I just love Jill's face and hair.
I

Gj's in Brunswick have a sale starting-their 25% off sale! I will be off to get some batting for two flimsies waiting to be quilted. That will make them one step closer to being finished!

My backing fabric arrived for my Swan Lake so that will be ready to go for next year..... It is a lovely 3 sisters fabric- Etchings, just beautiful. Can't wait.....

Hope you are having a great week...

Cheers
Marina

early christmas gift.

2011-11-23T17:46:00.001+11:00

One of my first swap partners was the lovely Els in the Netherlands. We have kept up correspondence and surprise packages for our birthdays and for Christmas. Els is way more organised than I am and her parcel came speedily in just a week. I was told I could open my parcels early so I didn't need much convincing once the parcel arrived yesterday. I am lucky to have it as the postie just dumped it on the front verandah of my house for all the passing world to see! He could have at least put inside the screen door-doesn't he know how precious this parcel would be?

I couldn't wait to open it! Luckily I remembered to take the photos..

Beautiful cross stitching on linen! It is just so delicate and small. Els has also included two pincushion kits for me. I just wanted to start one straight away but I think I will wait till the holidays. (if I can).

the kits include some lovely little finishing touches.

The designs and kits are put together by a friend of Els. I have had a sticky beak at her website and they are beautiful. I have admired these linen cross stitcheries on a few overseas websites longing to have a go at them, but haven't seen many kits. I may be looking in the wrong places mind you as I do get a little daunted by cross stitches but these will be quite manageable and make a pretty addition to my pin cushion collection.

If you are interested at having a peek at the website it is at www.soedidee.nl

Definitely worth a look...

Thanks Els for such a wonderful parcel of goodies. Now I must get my act together and get posting.

cheers

Marina

lovely friday meeting...

2011-11-20T09:51:00.001+11:00

On Friday I had two lovely visitors.....
Fiona from Bubz rugz and Melody from house on the hill. Fiona and I had had a bloggy meet up earlier this year and as she was in my part of Aus. we had arranged another catch up and lovely Melody came too.
No 1 son was home too and joined in the jovial chatter till the conversation turned to hexagons then he just glazed over and retreated to his room. One woman obsessed with hexagons is enough, let alone three talking about hexagons! Poor thing is recovering from the trauma of all that craft talk.
Melody brought us both a lovely little package...

We spent a wonderful afternoon and it passed way too quickly. Melody and Fiona are just lovely, it's like we have known each other for years.
Melody took some pics so I have pinched them from her blog (with permission of course). My camera battery was flat.

this is Fiona and I peeking over the top of my Girls day out quilt

and here are Melody and I peeking over my flower garden. I know I said I had posted my last photo of it but.....
Thankyou Fiona and Melody for the most enjoyable catch up it was really great!
cheers
Marina

a new project....

2011-11-15T18:34:00.001+11:00

My lovely parcel of fabrics arrived today. Le petite ecole is just a gorgeous fabric range. I was lucky to get this as it was a bargain.

It will join my stash of Rural Jardin

And what will they become eventually.....

this...... hopefully. It will be a long term project but I am looking forward to making a start next year.
If you pop over to this blog called Buddy and me Sue-Anne has recently finished one of these quilts. Her quilt progress pics inspired me to ask her where the pattern was from- and of course the hexies were a big drawcard. This pattern is from Stoneleigh Patchwork based on an antique quilt from Ayers House in South Australia.
I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew! I am happy to have it as a long term project.

Here is a pic for those that asked about the elephant label I made. I was sure I had showed it before but couldn't find where, so I thought I would post another photo.
It will go on this quilt..

Now to make a list of ufo's, wisp's and bom's.....Just to keep me on track.
Happy days!
cheers
marina

2 Checks off the list...

2011-11-13T09:39:00.001+11:00

Bindings done!!! That's all there is to say about that.

One of my quilts was 'adopted' a few weeks ago and I realised it didn't have a label, many of my other quilts are in the same predicament. When I first started making quilts I would quilt my initials or name and the date somewhere in the quilt, then I saw people talking about labels. Before my quilt went to it's new home overseas I made it a label and some extras for the 'un-labelled' others. There are still more that need labels but it's a start. I had found a great tutorial but can't remember where about making labels. You make the front then sew a backing piece onto it so that they are right sides facing. Sew right around the label then cut a slit in the backing fabric and turn inside out. Makes a lovely label and once it is stitched on the back of the quilt you would know the back is cut.

Hope you are having a great stitchy weekend!
cheers
Marina

beware lots of pics....

2011-11-10T08:28:00.002+11:00

I wish they were mine......
these two quilts were made by my mum for my cousin's two children.
The last time I showed this monsters quilt it didn't have the borders.
~~Please excuse the photos I will replace them once I get better ones but we were fighting the clouds that wanted to open up on us.~~ thanks to a lovely sunny day I have replaced the old dull photos with some new ones.
These photos are much better and show the true colours in the quilt.

the needleturn applique is just perfect. I know where I get my obsessiveness from!

This is mum's latest finish, just back from the quilters.
The photo doesn't quite show how lovely and bright those pinwheels are. They are just gorgeous. The original pattern was for a small wall hanging (design by Chitter Chatter design). Mum enlarged it to fit a single bed and added the extra floral border (taken from another quilt design) and added the circle of butterflies in the corners to finish it off. It's just beautiful.
The quilting just finishes it off perfectly.

detail of the quilting.

Would love to kidnap both of these quilts.
Well done mum!
Now to get that binding done...
cheers
Marina

Back to my other projects..

2011-11-05T09:47:00.001+11:00

My son found this lovely little canvas and thought to buy it for me this week. Sums it up for me this week!

Thankfully Quiltober is over and I can now get back to my neglected projects.
A month is a long time for me to not touch stitcheries.
I have made up for that this last week..
Back on track with my Down in the Garden. Last night I had to take no 3 son to Tennis. He won both his games and I made a start on block 3- win, win.
My Christmas Wreath got finished too, now what to do with it?
Beware there are a lot of pics, I just have to show my favourite parts of the stitchery.

Here is the start of my Block 3 down in the Garden. The blocks are so pretty they are really enjoyable to do. I love the chain stitch. Adds a different effect. I used chain stitch in my Christmas Wreath too in parts, instead of just back stitch. Accentuates the stitching I wanted to be bolder.

In the garden our bottle brushes are full of flowers and bees! The trees are just buzzing like they have their motor running lol.
Couldn't resist some photos...

Can you spot the little bee bottom!

Just one more pic if you aren't bored by the previous photos...
Just because I am still amazed at having done this quilt, please indulge me one more photo.....

At least I am not wrapped in it this time and Cliff has stopped singing!
Have a great weekend... we are in for some 30 degree weather this weekend.
Good Old Melbourne-from winter to summer in just a few days!
cheers
Marina

Cliff Richard where are you....

2011-11-01T21:41:00.002+11:00

Please indulge my moment of self congratulation.......

click on Cliff to share the song in my head....

Well Quiltober came to a close and I can happily say that my hexie garden quilt is totally quilted!!! (thanks to the public holiday today)

I am so happy, Cliff Richard is singing in my head, it doesn't help that I am a bit of a Eurovision tragic either...

I can't believe I managed to hand quilt this quilt. I have enjoyed every step of the making of my scrappy garden. Thanks to those that contributed to it through the hexie flower swap and just because they were bloggy friends.

Now I don't usually show my moosh on my blog but this calls for a celebratory pic.

. I just want to walk around wrapped in it for awhile, just to savour the moment.

The binding is cut and ready to go..... Roll on Bindvember.

Definitely happy dancing!!!!

cheers

Marina

more of the same...

2011-10-28T08:34:00.001+11:00

Not much but this happening, for a few more days anyway...
All the flowers are quilted....

One short border and 3/4 of a long side are done..

I have quilted in the thin green border along the white lines of the check. Made it easy to follow and forgiving of any crooked stitches too as they are hard to see.
I am quilting close to the edge of the butterflies then doing a meandering trail from each butterfly to add some quilting to the cream border. Hopefully all the 'hooping' hasn't stretched the edge too much. I can't wait to put some binding on...but I shouldn't jump the gun now.

These lovely fabrics arrived this week to add to my jelly roll and few fat quarters of Rural Jardin. They are from Le Petite Ecole and one is a rural Jardin. I am going to add to these slowly and then decide on a project to use them for. I think they would make great hexagons.....
Speaking of hexagons my adopted flower garden top has gone to the quilters and won't be back till February as the shop closes over Christmas. I can't wait.

Hope you have had a lovely week
Weekend here we come!
Have a good one.
cheers
Marina

Life is beautiful

2011-10-21T09:09:00.001+11:00

Here are some pics of my life is beautiful quilt. Ready for binding. But you know that will have to wait till Quiltober is over!

I am really happy with the quilting. It finishes it off nicely.

this is the quilting design. The open spaces are where the circles are appliqued on.

Had a great catch up on my quilting last night. I can't believe I am down to the last 20 or so. One thing I did forget was the borders and quilting around the butterflies hopefully they will quilt quickly. So close now I can count how many are left.. Somewhere along the line I have miss counted how many I had done and the completed number is more than I thought.

Lots to Happy dance about!!

20 flowers to go- 84 completed

4 leaves to go- 27 completed

Have a great weekend!

marina

ps. and it's ok my quilting arm doesn't look like this now!

new shoes and childhood memories.....

2011-10-20T13:09:00.000+11:00

Meet Crissy She was made in 1969 by Ideal, holds her age well I think. I don't know how she has managed to maintain that girlish figure either?

A work friend and I were reminiscing about our Crissy dolls. We both didn't have our original dolls but had bought replacement ones.

My mum bought me mine about 16 years ago at a doll show as she knew I desperately wanted one.

My friends doll had the original orange dress. This pic shows what a new Crissy looked like. Isn't she gorgeous.

My poor girl has a homemade replacement that she came to me with. As for the shoes.... They arrived yesterday with thanks to 'evilbay'. I think she is rapt to have her original shoes. Now to find that dress......

In case you are interested in a quilting update....

