November already

 I can't believe it's November already! Busy days at work have made for very little sewing time at night. I've been struggling to stay awake let alone stitch. The best I have managed is some hearts as they are quick and easy and don't take a lot of concentration.  Won't be long and I'll start adding to the pieced section again.

I had a bit of a clean up in my sewing room this morning as things had got a little out of control. Feels good to get some order. Also had an attempt to prepare some quilt labels ready to stitch. I am very slack in making labels for my quilts, hopefully I can play catch up and get some done when I'm looking for a quick pick up project. Next year I'd like to get a few of those smaller flimsies quilted, hopefully hand quilted! Might be a bit ambitious but I'll give it a go.

Lockdown has eased and a get together in a park was organised by DIL and we all got to fight over our gorgeous baby girl and have a proper cuddle. She has just turned three months and is a little doll xx

Nine patch blocks have barely been touched but now total 27 Reds and 65 Scrappy.

I hope to get some sewing time this weekend and especially to treat myself on my day off on monday.

Happy sewing!

Marina

Crunching numbers...

 Another busy, albeit short week has meant little sewing time. 

Poor Michelle has caught a bug from me.... The applique heart bug and we thought it would be nice to have a little scrappy swap to enhance the  scrappiness of our hearts. My parcel to Michelle arrived quite quickly but thanks to the issues with post delivery mine only arrived last week even though we posted at the same time. It was well worth the wait as Michelle sent me some very pretty pieces which I had to cut into straight away. Some pieces allowed for some 1 1/2 inch blocks as well as some hearts so bonus!

As there isn't much sewing to show I decided to tally up my hearts as I often get asked how big will I make it. Thought it would be good to actually work it out a little, It seems I'm a little number obsessed at the moment.

Once all the new and prepped hearts are completed at this stage there will be 551 hearts. Of course there will be more added and I may need to make two quilts. Boy when I start something  I really start something! 

I think they look so pretty!

Some other mail that arrived was this parcel from Pauline's quilt world. A new bias making gadget.

I am quite happy with my clover bias makers but it is impossible to get a 1/8th bias maker. It was more economical to get the three and have a go. Of course I had to try them. THe 1/8th one is quite tricky but I think it would be, using any bias maker as it is so little. The 1/4" maker worked quite well and easily to make a lovely neat bias, this size is the one  I use the most for applique. I think I need to watch the video instructions and pick up some tips.

Grand final day holiday today, as much as I love a public holiday this one is such a fluffer holiday.

Oh well, take what's on offer. Looking forward to Sunday to hear if there will be any slackening of restrictions. Fingers Crossed!

Happy days

Marina

it's been a long week...

 It's back to normal at work and it was very busy, which I knew it would be. I was so tired after work that I barely picked up a needle during the week.

Yesterday though I go to sit and Sew with Chooky and other bloggers via zoom. It was lovely to meet new crafty people and touch base with others I knew.  Thanks Chooky for the invite and for organising.

During the zoom I played with some hearts while contemplating what to work on next.  It was about time I got back to Spring bouquet so I fired up the iron and freezer paper templates and prepped the pieces for the final border.

This is the rest of the pieces just waiting for that final piece.... There is meant to be a little border around the centre but I didn't fancy cutting more little blocks and I have used up all the background fabrics so I may just pop in a light green instead...... but then again I might change my mind.

I really have loved making this quilt. It will be a '0' birthday present for my sister in law for next year.

She has seen pics of the centre and said that she'd love it. Perfect!!

These are the little hearts that got done yesterday.   I have quite a stash prepped so they will be an easy go to for a change.

I am waiting on some squishy mail and it seems to be taking forever!  It seems it's either quick as a flash or slow as a snail. 

Well off to glue down some applique bits. No new 9 patches to add to the tally this week maybe tomorrow when I am home from work.

happy stitching

Marina

Oh Scrap

 There has been some lovely time spent playing with scraps! After working on the Farm Sweet Farm blocks I felt inspired to check out my scrap tins. A few years ago I decided that small pieces of fabric would be cut down to either 1 1/2 or 2 1/2 sized blocks. The 1 1/2" would one day become scrappy nine patch blocks. The coloured 2 1/2" blocks have become little hearts and plain light fabrics their backing.

Both collections are still being added to and will for some time but it was time to sew some of the nine patch blocks and also to add completed heart blocks to the piece already pieced.

I found it more enjoyable that I thought I would as machine piecing isn't my favourite thing to do.

OOps about that thread photo bombing!

Next task will be trimming, pressing and pinning these babies..

Happy Sewing

Marina

playing with scraps

Holidays provide the luxury of spending idle time in my sewing room and I have really been enjoying just dawdling and getting distracted by bits and bobs.
Yesterday I decided it was time to minimise my scrap baskets and iron and sort larger pieces and try to utilize smaller ones. Gradually I have been trying to cut up small scrap pieces into 1 1/2"and 2"squares so added a little to these but had a great idea to try appliqueing small hearts.
I made two tops to donate to the victims and first responders of the New Zealand tragedy and I enjoyed sewing the hearts so what better than downsizing them and making little hearts. Another mini on the way?

 

It started out as only prepping some hearts to have at the ready, then progressed to having a little go to see if it would be too fiddly or not,then  to getting carried away last night and sewing little hearts till my hearts content!

In for a penny, in for a pound as they say! I just can't help myself.
The hearts will use my 2" scrap blocks and the backgrounds are 2 1/2" and are from odd pieces of backgrounds that I have plenty of as I can't seem to throw them away.
Now aren't they cute? you can hardly blame me for getting carried away?
In my defence I did prep another saw tooth border for Mary Brown ready for applique and also a row of clamshells are ready to sew onto the border piece before losing myself to these hearts.

In the mail yesterday I received a gorgeous little parcel of loveliness from wonderful Michelle.
I had sent some of my stash pieces to contribute to her clamshells and her heart blocks for her grand daughters. I got to reduce my stash (minimally) and it added variety to her projects. Winning all round. As a thankyou she sent me this very cute milk jug doily and beautiful shirting piece.
I love milk jug doilies and this will add beautifully to my collection.
the little cup and saucer is so tiny, about the size of a thimble!