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

binding done and some other bits...

This week i was very enthused about getting the binding done on my swan lake. I bought some red bias binding months ago on a visit to L'uccello and thought I had bought enough but.....Sunday night I ended up here.....missed by that much......
I wasn't looking forward to a trip into town but was desperate to get the binding done so I gave L'uccello a ring and they had the extra binding in the mail last night and it arrived today. How's that for service?
Binding is now complete. I have started sewing yo yo's too and one side is nearly complete.

 Friday night I managed to get this top all pieced together. I have decided to not put the top and bottom stitched border on. I prefer it a little bit plainer. I might try to get some big ric rac to run around the border.

 Here is a pic of my clamshells. I haven't added a row for awhile. I think I need to decide what to make with it first?

 This is a little new project that I couldn't resist....
it is a free project from Lisa Bonegan of Primitive Gatherings. I made a good start on the appliqueing at quilt group on Saturday and finished it off yesterday. . The sweet background fabric made it's way home with me from the Essendon Quilters Show on Friday, along with a few purple fabrics from Threadbear.

Now I just have to share a few photos of Miss Maisie 'cat scanning' the new Swan Lake quilt on the bed.

do you think she approves?
Hope you have a great week!

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

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

weekend busyness

I have had lots of sewing time this weekend. Once I get the machine out I try to get as much sewing done as possible before it has to go away again.
I started the crafting off with some retail therapy to buy some bits and bots for some secret sewing and some threads for a new project...
But first some finishes were in order
After some reverse sewing when a bright spark sewed the 1 1/2" squares right side facing the wrong side of the other piece it was to be attached to. Well said bright spark was so carried away with the continuous piecing it took to piece 26 before it was noticed. So unpicking and then resewing and this is the result
Mr Merry framed and basted ready for hand quilting!
I had to cut into my special stash of Chocolat fabric for the dark squares of the border but it was worth it.

 Finished my cross stitch needlecase.
The cross stitch was meant to go inside but it was a shame to hide away all those little stitches.
So a little reversing and ta da!

 an extra little pocket on the left for needles in their packet.

some more little houses have been made and I couldn't resist photographing them all together...

Boy they are as addictive as hexagons!
A start made on my new table runner. It's so enjoyable stitching the wool. So much gentler on the hands.

Lastly a pic of my new project. Hopefully it will get finished for christmas.
Only a sneak peek for now but more will follow.

Before you ask, yes I have been sleeping.......just staying up late watching bbc drama North and South. A work colleague lent me the dvd's and I finished watching the last episode last night/this morning. It was so lovely and the handsome Richard Armitage is quite easy on the eye too. Mr Thornton might be some competition for Mr Darcy!

Roll on Monday.
Why?
Because next week is the Mill Rose Get together and I want the week to fly!! Woo hoo!
So looking forward to going.
Have a great week
marina

Be Prepared....

Remember that boy scout motto,
It seems that preparations are the focus here at the moment.
 Swan Lake border four finished! Four borders prepared by marking the mitred corners ready to sew.
Hexies prepared for some more stepping stones around my novelty hexies.

 some more little houses stamped and cut ready for some on the go stitching

 Three new houses did get made on the weekend. I am still playing around with putting them together trying to find a way that they will sit neatly.

Some wool applique prepared for stitching too.
See that jumbo stapler in the pic, if you are doing wool applique on a larger scale this stapler is the way to go. I was lucky to borrow one from work after a disappointing ebay attempt to buy one. When the girls from the quilted crow explained how it was so helpful I didn't imagine how much easier it would be. It makes stabilizing the wool pieces easy peasy and much less fiddly. This project is ready to go now too.

Other than these not much else has been happening on the crafting front. Hub is out for the day tomorrow so I will have the day to myself and Swan Lake and I are going to have some quality time together!
A trip to GJ's may be in order as I need some fabric for the borders and centre panel of Swan Lake too.
Woo Hoo..

Happy stitching!

Marina

tying up loose ends...

Well the holidays are quickly coming to an end.... so sad.
After a few days away at a very relaxing spot I am feeling recharged and ready to get back to routine next week.
There were some 'loose ends' that needed to get sorted as I did have a little mental list of crafty things that needed to get done on the holidays.
There was some quilting and binding to get done and a little project that needed to find a direction. Once these were ticked off the list there was also time to start some new things. Of course!
this got requilted and the binding done and is hanging on my mini frame

 

 quilting and binding done on this one....