71 flowers quilted
26 leaves quilted

I didn't get any done the last two nights but roll on the weekend and I will get stitching....
Tomorrow I will pick up a quilt that has been machine quilted. Life is beautiful will be coming home after two months at the quilters. Can't wait to pick it up.
I hope to drop off another top to the quilters. It is a beautiful hexagon quilt that I adopted from Nicki from plushcat. The quilt was made by Nicki and started when she was 14. (so it is about 20 years old.) She wanted to rehome her quilt top and I was lucky enough to give it a home. I bought some fabric for the backing so it is ready to go.I don't think I could face hand quilting this one as well so machine quilting it is. Here are some pics... it was hard to photograph as we have strong winds here today.
I just love it!!

this is the backing fabric I chose on the right. Thanks to Sandi at Crafty lady.

Happy day!
Marina

fresh vegies and a surprise gift....

2011-10-16T09:27:00.002+11:00

Well Quiltober definitely makes for some boring blogging.
Before I go on here is the latest tally.. No quilting Friday or Saturday night so I will need to get going tonight.

56 flowers quilted
22 leaves quilted
there have been a few lovely stitchers joining me for Quiltober they are
Fiona from bubz rugs
Sheila from Sheila's quilt world
Narelle from Pins and whiskers
Marg from country quilts and dolls

Happy quilting everyone.

Yesterday morning Hubbie and I went to my mum's to help get some garden beds ready for tomato planting, which we did as well. She has quite a few beds but just needs some help with the manual labour.
For our efforts mum gave us some fantastic fresh vegies from the garden.

Yummy fresh beetroot, carrots and peas. I cooked up the beet greens and we ate them in salad too.

Can't beat home grown.

A lovely little envelope arrived in the mail this week from Bev at Kainga Happenings.. She sent me a surprise milk jug doily. It is just gorgeous. I love the little tag too, so cute.

I have a bit of a thing for milk jug doilies and it has lovely blue glass beads, so perfect for me. It will be right at home here and has found a jug to sit on straight away. Thankyou so much Bev.

off to Kilmore quilt show this morning! Looking forward to that..
Hope you have had a crafty weekend!
marina

Quiltober progress....

2011-10-12T08:09:00.001+11:00

Time for a quiltober update.....

47 flowers from a total of 104

17 leaves from a total of 32

and we're not quite half way through October!

It is hard concentrating on just the one project but I am determined to get this quilted. It is enjoyable revisiting each flower and seeing the fabrics one on one. I don't think there is one fabric I didn't enjoy using.

Then there will be the binding.... that's another story.

Bindvember perhaps?

Cheers

Marina

ps Alyssa's quilt was very well received and a big surprise.

Versatile Blogger award.....

2011-10-09T11:45:00.001+11:00

Lovely Barbara at Diamant has awarded a versatile blogger award to me...
I am versatile! Just like a salada..
Thankyou Barbara and I love the reason why you did pass this onto me.
I am required to share 7 things with you all....
This is difficult, what to say and what to share about myself.
Here goes....
1. I love to laugh and make others laugh. I think laughter is the best medicine. I have a bit of an odd sense of humour but luckily my children and hubby do too. I love it when we all make each other laugh.
Laugh till you can't breathe...
2. I don't like dishonest people and people who are cruel... I can't wait or Kharma to get them!
3. I love the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies and books but my kids say I take it too seriously when I complain that there are differences with the books. I do love the books just that little bit more than the movies.
4. when I was at high school I used to practice mirror writing with a pen in each hand. The left hand mirrors what the right hand is writing. Maybe I should have paid more attention to what the teacher was saying. Needless to say I haven't found a use for it in real life yet.
5. I love dogs and can recognise most dog breeds. I am interested in dog psychology and why dogs behave the way they do. It is very interesting. I think the worst thing we can do is to humanise our pets and their actions. They are dogs and will always act like a dog- they will always act according to their instincts and nature.
6. The most important job I have done and loved the best is being a mother. Hopefully my children will understand this when they have children of their own.
7. I love thunderstorms and lightning. Mother Natures fireworks.

Well that's enough trivial information about me...

Barbara nominated blogs that were her 'desert island blogs' that she just loves to visit each day so I would like to use the same criteria.
I would love to nominate the following blogs and if they want to take up the award then that would be great, if they would rather not that is ok too.
Fiona- Bubz Rugz.
Narelle from Pins and whiskers
Teresa All things Vintage
Nicki from Mrs sew and sew
Carrie from A passion for Applique
Tracey from Mistea Crafts
Elyte Tea fabric and other things
Lorraine the balancing Kiwi
these are all blogs of people that I have been following and that have been visitors to my blog, some since I started blogging. I look forward to visiting them in blogland.
So feel free to take up the award if you wish. You are all wonderful Bloggy friends. Thanks again Barbara for the award.

No photos to share at the moment.....
I have kept to my vow of quiltober and have been solely working on quilting my hexie quilt. I have quilted 35 flowers and border leaves altogether so far.
Stay tuned for the next tally....
Hope you are having a lovely weekend
cheers
Marina

Quiltober

2011-10-05T17:57:00.000+11:00

I am dedicating October to Quilting in the hope of making a dent in a few flimsies.

So far so good. I started quiltober a little early (last month) by getting going on hand quilting my Sweet nostalgia stitchery blocks. There were 5 to go at the start of October and they are now done! I popped the quilt in the wash last night in the hope of getting out a nasty stain on one of the stitchery blocks. It didn't work so some extra embroidered leaves have solved that problem.

The christening quilt is done and I am so happy with the result. I just love looking at it and I know it will be well loved. Bliss fabrics are just so beautiful!

Two Christmas mats got quilted this week and they just can't wait for the 25th to be shown off. Hopefully the binding will be on by then though. They were the patterns I received from Michelle as a giveaway on her blog.

The next big quilting project will be to get some more rows done on my Hexie flower garden quilt. I have quilted two rows so far. I don't even want to count how many to go....... slowly, slowly!

So roll on the photos...

I found the gorgeous backing fabric at Spotlight, it was the last metre on the bolt. I so wish there had been more.... It is so sweet.

Here are my mats.

(this one needs to be sewn and quilted but just wanted to show it as well)

While at spotlight I also spotted this lovely christmas print.... Guess what I have in store for this, a hint: there will be some fussy cutting...

sorry for the pic heavy post just love to look at all that bliss!

cheers

Marina

Anyone else up for Quiltober?

Swap received......

2011-10-04T09:06:00.002+11:00

The postal Gods smiled favourable yesterday and Peta's parcel arrived at her house too! You couldn't plan it to happen that way, could you.

These are the goodies that I sent to Peta. She was as happy with her parcel as I was with mine.

F festive hanging
R rotary cutter holder, rose cards
I inspirational words
E embroidery threads (not in picture)
N notebook, nourishment
D doilie, decorative pin cushion
S stitchery holder, scissor fob

some vintage buttons came in handy

the pattern for the stitchery keeper came as an extra pattern with the Down in the Garden bom. It's a lovely design and lovely to stitch.

I definitely need to make myself a rotary cutter keeper and one of those stitchery keepers.......

Happy swapping!

marina

Swaps are great!

2011-10-03T12:10:00.001+11:00

This morning I came home to a wonderful parcel on my front door.
My friend's swap parcel from Peta had arrived!
It was full of crafty loveliness.

F- for fat quarters, R- ribbon, I inspiration, E embroidery threads, N needle case and needles, D decorations, S small button bag and buttons

these decorations will be a great addition to my homemade Christmas decorations!

Thanks so much to Peta for all these wonderful gifts and to Khris for organising the swap again this year!

Big hugs to both of you..

cheers

Marina

busy, busy...

2011-09-30T12:04:00.001+10:00

My regular projects have taken a bit of a back seat at the moment due to two projects that have cropped up. I decided last weekend that I would make a small cot quilt for my great niece's christening Sunday week. Nothing like leaving things to the last minute and making it up as you go. I have been making great progress and may even meet my deadline! I am sure my niece will understand if it takes a little longer....

Since taking these pics the applique has been done and I changed the green dividing border. A girl can change her mind can't she?

The fabric is Bliss, a jelly roll and charm pack that has been waiting eagerly to be used. There is some left over so her older sister may get a small throw too (but not these holidays!)

A friend from work is to become a grandmother and asked if I could make a little quilt for the new baby- A nursery rhyme theme and appliqued.

I loved mum's version of the quilt of Jack and Jill (by chitter chatter designs) so thought this would be perfect. Mum's has gone to the quilters so I will get a pic of it when it comes back. I have been getting the applique bits ready, I just need to decide on the background. I put the pieces on a piece of cream and I think it is a little wishy washy. I may try for a pale blue like in the original pattern. Jack and Jill don't have their faces cut out yet as mum has graciously put her hand up to needleturn the applique for the faces to they won't have the blanket stitch around them. Thanks mum! XO

Before starting these lovelies I had to finish a ufo. The binding got done on these runners made from my birthday fabrics I received from Els and Fiona. Fabrics from opposite sides of the world matched up for the one project!

for those that are into milk jugs.....

Here is my little collection...

the one on the left belonged to my mother in law and the one at the back was my nanna's. I think that one may be crystal.

two of these are from my Portland trip, the centre one from an antique shop in Lancefield. I just love them all.

Here is another pic of something that I am a little addicted to....

No 3 son went to the Royal Show yesterday and my one request was for some of this....

It comes in buckets too but I think he thought some moderation may be in order.

My personal best is three bags in one afternoon. It is like nibbling a cloud.

Food of the Gods!

And guess what there is no Fat content! It says so on the packet so it is almost diet food.....

Hope you have a lovely crafty weekend

Marina

swap parcel farewelled and some pics

2011-09-28T09:45:00.003+10:00

My swap parcel is finally on it's merry way to Peta in WA.
Bon Voyage and speedy journey!

On the weekend we went to Portland, (Victoria) It is a beautiful little port town. It was the first European settlement in Victoria, settled in the early to mid 1800's.
It was used as a whaling port too. In the maritime museum they had a huge skeleton of a sperm whale that had been washed up, already dead, on the beach there. It was amazing to be up close to something so huge.
Dh and no 3 son did some of this....

while I did...

(this is for a quickie gift that I need to finish but only started on the weekend, talk about leaving things to the last minute.

It was beautiful to sit and stitch looking out to the sea. They fished from the break water which you could drive out onto quite far.
When they were fishing in the morning...
I did this...

gosh my feet look big! .

there is a lighthouse on this cliff just behind the last tree to the right.

this is the view from the lighthouse, You can see the start of the breakwater, it extended out at least 1 1/2 times again and we were at the end of it.

