binding done and some other bits...

This week i was very enthused about getting the binding done on my swan lake. I bought some red bias binding months ago on a visit to L'uccello and thought I had bought enough but.....Sunday night I ended up here.....missed by that much......
I wasn't looking forward to a trip into town but was desperate to get the binding done so I gave L'uccello a ring and they had the extra binding in the mail last night and it arrived today. How's that for service?
Binding is now complete. I have started sewing yo yo's too and one side is nearly complete.

 Friday night I managed to get this top all pieced together. I have decided to not put the top and bottom stitched border on. I prefer it a little bit plainer. I might try to get some big ric rac to run around the border.

 Here is a pic of my clamshells. I haven't added a row for awhile. I think I need to decide what to make with it first?

 This is a little new project that I couldn't resist....
it is a free project from Lisa Bonegan of Primitive Gatherings. I made a good start on the appliqueing at quilt group on Saturday and finished it off yesterday. . The sweet background fabric made it's way home with me from the Essendon Quilters Show on Friday, along with a few purple fabrics from Threadbear.

Now I just have to share a few photos of Miss Maisie 'cat scanning' the new Swan Lake quilt on the bed.

do you think she approves?
Hope you have a great week!

Marina

breathtaking moment

Please indulge me 

“For some moments in life, there are no words.”

just the binding and the little dollies' baskets to stitch on.

Pattern Swan Lake by Patchwork on Stoneleigh

Fabric-French General, Petite Ecole plus some extras from other ranges

Quilting by Leanne Kaufmann

I'll be back soon to share some more snippets of loveliness.

Happiness level has reached 100%

Marina

little triangles everywhere....

Now in my last post I mentioned some triangle action in my future....
Well they arrived this morning! The said triangles were a bag of off cuts that the lovely Lynda  was wanting to rehouse. The said bag contained the corners from some beautiful fig tree quilts fabrics that she has been using in some gorgeous quilts she has been making.
When Lynda posted about the rehousing I think I had another bout of Heat Stroke and I eagerly put my hand up.  Now Lynda didn't just send me the fig tree fabrics but an even bigger bag of Comma fabric triangles too and some snow fabric to help in putting them all together!
Now I am happy to embrace another obsession at the drop of a hat and this new one has been fun. I didn't want to just put them away in my stash..... so I had to get the machine out straight away and start sewing....

 

some inspiration for how to use them.....

progress so far.....

All the fig tree fabrics are done and some of the comma fabrics. They just need to be trimmed down, this will be a slower process and one to work on gradually. They will be trimmed to 1 1/2 inches.
Lynda had some little bundles of triangles all ready sewed up which were a bonus.

On the weekend I managed to finish my Mr Boo stitchery from the Kathy Schmitz bom minis.
I loved stitching him and he looks so handsome!
Just need to find the right fabrics for the border.

Just had to share a pic of the boys....
I thought they should jump on the bandwagon for the Australia Day preparations..
Poor old Monty, he turned 12 in December and is really showing his age. I think I am lucky he survived the heat wave we had. We brought the dogs inside to get some relief and they loved it.

"gee I wish I wasn't so old so that I would be quicker in getting away from her and her crazy ideas...."

 Coffee just likes to go along for the ride....I was bribing him with his throw toy otherwise he wouldn't sit so still.

"oh the humiliation, why does she insist on putting things on us?  can I please have the toy back now?."

Flag update....
Border has been done thanks to the fabrics arriving today too, just some appliqueing of the stars and I am right to sandwich!
Swan Lake update....
Top has been completed ready to go to the quilter....Woo hoo happy dancing with all those dollies for sure.
Would you like to see a pic...

Not a bad tally of projects for these holidays....
Hope you have made it to the end of the post.
Have a wonderful crafty week!
 I need to keep cramming in as much as I can before going back to work

cheers
Marina

some tweaking...

I said TWEAKING NOT TWERKING!!!
Rest assured there will be no Miley Cyrus impersonations on this blog, I shudder when I recall that performance. eeewww
I have been playing around with the centre block of my Swan Lake after getting someone's honest opinion of my quilt which interrupted my happy dancing like someone bumping the needle across a record while it is being played. Ok, Ok I know I am showing my age but that's what it was like.
Rest assured it wasn't some blogging troll that passed this harsh judgement but my very own DH who said the centre block didn't look very good, didn't even see past the block to pass a more positive comment on the rest of the quilt, well maybe I didn't give  him the chance as I just wrapped up my flimsy and withdrew in silence.

