September and Spring

 Spring  has arrived and it has graced us with some lovely days, a promise of things to come. I have been also noticing that the sun is getting up a little earlier too. As much as I love winter I feel I have also missed the loveliness of sunshine.  With September here it is only a matter of time till I can start getting festive and the elves will return.  I am afraid I won't be doing Elves at my new school as there isn't really a place for them to enjoy their shenanigans so they will become home elves.

On the crafty front, I have been looking forward to starting my Ginger jars but there has been so much indecision. The background fabric I chose was fine for the blue jars but sadly the white background jar I sewed just got lost on the background.  I needed to decide whether to continue with just blue jars or perhaps mix up the backgrounds. Dilemma no 1

Dilemma no 2. I wasn't really inspired by my fabric stash that I wanted to use for the flowers. I think that is the problem when you have had the same fabrics in your stash for a long time and used them in so many projects. I wanted to try something new!

I have been looking over the past months at the inspiring Japanese applique designs on the net and on instagram and felt this was an avenue I might like to try.  So.... onto the internet and after some searching and on line therapy ..... I had my fabrics chosen and ordered. It seems there wasn't a place in Melbourne that has the woven japanese fabric. (If anyone does know of somewhere I would love to know) Perhaps they aren't really in vogue any more?  There is a shop in NSW - BeBe Bold that specialises in Japanese fabrics, sashiko and boro goodies and it was there I found my background.  For the colour packs I wanted, I found a lovely shop in Japan that had amazing service and variety and it seems they are the ones that have been tempting me all this time on Instagram with their gorgeous designs- Studio Quilt.

Now enough blathering, get to the pics you say..

These will be my two backgrounds and I feel they go together well. I have had great reassurance from various crafters whose opinion I have sought.

I can't wait to start the floral arrangement on the first blue block.

Tuesday afternoon the was a beautiful day and the dogs got to have a lovely walk.  I must say I needed and enjoyed it too.  

Please rest assured that I am just sitting on the ground, I have not collapsed as some others on Facebook may have suggested.  Though in hindsight looking at the photo,  it did remind me of when Dorothy's house fell on the wicked witch of the West, no ruby slippers for me though! Just runners with orthotics! lol

 I am hoping there will be lots more walks in the near future.  I am sure the dogs will second that motion.

Craft show is on this weekend in Melbourne and I am toying with going.  It has been many years since I have gone.  We'll see if thoughts turn into actions.

Happy sewing

Marina

new temptations....

 Well another week has just flown by. It would be nice to slow the days down sometimes.

All my snowglobes are done but they aren't able to be shared at the moment as they are all pinned together ready to sew them up. I hope to get the top done this weekend so that I can get it to the quilters in time to get it back by the end of the year.

I already miss not having such a handy project that is easy to pick up. I thought it best to give some attention to my heart blocks. I had decided that now that it is a decent size piece it might be more economical, time wise, if I sewed up hearts into 9 patch blocks then sewed them onto the main piece, instead of sewing a single row together and adding.

It seems to be a strategy that works.

While watching Good Omens 2 this afternoon I got the next section done.  I hope to start Season 3 tonight. I am loving it. Michael Sheen and David Tennant are amazing together. If you are fan of theirs you definitely need to watch Staged. filmed during lockdowns. 

Now to sew them onto the main piece.

Here is my Billy boy photo I promised. Our boy is now ten, he is such a good boy and thankfully still in good shape. This photo was after a good wash and trim. We have owned Curly Coated Retrievers for 40 years and I have always loved trimming and grooming them myself. They wouldn't win ribbons for my hair cutting but there is only ever a few weeks between a good and bad haircut.

From when we bring home as puppies their coat care training begins. One pair of curlies we had, used to line up the minute they saw scissors come out to be the first in line for a trim, the same happened when the bath got filled up.

These days we take advantage of the ergonomic height of the dog wash at the Car wash. It's perfect and Billy is the perfect gentleman, getting up and down when asked. Being a water dog we have never had an issue with getting wet lol.

A new project is in the works thanks to some encouragement from Fiona from Bubz Rugz. She is undertaking Tilda's Ginger jars quilt that showcases Tilda's Something Blue fabric range.  Being a blue and white fan I had secretly been coveting this fabric but wasn't sure what quilt design would tempt me. Jemima's patchwork had designed an applique quilt to showcase this fabric range but their supplies sold out quite quickly so I left it at that. 

When Fiona shared her project I thought it was absolutely perfect the applique flowers pushed me off the fence and Fiona had a spare copy of the pattern that she generously offered to send me. So off I went like bull at a gate. Fabric has been ordered though I do need to decide on a background fabric. I have also toyed with ideas as to how I can alter the sizes of the ginger jars so that they will be more varied than the original. the shorter jar on the cushion will be incorporated I think. I also will be appliqueing my ginger jars as piecing is  not my strong suit.

Well here we go.....one project ends and another inspiration appears!

Happy days

Marina

5 in a row

 Well surprise, surprise.

I have managed five posts with regularity!

It's only a reasonable sized one today as I think I have caught up on a lot of stuff so now I can share regular progress in more manageable bites.