I walked around town looking at all the beautiful old bluestone cottages and old wood houses. They were just gorgeous. I made my way to the lighthouse and then back along the beach, back to town.
There were heaps of antique, bric a brac places along the way to Portland and we visited most. I bought some lovely depression glass milk jugs. My new passion it appears. There was a gorgeous Patchwork shop in town but it was shut by the time we got there and it wasn't open by the time we left on Monday. Them's the breaks.

I have decided that October will be quilting month!
I made a start on quilting my hexie flower garden by hand. Who's dumb idea was that?..... While stitching away I told DH that I want to be buried with this quilt because that's probably how long it will take me to hand quilt it!
He replied...'why don't you get it quilted by machine?'
Takes a man to reinvent the wheel doesn't it. I told him I want it quilted selectively and not just all over, willy nilly and to get that done by a quilter will cost a mint. So I will keep stitching away till my arm drops off or becomes the size of the Incredible Hulk's arm......... I have nearly finished two rows. I regret having been so enthusiastic making all those flowers, now that I have to quilt around each one! lol.
It definitely won't be a quick quilt to finish.....

If it's worth doing, it's worth doing well....

Slap the 'man' who came up with that quote!

Hope you are having a great week...
cheers
Marina

ps because we went away my Christmas goodies weren't finished... Hopefully something will get completed in between all that hand quilting.

block two....

2011-09-20T20:37:00.001+10:00

I have been busy stitching away on various things and trying to get some catch up goodies made by the 25th for my Christmas items and of course making sure I am on track for my FRIENDS swap.
Block two for Down in the garden is done! I wasn't looking forward to stitching the birds but that opinion has changed and I love them sitting amongst the blossoms.
I changed their beaks a little to make them fuller, (no silicone used at all).

Here is the whole block.....

block one and two together.....

Now it will go away till next month.

In the meantime two new patterns came in the mail. I bought them from Patchworks Plus an online store in Tasmania. Sarah has really competitive prices and often has specials on postage. I previously bought my Down in the Garden and the Tis the Season patterns from Sarah and the service is fantastic.
I really like the applique on the sewing Angels pattern and of course there are hexie flowers!

I just had to start this stitchery. It is just gorgeous and a perfect project to do in between down in the garden blocks. The pattern came with pre printed linen and Cosmo threads. I hadn't used the Cosmo threads before but they seem thinner than the DMC. I prefer the fullness of the DMC cottons but I will see how I go with the rest of the stitchery before making a final decision for preference. I am not minding the linen, seeing as it was pre printed it was very handy. There is a lot of tracing to do otherwise.

Of course I didn't neglect my Bakehouse stitchery and it was finished before starting this new redwork project, I just forgot to photograph it. I have put together two out of the three runners using Michelle's gorgeous stitcheries. No reveal till they are quilted!
Hope the week has been a good one so far!
Cheers
Marina

pincushions galore!

2011-09-13T18:57:00.001+10:00

Remember this......

It was about time it got finished so I added a strip around the edge and used some of my yo yos that I had stashed.

I didn't realise how big this pincushion would be when I first made the base. It is a little big but I don't mind it just makes sure it is noticed. It could almost be a door stop!
I worked on my swap goodies and I am happy to say they are almost done. Just one more gift to make.
Sunday night I found a use for a hexie flower I made. One of the glass vintage buttons has found a home on this pin cushion. It fits perfectly.

I think I may be getting a bit of a collection of pincushions....

These are pincushions I have received in swaps and as gifts, and some I just made for myself. I just love them all. The one with all the pins is extra special because one of my boys made it for me when I was sewing one day and he wanted to make something too.
Most of them live in a basket on my sewing trolley.
Off to do some quilting... finishing off a UFO.
Happy crafting!
marina

spending time down in the garden....

2011-09-10T09:14:00.001+10:00

This week I have been busy stitching. Boy was there a lot of it!

The main stitched block of Block two is done. I have changed some of the colours to suit my fabrics and the butterflies are softer than the red ones on the pattern. I am happy with most of it. Now I just need to cut up and trace the smaller stitchery blocks and I should be well on target for this month.

and another sneak peak.......

Not convinced about the handkerchief linen as it wrinkles so easily. Have other people found this? This was stitched using an iron on transfer and is visible in some places. It should fade with time or washing according to the instructions. I am hoping so!
Off this afternoon to get some accessories to finish one of my swap gifts.... The end of the month doesn't seem all that far away!
Hope you have a lovely weekend with lots of craftiness.
Marina

just letting you know.....

2011-09-03T07:46:00.000+10:00

Melody at the House on the Hill is having a giveaway to celebrate her 1 year blogaversary! Melody is a lovely, talented crafter and I am in awe of her fussy cut hexagons. They are just amazing.
Pop over and say hello and you can enter her giveaway.
While I am here I may as well give you a sneak peak of something I am making. Can't reveal too much someone may be peaking!

the design is stitched on Handkerchief Linen. It wasn't too bad but because of the coarser grain it wasn't as easy to get really neat satin stitch. That's all I can show for now.
Today I am off to steward at an Obedience Trial for a work colleague. Last year it poured rain and I stood in the rain for the whole day. Today the sun is shining but it is quite windy. Still will need a beany I am afraid. No stitching will get done but it will be fun to spend a 'dog' filled day and catch up with doggy acquaintances.
I used to be very involved in obedience and used to even trial my boys. I just don't seem to have the enthusiasm I used to have to commit to it again. I just enjoy spending time with my four leggers less formally and in a way they probably enjoy more.
ps don't forget to pop over to Melody's to wish her a happy blogaversary!
Have a great Day!
cheers
Marina

cruising along...

2011-08-30T17:24:00.001+10:00

Boy my clothes line has been getting a workout- not so much with washing as a hanger for my quilts. I fixed up my mistakes in quilting my Sweet Nostalgia quilt and visited my local patchwork shop Jemima's to buy the binding for it.

I also found some lovely fabric to make some goodies for Peta in the Friends Swap. That will have to remain a secret but there will be sneak peaks for sure.

I got all the binding on and now there is just the handquilting around the embroideries to do. I have stitched five of the blocks- 7 to go.

I just love looking at the folded quilts. You get little snippets of colour and the designs, am so happy that this quilt is finished, well 98% finished...
I hope to visit mum's on the weekend to baste my Flower garden.
Another Christmas stitchery got finished yesterday....

This is from the lovely pattern Michelle sent me. It was very pleasant to stitch. For now it will join the first one and may make an appearance for next month's Christmas finish. Having finished this one means I can work on this for a little while.....

Block two of Down in the Garden. There is a heap of stitching in this one. I had to get the butterflies on, I have just done them blanket stitch applique. Now to the stitching.. And there is also some stitching for the friends swap to get started on.
busy days!
Happy crafting
Cheers
Marina

counting the blues.....

2011-08-27T09:19:00.001+10:00

these two are flimsies

This week the wonderful Nicki of Mrs Sew and Sew finished her first and only blue and white quilt top. I had to confess that I have quite a few blue and white quilts. When I mentally counted them there are 7 then I remembered another one so the total is 8 blue and white quilts. Of course Nicki requested a show and tell so here goes...

Seeing as the sun was shining they got aired on the line.

this is one of the first quilts I made. I do like it but with time it seems a little gawdy. The teacups and pots are appliqued. Hand quilted.

This table topper is my first go at dresden plates, not perfect but still pretty.

I did have quite a big blue and white stash....

this was my first queen bed size quilt. Disappointingly the navy around the outer border has faded . Probably not a super quality fabric

the top row. I remember researching all the different star blocks to add and attempting the different blocks. Some were a little scary.

But wait there's more......

bear paw flimsy

disappearing blue patch flimsy

dutch fabrics (in blue and red)

nursery rhyme stitchery top

Hope you have enjoyed my blue and white show.....

Please tell me I am not the only one to have so many quilts in the same colour range? Perhaps have a quilt show of your own....

Hope you have a great weekend!

Marina

ps I have fixed my mistakes on my Sweet Nostalgia quilting-too a couple of go's I must say and also corrected the border on my Hexie garden. Yippee!

TTS top together too, just needs borders.

Christmas item Half finish?

2011-08-26T08:50:00.000+10:00

I didn't have a lot of time for Christmas finishing this month but I did get a wriggle on with my second Tis the season quilt this week. It only has nine of the blocks this time.
I managed to get the fabrics cut for the borders and the machine out during the week to get the borders sewn on.
I hope to get them together over the weekend...I know not technically a finish but it is pretty close by my reckoning. My stitchery last post could also count as a semi finish.

I received my swap partner for the 2011 Friends swap....
It is Peta from Western Australia. Her blog is lovely. She has some lovely things that she has made on her blog.
Now to get my thinking hat on to work out what to make for her.
There maybe some sneek peeks?

block one, down in the garden

2011-08-24T08:26:00.001+10:00

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

It's gonna be a bright sunshiny day

2011-08-21T16:00:00.002+10:00

The sun has been shining beautifully this weekend. Feels like spring for sure. This weather should continue for a few more days yet too, bonus!
Some pics of my block one of Down in the Garden which is ready to be sewn up. Too much socialising has gotten in the way of some one on one time with my sewing machine.
I am going to start block 2 next month.

the postie brought some loveliness my way too this past week.
Firstly the wonderful pattern that I won on Michelle Ridgeway's blog arrived on Friday. I quickly traced one up to take to Craft group on Saturday. I will enjoy working on these in between my Down in the garden stitcheries. Michelle also sent a lovely plum pudding and gingerbread button as a surprise. They are so cute- Thanks!!

I have a pic of my Park Avenue hexies which I have started sewing together too. I am almost ready to sew the third row on. I have also adopted a flower garden top from Nicki that I am busting to get finished. It will be on my 'eager to do' list. I will show pics soon.

While on the topic of hexagons....
I saw this in a magazine. Crocheted Flower garden! How cute!

Another treasure that arrived this week after a delayed post...
These gorgeous brooches are made by Julie at www.meandmystitches.com
I came across them while blog surfing and they are just adorable. I had to get a couple of them

Just so you get a sense of perspective, check out those tiny pieces of fabric!!

Hope the sun has been shining in your neck of the woods!
cheers
Marina

ps if you would like to vote for Maisie at the Pets on quilts competition click on the button on my side bar. Voting is on this weekend.

