Do you have a good chicken soup recipe?

Why is it that when you’ve got a million things to do you get sick? I’ve come down with some cold thing that’s got my head congested and my brain in a fog. It’s the worse timing ever and I’m busily taking cold and flu tablets while drinking vitamin C laden juices in an attempt to get my body back to normal. I guess it was only a matter of time before I got sick given the amount of illness we’ve had in this house since April, but seriously, it still sucks.

I’ve been chipping away at my long list of things to do to get the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-along happening next month. I cannot believe how well it’s been received and how excited everyone is about sewing-along with myself and the fabulous bloggers that have come on board. It’s been so hard not to post any of the blocks or tutorials early, but I know that come September 28 we’ll all be grateful for the time to prepare and clear our plates of work before we start on this year long project!

Yesterday I started my annual “spring clean” (it’s where I randomly get up the motivation to tackle things that have been annoying me all year but I’ve been too lazy to do anything about it) and I cleaned out our linen cupboard to make room for the ever expanding collection of quilts that I’ve been storing on my desk. It gave me a great opportunity to go through the quilts and reminisce about how far I’ve come and all the fun (and not-so-fun) times I’ve had making these quilts. I can’t wait for the day when I need an entire linen cupboard to store all my quilts in.

I’ve been working on a special project behind-the-scenes lately as well that I’m going to share images of shortly. It’s made me reflect on just how powerful giving a quilt can be in someone’s life and how often we as makers take for granted the power we wield when we create. There’s beauty and magic in making something for someone and we often undervalue that and I think that’s so sad. We all have a finite amount of time on this Earth and to spend that precious resource creating is one of our many gifts in life and then to give that creation to someone else is just so amazingly special. Never underestimate the power in your hands and use that power to spread love, compassion and kindness.

And on that soppy note I’m going to head back to the sewing room and get cracking on with my to-do list. Have a most wonderful day!

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

• If you’re like me and carry your camera around in your handbag, then click here for a great tutorial on a camera zipper pouch to keep it safe.
• Loving this post from Travel and Beyond about Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Click here to see some of the countryside around where I live.
• I love this free quilt pattern for it’s graphic impact and because it works so well with either solids or print (or both!). Click here to get the tutorial and pattern.
• I’m always looking for fun projects that the Little Man and I can do together and this marbled clay ring dish tutorial from A Beautiful Mess is just perfect. Click here to get the details.
• Loving this free quilt pattern that uses Liberty prints to big effect. Click here to get it.
• If you’ve ever wondered about the power of a quilt to heal and take the bad and make something good come out of it then click here to read a beautiful post that gives hope for the future.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

• I’ve been a long time fan of Kathryn from The Smallest Tribe and it is such a thrill to be able to share with you all that she’s on Kickstarter looking for funding to take her business to the next level. Kathryn makes ethically sustainable kidswear that’s super funky and rad. (We have a number of her shirts in the little man’s wardrobe rotation!) You can find out more and donate to her Kickstarter campaign by clicking here.
• Rachel (of Stitched in Color) and her beautiful daughter, Eleni, have a long road ahead filled with many trials. Eleni was born with cerebral palsy and needs early intervention treatments to try and give her a quality of life most of us take for granted. If you can spare a small amount to donate to this life changing cause please click here, every dollar you can contribute will change one families life.

Want something included on the Community Cork Board, then why not drop me an email and if it’s applicable to the GnomeAngel community I’ll share it. It can be anything from a local fate, a charity raffle, a class you’re teaching, a pattern you’ve released, a sew-a-long you’re involved in to a community event that’s happening. Be sure to send me as much detail as you can and links to any applicable websites.  Click here to email me.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• If you would like to see my work up close and personal and hear a little bit more about my journey so far as a quilter then why not come to Hobbysew Belconnen on Friday 28th August at 6pm and meet me (and fondle some of my quilts!). It’s free to attend however you will need to register your interest by calling (02) 6253 0011. A light supper will be provided.

SPONSOR MESSAGES

• If you’d like to win a $25 voucher to Fat Quarter Shop to help with some supplies for the Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt Sew-along then click here and enter at the bottom of the page. Entries close in 2 days!
• Entries are open in the 15th Annual Brother International Quilt Contest. You could win $2,400 worth of Brother quilting products and have your quilt displayed at the Tokyo International Quilt Festival in 2016. To find out more click here.