Marg Low Designs

where has the time gone!

There I was relaxing with snapshots of flowers in my garden in the last post and then....... I really don't know where the days went.

The final Great Australian Craft Show #7 , Christmas Spectacular was on last week. I still have some fabulous kits on sale and other specials.

 

Selected Theodora Cleave button kits are on sale until the end of this month.

The kits are sold here.

The gorgeous buttons are designed and hand painted by Barb Smith (Theodora Cleave). Check out all Barb's buttons on her website here.

 

You'll find more specials here, like this cute Christmas stitchery pattern, A Celebration.

 

Small tags to stitch for Christmas.

String them together, hang individually on a tree, tie them to a gift or attach them to the stitched gift pillow.

Perfect for that last minute gift or bit of Christmas decorating.

Pattern $13 including postage.

 

 

the colours of spring

These photos were taken a few days ago, when the sun was shining and thoughts were turning to warmer days ahead, before the arctic blast sent me back indoors. Even the dog is reluctant to leave the warmth of the heating vent.

 

 

 

 

Now I can spend the weekend stitching!

 

Special Delivery

Some nights all I want is a simple quick project to work on. One I can prep before tea and finish stitching before 9pm. By that time the eyes are drooping and I'm ready to call it a night.

I kept it simple, fusible applique, minimal stitching and finished with the Trolley button by Barb Smith.

 

There is something about this button I just love.

 

Yesterday I prepared kits.

The kit includes the pattern, materials, threads, button, ribbon, iron-on-pellon, cardboard and a piece of heat n bond.

Special Delivery Kit is $17 plus $3.00 P&H.

I can post the kit overseas, but please note postage starts at AUD$15.00 for New Zealand, AUD$25.00 for UK and AUD$21.00 for USA.

 

The stitch I use to sew the pieces together is called Glove Stitch.

It gives a lovely decorative finish to the edge. It's easier and quicker than trying to ladder or slip stitch the pieces together.

I use it all the time.

Once you commit it to memory you'll be looking for projects to use it on.

Click on the link below to download the instructions.

Download Marg Low Designs Glove Stitch

 

before it comes down

 

Here are some pics of the last display I set up for The Great Australian Craft Show.

Pictured, Garden Angel the felt decorations embellished with a gorgeous hand painted Angel button by Barb of Theodora Cleave. Jolly Santa, the heart decoration with another of Barb's whimsical Santas. Gift Tree, the free standing card with felt tree and Gift of Joy, the tag.

 

I love this grouping and try not to repeat the same samples together but it's hard not too when they work so well together.

I now have kits for the Petite Pincushion here.

Pretty as a Daisy, a sweet bookmark here.

Garden Blooms, felt appliqued Dilly Bag with Needle Case & Scissor Fob Pattern here or Kit here.

Postcard - Birdie - journal cover here.

Sew Bliss, the grey stitched box Pattern here or Kit here.

 

I loved making Hearts & Berries and didn't need any prompting to make another sample, stitching the bird in blue.

The Hearts & Berries pattern includes instructions for both the heart decoration and drawstring bag. You'll find the pattern here and a kit here. The fabric in both samples is sold out. I've substituted a sweet print with a dash of blue that's perfectly suited to stitching the bird in blue or red.

 

I could leave it up for the next show, but I prefer to pack it down and start again with a blank canvas.

Until next time!

 

Adelaide here I come

Not long now until the Adelaide Craft & Quilt Fair. Since returning from Tassie, I've been cutting and folding fabric, rolling and bundling felt and cutting more fabric, felt & threads for kits.  When I'm cutting I see the fabrics in a different way, new combinations open themselves up. The desire to start sewing and stitching with these new combinations is hard to resist. I'm hanging out for a spare moment to pick up a needle and thread but the only sewing I'll be doing is hemming a pair of jeans, which does not count as real sewing!

 

Barb has been busy painting buttons for the show. These look so pretty.

 

And if you're after Christmas I have Santas, deers, angels and snowmen.

 

Some of the gorgeous felts. The rolls make me think of licorice allsorts.

 

I was working to such a tight deadline I took no photos of the fabrics but I have some lovely reds, fun Cotton & Steel fabrics and new French General fabrics, the later were perfect to kit for the So Handy Pouch.

 

This is my last post before the show but you can keep up to date by following me on Facebook and Instagram. Better still I hope you can make it the show.

 

 

Adelaide Craft & Quilt Fair

Adelaide Convention Centre

21 March - 24 March

10.00am - 4.00pm daily

 

Stand B26

 

See you there!

 

a day with Helen & Marg

I'm surprised any stitching was done with this gorgeous view from the deck of the Newtown Bay Rowing Club. The lovely group of girls attending the workshop, A Day with Helen & Marg, were far more interested in the contents of their goodies box and catching up with friends and making new ones.

