how do I love thee?

........Let me count the ways....

dramatic poetry isn't it lol
Here are my latest Sweet William blocks out in the garden...
This was  a bit of a challenging block with all those little points. Scraped by I think.
I picked up a Decor pastry keeper at the supermarket for a great discount and it fits my blocks perfectly with some room to spare.  I have to look after Sweet william...

 another challenge with all those petals.... both blocks had 'marinafication' and I am happy with the result.

 My first finish from my UFO stitcheries. Admittedly it is the most recent addition but I really wanted to get it done.  I am calling it a memory pillow. Pattern can be found here.

 A little angel added. A gift from a friend and it fits perfectly.

Happy Labour day!
off to do some more cooking. Most of the family home for dinner tonight, just minus one.
Marinated lamb roast with vegies and DH is making home made apple pie. Yum....
Happy days
Marina

UFO guilts

A few weeks ago I visited my sil who had just been given a mountain of fabrics from an elderly aquaintance who was destashing.
Among the metres of fabric and assorted crafty books and goodies were numerous, and I mean numerous smocking projects waiting to be sewn up. My sil asked me over to have a look and give some advice on the sewing process for the smocked pieces and also to give me some lovely aida and cross stitch linen that were in the stash.
Seeing all those beautiful smocked dress fronts and thinking what would happen to my own stash of wip's smocked bits I have decided that I need to address those ufo's too.
I used to love smocking and made lots of items as gifts for great nieces and nephews who were born at the during my smocking phase. I was also smocking for other sewers and a magazine and that took a little of the enthusiasm away. You know when you have to do something to other's specs it becomes a chore not a hobby. So quite a few unfinished pieces got put away in a large box. I was great with doing the smocking just not so great with the sewing them up into a garment.
Well it's best to get them out into the open and I think I need to try to make some headway with these ufo's too... so they are being added to the list and will wait for their number to come up. Who knows they may just make it to the top of the creating pile too...

 Here are the ones that have just been smocked, some pieces cut out....

 this is an assortment of garments at the finishing stage......quite a few needing buttons....
I feel so guilty having this many unfinished bits.

Now to more pleasant things....
Yesterday Hub and I visited family in Gisborne (sorry girls....) and I also made a visit to Patch and quilt to look for a cream fabric from a previous visit and also some red to finish my sew a long minis. No luck with the cream but found some lovely reds. We then headed off to Daylesford and made a little detour to Castlemaine to Threadbare. Found a gorgeous cream and some more reds and two greens.
 Two amazing shops in the one day. I only had about 15 min at Threadbare as DH must have had an inkling I might go a little crazy lol
Here are my goodies...   (the greens will go towards applique on my sweet william blocks)

Speaking of my sew along blocks...
The first one is done, just needing some wool applique which is prepped ready to go.The outer border will have more applique of a trailing vine with the flowers in the corner. Hit a bit of a hurdle on the geese for the second one but am keen to get that one to this stage too. But I did manage those tiny star blocks..

a little wonky in places but done!

Some cross stitching has been happening while watching tv too now that I have a new stash of linens and aida..
These are both freebies...
This one from the Little Stitcher (Dorothy's red shoes by Laura Rimola) It is stitched with only one thread on tiny aida and it was difficult to get the stitches even as if I pulled too tight it would disappear!

 I really love this one and I will make it into a little cushion like the pattern....
Using some of the linen this time and two threads makes it a little easier.
Pattern from www.thesnowflowerdiaries.blogspot.hu

Off to put that smocking stash in my sewing room so that it is under my nose and I can't forget it as easily.
Have a wonderful sunday!

cheers
marina

the last hurrah...

The holidays have once again come to an end.  I think my mojo went away for a break too, but luckily it came back for the home stretch. It must have hitched a ride with Rosalie and Liz when they came for a sewing day on Friday. We had a very productive day and I felt a bit of a spark happening.
I was adamant that the weekend would involve some decent time dedicated to the sewing machine so I could get the blocks up to date for the Lisa Bonegan sew along.
And..... ta da!
thought this would be a good sew along to join in with and then those half square triangles appeared.
(my triangles seem to be following a slightly different arrangement to the pattern for both the centre blocks but I didn't realise till they were all stitched and there was no way I was un picking them all. )

 This is an alternative centre block that Lisa has designed for those that don't want to do the wool applique.
The coloured triangles were positioned towards the centre on this one.
That centre star was very tricky. Don't quite get the 'scant 1/4" seam' allowance thing and I think this is where I may have mucked up a little. It all came together in the end well enough though.

