Marg Low Designs

setting up for the next Great Australian Craft Show

One of the promises I made myself this year was to blog regularly. Here we are almost half way through the year and it's obvious I'm failing. I will try to do better.

One of the unexpected benefits of taking part in the Great Australian Craft Show #3, was a rethink of my workspace and the introduction of a handful of small changes. Life changing is an exaggeration, but I'm thrilled. Rearranging a shelf, bringing in another table and having a tub for the post has made an unbelievable difference!  

Setting up for the next Great Australian Craft Show 2 - 5 July, was quicker, less stuff to relocate from the tables and a knowledge of how to hang the quilts.

 

The quilts on display are Sarah's Sampler (1855), Coconut Ice - in the corner, Garden Party - the pink quilt you can just see and Round the Garden  - over the main table.

 One of the benefits of an online show, is I don't need to put out stock which means more room for samples!

 

 

a stitch here and there

When I first started designing fifteen years ago I must have had more time. I loved nothing more than remaking a sample using different fabrics or making small changes to the design just to see how it looked.

 

Making the second Sew Bliss sample has taken a few weeks. Started last month for the retreat I've been adding a stitch or two here and there, finishing a step now and then. I'm always pleasantly surprised when those tiny steps add up to a finished project.

The stitched sides were replaced with a floral print showing it looks just as lovely with less work!

You'll find the pattern and kits on my website.

Sew Bliss pattern

Sew Bliss Kits

 

a remake & fabrics to make you want to sew

There I was yesterday morning, happily sewing a Santa sample for the Christmas workshop at Stitch in Sydney next month when the doorbell rang.

It was a fabric delivery.

The Santa forgotten I hastily opened the box.

This is like opening a present, most often I don't remember what's due in, so it's a surprise!

Gorgeous fabrics from the Harlow range - Antiquities - 1930s prints, to brighten up a dull and dreary winters day.

Ooh I wanted to start playing with them straight away, but there was a Santa waiting to be stuffed, stitched and assembled and one does need to get their priorities right.

Meet Santa from Santa & The Advent Tree pattern. It's been awhile since I've made him. I'd forgotten how much fun he was and how quickly he came together, about 4 - 5 hours (remember I had to open the fabric and touch it!)

Please contact Tessa at Stitch, for the details.

The workshop is being held on 21 - 22 July

 

My pop up shop will be open tomorrow,

Saturday 16 June.

You're welcome to bring your sewing and sit & stitch during shop hours. Cost $10.

Mirambeena Community Centre,

Marthas Mews, Lavington NSW

10.00 am - 3.00pm

Lots of lovely fabrics, kits and patterns to see, including those gorgeous new prints.

 Don't let the miserable weather put you off.

For the Book Lover

Over the weekend I finished the For the Book Lover sample and it's turned out just as gorgeous as I'd hoped! I've wanted to remake the sample for ages and it’s just been a matter of finding the perfect fabrics.

 

 

Complete with the bookmark.

 

 

If you're like me and it's important to keep your books like they've just come off the shop shelf, a bag is essential. No more 'lost spots' either with the matching bookmark.

Unfortunately I won't be using this one anytime soon, it will be packed in my sample case and displayed on my stand at AQC.

The pattern and kit is available online. Just click on the links.

For the Book Lover  - pattern only

For the Book Love Kit  - includes pattern.

 

 

remake of a favourite

Gorgeous new fabrics have arrived  and the urge to cut, sew and stitch with them is interfering with my Christmas preparations. There’s still three weeks to go – so no need to panic just yet!  

I started with the paisley print from the previous post, it's my favourite fabric for now and it didn't take long before I'd picked out fifteen more to make a total of sixteen.

 

It took even less time to cut the blocks for Coconut Ice.

 

And before tea time I had the top sewn.

Coconut Ice measures 44 x 48 inches.

The pattern retails for $10.

The fabric bundle retails for $48.

A special offer - Pattern and fabric bundle is $55.

Plus Postage & Handling.

some stitching

New fabric arrived last week and like with anything new, I wanted to start sewing with them.

 

 

Needing an instant fix, I decided to make another Thread Roll. I love making this little project and know this will not be the last!

You will find a kit for this new one here.

