Marg Low Designs

flea market mix

I've been playing with these gorgeous fabrics from the Flea Market Mix range by Cathe Holden.

 

I'm having the most fun with the Floral Trade Cards, making a sachet filled with lavender and a tag to tie on a gift.

 

The Parchment Ephemera Flat Lay Fabric is a close second.

All the prints are divine and the question was, should I use it as a whole piece or fussy cut individual prints and applique or piece them onto????  I opted for a whole piece and worked running stitch and random cross stitches around the prints.

 

The only thinking I did was choosing a thread color to stitch around the prints. It doesn't get much easier than that. When the fabric is as interesting and beautiful as this, minimal embellishment is all that's needed.

 

And what was I making.

A new bag for my scissors.

In hindsight the old one should have been replaced ages ago, but I was emotionally attached to it, remembering why I picked the fabrics and what I was doing when I made it. Perhaps I've just been waiting for the right piece of fabric to come along.

 

 

a little bit about me

The Love and Hugs from Australia designers are taking it in turns to tell you a little about themselves. Yesterday it was my turn and the following was posted on the Love & Hugs from Australia Stitch-a-Long group.  If you've followed my blog since it started, around thirteen years  ago, you quite possibly know most of this!

 

Hi Everyone

Almost twenty years ago I discovered the joy of patchwork starting with cloth dolls, soon followed by stitcheries. Forward to today and here I am part of the Love & Hugs from Australia Stitch-a-Long. Excited when Nat first suggested the idea, followed by uncertainty – what would I design, then pleased to have something positive to focus on.

Your response to the Stitch-a-Long has been amazing. I’ve loved seeing how you interpreted each block, the beautiful stitches, the colours, the techniques and the speed some of you showed in finishing them. Apart from my posts disappearing, I’ve enjoyed every minute and hope you have too.

I’m addicted to the buzz I get anytime I start a new project. My designs are mostly small achievable projects. Little projects made from scraps of fabric, felt, a few stitches, a piece of trim or button. Many of them have been made for gifts, especially the Christmas decorations.

Little also extends to quilts. Yes, I do make big ones, check out Sarah’s Sampler (1855) and Spotlight on the Stars, but my preference is for mini as they allow me to play with different fabric combinations, blocks and layouts, without investing large quantities of time and materials. See my post ‘I had an idea’.

The Postcard Quilt combines all my loves, a mini red and white scrappy quilt combining felt appliqué, stitcheries, fussy cutting, paper and machine piecing. It started as the Postcard Club, five postcard patterns including a project for each postcard. Inspired, I made a start on a red & white set, the goal, to make a quilt before the club finished. That didn’t happen, other projects were designed, made, patterns written; every so often I’d take the blocks out arrange them, study them for a while then pack them away again. Almost twelve months later the blocks came out, I made another and from there it just flowed. Somethings cannot be rushed!

When I look back at my designs, I can see the shifts reflecting where I was in my life. More Christmas in the early years, followed by a red & white period, small quick projects designed for half day classes with lots of the detail I love stripped out and now the freedom to go where ever my creative heart takes me. I’m very excited about this phase!

Stay safe, stay well and do whatever makes you happy!

Follow me on Facebook: Marg Low Designs and/or Instagram: marglowdesigns

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To Shop: www.marglowdesigns.bigcartel.com

I do post overseas, however due to the cancellation of international flights and government restrictions I’ve decided to suspend posting patterns and kits overseas. As soon as Australia Post indicates a return to business as usual, I’ll start again. Let’s hope it won’t be too long.

 

almost spring

It felt like spring was just around the corner last week.

Very chilly in the shade but lovely in the sunshine so I headed out for a walk with my daughter and her dog. I guess the snake that wriggled across the path right in front of us had the same idea. Lucky the dog was on a lead and my shout had Jess pull him back before he stepped on it. It wasn't a big snake and keen to get out of our way, once it sensed us; the same moment we saw it.  It was a timely reminder to watch where the feet were going, and not be caught up with the scenery or discussing what to have for tea! It will be awhile before Jess goes walking with me again.

Love the plum blossom!

Back in stock - Spring Strips

My parcel of Spring Strips were at the Post Office this morning.

I've already used one in the new sample of the Buttons & Blooms Glasses Case.

The spring strips measure 12cm x 1.5cm and cost $5.00 each plus P & H.

You'll find them here - Spring Strips

The Buttons and Blooms pattern, normally $16.00, is on sale for $12.00 plus P & H.

It's available here - Buttons & Blooms.

I will be preparing kits sometime between now and Craft Alive next week if you like the navy & pink.

 

another sort of challenge

The challenge this week was not what Christmas project to make, but to discover how the puppy dog was escaping from his backyard.

He belongs to my daughter, lives next door and is a regular visitor at my place. He loves being around people and was not happy last Friday when he found himself all alone for a day. His escape route was daring and ingenious, clambering through what looked like an impenetrable mass of banksia rose and over the low section of the fence. Once in the front yard it was easy to slide under the fence into my front yard and out to the street. Then it was off to attract the attention of the neighbours two doors up for a play date with his mate, treats, cuddles and a comfy spot to snooze. I only worked it out when he showed me. It's a huge relief to know he is secure in his back yard again!