 Here is my mini collection so far.......the latest pattern arrived during the week and is traced ready to go..
I just love them all together.

 this dresden plate was the trial before I made the plates for my friends quilt. I had contemplated doing a quilt of them but thought a table topper would probably be more manageable. Like I need another project?
At least this will be easy to get finished.

 Well the answer to the previous question about a new project is obviously YES.
I have been wanting to make a hexie mini quilt since I bought a little stash of red and white ages ago.
Here it is all done ready to get prepared for quilting. I am very happy with this little mini.I think mini's seem to be filling my spaces lately.

 Another new project that has been on the to do list since buying the Quilted Crow girls' book.
All cut out and ready to go when I get time. May even be next holidays.......

Here are the beautiful views that we awoke to at our little get away.
You can just feel the serenity, can't you?
If anyone in Melbourne wants a little get away I can't recommend this place enough. It was divine and the hospitality and attention to detail was amazing.

Well I am off to enjoy my last few days of peace before getting back into the routine again....
Happy stitching!
Marina

a little bit of this and that

Lots of distractions seem to be cropping up and I have been enjoying them all.

I had hoped that the new block for the Sweet stitches bom would arrive last week but as yet it hasn't so I have kept myself busy till it arrives.

Quilting is progressing on Mr cottontail and the Christmas mini, some more green hexies have been prepared for basting, and a new Once upon a time block has been started.

I did forget to post a pic of the completed block for last month.

The gingerbread man and his entourage is completed.

 Love the little old woman, I think she looks a lot like Mrs Brown!

My other distraction has been this. This applique will become a border for my Park Avenue hexie quilt. I am 3/4 of the way through the first border.
I am so loving playing with the wool and the appliqueing is very gentle on the hands as it offers very little resistance. Much easier than stitching through fabric with vliesofix on it. The curves didn't work out too badly either.

 this is the centre...

this is the design to the side of the central flower. There is a reverse image on the other side. this pic shows the fabric background colour better.

loving it...

hopefully I can get the other side finished quick smart and get it sewn on to the main part of the top. It would be lovely to get this long term project finished.

Happy stitching and have a great week!

Marina

back to routine....

this week has just flown so quickly.
It's back to work routine and I am missing the 'me' time that was so abundant during the past two weeks at home.
I didn't want to lose all the momentum of the holidays so tried to keep up with the projects on the go.
The last 8 hexagon flowers for Swan lake are finished. I will now wait till mum and I can put our heads together to mark out the borders.
I have enjoyed playing with the wool projects I have started.
My scarf is all appliqued and I just need to sew the backing fabric on and it is done.
I thought it would take longer to make this project but it has been fun to make and not as difficult as I had imagined, thanks to the day in the barn.
I got so enthused with working with the wool that I have chosen another pattern from the quilted crow book to make the end borders for my Park Avenue hexagon bed runner. I have cut all the flowers just need to get all the leaves and stems done.
Here is my scarf....

I have made a start on the next Once upon a time block that I have traced out.
Look who has appeared...looking delicious with his gum drop buttons.

I think he is very cute. I did make a mistake when tracing him but I am hoping the line will fade with time.
Tomorrow I am hosting my craft group so there will be lots of chatting, laughing, eating and hopefully some stitching.
Wishing you a stitchy weekend

marina

a reward and an old project

There are a few projects that every now and then resurface demanding some attention that will see them get a little closer to the finish line.

Quite some time ago I made some little dolls of the world stitchery and just never got around to stitching them into a top. They are such pretty designs and I did some in redwork and some others in coloured threads. I needed one more in redwork to be able to have enough for a little project so when I was thinking of something to work on with other crafting friends Friday night I thought this would be a nice quick stitchery to fill in time waiting for my next Kathy Schmitz block. 

 She is well on the way to being done then she can join the others and I will need to work out how to put them together.
I also allowed myself to start my reward project. I made a start by cutting out the woolly bits, hoping I would remember the instructions given by the quilted crow girls. The pattern is from their new book.

 had to share this card that I brought for no 1 son's birthday this week.
He is a mad lego fan. He loved the card, I thought it was a cute one too.

hope you are having a great weekend!

marina