Link Love: A New Look
A business is like a swan moving along the surface effortlessly and majestically, but underneath the surface it’s a frantic tangle of moving parts making the motion happen. For the past couple of months I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with a new graphic designer; Shauna from Crafty Like a Fox. I met Shauna a couple of years ago when we both attended the Lizzy House Meadow Class in 2015. I’ve long admired Shauna’s work and then when I wrote my book (Fussy Cutters Club) I used Shauna’s fabric to make one of my favourite projects in the book (it’s the owl cushion). I’ve been waiting for another opportunity to team up with Shauna and when I needed a local graphic designer to help me get some products to market and give my brand a refresh I knew who I was going to ask.
I have had the best time working with Shauna. Shauna took my ideas and ran with them and I’m so thrilled with the end product. My logo has had a revamp and she’s now officially a registered trademark! The newsletter has a fresh new look, just in time to celebrate my 200th edition. My website has had a little touch up as well, and you’ll start seeing things trickle through on my social media. It’s been so much fun to take something that is so personal to me and breath new life into it. I’m the one who normally has to come up with all the ideas and graphics and it’s been such a luxury to be able to hand it over to someone else who loves it as much as I do and see what they’ll do with it. We’ve got lots more planned and I can’t wait to see what 2020 brings as we work through the long to-do list. I hope you enjoy the makeover as much as I do!
Despite all the exciting things that are happening with the business last week was a little touch and go mentally. I just felt so out of alignment with the world. I’m changing and my walk with the Lord is challenging me daily. Last week I was weighed down with so many things as I tried to work through my responsibilities and my behaviour. But, I’ve prayed, talked to those I love and respect and turned to my church family for support and wisdom. The Lord provided and together we’ve worked through the mental game and I’m feeling back to myself. I listened to this sermon from R.C. Sproul called “The Goal of Christian Living” and it helped remind me of what I need to do: persevere. It’s a reminder that we all need at times, regardless of our faith. It’s a reminder that I’ve used to motivate myself out of my warm bed and to head to the pool each day. When you want to quit, that’s the time when you’ve got to double down on what you’re doing.
This week, I’m focusing on one step at a time and trying to enjoy the growing pains. I’m giving thanks for all the blessings I have and trying to share that joy of thankfulness with the world instead of being a cranky little dark cloud stomping through the day. With that in mind I’m going to run off and play with some fabrics and make something pretty. Wishing you a fabulous week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!
A: I love a big bold one block quilt pattern, and this one is fabulous. Click here to read more.
B: Fat Quarter Shop are hosting the Perfect 5 Sampler Sew-along and have invited me to be one of their participating bloggers and I hope you’ll join us. Click here to read more.
C: Loving this staking star one block repeating quilt pattern! Click here to read more.
D: Looking for a trio of cushions to make to add some pop and fun to your life? Click here to read more.
E: This song has really struck home the past week and it’s going to be on heavy rotation this week too. Click here to listen.
F: We’ve been getting back into the habit of meal preparing and these Mexican Salad in a jar are on our rotation. 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:
A: A great bundle for those looking to get a good selection Elizabeth Hartman prints. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
B: A great bundle for a gender neutral quilt. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
C: Low volume for the win. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
D: Loving the colours and prints in this bundle. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
The Colorblock LOVE Sew-along kicked off on Sunday and this week we’re covering fabric selection and fabric preparation. These 2 things are crucial to you finishing a quilt you love. I’ve shared all the details about the sew-along, including links to all the tutorials and a peek behind-the-scenes on my fabric selection and finished quilt top.
Issue 30 marks Make Modern’s FIFTH birthday! In Issue 30, you’ll meet three incredible makers – Lauren Wright from Molly and Mama, Saija Kiiskinen who the Make Modern Team fell in love with on Insta, and Meghan Buchanan from Then Came June; you’ll make rainbow quilts, pinwheels and the prettiest little project pouch; and the Make Modern Team motivate readers to improve their practice with an article on applying Aggregation of Marginal Gains to quilting (intrigued?!), and there’s also the brand new Techniques + Tips column by Alyce Blyth. You’ll discuss the therapeutic benefits of quilting with Make Modern’s feature article, Why is Quilting Good For Us? Issue 30 is jam-packed with patterns suitable for beginner through to advanced quilters, and articles guaranteed to make you smile, teach you something new, and inspire you to try. Make Modern is published independently by a small team of Australian quilters, and at just AU$8 (approx. US$5.50, CA$7, €5 or £4.50), you can’t afford to miss out. Click the button below to purchase or you can purchase via clicking this link.
Don’t forget if you purchase the all access subscription you’ll get Issue 30 included in that for no extra cost!
Happy 5th Birthday Make Modern! To celebrate they’re hosting a fabulous party where you can win prizes simply by making your own version of one the 200+ patterns that are available in past issues. It’s so simple and there’s so much scope for fun that I’m even going to have a crack at playing along. You can find all the details on how to participate by clicking here.
If you want to get started on picking out your pattern to make why not check out Make Modern’s all access subscription. 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!
BONUS: For the month of September all new subscribers get a free Make Modern enamel pin!
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.
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.
Join the Quilt Back Party on Instagram, hosted by Andrea of 3rd Story Workshop! From September 18-22, post photos of your favourite quilt packs using the hashtag #partyinthequiltback and win daily prizes from our awesome event sponsors. Let’s celebrate our quilt back in this online “exhibition”!
HollyAnne of String & Story has launched her Rockstar Free Motion Quilting Academy! HollyAnne will teach you 25+ free motion quilting motifs as well as the fundamentals of machine set up, healthy habits to prolong your quilting life and how to make a quilting plan so you can make the most of your piecing. The course takes the often terrified beginner free motion quilter and transforms them into a confident and adventurous intermediate level quilting in 8 weeks. At the end of the course there’s an online graduation celebration for all the students who complete their portfolios and each newly declared Quilting Rockstar recieves and exclusive graduation pin. Enrolment closes 19 September at 11:59pm EST. To find out more click here.
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