Marg Low Designs

holiday fun

It's confession time! This week's project was prepped and started a month or so ago. It's not something that can be made in an evening or afternoon but when you break it down and do a little here and there it comes together in next to no time.

 

I enjoyed finishing it and am pleased with my decision to use different colours to the original; substituting Shady Grove for Confederate Blue, Fresh Linen for Straw, Red for Strawberry Dreams, Mellow Yellow for Honey Mustard, Cameo Pink for Pea Soup and Love Bug Blue for Baby Blue.

 

 

Holiday Fun is a small mat, with a diameter of approx. 9 inches.

The pattern retails for $10 and a kit is available for $30. P & H extra.

 

it's that time again

It’s that time of the year, thoughts turn to Christmas and what gifts to make. The ‘what’ depends on how many gifts I need and do I have time to make them all? Not everyone leaves it to the last minute like me and it is my never ending hope that one day I’ll start making gifts in January.

With only ten Fridays, including yesterday, before Christmas I should have started and not still be talking about it.

This year it’s going to be a mix of gifts; some Christmas, some sewing and some useful things for all year round. To keep me on track I’ll be making a project each week and posting about it on Fridays.

In case you hadn't noticed, I did miss my first deadline!

So late yesterday I was looking at my fabrics and felts and hoping inspiration would leap off the shelf when I thought about remaking Gem's Needle Keep. I have a new felt colour - Fresh Linen (not white) and wanted to give it a try.

 

 

I'm feeling relieved and pleased that I've made a start.

The pattern for Gem's Needle Keep retails for $6.50 and Gem's Needle Keep Kit is $15. P & H extra.

You'll find the felts here.

 

 Last year some of you missed out on No Peeking.

 I'm happy to let you know the No Peeking patterns and kits are back in stock.

Candy Canes

Yes this is my Friday Christmas challenge project and no it's not Friday, so don't panic. It occurred to me I could blog early and start my Christmas break sooner and that's what I'm doing.

I start tomorrow and return on 16 January.

Yes it is an unusually long break for me and I'm very excited about all the possibilities! There's a club to plan, samples to make, a pile of books to read and a garden to potter around in.

You can still place orders online but nothing will be posted over the break.

This week's project is a simple stitchery called Candy Canes.

It's free pattern available to download through my newsletter. If you're not on my list and would like to be, it's easy, just email me.

 

Last year I missed out making a red & white quilt. (You'll know it's a Christmas tradition of mine, making one each year.) When I heard about the Log Cabin challenge Shelley and Jan were organising it was just the motivation I needed.

It looks like summer.

 

My guilty secret is I still don't have all my Christmas decorations up. This is a picture of something I've done in the past. It looks festive and takes very little time to do.

 

 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

& Happy New Year!

 

no hand sewing required

This tree is a favourite of mine. It features in the the book All Things Christmas.

It's nice to needle turn appliqué.

 

Perfect for felt appliqué on a set of pillows; they are addictive.

 

And here it is as tag using the raw edge appliqué technique.

Once I had the fabrics chosen it was so quick to do. I just started sewing and worked things out like, what to do about the edges and how to hang it as I went. On a whim the edges were trimmed with scalloped edged scissors and eyelets added. No hand sewing required!

If you'd like to make the tag, follow the instructions for the Birdie Tag (page 17) and the Oh Christmas Tree - Pillows diagram (page 6) as a guide.

 

The plan is to do a little more decorating this weekend. The longer I leave it the less time there is to enjoy it.

The bunting, Must be Christmas, will be one of the first things to go up.  The flags are stitched with a Christmas alphabet with crazy patchwork flags in between.

Now the fabrics used in the sample are long gone but I do have some lovely ones that can be substituted. You'll find a kit for the bunting here.

Please note, I cannot guarantee orders placed now will arrive before Christmas. It's safer to assume they won't to avoid disappointment.

 

christmas decorating

It's not much but it's start.

It all began Wednesday when the timing was right to make new cushion covers. This is something I've wanted to do for ages but couldn't find the spark to make it happen. Don't you love that feeling when it all comes together and nothing is going to stop you? I kept them simple and quick; they need to be practical, not precious.

 Once the covers were finished, I did a little Christmas decorating. This is often when I start to think about new designs for the coming year. I see the gaps and imagine what I might like to fill them.

