Quilting done!

 In the evenings I have been solely dedicating time to hand quilting my clamshells quilt and it's paid off with a big tick on the long term UFO list.

I really love this quilt. It started with a fun sewing class with Irene Blanck with the city girls. The clamshells were cut out and packed in my bags to take on our European holiday. I managed to baste all those I'd prepped and started sewing them together. A most enjoyable quilt from start to finish with lots of different fabrics with some gifted from lovely crafty friends.

Very happy to have it done. As I am not very good with labels on my quilts I thought I would take a leaf out of Michelle's book and use a doily as a label. I'm hoping she won't mind me using her idea.

I feel too lazy to stitch the details of the quilt on the doily so have managed by just using permanent pen. It feels like an 'it'll do effort' but it is what it is I want it done so I can move onto a project for a friend who has asked me to applique the borders on her quilt.

The cottons arrived at the start of the week so it's all systems go now that the clamshells are done. I'll share some pics once I start.

I was so excited about using one of my Op shop doily finds that I pulled out a couple more to prep the labels for Okehampton and Mary Brown. These will soon go to two of my favourite Nieces-once I finish the labels.

I think this is how I will make labels for my quilts from now on. I always feel a little twinge when I see them in op shops now they will have a purpose and mine won't end up unloved and unwanted there either! So thankyou Michelle for the idea.

Happy Days.

Marina

Sewing at leisure

 Days are rolling by and before I know it holidays will be over and it will be very interesting to see what the new school term will bring in regards to lockdown restrictions. The combination of on-site and off-site working has been a positive experience overall. No travel time, no interruptions on the up side, but no company on the down side. It's all a balancing act.

Sewing has been a feature of the lockdown and I have been concentrating on quilting my clamshells. I am over half way. On Saturday Chooky organised a zoom sewing get together and I joined in. It was lovely to see old friends and meet some new ones too. I have been missing my sewing get togethers with my sewing buddies and this was a great happiness boost. Thankyou Chooky for doing these.

While on  zoom Jo was handquilting as well and she had already bound her quilt. I thought this was a great idea so bound my Clamshells too. It's so much neater to handle but it just means I can't use the hoop near the edges.

I don't think I showed the whole of my novelty hexies quilt that I recently finished.

It feels good to complete these long term ufos.

I have also started sewing my second lot of monsters onto their backing fabric.

This shirting was a super bargain at Spotlight which ended up being about $5 per metre. 

I've found some great bargains on quality fabrics there and bought up enough to use for backings.

The backing for the clamshells was another great buy. I love it's vintage feel which compliments 'Scrappy' perfectly.

Onto the surrounding circles next!

Last year I got a little Elf on the Shelf Crazy and this year is looking like it's going to be even more crazy! I love displaying them in the office at School and the children love coming to see what they are up too. I've done a little lockdown shopping for accessories as I haven't had much fabric shopping so have channelled it to my Elf obsession.

If anyone is looking for sites to buy reasonably priced accessories for their Elf these two sites are amazing.....

My Magical Moments and My little elf store

Great service and gorgeous knick knacks. As it gets closer to Christmas I'll be sure to share my Elf's antics. Here's a little flashback to last year...

Look for the silver lining 

Marina

Deja Vu

 It's been a never ending series of lockdowns and the months just seem to roll into one long 'space'.  I hope everyone is managing well in these trying times.  It's difficult to be missing family and friends but hopefully we will start moving forward once again.

School holidays are here and one thing about lockdown is it's great for getting things done.

I have been busy hand quilting an old flimsy. It was about time my novelty hexies had their time in the sun. It has been very enjoyable finishing this off, as it isn't very big it was quite manageable. I remember how much fun it was fussy cutting the fabrics for the flowers.

The next hand quilting project has been basted today and I'm looking forward to ticking this flimsy off the list too. These clamshells have been hanging around for a few years too.

A recent quilt that was professionally quilted came back to me too. The binding has been waiting to be sewn down, another tick off the list.. My Okehampton quilt is complete. I am so happy with this quilt, just love the scrappy feel of it.

My slow works in progress have been progressing too.

The first border of 'basket case' by Irene Blanck is done...

The first monster quilt top is finished and has been taken to the quilter..... This version is a little different to the original pattern as I have made it for a work colleague. The second one I am working on is as the pattern.

We had a little addition to our household during Lockdown... a new Fox terrier girl has joined us and her name is Gypsy.

She has settled in very well and has an affectionate temperament. I feel this is due to being raised in a home environment with children who have handled her a lot. 

Introducing Gypsy- she has taken to helping with quilting chores very well.

Learning to walk three dogs is a challenge at times, almost like trying to dance with an octopus, but with time Gypsy will find her place and learn to stay on one side ! lol

Hope you have a great day and I hope to post some more over the holidays and catch up with friends blogs.