 

 

Helen booked me into the Macquarie Manor, close to the Salamanca markets and the water. Living inland I relish any opportunity to be near the sea! Most of my photos are of water but I'll only post one more!

 

 

Saturday morning was free and I happened across Mawsons Hut and took the tour; walked to Battery Point and then wandered into town.

 

The vintage green trim caught my eye.

 

A quick visit to the Hugs 'n Kisses shop. Lots of lovely eye candy.

 

Then it was time to head to work and set up for the workshop.

Some of my Christmas designs.

 

 

Sarah's Sampler (1855) in the background and Oscar Bunny sneaking into the frame.

It's amazing how many samples can be squeezed into a suitcase.

 

 

 

My project was a Sewing Kit - comprising a zipper bag, needle case and scissor fob.

For many of the girls this was the first time they'd tried their hand at felt appliqué.

The scissor fob was simple and quick covering the basic techniques of felt appliqué.

Everyone who started the scissor fob went home with it finished!

 

 

I was excited to see Jan with her needle case finished and already in use.

 

Thank you to Helen, Jo & Judy  and the girls attending the workshop for such an enjoyable day and weekend.

 

AQM 2018

Here are some pictures of my stand from The Australian Quilt Market. I've been steadily working through the orders since I got back and could finally reward myself with some Christmas stitching over the weekend.

 If you look closely you will spot a couple of new designs that I will be adding to the website this week.

 

There was no time for stitching or sewing in the lead up to AQM, unless hemming a pair of jeans counts.

Picking up a needle & thread, arranging scraps of favourite fabrics and adding one of Barb's buttons felt like all my Christmases had come at once!

 

I left the fabric edges raw and used Aurifil Cotton Mako Ne12 variegated thread.

 

And trialled more buttons to see which ones I preferred.

 

I do love this one, but had my heart set on using the trolley & gifts.

 

christmas shopping

 

Pop-up Shop

open tomorrow

Saturday 20 October,

10am - 3.30pm

Mirambeena Community Centre,

Martha Mews, Lavington, NSW

 

Kits, patterns, fabrics, felt, Theodora Cleave buttons, everything you will need to start stitching, sewing and appliquéing your way to Christmas.

 

 

a road trip

It was a spur of the moment decision, a road trip to Cohuna to visit Barb and see for myself the Christmas displays at Factory and Field. Barb's been tempting me with descriptions and pictures. With only one free weekend until Christmas, it had to be the weekend just gone.

I was not disappointed; it was worth the four hour drive from Albury to Cohuna. Plus it was lovely to catch up with Barb in person, a rare opportunity due to the distance separating us.

My first look at the Christmas shop, all I could think was WOW!

It was hard to know where to look first.

 

 

 

 

We went back for a second look on Saturday. This was after we had fun playing with the trees I bought and Barb's basket and buttons.

 

 

Once we'd finished shopping it was off to the Waffle shop for Gluten free waffles and coffee.

 

Our last and final stop was The Elm Tree Nusery. We needed to walk off the waffles! Gorgeous nursery, I'll post pictures next time.

christmas in july 2018 - part 2

This is the post I thought I'd write last week. When I  finally ticked off the jobs that kept pushing themselves to the top of the list, I was gripped with the need to do some stitching; new christmas decorations. No sneak peeks in this post though, you will have to wait.

The mini wall quilt and Christmas Tote from the workshop.

The quilt measures 15inches x 19inches and the tote 9inches x 10inches.

I was in my happy place making them, playing with some of my favourite fabrics.

Patterns and kits can be purchased from my online store - just click on the links below.

 

Christmas Tree mini wall quilt pattern

Christmas Tree mini wall quilt Kit

Christmas Tote pattern

Christmas Tote Kit

 

Yes I did show you Sew Jolly - Santa in the last post, but there is also a Sew Jolly - Star. I love making these decorations; they are the reason why I didn't post last week. I had to make more!

 

You will find the pattern and kits here.

Sew Jolly - Santa pattern

Sew Jolly - Santa Kit

Sew Jolly - Star pattern

Sew Jolly - Star Kit

 

Deer Tree 

This little pattern has been around for awhile, I'm sure many of your will recognise it, have purchased it and made it!

First made with the Deer button, then later with with the Angel & Bendy Trees and most recently with one of Barb's gorgeous new Santas.

Kits are available with or without the pattern.

Please read through the options.

Deer Tree Kit

Deer Tree with Santa Button Kit

Deer Tree with Angel & Bendy Trees Kit

 If you have any questions please email me.

 

My pop-up shop is open next Wednesday 8 August from 2pm - 6pm at Mirambeena Community Centre.

You're welcome to bring your sewing and stitch and stitch during shop hours.

Cost $10