(Play melancholic music now)
Now before anyone puts out a vendetta on my hub, he only really reinforced the doubts I already had but had hoped wouldn't bother me anymore. I was too enraptured with my dollies and hexie flowers.
So..... back to the drawing board..
I thought I would put together a possible replacement centre and put it out there.
I will also seek input from the learned ladies at quilting group on Saturday.
Here goes, you don't have to be gentle in your opinions I have had it from the champion of heartbreaking honest opinion givers.
The hexie flowers will be a bit more varied but it just gives an idea of a possible layout.

If I think of another combination I will definitely share it.
Till then here is a lovely quote sent to me by the lovely Bev (of Kainga Happenings)

"There will be obstacles,

There will be doubts,

There will be mistakes,

but if you work hard,

There will be no limit."

Now put that music back on I am going back to my dancing!

there now I feel better!
have a lovely week!
Marina

Are you ready for this?

January 2012 I started on this very long term project.
No goals as to when it would be finished, just a self imposed condition that it be worked on regularly.
There were times when I had a Dr Phil "what were you thinking?" moments but believe it or not......
Here it is with still a little bit of work to be done but the worst is over.
Be prepared I am going to bore everyone with photos of this for quite awhile. Bare with me I know you all understand

Drum Roll..................

how the border will go around the centre

dollies dancing on the grass

 Just a little more work to do. The thicker border needs to be appliqued around the centre block and the thinner binding along the mitred seams. Four squares to go in the corners and the little yo yo baskets to be added and it will be totally finished.
Didn't make it to Gj's so I decided to use the fabric I had. The thincker panel pattern wasn't quite long enough to fit along one side so I have joined all the panels into one long strip which means there will be joins but if it looks ok I won't replace it.
It's not perfect but with hindsight there are somethings I would have probably done a little more carefully knowing now the consequences of not being as pedantic as I should be.
But it's done now and I can live with it quite happily.

Thanks to everyone who has been supportive and offered encouragement and urged me on when I doubted myself! Thanks to the Academy and my parents and.......... only joking.
I'm off to do some happy dancing!
cheers
Marina

been keeping busy....

Life around here has been taking up a lot of my time.  My blog has been a bit neglected and there has been limited blog visiting.
There has been some crafting happening which is good. So.... instead of lots of little updates you will get them all in one hooly, dooly, picture show.
Are you ready?

 Here is an update on my Swan Lake..... since the photo I have progressed further to include the hexies on the fourth border, half of which have been sewn down. I have also sewn the appliqued hearts on the three completed borders which go in between the bottom row of hexies and the dollies.
Sooooo Happy with the progress on this baby. I just had to put the top 'together' to encourage me and yep it worked.  My goal is to have the top together by the end of the year.
Definitely achievable!

Next finish was my sister in law's quilt. The top got done on Grand Final Day and it has gone to the quilters to be completed.  The pattern had another border but when she saw it she loved it as it was so who am I to argue? It's done.

The progress on these two has allowed me to start something new! I bought this stamp from Janneake, who started the building houses from scraps craze. She has  produced a stamp and I thought the process would make it easier for me to have a go. If you want to see some amazing quilts made from scrappy houses just click here. They are so inspiring.
Another bloggy friend has also made a scrappy houses quilt you can pop over to Maria's blog to have a look at it in this post. (Maria's wonderful novelty hexies inspired me to start my own novelty flower garden.)

 I have really been wanting to make at least some houses. Worst case scenario I would make some pincushions but I am enthused enough to make a mini hanging. Mind you I don't think there will be a big quilt of these happening! They are about 3 1/2 inches and so nifty to stitch.
Here are my little houses so far...

I have also finished off the cross stitching for a needlecase. The pattern was a birthday gift from my friend Els in the Netherlands. It is in a lovely blue and taupe colour thread. The photo doesn't quite do the colours justice but they are lovely. Next step to get the needlecase together!

