Marg Low Designs

Christmas Birdie

Last week I started thinking about making Christmas gifts. Since I leave anything Christmas related until the last minute any gift needs to be quick.

And when I do need a quick project I usually head for the felt.

The shapes give instant blocks of colour and are easily whip stitched in place. This step can even be bypassed by attaching pieces with a decorative stitch or stitches. The lid on the box is couched in place with cross stitch,the heart with a single cross stitch, the holly leaves are back stitched and chunky colonial knots secure the berries.

The birdie's tail feathers have been jazzed up with long straight stitches, colonial knots and running stitch.

The plan is to make more of this little decoration. (Note I said plan!) For a personal touch I may stitch a name or initials, in the box.

The Christmas Birdie pattern is $8 plus $3 P&H (Australia)

It can be purchased here

Christmas Birdie

OR

as a PDF pattern if you'd like to start stitching this weekend.

Christmas Birdie PDF Pattern

 

 

A kit is $13 plus P&H $3 (Australia).

The kit includes the pattern, felts and threads.

It can be purchased here

Christmas Birdie

 

Pop up Shop

Open Saturday 21 October

9.30 am - 12.30 pm

Flourish Creative Studio

Suite 5/11 Volt Lane, Albury

 

 

The Christmas Birdie is prepped and ready as a Make & Take project.

If you're in Albury this Saturday, why not make a start on your Christmas stitching!

You don't need to bring a thing.

Kit $18

There is a selection of Make & Take projects to choose from.

Daisy Key Ring $18, Petite Pincushion $22, Handy Pins & Needle Keep $17,

From the Heart $18 and Santa Sack Ornament $18

 

Happy Stitching!

my stand at Craft Alive Wodonga

Covering the walls with the calico was the easy part. Then I spent some anxious moments thinking 'where do I start'.  You know if you can just hang up a quilt and two or three other samples you can make it work.

The Christmas wall was first and from there it just flowed with a few adjustments along the way.

 

 

 

 

 

This was my first show in four years and I was very happy it only took six hours to set up.

 

You can check out all my patterns and kits online here.

PDF Patterns

Please email me for overseas orders.

Christmas in July 2023

I'm very excited I have lots of fun things planned for my Christmas in July weekend.

 

 

When: Saturday 8 July 10am - 4pm & Sunday 9 July, 9.30am-3.30pm,

Where: Flourish Creative Studio

                                    Cnr AMP & Volt Lane, Albury NSW

 

You’ll receive

two new patterns, a small kitted project, tuition, morning, lunch & afternoon tea.

 

Cost: $180.00

A $80 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking, with the balance due 25 June. An invoice for the balance will be emailed 23 June.

Book online

Christmas in July

 

If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me.

Gift Tag for you .......

You know me. I love the simple, playing with trims and making gifts, especially tags!

No need for a card when I can tie this one to the gift.

 

The Gift Tag is fun to make, easy to personalise and ideal for a last minute gift. A great way to use those lovely pieces of trim I'm sure you have tucked away in the cupboard.

Click on the link below to download the free pattern

Download Gift Tag

 

Holiday Break

I'm taking a break commencing Monday 19 December, returning 23 January.

I'm so looking forward to it. I'm hoping to recharge the batteries, clear the head and finally have consecutive days working on new projects, something I haven't been able to achieve this year.

Plus garden. I'm hoping the cooler weather continues!

Orders placed through my website will be posted week commencing 23 January.

 

Thank you for your continuing support throughout the year.

Wishing you a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.

Happy Stitching!

Marg

 

it's been awhile

My stitching and sewing mojo is back and just in time for Christmas!

 

I've been telling myself for sometime, just sew or stitch SOMETHING. I've missed being on a creative roll this year. When one finished project rolls into another, then another and you just can't stop!

So my thing for Christmas this year is TREES!

Last year I had so much fun with the Slow Stitched Zipper Purse I decided to give the stitches a Christmas makeover.

I went with the easiest shape possible - a tree. I really like how the green with a dash of red is turning out.

 

Keeping with the tree theme I started a small quilt for my granddaughter. I was making it on the fly and thinking about a quilt for her baby sister and some how the ideas became merged so a doll size quilt is more like cot size ........

The tree block was too big for a doll quilt and I messed up the math with the first border.

But at the heart of it all I'm in my happy place, using fabrics from the scrap box and sewing them together.

I do need to make a plan for the next one!

 

 

Pieced quilt backings

It's been ages since I allowed myself to just play. And you can play with a backing. It doesn't need to be perfect. There's no pattern to follow. It just needs to be bigger than the quilt top.

