Marg Low Designs

unplanned gardening

 There was no gardening on last Thursday's list of to do's but this changed everything. So glad I was out when it happened and Azzy (the dog) was waiting for me at the side gate. He's often sniffing around this section of garden searching for bread crumbs the birds have dropped. The power was off from 3pm until 9.30am the following morning.

 A little more of the Christmas decorations. A combination of gifts, Country Friends and my designs.

Up until a few years ago red was definitely not a colour I looked for in clothes, fabrics, china etc... probably something to do with having reddish hair as a child and all the associated jokes that go with it.  I could never quite understand Bronwyn's fascination for the colour red. We'd leave a shop, Brownyn with a bundle of reds and me with a bundle of greens. So we both had to smile when on our last trip I left with the reds and Bronwyn with the greens. Funny how things change!

lovely reds from my local shops

  As you can see I'm not going to be over my red phase any time soon. I'm very fortunate to have not one but three lovely patchwork shops in my area. Avonleigh Country Quilting (where I teach), Patchwork on Stonleigh and Carolyns Quilting Room.

And yes I do have plans for these fabrics and not in the distant future, within the next 12 months. Can you pick a favourite?

red and white and other colours

 This is an old photo, taken a couple of months ago when I was preparing for The Snowmen class.

After seeing how quickly the girls made theirs, it inspired me to finish mine.

 Here they are. A little bit of green has started to creep in to this years red and white colour theme. I'm not a knitter, a snowman's scarf is the limit of my ability. Lots of fun and something I can do while watching the TV without having to take my glasses on and off! And if your wondering why the scarf looks creamier in the second pic - it's been tea-dyed.

Last year I raced out and bought fabric - I had this bright idea to make placemats (at least four) before Christmas Day. Got to laugh!One's finished and as you can see it's not going to make it to the table. Can't you just imagine the family argument over who got the 'special' placemat!

  And a little blue has crept into the theme.  The bowl is just one of the lovely gifts I received last week. Each time we sew at Sue-Annes I always have to take a peak at the rag balls she's made. They look so gorgeous. So deciding what to fill the bowl with was easy. The fabric choice was much harder (isn't it always).  I think it needs a couple more, but Bec suggested letting it rest for a bit.

Tree of Love

Before I'd even finished Tree of Love in the browns and pinks (in fact while I was still choosing the fabrics), I was busy imagining it in reds and raw edge applique. So I found time (I don't think you actually find time rather another job/project doesn't get done) and made it using some of my favourite French General fabric. So nice to  use some of it in a project for myself and not relegate it to the stash, to surface whenever I have a bit of clean out.  Sad but true!

Between now and Christmas I have a special offer on the Tree of Love pattern, AUD$13.50 including postage (local and overseas). Simply email me if you would like to purchase the pattern.

red & white, not so ho hum

  I'm still on the red and white theme and don't see my enthusiasm for it waning anytime soon.

Once I started rummaging through the decorations I found lots of red and white ones.

You'll recognise some of them as my own designs and others are much loved gifts.

Last Friday the Friday Girls swapped Christmas presents. Such a great day and we all secretly agree the best bit about Christmas.

I've fallen for the French General fabric, yes it's my favourite right at this moment!

This year I made Christmas decorations with Barb's bird designs and a pouch with tools for making cord.

I was overwhelmed by the genourosity of the gifts I received. Jan & Sue-Annes are pictured top left hand corner of the first photo, a cookbook from Michelle - one I've been going to buy (Slow Cooker by Sally Wise), lovely RED journal from Nicole and a beautiful bowl from Helen, which will be filled with red and white balls (when I make them).

ho hum

That's exactly how I was feeling about making a red and white quilt this year. I've made one the last four years and was wondering if my enthusiasm for them had waned to the point where I would give it a miss.

 But after a comment by Sue-Anne at sewing last Friday, I decided I might just go with red and white in the hallway. (Now this could be me being a bit lazy - it's much easier to hang a quilt than a whole lot of little things and easier to pack away too - that's if I decide too!)

 It soon became apparent, I have to make more quilts - lots of them - small ones, medium ones, big ones and ones in between. Suddenly my enthusiasm has returned.

But I must be sensible. Last year I made three star blocks with Sue Ross (Patchways). I've made a fourth and together they will form the centre for this years quilt.

The blocks are hand pieced so it's a shame not to do something with them.

Secretly though, I'm hoping to find time for one or two more between now and Christmas.

there's a chill in the air

It turned so cold here on the weekend all I could think about was snuggling up under a quilt. So enticing was this thought, I made the binding, sewed it on and then stitched the binding down while staying wonderfully warm. Binding is my preferred winter job, well that's my excuse for often taking months, if not years to bind quilts. Happy to say that this one has only taken about a month but only because of the weather.

I popped some samples into Avonleigh yesterday and walked out with these great fabrics. Kay and Sharon have had a huge delivery of fabric and I was very spoilt and allowed to look through the boxes. It was like Christmas and all my birthdays rolled into one.

They also have the border fabric I used in my quilt that appeared in Homespun Vol 10 No. 4.

a birthday gift

  For awhile now these fabrics and red crochet trim have been grouped together just waiting for the right project. Every so often I'd rearrange them, waiting for that 'light bulb moment'.

Need is often my inspiration to make something new, and I needed a birthday present. This is the third present I've made this month - yes it's a bit like Christmas all over again.

Red is Brownyn's favourite colour. I know she's been admiring this fabric, as comments were made about not having it in her stash!  I'm sure you know that feeling when a friend pulls out a piece of fabric to die for and no matter how hard you look, it's all gone. When this happens I have to comfort myself with the knowledge, there is another gorgeous piece of fabric just a purchase away and if I'm really lucky maybe a snippet of it will turn up in a gift.

thoughts of christmas

Should I admit to this???

I've been working this week, that's if you can call going through your fabrics and choosing pieces for new projects work! I don't remember my previous working life being this much fun.

Here are some of the pieces I pulled out.... Can you guess what type of project?... Yes all I can think about is Christmas.

I couldn't resist making these stockings. I've wanted to try string piecing after seeing Jan's projects last year. And I got to use some narrow strips of fabric I couldn't bear to part with.

 It wasn't all playing with fabrics. There was time for a little stitching.

thinking christmas

The last few days all I've been able to think about is Christmas, in part due to these yummy fabrics I found at Avonleigh.

Plus I did a quick calculation and realised the Christmas workshop,  to be held at Patches of Heaven in Temora at the end of June, is not that far away. I have to work out what to make (change my mind), make it (them - always more than just one or two things), write the instructions.......  

And it seems like a very long time since I bought any red fabric or made anthing red!

These favourite trims are on permanent display and yes I do play with them. Guess you can tell that from how messy they look.