2011 pets on quilts!

2011-08-17T18:35:00.001+10:00

Sew Cal Gal is running a gorgeous competition with some amazing prizes. The subject is Pets on Quilts!
I have had a sticky beak at some of the entries and they are just adorable. Of course I have a few Maisie pics as she is a quilt tester extraordinaire so here are some pics for my entry.
Some background on miss Maisie...
We got her a few years ago after the passing of my special 21 year old cat Mimi.
Mimi was a wonderful cat, so affectionate and loving, I would say she was part dog! I swore I wouldn't get another cat but after a few months I just missed her so much and craved the company of a moggy around the house. I love my furry boys but there is something about cats, their take it or leave it attitude.
We got Maisie. She was the runt of the litter and I am sure the kittens were only about 6 weeks old. She was free to a good home and we fitted that bill so she came home with us.
I think she is such a beautiful cat and can be very affectionate when it suits!
So roll on the photo parade...

this is one of my favourite photos..

maisie's usual quilt pose!

'that's the life for me......'

that pose started very early on...

I do sit up occasionally..

Well that is my girl... I hope you enjoyed the pics...

For those that are a little allergic to cats...

I do have one pic of Coffee on a quilt... but he was very small and very sneaky and hopped onto my bed when no one was watching. I suppose it was a doggy quilt.

hope you are having a great week....

Will be back on the weekend to show progress on my Down in the garden!

cheers

Marina

http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2011/08/welcome-to-2011-pets-on-quilts-show.html?showComment=1313570337162#c2691921706216157431

spending time down in the garden....

2011-08-14T13:42:00.000+10:00

Have today to myself pretty well so I thought it would be great to have a go at some of the piecing on the Down in the Garden block.

I made a good start on the stitching yesterday and I have been so eager to cut into the fabrics.

Here is my progress so far...

lots of little chain stitch, something I hadn't tried before..

traced some of the other stitcheries too.

Made a booboo on the churn dash blocks and had to redo the corners, who would have thought 1/8th of an inch could be so disruptive! Here are the sewn pieces.

This is roughly how the block will go together..

In the lower green check block there is supposed to be a dresden plate but I am leaning towards a hexagon flower. There is time to decide. There are a couple of other stitched flowers that need tracing but they can wait for now.

Next week the rest of the patterns will arrive but I am going to keep it as a bom.

I like to do other projects in between big ones like this.

There is a new project on it's way next week too. One I was lucky to win!

Once it arrives I will explain more..

Hope you have had a crafty weekend too! Off to put away my sewing machine and bits and pieces.

cheers

Marina

Loveliness has arrived..

2011-08-10T19:19:00.000+10:00

Here we go...

This week my fabric pack arrived from the lovely Bec. It is very dangerous visiting her blog as she clears out her stash every now and then and 'rehomes' it.

This is a lovely kit of Sunkissed fabric. It is just beautiful and I love it. They are not colours I would normally use so I am looking forward to making something outside my usual colours. I am going to add a few lighter tones of homespun to use for the extra stitcheries.

I traced the first stitchery on the white on cream fabric that came with the kit. It has the names of flowers written on the fabric. Just so perfectly fits the theme.

I will need to carefully select the cottons for the stitching so that they suit the fabrics. It's so exciting starting a new project.

I haven't been neglecting my UFO's. I have sewn 1 1/2 rows of my Park avenue hexagon top together and have attempted some machine quilting on my Sweet Nostalgia quilt that mum helped me baste. Just some stitching around the block frames and the sashings. It will need a lot of hand quilting too around various parts of the stitcheries but that will be done slowly but surely. About half of the machine quilting to go.

Happy days!
cheers
Marina

Happy dancing!!

2011-08-07T17:19:00.000+10:00

Well I didn't think I would be back so soon but.....
I am happy dancing around the house! And this is the reason why.
My hexie top is officially complete. I sewed the borders on today. There were a few issues with the green thin border that has stretched a little with handling so it puckered in a few places. For now they can stay the way they are but I know they will get the better of me before long and I will have to unpick and redo. sigh

Mandatory Maisie testing the top.

I have the batting ready now I just need backing fabric and then it will be ready to quilt. It will have to wait till I have quilted my sweet nostalgia quilt. I took it to mum's today and we pressed, sandwiched, pinned and basted it together. It was lovely to have her help me. It will be a long slog handquilting it but let's go!
I was discussing with Nicki of Sew and Sew about UFO's. I don't seem to count finished tops (flimsies) as ufo's, I consider them finished awaiting quilting. Maybe this is a more optimistic view of UFO's. I may have to take off those rose coloured glasses.
While the weather was good I took some pics of my non ufo's, there are a few... but after today there is one less!

this is an old one, one of my earlier attempts at patchwork. I want fancy quilting in the white squares so it is waiting patiently. My attempt at an arty photo shot.

here is a day shot of my boys story. I am still happy dancing at this quilt!

my breast of friends quilt, relegated to the ranks of the unquilted.

this is my 365 journal quilt. It will probably stay like this for a long time yet! It covered a big year in my life.

my recent disappearing nine patch

The boys came and sat down in front of the quilts as I was putting them on the line. So for a change there are dogs and quilts together. The boys tease me that if anything happens to me the dogs will get my quilts for dog blankets! Don't panic I have people ready to rescue every scrap of fabric should anything happen to me. They have such a warped sense of humour- sadly I know where they get it from!
So I guess this is leading to a question.. What do you class as a UFO and how many do you guys have? If you have more than me you know I will use this to justify my own ufo's to my husband. lol

Hope you have had a happy dance today too!
Cheers for now
Marina

2011 Friends swap

2011-08-07T09:45:00.000+10:00

The lovely Khris is again running the Friends swap this year. I have taken part the past two years and both years it was great fun and I met two lovely bloggers.
I had planned not to do any swaps this year but I can't pass up Khris'.
If you would like to take part pop over to her blog by clicking on her name above.
I am off to sign up now!
Will be back soon to show what I have been working on...let's just say there is going to be another happy dance happening very soon!
cheers
Marina

ta da !!!!

2011-07-31T22:42:00.002+10:00

Here is a big tick on my ufo list! Please picture me happy dancing, for those with a delicate constitution-perhaps don't.

this was the last stitchery to be done!

just love the bike and the cape, just like a superhero

and every superhero needs a side kick

Well that finish led to this finish, you know how momentum works.............................

I was a little impatient to photograph it and post a pic for my 'cheer squad' that have been encouraging me to keep up the momentum on this quilt, so the photo is a little dark. It paid off girls- thank you so much. Now it is done.

For those that know the book for this quilt you may notice that I did change one of the blocks as I wasn't too keen on the alien applique. I swapped it for a rocket.

I have a huge stash of leftovers that I will use to make a backing. It's nice to have them neat and tidy again. I just need to work out what sort of blocks to use. Something simple I think would be best.

Now that the top is done I hope to get some time to play with these again and start putting them together.

Oh Happy days!

Happy to face Monday with that finish under my belt.

Have a great week

Marina

ps for Katie (sorry I couldn't reply as you are a no reply blogger) the book the quilt is from is 'A boy's story' by Annie Downs of Hatched and Patched.

motivational stitching

2011-07-25T20:30:00.000+10:00

This week I have been concentrating on doing my last three stitcheries for my boys story quilt. I thought I only had one to go but found another two in the box when I was piecing the blocks on the holidays.
This stitchery didn't appeal to me very much so it was a bit of a hurdle to jump before moving onto the ones I like more. Once finished I am glad to say that I have developed a fondness for it too.

then it was onto the second last one....

I just think it is so cute. I didn't remove the 'fluff' from the dark cotton before snapping a pic so it looks like my poor little boy has hairy armpits! Love the dog's stance on the surfboard.
I am working on the last one, then I will be able to put the last two blocks together. Boy this is coming together.....
Hope you all have a lovely week.
cheers
Marina

bits and pieces

2011-07-22T09:26:00.000+10:00

This week my wonderful wool pincushion base came home after it's extended stay in Canada, thanks to the postal strike there. Thanks to Sue, Janet, and Jacqueline for your beautiful additions to my base. It is so beautiful to look at, you have all added your own wonderful touches to it. Thanks Fiona for organising the swap!

A work friend kindly gave me an old sewing box that belonged to her late mother.
In it there was a lovely bag of old buttons. Quite a mix of types and it was great fun sorting through them. There were some lovely old shell buttons, glass buttons that are so detailed and others that I am not sure if they are plastic or bakelite. If anyone can suggest what they are made of that would be great. I really want to use them and thought of maybe sewing them onto a background fabric as a display and framing them? Food for thought...

glass buttons

any idea what these are made of or when they are from?

the sun is shining this morning and two baskets of wet washing have been desperate to see some sun so off I go to put them out!
Have a lovely weekend...
cheers
Marina

a little encouragement....

2011-07-16T18:47:00.000+10:00

.............from a bloggy friend can do wonders!
I had hoped to get some work done on my boy's story quilt but I had hit a slump so I hadn't even looked at it these holidays. After some encouraging emails from Nicki (Mrs sew and sow) to get me motivated to bring this out from exile, I had a huge flash of enthusiasm while DH and no 3 son spent the day out fishing.
I had the house to myself and I could spread out my mess all over the table. Bliss!
I managed to get three blocks done. Sadly I realised that I have three stitcheries to go, not one. This should be quite manageable before the next holidays. So thankyou Nicki for the gentle push!
Here they are..

Here is the top so far. There are only two blocks left to go!!! I can't believe it. Sorry for the poor photo, the light was not too good.

The enthusiasm didn't stop there... The poor neglected four leggers got a lovely walk and swim at a nearby reservoir. Maybe it was the beautiful sunshine we had today that got me motivated.

While the machine was out I decided this needed a little attention too...

There are only two more months to go before it is finished. I have the current instalment but can't get fired up about it. It can wait patiently... for now. At least the previous months are all in one piece.

Here is my Times gone by so far..

Well that is my very productive Saturday. A perfect closure to the holidays.

The only thing that would really make them perfect is getting the chance to watch Pride and Prejudice before Monday, but I think I am pushing my luck there.

Hope you are having a lovely crafty weekend too!

