by hand and by machine.....

the title reminds me of a scene from the Blues Bros where they ask about the music performed at Bob's country bunker.... 'oh we have both kinds.... country and western......' the woman replies.
Because I have been doing both kinds of sewing ...........machine and hand sewing.
I managed to complete all the  checker board blocks for my next project from Irene Blancks book...
I knew if I didn't do the machine sewing blocks first they would be a bummer to be enthused about after the fun of the applique blocks.
When the mood strikes I can start this one.

But first I need to work on Lucy Kemper. The third corner is prepped and ready to go. It's difficult to get a good picture that shows all the different blues. I so love this quilt and am really enjoying the applique.

You know sometimes when you just get an idea and you want to have a little fun with it...
well this is the product of that idea... Not sure what these easter eggs will become. I tried to make a hanging decoration out of one but it was a slight failure so these pretties may become something else?
Hmmmmmm thinking.....

Got the email yesterday that Sweet William is ready to be picked up, basted all ready for handquilting.
He'll have to wait a little bit as I have ordered some plastic quilting stencils from America after having had little luck finding them locally or even interstate. In the meantime I am getting my quilting stitches tuned up by working on my little houses.
I have nearly completed two rows of houses. I really love these houses. seeing them in the photo makes me want to drag out the stamp and make more... Some control Marina!!

So many things to work on and so little time...

Tomorrow I will hopefully get to see the country and city girls and the other wonderful girls that used to meet at the Mill rose cottage. I will only get to pop in as I have to be elsewhere but a little bit is better than none.
A big thankyou for those that showed interest in my tops for sale, looks like they both have a new home, the blue top will go after I complete it for a friend who is a non quilter, and I am very excited that the homespun bom one will finally be loved and finished.
and the doilies were gone in a flash.
Would also like to mention that February is my blogaversary month. I am so happy I started my blog in 2009 as it has brought me in touch with some wonderful crafty women some of whom I actually get to spend fun times in person with. Thankyou to all of you who stop by and say Hi and offer encouragement, friendship and support. x
Have a wonderful Weekend!
Marina

July ufo

July's ufo to work on was my little houses. I was looking forward to some progress and didn't even open the box of houses till the 29th and I realised there were only a few more days of July to go!
With all the sashings and corner stones already sewn on this wasn't the big job it might have seemed.
I really wanted to get moving so I retreated to the sewing room and zoom, zoom, zoomed.
Here I was playing around with the borders. I was leaning to a thin red border too but it just didn't look right.

 Borders on and red blocks in the corners.
I so love these little houses. Now just to get quilting.

 Maisie giving the seal of approval.

I also finished my July Baltimore block. This has been a favourite of myself and mum.
I feel I am improving and these are the neatest leaves so far. The flowers came together reasonably well too I feel.

After a speedy order of bias tape from Jemima's I have made a start on miss Lucy Kemper. Unfortunately the bias stems seemed to have puckered a little too much for my liking when I sewed the stems down so this morning they have been unpicked and it's back to the drawing board.

Pics will follow once some progress has been made, again.

Sun is shining this morning and Coffee and I headed out for a walk nice and early. Still lots of frost on the grass lawns but it was beautiful. Just gives me a great start to the day. I will be very happy once the sun decides to get out of bed a bit earlier so we can resume our walking routine.

Hope you all have a great weekend

Marina

some photos to share.

 Woke up and thought omg, is it really holidays?

 Get that sugar level up.... and get ready to go.....YES it is holidays

Are you going to sew all day? Pleeaaase...

 woo hoo I love holidays.....

the sun is shining a nice walk is in order...

A swim for someone... come on throw the ball!

Back to some sewing.....

My little houses have been calling me....
I was a little enthusiastic putting the borders on I need to make another lot of little houses for the bottom row that doesn't require sashings with corner stones at the bottom. Prefer to make new houses than un sew. This will make a total of 64 houses. A lovely little hanging.

A start has been made on this quilting too... It is progressing quite quickly which I am very happy about.