Happy sewing

Marina

something new, something to get back to..

Well where has the last week gone. 

My days have been spent happily going for walks with Billy and Poppy and getting some sewing time too.

Mary Brown and I still have been spending time together and the first framing border is on and I have started one side of the outer border. Planning and measuring are not really my strengths, I sort of have an idea in my head and thankfully it usually transfers to my project. I am going to have to mitre the outer border to match up the sawtooth border. A logistical nightmare for my non mathematical brain. Thankfully mum came over and jiggled some figures and clarified how I need to proceed with the borders. Today I cut and measured a paper 'dummy'of the border to make sure I don't make mistakes. I'm sure I will but it won't be anything that can't be fixed.

Here's a little snapshot of how it will look..

I'm pretty happy with it so far.

I received my new project pattern in the mail last week and I am chomping at the bit to start it. As a little reward to myself for all that measuring and planning I decided it would be good to start tracing and cutting the freezer paper templates. I have some lovely fabric that I will use for the backgrounds. These blocks are big-measuring 16 1/2 inches square. The pieces are nice and big too. 

I'll use my reproductions stash and by the time I've finished this and Okehampton it will hopefully have reduced considerably....famous last words!

Well here it is..

Speaking of Okehampton, some progress is very overdue. 

first a reminder what this quilt looks like...

I'm up to the clamshell borders and  I seem to have stalled a little. Seeing some other clamshell projects happening in blogland I am feeling very guilty but a very inspired to get back to it.

I have a box full of clamshells, mostly basted and two rows basted ready to stitch for the first border.

So I need to fire up string bean!

The winter weather is being quite kind and I hope it continues to be.

Sewing catch up this week with some lovely ladies to look forward to and some extra holidays too to make me happy.

Hope there is lots of happiness heading your way too

cheers

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

enjoying the cool....

Hate to mention the 'cool' word especially when so many folks from NSW and Queensland are absolutely sweltering. Hope you all get a cool change soon.
The binding was sewn onto the  baby quilt, it was gifted and will be treasured! My clamshells have their binding too and I love it. A little too scared to put it on the table at the moment for fear of the barbarians spilling something on it. I'm hyperventilating just thinking about it...must keep it safe. lol
Here they are all finished with their pretty bindings..

 Even got a new Caswell block finished today....
Unfortunately my camera is not showing the true colours in the fabrics for all three projects but this is as true to colour as I could get. The bright circles aren't that bright in real life.
Now to the next block......happy days!!

Hope you all have a great week
Marina

lazy sunday afternoon...

Back into the work routine and it is making me really treasure the weekend and be a little selfish with my time too. If I have to stress about fitting something in then I don't want to push myself . What will be will be.
I need to realise I can't do everything.
Included in that selfishness is making my crafting time available.....after looking after the essentials.
Today I got to play in the afternoon and get some binding sewn onto the two little quilts that Fiona quilted for me. They look amazing and I want to gift the baby quilt tomorrow so tonight's job will be sewing down the binding. I wanted the quilting to look a bit modern and not too complicated. Fiona filled that criteria beautifully.

 With this small clamshell quilt I told her to do whatever took her fancy and it is gorgeous!!
Not sure what i will use this for perhaps a table topper? Have put a sleeve on it just in case I want to hang it.
This year there is going to be a reduction in flimsies!

My return to my Caswell project has continued.... One block finished and another ready to go.

I'm going to mix it up with this one and make the flowers in purples. We'll see how it goes. I'm not very adventurous usually but I have added a few purples in other blocks so it should tie in ok.
stay tuned.
Hope you have had some crafty time this weekend too.
cheers
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

back to the normality...

It's been a lovely two weeks at home since returning from our overseas trip and most of that time has been spent relaxing and spending time with our furry new addition. He is growing by the day and has such a sweet personality though Coffee may dispute that. Today we are going to our first puppy class so fingers crossed we don't get a detention.
Normal routines are back in place and tomorrow the ultimate routine known as work commences, sadly.
This week I got to catch up with crafty friends, it seems so long since I have had a crafty get together.
Lots of laughs and even some stitching was done over lunch and cups of tea and some sweets.
Clamshells are coming together nicely and I have another row of blocks basted that can be added once they are sewn.
loving the scrappiness of them.

 I managed to finish this crocheted cushion cover last night which I have been working on for a little bit. The squares are made from all the leftover wool from the blankets I have made.
I have another 64 squares nearly ready to put together into a small throw, but then again it may just grow some more if the mood takes me. They are very enjoyable to make and not too taxing.
the cushion will be gifted to a friend.....

well that's the catch up from here....
hope there is lots of crafting happening at your place.
cheers for now
Marina