So that's it for the crafting I have been occupying my spare time with.
I did have a lovely visit to NOTYQ show on Saturday and caught up briefly with Mel and Christine who were busy as bees doing their quilt show duties. I got to have a cuppa with Liz and Rosalie and some other lovely friends of Liz. Also got to meet Karen from Mrs Martin's quilt shop, so lovely to meet at last.
After the show I scooted to Bluegum quilters to catch up with Elyte and Robin and the other lovely ladies there. Phew did I sleep well that night.
Elyte, Robyn and Annie visited during last week to have a crafty catch up. Not a stitch was sewn but we shared lunch and lots of laughs. No pics either, what terrible bloggers. When the girls left my no 3 son said 'boy did you guys laugh enough?'
my reply is there is never enough laughing! It's cheaper than therapy and medications...



Happy stitching!

marina....x

happy sewing....

It's been a little while since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been stitching away. I have still been visiting blogland regularly just been negligent in posting.
Now what have I been up to you may ask? Of course you may ask...
On Friday I put the last stitches in my final Once upon a time block. I started this project in September 2012 and have managed to get it done in the 12 month period.
Last night I got out my trusty Janome and we worked till late at night to get it together. Some early morning sewing while the princess' were still in their beds and ta da.......

 I'll apologise now for all the photos...

 watch out for the mandatory stray thread, I spent ages trimming and picking them  up and one still got through.

Now I am hoping the quilt police don't visit to check my piecing but it was a random putting together and the effect is just how I wanted it to be. Bright, happy and scrappy.
there you have it, I just love it..... 'Once upon a time' by Smee Designs...
but wait there's more....
the second border has been finished for my Swan Lake quilt...

and the last little finish....
The August block for Sweet Stitches..... by Kathy Schmitz

(for the eagle eyed there is a small line next to the 'w' that wasn't stitched when I took this photo but has been fixed before I basted the block for quilting)

This block almost didn't get done as I had stitched half of it in a very dark navy and it looked hideous. I was ready to throw it out but luckily sought advice and took it once given. The advice was to try a lighter colour. I bought a lovely greyish blue in a cosmo and unpicked all the dark stitching and started over.
It was perfect and matched my blue for the border exactly. I am going to enjoy hanging this mini in winter.
Much happier thanks...
The background fabric is a white on white with a snowflake pattern. It has been in my stash for ages and was perfect for this block.
Now to quilt July's and August's blocks. They are basted and ready to go...

Have a great weekend!
cheers
marina

swan lake progress

After a week of working on Swan Lake here is the big Ta Da...
.......with some help from my reluctant assistants.

The photo is a little dull as it was quite gloomy Saturday.

enough Yo-yo's ready for this border too.... I still need to make some little hearts to go between the dollies and the hexie border. I have also prepared all the stars for the second of these borders. Just need to keep the momentum up.

Now what to work on this week?
have a great week
Marina

some swan lake stitching

This week I got  stuck into stitching my swan lake hexies onto their border.
This is the part I have been busting to do.
I managed to get half stitched on and the other half are all pinned to go.

It will be even more exciting when I can sew the dolly border onto this one.
Can you tell we are hard up for excitement here?

 A lovely parcel arrived this week too with a surprise gift from the wonderful Fiona 
It contained a gorgeous pincushion that has been on my 'to do' list for ages and a thread holder and needlebook. The thread holder has come in very handy when removing the basting threads from my hexies.

 Ironically I had offered to do the hexies for Fiona when she mentioned that she was doing some small hexies and wasn't looking forward to it, not knowing that they were for my pincushion. I think I am converting her slowly though...

 check out these gorgeous tiny bird buttons on the cushion and thread catcher...

I love them to bits, thanks Fiona.

There has also been a little bit of cross stitch progress...
Sorry for the wrinkly photo.

And seeing as it is winter here and the weather has been so cold and miserable I thought I would bring out this mini to try to hang. Now when I first bought my mini hanger I didn't have any minis to hang on it, I only had this one and when I put it on my husband remarked how ugly it was. this is the first felted wool applique I tried to do from a pattern won in a giveaway so I did have some affection for it. Well feelings hurt it went back into the cupboard. It has found a little place to hang and I can enjoy it without criticism.
I think I will hang other minis from here too in the future.
I like it regardless of what the critic said, what does he know about crafting anyway?

Craft group tomorrow so there should be some more crafting time coming up, just what to take?
Have a great weekend

Marina