 I have put a ruler in this pic so you can see how small those pieces are. I must be going loopy attempting piecing this small?  Now to wait for the next instalment..

 these cross stitch designs are great fun and quick and easy. some little pin cushions made for the gift box.
Three of these got made for gifting too. This one was my prototype that I showed the city girls last week to get their stamp of approval. Just need to do the hand stitching around the edges and they will be done too.
Boy I wish I had had some of this enthusiasm for the whole two weeks and not just the final burst.
Them's the breaks....
Hope you have all had a productive weekend too...
I'm off to look at the huge moon we apparently have due to the moon orbiting so close to the earth.
Fascinating
cheers
marina

ps. links for the cross stitch designs used for the pin cushions are
thanks to these generous designers for their free charts for these lovely patterns.

rabbit with scissors: http://patrickswoods.com/blog/itemlist/tag/Rabbit
bunny: http://thelittlestitcher.blogspot.it/2014/04/spring-rabbit-free.html

postal goodies and a little more christmas...

a few weeks ago I received a gorgeous parcel of goodies in the mail all the way from the Netherlands.

Lovely Els sent me a box which contained these lovelies..

 

the most adorable cross stitching..

The only crafting has been the progress on my swap goodies..

I managed to think of something for the third item. A holly decorated little cushion.. The stitchery design was a freebie, the link for which was put on Cheryll's christmas in July blog. It's such a pretty pattern.

 I thought some gold metallic thread would spruce the lettering a little bit. Not the easiest thread to work with though and so hard to get even.

the candle mat/ topper is all in one piece, basted ready for quilting.

I am waiting for some things in the mail that will allow me to start a new project which will involve trying something new. This gorgeous charm pack has been waiting for the right project, it was sent to me by the lovely Susan from Thimblestitch.

but you will just have to wait and see how it eventuates.....

Hope you all have a great weekend..

I am looking forward to a meeting with friends on Sunday

Happy stitching!

Marina

a new dress and a christmas item on Anzac day

My christmas Item that was on my to do list managed to get done.
I had started it last year as a project to work on throughout the year but there were too many things going on at the end of last year and it sadly got pushed aside as did so many other things.
I can happily say that it is done!
The kit was a gift from my friend Els in the Netherlands, a design by Simone of Soedidee. She has some beautiful patterns and accessories for cross stitching and sewing in general.
Here it is.... my bell pull
I tea dyed the linen to give that antique effect and found a great old rusty bell to add to the bottom.

 Now that new Dress I mentioned...
This is my 1969-70 Crissy doll. I had one when I was young though this isn't the original doll. I think she ended up a little worse for wear thanks to a younger sister. Mum found this one at a doll show and brought it home for me. I think she is gorgeous just brings back those lovely memories. I have wanted to buy her an original outfit for years. I found her a pair of original shoes on Ebay a few years ago and have checked every now and again to see if a dress would pop up. On evil bay last week I found an original Crissy doll dress in mint condition. I can't believe the condition of it. The orange velvet ribbon is exactly as I remember it.
A work friend has quite a collection of these dolls and when I told her all I needed was an original pair of knickers she went to her stash of clothes and found me a pair. So next week my lovely Crissy will be returned to her original dress ensemble. You can imagine how thrilled the  male members of the family were with these finds? They were overcome with joy that I had found an original mint condition dress, and so impressed by that velvet ribbon! (not.... I'm pretty sure they think my marbles have fallen out of the jar and been lost...)
I just keep telling them that she is valuable as a collectable and I drop a $ sum to keep them interested to make sure she doesn't end up at an op shop!

I have been having some issues with commenting on blogs at the moment.....I have left comments on my regular blogs over the past few days and the comments seem to appear on the comment's list but the email that would normally go to the blog owner bounces back to me as undeliverable. Not sure if my comments are also showing up as spam comments. Have tried to find out why but apart from a blogger help forum that's about the extent of any assistance I can access so I have changed my email address in case it is attracting spam and this is the cause.
Fingers crossed they don't bounce with the new email address. I still have the old address as it isn't an issue with normal emailing just with blogger comments.
If anyone has any advice please let me know.
It has turned out a lovely day in Melbourne so hopefully the dawn services and ANZAC day activities in the city went well. I always feel sad for the old diggers if they have to walk in the rain.
Hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods and you  are enjoying the day.
Off to put in some stitching time!
cheers
marina

oh, holidays, parting is such sweet sorrow...

