shirt challenge reveal....

Today was the day for the big shirt challenge reveal. The venue was the beautiful home of the lovely Marg.
It was bring a plate and your shirt challenge project and also the Kaffe Fassett challenge for those that took part.
It was a wonderful day spent with inspiring ladies as the following photos will show...
Be warned there are quite a few photos.
first up was the kaffe fassett challenge quilts...

Sue's gorgeous Samoan fabric top

Annette and Marina's completed quilts.

Tania and her gorgeous start to her top

Donna's beautiful top all basted ready to start quilting.

 There were some other finishes that made it to show and tell..

Sue's beautiful Batik sew along top, quilted waiting for binding.

Marg's amazing 'message in a bottle' flimsy. So love this!

Now for the shirt challenge.....

This stunner was Marina's, and I so wish it was this Marina's, but it belonged to Gisborne Marina.

Marina's other shirt challenge quilt.

Tania's challenge was going to be a mini but she enjoyed it so much she is going to let it grow

Annettes stripey delight. Even had a pocket for keeping the remote.

Marg's stunning quilt. this was amazing.

This was Helen's 

Sue's stripey quilt with lots of pockets. This will go to the Orangutans at the zoo and treats will be hidden in the pockets.

 Forgot to take a pic of my own quilt so here is one I borrowed from Sue (kiwikid's) blog. Not quite finished but together at least as a flimsy.

Here we are all together.

Thankyou all for a wonderful day and to Marg for hosting us all in her home.

There were a few of the usual suspects absent and were sadly missed. Hopefully it won't be too long till the next get together.

Cheers

Marina

some starts, some finishes, some stuff...

Well the silly season has passed and we managed to survive it by keeping it low stress.
The year started off with a lovely get together with the Gisborne girls and City girls, with Melody thrown in for good measure. And what a super day it was!!
I have had some lovely time to myself in my sewing room, even though I had to share it with no 2 sone while he was in transit and staying here. He was amazed and said 'what happened to my room?'
I just let him know that it's my room now and while he can visit and stay in the room it must be left in a reasonable condition so that I can pop in and out as I wish to sew. That seemed to work ok. He did seem to move out quite quickly though? Hmmm
The best part of having my own space has been that I can leave the machine and mess out and just pop in  even if it's for just a few minutes and just leave it there till I get the chance to do some more.
Be prepared, this slack blogging makes for photo heavy posts when I do decide to post...

I thought this challenge was a great idea, similar to what I have done myself before.
You list your ufo's and each month you pick a number and that's the project that you work on for the month.
If you play along with the blog site they select the item number to work on.
I have one project down.....

can only give you a sneak peak! My shirt challenge is now a top. I need to work on borders but there is plenty of time.

Something new......I started a new Boys story quilt for a friend at work... Thanks to my 'new to me' machine it does beautiful applique stitch so I don't have to do it by hand. The hand stitching needs to be done. Excuse the threads everywhere, the fabric is fraying mercilessly.

Some progress..... I managed to complete the last row of my novelty hexies and then got so excited I did all the hexies needed to even up the sides. Just need to get some backing and decide how to quilt it. Was toying with borders too? It can sit like this for a little till inspiration strikes.

Of course I had to have some hand stitching on the go....
These two designs are by Urban threads. I love their quirkiness.
Such a great price too for a quick download.

Of course some time in the sewing room means some rearranging... I have been reshuffling and repurposing bits and pieces. I can get lost in there for ages.. Some of the hangings got shuffled around, I reorganised my pin cushions after rediscovering this little shelving unit (got to use that stash of little doilies that I have too) and put a crochet blanket on the bed after no 2 son moved on. My grandmother made this and I just love it. Even though it is old fashioned and daggy. The boys throw quilts got a wash yesterday while it was so hot they dried so quickly in the shade. Perfect!
The two that have moved out don't seem to want to take them with them and no 3 son still at home doesn't want a dinosaur quilt on his bed, he much prefers cars? What is with that, just because he's 19?? Whatever... so they will stay folded up on the bed in my room for now.

Hope everyone has kicked off the year well... Some more social outings planned for this week with crafty friends. Perfect!
cheers for now & happy crafting
Marina

some holiday happiness

I have had the end of this week at home and it has been a mini whirlwind of crafting, not quite on the scale of term holidays but there were a few must do's that needed to get done.

 this little stitchery was finished a few weeks ago. It is stitched with the gorgeous cottage thread that I was sent by Cheryl in her giveaway. I couldn't wait to use it.

 I finished this stitchery this week. It was my project that I took to Queensland with me.
I wasn't going to sating stitch all of it but after some unpicking It was the only way to go. Just wished I had been a little more careful in my tracing...
I have been enjoying doing lots of stitching but I really need to purpose them into finished projects!
Maybe next holidays?

 I spent a day this week having a play with my shirt fabrics....it is meant to be secret crafting business but Tracee showed a peek of hers and to repay the compliment I will show a peek of mine....

what would holidays be without some retail therapy!

A work colleague has asked me to make a boys quilt for her 3 y/o. A trip to GJ's was in order but they are only offering their discount now on cuts of 50 cm for their 25% special. Still picked up some bargain fats though.

I am going to make the Boys story quilt minus the stitcheries.  I have also added some brights from my stash so I think I will have a great assortment.

 Thought I would try these to tackle some more applique with Sweet William. Still haven't plucked up the courage to get back to them.....but soon

I have done the borders on the baby's quilt that I am doing for a friend with the little vintage animals stitcheries from a previous post. I sandwiched it and basted it so it is ready for some hand quilting. I think I am crazy! It is only a metre squared so hopefully won't take too long. fingers crossed. I will share a pic once it is done.
 A last pic of a beautiful stitchery Teresa gifted me when we had our get together in Queensland.
Michelle's stitchery designs are so pretty and how about getting one already done? Sounds good to me.
I will need to organise this into a finish too...

well it's back to work tomorrow...
It feels like I have been away for ages.... is this a sign of a rested holiday?
Off to hunt and gather... have had no car for a few days so it will be good to get out in my car instead of having to walk everywhere.
Hope you have had a crafty weekend too
cheers
marina