Marg Low Designs

something old, something new

Do you have a favourite pattern, one that you keep going back to and never seem to tire of? That's how it is with my Dilly Bag & Needle Keeper pattern.  

I couldn't decide what to make with this fabric.

Then I remembered the dilly bag and thought it would be perfect. I love making this set and know I'm not the only one after hearing the girls who made it in last year's Red Treasures club commenting on how much they enjoyed making it. Some have made more than one to use as gifts.

Would you like to make this set? You can find the pattern and kit here.

I've been working on something new - just a little thing.

Jan and Sue-Anne set me a challenge - I could only use four colours. It's been stitched with the Aurifil Cotton Mako Ne12 thread. Yes I am hooked on these threads.

final class for 2011

The girls in my final class for 2011 got into the Christmas spirit with these hearts.

Can you see how perfectly, Kylie, Leonie and Deb fussy cut their fabrics? They look great and only needed to complete the glove stitch around the edge. I'm never sure who is more excited when things are so close to finished, them or me. 

The pattern is Festive Trinkets and the buttons are Barb's.

white santa & co.

Ages ago I asked Barb if there was any chance of having a white Santa to work with, so needless to say I was very excited when she showed me her 'White Santa & Co. pieces.  Even better it was the large Santa and the tree I use on my Festive Trinkets pattern.

Arriving home from Melbourne on Monday, the first thing I did was head to the Post Office to see if my parcel was there.

There were other things I'd planned to do this week but you know what it's like, it's always more fun to play with something new.

Of course I had to try the tree and because I made it in next to no time at all, I decided to make another heart with the Everyday Angel button.

My favourite fabrics and buttons, a little stitching, - finished projects - what more could a girl ask for!

a new look for an old favourite

For sometime now I've been wanting to try out one of my earlier patterns, Christmas Trimmings, in the new felts I have. I'd originally thought I would remake them in similar colours, but it didn't work out that way.

It was purely by chance I decided to make the first bauble with the straw coloured felt and it just flowed from there. This is such a pretty and fresh look compared to the more traditional colours I originally used. 

 
 
 I'd also forgotten just how easy and nice they were to make. 

I even stitched a couple while listening to the AFL grand final on Saturday. It helped relieve some of the tension I was feeling as the lead kept changing. A great game with the final score not reflecting how close it was for the first three quarters. The final quarter was a joy to watch especially if you are a Cats supporter like me!  

You'll find the kit for the Tree Topper Bird and 6 Baubles in these pretty colours on my website. 

new patterns, 401st post and your chance to win...

Oh wow, how appropriate is this! I just realised this is my 401st post and it's a giveaway. You have the chance to win two of my new patterns simply by posting a comment by 31 August and entering the draw. It can't get any easier than that!

 

 
If you find yourself making presents at the last minute then the little hearts will be just the right thing. Embellished with the whimsical santa, angel and tree buttons by Theodora Cleave they make a lovely quick gift.

Earlier this year I decided to make a Christmas quilt, one that was appropriate for celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer. Something light and fresh with just a little bit of my favourite colour!

Good luck!

what to do on a wet saturday

What else do you do on a wet Saturday than start a new quilt!  That's exacty what the girls who attended the Grecian Times class did. Here are the blocks they made.

 
 This block is perfect for using up your scraps. I've been toying with the idea of making the quilt again in these colours for my brother's birthday.

  

a finish

It took a little longer than anticipated but the new sample is finished. Other things got in the way as they often do.

 

 
 It looks fresh. Is this due to the fabrics and threads or simply because its new!

a fresh sample

Something I like to do every so often is remake a sample. It's fun and can be challenging using entirely different fabrics. The goal this weekend is to remake the Vintage Stitches Sampler. This is just one of the projects I'll be teaching at Steph's, in March.

Of course I could have looked through the stash for the right fabrics but where's the fun in that! I bought these, largely influenced by the journal cover made last weekend. I have doubled up on a couple of the pieces, but didn't want to suffer the frustration of not being able to find them at home. Plus it's nice to leave the shop with the inspiration clutched in your hand.
 As you can see I've made a start, after ditching the green and choosing two greens with a bit more lift from the stash. The choices don't stop here, now to choose the embroidery stitches and thread colour.

Enjoy your weekend.
 

christmas patterns

I was thinking about Christmas today - well making a mental note not to leave things to the very last minute, you know, be organised, which all sounds like a very sensible idea but know in my heart it is not going to happen.

Perhaps if I were to hang up my latest Christmas project I could frighten myself into making a start.......maybe.

 
I have lovely memories of my two girl's excitement as the days to Christmas counted down and their obvious disappointment when I would get the number of sleeps wrong. They'd wake the next morning still no closer numerically to that special day.

 

I definitely needed one of these. I know my girls would have loved the Santa and now they are all grown up will be more than pleased with the tag.

The pattern including the chalk cloth for both projects is AUD17.50 plus postage on overseas orders.

Please email margjlow@bigpond.net.au  if you would like to purchase a copy and you will be sent a PayPal invoice.

 

Sweet Harmony was the 3rd Christmas club project. Apart from it being red and green you could be forgiven for thinking it does not look that Christmassy. I prefer Christmas things that can be left on display all year round. All that effort and they are on show for such a short space of time.

 
The pieces are raw edged appliqued making it very achievable.

The pattern is AUD$16.50 plus postage on overseas orders. 

Please me margjlow@bigpond.net.au if you would like to purchase a copy and you will be sent a PayPal invoice.

 

 

a journey of sorts

I remember starting this quilt in class on a Friday over seven years ago. it's called Shoofly Pie by Susan Smith, Patchwork on Stonleigh.

 
Instead of working on it when I got home I started these instead.

A Bundle of Pillows, my first red pattern. Of course I didn't stop there and made another set in blue.......

 
And another in these pretty colours......

 
 After making more little pillows than I care to remember, there was even a Christmas version, I decided to finish the quilt, minus the appliqued house block. Sometimes you have to be realistic  - even though I'd done a lot of the preparation for the applique block the probablility of completing it was zilch! The top was finished and it's sat in the cupboard with the backing until this month.

Perhaps you can understand why I am feeling so pleased to have it finally finished.