Cheers

Marina

ps. Got to see the final Harry Potter movie Thursday night. It was everything I had hoped it would be. So sad to have arrived at the end of this saga. I didn't read the book again so that I wouldn't pick up every discrepancy in the movie. It was just wonderful. I have loved the books and the movies (even though they have been disappointing at times) and love to revisit them often.

just a little hexie crazy!

2011-07-10T17:03:00.001+10:00

Melbourne weather produced a lovely wintry weekend and I have spent the weekend working exclusively on my hexie flower garden.

I have been unpicking basting threads and pulling off the template backing till I could barely manage a pinch movement with my fingers by the end of it, but they are all done! This morning I gave the top a lovely press and it is sitting well. I thought it would be good to start cutting into the border fabrics and one thing led to another, as it does, and I thought I should decide whether to applique or embroider the butterflies on the border. I got carried away tracing butterfly bits and selecting scraps of fabric to use, just to see how they would look.

here are some of the butterflies that will fly around my flower garden border..

I am comitted to appliqueing the butterflies, seeing that I have cut out around 20 so far! I enjoy the scrappy look of them.
Once I measure the borders accurately I will iron them onto the border fabric. Looks like it won't be finished tomorrow but I am happy to keep working on this top.
Hope you have had a lovely crafty weekend!

ps if you would like to see another of the Stitching round the block finish.....Carol at the Patch Craft has made her top into a cushion and it looks lovely. Wonder what happened to all those stitchers that joined in, did they finish their tops? Would love to see them....

Marina

showcasing another's talent...

2011-07-08T13:43:00.003+10:00

I have been wanting to snap photos of mum's newest creation for ages and got organised today to do it. Her Monster's quilt is being picked up from the quilters today so there will also be a pic of that soon too! I may just kidnap it when she brings it over to show me!
Her latest venture is for a great niece, ( sister to Monster quilt recipient) and it is just gorgeous.
Mum has amazing talent when it comes to stitching and craft and she is a mean china painter too.
The centre piece of the quilt is done and it will be surrounded by pinwheels and a border of appliqued butterflies.

I just love this embroidery on Jill's apron.

the writing is all in satin stitch embroidery.

do you see where I get it from now?
The centre panel is from a craft magazine, I am not sure which one (I have been advised that it is a pattern by Corrie Blunt from Chitter Chatter Designs). She enlarged the panel to make a quilt size, the original was a wall hanging I think.

I received some loveliness in the mail this week too...
this gorgeous pom pom scarf from Narelle (at pins and whiskers), it is so warm and snuggly!

Fiona from bubzrugz sent me this cute as key holder! I am constantly losing my keys and there have been some mornings when I have been close to walking to work because I have been unable to find them, thank goodness for the boys who usually pitch in and find them in the most obvious places for me!

so big thanks to Fiona and Narelle, you are wonderful bloggy friends!

Last night I added the last of the green filler hexagons to my hexie garden! Extreme Happy Dance!!!

While 'dad sitting' this morning I started the not so glamorous job of pulling out basting threads and removing the iron on backings. I got about half of them done. It needs a good press and then I will show the top. I am hoping to get the borders on next week. I am so excited I could explode, but then I would just have to clean the mess up.

Hope you all have a wonderful crafty weekend

cheers

Marina

disappearing nine patch

2011-07-06T11:47:00.001+10:00

It's school holidays in Victoria at the moment and the weather has been so cold and windy. So what is a girl to do? You know the answer : Sew
I didn't get around to doing a wish list but a project I had wanted to work on was my disappearing nine patch.
I started it during the Christmas holidays I think and all the blocks were ready to put together. So with nothing on tv again I sat and sewed and I have my first finish for the holidays. It will fit a single bed nicely.
It was too windy to put it on the clothes line so the clothes horse will have to do.

Last night I decided to not wait anymore for my hexie swap flowers for June and just go ahead and finish my scrappy garden. I worked out I needed three more flowers so I have cut them all out, as well as the green and cream filler hexies. I am hoping to have it finished over the next week.

Happy stitching!

Marina

weekend stitching....

2011-06-27T18:11:00.000+10:00

Thank goodness for poor television programming! I got to spend some quality time with my sewing machine and the beautiful fabrics I received for my birthday from Els and Fiona.

I had been picturing what to do with these and I am very pleased with the result. I have made two size star blocks- three of the large and 9 of the smaller ones. They will eventually be a table runner and a table topper and will be on my to do list for the upcoming holidays.

(please excuse the furry bum in the corner, Maisie decided to check out the blocks)

Have a lovely week!
cheers
Marina

It's the 25th,

2011-06-25T14:45:00.000+10:00

and you know what that means.....
Time to reveal a completed Christmas item for the month!
I thought I was going to have to make excuses as to why I didn't have a finish.. but last night, due to the amount of rubbish on tv, I managed to finish doing the hand quilting on my 'tis the season top. I decided to machine quilt the borders. I retired to the kitchen, set up the machine and went for it.
I had a ball getting it done and I was so glad to finish it by the 25th as it was a small deadline I had imagined for it, I only managed it by fluke.
so here it is...
My 'tis the season completed hanging...drum roll please..

Now it can join the other christmas items finished so far.

Almost finished another stitchery at craft group today and I stopped off at Spotlight on the way home to spend my birthday voucher from them so I bought some off white homespun to use as a backing for my sweet nostalgia quilt. I will use some scraps from the top as well then it can go for either quilting or basting at the quilters. I still can't decide whether to quilt by hand or not. I know how I want it quilted but I am worried that they won't do it exactly as I want or that it will cost a packet. Decisions, Decisions.

Have a great weekend!

Marina

that time of the week...

2011-06-24T09:41:00.000+10:00

I am hoping to have a lazy day at home today after the housework and washing are done, of course.
Firstly I'd like to thank the new followers to my blog, and thankyou to the other followers as well. It's nice to know people like to share my crafting with me.

I decided this week to trace off some more of the 'Tis the season stitcheries to make either another top or some table runners. Will decide once there are a few done. I think I am enjoying them even more a second time. Just taking it slowly, no rush-maybe that is why I wasn't as happy with my stitching the first time, I was so eager to finish them. I have done two so far- then I will just have to decide how I will put them together. I would like to assemble them a little differently but we will see how we go!

The postie brought two lovely Flowers this week from Narelle. I have withdrawn from the Hexie flower swap as I am going to finish my top off once I get my June flower from the swap. Narelle and I did a little swap between ourselves as we hadn't been paired as yet in the swap. She sent me these two gorgeous flowers and some hot chocolate. They will go into the last row of my garden top. I have sewn all the green fillers around the top except where the last row will go and I am very happy with the result. I am hoping this months swap flower will arrive soon as I am keen to complete it! Then I can start on my Park Avenue flower garden. I have worked out the numbers so I am ready to go.

This week while planting some cyclamen babies I thought I would check on my orchids. I am not a great plant grower but luckily these seem to realise they have to make it on their own. I was surprised to find spikes waiting to pop and even some open flowers on others. I gave them some fertiliser as a reward. My sil grows the most amazing orchids and she looks after them diligently. It isn't uncommon for her to have over twenty spikes from one plant. I am so jealous. I get excited over two!

Craft group tomorrow and I am looking forward to it as I haven't been for a few months. Just too much going on sometimes to fit everything in.
Hope you get some crafty time on your weekend.
cheers

Marina
ps notice I used my rug mug.

after consultation....

2011-06-19T10:32:00.001+10:00

.....with my creative advisor... aka mum, We have worked out how to finish my flower garden. Fortunately the apple didn't fall far from the tree, in regards to how mum and I like to do things. I had decided to take the perceived 'easy' road and just applique the shaped edge onto a border but I haven't been totally happy with that. I am not a tidy or organised person most of the time but when it comes to crafting I like to be very exact and as near perfect as I can. Mum had suggested putting in half hexies to even the really uneven edge but I didn't want to think about more basting and stitching, I was a bit impetuous and just wanted to see the end in sight- quickly. A bloggy visitor had suggested the same. I gave into the idea as I know it is the only way I will be satisfied with the end result and am happy I did! It has taken nearly a year to get to this much progress a little more won't hurt. Last night while re watching Harry Potter- the prisoner of Azkaban,( I am watching the movies again in anticipation of the new movie) I basted all the half hexies I will need to finish my top and some more green hexies to fill in the other gaps in the edges..

Feels good....
This is the progress so far with evening up the edges..

this lower edge will have basting removed and then I will add the border to form a straight edge.

I have also worked a bit on my 'Tis the season quilting. I was missing some brown pearle thread but found some in my stash so I was able to do the brown blocks. I have quilted around 8 blocks.

Am debating as to whether to make another one of these. They will be handy to stitch at night......
The sun has been shining in Melbourne this weekend so lots of washing and drying getting done.
No 3 son played his tennis finals Friday night and his team won! Talk about nail biting finish, they were drawn on points so had to count back to sets won. Glen got highest stats for the night so he was over the moon.
Today DH and Glen are playing father/son game at the club. It's good to have boys!
Hope you are having a great weekend!
marina

some stitchery finishes....

2011-06-13T17:00:00.001+10:00

Over the last week or so I have been just pottering away at a few stitcheries that will come together one day into a project. I had been thinking about these little girls for some time and had stitched three already and it was time they had some company. I have used white on white fabrics but stitched on the reverse side as the front was a little over powering for the stitcheries. No close ups on these stitcheries as I don't know why but my stitching has been a little bit scruffy of late. Not up to scratch at all! I need to try to work out why. Maybe I need some new needles?

I have also finished stitching my times gone by May installment which is just as well because this month's pattern should be arriving this week, hopefully.

It has been a lovely Queen's birthday weekend. We had a family wedding on Sunday night and we spent the night in a hotel in the city for a treat. It also meant we didn't have a late night drive home.
Not much crafting unfortunately, but it will be school holidays soon and I think it is nearly time to make a list of what I will like to get done.
On Saturday I took a trip to GJ's fabrics. A wonderful patchwork shop! They have had a massive reorganise and I had a lovely time sticky beaking around. I bought some extra wide seeded homespun to use as backing for Life is Beautiful quilt, I mainly wanted to find some fabrics to use for a border for my flower garden. I am ready to start planning for it to be completed. I will add just one more row and then that is it! so far there are 96 flowers in my garden! After I have finished this one it will be time to join up my Park avenue flowers.

