Link Love: Illness & Slow Stitching

Last week just sucked all the life out of me. I haven’t been this sick in a long time and somehow I managed to pick up a chest and sinus infection to end all infections. I spent all Sunday in bed trying to get over it but it didn’t work. I battled through the week and only did the bare minimum to survive. It was nuts. Only the week before I felt like I was finally making traction on getting back on track and making ground on my 2 month behind to-do list but that just evaporated. It’s frustrating and heartbreaking and I’d be lying if I said I’ve handled the pressure it’s caused well. Oh well, today is a new day and a new opportunity to do things better.

I did manage to get a few little things done last week, but I mainly spent the time horizontal mixed with the occasional hand stitching. Having some English Paper Piecing prepared and waiting for when I’d get time to sit and sew paid off and that’s basically all I did. It has been so intoxicating and addictive to get back to slow stitching. Not only does it allow me to spend time together with the ones I love it makes me feel like I’m not wasting time by just laying about. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on, I just want to get a few more done first.

In the meantime, the gifts from the Sydney Craft & Quilt Show keep on coming and I’ve teamed up with a bunch of lovely quilters (most of whom I met at the show) to offer a massive giveaway over on Instagram. The top 2 prizes are $150 gift vouchers to two great Australian online fabric stores. If you’re on Instagram be sure to click here and check out what you need to do to be in the running to win. I’m also offering a pretty good (if I do say so myself) prize of EPP papers, thread, glue pen, needles and a fat eight bundle of Tula Pink that the lovely Emily from Handmade by Emily helped me organise.

I have a big week of sewing planned and I’m a little bit impatient to get happening with it all. July is just running away from me and before we know it August will be here and I’ll be sewing like a mad woman to prepare for heading to the US in October (as long as Civil War doesn’t break out before then!). I hope that where every you and whatever you’re doing you’re doing it with a smile and a song in your heart. Have an amazing day!

FUN THINGS TO CLICK ON

I found this blog post by Thomas Knauer in which he talks about the future of the quilting industry as he sees it really interesting and thought provoking. Click here to read.
As someone who’s traveling more these days then they ever did these DIY 10-minute shoe bags from We All Sew are brilliant. Click here for the tutorial.
This upcycled project by Cristina who was guest posting on Lil’Luna is just perfect for those jeans you’ve got hiding out in your cupboard. Click here for the tutorial.
Did you see the rainbow bear I made for Sew a Softie Day? Click here to get all the details.
How fabulous is this free fox pattern from Shwin &and Shwin. Click here for the tutorial.
Loving this article from Craftsy on How to Clean an Iron – totally something I need to do! Click here to read.

COMMUNITY CORK BOARD

If you love English Paper Piecing and you’re keen to try some new shapes and possibly win a whole stack of amazing fabrics, then head on over to Tales of Cloth and read this post. Click here for details.
Have you heard about the Modern Makers Retreat? Three quilty friends had an idea of a fantasy weekend away – where they could sew all day (and night!), gossip and eat delicious food with like minded makers. Follow them on Instagram as they celebrate modern design. Find out more by clicking here.
The Berry Quilting Retreat is happening on 27 & 28 August 2016 and the line up looks amazing. Jen Kingwell will be teaching there and for her wisdom only it’s worth attending. You can find out more by clicking here.

SPONSOR MESSAGES

If you’re like me and you like to dabble in more than just sewing and quilting creative work then check out these free downloadable papers from Sizzix. Great to use in any graphics work you might be doing (like blog banners)! Click here to get your free papers.
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.

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!