Do you love a good secret? Then I’ve got something to share!

I’ve talked about it before here, but I’ll say it again – I suck at keeping secrets. It’s like dancing whenever I hear Jackson 5’s “ABC” come on, it’s involuntary. My body is not built for keeping the joy in. But, I’m having to learn to curb my enthusiasm and keep some things on the down low these days. One of the things I’ve been sitting on for the past few months is an amazing opportunity given to me by Love Patchwork & Quilting.

A few months ago I was talking with Alice from Love Patchwork & Quilting about my Liquorice Allsorts quilt and she made me a mindblowingly awesome offer; join the Love Patchwork & Quilting Team and write a monthly column. I paused for all of two seconds before responding with a huge “hell yes!” which I’m sure they heard all the way over there in London from here in Canberra.

I wrote my first column (about the lessons I learned when I made my 100’s & 1000’s Swoon Quilt) sent it off and then really impatiently waited for it to be published. Longest few months ever!

But the day has finally arrived and my first ever column has been published and I’m so excited that I can now share it with you all. I really hope you love it and get some tips and tricks from it as well as encouragement to get out there and give things a go. (You can find out about how to purchase the magazine by clicking here.)

It’s not the only secret I’m sitting on at the moment, and because I can’t help myself I’m going to give you a little hint about what it is…. just click here to find out more. This secret is really close to being revealed, so be sure to check back in next week and find out more details. 

The submission day for quilts to the Canberra Quilters Exhibition was on Saturday and despite my best procrastinating efforts I managed to submit the two quilts I’d planned on putting in. In a totally crazy leave it to the last minute kind of adventure I only finished piecing, quilted, hand bound and delivered my Tiny Treasure (no side of the quilt is greater than 35cm) quilt on the day of delivery. It was a bit touch and go there for awhile but I’m so thrilled with how it came out and I’m really happy to have it in the show.

I also lost my mind and went with a walk up Tuggeranong Hill early Sunday morning with my lovely (and patient) friend Kate. I, hand on heart, thought I was going to die while walking up there. It was freezing cold and my lungs were struggling to deal with the ice cold air. I had to stop more times than I’m comfortable admitting and I’m so glad Kate (who was walking up it like she was walking through an aisle at Woolworths) was happy to wait and not make fun of me. On the way up I was questioning my sanity, but coming down I totally thought I could do it again (and would want to do it again). The views across Canberra were amazing and it was so lovely to see the sun rise – I kinda understand now why people bush walk.

My 30 Day Challenge is still happening and it’s not too late to sign up and start your own 30 Day Challenge to making a change. It’s been fun knowing that there’s others going on this self improvement adventure with me. (Click here to find out more.) But, if I’m going to get anything achieved today I’d best get off the computer and start.

Wishing you an amazing day!

PS. If you missed last Monday’s fun things to click on because I slept in and missed the email deadline you can see them by clicking here.

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

• If you love your e-reader, why not make it a new cover? Click here for a tutorial on how to make a kindle cover.
• Loving this free printable from Jeni of In Color Order that reminds us to take it one day at a time. Click here to get your copy.
• If you’re looking for a Christmas Quilt Sew-along, Jennifer from Ellison Lane is hosting one in September. Click here to get the details.
• Looking for a easy and practical gift to make, then click here for a divided basket tutorial from Clover & Violet.
• If you love English Paper Piecing (EPP) and you’d like to make your own EPP patterns then click here for a great tutorial on how to do just that.
• For those of you craving something a little naughty but nice, click here for a recipe on how to make stuffed chicken nuggets.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

• If you, like me, love to Fussy Cut and you live in Canberra be sure to check out Fussy Cutting Fridays at Hobby Sew Belconnen. The first meeting kicks off on Friday 7 August and it’s $3 a head (covers light refreshments) and there’s no need to book. Bring your projects and hand stitching supplies. Who knows, you might even find a gnome there!
• 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.
• Looking for a good cause to support, Caroline (of Nightingale Quilts) is in need of help to raise some money to build a bat enclosure to help rehabilitate bats. Now, I’m not a fan of bats in the sense that movies always make it look horrible to get caught in a bat swarm, but I am a fan of keeping our environment in tip top condition and bats are important so I’m all for helping to heal them and return them to doing what bats do. Click here to find out more and donate the cost of a coffee.

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 LOCAL EVENTS:

• The Canberra Quilt and Craft Fair is on from 6th – 9th August and you can find out more about it and buy tickets by clicking here. Disclosure: Expertise Events provided me with a press pass to attend the Sydney Quilt & Craft Fair in exchange for promoting the Canberra Event.

SPONSOR MESSAGES

• Entries are open in the 15th Annual Brother International Quilt Contest. You can 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.