quilting progress and goodies

I feel I have reached a milestone step on my quilting with the centre block completely quilted.

I was a little worried it was 'over quilted' but I am quite happy with it, either that or I can unpick and start again? Not happening!!

I have made a start on the larger border around the main block and the quilting won't be as intense so it should move along a little quicker and each block will hopefully inspire some quilting designs as I go.

 the book looks quite pretty too.... at least the bigger stitches are not too higgledy piggledy.
Crochet cotten and bigger stitches are very forgiving!

Last week when I was looking for inspiration...... unsuccessfully mind you, I did go online looking and found some lovely fabrics that will suit for backgrounds. How satisfying is a little retail therapy? lol

 The colours are truer in this pic below....I am gathering quite a lovely stash of possible background fabrics.... I have also narrowed down a few possible things to make..... more of that once I make a start.  I'm itching to do some needleturn....even contemplated picking up the Caswell pattern again! Crazy!! but I did enjoy it so much.

Today after taking Billy for a swim and getting some househole drudgery out of the way I retreated to the sewing room and decided it was time to settle on a background for Okehampton. I had wanted to use a beautiful spotty fabric but I always had doubts so I went with safe instead.

I sewed the centre star shape down and got the hexie flowers ready to sew down.  it feels good to be progressing on this quilt

 I also cut the borders that will go around the block. I will have to mitre the corners which will be a challenge and I want it flow around the block so wish me luck with that!

Public holiday tomorrow and I'm hoping to pop into the sewing room for a short time at the very least.

We have visitors for lunch so hoping to get in there later in the afternoon.

Hope your weekend is going well.

Cheers

Marina

At last....

Procrastination seems to be the order of the day lately.

I have been delaying starting the quilting of my gossip in the garden top as I couldn't get past working out how to piece the backing. I thought I would have enough to back two quilts but after getting some calculation work done by mum, it wasn't going to happen unless Jesus appeared and worked a miracle with the backing fabric like he did with the loaves and fishes! Turns out there is only enough to back this one so, a little cutting here and some sewing there and the back was pieced ready to go.

It was no easy task as I wanted it to be sandwiched perfectly.

After crawling around on the floor for hours and some great yoga moves the top was basted!

 

this meant that Sunday I could start my quilting adventure...

I am going to just see where each block takes me and quilt it without too much stress.

I started with the central block using crochet cotton so that I can make the stitches a little bigger. I think my days of tiny neat stitches are gone so I am embracing a more forgiving way of quilting.

Slowly working away at filling the spaces.....

I had a little impulse buying last week.... courtesy of Mrs Martins quilt shop.

This year I'd like to get back to making gifts and smaller projects. My big projects are Okehampton and quilting my Gossip top and I will need to stay focused and not get tempted by any new projects..... Famous last words?

Now which project to start first?

Have a great week

Marina

Happiness is...

Happiness is spending time with these beautiful Ladies!
All the problems of the world disappear and are drowned out by laughter and comeraderie.
we could probably solve the problems of the world if we put our  minds to it.
Of course the road trip is such a hoot too....but what goes on in the car stays in the car! might I add it was a beautifully cleaned car for the occasion. I won't have to clean it again for the rest of the year it had such a good scrub inside and out.
Thanks to the gorgeous Sue for hosting us.

l-r yours truly, Robyn, Anne, Marg, Sue (standing), Tracee, Elyte and Annie

 thought I would share a close up of the blocks I personalised for my Gossip in the garden...
This Chocolate block is one from Anni's quilt design My favourite things. We used to eat so much chocolate at work.... probably comfort eating more than anything lol

 ......there was also lots of cake, cake, cake and talk, talk, talk..... I know you are surprised...

I Changed the border around the centre as I couldn't master the blocks of the original and I felt it needed a bit of 'space' as the quilt is so busy. Also added another cup cake... can never have too many cupcakes-well that was our philosophy at work. Can you see a pattern here, no wonder I gained the weight over a long period.

 nope, didn't change this one .... love it though

 I simplified the border a bit to give some more neutral space and added the scalloped border to frame it.

 here's another pic, look away if you're sick of seeing it lol
Sue's pic has more light and shows up the fabrics better.

Well thanks for hanging in there.....and thanks for visiting and leaving such lovely comments on my previous post.
will be back soon to show my finishes for 2017.
cheers
Marina
x

the year that was and a new Year to come

Well it's been quite awhile since I spent much time here.... I have been lurking and making some occasional comments but there just wasn't enough time for everything and my blog missed out on some of the attention.

Last year was a big year for me on many levels and it ending up finishing well and I am looking forward to a great year ahead.

As far as crafting goes I made last year a year to finish projects. I did accomplish quite a bit and I was very happy about that.

I won't show all of my finishes in this post, as hopefully I will make another post soon to show some more finishes.

