Marg Low Designs

a little christmas sewing

After the last class I came home and started doodling. It wasn't long before I was cutting out felt and fabric, adding a few stitches and thinking this year's Christmas presents. Simple and quick - just the sort of thing I love to make. 

Now I could hardly finish them off at Friday Sewing and I couldn't just sit there with nothing to do, so I made the Stitched Heart from the Festive Trinkets pattern.

I prepared it at home, stitched the front at sewing and finished it off in front of the TV. This is for a non sewing friend, who still has some things I made for her many years ago (things that make me blush when I look at them).

It would make a charming addition to your own collection of decorations or a special friends.

Tempted - you can purchase the kit for the Stitched Heart here.

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.

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.

a friday girl birthday

Earlier this year I was very organised (unusually so) and made Helen's birthday present well before it was due.

It was just a simple matter of wrapping it.

And no I'm not organised for the next two.

march birthdays

March is a big month for girlfriend's birthdays, three in the one week. Most years I'm still stitching the night before, but for reasons I cannot explain they were started and finished in February. I was on such a roll I've even made the one for the birthday in May. This is highly unusual for me, so much so, I thought I should check my temp!

I was so ahead of myself, I forgot to take a picture of one of them.

I decided to make little quilts.

 
 It's the Nine-patch from the my favourite book Childhood Treasures by Merikay Waldvogel (page 107).

There are still two more to make. The fabrics were chosen in February and have sat on one end of the work table until the other day when I needed the space and were moved to the cupboard. 

So nice to know things are returning to normal!

another birthday

Here are some of the lovely things I received for my birthday this month.

 
A gorgeous little quilt made by Michelle. I am thrilled to have this as up to now I've resisted the temptation to collect 1930's fabrics - think this will change now.

This too-nice-to-use bag is from Sue-Anne. Right now I'm simply enjoying it as a decoration in this spot. Everything about makes it beautifully perfect.

  

It's always exciting to receive a quilt from Jan as many of the fabrics are ones I've never seen before. I had to show you the backing fabric. It looks so like Azzy (our dog).

Sue must have been paying attention in class as she adapted one of the needle cases. I love Sue's addition of 'sprinkles'.

Enough reasons to celebrate a birthday everyday!

quilt and craft show

I had so much fun helping Barb, on her stand at the Quilt and Craft Show. There were lots of pieces I hadn't seen before and it was all so tempting, like these French peg dolls. Barb has a real knack for making the simple look exquisite!

 

Thank you to everyone who dropped by and said hello. It was so nice to finally meet Jean, catch up with Elyte and have afternoon tea with Linda, and the Friday Girls- Sue-Anne, Jan, Helen and Michelle.

friday sewing

Sewing was at my house the other week, and Azz took advantage of Michelle's quilt. He was just getting really comfortable and it was time to move.

So wish you could hear him snoring, or maybe not. It's difficult to concentrate on writing this post it's so loud. Sometimes he wakes himself with the volume, with a look on his face that asks 'what was that', other times we wake him - just to hear the TV or in search of a decent nights sleep. Yes sad but true - we have left our warm beds in the middle of the night to roll him over in his basket after calling has failed to wake him. 

The postive/negative nine patch Helen made from Patchwork on Stonleigh's fabric club fabrics. I love it even more than mine.

 

Every three months you receive a newsletter, pattern and 10 Fat 1/16's of antique reproduction fabrics.  I used all mine up last year when I made this quilt, but as you can see it doesn't take long them to multiply again.

I've decided to collect them in this old sewing machine draw. When I can't squeeze anymore in I'll know it's time to make something. Well that's the plan, whether I stick to the making bit is another thing, but they make a pretty display and it's nice to run your hand over them every so often and dream!

if only I could make up my mind

These lovely new decorations from Theodora Cleave arrived in my letter box a little over a week ago. There are lots of ideas floating around in my head I just wish I could grab one and go with it. Maybe tonight while I'm watching the tennis final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. 

If you can't travel overseas then the next best thing is to have friends who do. Helen arrived home from Africa last week bearing gifts for the Friday Girls. Gifts weren't necessary it's just great to have her home again.