Marg Low Designs

weekend sewing

It took me most of last Saturday to decide on the layout of a baby quilt for a friend's grandson. Little quilts are one of my favourite things to make as they provide the perfect opportunity to try something different. With the day slipping away I gave up on designing something new and chose an existing pattern - the baby quilt from Things I love to Make. No maths to work out, it was already done. Plus it is easier to pick fabrics when you have a picture to guide you.

 

Else was working on this cushion, Bird's Song at January Finishing School; all that's left to do is stitch the birdie's legs. The photo does not do it justice.

 

 

Only four weeks to Craft Alive - Dubbo.

Some of the lovely fabrics you'll find at Stand 64.

saturdays class

The nice thing about the first class back is seeing what the girls worked on over the holiday break.

Sally finished her Sarah's Sampler

and has done a beautiful job.

 

Bronwyn took a break from class to buy the border fabric for her Magic Circle quilt. 

I love it in the 1930's fabrics.

You'll find the pattern for this quilt in my book Things I love to Make.

 

The class projects.

 It was good to see them so easily finished in the class.

You can still join the Little Treasures Club and receive the patterns or kits in the post.

 

Related articles

Sarah's Sampler (1855) show & tell

october sampler class

Sarah's Sampler (1855)

wooden spools

I'm happy to say the wooden spools I used for the Friday Girls Prezzies, a project from my book Things I love to Make, are now available from my online store. 

You'll find them here Wooden Spools.

red versus blue

Now this is going to sound odd but the next quilt I make is going to be blue!  I had barely made a row of red & white blocks for the new quilt and my head was full of ideas for making it in blue. I had to stop myself heading to the stash, there and then, and pulling out blue fabrics. The fact there was no space on the cutting table for any more red fabric let alone blues was a reality check.

 This didn't stop me buying these fabrics at Avonleigh. As if I needed more!

Why a blue quilt? Because blue is my daughters favourite colour and I cannot imagine using any other colour in her old room.  This is Sue-Anne's beautiful blue version of the Magic Circle quilt in her room. You can see why it has to be blue!

 

book launch

Tomorrow my book, Things I love to Make is being released at my local quilt shop, Avonleigh Country Quilting. I'm not sure who is more excited, Kay, Sharon or me. Sharon has been busy this afternoon baking yummy treats for the morning (11am - 12.30pm) and evening (5pm - 7pm) signings.

I'd love to see you there.

 

the winners are......

Firstly let me say thank you to everyone who entered the draw. The lovely comments are very encouraging and have made the late nights and early mornings all worthwhile. It's been a big learning curve!

The lucky girls are

Christine B (Switzerland),

Patricia Quinnell, and

Felicity (13/04/13)

Please email me with your address and a signed copy will be posted to you, early next week.

One of the stitcheries in the book. I enjoyed stitching the birdie so much I decided to to use it on a bag, needle case and pinwheel.

Friday Girl Prezzies - I'm planning on making another tonight, without the spool, filled with ground walnut shell. Not sure if this will happen as there are bags and a car to pack for the trip to Melbourne. Tomorrow is set up day for the AQC. Jan will be there helping me again.

Come and say hi and check out the new book and other goodies we have on offer.

You'll find us at Stand 191 same spot as last year!

 

Related articles

things I love to make

things I love to make

All weeks are busy but some seem to have more packed into them others. Finalising stock for the AQC and loading it on a pallet coincided with the delivery of my book.

And here it is, finally and not a moment too soon.

As the name suggests, it is a collection of the things I love to make, a scrap quilt, baby quilt, pillow cover with yo-yo trim, red & white table topper, this year's journal cover, redwork sampler, sewing accessories and simple decorative items.

I released my first pattern just over 10 years ago and it feels right to celebrate this anniversary with the release of my first book; something that never crossed my mind all those years ago.

I have three copies to give away. For a chance to win a copy, simply post a comment by Monday 16 April. The three winners will be randomly selected.

If your going to the AQC next week, make sure you drop by Stand 191 and have a look at the book and samples. It will be for sale at the special introductory price of $22, normally $25.

For local girls, don't miss the book launch at Avonleigh Country Quilting on Wednesday 24 April, 11am-12.30pm or 5.00-7.00pm. Please see their blog for more details.

If none of the above suits, you can order a copy of the book here. Please indicate if you would like your copy signed. For this month only, there will be no postage charged on Australian orders and postage on overseas orders will be discounted 50%.

Good luck with the draw!

Related articles

that little red & white quilt

bunny crossing

The deadline for my book, Things I Love to Make was the end of February, then it stretched out another week until I said no more extensions, Monday is the day! It was very hectic here last weekend, given I still had the cover, that's front & back plus inside to do. Yes I can laugh about it now. I don't know if I could have got it done without my dear friend, Bronwyn's suggestions and encouragement. 

I've been so focussed on the book this is the first opportunity to post about my table runner, Bunny Crossing, in the Easter Issue of Homespun.

I know I'm biased and I love making all my projects, but this one was a true pleasure to make. It's made from felt, involves simple felt applique and is entirely hand sewn. I find making projects without the aid of a sewing machine is somehow gentler and more relaxing, perhaps it's the slower pace and a manually worked needle doesn't make a sound. I'd like to make another one for a baby's room, appliqueing flowers in place of the eggs on the tongues. 

You will find kits for the table runner here. Please note I have had to substitute the felt for the bunnies.

 

delicious comes to mind.........

Delicious is a word I usually associate with food, but it's what came to mind when I opened this delivery of fabrics.

I'm not sure where or how but a couple of these pieces must find their way into the Red sampler, I'm still yet to finish.

And maybe I'll make a few more yo-yos..... that's the nice thing about fabric the there are so many options!

yo-yo's & stitching

Towards the end of last year I went a little yo-yo crazy and made lots. I did have a plan but moved onto something else and the yo-yos sat in the bottom of a basket under the next project! They weren't entirely forgotten and will be perfect in the new project I dreamt up.

So with yo-yos in abundance I needed something else to work on at Friday sewing. This stitchery has been drawn for ages and was waiting for the right moment.

I love stitching on hanky linen with the Aurifil Thread.

Now to get them finished, write the instructions and photograph them for the book which is planned for release at the AQC in April.

Guess what I'm doing this weekend!