I found some gorgeous cream print for the border and a lovely green check for the binding and possibly a small border around the top. I was toying with appliqueing some butterflies around the border?
What do you think of the green inner border?

Something to think about before I chop!
Here is a little quote from the lovely book I received from Lorraine (the balancing kiwi) I didn't give any idea of the size of the little book in my previous photos of it but it is just so adorably tiny.
Hope you like the quote too...

hope you all have a lovely week...
Marina

Oh Joy!

2011-06-09T18:20:00.000+10:00

Today I arrived home from work to find a parcel waiting for me. DH commented "how come you always get parcels?"
Just lucky I guess...
Todays treasure was a surprise from Fiona of Bubzrugz. She sent me a gorgeous parcel of Birthday goodies. It was such a great surprise!
Look at this beautiful gift tag, such a pretty button.

a lovely mouse

some beautiful fabric and a jar cover. This will go somewhere special.

I feel so lucky! Fiona you are wonderful.. Thankyou so much!
Feeling special!
Marina

get ready for some piccies....

2011-06-08T16:23:00.000+10:00

I have some pictorial catch up to play.
Yesterday was the 7th June and I had three little parcels that weren't to be opened till the 7th!
When I opened them I found these lovely gifts from a swap friend Els.
They are just gorgeous and the fabrics are so soft and delicate.
Thankyou Els I love them!!!

these little crosses are just tiny and so perfect.

Another parcel arrived in the mail today. Lorraine of the balancing Kiwi and I have done some lovely little swaps with each other since being swap partners in a Christmas swap.This time we decided we would both jump on the mug rug bandwagon. Lorraine's parcel arrived last weekend and mine today. I just love getting goodies in the mail. She also sent some special extras. We both love the colour blue so it goes without saying that we love things that are blue!

Remember the little blue heart that was a sneak peak a few posts ago? Well this is the rug mug I sent to Lorraine. She let me know that she liked it but is too afraid to use it. I am not one to judge as I have a collection of beautiful crocheted wash cloths that will probably never see water!

This is the loveliness that I received...

lovely teapots and teacups with embroidered embellishments. Uncanny how we were on such a similar track!

a beautiful toile fabric purse.

and this gorgeous book with lovely sayings. It is just divine. I love the 'm' it is a small plaque.

Thankyou so much Lorraine for my lovely parcel. Whether my mug rug gets used or not is still to be decided it may join the washcloths on the dresser!

Hope everyone is having a lovely week I know I am (except for the visit to the dentist this afternoon. I have another 3 fillings to go! Signs of a misspent adulthood being afraid of the dentist-still afraid but sucking it up)

cheers

Marina

Teddy bears picnic

2011-06-02T19:17:00.001+10:00

Today I have organised to join Melody's teddy bear's picnic. I have managed to organise some teddies to come along. They are picnicking in the flower bed.

The little bear with the green spiky tuft is one I bought a fair few years ago as he was so cute. The little one in the middle is named Bumbles. Mum bought him at a porcelain doll and teddy show for no. 2 son when he was young. He would often have a 'grumpy' face and Bumbles was his perfect match. The well worn bear on the right has a little story. My good friend and I, when we were young teens, decided that we would swap a treasured item with each other. I gave her my old kangaroo skin Koala bear and she gave me this bear. His is well worn and he was very special to her. I don't know if she still has my Koala but I hope so.

If you would like to have a look at other teddy picnics pop over to Melody's blog
Looking forward to the weekend!
Marina

tuesday treasures...

2011-05-31T16:38:00.000+10:00

Sometimes I can't think of a treasure for Tuesdays, but the other day I found an old photo album that had my old swap cards in it. I used to love collecting swap cards. Those that had dogs, cats or horses were especially cherished. I used to dream of all the lovely dogs I would love to own and could only wish longingly for a pony!
Those days seem so long ago...
I thought I would share some pics of my cards. I did have many more but with time and a little sister many disappeared.

Astro boy was one of my favourites.

these two are very well worn.

well after all those pics....
May even have join a teddy bear's picnic this week...
Will reveal my additions to my hexie top later this week.
cheers
Marina

The postman cometh!

2011-05-27T11:42:00.000+10:00

The postman was most welcome today!
He brought me two lovely surprises. The first was the lovely table topper that I won on Peg's blog. I admire the lovely quilts and throws that she makes so much and was tickled pink to have won. As it happened as it arrived I had just cleared the table and was looking for a doilie to put on it. Now that is what I call timing!

Isn't is just wonderful.
The second delivery was my May hexies from the hexie flower swap from Joanne. They are two beautiful flowers and I think they are in Civil war reproduction fabrics.
More wonderfulness!!

At the start of last week I received the next pattern for Times gone by bom.

I have it all ready to start appliqueing and stitching. Instead of needleturn applique I am using wools again. I replaced the needleturn in the first block with wools as well. I enjoy working with the wools and am trying to use them where I can. I think they fit in well with this bom.

I think I will work on this at craft group tomorrow.
Hope you all have a crafty weekend.
cheers
Marina

25th!

2011-05-25T08:29:00.000+10:00

Well I had hoped to show a quilted 'tis the season top but that didn't quite get there. It is all basted and ready to quilt so this week it will get started.
Instead for my Christmas finish for May I completed two stitcheries into little wall hangings.

Over the weekend the weather was very conducive to craftiness as it rained quite a bit and was chilly!
When I can't decide what to do I turn to hexie flowers. I have made my June swap flowers and made some cream path flowers for my scrappy garden.I also made some flowers for my own garden. I should be able to make two rows soon. Sometimes your scraps can invite you to use them.

Monday morning the postie brought a special parcel from an overseas friend. Els in the Netherlands and I were swap partners in my first swap that I took part in. We keep in touch and send goodies for Birthdays and Christmas. Els sent me a parcel for my birthday next month. It got here quicker than she had anticipated so just in case it did arrive early she included a little note on the parcels.....

I am terrible at waiting to open things so I have to put them away to wait.......... I promise I will be good!

I managed to make two milk jug doilies last week too. I haven't made any for awhile and I really enjoyed them. I plan to make a couple more to put away for gifts. They are a nice distraction from stitching. It was fun looking for the beads to put on the edges too. The first one has shell flowers. Just pretties it up a little bit. The second one has some hand made beads the my aunt brought me from Indonesia a few years ago. I forgot to press them before snapping away.

Hope you are having a lovely week so far...
cheers
Marina

sending goodies around the place

2011-05-19T20:12:00.000+10:00

Yesterday I made a trip to the post office to send some goodies to their new homes.

Betty Boop left for Bev's place in WA and this felted pincushion is on it's way to Janet in the Yukon.

As soon as I read that Janet wanted a garden theme the thought popped into my head. to make a wheelbarrow and bunny and they fitted in the available space perfectly.

Jaqueline added the gorgeous violets and Sue, the bluebirds nesting in the branches. It's great to add to the loveliness!

Now to wait for mine to return home.....
My May hexies arrived at Jane's house. My next month's hexies are to be in blues and reds. That should be fun as I have a decent stash of these colours.
In the meantime I am enjoying making a few milk jug doilies that I will add as my christmas finishes. They will be good additions to the gift list.
Roll on Weekend!

Marina

borders done and dusted!

2011-05-17T08:11:00.000+10:00

After some telephoning yesterday Lyn's needlework no longer had the glace fabric I needed, they had forgotten to take it off their website. Bummer!
I thought I would try where I had bought the previous glace dessert roll, Jemimas. I thought I had bought the last one but they had another one! Lucky me. I zipped round after work and picked it up. I couldn't wait till after tea to cut and sew the borders on. Now it just needs to be quilted. I have backing and wadding to do this so that is the next job on my list.
I also started the binding for my Tisket Tasket quilt that I finished quilting on the weekend. That should be done this week. Woo Hoo!

I also had to finish some hexie flowers for my swap partner this month. She likes modern fabrics, which I must admit are not fabrics I use or would know to buy so I hope these will look modern enough. I couldn't resist fussy cutting the hexagons in the pattern. I think I need to make myself some for my scrappy garden.

Have a lovely week.
Marina

and Betty is going to.......

2011-05-16T08:22:00.000+10:00

Bev C's house at Kainga Happenings!!
I have emailed Bev for her mailing address and Betty will be on her way asap!
Some good news on the Glace front. I receive newsletters from a couple of patchwork shops and just happened to receive one on Sunday from Lyn's fine needlework. I thought I may as well check if she had some of my fabric and after all the disappointment of my intensive googling the night before to try and find the fabric, they had some showing as available!!! I will call today to make sure and then it will be a done deal!
Talk about happy!
And the moral is...sometimes you just need to step back, not stress and things happen on their own.
Have a great week
Marina

Oops! Oh no....

2011-05-14T14:21:00.002+10:00

This week I had a ball putting together the top for the 'Tis the season hanging. Yesterday I went to Jemima's to buy border fabric so I could finish the top altogether. I bought a Glace pre cut (honey bun I think) that had just the tonal fabrics from the range. I would be able to get the borders out but I would have to be very precise and careful. Well that should have told me that I was doomed to fail, but being a half full type of girl, no worries!

Yeah, right...

I did the first border fine and then the second border... You betcha I stuffed it up. I was frantic now- my side border would have three pieces sewn together to make a border. I googled till I was googled out and replacement fabric is out of the question as it is an old range and the chances of finding it are 'Buckley's or none'.

So what to do... Do I sew them the way they are, get a different red fabric or keep trying to get the red tonal fabric that I really want to use, or finally add some embellishment to cover the errors (thanks for the idea mum)?

I am going to take it all to Mum's to get her opinion but I know I need to be happy with the result, especially after all that work..

Any suggestions would be welcome or if you know of anyone who has perhaps 7inches of the red tonal Glace fabric?

Here is the top so far.....

see how perfect the red fabric looks,

this has to be my favourite stitchery block

On a less disastrous note... I made this little door hanger for a friend at work who is leaving us. It just needs a little stuffing. It's from the Quilt a gift book that Carine sent me in exchange for a Boys story quilt book. It has some lovely designs in it. I used some of my vintage shell buttons for the corners.

For the past two weeks I have been also trying to hand quilt my Tisket Tasket Top and I am down to the last block and then I will just machine quilt around the border. It will be a relief to cross this off the list .

This arrived in the mail yesterday and I have put my thinking cap to decide what my addition to Janet's garden themed pincushion will be. I think I have just the thing!

