Marg Low Designs

Happiness is....

It was exciting to see the different fabrics and trims the girls chose for the latest pattern in the Happiness is.... club. Some made the journal cover and others chose the bag.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward to seeing the fabric choices for the next class.

what's been happening in class

Here are some of the things the girls have been working on in class.

First, the girls from Two Friends Leeton, last month.

 

 

and, Finishing School at Avonleigh last Saturday.

 

Some of the girls were just starting the Floral Charms purse and others completed theirs.

 

It was great to see these projects finished, at last!

 

Sue started and finished the thread roll for her grand daughter.

 

Kerry is addicted to making the thread rolls and substituted the stitchery with a couple of Barb's. And just in case you were wondering how Kerry made all these in Saturdays class, they weren't!

Vintage Retreat - Quilters Harvest

What a fabulous weekend. Shelley and I left Friday morning and watched the temperature rise from a coolish 20 deg at home to 32 deg when we stepped out of the car at Warracknabeal.

This didn't phase us with lots of gorgeous bits n pieces to look at Quilters Harvest. It was hard to know where to look first!

 

I came very close to buying the green basket and then decided, no! Looking at it again I so wish I'd listened to Shelley.

 

 

Then it was time to set up.

The tutors displays: Marg Low Designs, Skellywag Sewing School and Leonie Bateman Designs. The sampler quilt is Sarah's Sampler (1855).

 

 The pretty china vases and flowers greeted the girls when they arrived.

At this point I popped my camera away and didn't take anymore pictures. So I can't show you the lovely girls who attended or the yummy food or any of the work in progress.

I know Cheryl and Shez were busy snapping away so please hop across to their blogs and check out more of the weekend.

Thank you to Shirley and Del for organising such a fabulous day and the girls for their lovely company. So nice to finally meet the girls who leave comments on the blog, facebook and instagram!

 

Almost failed

Yes that's right, I almost failed in the first week of my self-imposed Christmas challenge. What with packing for the  Vintage Retreat at Warracknabeal this weekend, working on a project for Homespun, posting out cushion club, booking a stand at AQC 2016, Sit n Sew Tuesday and all the other stuff that has to be done, I just didn't think there would be time to make a decoration.

If it hadn't been for Meredith's email saying how cute Pudding Anyone? is I might have given up!

 

 

Okay, so I haven't popped it on the spool, but it looks pretty cute on it's own. And oh so easy to do.

 

And if you're not into pudding, then why not try a flower on top?

Jenny was addicted to them at the Christmas in July workshop and made it in a variety of colours.

You'll find the pattern here. It comes as a kit too. The spools can be purchased separately. Because of their size, the kit and spools will be posted as a parcel.

 Have you taken up the Christmas challenge - let me know if you have!

Related articles

Christmas in July at Avonleigh - no. 5

Christmas in July - Avonleigh

The final project for Christmas in July at Avonleigh this weekend is finished and the patterns folded! At the start of the week I didn't see myself having all this done by Thursday!

 

Now I can put the finishing touches on a few things, take a deep breath and get ready for a fabulous fun filled weekend.

 

starting the year with a finish

The best way to start the year is finishing things and that's exactly what the girls did on Sunday at Finishing School.

One thing we try to avoid mentioning is 'the year the projects were started'.

 

Gabi finished Aunt Lilly's Cushion. After seeing Gabi's I have to make a blue one too.

 

Sue made For the Book Lover, it just needed assembling, the stitchery was done.

Bobbi made two  Sew Vintage bags.

All that remained for Belinda to do, was stitch on a bow and her bunny, The Bunny Sisters.

Sue was catching up the on Little Treasures club project Bunny Love, and

Else cut and sewed Summer Berries blocks.

 

Maureen asked for some help with her punch needle. This was started and finished in the class.

It's been so long since I did any punch needle I had to look for my hoop and needle and practice before the class. I'd forgotten how nice it is to do and have added a punch needle project to the list of things I want to do this year.

 

thinking about Christmas

Early in the year, Corowa Quilters asked me to do a Christmas workshop. Back then November was ages away and now it's here, tomorrow in fact. I'm teaching a couple of favourite designs, Christmas Trimmings and Stitched Treasures.

It's been awhile since I made one of the hearts from Stitched Treasures. Originally I used a fine stripe and have been on the lookout for a substitute ever since. It didn't occur to me when this print from the French General first arrived that it would work, because I was only thinking stripe. One of those light bulb moments happened and how lovely does it look with just a touch of green. The other nice surprise was how quick it was to make. Admittedly I prepared it one night and then stitched it the next, but it felt like it was finished in no time at all.

 

Since I always leave making Christmas gifts to the last minute, this could be just the thing......

 If you're looking for fabrics to stitch on these have been loaded on to my online store.

You'll find them here: Fabrics to Stitch on

Prices start at $2.50 for a Fat eight, $6.00 for 30cm or $10.00 for 50cm.

Please email me if you'd like a larger quantity.

 There is a small quantity of diamond print left.

It's available here  Diamond print French General

 

This red tone on tone would look nice used on the back of the red hearts. I like it with both the red & pale red French General fabric.

Perfect for Christmas. You could stitch on this one too.

It's available here Red tone-on-tone

Sackville & Lane

For the past couple of weeks I've been making a quilt entirely from my stash with the aim of reducing it. If truth be told it will take a lot more than one quilt to make a dent in it. One positive is old favourites are finally used and can be enjoyed. A side benefit is I don't feel quite so guilty when I see a new fabric I just have to have!

When I spotted these at Sackville and Lane I couldn't resist.

 

Now this was not the real reason for my visit.

It was to confirm the upcoming class.

Wednesday 22 October

10.00 am - 1.00pm

Choose from

Time for Special Joys - Tag & Stocking

 OR

Make Merry - Birdie

 The tag and birdie are entirely hand sewn. If you'd like to learn or brush up on simple embroidery or felt appliqué techniques this class is the perfect place to start.

To book please contact Sackville and Lane

on (03) 5721 7948

 

There will be a mini trunkshow at the end of the class for the girls attending.

 

 

 

Pioneer Patchwork

I had a lovely time last week with the girls at Pioneer Patchwork. I came away wishing I lived closer so classes could be organised on a more regular basis.

The girls opted to make the Joyful - birdie bag. I enjoyed seeing all the different birdies and fabric choices.

Thank you girls for making me feel so welcome!

almost packed

The samples, kits, patterns are packed and ready to be loaded into the car for the trip to Sydney tomorrow. Quilts on the Downs is on this weekend followed by a class at Pioneer Patchwork, Narellan on Monday.

I hope to see you there!