something old, somethings new

 A great treat today as I got to pick up my Spring bouquet from Jemimas quilting.  Very happy with the result and hoping that the recipient will be happy too. Binding is cut and ready to sew. Perhaps a job for tomorrow....

Second border is done for my baskets and I felt it's time to start something new, well maybe two somethings.

Both projects have been on the waiting list for quite a long time and now is the time to strike.

Jemimas have the Flower Garden Quilt on display in their shop. One version in felted wools and the other in Kona solids. Both are stunning. I will needleturn my version and will get started once I can decide on which backing and piece fabrics for block 1.

Next on the list is Little monsters . I raided mum's stash today and bought the cute background fabric when I picked up my quilt this morning. the ready made circles are leftover from when my mum made one. Lucky for me!!

Pics of mum's quilt. She needleturned it too.

Happy days...

cheers

Marina.

February already!!

 I'm not sure where the time has gone but incredibly it's February. I survived the Christmas joys and New Year.  Crafting has been getting done here and there and there are a few things to catch up on.

Some deadline projects had to be completed and this meant other things were put on the back burner.

Spring bouquet by Laundry Basket Quilts was completed and taken to be quilted for a early March deadline as it will be a gift for my SIL's zero birthday.

I am very happy with the top and it was a very enjoyable project.

A baby Milestone quilt, pattern by Melly and Me was completed and delivered last week in time for bub's arrival. I hand quilted this one and I always ask myself why? lol

I also made one for our little princess, great pattern.

Some progress on my Basket case too, the baskets are all together and the first border is ready for appliqueing.......

Now that we are back in lockdown for five days I got some time with my Janome....

Ten new 9 patch blocks have been added to the stash and some red blocks got sewn together. Very happy with how they look together.

One last photo if you are still with me.... Poppy trying out what a cat's life is all about....

Now I'm off to catch up with what everyone else has been doing while I was in limbo land!

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

back from the abyss

 Well Hello out there from the wonderful locked down state of Victoria.

It's been a very long time but I thought it would be nice to pop in and say hello.

It feels like life has been very busy... Last year No 2 son got married and two weeks ago we welcomed our gorgeous granddaughter. No 3 son got engaged and No 1 son moved in with his partner.

On a sad note we lost our beloved Maisie in November last year. I haven't felt that I can bare to have another cat and Billy and Poppy try to fill the void.

Crafting has continued. Celebrating Mary Brown was completed and waited patiently to be custom quilted.

Okehampton has become a completed top, just waiting to be quilted, once I decide how I want it quilted.

A new baby meant a special quilt or two and a few new starts for myself have also snuck in there.

I have lots to share but the photos I have downloaded from my phone won't play nice (one of the main deterrent to blogging in the past as they end up every which way!) These three are the only ones that will load correctly.

spring Bouquet Centre is done and one outer border done.

Poppy is a big girl now. Such a beautiful nature

Billy as big a shmoozer as ever.

Miss Maisie-in her favourite position... cat scanner extraordinaire!

Well that will have to do for this post till I can organise some pics...

Hope everyone is surviving this co-vid madness

Find the silver lining!

Happy sewing

Marina

broken dishes

don't be alarmed, I haven't been destroying the crockery just getting distracted in my sewing room.
Initially I was distracted by Spring Bouqet..... I made a start on preparing the applique pieces for block 1, then I decided I should prepare the red strips for Mary Brown's borders but I got distracted by some half square triangles that were left overs from Sweet William baskets and some off cut triangles from other projects.

 they'll make two lovely little minis.

these triangles were some scraps kindly given by Lynda. I can finally say this is the last of them!!

 Block 1 ready to go.....

but first there are some clamshells and saw tooth borders that need working on.
Wonder how long I will hold out before starting lol

Happy days
Marina

something new, something to get back to..

Well where has the last week gone. 

My days have been spent happily going for walks with Billy and Poppy and getting some sewing time too.

Mary Brown and I still have been spending time together and the first framing border is on and I have started one side of the outer border. Planning and measuring are not really my strengths, I sort of have an idea in my head and thankfully it usually transfers to my project. I am going to have to mitre the outer border to match up the sawtooth border. A logistical nightmare for my non mathematical brain. Thankfully mum came over and jiggled some figures and clarified how I need to proceed with the borders. Today I cut and measured a paper 'dummy'of the border to make sure I don't make mistakes. I'm sure I will but it won't be anything that can't be fixed.

Here's a little snapshot of how it will look..

I'm pretty happy with it so far.

I received my new project pattern in the mail last week and I am chomping at the bit to start it. As a little reward to myself for all that measuring and planning I decided it would be good to start tracing and cutting the freezer paper templates. I have some lovely fabric that I will use for the backgrounds. These blocks are big-measuring 16 1/2 inches square. The pieces are nice and big too. 

I'll use my reproductions stash and by the time I've finished this and Okehampton it will hopefully have reduced considerably....famous last words!

Well here it is..

Speaking of Okehampton, some progress is very overdue. 

first a reminder what this quilt looks like...

I'm up to the clamshell borders and  I seem to have stalled a little. Seeing some other clamshell projects happening in blogland I am feeling very guilty but a very inspired to get back to it.

I have a box full of clamshells, mostly basted and two rows basted ready to stitch for the first border.

So I need to fire up string bean!

The winter weather is being quite kind and I hope it continues to be.

Sewing catch up this week with some lovely ladies to look forward to and some extra holidays too to make me happy.

Hope there is lots of happiness heading your way too

cheers

Marina