Been awhile.....

 Well it's been two years since I last blogged a post and life has been flying by.

Time has been spent and wasted on other social media and as I have deactivated one I will see if I can channel some time back to my neglected blog.

A quick life catch up -There has been a big birthday, a big anniversary, a new grand baby girl, some quick getaways, parent caring, new job and that's just to name a few.

I hope there are still some people interested so this will be a test run!

Of course there have been quilting projects. Some tops finished, some quilted, some gifted and some put away and of course some new projects started.

I will start with  a project I had in my last post. My dresden and stitchery top. I ended up going with a lovely little peeper and plain border to frame it and give it a little extra size. I am very happy with the result.

This Joy of life quilt was completed and gifted to my work bestie. The patterns were given to me by the lovely Rosalie complete with bom fabrics but it was from the early 2000's so I felt the fabrics were quite dated. I did a complete revamp and this is it.

Another Favourite things top has been made. I just love making these blocks and was contemplating rehoming them as I didn't have the oomph to sew them up but inspiration hit and I followed the kiss principle and it got done. Just needs to wait to be quilted....perhaps later this year as I have two at the quilters already

This was a distraction project. I love hexie flowers but don't have it in me to sew a full on hexagon quilt so this was a lovely compromise. Some lovely Tilda fabrics and some add ins make this top look very vintage. Onto the to be quilted pile.

This was my big passion project for the year. So far I have made all the applique blocks, which I will share in upcoming posts. Now onto the pieced blocks, my least favourite part of the process. I am altering some aspects of the quilt, of course, to make it suit me. I can't wait to get to those applique borders!!

Lastly, this little baby quilt for our new little princess born in January this year. She is a gorgeous little doll. I hand quilted it and quilted a wreath in the plain blocks. Little hard to see but I forgot to take a photo when it was finished to had to rely on my son to snap it for me.

Well that's it for this post. We'll see if there is anyone out there still looking I hope you are.

Have a great day!

Marina

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

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!

Valentines day.....

Wow where did the past month go?  Once it's back to work the days seem to just run away from me.

Some sewing has been getting done and some quilts that have made their way to the front of the queue.

Firstly I picked up my lovely May Gibbs quilt and the binding is all prepped ready to go. Seeing that we are having temps in the thirties I don't think it will be sewn on just yet.

I was inspired to make a comfort quilt for a parent that is going through some serious health issues. 

A fitting design to be sharing on Valentine's day.

I dipped into my tilda stash and my small stash of low volume fabrics. As I am trying to reduce my fabric stash this made sense to use what I had as they suited the project perfectly.

A good friend is going to become a grandmother and I have been debating what design quilt to make for the baby. The mum has some unusual taste leaning towards vintage so I thought Liberty Hexies would suit. As Hub and I were driving past The quilt shop in Eltham I decided to pop in and buy some background fabric as I didn't have anything in a generous quantity that would suit.

It was a very successful trip....

I got planning and cutting as soon as I got home and I definitely am happy with the result so far.

A few weeks ago mum asked me to drive her to Spotlight and while sticky beaking around in the $3 per metre shelves I found this beauty........

I have another farm quilt to make and this will be perfect for the backing. I just love it and the price certainly made it even more appealing.

Hoping to get the heart quilt back this week from the quilters so I can bind and gift it asap.

Happy sewing!!

Marina

something new....

 I was contemplating a backing for my liberty dresdens top by using my remaining Liberty stash.

I thought hexie flowers would be good but after much debate I decided to just piece some fabrics together so that I could take it to be quilted. It was a top that I had hoped to hand quilt but I don't think that is a realistic option at the moment as some pains in my fingers and arm won't be too happy about it so I took it to be machine quilted today.  As I had been very enthusiastic about the hexie flowers originally of course I had gone and cut heaps of them so that they would be ready to go but now they will get to become a project of their own replacing the hearts as my ready to go project. So much for cutting down on projects!

So all I have to share this week is some crochet progress (stalled as I had incorrectly ordered a colour) and the start of some liberty hexie flowers.

Happy Days

Marina

Sewing at leisure

 Days are rolling by and before I know it holidays will be over and it will be very interesting to see what the new school term will bring in regards to lockdown restrictions. The combination of on-site and off-site working has been a positive experience overall. No travel time, no interruptions on the up side, but no company on the down side. It's all a balancing act.

Sewing has been a feature of the lockdown and I have been concentrating on quilting my clamshells. I am over half way. On Saturday Chooky organised a zoom sewing get together and I joined in. It was lovely to see old friends and meet some new ones too. I have been missing my sewing get togethers with my sewing buddies and this was a great happiness boost. Thankyou Chooky for doing these.

While on  zoom Jo was handquilting as well and she had already bound her quilt. I thought this was a great idea so bound my Clamshells too. It's so much neater to handle but it just means I can't use the hoop near the edges.

I don't think I showed the whole of my novelty hexies quilt that I recently finished.

It feels good to complete these long term ufos.

I have also started sewing my second lot of monsters onto their backing fabric.

This shirting was a super bargain at Spotlight which ended up being about $5 per metre. 

I've found some great bargains on quality fabrics there and bought up enough to use for backings.

The backing for the clamshells was another great buy. I love it's vintage feel which compliments 'Scrappy' perfectly.

Onto the surrounding circles next!

Last year I got a little Elf on the Shelf Crazy and this year is looking like it's going to be even more crazy! I love displaying them in the office at School and the children love coming to see what they are up too. I've done a little lockdown shopping for accessories as I haven't had much fabric shopping so have channelled it to my Elf obsession.

If anyone is looking for sites to buy reasonably priced accessories for their Elf these two sites are amazing.....

My Magical Moments and My little elf store

Great service and gorgeous knick knacks. As it gets closer to Christmas I'll be sure to share my Elf's antics. Here's a little flashback to last year...

Look for the silver lining 

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

lockdown

 Well we are in lockdown again... what was supposed to be just one week has become two and who knows how much more.

It's hard not to be disheartened. I work in an area that had Tier 1 notifications and also live in an area that had Tier 1 notifications. I had my fifth covid test at the start of the week for piece of mind and thankfully it was negative. First Vaccination done too so fingers crossed we won't have to be so stressed. When we look at all the numbers for people being tested there are very few cases and those that are, are linked so we should probably calm down a little.

So what sewing have I been up to.....

There has been some time with the sewing machine making up some more nine patch blocks. These can be quite a relaxing project.  Won't be long and I think I will start to sew them together.

Some applique has been done too, of course. I think I'd be lost without some applique to do.

Okehampton is at the quilters and I am looking forward to having that complete!

Block 4 of flower garden is done.

One monster quilt has the monsters all sewn onto the background going to start the circles this weekend.

Little 9 patch blocks to add to the pile.

always encouraging when you can put your blocks together to see how they are growing.

A pretty pile of hexie flowers.....

Won't be long till I can start the stepping stones.

I have some hand quilting on my winter wish list.. might go and see which top is the lucky first?

Happy Days!

Stay safe and well.

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