Marg Low Designs

AQC - preparations

Who knew getting ready for a show could be so much fun.  Not a day goes past when I don't get to play - cutting fabrics, bundling them together and mixing them with buttons and threads.  Selecting combinations that I know couldn't resist and wishing I could make one of everything!

presents & a quilt to finish

Every year I find myself wishing I'd started making the Christmas presents a bit earlier. You'd think I'd have worked it out by now.  Even the quickest of gifts take time when you do them in multiples.

I never get tired of making these. The great thing is they're all different and once the fabrics, decoration and threads are picked, I can stop thinking. I could almost make them them in my sleep. You will find kits for Ralph here.

Something different for a friend whose received gifts with Barb's buttons the past two years. The pattern for How Many Sleeps? is here.

The Ho Ho Ho kit can be found here.

And because I don't have enough to do I'd like to finish (top only) this quilt started about 18 months ago. The Friday Girls had a lovely day sewing at Sue-Anne's  on Thursday and I'm inspired. 

 

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.

bits of this and that

There's a reason why things should be put away in their proper place.

So you don't waste valuable time looking for them. I knew they were where they weren't supposed to be but could I remember where that was!

Michelle wasted no time last Friday, starting and finishing this decoration, and with time to start a second.

Considering the Friday Girls usually start late, chat and laugh a lot, have lunch with nibbles either side, this is very impressive.

Here's hoping tomorrow I have a chance to do some more stitching with these Aurifil threads.

I've always stitched with DMC threads but decided to try these after seeing them at the AQM. They're lovely to stitch with and it's a pleasant change not having to separate the strands.

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!

something quick and simple

Around this time of the year if I'm visiting friends or relatives I like to make a little gift for them. Something quick and simple as it's often a spur of the moment decision.

A Christmas decoration was the obvious choice; something tried and tested to take the guess work out of it. A Simple Pleasures decoration using one of Barb's  hand painted buttons was just the thing. 

Feeling very pleased with how quickly the first one came together I decided to make a house warming present for my daughter. I do like Barb's 'Moggy' decoration and Jess owns a black cat or should that be the other way around.....

It looks very cute hanging on her front door, out of the weather. 

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!

christmas workshop weekend

What a great weekend!  There was a lot of chatting, laughter, yummy food and finished projects. 

There were four projects to work on. I think just about everyone decided to start with one of my new heart decorations using a Theodora Cleave button.  Very achievable, some even completed by lunchtime.    
 

The chalk cloth tags were even quicker to make.

 The quilt took a little longer, but Libby almost  completed hers, only needing to sew the rows together and add the border.

A big thank you to Kay and Sharon who make the weekend such a success and special thanks to all the girls who participated. 

 

no sewing

I have imposed a no sewing ban on myself while I get ready for the quilt show in Sydney next week. Preparing kits is like making a quilt, it does take a lot longer than first thought! So no sewing until they're done.

 
  
 
Just some of the kits I'll be taking. 
 

 Yesterday I went fabric shopping. Looking through a basket of Fat 1/4s I came across a piece of one of my all time favourite fabrics. I only have the oddest shaped scrap left and if I was honest with myself should toss it out as it's not really usable. But it's a favourite, and I have hung onto it just in case the odd shape is a perfect fit for some future project.  You can understand my excitement, why I clutched it tightly in my hand refusing to put it down, while debating 'will I or won't I'. Now you'd think, just buy it, but having used it in two projects there is a real chance it might end up in the stash, uncut for ever. Sometimes you have to 'move on' even with a favourite.
 The two projects and the Fat 1/4. 'Will I' won out.

Christmas Wishes

Only one more more present to make and then I think I'm finished. This year is no different to the last two or three, I've left everything to the last minute. I thought I'd find the perfect gifts in the shops, but what I had in mind either didn't exist or was sold out! It was a futile exercise and the time would have been better spent at home stitching and baking.

I did buy this candle holder for myself. I thought about it and then thought about it a bit more and couldn't resist. It's red and I grew up on an apple orchard, so it was meant to be. But still no presents!

The first thing I made were these gift tags. I love the chalk cloth. Simple and quick; it was such a good feeling to have finally made a start, even though I had nothing to tie them too.  
 All I'll say is thank goodness for Barb's buttons. They look fabulous and you can keep the stitching to a minimum.  
The santa button was the right size for the key tag from the Nice Things for Everyday pattern. It can't get much easier than that!  

If only I'd been more organised, if only I'd thought about what I was going to make earlier, I could have ordered more Santa buttons. As it was I only had enough to make them for the Friday Girls and one other. 

 
 Luckily I have a stash of Barb's buttons, and this week I've been making more little tags for gifts. 

There are still a few things to do this evening. I hope you're more organised than me and are ready to sit back with your feet up.

Wishing you a safe and very happy Christmas.  

Marg