Anything goes on the back. Use leftover pieces from the top, less than perfect blocks that didn't make the cut for the front and fabric from your stash. Favourite pieces or pieces you've used in multiple projects and never want to sew with again.

A while ago I remade a few blocks from Sarah's Sampler. I often remake part or all of a sample if it's been a while since I made the original and need to refresh my memory for a class.  I had a fleeting idea to remake the entire quilt but then thought of all the projects I needed to make.

But now I had nine blocks. I didn't want to put the blocks in a box only to forgot about them nor did I want them in the way every time I opened a cupboard.

The best solution was to make a mini quilt. I plan to hang it on the gate (weather permitting) at my next pop-up shop.

Here it is after it was quilted by Rose of Pandora Quilting.

It hasn't been trimmed and you can see the batting and a glimpse of the backing along the side edges.

I asked Rose to centre the top on the back.

 

The black square shows the placement of the top.

I've learnt from experience to keep the seams on the back away from the edge of the top. It created extra bulk when I sewed the binding on and folded it over to the back.

You can see I've kept the seams away from the top edge.

Now my dilemma is what to do with the pieced strips when I trim the backing!

 

The back can also be a place to repeat the block used on the front, changing its size and the layout.

 I love how simple this quilt back is, in fact I now prefer it to the front!

Two fabrics, big blocks (I used 12 inch Drunkards Path templates).

I cut and pieced the blocks. Then calculated the width and length of the borders including the allowance for the quilter.

One quilt, two tops!

Just one more reason to love pieced backs.

 

If you haven't tried piecing a quilt back why not give it a go!

 

taking a holiday

This year I'm adding an extra week or two to my holidays.

Starting this Monday 20 December and returning on Monday 24 January.

The online store will be open for browsing and orders.

Orders placed today, 17 December, will be posted before Christmas.

Orders placed after today will be processed and posted when I return on 24 January 2022.

 

If you're looking for a project to stitch over Christmas and New Year, there's the Slow Stitching Free Project. Lots of fun, practising and trying new stitches! And once the stitching is complete, you may like to turn it into one of these cute zipper purses.

 

 

I often want a quick little project to stitch. If you feel the need for a little Christmas stitching before Christmas, the Candy Canes may be just the thing.  

 

 

Click on the link below to download the pattern.

Download Candy Canes

 

The decoration is finished off with glove stitch.

If you haven't used this stitch before check out my video.

 

 

 

Thank you!

Thank you for your continuing support through out the year.

Wishing you a safe and Merry Christmas and a very creative 2022!

 

 

taking my time decorating

Once upon a time I used to rush around and decorate in a day or two. Now I enjoy decorating one spot at a time.

 

It’s easier to keep repeating the same arrangements each year. Taking it slow means I’ve time to think about mixing it up. It doesn’t have to be a big change. This year I stood the reindeer (looks more like a sheep, the antlers suggest otherwise) in the bowl I usually fill with little pillows. It looks right at home there.

Before you ask about a pattern, it was a gift.

 

Somethings definitely don’t change like the red & white shoofly quilt hanging on the wall. I started a quilt twelve months ago, picturing it finished and hanging up this Christmas. Not even close to complete! It’s on my January 2022 'must do list'. And I always hang the Make Merry decorations on the same tree; this year I added Sew Jolly. It's hard to break habits!

Happy Decorating

 

Santa & Friends

So excited to announce the release of Santa & Friends.

These cute tags are my go-to gifts. Hang them on the tree, tie them to a gift, you get the idea.

A little stitching combined with felt applique and before you know it, the perfect gift.

Sold separately.

The patterns $6.50 each

The kits $15 each. Kits include the pattern, fabric, felts, threads, ribbon, iron-on-pellon and cardboard.

Sold here.

 

The Great International Craft Show #10 is on this weekend.

Check it out here.

 

New PDF Pattern

I'm pleased to announce my 2021 Diary Cover is now sold as a PDF Pattern.

No waiting for the post.

Purchase it and have it delivered straight to your inbox.

You may remember reading I make myself a new diary cover every year.

This year's cover has a cute little stitchery that doubles as a pen pocket. A handy addition that guarantees I will always have a pen on hand.

For this year anyway!

The pattern is $8

Diary Cover - PDF Pattern

 

If you love the fabrics a kit is available for $12 plus P&H.

The kit includes the fabrics, hanky linen to stitch on, ribbon, cardboard & iron-on-pellon.
Pattern, Threads & Diary are not included in the kit.

Diary Cover - materials only

 

The Great International Craft Show starts today.

 

This is an online event.

Check it out here.

 

Sew Some Joy

Christmas Club

The first mail out starts next week. It's not too late to join.

Find all the details here