Boy talk about lots of pics..

Just one last sneak peak at something I am making. Not too many clues at the moment. Someone may be peaking! I have been having issues with my stitching at the moment, the stitches seem to be huge and I had big issues with the curves on this stitchery. I had to unpick them all and redo them. Much better second time around. Some of my 'tis the season stitcheries had stitches that seemed to be doing their own thing. Luckily they don't look too bad.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend...

I am off to make some hexies for my May swap partner.

Second finals of Eurovision tonight and the Finals tomorrow. Am I the only sad person watching?

My children seem to think so!

Cheers

Marina

ps I have reinstated any lost comments for the Betty boop fabric. I will draw it tomorrow as there are a few people who would like to give it a new home. If you are interested leave a comment on the previous post and I will draw a new home tomorrow.

looking for a new home....

2011-05-12T21:21:00.000+10:00

I have two pieces of Betty Boop fabric that are looking for a new home.
I bought them a long time ago as a gift but they boomeranged back to me and I don't think I will use them as I am not that into Betty Boop. They are about a half yard each.
Anyone interested?
If you are just leave a comment and if there is more than one comment I will pick them out of a hat on sunday.

On the craft side of things I have finished all my 'Tis the season stitcheries and put the top together! Can you believe it? I just need to buy some fabric for the borders-a job on my list for tomorrow. I really love the Glace fabrics and hope my local patchwork shop has some on the bolt. Once the borders are done I will take a pic! If I work hard I may get it done by the 25th. Now I would be very happy to claim that as my Christmas item for May. It would definitely make up for last month when I didn't get one done.
Cheers
Marina

some more blocks and a pincushion

2011-05-04T18:50:00.001+10:00

On Monday Sue's wool base arrived from Janet in Canada. She stitched a fantastic mountain goat looking over a cliff down on a trout jumping. It looked fantastic but how was I going to add to it. I scoured Sue's blog looking for hints on things she liked, when I suddenly looked at her blog name 'Charlotte's cottage'-that's it I thought!

I would add a little cottage to the base and then there was just a little gap that needed filling so what better than a little ray of sunshine on her cottage!

I am quite happy with the result, I hope Sue likes it too. Now it will be off to America to Jacqueline then it will make it's final trip home to Sue in Western Australia.

On Sunday I thought I would work on the borders for the next three Tis the season blocks. Now I make no secret that I don't like cutting and sewing up blocks, my favourite part is the stitcheries and hand sewing. I thought while I was cutting strips for three blocks I may as well cut strips for all the blocks. I now have them all ready for when I finish the next lots of stitcheries. Happy days!

so here are the next three...

It's half way through the week already....... Roll on the weekend.

Cheers

Marina

Tuesday Treasures...

2011-05-03T08:31:00.001+10:00

I haven't joined in Tuesday Treasures for a little while but Melody has suggested we post pics of our Treasures being our pets. Well you don't have to tell me twice. I love to post pics of my pets.

The photos won't arrange in the order that I want, but here we go...
Monty and coffee doing what they do best! Swimming and retrieving.

Coffee at his one and only Royal Show adventure. well I think he is gorgeous!

Monty always at home in the water

Of course there is Maisie the Princess Horizontal.

This is Jack, my super boy (no longer with us)

this is an old photo of Jack, Monty (when he was young) and my super girl Peggy (no longer with us)

I just love all my four leggers and there are a few that I haven't pictured here that left us some time ago.

Pop over to Melody's to check out who else is having a pet brag!

You don't have to ask me twice.lol

cheers

Marina

new fabric and new project

2011-04-30T16:01:00.000+10:00

Here are some fabric goodies that came home with me from New Zealand.

This lovely fabric has gorgeous fat bumblebees.

This fabric has lovely wood carvings on it. The cream on cream fabric has 'tribal swirls' and the buttons are cut from Paua shell. As I understand it, it is a type of abalone and has the most beautiful greens and blues.
They will make a lovely souvenir project.

Now I did say that there were some books waiting for me when we got home. This book has been appearing quite frequently in blogland and when I saw all the different versions of it on the net I was very inspired to want to make it as well.

I have made up three blocks and stitched three more.... they just need their borders. I am going to try to finish three blocks at a time so that I don't just stitch and don't finish them off. For the borders I am using Glace by three sisters. It will make a nice christmas wall hanging.

I am hoping to get some more stitching done this weekend!
This morning I had to forfeit craft group to go to our Curly club fun day. Two very tired curlies are recovering from a fun day of swimming, running and socialising. Their owner is a little fatigued too!
Hope you have an enjoyable weekend!
cheers
Marina

more pics to show and tell

2011-04-27T17:05:00.001+10:00

hexagons in Dunedin

More hexies in Dunedin

Queenstown in the early morning after a dusting of snow

Queenstown once the sky cleared

first glimpse of Doubtful Sound

Doubtful sound

doubtful Sound

Sorry they aren't in order of travel. We had the most perfect weather for our trip to Doubtful sound. The tour guide commented how lucky we were as these type of days were quite rare, I think he said lucky if they got 50 days a year as calm and sunny as what we had. Dolphins swam alongside the boat and we saw penguins and seals. It was just so magnificent. We even went down into the Manopouri power station under the mountain. Awesome.
cheers for now
Marina

a little bit of crafting

2011-04-25T09:07:00.001+10:00

There have been a few things blocking my craftiness lately and yesterday I mastered them and now can hopefully get a bit of enthusiasm happening, especially seeing as I have a bit too much fabric recently acquired that needs to be used!
Firstly I needed to get a wriggle on and finish another block for my boys story quilt. I had finished enough stiticheries to get three blocks done but I hate cutting lots of fabrics and sewing them together (not very good feelings for a patchworker) but I had to at least do one. Three was too daunting so I am happy with one success.

My next 'burden' project was my bom from Helen Stubings. I was very enthusiastic about this project and had great plans for how I would do it but the first block didn't work out the way I had pictured it in my mind and I was very disheartened. The three blocks had accumulated and I thought I would get enthusiastic about the stitchery block but that one wouldn't come out right either. So I scrapped the stitchery and started over with it and only used one thread to stitch and it is much better. The font is a little too wonky for my liking but that's life. When I did the pieced blocks I even mucked them up by cutting the squares as 4 1/2 instead of 4 1/4. Seems I am not meant to do this bom first go at all.
I did the hexies while we were away so I thought it best to fire up and have a go at least. I even contemplated cancelling my bom but it would mean I had wasted the first three months. I am also too stubborn to give up.
I am reasonably happy with the result so far and at least I have gotten past it and can keep going with it.

I don't think I will get a Christmas item made this month but hopefully next month will be back on track!

Today is ANZAC day in Australia and there is much to remember and contemplate with soldiers currently serving in conflicts around the world as well as remembering those that have given their life to serve their country.
Lest we forget.

marina

here we go ready or not!

2011-04-23T14:50:00.002+10:00

Get ready for some snapshots. ... Part one..
I know they are all scenery shots but the scenery is just amazing. Just wait till you see my shots of trees and mosses!
I hope my photos can come close to doing these beautiful places justice.

red tussock grass- this valley and the mountains enclosing it were covered in this beautiful grass. (yes I know it's only grass, but it was amazing)

view from the road up to Mt Hutt

Mt Hutt

Lake Tekapo- this was just amazing!! The colour of the waterways was all this turquoise blue, just phenomenal in the sunshine.

outside Twizel

We didn't get to see any wildlife except for two types of birds one was a pukeko and the other an eagle type bird. New Zealand has no native mammals and some of the native birds are quite rare due to introduced mammals that have become pests like the stoat, possum and deer.
Hope you have enjoyed this instalment of photos, I am afraid the next lot will be of more mountains and trees. I just didn't tire of looking at the different landscapes hope you don't either.
Next post may even include some crafty items....
cheers
Marina

been gone a little bit.....

2011-04-22T13:50:00.002+10:00

Well things have been a little quiet here due to a few factors such as lack of inspiration, direction and creativity but also because of a big holiday to New Zealand!

Fiona please note how well your travel bag co-ordinates with my luggage!

We have been away for a lovely 10 days touring the south island of New Zealand. We travelled over 2000 km and even more if you include the boat cruises and bus trip and initial plane trip to get there and back. I know it sounds cliched but sometimes the scenery really did take your breath away. I took lots of happy snaps of what will seem the most boring things but to me they were just wonderful. Our older boys who didn't come with us said while looking at our photos 'what another mountain?, what's with the trees?'. So if you weren't there I can imagine it would be a little like that. So be prepared over the course of time to be bombarded with a pic of a tree or a mountain or two!
One of the highlights of the trip was being in Queenstown at the same time as the Quilt symposium. No I didn't get to go as it opened at 1pm on the day we had to leave but I did get to meet up with Lisa who was my partner in a Christmas swap last year and was there to attend the Symposium. She and her friend Helen came to dinner with us and we all had a lovely meal and laugh together. It was wonderful.
Patchwork shops were a little sparse but we did hunt two out on our travels. Towns were quite sparse also so we would travel quite far without going through a town at all and when we did they were usually small country towns but they were very sweet.
Before I left I ordered some new books for some new inspiration and they arrived while we were away so I am hoping that I can get fired up in the few days left of our school/easter holidays. Fingers crossed!
So stay tuned for pics of lakes, mountains, trees and glacier carved sheer cliffs!
cheers
Marina

a little late but done nevertheless

2011-03-27T10:32:00.002+11:00

after craft group I was determined to get my Christmas item finished. When you host craft group you don't get much time to do crafting as a lot of time is spent making cups of tea and preparing goodies so once everyone left I stayed in the zone and pulled out this applique to finish it off.
I made an error in the placement and couldn't put a little snowflake that was on the original but I like it anyway. After I quilted the framing fabric by machine it has caused a little bit of bubbling, might have to unpick that and do some hand quilting, it may be more forgiving. It looks particularly bad in the picture but the side bindings haven't been completely sewn down so that may have affected it to. (I was a little premature to photograph it I think)

While getting enthused I decided to start my bom 'times gone by'. Step two arrived a few weeks ago and I hadn't even started the first one. Well strike while the iron is hot I say! I prepared the applique and stitchery block and the little 1/2 inch hexagons that will decorate part two.
I even popped into Jemima's for some more of the blue fabric behind the snowman applique and found they had a sale on so I grabbed two charm packs for only $12.00 one is a Christmas themed pack and the other an older Fig tree quilts pack. I also found the perfect blue fabric for a Christmas themed project I have been wanting to do!
Hope I get some more crafty time today!
Happy Sunday.
cheers
Marina

The end of the week....