So I've been thinking about next year, while doing my Friday challenge. You may remember I used this pattern last year, making santa, birdie and the snowman. This year it's the handbag (finished), pudding and gift.

 For one week only the pattern is on sale for $10 (normally $16). Click on the link below

All Things Nice

The felt colours are Blue Spruce, Straw, Strawberry Dreams, Safari Brown, White, Moss, Red and Barnyard Red. You'll find the felts here and here.

 

The felt baubles started a few weeks ago are finished. Love them in the new colours with the dash of blue.

The Felt Treasures pattern is available here and the kit here.

 Fingers crossed there's time for a  little more decorating this weekend.

it's december

Please tell me where November went. It feels like I went from 1st November to 1st December with nothing in between!

This week's project is the Little Birdie felt decoration.

 

Sometimes I can't help myself.  The design is simple and fun to make using different techniques.

Here it is stitched and needle turned. And just now I remembered I had planned to make another using the raw edged applique technique, maybe next week.

 

 

The pattern includes instructions for the needle turn applique and stitchery. The directions for the felt applique are in the kit.

The felt colours I've used are white, baby blue, strawberry dreams, pea soup and blue spruce.

The Little Birdie pattern is $16.

The pattern and felt kit is $20. Additional felt kits can be purchased for $6, but you will need to email me for these.

You'll find kits for the pattern and drawstring bag (green or red) here too.

 

I was confident last week all escape routes were closed to the puppy dog. He was not happy, said I'll show you and that's exactly what he did. It's not a high fence and he's always used the gate like we do, it hadn't occurred to him to go over it.  Now he knows different and there is no stopping him. You can guess what I will be doing in my downtime this weekend.

 

I'll be at the Albury Community Market this Sunday.

It's my last one for the year.

If you haven't been before it's held at

Wilson Street Carpark, Central Albury.

9.00 am - 12.00 pm

G11, 2nd level.

See you there!

carried away

Not it's not Friday, I'm a day early as tomorrow I head off to Melbourne for the Australian Quilt Market. This year I'm just visiting. It feels like I'm going on holiday with only a suitcase to pack.

This week's decoration is from the pattern Felt Treasures. As you can see I've let myself get carried. Not content with making just one bauble I  decided to make the entire set, including the bag. One bauble finished and everything cut out early this morning I thought I would have more done, but it's not to be. 

 

I love these felt colours together. I've used, Red, Pea Soup, Straw and Mediteranean Mist. You'll find the felts here and here.

If you'd prefer a kit you'll find them here.

Choose between Pattern, Felt & Fabric $30 or Pattern & Felt $25. There is enough felt in both kits to make four baubles and decorate a bag. Threads are not included.

 

8 sleeps to christmas, 2 sleeps to the wedding

Can you believe it, only eight more sleeps to Christmas and two sleeps to the wedding. This post is going to be very rushed as I'm yet to finish the bride's bag and the bags for the bridesmaids are still just an idea! There's a wedding rehearsal this afternoon and nieces to meet at the airport.

 

I needed something quick to decorate and tie to the goodies bags at my Christmas Stitch-in last August and this was the idea I came up with. The instructions will be sent via my newsletter. If you haven't already signed up for it, and you'd like to 'know how' email me and I promise to send it out later next week.

I'm taking the next few days off to enjoy the wedding.

 

two more weeks

Only two more weeks to Christmas and in between now and then we have a wedding. My daughter is getting married Saturday week. It's all very exciting and I'm sure you understand when I say I'm not thinking much about Christmas right now! As soon as this post is finished I'll be starting the purses for the bride and bridesmaids.

I'm determined to keep going with the Christmas challenge. With only two more to go, I'd be disappointed to fail this close to the end. Posting each week has certainly helped and choosing to make achievable, quick items has been a big plus.

Sticking with the quick and easy this week’s decoration is a tag. Now I love tags; they are so versatile, tie them to gifts, hang on the tree or a cupboard handle. They are my standby gift!

 

 

You may remember I made quite a few of these two years ago.

 

There is a pattern and you'll find it here - Christmas Tag.

 

it's december

Once again I picked something really quick to make this week. I had plans to make something entirely different but when the clock struck 9pm last night and I was just getting started I knew it had to be simple!

It's been awhile since I made a Red Robin; it was a chance to use one of my favourite new red fabrics.

It's a challenge making something a bit different each week.