Link Love: The Difference a Week Makes

Can you feel the spring in my step? The weather is looking up, the home life is getting some normality back to it and I, my friends, have finished my book (well most of it, just have the final editing to go). It’s a glorious time to be alive and I’m enjoying every minute of it. Ticking some big things off my to-do list has even seemed to invigorate my flagging sewjo, which is handy given I have some big projects to kick over before I head off to Houston.

Can you believe it, in just over a month I’ll be in Houston! It boggles my mind. I feel like a kid looking forward to going to school camp – I just wish the boys were coming with me. Oh well, that just means more BBQ for me! I’m still trying to work out what to do on my flight over, should I go prepared with some hand stitching or should I use the time to sleep and just chill out. I don’t want to be lugging a lot of stuff around with me so I’m kind of leaning towards stocking up the iPad with eBooks and maybe trying to sleep the entire flight. I’m sure it’ll be a last minute panic dash to get to the airport and I’ll end up spending 48 hours of travel time wishing I’d been more prepared.

In other news, have you seen the amazing competition being run by the fabulously fabulous Modern Makers Retreat? It’s call Modern Makers Cushion Palooza and you can win some pretty amazing prizes! The competition closes 30 September (in your timezone) and all you have to do is make and share a cushion on Instagram to win. You can find out more and see all the amazing sponsors by clicking here.

Well I can’t sit around here all day surfing the net (well I can, but you know, things to do) so I’m wishing you a most fabulously creative day and if you need me I’ll be at my sewing machine.

PS. I haven’t done it for awhile, but last week I wrote about some of the things that have been happening behind the scenes to make 2016 a little harder than other years. (You can read it by clicking here.) The outpouring of support, encouragement and sharing of others challenges this year has been amazing and I’m truly humbled and blessed to have been on the receiving end of it all. I’m currently working my way around and responding to all the comments, but I wanted to send out a big thank you to all of you for reading, commenting, sharing and just generally being awesome.

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

• Amy Sinbaldi is celebrating the release of her fabulous line, “Playground” by hosting a showcase and asking a lot of very fabulous designers (and one average one) to make things with her beautiful fabrics. Click here to see what Peta at She Quilt’s A Lot has made as part of the showcase.
• I love this tutorial from Mollie Makes for the versatility (imagine personalised gift bags) and because it’s nautical. Click here to get the tutorial.
• I used to make these shrink plastic charms when I was a kid and I’m so excited to see these rainbow and unicorn charms from Make and Tell. Click here to get the tutorial. 
• I really love this post from Lucy at Charm About You on restoring your creativity. Click here to read more.
• I’m crushing on all things cross stitch at the moment and so this pencil cup from The Craft Patch made me happy. Click here to get the tutorial.
• You had me at pom-pom. Loving this tutorial from Design Improvised on how to add pom-pom trim to notebooks. Click here to get the tutorial.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

• If you’re addicted to bag making like I am then you’ll want to check out Elm Street Quilt’s Bag It hosted by the lovely Patty. Things kick off today, so click here to find out more.
• Love all things Fairy Tale and magically, then be sure to check out the Land of Magic Sew-along that Kerry from Kid Giddy will be hosting, you never know you might just find a gnome hiding out in the land of make believe. Click here to find out more.
• Peta at She Quilts A Lot (and she does!) is getting ready to rock your socks off with the Sweet Stars Sew-along. I’m really excited about this sew-along because it’s going to be teaching the basics, and it’s always great to learn more and reconfirm good habits. Click here to find out more.

#100DAYS100BLOCKS SPONSOR INFORMATION

Blocks 31 – 40 of the #100Days100Blocks sew-along are brought to you by the ever fabulous Tales of Cloth.

You can find Tales of Cloth in the following places: Instagram | Website | Facebook

Tales of Cloth sells laser cut English Paper Pieces from 100% recycled card. We provide tutorials and inspiration that re-imagine the old art of hand-stitched quilts, exploring patterns beyond the humble hexagon.

Prize: A rainbow selection of 12 fat quarters from Joel Dewberry’sTrue Colors, 3 packets of EPP shapes that the winner can choose, 2 spools of light coloured Aurifil Thread and 1 packet of Bohin milliners needles.

How to win:

• Post a photo of the block on the day that the block is due (in your timezone) for all 100 blocks,
• Hashtag blocks 31 – 40 with #100days100blocks and #talesofcloth,
• At the time of the draw you must be following @talesofcloth, @gnomeangel, @sweetlittlepretties and @sunflowerquilting on Instagram.

Open: Internationally

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!