monday musings

 seems like concentrating is a challenge at the moment. I know what needs to be done and I know what I want to do and can't focus on either. 

Today was my day off so I had a little rummage through my odd bits and pieces box. This includes orphaned stitcheries and blocks, ideas that didn't quite make the cut and general hide away projects.

I found some little blocks in 1930's repro fabric leftover from 'sweet nostalgia'. They had been sewn together and just looked blah so I got to unpicking, pressing and trimming. 

This gave me two little minis. I also managed to find some of the original 'white' and off white to add to these.

enough white to add a few more blocks.....

while looking for the white fabrics I thought I would have a look for some bigger metre pieces of shirting that I could use for the scrappy and red 9 patch blocks.

This treasure that I have been hanging on to popped up and it just so happened that the blocks are 3 1/2" so I auditioned the red 9 patch on the piece and I think it could be a big winner and finally give it a purpose. 

Night time stitching is reserved for must do applique as I have a deadline for that and I want to get it done.

More freedoms for Victoria and it's a great feeling. Took my mum to see her first great grandchild and she got to have a big hug. Little princess was smiling and cooing for great grandma and when I got to have a hold the chin started to quiver and she started to cry, tears and all.

Hope this isn't going to define our relationship? 

have a great week

Marina

taking stock..

 Unfortunately at the moment my works in progress are all much of the same so i thought I would do a little stock take and tally up the projects that I have in progress....

Some are slow and ongoing with no deadline and others are coming to the end of the quilt.

Here we go, this could be cathartic

• Spring Bouquet              - final outer border to be done then sewn together         
• Basket Case                    - Just started 19 Blocks completed

• scrappy hearts                 - on going project

• scrappy nine patches       - on going project, 57 completed

• red nine patches              - on going projecct, 15 completed

• Farm Sweet Farm           - Final border needed, waiting to visit fabric shop.
• Shoo Fly blocks             - fabric selected for alternative blocks.

Well that wasn't so bad, was it?  I was sure I had lots more but there you go.

Tops awaiting quilting...

• Okehampton                      - booked in for April next year
• Liberty Dresden Plates
• Clamshells
• Novelty hexie top

It will be interesting to see in a few months how those figures have changed.

Australia post has delivered another two minis to crafty friends so I can share pictures.

Happy days...

Marina

Midweek musings

Another wednesday in lockdown has arrived and looks like there will be a few more to come.

A little pick me up arrived today in the form of a squishy package.  I had ordered some fabric for my latest basket quilt at the start of the month but with the post the way it is at the moment, It finally arrived today. (the top and bottom fabrics)

I now have a lovely stash just waiting to be cut into... the grey spotted fabric on the bottom will be for the outer borders and the others will make up the centre basket blocks. Can't wait to cut into these... but need to finish off those little dresses first. School holidays coming up so there will be time to start then.

Here are a few more of some mini's I made to use up some of my Liberty fabric leftovers...and some backing fabric leftovers too. Win win!

Add caption

I love this pattern and have made one in reds as a gift but the liberty fabrics go quite well too. I must make myself one, one day...

There are a few more to be revealed once they arrive at their destinations.

I just wanted to share a picture of one of my orchids. I have two the same that have been resurrected after not flowering for many years. They are both yellow and the flowers are smaller than they should be but each year they are 'less yellow' and a little bigger. As far as flowering they are going great guns with at least 10 spikes on each one. Gotta be happy about that.

This is a picture of my 'co-workers' for today! As you can see they are flat out.......but not working lol

Hope everyone is having a great week so far!

cheers

Marina

Friday

 Another week has flown. Crafting has been sporadic but there have been a few ticks off the to do list.

Two little fronts got smocked and hopefully this weekend I can get a good start on sewing them together. I am quite happy with them and the only issue I have is that the fabrics were so busy and they take away a little from the smocking but I can feel my stitching improving and getting more even.

Early in the week a good friend celebrated her birthday so I popped her gift in her letterbox on a walk with the furries. A gift card and a mini quilt to celebrate.

I made this in an attempt to use up some of my Liberty leftovers. I got to make a quick project and play with fabrics I enjoy. 

Think I'll leave you with a picture of a Camelia flower from my garden. I have five large bushes in full bloom. The are amazing and add a burst of blooms to the garden. Sadly they don't last too long but we'll enjoy them while they last.

Tomorrow I'll get to catch up with sewing buddies via a zoom meeting. It's not the same as a get together but it will be a nice change from sewing alone at home.

Hope you all have a great weekend

Hearts progress

 Some time ago I shared a photo of some little hearts that I decided to make to use up little scraps and bits left over from other projects. Well in my absence from blogging they had accumulated and I decided to sew them together. The project is ongoing of course as there are always little scraps that are happy to become little hearts. They make a great pick up and go project.

This is the where they are at.... once the tin is full then they will get sewn together and added to the main part.

two other little UFO's that needed finishing were two little minis that were made from half square triangle scraps that I had held onto for way too long. Then they stalled as minis that needed quilting. Well they got quilted and are on display.

Sunday crafting time was spent pleating two little fronts for smocking.

Now just to finalise colours of cotton and smocking pattern. Sometimes I think I enjoy the prepping process just as much as the crafting.

Happy Days!!

Marina