something new.....

 Even though I have a few projects on the go unfortunately there is always a justification for starting something new.

I have committed to making another Farm Sweet Farm quilt for one of my Cousin's twins, mum is going to make the other one using a kit she has had in her stash.  As the twins have turned one I thought it best to make some sort of a start.  On the long weekend I decided to make a start on prepping.

Block one nearly ready to go!

 Another 'deadline'project was the Liberty hexies quilt for my friend's pending granddaughter....

 I'm very happy with the finish and dropped it off to the quilters on Saturday and amazingly some fabrics just threw themselves at me and insisted I take them home!! I'd only ever heard of this happening to some friends of mine.

Toni Alexander from Red Boot Quilts has started another free project.  It is always nice to buy Toni a coffee as a thanks for her generosity.  Even though I don't need to start it as I have a couple of other of her projects that I would like to do first, I thought it would be good to keep up with the blocks by prepping the blocks as they are released.  So far so good and if I need a pick up and go project I can take this along.

For tv watching over the past couple of weeks I have been adding hexie rows to my 1930's flower garden.  I was going to unpick what had been started and just sew them similarly to the liberty ones but I decided to keep going with it as is and there is almost a second row been added.

Now it's back to sorting some circles for my monsters quilt as I need to add some extras of a particular size.

Hope the week is going well for you all so far.

Happy days

Marina

Sewing satisfaction

I have quite a few projects that are very slow works in progress, Am I the only one? You know the kind of project that you just add to in between other works on the go?

I have my scrappy hearts and my 9 patch blocks that can be picked up in between other projects.

With being home I definitely have enjoyed my 9 patch sewing. After tallying my progress and working out how many blocks to go it has spurred me on too. I am going to use the scrappy for one side and the reds and cream for the other so I'll get two quilts for the price of one. 

Five rows of scrappy blocks are together and now to catch up with the red and cream ones.

The clamshell quilting project is underway.  After this I will only have one more hand quilting project to do, well that is at this stage.

I pieced some fabrics for the backing but after basting it was puckering badly on the back and there's no way I could live with it so I removed all the basting made a new backing with some fabric that I had stashed for backings and it basted much more neatly. I always have a hard time with basting and getting it sandwiched neatly. 

My Tilda Dresdens are all completed and the top is together. I found a pattern that had applique in between the plates and I'll get around to that soon. It's a really pretty pattern that was an internet freebie too. I love that 

The binding is on my Farm Sweet Farm quilt after a bit stall on finishing, but as long as we get there in the end...

The sewing machine awaits and I am off to make some nine patches!!

I'll leave you with a picture of a 'lap full of fox terriers'. 

The only thing missing is a giant sized black curly dog! lol

Have a fantastic day!

Marina

Holiday happiness...

 I'm into the second week of the holidays and it is just flying by. The days have been filled with taking my mum to appointments, some play time with our little princess and a little time with sewing friends too. I wish there were a few more weeks to do everything I want to do!

Crafting has featured heavily and I am enjoying all my projects. Started some new ones and planning some future ones too. Bliss!

Completed and sewed on the first border for my Basket case quilt. The corner blocks for the next border are ready to go and the first one is prepped for stitching.

My farm sweet farm was quilted by Jemima's and is just waiting for the binding.

I may not have chosen wisely with the quilting but I still love it. It doesn't look as busy in real life.

Block 3 of my Flower garden quilt is done. No 4 needing prepping.

Needing a carry around project while waiting for mum at her appointments I took the plunge with these hexies.  I purchased them on line from a lady that sells them already basted. Winner, winner.

They have been hidden in a tin for months but now is their turn to make an appearance too.

Some 9 patch blocks have been put together and they are looking very pretty

Holidays wouldn't be holidays without some retail therapy..... This lovely fat 1/4 bundle was on special at Jemima's and they jumped in my bag... Am developing quite a love for Tilda fabrics.

Okehampton needs to be taken to Leanne's for quilting but I realised I hadn't taken out the basting threads on the clamshells, I am slowly pulling them out.

A work colleague has requested a monster quilt so I have made a start. The pattern will be made slightly differently to the version I am doing for myself. No chore making these monsters they are so much fun.

Happy days!!

Marina

semi big finish!

 This morning I added the final rows of pieced blocks to my farm sweet farm quilt.

All those little pieced blocks finally got done!  It just needs the outer border but that will have to wait till our lockdown is lifted and I can visit a fabric store to pick fabrics.

While prepping the blocks to sew into rows I noticed that on two of them one corner block was back to front (the polka dot) I resolved to leave it as it is,  imperfection isn't a fault but after ten minutes of trying to convince myself of this I had to unpick the two uncompliant squares and sew them the correct way.  I suppose if you know you can't live with it don't pretend  lol

Here we go... be warned there are lots of photos...

I really love this quilt and it has turned out quite large. 

Happy days!

Marina

it's holiday time

 School holidays are here in Victoria though there isn't much difference to the past few weeks except for the fact I won't have to work from home and won't even get to go to work for my one day on site.

It has been great to go to work, a luxury in these lockdown times. An opportunity to see some work colleagues and interact with different people.

I am going to treat myself and start my basket case quilt. I have all the background fabrics now and I made an impulse by of some Tilda fat 1/8s for the baskets.  Hopefully that won't take two weeks to arrive by mail or it will not get to be my holiday project.

This weekend the little smocked dresses got finished completely and I can't wait for them to go to the little girls they were made for.

I got some very productive time in the sewing room this afternoon.  The latest border for Spring Bouquet has had lots of new applique pieces glued down. My plan is to get it done by the end of this month then next month's goal will be to complete the fourth border.

A neglected project has been my Farm Sweet Farm quilt top. The top and bottom row of pieced blocks needs to be done and I had entertained the thought of giving them a miss and just putting an outer border but fired up and made a start on the remaining blocks. Chain piecing them seems the easy option so the centres got done first. Only 5 more to do and I am on the home stretch...

Hope your weekend has been crafty

marina

Get ready for some pics...

 Here we go with another post....

These are the photos I had wanted to share the other day... I may have worked out my photo issues

This is my Liberty Dresden quilt. A little indulgence for me and a great project to have as a portable hand piecing project.

I am hoping to hand quilt with a very thin wadding.

Before we knew there was going to be a new addition to our family I had really wanted to make Lori Holt's Farm sweet Farm quilt. I only have two rows of the pieced blocks to do to complete the top. The piecing is always where I seem to stumble but as there is no  hurry it is patiently waiting to be finished.

I have worked out how to upload photos to google pics where they can be edited! Hooray that is going to make it so much easier. 

Here goes....

row 1 are the first 3 pics.

bottom row left

middle row centre block

bottom row centre block

bottom row right block

bottom row left block

I'll just cram in one more photo of the quilt I made for our little princess. 

The pattern is Milestone quilt by Melly and Me.  As I wanted to needleturn applique most of the pieces the numbers and letters would have been too difficult so I used black wool felt and it worked a treat.

The arrow and round bear outline are perspex that came with the pattern. Great idea!

Well that is a photo overload so I'll leave it there for tonight..

Hope you enjoyed seeing them and I 'll be back soon to show more of what I've been up to.

thanks for hanging in there 

cheers

Marina