2011-03-24T22:10:00.002+11:00

Only one more day to go to the weekend. Woo hoo!
Last weeks pickles turned out wonderfully and we have enough jars to last the year- if we don't give them all away like we did last time.
Tomorrow is the 25th of the month and my Christmas item is still a little off being finished. I am hoping to get some crafting time to finish it on the weekend. It is only a small project so is achievable. Then to better plan next month's project a little better.
My swap hexies were posted last week and hopefully shouldn't take too long to get to their destination in India. How exciting to be posting to India.
There is another little package that needs to be sent..... Jacqueline's felted wool base needs to be sent on to Janet in Yukon Territory in Canada. It is amazing sending these little crafts to crafty people all over the world.
I received Jacqueline's base earlier in the week and got working straight away as it will have to travel far to get to it's next destination. Jacqueline and I exchanged emails and I suggested an Australian theme to what I might add. My mind started to churn ideas. I ended up with this idea...

It was quite difficult to make the gum leaves, I am afraid they look a little like a palm tree top! I hope Jacqueline will like this little Koala bear.
I managed to finish off another stitchery last weekend and haven't touched another one since. I only have three more stitcheries and then there will only be cutting and piecing to go.

Tonight I cut out some more hexies for my next month's swap partner. Mid purple and mid pink are the colours requested. I got a little carried out cutting some leftover fabrics in those colours and I now have enough to make around 8 flowers. I will pick two of the nicest ones to send and keep the rest for my own scrappy hexie throw. I am sure they won't go to waste!
On Saturday it is my turn to host the ladies from the craft group I belong to. Will be lovely to catch up.
Hope you have a lovely weekend
cheers
Marina

a bit of this and that....

2011-03-20T15:25:00.000+11:00

This week I have been working on my boys'story quilts stitcheries. You know when something doesn't seem to inspire then you get swept up in enthusiasm for a project again.

These are the latest additions...

I love the details in the simple drawings and enjoyed stitching them. Now I should be right to finish another two blocks! Where can I find some extra time?

Yesterday while at mum's 'dad sitting' I gave mum a hand to pick some of her abundant crop of tomatoes. Nothing beats home grown tomatoes and when we had a big batch of our own we made a yummy tomato pickle . We picked a huge wash basket full and Mum gave us a few kilos of her tomatoes so we got busy chopping and cooking and another batch of pickle is nearly ready to put into jars. There were some huge ones, a few tipped the scales at around 500g.

this one is a handful. They are from an old stock of seeds that my grandfather would keep going year to year. A lovely old fashioned meaty type of tomato.

here are some more little stars that I have made this week....

If I can make a few each week they will accumulate nicely.

Well I will need to focus on getting a Christmas item done this week in time for the 25th!

Hope your weekend has been spent doing what you like to do!

cheers

Marina

Labour day holiday...

2011-03-14T18:21:00.000+11:00

Today is a public holiday in Melbourne and it has been a wonderful day!
This week I reached a milestone target in that I have completed 40 large hexie flowers and I have used 99 percent of the jelly roll! I am so chuffed. I still haven't decided how large this quilt will be so I have just cut up some more of my Park Avenue stash of fabric to make some more. They make a wonderful pile of flowers.

This week I received a parcel in the mail from Heleen and Corry (Dutch Sisters) in the Netherlands. I won their give away last month of one of their gorgeous little birds. It came beautifully wrapped with some lovely extra fabric.

I have hit a bit of a stale mate as far as Creativity is concerned at the moment and I want to start something new but can't focus on anything I might like to do. My lovely stash of Bliss has been calling for some time and after managing to get some more of the white spotted fabric from GJ's I thought it might be time to commit. I was almost going to make it into hexagon flowers but I wanted to make something a little different. So, I thought I would have a go at this..... Ok so it is still a hexagon shape......

It looks quite pretty I think and using the same technique that I use for hexagons it has worked quite well.
I just am a little unsure of what to do with the folded over pieces at the and of the diamonds that tend to bulk up the centre. What do others do to minimise the bulk?. This is only my first one so it may get easier. I think I will make some more and see how it goes.

Watching the news tonight has just been devastating seeing more and more tragedy in the aftermath of the Japanese disaster. Some stories of amazing rescues and others of deep sadness.
Hopefully the tremours will subside and the recovery will proceed.
Hugs,
Marina

ps.. I am taking part in Fiona's felted wool pincushion round robin and Sue, who I sent my base to, has just added her touch to my base. Pop over and have a peek it is fantastic.

a lovely friday

2011-03-04T13:29:00.000+11:00

There is nothing like a Friday off after not having one for awhile!
With the drudgery and the hunting and gathering out of the way it is 'me' time.
I shot down to Patchwork Unlimited to pick up a new roll of Floriani stitch and wash fusible that I need for my next batch of hexies. I had run out a few weeks ago and they had to order it in.
Today I thought would be a good day to wash a few throw quilts that have been over the couches and getting decidedly grotty. They look so lovely drying on the line. I love how green all the lawn still is after the summer. Usually we have a dust bowl for a back yard at this time of year.

I have also used some of the lovely wools that Fiona brought down for me when we met in Melbourne.
Here is a sneak peak as it eventually will be a Christmas item. The pattern is one that Carrie sent me as a giveaway on her blog around Christmas time

Speaking of Fiona...
Here is a pic she sent me of the two of us from our meet up....
Neither of us usually show pics of ourselves on our blogs so we strategically placed the lovely pumpkin bag that she made for me just in front of our faces.. My hubby took the pic for us and I am sure he thought we were loopy, it must be a little reassuring to him to know that there are other 'loopies' like me.

I have not been very motivated to make much more than hexies at the moment. I have prepared my March swap hexie and have been busy making more flowers from the Park Avenue odd bits. Can't waste any of that loveliness at all! On the hexie site we are currently voting as to whether to send more than one hexie to our swap partners. Some would prefer more some only the one per month. I have made two in case the voting goes to send two per month. I don't mind either way, though I would like to add to my top quickly.

My felted wool base is making it's way to Sue in Western Australia... Can't wait till the first round arrives from Jaqueline in the States to work on it.
Have a great weekend!!
Marina

tuesday treasures

2011-03-01T21:23:00.001+11:00

Wow, it seems like ages since I have been organised enough to post a Tuesday Treasure. I am glad I hunted out something that is really under my nose most days.
My treasures this week are two angels. Both are special.

the pottery angel holding a heart is especially dear to me as it was given to me by one of my closest friends. Five years ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have a breast removed, chemo, the turmoil of the then recently new herceptin treatment and all the other stresses of her diagnosis and treatment. It was a hard time for her but she is an incredible woman who I admire so much. Once all her treatments were finished she and her husband took out a group of her close friends and family to thank everyone for their support and friendship during those hard times. We each received one of these pottery angels holding a heart as token of her thanks. The angel is also a little bell that makes a beautiful ding noise. She is just so warm looking and it seems like she could wrap you up in her wings.
The other angel is a beautiful pewter candle holder from Indonesia given to me by my aunt who was living there at the time. The angel is so simple but so pretty. I love the weight when you pick her up.
They both stand on either side of my grandparent's photo to look after them as they are my angels too. I miss them greatly.
Boy that was a full on post!
I hope you enjoy my Tuesday treasures.
cheers
Marina

February items.

2011-02-25T07:42:00.000+11:00

February 25th has rolled around again. I had been undecided what to make so I started a few things in the hope that I could finish at least one!
I have managed to finish three. I was going to save two so that if I had a bad month I could have them as back up but thought I would just post them anyway and I will have credit!
I made this Hugs and Kisses pattern that I won on Helen Stubing's blog into a cushion instead of a table runner. I hope to stitch another piece with this pattern and make it into the runner.

these two little stitcheries were left over from last year's stitching efforts and I didn't get to sew them into anything so thought they could become candle mats or mug rugs. One in blue and one in red matched the Park avenue fabrics perfectly I think.
I have planned next months project, it involves the lovely felted wool Fiona gave me.
Nothing like being prepared!
Hope you are all keeping on track with your targets.
Marina

My Thoughts are with the victims of the New Zealand earthquake. We watch the news intently in the hope of good news with respect to survivors. The rescue teams are just amazing.
Let there be miracles!

a Wonderful Saturday

2011-02-20T13:27:00.000+11:00

Yesterday morning I headed into the city to meet Fiona from Bubz rugz who is in Melbourne for a visit.
Neither of us knew what the other looked like so it was quite funny meeting up at Flinders St station. DH and I watched intently to see who would answer a phone call and try to guess which person was Fiona. I had only ever seen a pic of her with her face blocked by a camera so I was looking out for a familiar top of her head lol. There is photographic evidence of us catching up, as there was with Teresa, a photo of the two of us with a twist. I will have to wait for Fiona to get home and send me a copy. It will definitely be worth a giggle and will show the lovely bag she gave me that she used my 'free to good home' pumpkin fabric for.
We went and got a coffee and brunch and just sat and chatted away for a few hours that went way too fast before I had to meet DH again for the trip home. I just can't get over how wonderful it is to meet blog friends in the 'flesh'. She is a really lovely person and we had lots in common. I must say I have been lucky to have met 3 blogiverse friends and it has been a joy each time.
Before Fiona left to come to Melb. she had asked if I would like some of her home felted wools, I of course said I would love some, I was overwhelmed with the huge bag that Fiona brought for me. I have a superb stash of wools now and I can make lots of goodies with felted wools! It was just wonderful to meet with Fiona. So heaps of hugs and thanks for meeting me in Melbourne Fiona!!

Meeting up with Fiona meant that I could also hand deliver the two stitcheries done by mum and myself for Helen Stubings quilts to raise money for flood victims. It was lovely to hand them over in person as Fiona was our delegated person who would be sewing the blocks into a top. They were quite enjoyable and quick to do.

I also managed to finish another stitchery for my boys story quilt.
Boys can be so devilish can't they! I love it .

Hope your weekend has been a great one too!
See you soon for the Christmas item for February...Has everyone managed to get one done?
cheers
Marina