Yes that time has come again, albeit too quickly for my liking!
why can't two weeks feel  like four weeks and not two days.
Back to normal tomorrow, I don't know how I am going to get up in time. It has taken me two weeks to perfect sleeping in! How wasteful to throw all that hard work away.
I shouldn't complain though the next round will come around quickly enough and I have had a wonderfully restful break and had lots of creative time.
two more blocks were finished for my live, laugh, love quilt and all the rest of the main blocks prepared.
I still haven't made up my mind about the upper and lower border but there is time to decide.

  
I made a few more of the little hexie pin cushions, I found lots of photos of these made out of fabric and crochet on the net but didn't find any tutorial to share for those who have asked so stay tuned when I make the next one I will share how I have made them.
Found another sweet little cross stitch design that fits in the hexie shape too.

Being the last day of my holidays I wanted to get to play with some special fabrics.

I have been wanting to use these little 1/2 square triangles that I got from Lynda ever since I sewed and trimmed all 300 or so of them. Boy was that a marathon effort!

so out came the machine and I had a little play....

Three blocks are a great start to I don't know what, but it is a start lol

Once you make a start the rest has to come eventually......right?

well there's no fighting it any longer....... Tomorrow will be here before I know it so I am off to enjoy the rest of today..

have a great week

See you all later in the week for my Christmas item for this month!

cheers

marina

the rest of that list....

Here are the rest of the ticks off the list to share....

 My quilted crow design table runner completed!

 I wanted to use some of the cross stitcheries I had made....
Still need to think of how to use the stitched scissors.....that can go on next month's list
I am very happy with these little pin cushions especially as I didn't have a pattern, I saw one when googling and took it from there. Mine are made from a 1" hexies. Mum has requested a blue one. That is in the works and these will go to the gift box.

 the reverse side...

 Found a way to display my travelling stitchery pattern. I have had this frame for ages and I had to turn the place upside down to find it. Whose idea was it to put it in a safe place? I have been having lots of these 'can't find it' issues lately... must organise better.

I also have another cross stitch finish but I will save that till the 25th as it will be my Christmas item for this month. It has been a long time coming but it is done now.

Besides my progress on my novelty hexies and quilting my Park Avenue, both of which have seen considerable progress, I also had this last finish to share.

My Great Nieces quilt. The top is finished and I just need to decide how it will be quilted.

I just love how bright and cheery it is. For now I will enjoy it a little longer on my quilt rack till it gets quilted.

I am off to do some dreaded housework before I have to go hunting and gathering.

It's ok though as I have already had some crafting time this morning tracing the rest of my Live, Laugh Love blocks. They are ready to go whenever I want to pick them up. The first three are completed and I am very happy with the result.

Hope you have a safe and happy Easter break

Cheers

Marina

a christmas item and a travelling pattern and a list.......

well ring the bells, I have managed to add to my Christmas basket for the first time this year!
Hooray..
two little postcards- Bronwyn Hayes designs.

Now for the travelling pattern.....
Earlier this month I won a travelling pattern from Anthea's blog.
I managed to finish stitching it over the weekend and it just needs to be sewn up into something or framed.
Not sure which just yet.
I have stitched it on Linen, (not sure which count) and used cottage garden threads no 414. This is the same thread I used in the christmas stitchery above.

This pattern started it's journey in South Africa farewelled by Cucki. Since leaving Cucki in 2011 it has travelled to the UK then Poland and more recently to Western Australia and now to Melbourne.
Thanks to Cucki for sharing list bit of fun.
 Anywhoo I can't say it hasn't been fun but it's time to quickly send it on it's way.

Here are the rules if you would like the travelling pattern to visit at your house:

1. You must have a blog. 
2. Comment on this post only, saying you would like the chance to stitch it.
3. You must have an active blog to participate; if you have a blog but never post on it you won't be chosen to be the next stitcher.
4.The stitcher who receives the Travelling Pattern must stitch it within an acceptable time frame, finish it & share the finished piece on their blog. Stitch with your choice of fabric & threads; finish it how you wish.
4.Then the stitcher must offer up the Travelling Pattern for another stitcher to use and it will be off on its travel again. You only send the pattern, no 'extras' are required.

Now that all that stitching has been done it's time to get back to that quilting that just won't go away.