I am meeting up with the recipient again on thursday. Wonder if I can out do myself and get it done by then?
No pressure....
Sun is shining here in Melbourne and we are expecting a top of 24. Lovely weather!
Have I mentioned I love Holidays?
Happy sewing..
Marina

bits of this and that

Not a lot happening this last week and am finding it a bit hard to focus on stitching so I have been looking for other things to play with.
Today I was playing around with some 1/2 inch hexies that were left over from the last purse that I made and thought it would be a great idea to see if I could make a mini hexie pincushion.
Nothing ventured nothing gained as they say..
I have filled them with a bit of stuffing and walnut shells so I can use them to sharpen my needles.
I think they are quite cute.

 Two more blocks finished for my live laugh love quilt. These were finished a week ago.

I have been plodding along with this during the week, sewing the stepping stones for the top and bottom row that I added. I think I have enough flowers to make one more row and then I will have to think about planning the fillers to straighten the sides.

 Little houses have been built over the past week or so too.
Another 8 done. They are so enjoyable to make but I must think about putting them together soon....

Hope the weekend has been a good one for you
cheers for now
Marina

just quilting along...

This morning I dropped off my Swan Lake top to the quilter's to be custom quilted. After some exciting ideas from Leanne we have pretty well settled on the design and I can't wait till it comes back to me.
A trip to the Monbulk quilt show next week is in order so that I can check out a quilt with hexies that Leanne has just finished, just so that I can be sure of the style of quilting I want. Have already talked hub into making the trip with me, a nice lunch is promised and will make a lovely day out.

Since finishing my bom projects and Swan Lake I have concentrated on smaller projects.
Just can't seem to find something new to inspire me in the way of a larger quilt so am putting that unused inspiration into other things.
Lots of time is being spent on trying to hand quilt my park avenue hexies and my quilted crow runner.
Boy does hand quilting take time!

 

  A little gift for a friend's birthday got made and remade. After not tracing the design with enough care I redid the whole thing and kept the 'faulty' one for myself.  It's amazing how things turn out neater when you take a bit more care....who would have figured?

( this is a freebie on sew mama sew's blog)

some more little houses have popped up.. bringing the total close to fifty!

last but not least some small cross stitch projects have filled in some time.
Not sure what these will become but there are some ideas milling around the empty spaces of my mind.

 the colours for this one aren't very clear but it is a lovely muted blue.

Now I might see if I can tackle some half square triangles this afternoon
With a long weekend this weekend I am adamant there will be crafting!
I definitely need to make a list of to do's.....
Hope you have a great weekend
cheers
Marina

an experiment-success

I will let you be the judges...
I wanted to make some blankets of love to send to Cheryll. When she posted about the need for small blankets of between 8" and 12", I thought it would suit me perfectly as I am quite enjoying making mini things at the moment. The project would include some stitching and some crochet.
The ideas were floating around my head and by the time they were put into action by the hands and fingers I had the result I was after. A trip to Spotlight  for some snuggly flannelette for the backing and some lovely baby wool to finish them perfectly.
The stitchery designs are freebies from NeedleCrafter.com. there is also a little rabbit and puppy in the same style. Perhaps a mint and mauve one? Very enjoyable to stitch.
Finished size 11 1/2 inches approx.

 (the little girly kitten ended up with an appliqued dress as I mucked up the tracing of the dress patterning. I am not unhappy with the result)

 I hope to send these off to Cheryll asap.
Two little houses are added to the collection. The fabrics for these were kindly given to me by Rosalie. I think the one on the right should be called Rosie's cottage.

Well I'm off to partake in some more construction work.
Only two more sleeps till Mill Rose get together!
I guess this sums up Saturday....

Roll on the weekend!!
cheers
Marina

a new year has begun...

Welcome to a new year!
I thought it would be a good idea to end and start the year in the same manner.... by indulging in some stitching. I have missed not doing stitching lately and thought I should trace out my three Sweet Stitches patterns that had arrived early November. They sat traced waiting patiently.
They don't have to wait anymore.
The February block is stitched and hopefully over the next week or so I can get it framed.
I have started on my March Winds block too. Stitching is so relaxing and comforting.