This year, as I only really have Okehampton as my major project, I am hoping to dabble in some smaller projects too for gifting, something I have been quite neglectful in doing.

So let's get started with the photos...

this live, laugh, love quilt has been completed for quite a while and it was time for some quilting to happen. I had it quilted by Jemima's and I must admit I had fallen a little out of love with it and was worried about spending the money on a project I was not longer in love with.

But that all changed when I picked it up from the quilters. They even commented on how good it looked! Needless to say I am very much in love with it again and it is hanging in my sewing room.

 

This month I managed to complete the top for my Farewell Quilt (gossip in the garden by anni Downs)

I made a few changes as I usually do and unfortunately the photo does not do it justice, it's ended up quite big and was a little difficult to photograph.  I am wanting to hand quilt this one once I can bring myself to basting it!

I bought a lovely kit for a hexagon needlebook and after making the kit up I decided to make another one up too and dragged out this project from some years ago and make it up in the same method.

The flower was made ages ago and the stitchery also, the lilypad needlebook was very daunting to it came to a screeching halt. But now it's done!

Have had some fun working on my Okehampton centre...... besides the handquilting this is my only other big project........at the moment anyway.

What's not to love about some english paper piecing and fussy cut tiny hexie flowers?

I am toying with this background (a 3 sisters fabric) and the first border fabric too.

Thankyou for sticking with the post if you're still here....and for taking the time to visit after such a long time.

I hope to get back into the gist of blog land again, slowly.

Stay tuned....

Back to work Monday so we'll see how it pans out.

I'll leave you with a furry friend pic....... Maisie decided to spend some time in my sewing room under the air con vent. 42degrees I don't blame her but it made it hard for me to sit and sew lol.

Happy days..

Marina

x

holidays...

Well it's that time again and I've been a rather pathetic blogger and blog follower, even though I have been a bit of a stalker...
Time just seems to be at a premium at the moment and I've found myself spread a bit too thin...
Am finding my feet at my new job which I am happy about after a rocky start but it has been 16years since I started a new job so there were going to be some stresses.
I thought I'd pop in and update on a few projects as I like to chronicle my crafting through my blog.
the holidays have started off with a bang as I have been busily concentrating on just one project for the past few weeks and that is Sweet William. I set a goal to have the quilting completed by these school holidays.Well the holidays have started and it's a finish!!! woo hoo you can imagine me doing cartwheels around the place if you're game...

Roll the film please...
Ta DA.........

 some stats if you're interested..
Started Jan 2015 after some one on one consultation from the very clever Elyte
Top completed September 2015
Started hand Quilting April 2016
Hand quilting completed 4 July 2017
Have loved making this quilt and have learnt so much along the way, also igniting my obsession/passion for needleturn applique.


Another finish I have been remiss of celebrating is the completion of my Caswell Quilt top.
I am still undecided as to how to finish, the borders ie. I am not fond of the ones on the pattern but can't decide how to complete it.
This has been an absolute joy to work on, have loved the process and surprised myself that I have accomplished it.
Will be a little while before it is a complete finish but that's ok too....
Good things come to those who wait.
Some more stats..
Started in March 2016
Only completed 25 of the 30 blocks.
Top together May/June 2017

A new project I started once Caswell was done is my farewell quilt....
Gossip in the garden by Anni Downs.
Now that sweet william is done I can work on the second block and get back to some other wisps.

Happy Days....

Marina

a day of fun, frivolity and spending!

Today I got to spend a most wonderful day with the blogger group. I can't remember the last time I went to a gathering but I so enjoyed todays outing.
I went with the city girls contingent and we met the others at Gisborne Patch and Quilt.
I just so happened to have a gift voucher that my work friends had given me as a farewell gift......I am going to put it towards making my own farewell quilt as all of them are non crafters.
The design I plan to make is Anni Downs-Gossip in the garden. Some beautiful fabrics that I will use as backgrounds came home with me, some bargain vintage looking fabric to back my clamshells with, and some other miscellaneous lovelies also jumped into the bag.

Now you might think there was lots of laughing and chatting going on and you'd be right but there was also some sewing and I managed to complete my penultimate Caswell block and then start on the final Caswell block!! I can't believe I have reached this wonderful milestone in just over a year.

some crochet progress, slow and steady on this one.....perfect take to work project to add to at lunchtime.

 When the city girls dropped me off after our day out a surprise was waiting for them as Hub had been busy baking a Dundee Cake.... well it was delicious and the girls scored a slice and a cup of home made coffee. I think it was worth the stop...

Well the photographic evidence of the days proceedings will be up shortly as Shez and Sue took lots of happy snaps.
Thankyou to all the lovely ladies for such an uplifting day in your company!
Happy mother's day to everyone tomorrow, well the mother's that is.
Cheers
Marina