winter is here

Winter officially started on the 1st of June. The weather has been quite cool but this week  funnily enough, now that we don't have a big outdoor party happening, it hasn't rained all week! Thanks for that weather guy.
The first camelia flower for winter has opened up this week. A beautiful double pink. The others won't be far behind I am sure.

The great hexagon flower frenzy has slowed as now I am busy making the contrasting hexagons to make the path around the flowers. I have 33 flowers in total. I want to go through my stash to find some other fabrics I can use to make some more, but I need to concentrate on stitching those cream ones.Still haven't committed to the lay out. I really like the second option as it is a little different but I do like the traditional border and I think this is probably the one I will go with for my first garden quilt.

I have been busy this week with 'commitment' crafting. I have gotten stuck into a  baby blanket for a girly at work who is expecting. I thought she was finishing in the next few weeks instead she has about another month and a half- so I needn't have panicked, but at least it will be done early.

Another project I have needed to do is finish off my god daughter's horsey quilt for her confirmation gift for this sunday. I rang the quilters on Monday as I had asked for it to be finished by the end of May. When I rang they hadn't done it yet. Panic stations!! They assured my it would be done by Wednesday. Sure enough I picked it up yesterday and what a great job they have done. I bought some lovely red/brown print for the binding and last night it was done. All ready for Sunday!

Here it is ready to go

Another weekend rolls around. Happy crafting.
Marina

a long time ago........

In august 2008 I had an idea for a quilted throw for my god daughter. It would have horses and embroidery and patchworking.
I sketched an idea and several planets aligned to make a type of pattern. I started off with good intentions but it just didn't come together. six months later I dragged out what I had done and tried to get inspired to do some more. Then it got put away again after much unpicking and recutting. That was about the size of it, but these holidays I was determined to make headway- it was me or the quilt.
The heat makes us hibernate especially during the hottest part of the day and today, Well I have won not only the battle but the war.
I popped out to our local patchwork shop to get some fabric for the outer border and found a gorgeous Moda fabric. It combines all the main colours of the quilt.
Here is a close up of one of the stitched blocks. The pictures were really well drawn and had lovely expressions. Not bad for a $2.50 iron on transfer pack of patterns from Spotlight.
(drumroll please !!) And here is the finished top.......
Streamers and champagne corks NOW...






I am quite happy with the finished throw. All the pieces finally came together.
I just need to do the applique (then quilt and bind it) but the worst is over.
I hope it won't take another 16 months to finish it off.

I am a very happy puppy!

cheers
Marina

one down!

Well I can mark one off the list of to do's.

I have managed to piece together my Girls day out top. Wooohoo!

I am really happy with it. There are a few little things that need to be finished off, I missed a little bit of embroidery and I need to applique some roses around the centre shop, which I was debating about but I figure I have done this much work over the last 12 months a little more won't hurt.

I used Lecien fabric for the borders and am worried as they are fraying quite easily. I will need to be careful with handling and when I quilt it.

With the school holidays a success will usually encourage me to bring out the too hard basket and this horsey project has surfaced again. Last holidays I unpicked and resewed the blocks so that the embroidered blocks and the panel blocks were supposed to end up the same size but surprise- they didn't and I am lost with the busy-ness of it. Will leave them out for a few days and see if any inspiration hits. As always any suggestions more than welcome!

Off to finish my paper bag swap items! Deadline looming.

cheers

Marina