Marg Low Designs

Gift of Joy

One of my projects from the workshop last weekend is a Christmas stitchery called Gift of Joy.

I love lots of things and a framed stitchery is one them. It is such a quick and easy way to finish and display your work. Of course I couldn't resist including a smaller project and thought the birdie perched on the stack of gifts would look cute as a tag.

 

 

Sticking to the promise, to make a Christmas decoration each week, I stitched another gift tag. It was prepped and stitched one night and sewn together the next. It could easily be finished in a night. There's a pocket on the back to slip a gift voucher inside. This one is stitched on hanky linen and I used Cotton Mako Ne 12 thread Red 2250 instead of 2260.

 

I know it is only the third week of my self imposed challenge and not to get too ahead of myself, but I have three decorations. Three more than I normally would at this time of the year!

 

If you haven't started or need to make something extra, why not start with the tag.

To make it easy I'm having a giveaway!

As well as the pattern, you'll receive a piece of hanky linen to stitch on, two prints and ribbon for the tag.

Leave a comment by Thursday October 15 to enter the draw. There will be only one winner. It can't get much easier than that!

 

and the winners are....

Thank you to everyone who entered the Christmas Giveaway. 

There could only be four winners and they are:-

Leonie (18/07)  -  Must be Christmas

Nola Larson (20/07)  -  Deer Tree

Alison M (18/07) - No Peeking

Michelle (20/07)  - Friday Girls Medallion

Congratulations girls, please email me with your postal adresses and your prize will be posted out next week.

Christmas in July - giveaway

It's that time of the year and I have four new patterns to giveaway.These patterns were released at the Christmas in July workshop held last weekend.

Many of you will know by now I make a red and white quilt each year. I wanted something a little different than the same block repeated over and over. With no real plan I just started playing with my red fabrics. The Friday Girls Medallion is a great way to use up scraps of your favourite reds.

For me Christmas is all about making and giving gifts. They don't have to be complicated and take hours and hours, in fact the simpler and quicker they are the better. It's such a nice feeling after a day of sewing to have a stash of gifts ready for giving.

No Peeking was very popular at the workshop. Lots of bags, pouches and stockings were made! These gifts could be easily personalised by stitching name tags.

And yes, I do have a thing for tags, decorations especially when they're stitched or embellished with one of Barb's buttons. Deer Tree is one of my favourites. The nice thing about this sort of project is you can carry it with you and do a little bit of stitching while waiting for the children or appointments.... It's surprising how quickly they come together when you snatch five minutes here and there.

Before I started making a quilt each year, I used to make a new Christmas decoration. Something a little more substantial than a single decoration for the tree. For ages now, I've been wanting to make a bunting and there have been many ideas floating around in my head.The flags are stitched with a Christmas alphabet with crazy patchwork ones in between.  Must be Christmas combines the things I love, stitching and favourite fabrics.

To enter the draw to win one of these patterns, simply leave a comment by Sunday 22 July.

new patterns, 401st post and your chance to win...

Oh wow, how appropriate is this! I just realised this is my 401st post and it's a giveaway. You have the chance to win two of my new patterns simply by posting a comment by 31 August and entering the draw. It can't get any easier than that!

 

 
If you find yourself making presents at the last minute then the little hearts will be just the right thing. Embellished with the whimsical santa, angel and tree buttons by Theodora Cleave they make a lovely quick gift.

Earlier this year I decided to make a Christmas quilt, one that was appropriate for celebrating Christmas in the middle of summer. Something light and fresh with just a little bit of my favourite colour!

Good luck!

a guessing competition

Thank you to all those who came to the trunk show at The Material Girls on Sunday. I had a great time meeting so many enthusiastic girls and came away quite inspired.

 
Here are Joy, Maria and Georgia after the show was finished.  

Of course you can't go into a fabric shop without buying at least one piece. 

One of these pieces is not for me, it's a gift, can you guess which one? If you guess correctly your name will go in the draw for my new soon to be released quilt pattern Grecian Times.

 
Simply post a comment including your guess by February 6. 
 
 

and the winners are...

And the lucky winners of the pattern giveaway are:-

Karene posted 23 July

Colleen Melton posted 25 July

Laila LS posted 20 July and

Barb posted 20 July

Please email your postal address and I'll send one of the patterns to you. I guess you're keen to know which pattern you've won.  Well I love surprises, I will pop them in the envelopes and then address them. I won't know which one I'm sending where and you won't know until it arrives in your letter box.

