Marg Low Designs

friday's shoofly quilt

Last week, Sue-Anne, Nicole and I got together and started the Shoofly Doll Quilt from Kathleen Tracy's book, The Civil War Sewing Circle. We have jokingly called this our 'We're not going overseas quilt' . Two Friday Girls are off overseas, lucky them, and those of us staying home are making a quilt, lucky us. Jan is going to catch up!

Sue-Anne has finished hers - not just the top, the whole thing, hand quilted, bound and labelled - it looks gorgeous in blues and blacks.

 
 Nicole has finished her top and it looks entirely different in the greens and pinks. Looks so pretty and yummy!

 
 And mine looks like it's already worn out before it's even finished.

 
I didn't change any of the fabrics, however Sue-Anne did come to the rescue with the cornerstone fabric. It's a nice change from the red quilts I've been making.

my online store

It's taken a while but I've finally opened an on line store! From now on purchasing a pattern will be a lot simpler. No more emailing me and me sending you a PayPal invoice, simply pop across to the store and add whatever you're after to the shopping cart and check out.

And there is more than just patterns to tempt you. If you caught up with me at the AQC in April or the Craft & Quilt Fair in Sydney you will know that I have a selection of kits.

There are still a few more things to add, like Rusty Bells & Keys, Chalk Cloth and Felt. These will be added over the next few days.

So please pop on over and take a look.

Simply click here. 

tomorrow's sewing

Last weekend I pulled out fabrics for the small quilt we'll be sewing tomorrow. The fabrics sat on the table all week and I couldn't resist rearranging them whenever I walked past. By yesterday I was over them and had a total rethink!

The rose print at the back is a favourite piece. Bought so long ago I can't remember if it was for a specific project or because I simply had to have it. It's the piece I  pull out and then put back because I'm saving it for that special project. 

There's no changing my mind now, the fabrics are cut and ready for sewing.

I don't often have everything precut even for small quilts. I like to make a couple of blocks, see how they look, decide on another fabric....

I refuse to take 'spare' fabrics with me so here's hoping they work.

a little weekend sewing

Last Friday it was decided, that this week at sewing, the Friday Girls would make one of the little quilts out of the book 'The Civil War Sewing Circle' by Kathleen Tracy. We all received this book for our birthdays, thanks to Sue-Anne.

No buying new fabric, we have to make it out of our stash -  which shouldn't be a problem. So you can guess what I was doing Friday night and part of Saturday. Going through the stash looking for 'just the right fabrics'. Of course I am 'short' the fabric I want to use in the border!

I've been so preoccupied designing and sewing with my red fabrics I'd forgotten about some of my other treasures.

Like this border fabric. As soon as I saw it I knew I had to make something with it, not sometime in the future, but right then! Working out the layout and size was simple, I only had a Fat 1/4  to play with. The Churndash block was an easy choice, I loved making it for the birthday quilt and I've been drooling over the ones Helen & Michelle are making.

 
 Love the pink, blue and green combination!

So looking forward to Friday and sewing with the Friday Girls. I can't wait to see what fabrics they've chosen.

Veronica Violet Stitcheries

There was some exciting news delivered to my letter box last Friday. Carolyn of Veronica Violet Stitcheries was opening a new store in Rutherglen. Yesterday was the grand opening.

 
Carolyn with one of her gorgeous quilts.

There were lots of tempting fabrics and bits and pieces to choose from. 

 
 
 
I can only guess at how hard Carolyn worked, including painting the walls, to have the shop ready for the opening but it was worth it. There is a lovely feel to the shop due solely to Carolyn's enthusiasm and creativeness.

It was lovely catching up with Carolyn again and I know the Friday Girls will have another day out some time soon.

heat bags

How does that saying go - something about 'striking while the iron is hot'. As you can see I wasted no time making the heat bags for my girls. I'm feeling very pleased I acted straight away, before I went  cool on the idea. 

 
The fabrics were chosen to coordinate with the quilts made for their 21st birthdays.
  
 
The only thing left to do now is to attach instructions for heating the bags.

spring clean

Remember the baby quilt I was making. It took no time at all to piece the top and then nothing.... Even when I bought the perfect piece of backing fabric, still nothing. At last I found a small spark of motivation  to quilt and bind it so I could stitch the binding down at Friday sewing.

 
 I'm having a bit of a spring clean. Yes,I know it's spring but I suspect my reasons are more to do with 'I am over the clutter' and I have found that ruthless streak which allows you to break the emotional ties with bits of stuff.  

I decided to treat myself to a new heat bag. This was the perfect opportunity to cut into (I can't call it used - used implies there are only scraps left over) some of the new fabrics purchased this year.

 
I'm reluctant to use it - it looks so lovely and new! Both my girls have asked for one. I'm thinking a strippy one for them. Guess I should make a start now while I still feel motivated.

class 'work'

Here are just a few of the things girls have made or brought along to class. I do love seeing the projects finished or close too. I know myself how difficult it can be finding time to complete things at home.

The Red Treasures girls brought in their pieces from previous classes.

 
 One of The Bunny Sisters. Heather's made two now, the first was a gift.

 The Strawberry Yo-Yo table runner made by Julie. Aren't we lucky to have so many gorgeous red fabrics to choose from. Do you recognise one of them from the last post?

 

Miranda's Strawberry Yo-Yo table runner in the process of being hand quilted.

Tamara's quilt. I love her choice of colours. It might be called the Red Treasures club but this doesn't mean you have to use red. The girls are encouraged to work with their favourite colours and fabrics.

 
The lastest Red Treasures project - Treasures from the Past, a pincushion and scissor case. No red here, apart from Gabby's birds. They have the option of making the stitched pincushion or the quicker  - no stitching at all version. You can see which one some of the girls opted for last night.  Annette's pincushion is what I'd call gorgeous and funky and Tamara's is a perfect match for her table runner.

The Get Set for Christmas Club at The Material Girl, Yarrawonga was a great success.

A few of the Sweet Treats bags the girls made in the morning.  Somehow I missed taking pictures of their How Many Sleeps?   Oops!

today's post

Look what came in the post today.

 
The Threadbear Fabric Club! They are sitting on the table, tempting me to play with them, but you know how it is - there are other things I must do first.

These little quilts were made for birthday gifts. This year I decided to make the same quilt, but in different fabrics. 

 

Super easy once you get the maths worked out. I'm tempted to make another one using the fabrics that arrived today. 

and the winners are.....

The winners of my new patterns, Festive Trinkets and Summer Celebration are:

Kris -  Congrats on the posts! I love coming here.....

Jannette - Congratulations on your 400+ posts.....

Wendy  - As usual I love your patterns....

Please email with your postal address. As soon as I have that I can post out your prize.

Thank you to everyone who commented.