Link Love: New Year New Adventures
It’s been a weird week of mixed emotions. I’ve been glued to the updates about the fires that are happening around our home while being acutely aware of the fact that my son and I are safely located in far north Queensland breathing in the delightfully clean air of home. I’ve enjoyed the unexpected time of being with my parents, talking and learning more about my God and growing a deeper appreciation for the things that they’ve done for me through Him and for the love that is found in our family bond. I’ve laughed with the kid as he’s played with his grandparents. I’ve gotten to spend time with my Aunt and my Nana. I’ve been frustrated at the lack of ability to do anything and tried to come to terms with the year not starting as I’d hoped. My hands have swollen in the tropical heat to a point where I couldn’t wear my wedding band and I’ve enjoyed being part of a different routine.
With the worst of the fire threat behind us I’ve booked return tickets for the kid and I so we’ll be back in Canberra by Thursday. The smoke is still there, the fires are still there and both of these things look to become a normal part of daily life for the next couple of months. But life must go on and so we’re returning home. I read an article last week that talked about what it will take to put these fires out and that even if we get rain it’s still going to take months of favourable conditions for them to be able to put all the fires out. I can’t even begin to comprehend what the emergency services and their families must be going through. Not to mention all those that have been directly impacted by it. It’s going to take years for some communities to bounce back.
My word for the year is service and I can already see that some of that service will be spent working out how I can contribute and help my community well past the point where this event becomes yesterday’s news. I will share news and ways that you can help (if you’re so inclined) over the course of the year through this newsletter as I know that so many of you from all over the globe want to help.
Wishing you a fabulous week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!
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On 1 February 2020 I’ll be kicking off the FMM 9 Patch Parade. Each month we’ll be making a project based on a Marti Michell 9 Patch Pattern (as shown above). The 9 Patch block is super simple, as long as you’re working in a measurement divisible by 3. If you want to make them in any other size you’ll need to work in metric! *wink* Well not any more! With the 9 Patch Rulers from Marti Michell you can now make 9 patch blocks in 7 sizes (2″, 3″, 4″, 4.5″, 5″, 6″ and 8″) all without having to do the math. You can use the rulers to strip piece or fussy cut your blocks. It’s genius! I can’t wait to share with you the projects I’ve been making with these rulers and spend 2020 helping you to sew some super awesome projects! Click here to read all about the event, or click here to purchase the rulers.
A: 2020 is going to be, God willing, a year of pattern releases for me. I kicked off January with a quiet little release of a pattern I did for Love Patchwork & Quilting a few years ago. I’ve updated the pattern to include the instructions for 3 different sizes and layout options. Click here to read more.
B: If you’re looking to for a pattern that celebrates the cutest little non-bear there is then check this out. Click here to read more.
C: I love the movement in this jellies quilt pattern. Click here to read more.
D: I love the colour, the movement and the cheeky use of stripe in this quilt pattern. Click here to read more.
E: I listened to this lecture last week and it really struck a cord with me. Click here to listen.
F: Being back home means meals cooked by my Dad and this week he made me crumbed steak and salad which I haven’t had in years and will be adding to our rotation when I get back home. 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:
All of these bundles are available from Polka Dot Tea Fabrics which is run by Jeannette and is located in NSW in an area that has been impacted by fires. If you purchase a bundle you’re directly helping support someone who lives in NSW and supports their local community which has been impacted by the fires.
A: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
B: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
C: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
D: Click here to purchase this on Etsy.
Sign up’s for the Smash that Stash Block Swap are open now and you can find out all about it in the latest issue of Make Modern #32. If you’ve got your copy of the issue and you’d like to sign up you can click here to get the process started. The first block for the year long swap is “Irish Pinwheels”. You’ll get the instructions for making a block each issue in two sizes: 10″ x 10″ and 20″ x 20″. You can either made the quilt yourself or make blocks and swap them with people the world over to make a completely unique quilt.
The best way to participate is to grab yourself the All Access Subscription. You’ll not only get all the details on how to participate in this event, you’ll also get access to hundreds of quilt and project patterns. It’s such great value for money!
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!
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.
The latest issue of Make Modern is available now and it’s jam packed full of amazing projects, fabulous competitions, sage advice and a little bit of cats on quilts action. To check out what’s included click the image below and you’ll see a wonderful video of the contents of the latest issue.
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.
UPDATE: Apologies if you’ve sent me an item for inclusion during our Christmas/New Year Shutdown. My limited access to emails while I’m out of the office means that I haven’t been able to include them in this newsletter. Once I’m back in the office I will go through all the emails and include the details that are still relevant.
It’s the final days of trade for Two Blue Birdies – after 8 years, Sonya & Alex at Two Blue Birdies have decided to close. 2020 brings new and exciting challenges for both of them, Sonya will still be in the craft world, focussing on her sewing hardware brand – SOHMO. All stock at twobluebirdies.com.au has been marked down – pop over and pick up a bargain before the doors close. Sonya & Alex would like to thank all of their wonderful customers for their support over the years.
For those of you that are sewing along the tutorials you’ll need for this month are listed below, simply click the link to access the tutorial you’re wanting.
The Farmer’s Wife 1920’s Sampler Quilt:
- January 1 – Attic Windows
- January 1 – Autumn Tints
- January 3 – Basket
- January 4 – Basket Weave
- January 6 -Bat Wing
- January 6 – Big Dipper
- January 8 – Birds in the Air
- January 11 – Bouquet
- January 15 – Box
- January 18 – Bowtie
- January 22 – Broken Dishes
- January 25 – Broken Sugar Bowl
- January 29 – Buckwheat
The Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt:
- January 13 – Addie
- January 17 – Aimee
- January 20 – Alice
- January 24 – Ann
- January 27 – Anne
- January 31 – April
If you would like to know more about this event click the button below. The event information includes a 2020 calendar with a block sewing schedule for you to keep to throughout the year.
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