Thank you to everyone who entered. Your comments are very appreciated.

Bronwyn has finished her Cherry Cream Squares quilt top.

It was straight from the sewing machine and has not been pressed!

Sue has finished hers too but I couldn't work out how to post the picture she emailed me. I know it's probably the simplest thing to do but.....
 

new patterns and a giveaway

Here are the projects from the weekend workshop at Avonleigh. Sorry if red is not your colour, but it was Christmas!

The projects are Stitched Treasures - Hearts, Celebrating Christmas -  Table mat, All Things Nice - Felt needle cases and Cherry Cream Squares  -  quilt.

The girls could start one or all of the projects over the weekend. Each project involved different techniques so something new was learnt or as is sometimes the case, remembered. 

All the girls tried at least two projects, except for Bronwyn who was focussed on finishing the quilt top. She arrived with all her fabrics tucked neatly inside a small suitcase - it looked gorgeous and yes I should have taken a picture to share.

Now is the right time to start thinking about Christmas and to help you along the way I have a copy of each of these patterns to giveaway.  Simply leave a comment by 27 July to enter the draw.

 If you're going to the Quilt and Craft Show in Melbourne this week don't forget to stop by Barb's stand, Theodora Cleave  (E15). I'll be helping her Thursday and Friday. Would love to say hello!

and the winners are.....

Congratulations to the following winners

Yvonne Cain - Christmas Treats , Laila - Springtime Blooms and Julie, who could identify with my struggle through the door - Class Carry Bag.

I will email you for your postal address.

Thank you to everyone who entered and all your lovely comments. It's nice to know my blog does get read!

I've been on the receiving end of some gorgeous gifts of late.

Brownyn brought this oh so sweet button basket back from Vietnam for me.  I'm not sure how she could bear to part with it.

These beautiful fabrics are a thank you from Jenny for taking part, albeit at a distance, for her stitchery weekend.

And this gorgeous pear was just one of the lovely gifts Christine gave me for teaching with her at Mamre House this year.

I feel very spoilt!

new patterns to giveaway

Springtime Blooms. This is one of the projects from Mamre House. (And yes it was my project for Jenny's stitching weekend in New Zealand.)  As well as the framed stitchery, the pattern includes a Chatelaine (mobile phone or gift pouch) and scented sachet.

Barb's 'Be Inspired' button was perfect for the 'Beautiful Blue Birdies' theme.

Class Carry Bag. I first made this bag about four years out of need. One day I found myself struggling to a quilt class with a basket, bag, sewing machine and cutting mat tucked under my arm. You can imagine trying to sqeeze through the doorways, past other students without bumping into anyone or dropping anything. How wonderful if everything, apart from the sewing machine, could fit in one bag. Since then I've made a rotary cutter case and ruler cover (6.5 x12inches) to match.

 Christmas Treats. What I like most about these bags is you don't need to wrap the presents. Pop them inside, pull the drawstring closed and instant wrapping. Slip a gift card in the stitched pocket and it's ready for giving. The tags are designed for those of us who leave things to the last minute but still want to give a handmade gift.

I have one copy of each pattern to giveaway (no choosing). Simply post a comment no later than Sunday 8 November to enter the draw. 

announcing the winners

And the winners of the Christmas pattern giveaway are:

Beverly (posted July 26 at 12.11 pm) - Simple Pleasures

Sue (posted July 25 at 5.03pm) - Stitched Blessings

Julz at Simple Stitches - Tree of Love

Lee-Ann (posted July 25 at 3.16pm) - Tied with Love

Congratulations! Please email me your addresses and I'll pop the patterns in the post.

Very little sewing has been happening at my place these past two weeks. Hopefully I'll find the time to rectify this later today.

This was a must do - Nicole's birthday present. Can you guess what her favourite colour is?

I've had lots of fun making the needle & thread roll for the Friday Girl's birthdays. You might think I would be over it by now, but no I'm still enjoying playing with the different fabric and colour combinations.

This is Michelle's hexagon quilt. Machine pieced using fabrics from Patchwork on Stonleighs fabric club.

This is what I plan to do this afternoon, make myself a hexagon quilt. First I have to decide what size to make the hexagons and quilt (only an afternoon - perhaps I'd better aim for a tablerunner or cushion), then which fabrics to use. Will I make it scrappy out of my fabric club fabrics or maybe red and white?? I just know I need to make a decision quickly, otherwise the afternoon will be gone and I'll have nothing to show for it.