Link Love: Bold Steps

I worked it out the other day, I’ve been sewing now for 7 years (roughly). It feels like only yesterday that I started my first project. I still remember the thrill of picking out fabrics and from seeing something finished. There’s a rush that comes from having a completed project in your hands. I’ve needed that rush the past fortnight. HUBBY was laid off from his job a week ago and it’s thrown everything up in the air. It’s not a great feeling to have your spouse come home with that news, but we’re lucky to have savings, a good support network and the ability to look for work. It has meant however that the surgery I’ve been so looking forward too (can you look forward to surgery???) is now looking like it’s going to have to be postponed to later in the year.

I can’t justify spending the money on the surgery and being out of commission for 3 months while our financial situation is uncertain. It’s a bummer, but there’s worse things that could happen in life (as the nightly news keeps reminding me). I’m just grateful that we have a roof over our heads, food on the table, fresh water in our taps and the ability to make money as we need it. I’ve also been grateful for the reprieve that sewing has giving me this week.

Since I started sewing those 7 years ago numerous people have asked me if they could either buy something I had made or if I made stuff for sale. I’ve always said no because I’ve sewn for pleasure and I like the feeling of giving gifts to people of the things I’ve made. I’ve also always been really scared about putting myself out there and charging money for the things I’ve made. Not because I don’t believe that I’m worth it, but because I fear making something for someone and them not being happy with it. However, if I’ve been taught one thing in the past 6 months it’s that my imagination is often times a lot worse than reality. So I’m taking my own advice and I’m taking a leap.

I’ve put all my nervous energy to good use and I’ve sewn up a bespoke, limited edition, group of Weebrawbags (pattern by Laura Zuckerkuss can be purchased by clicking here) which I’ll be offering for sale. I’m apprehensive about it, but I think it’s a good experience and it’s putting to use some of the much hoarded fabrics I’ve got on hand. You can check out what I’ve made and purchase them by clicking here. (Price includes shipping and international options are available.)

Now that I’ve taken that massive leap of faith for the day I think it might be time to go annoy HUBBY while he job hunts. Wishing you a week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!

Looking to get a bit more organised with your fabric stash, then check out these free printable fabric swatch cards from Coriander Quilts. Click here to read more.

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She Can Sew has this baby heart log cabin free quilt pattern available for those looking for a great scrap busting project. Click here to read more.

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For those of us doing a lot of hand stitching on the couch (can you say EPP for Farmer’s Wife Sew-along) this tool caddy thread catcher tutorial from We All Sew is just the ticket. Click here to read more.

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Kirsty at Bonjour Quilts has a new quilt block tutorial, Adori, and it’s a cracker. Click here to read more.

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The Little Man loves strawberries and this collection of Strawberry Pie recipes on Skip to My Lou looks to be just what I need to add some variety into his life. Click here to read more.

The Farmer’s Wife Sampler Quilt Sew-along is coming! This is the first book (brown cover) by Laurie Aaron Hird and it started the worldwide craze that was the Farmer’s Wife Quilt. There’s 111 blocks in this book and we’ll be making them all. I’ve partnered with Paper Pieces to bring you an exciting new way to construct the blocks using English Paper Piecing. (Don’t worry, you can use whatever method you like to make them if you want to sew-along with us and be eligible to win prizes!). Event kicks off Friday August 24 and you can find out more about it by clicking here.

I love seeing the quilts and projects that are made during my sew-alongs or from my book and I’ve decided I’m going to start sharing them with you all so that you can see the amazing work being done within this fabulous creative community. If you’d like to have your work shared please reply to this email with 1 photo of your work made during one of my events, from one of my patterns or from my book. Make sure the image is well lit and clearly shows your work so people can truly appreciate your handy work. Include the details of what you’ve made and it could end up on my blog and in one of my newsletters. If you have any questions, reply to this email and we’ll get it sorted together.

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.

Margaret Eagles has written two books for quilters. The first one ” Made with love. The story of your quilt” replaces a card when giving a quilt as a gift. The maker personalities the book with fabric and photos of the making of the quilt. The second book is a children’s book “My Grandma makes patchwork quilts”. It tells the story of a bond between a Grandmother and her grandchild and their shared love of fabric and play. To find out more (and purchase) click here.
Andrea, from 3rd Story Workshop, has collaborated with award-winning singer-songwriter Meaghan Smith to launch the Our Song, Your Reflection project. Andrea has created a quilt design and Meaghan has created a song that speaks about the importance of community and the human connections that we make. The project is structured as an IndieGoGo campaign so that people can preorder the pattern and/or fabric kit, get limited-edition project swag, and other fun perks. But most importantly, the campaign gives people the opportunity to submit a photo of one of their quilts or of their quilting community to be included in the final music video. You can find out more about it by clicking here.
Sam Hunter of Hunter’s Design Studio has released a collaborative quilt with Lisa Congdon called “Show Up”. It’s a really great quilt (with lots of fussy cutting possibilities) and is available for purchase by clicking here. Sign up to Sam’s newsletter as well so you can find out all the details about an upcoming sew-along to make the quilt.
Stephanie of Modern Sewciety and Natalie of Sew Hungry Hippie have teamed up for a Dress-A-Long. June is the Metamorphic dress by Sew Liberated. July is the Painted Portrait Dress by Anna Maria Horner. It looks to be a great event where you can learn new skills, make clothes you love and have a great time while doing it. To find out more click 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!