Marg Low Designs

christmas club project

I realised the other day with the 3rd Christmas club class next week I needed a project; so the girls could see what they would be making at the next class. Remember this project. A tablerunner made from spotted fabrics and trimmed with yo-yo's. At the time, I thought I'd like to make a Christmas version and could imagine it with a few simply stitched blocks. So that's what I've been working on this week as well as finalising the new Christmas designs ready for release next week.

term 3 classes at avonleigh

I haven't made these snowmen in ages. It was like catching up with old friends; I'd forgotten just how simple and quick they were to make.

Hunting around in the backyard looking for suitable twigs took awhile, as not just any old twig will do. Far more interesting if there are some lumps and bumps (once you've made a snowman you'll look at twigs a whole lot differently). Plus they were a little hard to find in amongst all the weeds (should I own up to that?) 

The snowmen and this dilly bag are two of the projects I'm offering at Avonleigh next term. The bag is perfect for using up  those fabric scraps you can't bear to part with and is just right for popping gifts inside.  One of my favourite bags.

couldn't resist

A while ago I came across this blog. As soon as I saw the little pink and green basket quilt I knew I would have to make one. That's the great thing about little quilts - you only need to make a few blocks and in next to no time at all your finished.

I didn't even have to think about the fabric as I already had these pieces from previous projects. But just to be sure I had enough (yes I know the quilt is only tiny) I purchased more. What I had to decide was how big to make it. I know, the real appeal of the quilt was it's size and here I was thinking about making it bigger. I decided to let the amount of pink fabric I had dictate the size.

There was a point when I seriously considered making it queen size, with different pink baskets, see I was very excited and becoming a tad carried away, when common sense prevailed. Did I want to finish or have another UFO. I finished appliquing the handles last weekend and put it together today. I would have kept going but didn't have any backing fabric. Oh well, any excuse to buy more fabric.

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.

special offer - June only

As you can see I must really enjoy making this needle roll. And it occurred to me that you may like to make it too. So for June only I have a special offer on this pattern. The price AUD 10.00 including both local and overseas postage.

The pattern also includes instructions for this purse. The opening has a spring strip in it. Press the sides in and the top springs open - like a glasses case. The pattern plus a spring strip is available for AUD14.00 (including postage).

Simply email me with your order and I'll send you a paypal request. How easy is that!

this week's sewing

I was so tempted to start a new quilt this long weekend after seeing Helen's three finished quilt tops but so far I've resisted. I decided to sew a few more of these positive and negative nine patch blocks. I started these awhile ago with the plan to make two a day. Well I made about 80 in a week and then came to a complete halt (as I often do). So I sewed a few Friday night, a few more Saturday and more this morning. They're a great project to have in the work basket for when the mood takes you to do a little -  no concentration required - machine piecing.

We celebrated Helen's birthday last Friday. This is the little needle & thread roll I made for her. You only need scraps for this project but I was struggling a little for inspiration and just had to buy new fabrics.(I really just needed an excuse to buy more fabric).

 Inside. Jan tucks her thread and thimble in the pocket and has dedicated hers to her hexagon box. If you have more than one project on the go it can very frustrating to quickly grab one to work on only to discover the needles and thread are missing. The solution is to have needles and thread permanently dedicated to a project.

The outside. Lots of fun chosing the fabrics and stitches. Yes, I'm sure if I had looked a little harder there would have been fabrics in my stash perfect for this project. But then I may not have enjoyed making it as much. Love that sense of anticipation and excitement that comes from playing with new fabrics.

It looks like I've done lots of sewing this week. It helps that they're all quick projects. I thought I'd made enough decorations but then couldn't resist trying these combinations.

Barb's Home Sweet Home and Flying Angel decorations.

The pattern for these decorations will be on sale at the end of this month.

quilts and the Friday girls

Last week Helen was at a quilting retreat and made three quilt tops. Yes that's right not one or two but three. One was a disappearing nine-patch in flannel.

It was such a hit it inspired other girls to make the same. And you know how one idea leads to another someone else made theirs with star blocks in the four corners. This is Helens. Doesn't it look fantastic? A gorgeous cot sized quilt.

Every year I like to make a red and white quilt so just maybe I'll be making one like this.

This is Jan's quilt. Love this one too! I can't remember the name of the fabric range but it's the one with the cowboy and barbwire prints. The curves look a little tricky but Jan told us they were very easy to sew. All inspired to make this one as well.

Lots of other things to do on the weekend but sooooo tempted to start a new quilt.

Christmas Workshops

I don't know how it happens, you think your travelling along OK, working to a schedule, and then suddenly it dawns on you it's June and just over 4 weeks to the first Christmas workshop. This is  one of the projects (and now finished). I know that this is going to be one Christmas decoration I'll leave up all year round. Yes, some Chrissy things are just too nice to pack away.

A sample of the other projects on offer. 

These are perfect for gifts, especially if you need to make multiples or leave things to the last minute like me.

Picture the tag tied to white paper bags or the stocking filled with yummy treats and who could resist the santa or birdy decoration.

I'm almost wishing Christmas was next month just so I could start decorating. Guess I better not wish too hard though since Christmas does have a habit of coming around all too soon.