Link Love: Close to Home
One week of school holidays left and then we’ll be back into the familiar routine of school/work/family fun. It’s been a rocky start to the year with the continuing bushfire crisis, the new virus concern in China and a big ticket family item that needs dealing with. I’ll confess that I’m starting to feel “emergency fatigue”. I’m so tired of looking at news sites and trying to forward plan what impact it might have on our family. Yesterday during our morning Church service we read Psalm 112:7 – “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.” This has become my new focus verse.
It’s hard to trust. Regardless of what your world view or religion is, trust is a hard thing to do. Especially if you’re like me and are a control enthusiast. I know that what’s happening in the world is nothing new. There’s been bushfires before, and they’ll happen again. Same with the virus. Families all over the world are going through what we’re going through. Media makes it so easy for us to fall into the trap of “the sky is falling” and blowing things way out of proportion. A quick look at the comments on any news outlet post of Facebook will show you that!
Before we had our son I was a lot more laid back about things. But now that there’s another person to be responsible for I feel the pressure oh so much more. I think back to when our family would go through something out-of-our-control and my parents seemed so cool, calm and like they had all the answers. (I still turn to my parents for calm and wise counsel in my life!) I don’t know if I’ll be that parent for our son. I feel like I wear my heart of my sleeve so much more these days. So, my mission for this week is to lean in and trust in the Lord.
I hope that if you’re going through something difficult this week that you find something you can cling to and trust in during your time of need. In the meantime, life goes on despite my desire to run and hide under the covers so I’m off to try and find my sewjo which seems to have gone missing! Wishing you a fabulous week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!
Did you know that you can get access to exclusive news, information, shopping deals and more by being subscribed to Gnome Gnews, my weekly eNewsletter? You can also win – just by being a susbscriber!
I’m running a monthly giveaway where a lucky Gnome Gnews subscriber will win an exclusive prize. You don’t have to do anything to enter, you just have to stay subscribed to the newsletter – it’s that simple!
At the end of each month I’ll pick a winner and announce it in the newsletter. Prizes will vary and will not be available via any other platform. It’s all to say a big THANK YOU to you for being part of this amazing community of creatives.
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On 1 February 2020 I’ll be kicking off the FMM 9 Patch Parade. Each month we’ll be making a project based on a Marti Michell 9 Patch Pattern (as shown above). The 9 Patch block is super simple, as long as you’re working in a measurement divisible by 3. If you want to make them in any other size you’ll need to work in metric! *wink* Well not any more! With the 9 Patch Rulers from Marti Michell you can now make 9 patch blocks in 7 sizes (2″, 3″, 4″, 4.5″, 5″, 6″ and 8″) all without having to do the math. You can use the rulers to strip piece or fussy cut your blocks. It’s genius! I can’t wait to share with you the projects I’ve been making with these rulers and spend 2020 helping you to sew some super awesome projects! Click here to read all about the event, or click here to purchase the rulers.
A: I love this version of the Sunshowers quilt by Jess. You can buy the pattern and participate in the sew-along if you want to make your own. Click here to read more.
B: Love this pattern from Pen and Paper Patterns and there’s a sew-along happen for it as well. Click here to read more.
C: Looking for an Aussie animal to turn into a mini quilt, cushion or tote bag? How about an emu? Click here to read more.
D: I really love this smart play on simple patchwork to make a heart. Click here to read more.
E: I was really struggling with this teaching and this article helped me get it straight in my head. Click here to read more.
F: Hello yumminess! I’m adding this to the must try list. Click here to read more.
I love to share the cool things that I find during my week of surfing the internet window-shopping and splurging. Here’s my top 4 from this week:
All of these bundles are available from Polka Dot Tea Fabrics which is run by Jeannette and is located in NSW in an area that has been impacted by fires. If you purchase a bundle you’re directly helping support someone who lives in NSW and supports their local community which has been impacted by the fires.
A: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
B: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
C: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
D: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
Sign up’s for the Smash that Stash Block Swap are open now and you can find out all about it in the latest issue of Make Modern #32. If you’ve got your copy of the issue and you’d like to sign up you can click here to get the process started. The first block for the year long swap is “Irish Pinwheels”. You’ll get the instructions for making a block each issue in two sizes: 10″ x 10″ and 20″ x 20″. You can either made the quilt yourself or make blocks and swap them with people the world over to make a completely unique quilt.
The best way to participate is to grab yourself the All Access Subscription. You’ll not only get all the details on how to participate in this event, you’ll also get access to hundreds of quilt and project patterns. It’s such great value for money!
The All Access Subscription is for serious creatives – it gives you one simple link to download every single back issue of Make Modern PLUS new issues as they are published. Download issues as many times as you like while your subscription is active, then read on your tablet, smartphone, or computer, and print as required.
You’ll receive:
- 200+ modern quilt patterns,
- 40+ mini quilt patterns,
- 30+ cushions,
- 50+ other patterns including pincushions, placemats, table runners, bags, pouches, wallets, camera straps, coasters, luggage tags, doll quilts, machine covers, journal covers, baskets, Christmas stockings, needle books, and even a foldable waterproof picnic blanket!
You get all of this for just AUD$99* for the first year, then $40 each year thereafter (the same price as the annual subscription). That’s all those patterns for less than AUD$0.20 per pattern! (Even less if you’re in the US because of the exchange rate!) CLICK THE BUTTON TO PURCHASE!
If the button doesn’t work you can access the link to purchase by clicking here.
A note for current subscribers: If you already have an active subscription but would like to upgrade to our All Access Subscription, purchase a new subscription from this page, then email Lara to request a refund for the remaining balance of your original subscription.
The latest issue of Make Modern is available now and it’s jam packed full of amazing projects, fabulous competitions, sage advice and a little bit of cats on quilts action. To check out what’s included click the image below and you’ll see a wonderful video of the contents of the latest issue.
Have you got an event, a charity drive, a pattern release, a class schedule or something else that you think my community would be interested in hearing about? Why not drop me a line and let me know – I’d love to share it with my readers. Click here to email me.
It’s the final days of trade for Two Blue Birdies – after 8 years, Sonya & Alex at Two Blue Birdies have decided to close. 2020 brings new and exciting challenges for both of them, Sonya will still be in the craft world, focussing on her sewing hardware brand – SOHMO. All stock at twobluebirdies.com.au has been marked down – pop over and pick up a bargain before the doors close. Sonya & Alex would like to thank all of their wonderful customers for their support over the years.
For those of you that are sewing along the tutorials you’ll need for this month are listed below, simply click the link to access the tutorial you’re wanting.
The Farmer’s Wife 1920’s Sampler Quilt:
- January 1 – Attic Windows
- January 1 – Autumn Tints
- January 3 – Basket
- January 4 – Basket Weave
- January 6 -Bat Wing
- January 6 – Big Dipper
- January 8 – Birds in the Air
- January 11 – Bouquet
- January 15 – Box
- January 18 – Bowtie
- January 22 – Broken Dishes
- January 25 – Broken Sugar Bowl
- January 29 – Buckwheat
The Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt:
- January 13 – Addie
- January 17 – Aimee
- January 20 – Alice
- January 24 – Ann
- January 27 – Anne
- January 31 – April
If you would like to know more about this event click the button below. The event information includes a 2020 calendar with a block sewing schedule for you to keep to throughout the year.
This newsletter may contain 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 commission help me to be able to keep providing you with great content. Thank you, in advance for your support! For more information about my sponsorship and advertising policy please click here.
