Marg Low Designs

some sewing & stitching

As soon as I hear there's a new baby on the way I start thinking about the quilt.

Helen came to sewing one Friday, ages ago, with this fabric. I fell in love with it straight away and bought some the next day. Because I loved it, I didn't buy 25cm or 50cm or even a metre, no, I bought 2 metres. As if you need 2 metres for a baby quilt!

When I heard I'd be making a baby boy's quilt, I knew exactly what fabric to use for the sashings. It took a lot longer to finally settle on the other fabrics.

Almost finished, it just needs to be quilted and have the binding sewn on.

Barb's been playing with different paint colours on her Deer buttons.

As soon as I saw them I knew I just had to try them out. The Deer Tree tag is one of those projects you can start and finish in a couple of hours. Even I like a change from red!

new kits and pattern

 As I sat down to write this post, I realised it is exactly two months to Christmas!

If you're only making plans for Christmas now or have a few last minute gifts to make then I'm sure one of these kits or pattern could be just what your looking for.

There is still time to stitch the bunting - Must be Christmas. Choosing fabrics can often take as long as the making.The nice thing about kits is the decision has already been made for you. You'll find a kit for the bunting here.

Last year I made family & friends the Joyful felt decorations.  If you'd like to make the decorations and bag to pop them in, there are a limited number of kits left.  

And the Buttons & Blooms pattern is now available with kits for either the Flower case or Button purse.

The Button purse is quick to make and is the perfect excuse to play with your button stash. Lovely as a stand alone gift or stocking filler.

Now I think I'd better go and do a bit of Christmas planning........

Galong Patchwork Retreat

I don't know if there could be a lovelier venue to stay and teach at than St Clements.

There was enough daylight to walk to The Grotto after dinner Friday night. Of course I forgot my camera so you will just have to be content with me telling you the view was fabulous and the sunset gorgeous.

The girls doing the workshop were keen to get started on their projects Saturday morning.

They worked on a variety of things, but the most popular were the bags with the spring strip closures.

Sandra finished five items for the weekend. Here are four of them.

And Colleen was well on the way to having the blocks made for her Stars & Pinwheel quilt.

A very enjoyable weekend filled with chatter and much laughter. Thank you to all the girls for such a great weekend.

finished projects.....

The past few days have flown past with no chance of even the tiniest bit sewing. While I may not have achieved anything it's nice to see that others have!

Bronwyn has finished her Friday Girls Medallion quilt top.

Pat sent me this picture of the bag (Joyful), scented sachet and heat bag (Something for You) she made.

It looks gorgeous in the yellow & pink - so pretty and feminine. I want to make one like this!

Else has finished projects from this year's club - the purse and heat bag and  Christmas workshops - pouch (No Peeking) and Summertime Celebration quilt.  

The quilt was started at last year's workshop and finished at this years. I think there should be a round of applause everytime a UFO is finished. Starting something new is often much easier to do!

Which is exactly what Mary-Anne did on Saturday at the Kilmore Quilters Quilt-In. Unhappy with the project she'd brought along Mary-Anne decided to make something else and bought a needle-keep kit.

And finished it! A day of sewing with friends and a finished project, is there anything better than that?

Gem's Dilly Bag & Needle Keep Set

There have been many tempting fabrics this year but I think these could be my favourite. Fresh looking and my two favourite colours red & green.

If you would like to make this set I have three kits left.

 

The kit for the set is on sale at $29.50. The prep work for the needle keep has already been done, so you start sewing straight away - that has to be a bonus! You can purchase the kit here.

Something for You

Something for You is the final project in this years club From Me to You.

The girls had a choice of starting the heat bag or making lavender sachets.

Classes are not a competition to see who gets the most done, however we were all impressed with Lee's efforts - three pretty sachets. The first was filled with ground walnut shells for a pincushion and the other two would be filled with lavender. Gabi finished her pincushion and started on a heat bag, while Julie, Heather and Jenny worked on their hexagons.

The hexagons Miranda, Marion, Belinda and Else worked on today. I love looking at the fussy cutting.

Sharon's hexagons and Sue's heat bag and lavender sachet. Sue had been saving a smallish piece of beautiful bird print fabric for a special project. It was perfect for the heat bag and enough left over to make a lavender sachet.

They all look fabulous! So will I fussy cut hexagons or make lavender sachets/pincushions. Sometimes what to do first is the most difficult decision.

long weekend sewing

I don't know if the Swans win on Saturday had anything to do with it, but I found the spark and have been working on my red and white quilt.

The second quilt I started hasn't been forgotten with the majority of the blocks made.

This was possibly the easy bit. Now I have to make a decision about the finished size and find just the right border fabric.