Last post I pondered writing a list of projects that I have on the go....I hope to tick some of these off in April.

. So here goes...

• Sweet stitches winter mini to be quilted  quilted and binding on 28th March
• Sweet stitches  Give thanks to be stitched stitched.
• Sweet stitches Mr Boo to have borders pieced and then quilted borders done, basted ready for quilting.
• Christmas Item for April done!
• Some progress on Park Avenue quilting in the hoop and two flowers quilted. total of 21 all up-27 to go.
• At least a row progress on my novelty hexies toptwo rows of flowers added, just need to add some stepping stones.
• Make up the cross stitcheries into something  travelling pattern framed, two bees made into pincushions.
• Finish Blanket of love- done and sent to Cheryll
• Finish my great nieces quilt-top all pieced needs quilting
• finish quilting my wool applique runner  quilted and bound 26th March

I wonder how many I will get done in April....I will have two weeks of holidays in April so that is going to be a bonus.
I am off now to get stuck in to that wool applique runner, am on the home stretch with that one so I am hoping to get one tick off the list by the weekend!

Happy crafting

Marina

ps don't forget to mention if you would like to win the travelling pattern in your comment and I will draw a winner on the 30th of March.

a whole lot of stitching going on

Stitching seems to be distracting me from quilting but I am enjoying doing some projects that I have on my list of to do's.
My great nieces christening quilt is progressing but won't make it for Sunday gift giving. I know my niece will understand. I just need to buy some fabric for the border of the stitchery and then I can work out the size and how to arrange the hourglass blocks
Little miss kitten will grace the centre, you may recognise her from my blanket of love that I made.

 She's been spruced up in vintage red and should blend well with the Scrumptious fabrics.

Another little blanket of love is in the process of coming together.
I have reused a pattern I bought and used a few years ago, and Ella and Skysie design. It has lovely little stitcheries that suit this project. Here are some big pics of a few of my favourite ones...

the contrasting blocks and border ready to go, perhaps the next school holidays' project.....
Another stitching project is one that came to me from Anthea of Hibiscus stitches. (you can click on the link to see Antheas cross stitch)  It is a travelling cross stitch pattern. Thsi pattern started it's journey in 2011 leaving south Africa where next it spent a few years in the UK then made it's way to Poland and from there it arrived in Western Australia.
It is a lovely little design and of course I had to start it straight away as i had prepared the linen and cottons as soon as I had won the pattern.

Some left over cottage garden threads from my Christmas stitching was a perfect pick.
Once I have finished stitching the pattern it will be ready to go onto it's next home.
I have prepared some blocks for my new project but have been a little side tracked with these other bits and pieces. Won't be long......
Definitely need to make that list!
Think I might do that right now....
Have a wonderful weekend and hope it involves some crafting
cheers
marina


ps...
Anthea is also trying to organise a bloggers meet in Western Australia. If she was a little closer I'd be there in a flash as we all know how much fun meets are.... If you are interested pop over to Antheas blog and touch base as she would love to hear from you.

just quilting along...

This morning I dropped off my Swan Lake top to the quilter's to be custom quilted. After some exciting ideas from Leanne we have pretty well settled on the design and I can't wait till it comes back to me.
A trip to the Monbulk quilt show next week is in order so that I can check out a quilt with hexies that Leanne has just finished, just so that I can be sure of the style of quilting I want. Have already talked hub into making the trip with me, a nice lunch is promised and will make a lovely day out.

Since finishing my bom projects and Swan Lake I have concentrated on smaller projects.
Just can't seem to find something new to inspire me in the way of a larger quilt so am putting that unused inspiration into other things.
Lots of time is being spent on trying to hand quilt my park avenue hexies and my quilted crow runner.
Boy does hand quilting take time!

 

  A little gift for a friend's birthday got made and remade. After not tracing the design with enough care I redid the whole thing and kept the 'faulty' one for myself.  It's amazing how things turn out neater when you take a bit more care....who would have figured?

( this is a freebie on sew mama sew's blog)

some more little houses have popped up.. bringing the total close to fifty!

last but not least some small cross stitch projects have filled in some time.
Not sure what these will become but there are some ideas milling around the empty spaces of my mind.

 the colours for this one aren't very clear but it is a lovely muted blue.

Now I might see if I can tackle some half square triangles this afternoon
With a long weekend this weekend I am adamant there will be crafting!
I definitely need to make a list of to do's.....
Hope you have a great weekend
cheers
Marina