Marg Low Designs

Sewjourn - Anam Cara Patchwork

Firstly, a big thank you to the Anam Cara girls, Rhonda, Debbie and Julie for organising such a fabulous day. The theme was 'Love is in the Air' and there are no surprises for guessing which song greeted everyone as they arrived. Yes it was Love Is In The Air by John Paul Young, one of my all time favourite songs from the 70's and later from the Baz Luhrmann film 'Strictly Ballroom'.

Many of the girls arrived early and were queued at the doors waiting for them to open at 10.00. 

Gail, Barb and I had been busy since 8.00 arranging our displays making them as eye-catching as possible. There was just enough time to take a few hurried pictures, and hurried they were as  only a couple are usable. 

My things.

 

 Barb's things.

 The colour theme for the Sewjourn was Red & White. Another favourite! The challenge when designing projects for a workshop is to make sure they can be started and finished, or close to, without a sewing machine.

I couldn't resist designing a new cushion (one of the many red and white cushions I plan to decorate the couch with one day) and a notepad cover, jewellery bag and scented heart - nice to make for yourself and perfect for gifts.

The goodies bag contained a kit for the scented heart.  

I was delighted to see Ros finished hers. I wasn't sure if this would be possible with all the added distractions of shopping, yummy foods, chatter and laughter.

The best thing about these workshops is everyone attending shares the same love for sewing and creating.

Here is  Elyte and her sewing buddies.

Many girls asked me if I was having a good day. How could I not, when they were so enthusiastic and friendly.

Thank you to everyone involved for such a great day.

this week so far

I've finally finished writing the patterns for the Christmas in July workshop at Patches of Heaven, Temora and for The Stitchery weekend in September. It feels like I've just finished the final exam!

Here's a little peak of the project I've designed for The Stitchery. The Friday Girls already have this on their Christmas Wish List.  Mmmm, we'll see. Christmas seems so far away and I usually keep changing my mind about what to make until it reaches a critical point. The point, if you don't start now you'll be handing at Christmas presents at Easter.

Now I just wandered into the furniture store for a browse and spotted this. I've been looking for a very long time for a piece to occupy this space. I couldn't resist.  I immediately pictured a stack of small quilts on the bottom shelf, something stitched hanging from the knob, old tins......what a treat to have something new to work with, a chance to decorate afresh.

Christmas in July - Temora

Well here goes - for a second time. Typepad announced they were making some changes (making composing posts easier) and I hadn't realised until I logged on they were already in effect.

Now I like the familiar, especially when it comes to computers. New features and screen layouts fill me with trepidation.

I thought it was about time I gave you a glimpse of the projects I am working on for the Christmas in July weekend at Patches of Heaven, Temora. Only six weeks away and I still have a lot more to do!

I love working with felt so naturally I've had to design a felt project. Felt is so soft, easy and forgiving to work with.

Next a punchneedle project. If you haven't tried this you really should. It's much easier than it looks and is a beautiful way to embellish bags and gifts.

And of course there will be stitchery projects.

I'm really looking forward to the weekend. I know its going to be alot of fun, great company, lots of laughs and delicious food.

The Stitchery retreat

I'm very excited as a few weeks ago Jenny, from The Stitchery in New Zealand, asked if I would like to design a project for the stitchery retreat she's holding in September. I was even more excited when I discovered it was a Christmas theme.

Here's a snippet of what I've started working on. Now I just have to decide what to do with them. It's difficult to say what I'm happiest designing and making but Christmas decorations are very high on the list. These are going to be quite special whether your making them for yourself or as gifts.

Memory Lane

What I great weekend I had at Warracknabeal. A big thank you to Del and Shirl (Quilter's Harvest) for organising such a wonderful day. Girls travelled from as far as Seymour, Adelaide and Mildura. In the afternoon we were entertained by Danny as he told us snippets of his life story, how the restaurant started and his addiction to collecting just about anything. His tip - to go to as many garage sales as possible. I know that this struck a cord with Jeniffer Knol, Barb and me as we couldn't resist the urge to visit a second hand shop the afternoon before.

Jennifer bought enamel bowls, tins and even some furniture, Barb a pair of earings, and I couldn't not buy these tins.

I'm not sure how it happened but I only managed to take a couple of photos of the weekend.

Here's Barb teaching the girls painting. The project - one of Barb's trademark Santas. You can probably make out from the photo just why the venue was called the Rusty Nails Restaurant.

My  display. I didn't ask Danny if the man and woman in the background were related but after listening to him speak about his passion for collecting I'd say probably not.

This is one of my projects. A needle and thread roll with a dilly bag. When Del and Shirl told me the theme for the workshop was a trip down Memory Lane this evoked memories of my Nana. Nana crocheted and  worked beautiful tapestries right into her 80's.  The colours and decorative stitches reminded me of her.

And because I am addicted to needle punch and my old scissor case was in need of an update I thought I'd make a new one.

Thank you to all the lovely girls who made the day so enjoyable.

This was  my first trip to Warracknabeal and the first time I had ever driven so far by myself (just over 500 kms) but I will definitely be heading back for another visit.

a special girl's day out

Early Friday morning (6.00am) Jan & I set off for Sydney. We were headed for Mamre Homestead, St Mary's to spend a weekend teaching with Christine Book. Jan's taught there with Christine the past three years but this was my first time and I was very excited. These weekends have always sounded like a lot of fun. Lots of laughs, great company, a little bit of sewing, yummy food - what more could a girl ask for? Now  I couldn't tell you about this weekend before as I was the mystery teacher. While I managed to keep it pretty much a secret, I don't think Christine was so successful. Most of the girls knew I was coming.

Christine based the colour theme on the Suffragette Movement - Purple (dignity), white(purity) and green (hope). Girl Power!

Jan found a great purple and green spot fabric for her projects - drawstring bag, pincushion and scissor case decorated with yo yos  Christine designed a lovely cushion with a stitched heart surrounded by heart shaped yo yos, a great bag and some cute purse pincushons. I made a small gift pouch and bag and a needle punch project with a purple daisy in the centre.

Our only expectation was for everyone to have a great time and if you went home with a yo yo finished the day was a success. The afternoon was topped off with a truly inspiring show and tell of quilts, bags and some beautiful vintage silk ribbons. I know that Jan and I had a fabulous weekend - not work at all - meeting lots of wonderful girls.             

Now there will be more photos, Heather and Chris, and I will be posting these in a photo album later today sometime before midnight!  So yes they are coming.

Memory Lane

This week I've been working on the project for a trip down Memory Lane (Warracknabeal 10 November).  I roughly sketch ideas and then let the fabric and stitching determine the direction a project goes in.

  And I thought I knew where I was heading until I found this stripe at Avonleigh on Monday. The colours are perfect and I have a thing for stripes.  Today, I had a punch needle class. Of course I couldn't just leave the shop without buying a piece of fabric. So the chocolate piece had to come home with me. This is an old fabric but I love the print and have a piece in the rasberry.

The borders are on my new quilt and I'm very happy.  The background fabric (Roman Holiday range) is a lovely quality fabric. The few quilts I've made with the blocks set on point have ended up with sides and centres all measuring different lengths.  So imagine my surprise and delight when this quilt was only out 1/4 inch. It has to be the fabric!

Happy sewing

Marg