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

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

been keeping busy....

Life around here has been taking up a lot of my time.  My blog has been a bit neglected and there has been limited blog visiting.
There has been some crafting happening which is good. So.... instead of lots of little updates you will get them all in one hooly, dooly, picture show.
Are you ready?

 Here is an update on my Swan Lake..... since the photo I have progressed further to include the hexies on the fourth border, half of which have been sewn down. I have also sewn the appliqued hearts on the three completed borders which go in between the bottom row of hexies and the dollies.
Sooooo Happy with the progress on this baby. I just had to put the top 'together' to encourage me and yep it worked.  My goal is to have the top together by the end of the year.
Definitely achievable!

Next finish was my sister in law's quilt. The top got done on Grand Final Day and it has gone to the quilters to be completed.  The pattern had another border but when she saw it she loved it as it was so who am I to argue? It's done.

The progress on these two has allowed me to start something new! I bought this stamp from Janneake, who started the building houses from scraps craze. She has  produced a stamp and I thought the process would make it easier for me to have a go. If you want to see some amazing quilts made from scrappy houses just click here. They are so inspiring.
Another bloggy friend has also made a scrappy houses quilt you can pop over to Maria's blog to have a look at it in this post. (Maria's wonderful novelty hexies inspired me to start my own novelty flower garden.)

 I have really been wanting to make at least some houses. Worst case scenario I would make some pincushions but I am enthused enough to make a mini hanging. Mind you I don't think there will be a big quilt of these happening! They are about 3 1/2 inches and so nifty to stitch.
Here are my little houses so far...

I have also finished off the cross stitching for a needlecase. The pattern was a birthday gift from my friend Els in the Netherlands. It is in a lovely blue and taupe colour thread. The photo doesn't quite do the colours justice but they are lovely. Next step to get the needlecase together!

So that's it for the crafting I have been occupying my spare time with.
I did have a lovely visit to NOTYQ show on Saturday and caught up briefly with Mel and Christine who were busy as bees doing their quilt show duties. I got to have a cuppa with Liz and Rosalie and some other lovely friends of Liz. Also got to meet Karen from Mrs Martin's quilt shop, so lovely to meet at last.
After the show I scooted to Bluegum quilters to catch up with Elyte and Robin and the other lovely ladies there. Phew did I sleep well that night.
Elyte, Robyn and Annie visited during last week to have a crafty catch up. Not a stitch was sewn but we shared lunch and lots of laughs. No pics either, what terrible bloggers. When the girls left my no 3 son said 'boy did you guys laugh enough?'
my reply is there is never enough laughing! It's cheaper than therapy and medications...



Happy stitching!

marina....x

About time...

I have had a project that required starting for some time. It has been milling around in my mind for a loonnnng time. I have gifted quilts to two of my sisters in law and I had wanted to make one for the third. I paid attention to when she was discussing colours for her bedroom and colours that she didn't like anymore.
When quilter's bazaar in Gisborne closed down some time ago we went to one of their sales and she picked some fabrics out in apricots and sage green. These colours would be the base colours for her quilt. She said she would also like a basket of flowers on point.
For me that was too many specifics.....I have struggled since with the colours and the requirements. Looking for a pattern that I thought she would like has been so hard. I much prefer to make something then gift it (whether they like it or not lol)  when there is too much criteria I tend to freak out. But at last the planets have aligned.
A few months ago a friend gave me some old crafty mags and on the cover of one was a lovely simple quilt that fitted the bill. Next to sort out those colours that are not really my favourites. I realised that I needed to add some other colours into the mix.
Since I finished the girls quilt and my once upon a time it was time I bit the bullet and committed big time to this quilt. I mentioned it to her that I had started and she thought I had forgotten. She knows how I have to have things just right so she is happy to wait.
Here is the centre started...

Nothing too fancy or complicated but manageable. The stems were a bit daunting but I found some great ready made bias binding that matched the colours perfectly so off I went. Ready made binding is definitely a winner! The little flowers will have chain stitched stems.
(The pattern is by Robyn Falloon and was in the Australian Quilters Companion no 15)
It has a simple border that I have simplified even more so it will not be a drawn out project.
Poor Swan Lake has been put to the side again but I will get back to it soon.
Some cross stitching being worked on too, pics next time...
Have a great weekend
Marina

bits of this and that...

Last weekend riding on the wave of my Once upon a time finish I thought it would be good to keep the momentum going and finish off my little girls of the world top. The outer border needed to be finished and after some advice I went with a scrappy border.
Seems like a bit of scrappy happening here lately...
Almost used my stash of Bliss too. It has certainly gone a long way.
this quilt will be a gift for a great niece. Her little sister received a 'bliss' quilt for her christening so thought it only fitting that they both have one from this range.

 this is one of my favourite little girls.

 this is the other quilt from the bliss fabrics...

My mini for spring got finished this week, some simple quilting and the binding and ta da...

Hanging in time for the first day of spring.

Quilting and binding finished on the snowman too, now it can go away till next winter.

 these little blocks came together quick and easy and will be in the mail tomorrow to go to Sharon's along with lot's of other people's contributions of squares to get put together to make a special I  spy quilt for a sick little boy.
Click here to read more if you are interested. I love the pattern Sharon will be using and it is a great way to feature novelty fabrics. Definitely will keep it in mind for the 'one day' list.
I seem to be drawn to children's quilts... my nanna glory box is going to be chockers!

Another row of hexies have been added to the novelty hexies but I have run out of stepping stones so I see some green squares and lots of basting in my near future.
And no I haven't forgotten my Swan Lake borders.... the remaining borders have their stars ironed on and I have started appliqueing them. Gotta keep that ball rolling!
Another beautiful Spring day today. Sun shining and not a grey cloud in sight.
Beautiful!
have a great weekend wherever you are.


Marina
x