First job was to get labels on my finished quilts. I find if I don't do it straight away I just am too lazy later.

this is a topsy turvy one for my heart quilt. No 3 son is warned that a new quilt is coming. My DIL told me way before she was pregnant that I could make as many quilts as I wanted when they had children. I reminded her of this promise at the baby shower when baby girl received her first quilt.

One does have to be careful what one says lol.

I had planned to make a different label for Orange Sherbet but when I was looking at the doilies I thought this one was just perfect.

Even though I am not a big fan of orange I do really love this fabric. It was a bargain on a destash site.

One new snowglobe block has been completed over the weekend and I have stitched another which is waiting to be put on it's background.

just had to have alittle close up on the teddy and the robot. Love how the robot's expression has turned out.

All the remaining blocks have the globe pieces prepped and the stitcheries kept with their backgrounds so it is easy to pair them up. Don't know why I didn't do this from the start.

I have really enjoyed working on these and if I keep up the pace it may get quilted for this Christmas.

Thanks for those who have been popping in to visit, I am enjoying chronicling my crafting again.

Happy days

Marina

here is a pic of my crazy girls. Poppy is now 7 and gypsy 4

This is how they were soaking up the morning sun.

Don't panic Billy is still going strong and turned 10 this year. He may get a shout out next week.

My Jardin progress

 I love to rotate different projects so I don't get bored with just one thing so love to have a few on the go.

Lately my Jardin du poche has been getting some attention. I love the challenge of the embroidered blocks and have not been unhappy with them so far.

Thought I would show my progress so far....

block in progress

There are almost enough completed embroidered blocks to add to the pieced top. Always encouraging to add to the top. It will only be a small table topper I think as it only measures 6 x 6 blocks in the pattern. Might be a lovely wall hanging too...... well those decisions are a fair way off.

Happy Mother's day to all the mums and grandmother's out there whether you have human or furry babies.

I hope to get some time to prep some Who's who in the zoo blocks as I have finished all the ones I had ready.  Some pics next time.

Happy days

this and that

Thanks to SAS Australia and Survivor there has been some extra sewing happening in the sewing room. Even though I have been a fan of these shows I am a little over them but Hub still likes watching them so I retreat to the sewing room while they are on.

I managed to finish sewing all my scrappy hearts into one piece.... Now to decide on the borders.

Yesterday I joined in with Chooky's blogaversary zoom and it was lovely to see and sew with all the lovely ladies.

I worked on my Liberty hexie flowers and realised I only had seven to go, so made quick work of them last night.

They are all ready to sew in rows and then I will work out the borders- this isn't their final arrangement as I can see from the photo some need to be moved around to balance the colours.

While at the sewing day last week I was bidding on an ebay item which I happily won. It arrived quick sticks , I love it.

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I'll leave you with a photo of the two princesses who seem to think the hammock was bought just for them.

So love my girls and of course my big black dog too, but there's no way he's getting in the hammock!!!

Happy days!

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

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

February already!!

 I'm not sure where the time has gone but incredibly it's February. I survived the Christmas joys and New Year.  Crafting has been getting done here and there and there are a few things to catch up on.

Some deadline projects had to be completed and this meant other things were put on the back burner.

Spring bouquet by Laundry Basket Quilts was completed and taken to be quilted for a early March deadline as it will be a gift for my SIL's zero birthday.

I am very happy with the top and it was a very enjoyable project.

A baby Milestone quilt, pattern by Melly and Me was completed and delivered last week in time for bub's arrival. I hand quilted this one and I always ask myself why? lol

I also made one for our little princess, great pattern.

Some progress on my Basket case too, the baskets are all together and the first border is ready for appliqueing.......

Now that we are back in lockdown for five days I got some time with my Janome....

Ten new 9 patch blocks have been added to the stash and some red blocks got sewn together. Very happy with how they look together.

One last photo if you are still with me.... Poppy trying out what a cat's life is all about....

Now I'm off to catch up with what everyone else has been doing while I was in limbo land!

Happy days.

Marina

lots of sewing

These holidays together with the lockdown have been great for productivity!

Now I need a new project like I need another hole in the head but I wanted to play around with my stash of 1930's fabrics.

I love shoo fly blocks and decided to have a go. It started out as just making one to see, but an error in cutting size meant I could make two.....

this lead to..... cutting out pieces to make lots more.. till the backing fabric ran out.

This is using stash fabrics so it's a big bonus and sort of evens out the new stuff I have bought.

the past few days have seen some nine patch blocks added to the pile. I have about 30 now so had a little play around to see how they'd go together. This isn't the final arrangement but it is fun to shuffle them around

It seems that scarf pins are a bit of a fashion item at the moment and I found a lady on etsy that custom made two for me from wood. I just sent her the silhouette that I wanted and she took it from there.

they look great even with a fabric scarf, definitely give them an outing once I get back to work.

I had a little company in the sewing cave this afternoon. Miss sneaky Poppy came to find me while I was cutting out. She hides under the desk in case Hub comes looking for her. She enjoyed a little nap and got to use my blanket to keep warm. 

She does have a hard life!

hope you are having a great week

Marina