Link Love: Thoughts of Time, another strawberry quilt and some fun links

A highlight reel of what's going on in my life and a collection of useful links and information for the creatives amongst us - Angie Wilson at www.gnomeangel.com

Half way through January and I feel like the year is starting to get a momentum of it’s own, it’s crazy. I’ve been sewing so much in the past week and I still have so much more to do. I have a million ideas crashing around in my head and I don’t have any time to implement them properly. I hate this feeling and so I’m looking at ways to work at outsourcing some of the things that I do that can be easily done by someone else.  I’m not very good at handing over control, so it’ll be interesting to see how it all goes.

I’ve been posting more and more to Instagram in the past weeks, sharing all the thing that I have going on, and without-a-doubt someone always makes a comment “I don’t know how you do it all”. There’s no secret to how I do it all… I don’t. I actively choose how to spend my time. I can’t sit still and do nothing any more. If I watch television I’m usually either stitching, or working and I now don’t watch so much as listen. We don’t have a heavily active social life. We make time to see people, but it’s about once a month. I do my best work between 4am – 7am while the rest of the house is asleep and I’m usually in bed by 8:30pm. I work through lunch and my son goes to Kindy three days a week. I squeeze chores in between everything else and I have a Husband that believes in actively being involved in his son’s life and the household management.

There’s no magic formula, it’s just prioritisation. I haven’t always been this way. Ask my folks, I used to watch a LOT of television and movies and read books as a kid. I was like that when I met my Husband, it was something we did together. But when I found out what I wanted to do with my life I became focused on using those hours in the day to make the most of my time. I try to have a balance between work and family, but I suck at it. I get lucky because a lot of what I do can be done in the same space as those I love. But I make sure these days to make time for my family because as much as I love what I do, I love them more.

We all get the same amount of hours in a day, it’s just what we choose to do with them that sets us apart. The other thing to remember, they’re your hours. You choose what’s worth your time. Don’t let someone else’s choices influence yours, unless that’s what you truly want to do. Be honest with yourself and choose to suit you. You don’t need to keep up with anyone else, it’s your race and it’s a solo one. This is something I remind myself at times when I look at what others are sharing with the world and wonder why I can’t do the same. That’s their race, and this is mine. I am choosing for me and my family.

Right now, I’m choosing to stay in my pj’s all day, do some baking with my little man and maybe doing some cross stitch while he plays. Wishing you a most fabulous day!

PS. I love a good email newsletter and Michelle Bartholomew has one of the best I’ve read. She sends it out once a month and it’s jammed packed full of great links, interesting interviews and fabulous things to make and do. I’m in January’s newsletter and you can read my interview by clicking here. If you like what you see you can sign up to Michelle’s email newsletter by clicking here.

I really like to start the year with intent and this blog post and free printable from A Pair & A Spare on how to choose a word and use it to define your year is great. Get all the details by clicking here.

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I’m thinking this year will be the year to make my own textiles and this print your own apple table runner tutorial from Design Sponge looks like a lot of fun. Get all the details by clicking here.

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I adore Kate Basti and she’s released such a cute (free) pattern for making your own book quilt blocks. This block is by Elizabeth at Don’t Call Me Betsy and it’s perfection. Get the pattern by clicking here.

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Elizabeth at Simple Simon & Company has a great tutorial on how to make this heart baby quilt. It’s so quick and easy – perfect for when you leave it to the last minute! Get all the details by clicking here.

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I fell in love with this pixel strawberry quilt by Amanda Herring at Quilt Market and I was thrilled to see Amanda’s giving the pattern away block by block on Instagram. Get all the details by clicking here.

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I’m back cross stitching in my “spare” time and I’m desperate to finish a few WIPs so that I can get this years Block of the Month Sampler from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery. Have you see it? It’s fabulous! Get all the details by clicking here.

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.

  • Lorna from Sew Fresh Quilts is hosting “Have a Jolly Little Christmas” quilt-along which begins January 14th. The quilt-along will provide instructions for 12″ quilt blocks made using traditional piecing methods. There are 15 blocks to choose from and multiple layout options for mixing and matching the blocks are provided. Click here for more details.
  • Jen from Faith and Fabric has this great stacking basket tutorial available that’s perfect for those looking for some customised storage solutions or gifts. Click here for details.
  • Fat Quarter Shop are launching their 2017 Designer Mystery Block of the Month. It’s a big one this year as it will mark the tenth year of this special event. You can find out more about it by clicking here.
  • Michelle from Cole and Taffy has 12 great tips on hosting a fabric destash on Instagram. Click here to read more.

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!