I added a little red stitching just to break it up a litte. I love this stitchery, it reminds me of an old fashioned tattoo. Maybe it should say Mother in the ribbon, might have to mention it to tattooed no 2 son?

Building little houses has also kept a threaded needle in my hand too.
I love seeing these multiply

the latest houses completed

my little village 

Construction will slow down a little while I enjoy my stitching and also get back to my hand quilting project, my Park Avenue hexies quilt. It is going to be a long hard slog quilting it but I have made a start, sometimes that is the hardest part.
Hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thankyou to everyone for visiting my blog throughout the year and for your comments and friendship.

Now Back to some stitching
Cheers
Marina

hello out there...

After spending some time today helping a fellow blogger sort out some technical issues it has spurred me to do a post.
Life has been very busy and draining emotionally over the past weeks and there has been little enthusiasm for crafting and blogging. I have been popping around to my favourite blogs now and then to see how you have all been keeping busy but forgive me for not commenting.

since my last post there have been some finishes to catch you up on so get ready there are going to be a lot of pics.

 the little girls of the world have been picked up from the quilters and the binding done.

 My sil's quilt- the same
both are just waiting for labels and will go to their new homes soon.

love a rolled up quilt!

The Sweet stitches December block made it to the stand for the 1st of December! Phew....

More little houses have joined the housing estate...so much for stopping at 12!

and drum roll please.....
My big finish for the year...
My down in the Garden quilt has been completed. Some gorgeous custom quilting has finished this off beyond my expectations. I love it so much that I have booked in Swan Lake for May next year to be quilted also.
Are you ready?

I just have to show some close ups of the spectacular quilting.

pattern by Leanne Beasley, quilted by Leanne Kauffman.

Hope I haven't bored you too much but I did warn you.
My Down in the Garden quilt is spending some time at my mum's place. She doesn't have a quilt for her bed at the moment so I told her to take it home for awhile to brighten up her bed.  I couldn't bare it to be folded up and put away and there isn't a place for me to hang it at the moment. I am hoping it will cheer her up a little.

Well it was lovely to catch up with you all and I hope to get back to normal blogging patterns soon.
If I don't post before Christmas I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a safe New Year!

cheers
Marina

weekend busyness

I have had lots of sewing time this weekend. Once I get the machine out I try to get as much sewing done as possible before it has to go away again.
I started the crafting off with some retail therapy to buy some bits and bots for some secret sewing and some threads for a new project...
But first some finishes were in order
After some reverse sewing when a bright spark sewed the 1 1/2" squares right side facing the wrong side of the other piece it was to be attached to. Well said bright spark was so carried away with the continuous piecing it took to piece 26 before it was noticed. So unpicking and then resewing and this is the result
Mr Merry framed and basted ready for hand quilting!
I had to cut into my special stash of Chocolat fabric for the dark squares of the border but it was worth it.

 Finished my cross stitch needlecase.
The cross stitch was meant to go inside but it was a shame to hide away all those little stitches.
So a little reversing and ta da!

 an extra little pocket on the left for needles in their packet.

some more little houses have been made and I couldn't resist photographing them all together...

Boy they are as addictive as hexagons!
A start made on my new table runner. It's so enjoyable stitching the wool. So much gentler on the hands.

Lastly a pic of my new project. Hopefully it will get finished for christmas.
Only a sneak peek for now but more will follow.

Before you ask, yes I have been sleeping.......just staying up late watching bbc drama North and South. A work colleague lent me the dvd's and I finished watching the last episode last night/this morning. It was so lovely and the handsome Richard Armitage is quite easy on the eye too. Mr Thornton might be some competition for Mr Darcy!

Roll on Monday.
Why?
Because next week is the Mill Rose Get together and I want the week to fly!! Woo hoo!
So looking forward to going.
Have a great week
marina