 

One thing led to another and I found myself making another Hearts & Berries bag and decoration, this time stitching the birdie in blues.

 

You'll find the Hearts & Berries Kits here.

 

 

The Albury Wodonga Doll Bear & Hobby Show is on this weekend at

  Mirambeena, Martha Mews, Lavington.

10.00am - 4.00pm  Saturday 2nd December, and

10.00am - 3.00pm Sunday 3 December.

 

See you there!

 

Thread Roll class

It didn’t take much to convince the girls to do one more class for 2017. Once I promised they’d all go home with the Thread Roll finished they were hooked. Who doesn’t love a little project, that’s useful and can be made in under three hours!

 

 

Don't they look fabulous. Love them all!

 

It left me wishing I'd been a bit more adventurous with my flower colours when I made this one for my Aurifil appliqué thread.

Guess I'll just have to make myself another one.

 

The pattern for the Thread Roll is $6.50 plus P & H.

 

Blue Mountains Retreat

Can you believe it's almost two weeks since the retreat.

It was a fanstastic weekend organised by Karen & Bren from Linen and Threads.

Lovely ladies, yummy food and a spectacular view!

My photographic skills do not do it justice.

 

Indoors it was all about catching up with old friends, making new ones, stitching, shopping ......

 

My projects for the workshop included  a stitchery using one of Barb's (Theodora Cleave) gorgeous buttons and a birdie stitchery made as a decoration or used on a bag.

Both patterns, Make a Christmas Wish and Hearts & Berries retail for $10 each plus P&H. Kits are available for both projects.

While Hearts & Berries may look a little too festive for some, colour changes everything. Try stitching the birdie in blue with red or blue berries for everyday use.

My other little project was a Thread Roll. Some of you may remember this as my Make & Take project at AQC earlier this year.

Everyone was thrilled to go home with a Thread Roll saying it was the first time ever they'd finished something at a workshop.

This is the type of project I LOVE BEST, a combination of techniques and materials, but best of all make-able in a couple of hours.

The Thread Roll pattern retails for $6.50 plus P&H and a kit is available too.

 

One of thread rolls made at the retreat. Love it!

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the retreat, Karen & Bren and the other two tutors, Anni Downs and Michelle Marvig for making it such an enjoyable weekend.

 

Looks like Christmas

This year I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas. Why, because this year I have these trees to put up. The tough decision will be deciding if I want them on the table so I see them every day, on the cupboard opposite my favourite chair or part of the display in my hallway.

I do love working with felt. It's easy to tweak the shapes, simple shapes can be cut freehand, so you don't have to fuss with templates and they can be attached with minimal stitching. The pattern is called Home for Christmas. It costs $16 plus postage.

 

For me, an important aspect of Christmas is making gifts. The simpler the better, since they're usually made at the last minute. I'm hoping to be better organised this year.

This pattern is called Gift Tree and costs $16 plus postage. It includes the three projects shown, a zipper bag, gift card and table mat.

 

The bag was very popular at the Christmas in July workshop at Avonleigh; lots were made, without the felt appliqué, in a variety of fabrics.

 

Sometimes my designs come about because of need and I needed a small quilt to fill a blank spot on a wall.

It's more an all year round design. This project involves needle turn appliqué and some simple piecing. And yes it does look nice hanging in the blank spot! The pattern is called Blackmore Cottage and costs $16 plus postage.

The fourth project is being kept under wraps for the

Linen & Threads 2017 Blue Mountains Patchwork & Quilting Retreat in October.

 

You can purchase the new patterns and lots more from my online store.

 

Ho Ho Ho

Barb's (Theodora Cleave) Santas always inspire me. So it just happened, before I knew it, I was cutting felt, adding a bit more, working a few stitches and in very little time had a new decoration. 

 

 

It was so easy and simple to make I made another using a blue Santa.

 

I've been putting kits together for the Albury Wodonga Doll, Bear and Hobby Show this weekend.

If you can't make it, you'll find them online.

Just click on the links below.

Ho Ho Ho Pattern $6.50 plus P&H

Ho Ho Ho Kit $29.50 plus P&H

The kit includes the pattern, all the materials & Star Santa decoration.

If you need more buttons, for any of my patterns, visit the Theodora Cleave website.