Link Love: Cake, Apples and Butterflies

Ok, I have to confess I’m having a little bit of a panic attack today. There’s less than 10 days to go until we kick off #100Days100Blocks and I still haven’t decided what fabrics I’m going to use. Not only that but the Marti Michell Mini Quilt Blog Hop kicks off on Friday and I need to finalise my quilt design. Looks like it’s going to be a big week of fabric fondling and last minute freaking out. Lucky I seem to work best under pressure! (Although, really, I’ve never given myself the opportunity to find out if I work best any other way!) This weekend is also the Annual Canberra Quilters Exhibition (find out more and purchase tickets by clicking here) and I’m going to be working there on Thursday (come and say hello! I’ll be working the main door between Midday and 2pm!). I can’t wait. Last year we were all down with the flu and couldn’t make it so I’ve got two years of quilt admiring and browsing the retailers to make up for!

As always I’ve been busy in the background working on things and I can finally share something rather exciting with you… If you’ve ever wondered what I sound like or what lead me to blogging and how I approach blogging you can hear me on Aussie Bloggers Podcast.  It was such a thrill to be asked to be on the show and it’s such a great platform for sharing information about how to be a better blogger and especially to be on a show focused on Australians. Although, I have to confess to having that moment of “do I really sound like that” while listening to the show today. (I just consoled myself with the fact that I was suffering from a hideous chest and sinus infection at the time and that’s what makes me sound like I’m 15 years old.)

I’ve also been sewing up a storm and having some fun with solids. I made a cute little butterfly mini this week using a couple of the Butterfly Charm Blocks patterns made by Nicole at Lillyella (click here to get the free pattern). It was fun to play with the background instead of focusing on the “real” pattern.  I really loved how they turned out, despite the colour placement not being 100%.  I’m looking forward to playing some more with solids over the coming weeks.

All-in-all it’s going to be a big week and I’m loving how the end of the year is starting to get some real momentum to it. Everyone seems to be getting a bit of a spring in their step and being a little more creative at the moment. I wonder if it’s the change of season? Whatever it is, it’s great! I hope you have a fabulously creative day!

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

• I love cake and I love, love, love geometric quilts so when I saw this post on Cake wrecks my heart (and stomach) did a little flip of joy. Click here to see more.
• I stopped to read this blog post by Sel at Mad Quilters Disease, which lead to this blog post by Rachel at Stitched in Color and then this post by Generation Q Magazine.  All good food for thought while fondling the fabric.
• I’m in love with this crosscut quilt by Marci (@marci_girl) and if you’d like to make your own you can get the free tutorial from Debbie at A Quilters Table. Click here for the tutorial.
• I finally read a book (which is a luxury I haven’t had in a long while!) this week; The Watchmaker’s Daughter by C.J.Archer. (Click here to purchase). I really enjoyed it and it was a super quick read. It’s got a little bit of magic in it and it’s set in 1800 London. Check it out and let me know if you read it!
• I’m a little bit obsessed with apples at the moment (no, I’m not pregnant (that’s a Gilmore Girl’s reference for those wondering)) and I love these zippered pouches from Snugglebug University for Make It & Love it. Click here for the tutorial.
• This made me chuckle and reminded me of my Nan all in one. Loving this peg catcher (or is it a clothespin bag?) from The Polka Dot Chair. Click here for the tutorial.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

• Looking for a swap with a difference then check out #cfcblockswap which is being run by Alison from Cotton Factory in Ballarat. Unlike other swaps where you have to curate your fabric with this swap you purchase the swap package from Cotton Factory which includes fabric, pattern and a return envelope. So easy even I could do it! Click here to find out more.
•  If you love English Paper Piecing and you’re keen to try some new shapes and possibly win a whole stack of amazing fabrics, then head on over to Tales of Cloth and read this post. Click here for details.
• Have you heard about the Modern Makers Retreat? Three quilty friends had an idea of a fantasy weekend away – where they could sew all day (and night!), gossip and eat delicious food with like minded makers. Follow them on Instagram as they celebrate modern design. Find out more by clicking here.
• The Berry Quilting Retreat is happening on 27 & 28 August 2016 and the line up looks amazing. Jen Kingwell will be teaching there and for her wisdom only it’s worth attending. You can find out more by clicking here.

SPONSOR MESSAGES

• If you’re like me and you like to dabble in more than just sewing and quilting creative work then check out these free downloadable papers from Sizzix. Great to use in any graphics work you might be doing (like blog banners)! Click here to get your free papers.
• Fat Quarter Shop have released their new monthly subscription service: Sew Sampler. It looks amazing and I love that unlike other subscriptions this one comes with all the information you need to make a quilt. Each month contains a quilt block recipe card that you can use to make a full 12 block quilt. Genius! You can find out more by clicking here.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase those items through my links I will earn a very small commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link, in fact in some cases I can offer you a better price via an affiliate link. I will not recommend something that I do not use myself. These commissions help me keep being able to provide you with great content for free. Thank you, in advance for your support!