bits and bobs

I just don't know where the past few weeks have flown to...
I have been working on a surprise gift which I will show once it's complete as the recipient doesn't visit my blog but I can show that I have been slowly adding to my mini hearts collection.
This is a pic from a few weeks ago they have doubled since this pic was taken quite nicely.

 These little lovelies are from my scrap stash. They are so cute.

On Monday I had a day to myself and decided that I would piece a backing from my blue stash. It's rough looking in this picture but you get the idea. I was in a hurry  to start basting so it was a quick pic.

the backing is for this basket quilt which has been waiting for awhile.

It will be hand quilted as it's not that big and should be manageable.

I also basted another secret project for hand quilting. Think these will keep me distracted for a little bit till I get back to what I need to be working on.lol

happy days
marina

Hello, It's me

Well just channeling my inner Adele there for a minute.
Can't believe it's been so long.... I'm still alive and crafting. All the good intentions haven't made for much blogging. So today I thought it was time to catch up and record my crafting for the past two months.
There have been some starts and some finishes and lots of stuff in between. Some catch ups with crafty friends have helped reignite some sparks, and it's lovely to have such wonderful friends.
Now beware there are a lot of pics.....
No falling asleep now?

two new Caswell blocks...... a third is nearly done which will leave two to do, getting exciting

 made a start on my large clamshells, finding it hard to get enthused but there's no hurry to finish.

I have four completed wreaths for my floral hopscotch quilt and just seem to have lost some of the passion for it, I think it's the fabrics..... so I have decided to rethink the remaining applique blocks and have been looking for something a little simpler to make it an achievable finish. I thought the checkerboard blocks were going to delay this but they were done quick smart at the start, luckily.

I am going to replace the other applique blocks with this North Carolina Tulips block that I found on the net ages ago. Rediscovered it when sorting my room out.

 So need a new camera so that the colours will show properly!

These two have just had the pieces popped on the backgrounds as a trial, I am going with it. I love that it will be simple and still keep that fresh feel and more importantly be a stress free project.

 On the school holidays I managed to finish the last few blue baskets and start and finish all the 9 patch blocks so that I could put this together. I am so happy with it as it uses up some of my Lucy Kemper blues stash. there doesn't seem to be much of a dent made though.... will think about that after I have worked out a backing for it maybe from the same stash. Dare I say it I am getting a little over blues lol

My woollen scraps that were made up into squares for quite awhile got made up into a small crocheted blanket. Lovely and bright!

I suppose a big reason for all this crafting is that I got my sewing room back. A little bittersweet as it meant my Favourite No. 1 son moved out again. It was lovely having him home with us for about 6 months but it is also lovely to have my sewing room back.
A little reshuffling and some new and altered furniture did the trick and I love it. All my treasures where I can see them and more importantly access them. Still a small space but better managed.

I have at last managed to hang a full size quilt on the wall much to hubbie's dismay. But as it's in my room I can get away with it....though it does set a precedent....
I get to show off my baltimore to great effect. It was made to go on that wall.

Well if you're still with me, thanks for hanging around and catching up with my goings on.
I will try to be a better blogger and not just stalk you all and actually comment too.
cheers for now
Marina

boy it's been awhile...

Seems like such a long time between drinks... I have been contemplating blogging lately... like lots of others too I think. To Blog or not to Blog that is the question?
There have been lots of crafting shared and wonderful friendships made through blogging so I thought I did owe my blog some loyalty and at least another go at getting my blogging mojo up and running.
There has been crafting and socialising happening since last post and of course lots of time spent with my two furry boys.
Let's start there.... Billy has grown so much and is 6 months old now and just a fraction smaller than Coffee.
He is such a handsome boy and reasonably well behaved except for the usual puppy misdemeanours.

I have been spending a big part of the holidays trying to quilt Sweet William but once the hot weather kicked in it was way too hot to be quilting by hand so it was time to pick up my clamshells once again. Slow progress till a vist to Sue (kiwikid) and a motivation hit from seeing her completed clamshell quilt. I started mine around September last year and my shells accompanied me to Europe as my on the go project.
Well all that motivation and a bit of dedication has paid off as I only have two rows to go and it will done...I haven't decided whether to do borders or not but that can wait for now... I'm so happy with it's scrappiness.
Thanks Sue for the inspiration....

My next completed item was put together today. A baby quilt for a work colleague...
Some 1930's fabrics from a friend's stash and a lovely vintage fresh feel to a simple quilt is achieved.
This will be winging it's way next week to the wonderful Fiona of Bubz Rugz to work her quilting magic on..

some other bits and bobs before Christmas were a few gifties
some zipper pouches and a pincushion...

Just to share a little extra prettiness....a visit to our local St vinnies shop to get dog bedding led to me having a sticky beak in the doilies box.... found these two lovelies. When I think of the work that went into them I just can't leave them behind..

this design is one I have used often but just never quite get around to making the cup and saucer, so cute...

Well if you're still with me thanks for making it to the end of this post.
Hopefully I can keep it up..and get back into visiting more regularly too.
Happy new year to All!
cheers
Marina

puppy loving and knit purl knit

Last weekend was an action packed one...

Saturday spent with Elyte and Susan from Thimblestitch who was down from NSW.

It was lovely to catch up face to face with Susan as it has been two years since we last got together.

We exchanged small gifts.....

I made Susan a little zipper pouch with her favourite animal on it and Susan gifted me the most gorgeous mini hexie pin cushion. Needless to say it went straight to the sewing room!

some click clacking has been happening at the moment. I made two hats this week bringing the total to 5.

(one green one is missing from the photo)

 Sunday was another exciting day when we went to visit a Curly breeder to look into possible getting another furry friend.
The babies are only four weeks old at the moment so we have some time to decide whether to commit or not.
Twelve of these little babies greeted us.

It's hard to be impartial when you get to have a cuddle with these cuties.

I have some soul searching to do, it will be a big commitment. Wish Coffee could say whether he wants a companion or not? Another visit in a few weeks should decide.

have a great week

Marina

dabbling with some blues..

I have been thinking about a project that might use some of my blue stash, a project that can be picked up whenever and worked on and that can wait happily for when the mood strikes. No pressure sewing just how I like it.

These baskets were an internet trend project a few years ago and you know me I eventually catch up with the band wagon once it has come and gone.

They will be a handy little project.

I have prepared a dozen blocks so far.

 I want to alternate the basket blocks with a nine patch block so had to cut one to see how it would look.
I do like it but annoyingly my 9 patch ended up a 1/4 inch smaller than my basket background block.
I cut the backgrounds 6 1/2 inch and the 9 patch blocks use 2 1/2 inch blocks. Might need to check out my 1/4 inch seam. It seems I'm off to a false start already.

I have been playing around with some zipper pouches too. The finished one can't be shown at the moment but I thought it would be good to make a couple more to reinforce the method of making them.
I am not using a pattern so it grows as I go along.
Love this little applique and seeing that I don't need another pincushion thought it might make a nice applique for the pouch.

I have been having a bit of a knitting phase at the moment and made myself a slouch beanie. When a work friend admired it I offered to make her one ( I now have to make one for the other two girls at work too-new office uniform?) As a thankyou I found this on my desk one morning-some goodies to add to my travel kit. So lovely and so thoughtful.

Well I've made it to hump day....
Can it be friday tomorrow? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaase?
Have a great rest of the week...
cheers
marina