Marg Low Designs

the top's finished

I'm so happy, my computers fixed and working again. I may have only been offline for three days but it did seem a lot longer.

Here's the quilt I've been working on. It was going to be different, but after making other blocks, pulling some apart and changing their placement this is what I finally decided on. Now I do like it as a square, but I prefer little quilts to be rectangular.

What to do. The red pieces of fabric were getting smaller and I still need to bind the quilt. I was beginning to wish I'd 'just used some of that metreage fabric'.

Now I can't take the credit for thinking of this border. Vickii dropped in and suggested it. Vickii's been quilting for about 15 years and makes the most stunning quilts. Her applique and colour combinations are beautiful. And she hand quilts most of her quilts.

So I feel very fortunate that she just happened by on Monday and helped me out.

Another red quilt, started...

Now I've been thinking about doing another red quilt for sometime now. In fact the urge to make something, anything, in red never goes completely away. There is always some vague idea simmering away in the back of my mind.

And yesterday, I decided I'd been procrastinating long enough and what I should do was just start making blocks. Now I didn't want to cut into the fabrics I have meterage of - I'm saving them for something really special. (Laughing at myself here). So opted for two red fabrics, which I had 25cm of and 50 cm of background fabric. Straight away you'll be able to work out that this is not going to be a big quilt.  Well I did say in an early post that one of my goals this year is to make little quilts.

It's nice to make a start on something you've been thing about for awhile...

Just a piece or two or three......

Yesterday it was off to Melbourne, with Helen and Sue-Anne for the Australian Quilt Convention (AQC). What a fun long day we had. There were some simply stunning quilts on display and lots of yummy fabrics to choose from.

I just picked up one or two pieces, then a couple more. It gave us a giggle on the way home when I pulled out my purchases. None of us were quite sure when or how I managed to buy so many pieces. Because for every piece I came home with there must have been at least two or three that I put back.

Looks like red is my favourite colour for the week.

on gardening

Now I didn't expect to have anything blooming in my garden this year.

With tough water restrictions and little rain predicted I was anticipating pulling out dead plants rather than weeds. Not so, there have been a few cooler days and rain just when the garden needed it. Compare this to January 2006 with not one day below 30 deg C and NO rain.

And being surrounded by all this beautiful lushness inspires me to create.

I've finished punching my new design and now I just need to sew the bag together. When I start a new design I'm never entirely sure how it will turn out. I just add a bit here and try it there....

The spot fabric is Polkadots by Free Spirits. The stripe and floral fabric on the last post are from the 'Lulu' range by Anna Griffin.

And a bit more about the garden....

Last summer I thought I would lose the Rosemary hedge, it was turning brown. Now look at it. Yes, it does need a trim, but not until it's finished flowering. Why do I love this hedge? Because it smells fantastic. Brush past it and the scent clings to your clothes and stays with you for hours.

This week's favourite

I've been analysing my fabric purchases and it has become apparent, I don't have favourites anymore. Well if I do have a favourite it only lasts until the next purchase. One minute I'm talking about red fabrics, then the gorgeous City Girl fabric, back to reds, then the blues,tans and gold (Spot the Yo-Yo quilt) and even a little bit of purple (a carry over from my teenage years).  Am I fickle, or do I just have an incurable addiction to fabric?

And here are this week's favourite. The good news is, I have a current project in mind for these fabrics.

A needle punch project  I will be offering at classes. Now, I had forgotten how much I enjoy needle punch. I got a little carried away with the small quilts, the yo-yos, and Christmas decorations........

Little gifts

Nothing went to plan last night - you know how it is, other demands on your time - so I finished sewing it together this morning.

The lavender sachet fits inside the pockets at either end. Last year I made a similar set for a dear friend's birthday and she loved it.

Now I have to ask, 'Do you like the fabric in the background?'  It's my new ironing board cover. O.K., I know,  perhaps it's not that interesting, but I'm very excited. I've been wanting (needing) to make a new cover for some time now and kept putting it off. Today was the day. It didn't take long at all. Even my daughter loves it, she just looked in and told me how good it looked, maybe this tells you just how bad the old one was.

a little stitching

There doesn't seem to be any time for sewing of late. I have managed a little stitching over the past couple of days.

This is a sample for my pattern From Me to You. I just had to try stitching it on this beautiful pale green fabric, I couldn't resist buying the other day. There are some gorgeous green fabrics (my favourite colour) in the shops at the moment. The plan is to finish it tonight. I will post a photo tomorrow - so no excuses now.

I leave some of my Christmas decorations up all year when they look as pretty this.

And yes, they are unfinished quilts in the background. The middle quilt needs to be quilted and bound - a winter job - and the quilt in front ....... Well, initially it was going to be cot sized, but I've decided to make it bigger - single bed size. Which means - a bit (lot) more thought and planning.

Now some of you may be thinking I leave my unfinished projects out as a reminder to finish them. No, I'm just being realistic. They may never see the light of day if kept in a cupboard until completed. And they're too lovely for that.

back sewing again

Today was the first opportunity I've had in almost a week to sew. A whole week without sewing, well I did make a few red and white yo-yo's last Saturday, but they hardly count. I just needed something to do that required very little organising (O.K. thinking).

And here's what I made today. I loved this fabric when it first arrived at the shop and had held off buying any as I didn't have a project in mind. (This doesn't normally prevent me from buying fabric). Then last week I finally got around to using my new 60 deg ruler.  The stripe fitted the 8 inch strip I cut perfectly. So there was no juggling the placement of the ruler to align the stripes. Oh so easy. Believe it or not, the most difficult thing to make was the cushion insert and you don't see that! I've already tried it on the bed and it needs a pair or two or three.......