Link Love: Past, Present and Future Me

Ok, so the last week went a little pear shaped. “Past Me” seriously over-estimated how much productivity I’d have when I returned from holidays. Do you ever feel like that? You go through a super productive period and feel like you can do anything so you take on all these tasks and then when they come due “Present Me” is like, “Dude! What were you thinking???”. That’s me at the moment. Juggling so many balls that it’s less like juggling and more like dodging falling missiles. It’s ok though, I feel like I had a break through on the weekend and I’m slowly starting to right the vehicle.

I’m slightly freaking out that this is the last week of November which means there’s only 1 month left of 2019. Where did the year go? I really want to make the time to sit down and look back over the things that we did this year. I feel like life is moving so fast that I’m losing important memories. I really should be making photo books so we can save these things. Do you make any memory type books or have your digital photos printed into books? If so, have you got any recommendations?

I’d better get a move on. It’s a school week and I’ve got errands to run and things to work on. I hope you have a fabulous week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!

November’s Gnome Gnews Loyalty Rewards prize!

Did you know that you can get access to exclusive news, information, shopping deals and more by being subscribed to Gnome Gnews, my weekly eNewsletter? You can also win – just by being a susbscriber!

I’m running a monthly giveaway where a lucky Gnome Gnews subscriber will win an exclusive prize. You don’t have to do anything to enter, you just have to stay subscribed to the newsletter – it’s that simple!

At the end of each month I’ll pick a winner and announce it in the newsletter. Prizes will vary and will not be available via any other platform. It’s all to say a big THANK YOU to you for being part of this amazing community of creatives.

To subscribe just click here or this big button:

A: I love this sneaky little Santa in amongst the trees. Click here to read more.

B: Stars always have a special place in my heart. Click here to read more.

C: This quilt makes me sing “I’m a lumberjack” in my head every time I see it. Click here to read more.

D: Love a scrappy 9 patch, then this is for you! Click here to read more.

E: I dare you to listen to this and not dance. Click here to listen.

F: I’ve got a craving for this at the moment. 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: For those that love Liberty fabric without the price tag. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

B: This quilt pattern is rapidly moving itself on to my to-do list. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

C: Don’t look now, but Christmas is just around the corner. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

D: If you’re looking for a punch of colour, check this out. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

Projects in Issue 31: A: Wanderer by Paige Anderson (Issue 31) | B: Modular Motion by Jaime Siel (Issue 19) | C: Two Way Street by Simge Tarhan (Issue 31) | D: Curve Illusions by Vasudha Govindan (Issue 31)

In Issue 31, we MEET (Darling) Di Jobbins, an accomplished quilter widely known in the Australian modern quilting scene, who tells us about her quilting journey which began with designing quilts for the clergy wives of Sydney to stitch together almost 40 years ago; the incredibly talented designer Jennifer Sampou who gives us sage advice for new quilters and for quilters who want to design quilts, and explains how she connects her passion for the environment with her love for quilting; and Gracey Larson who turned her quilting hobby into a multi-faceted business, Burlap and Blossom Patterns.

We MAKE quilts covering techniques of all types, from HSTs, HRTs, and foundation piecing in our Curve Illusions quilt, to quilt-as-you-go cathedral windows in our Peekaboo Voyage quilt, and share a list of some of our favourite tools to help you with English Paper Piecing, encouraging you to step outside your comfort zone and try something new.

And we MOTIVATE you with Judy’s ‘Blogging Your Travel in Stitches’ article, who shares her process for creating her quilted travelblog, which began during her retirement ‘gap year’. The result is a fabulous quilt filled with tiny stitched artworks each representing a story, memory or event from her travels. Or maybe you have t-shirts stashed away for a someday t-shirt quilt? Capi shares a touching story ‘Rescued and Re-used’ about losing a friend and creating an heirloom t-shirt quilt for the family.

Our regular columnists share tips on perfecting your quarter inch seam, reasons for you to push and shove everybody! (you’ll get it when you read it), and why now is the perfect time for small business owners to reflect on 2019 to plan for 2020. Our gallery this issue is an inspirational wrap up of the prize-winning quilts from the 2019 Australian Modern Quilt Show.

Another issue 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 step outside your quilty comfort zone. See below for the full pattern list from our international team of talented makers, a list of feature articles and regular columns, or a sneak peek inside this issue. Make Modern is published independently by a small team of Australian quilters, and at just AU$8 (approx. US$5, CA$7, €5 or £4), you can’t afford to miss out.

Patterns from Make Modern Issue 31:

Wanderer Quilt by Paige Anderson (@ponderosacreative)
Modular Motion Quilt by Jamie Siel (@sewbrainy)
Two Way Street Quilt by Simge Tarhan (@papatya.designs)
Peekaboo Voyage Quilt by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)
Flower Path Quilt by Leanne Parsons (@devotedquilter)
Curve Illusions Quilt by Vasudha Govindan (@storiedquilts314)
Missing Link Cushion by Sarah Scott (@piccolostudio_sarah)
Turnabout Quilt by Cindy Pieters (@stitchinathome)
Moonscape Quilt by Moira de Carvalho (@quilttalking)
Butterfly Waltz Quilt by Cristina de Miranda (@shipsandviolins)
Linked Quilt by Patty Dudek (@elmstreetquilts)

Feature Articles from Make Modern Issue 31:

Blogging Your Travel in Stitches by Judy Harrison (@showmethequilt)
Rescued and Re-used – the someday t-shirt quilt by Capi Cloud Cohen (@sewcloudy)
Gallery: 2019 Modern Quilt Show Australia
Meet the Maker: Di Jobbins (@darlingdi)
Meet the Maker: Jennifer Sampou (@jennifersampou)
Meet the Maker: Gracey Larson (@burlapandblossompatterns)
Tips + Techniques by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts): The Small but Mighty Quarter Inch Seam
The Hustle by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel): Reflecting and Planning
Quilt Like a Rock Star by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory): Push and Shove Everybody!
Fabric Love by Chelsea O’Hayre (@pinkdoorfabrics): A Love Affair with EPP
Library: Zakka from the Heart by Minki Kim, Ombre Quilts by Jennifer Sampou, Mini Masterpieces by Alyce Blyth, and Machine Quilting Idea Book by Vicki Ruebel

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.

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.

From Kristy @ Quiet Play: The koala is one of our Aussie icons – and often symbolises Australia to our overseas visitors. Summer isn’t quite here yet, but bushfire season has arrived – and it’s been horrendous. Our koala population has been decimated (not to mention homes and lives lost in our human community). With so much going on, sometimes you just want to help by doing something. So I will be donating all profits from the sale of my Koala pattern (click here to purchase) during the month of November to a local koala hospital and also to the NSW Rural Fire Service to support the animals and people caught up in the destruction of the bushfires. If you’d like to make your own direct donation, you can find out more about the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital by clicking here or the NSW Rural Fire Service by clicking here.

This newsletter may contain 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 commission help me to be able to keep providing you with great content. Thank you, in advance for your support! For more information about my sponsorship and advertising policy please click here.