Link Love: A Great Mix of DIY Projects

Last week I shared some big news and I just wanted to thank all of you who wrote or left comments about the change to the Farmer’s Wife schedule. I was so nervous about telling everyone we were slowing down, but it was received with such an overwhelmingly positive response that my worries just drifted away. Turns out I’m not the only one that’s feeling overwhelmed and that my Farmer’s Wife experience was suffering because of the pressure to complete the blocks. As much as I wanted to get the project completed within a year, I think the new timeframe will make it so much nicer for those that are sewing along.

The new timetable has allowed me to balance my workload a little better and remove some of the pressure that I felt was suffocating me. It also meant that when I took off to Melbourne for the day on Friday to check out the sneak peak of Spotlight’s National Craft Month (which is launching in April) I didn’t feel as guilty as I would have. I had a fabulous time (despite the weather delaying my flights in and out of Melbourne) and it was so great to catch up with other bloggers and creatives. I’m really excited about the products and events that Spotlight will be highlight and celebrating all through April and I’m especially keen to check out the Fabric Fiesta that’s happening in all stores on Saturday 2nd April. You could win a trip to Paris! PARIS! (You can find out more by clicking here.)

While I was at the event I got to play with some products from Wilton and I was so inspired by them I came home and rushed off to Spotlight and bought up big on all the supplies I’d need to take my cupcake decorating to a new level! The Little Man and I spent the weekend baking and decorating. I’ll be sharing our Easter inspired cupcake creations later this week so you can make your own Easter Cupcakes. (They’re super easy and you don’t need to have any previous cupcake decorating experience!)

I feel like all I’ve done this weekend is bake, make a mess in the kitchen and sleep. It’s been fabulous! I’m totally not prepared to head back into the office this week. Last week I walked from the office to Kindy, picked up the Little Man on the way home and we both walked the rest of the way home. It’s a decent walk (but not crazy) and I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed doing it. It’s so much easier now that the weather is moving out of summer and into winter. I’m sure that it’s going to get crazy cold soon and I’ll be rethinking my outdoor activities, but for now I’m enjoying being out from behind a desk.

In between the baking I’ve been binge watching Gilmore Girls. I missed it when it first screened so it’s great to have something that’s not all sex, drugs and rock’n’roll to watch and enjoy. I do declare I’m getting more prudish as I get older and finding less and less in popular culture that I enjoy and want to invest my time in. I’m looking for the four episode return of Gilmore Girls and I’m hoping to have all the of the seasons completed by the time it starts. (Big call as there’s 7 seasons and I’m only just starting season 3 and I have no idea when Season 8 will start!) I’m watching them while sewing which is having the added bonus of keeping me motivated to keep sewing!

Ok, best get on and get started with my day. I hope you’re having a fabulous day!

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

Loving these 9 Steps to a Happy Cutting Table from Heidi at Fabric Mutt. Click here to read them.
Love this charming plus quilt tutorial from Tisha (of Quilt Therapy) shared on Sew Mama Sew. Click here to get the tutorial.
There’s still time to whip up some Easter ready home decor and these Wonderland Coasters from See Kate Sew are great. Click here to get the tutorial.
Looking for a gift for the cat lovers in my life and came across this great tutorial from Minted Strawberry for a great DIY t-shirt. Click here to get the tutorial.
While this tutorial was written for Valentine’s it’s a wall hanging that works all year round. Click here to get the tutorial.
I’m going through that awkward stage of growing out a short haircut and I need these headbands to hold it all back! Click here to get the tutorial.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

I met Alyce from Kit and Clowder at Spotlight’s National Craft Month Event in Melbourne last week and she is amazing! She teaches online colouring in classes for those looking to take their skills from just staying in the lines to making works of art. Check out her work and find out more about the classes by clicking here.
The Maldon Combined Quilters in the historic National Trust classified town of Maldon, Victoria, are holding their biannual Quilt Show on 26 & 27 March, 2016 as part of the Maldon Easter Fair. They’re expecting it to be a bumper show with a diverse range of 50+ quilts, including designs such as Mrs Billings, Briar Hill, some beautiful Di Ford patterns, and other hand and machine pieced traditional, reproduction and contemporary works. Click here to find out more.
Canberra Quilters Inc. are celebrating their 40th Anniversary in 2016 and to mark the occasion they’re holding a “Celebrate 40 Challenge”. It’s open to Australian and New Zealand Residents, with 40 quilts (quilts must be 40cm x 100cm) being selected to hang at the 2016 Annual Member’s Exhibition. (You don’t have to be a member to enter!) It’s a great challenge and you can find out more or enter by clicking here.

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. I do not have any affiliation with the information provide, it is done so as a community service only. Click here to email me.

SPONSOR MESSAGES

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.
Fat Quarter Shop Crossroads Quilt-along to benefit the March of Dimes has started. You can find the free patterns by clicking here. I’m going to be an official blogger for it and so I’ll be sharing my version of the quilt (which I adore) 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!