 

This week I decided to make a little table runner.

 

It's the Checkerboard Star Runner and its the perfect size for the bell tree I found at Bed n Bath.

 

It's not quite finished, it needs a little more quilting.

 

The pattern, Festive Star Runners, normally $10, is on sale for $8.00 until sold out.

The pattern and three fabrics to make the top including the binding is $19.

You'll find them here.

 

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

See you there.

 

a detour from plan

The plan was to finish the Dressy Hangers over the long weekend.  That was until Gabi mentioned in class that October is  Breast Screen Awareness, month and she was decorating a bra to raise money at the Albury clinic. This sounded like such a fun thing to do that I thought about it all afternoon, even while I was watching the AFL Grand Final. (What a great game and yes I could do both.) Decisions had to be made, would I use glue and glitter and beads or stick with a medium I know. Sometimes there are too many ideas and it's tricky focussing on just one and sticking with it. For all the ideas I had, I went with the familiar and stayed within my comfort zone. Yo-Yo's!

 

 

The idea was simple and straight forward, but who knew so many were needed to cover an A-cup! And they're large size too! Small ones on the straps.

 

This afternoon I was back on track and finished the hangers.

It's nice to take a detour and do something a bit different.

some stitching

This my favourite time of the year for stitching in front of the TV - the tennis is on. I can listen to it and stitch away and if I miss something there's always the replay.

 

I saw the frame months ago and just had to have it for the colour!

It's been out on display waiting for me to stitch something to pop inside. Some might think it's a tad strange to have an empty frame displayed, but I needed the visual prompt to make certain it wasn’t forgotten. Some things need to be where I can see them.

 

You've seen this decoration before, but this is the one I made for my daughter's wedding. It was so hectic in the lead up, that I only took the photo the other day. (Yes, I had to borrow it back!)

The Kissing Bird button is designed and hand painted by Barb of Theodora Cleave.

I loved making this special one!

The pattern, Sweet Heart Birdies with the Kissing Bird button can be purchased here. It looks lovely on red too, something nice for Valentines Day.

I used my favourite Aurifil cotton Mako Ne12 threads for both.

 

 

being christmas eve

Being Christmas Eve you'd expect this post to be all about Christmas, but it's not. To be honest I'm still in wedding mode, maybe tomorrow it will feel like Christmas!

As soon as the wedding was announced I knew I'd be making the bride something with this fabric. It's difficult to see bundled like this, but it is left over pieces of fabric from my mum's wedding dress, and has been stored like this for almost 60 years. So it is very very special!

Over the years I have thought about what I'd make with it; when I loved making dolls, it was going to be a doll but lately I'm hooked on making purses with the metal frames.

 

 

The purses.

 

 

 

The pearls belonged to my Nana and the the ribbon was a wedding anniversary gift from my husband many years ago. The bridesmaid purses were made from fabric which belonged to a great Aunt. 

I guess you can tell I hate throwing anything out!

 

The fabrics were too special to cut into without first checking the fit and shape. I used the first fabric to hand, which just happened to be red.

It needed something extra, so this week, I've been cutting out leaves and flowers, arranging and rearranging them until I think I'll go with this.

 

It's not appliqued down and yes, it's going to be tricky to sew them without catching the lining.

You and I both know it would be easier and quicker to start from scratch. 

I feel like I have failed the Christmas Challenge  - no decoration this week, but if I manage to finish this tonight in between, making salads, another batch of salted caramel fudge and wrapping gifts I will call my challenge a success.

 

You may remember I started my yo-yo quilt last year. Not a great deal of progress to report! Lucky the deadline is December 2019. Making the yo-yos is fun, stitching them together not so much. Rather than make all the yo-yos, then sew them together, they're being sewn into blocks as I go. So far I have four blocks - only twenty-one to go!

 

The wedding was perfect, and the bride and groom could not have looked happier.

 

Have a wonderful and safe Christmas.

 

Marg

op shop find

The sun was shining and it felt like spring when I saw this sweet little bag in the op shop last Saturday.

 

How could I resist! 

When I asked how much and was told $4, there was no way I could leave it behind.

 

 

It is in near perfect condition, but I've decided to replace the lining with this spot fabric.

 

Then I'll have some fun deciding where it should go and what to pop inside.

Skellywags Stitchathon

Last Saturday Jan and Shelley organised a Stitchathon at The Joy Bus 10am - Midnight.

Now it's not often I have a day to stitch for myself and didn't want to waste the opportunity. I decided it was time to replace my old heat bag with a new one. It didn't take too long to choose the fabrics.  The plan was to have the hexagons pieced and sewn down, finish it at home and snuggle up with it that night. I was sidetracked by lovely company, yummy food and the need to make something else with these fabrics.

 

 

My favourite thing right now is the rosette with the birdie in the middle. Yes I've made two exactly the same - one for the heat bag and another for this drawstring bag.

 

 

 Now the big decision is what to pop in the bag because it has to be used and enjoyed!

The pattern for the heat bag, Something for You is available here.