Marg Low Designs

red treasures - Aunt Lilly's Cushion

This week the final Red Treasures classes were held. I have loved every minute of the classes and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the variety of fabrics the girls have used. 

They all look lovely but I am very tempted to make a yellow one like Mel's. Mel plans to make a couple of more and surround them with the hexagons she's made. That sounds exciting!

Heather is making hers (bottom pink/blue/green) into the cushion and rang to say the background fabric cordinated perfectly with her new bed spread. I'm sure the other girls in class Wednesday night will be pleased to hear this. It's a little nerve-racking picking fabric to coordinate with something you've never seen.

Thank you to everyone who particpated in this year's club. And for those of who've asked, yes I am thinking about projects for next year.

finished - but not by me

There has been no progress, not even a single stitch, on anything in the last post. I am feeling a bit frustrated about it but every so often I have to give my hand, arm and shoulder a rest. So I will satisfy myself with projects finished by girls from the Red Treasures club. If I'm not sewing, the next best thing is to see the projects started in class finished by the next one. (I think this is one of the advantages of attending a club, there is more motivation to finish!)

 
 The nice thing about the table runner, Strawberry Yo-Yos, is it can easily be adapted to fit your piece of furniture  - as Marg did. It's at least twice as long!

Sue brought along a couple of her finished quilts to the Christmas workshop.

 Sue uses this one as a table cloth. Somehow I missed taking a picture of the second one.  

I hope this inspires you to have a finish! Even if it's as simple as sewing a button on. 

things to finish

A few weeks ago I decided to make another red and white quilt.  A little one, of course, using some favourite old pieces combined with new. 

Almost finished, it just needs to be hand quilted.

This pasion for red is not going to stop here. I'm now toying with the idea of decorating the lounge with a collection of red and white cushions.

 
Something simple to get me started. The hand quilting will make it that bit more special, but I can't help wishing I'd used the machine, it would be finished now. I'm not sure how many cushions I'll end up making, I guess I'll just know when enough is enough!

Another project started, this time a a baby's quilt. I spotted the elephant print at the show, loved how bright and cheery it was and decided it would be perfect for a baby girl.

 

Something else I must finish is the birthday quilt!

red treasures & christmas

This winter seems very cold. Yes, it is winter so what do I expect, but it feels like the coldest one we've had in years. Days around 10 deg C. with no sunshine and very little rain. Somedays it's been so miserable I've chickened out of walking. And much too cold to take Azz the dog for his walk. He'd be happy to be out of the house, but I'd freeze between steps he is so slow now.

If I'm not tucked up at home then the next best thing is teaching.

Don't these fabrics look warm and cheery?

 These are the  fabrics the girls in the Red Treasures Club at Avonleigh are using for the current project Strawberry Yo-Yos. I love seeing the variety.

 
Miranda' finished bunny from the last class.  

Then it was to The Material Girl, Yarrawonga for the Christmas club.

 
This is one of my favourite projects to teach, Simple Pleasures. Everyone loves Barb's decorations and all go home with one finished or close too.  

still no sewing

Still no sewing for me but Bronwyn has been busy enough for both of us.

 
Started in the Red Treasures class a couple of weeks ago all it needed was a border.

And because you can't make just one......

 
 I thought the red was gorgeous and then I saw it in the pink! If you look closely you will see Bronwyn used a bird print in both tops. This was the starting point and coordinated the other fabrics with them. About half the fabrics are from her stash. It's nice to be able to mix old and new together. 
 

red treasures table runner

One of the advantages of teaching is the chance to look at the fabrics each girl has chosen for the project. Sometimes I'm asked for advice and I go yippee (silently of course) as this allows me the opportunity to play with their fabrics. This is the next best thing to playing with your own fabrics and offers a more diverse choice. The table runner has been the perfect project to allow myself this bit of indulgence.

 I hope you enjoy seeing the variety of fabrics used as much as I do.

Else arrvied at class with her yo-yos already made, not by her,  but by Sue. Yes, the same Sue who came to class with hers made. I'm impressed!

red treasures - strawberry yo-yos

There was a choice in class night - machine piecing, making the yo-yos or doing a little of both. I was surprised they all opted to piece the top. Me, I would have jumped at the chance to sit and hand sew at the end of a long day.

Sue completed piecing her top and then pulled out all 28 finished yo-yos. No need to make yo-yos if they're already done! I'm sure the runner will be completely finished next time I see her.
 

red treasures - show and tell

The girls didn't disappoint with show and tell last night. I was thrilled to see the bunnies started in class two months ago finished and they'd made more.

 
 Sue's bunnies

 
Lee's bunnies

 
Jill's bunnies

They are all so cute and will look gorgeous sitting out all year round!

I love seeing them dressed in the different colours. I get to ooh and aah over the combinations without the effort!

Red Treasures - the bunny sisters

The second Red Treasures project was a little bunny. I find it's often easier to explain things with an example and had one partially made for the classes. With the classes finished there was no excuse not to finish sewing her together.

 She looks rather gorgeous on this little quilt.

The pattern for The Bunny Sisters costs AUD$16.50 plus P&H. Please email [email protected] if you would like to purchase the pattern.
 

red treasures - dilly bags

I'm delighted so many girls doing the Red Treasures club have decided to make the first project in their favourite colours. The classes for the 2nd group of girls have just been held and here are the results.

 
I love red but even I have to admit you can have sometimes have too much of it. It's lovely seeing how different fabrics and trims are coordinated. Very inspiring.