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

hello out there.....

 Wow months just fly by and we are plowing towards the middle of the year

Even thought I have not been so visible in blogland I have been in the background looking at all the lovely things my blog friends are making and doing.

I receive lovely invites to Zooms from the wonderful Chooky and I managed to pop in for a little bit on the weekend just gone. It was great to sew and chat with this lovely group and I got to thinking about all the friendships and acquaintances I have met through blogging over the years. Whether it is for a short while or a long while they are valued connections. I thought it might be nice to pop in and put up a few post as I have been busily sewing over the past months. There should be enough to supply me with quite a few posts.

In the last post I made there was a list of projects to be done..... that list has changed a bit since then so it's a good place to pick up

1. there has been major progress on basket case 

2. Tilda dresden's are a completed top awaiting quilting

3. Kim's top had all it's applique done and returned to her

4. Monster's top is done awaiting quilting

7. My favourite things blocks have been completed into two quilts that have been gifted.

8. 9 patch tops have got their borders cut and planned

Now for the photographic evidence

basket case- pattern by Irene Blanck

Favourite things 1- blocks by Toni Alexander

Favourite things 2 - pattern by Toni Alexander

even made labels!

Tilda Dresdens

Monsters......

thanks for making it to the end 

Hopefully more to share soon

Happy days

Marina

plodding along

My favourite things blocks are gradually increasing.....

These are the latest blocks I have completed as of a few weeks ago.  The most recent blocks have all been prepped ready to go as have some blocks for two other Red Boots Quilts patterns that I have on the wish list.

Instead of just starting something new I am enjoying prepping something new for when I will want to start them. Only problem is that is how I started the my favourite things blocks.... lol  I had heaps prepped and couldn't resist starting.

I have a list of my works in progress and soon will have one to tick off......

No 3

This comes with a bit of history. A work colleague who took up patchwork after seeing some of my quilts made this gorgeous sew along quilt by Laundry Basket quilts. She is a gun at piecing but hasn't taken to applique. I offered to do the applique borders for her. Who wouldn't love to work with those beautiful blues I ask?

The kit came with glued laser cut pieces that you stick and iron on to the border. Didn't come with a guide for the applique just need to look at the pattern picture. I did my best but the iron on pieces were horrendous to work with. Gumming up the needle and very hard on the fingers. I had done one side and put off continuing as I couldn't bare the  thought of finishing. After a while I got the idea to ask for any scraps from the piecing and to ask if she didn't mind me needle turning instead of the glued pieces.

She gave me the all clear so I got to pulling all the pieces off and unpicking the blanket stitch applique. It was quite a job but I could see the light ahead.

Two borders are complete and now I'm working on this solidly to get it finished for her.

I have sewn the vine on both remaining sides and also the large berries on both.

Now to the leaves!

It didn't come with a deadline but I don't like to dally on others projects. Mind you she has finished another five tops since giving me this one.

Hoping a finish to share soon then it will be back to my list of projects....

Which one to work on?

 Happy days

Marina

Social sewing weekend

The past weekend was spent partaking in some socialising with crafty friends.

Saturday evening I joined in with Chooky's zoom session and it was lovely to spend some time with the lovely ladies that were on. I hadn't had a chance to join in on a session for awhile so it was lovely to chit chat while I worked away on my crochet blanket which is progressing beautifully.

 

On Sunday the Gisborne girls and the City girls got to have a long awaited catch up. We haven't all been together since all this covid business.  Tracee was our hostess with the mostess and she spoiled us with an amazing lunch. There was some sewing happening and lots of laughter. 

These get togethers are definitely a tonic.

I actually have a photo of the get together, it seems like we don't remember to take pics these days.

Here we are looking very industrious

L-R Anne, Robyn, me, Sue (kiwikid), Tracee, Marg, Gail & Annie.

Most of us met through blogging and it's been at least 10 years of getting together and crafty companionship.

Here are some latest blocks for My Favourite things..... I did finish two yesterday but I just need to do some embellishments before they are photo ready

Hope the sun is shining where you are... 

Marina

catch up

 Wow, can't believe I've not posted for nearly three months. Life gets busy and there doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything. Thankfully that hasn't meant that crafting has been neglected!

I started a new project in the time I've been away, My favourite things by Red Boot Quilts. Each week Toni posts some new blocks, it is a free project but you are welcome to make a donation. Such a generous designer.  I have decided to needleturn mine as I am not fond of blanket stitch anymore and this makes them a great portable project.

I printed and prepped the blocks as they were coming out and I just couldn't resist starting them and seeing as they were already to go they have progressed quite quickly and I am caught up with the blocks. Of course I've omitted a few but that's fine with Toni. Not sure how many blocks there will be but so far there is over 50. 

Toni uses buttons for her eyes on the blocks but I have used wool felt for eyes and noses. A great alternative and kiddy safe.

Prepare for the photo onslaught....

I decided I should do a tally of works in progress... I have 11. How many is too many?

Are you  prepared to confess to how many you have?

Seeing as I have caught up I will shift my attentions to my neglected Monsters quilt. Stay tuned!

Have a wonderful 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