Link Love: Swimming upstream

I had a massive week last week and it was brilliant. A couple of months ago I did a muscle injury to my back and it just hasn’t been right since. I’ve been seeing a physiotherapist to try and get it sorted before we leave for the US and it’s been going well, but it’s not going as quickly as I’d like. (Does it ever when it comes to healing?) So last week I took the plunge (pun totally intended) and joined the local pool. I’ve been going to aqua aerobics classes and I’m hooked. I love being in the water at the best of times, but the classes have been so much fun and they don’t feel like I’m exercising which is an added bonus. My body is starting to feel better and I’m hopeful that the combination of physio, water based exercise and eating well will get me back on track in time to spend 25+ hours sitting on a plane.

I’ve also been working hard behind-the-scenes to get things in order for the start of our Colorblock LOVE + Kinship Sew-along that kicks off next week. I’m frantically getting blocks made and lucky for me this quilt goes together so quickly so I’ll have a quilt top to show off very soon. I’ve also been working on another big 100 block pattern that I want to have released to kick off 2020 with a special sew-along event (not #100Days100Blocks2020 – that will kick off 1 July 2020 using Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler). I really love the process of creating a pattern and I’ve got such an amazing team supporting me and helping to make sure it’s perfect.

In between all of that I’m trying to get us ready for our trip. I’m planning, making and plotting. I’ve really missed sharing more of what’s happening in our lives like I used to on the blog and so I’ve got posts in progress that will share all the preparations and crafts I’ve done to get us ready for our trip. My intention is to share images and stories about our trip when I get back. In the meantime, I’d better get a move on – need to get the kiddo to school and then off to the pool! Wishing you a week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!

My Father and I have been working on our first round of signs and I’m so excited to be able to share these sneak peeks of what we’ve got coming up.

We’re going to be offering them as limited edition runs, you’ll not see these signs like this again.

They’re all handmade from sustainable Australian timber and they’ll be made to order. No two signs will be the same because of the differences in the wood grain and the handmade process. These truly are a bespoke creation made just for you.

Here’s the details:

Cost: AUD$45 per sign
Size: 200mm (W) x 96mm (H)
Domestic Shipping: 1 sign = AUD$8.55, 3 signs = AUD$11.55 and 9 signs = AUD$14.45
International Shipping: Price upon application. Example, 1 sign shipped to USA is AUD$21. We’ll combine shipping and provide you with the most economical shipping option that includes tracking.
Customs Information: All signs are treated and sealed to meet customs and shipping requirements.
Customisation: Signs will come in 2 colour ways; rainbow and aqua (as shown above), however for a AUD$5 fee we can custom paint the signs with a maximum of 3 colours.
Delivery: Please allow 3 weeks for the signs to be handmade and shipped. Once they’re shipped you will receive shipping and tracking notification.

Phrases the will be available:

Finished is better than perfect
I drive fast and barefoot
Dinosaurs didn’t sew. Now they’re extinct. Coincidence?
My sewing room is my happy place
Touch my fabric scissors and all your answers about life after death will be answered
Do not read the next sentence. You little rebel. I like you.
When life goes to pieces make a quilt
In the quilt of life friends are the stitches that hold it together
Eat. Sleep. Quilt. Repeat.
If you see the seam ripper now is not a good time.
If you’re waiting for a sign to buy more fabric this is it!

Signs will open up for ordering on Monday 23 September and a link to purchasing will be included in the newsletter sent on that date. [Click here to subscribe to the newsletter so you don’t miss out!] Orders will close 11:59pm on Wednesday 25 September.

If you have any questions simply comment below and I’ll do my best to get it all sorted.

Are you looking for a fun way to use your Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler blocks? Then join myself and Sam Hunter, of Hunter’s Design Studio, for the Colorblock LOVE Sew-along. You don’t have to use Kinship block if you don’t want to – the pattern comes complete with a couple of variations on making this super fast (like you could do it in a day if you wanted to sew ahead!) quilt pattern.

To participate you’ll need to purchase the Colorblock LOVE Pattern from Hunter’s Design Studio. To help you get your supplies together Sam is offering a very generous 20% off the pattern using the code ‘kinship+love20’. Code is valid until 15 September. Click here to order your pattern – or click the big button below!

If you’d like to combine the Colorblock LOVE pattern with Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler you can save 20% off the pattern and the From Marti Michell Perfect Patchwork Template and Ruler sets by clicking here or clicking the button below. Discount is automatically applied at checkout and is valid until 15 September.

A: I love this Kaleidoscope pattern from Kirsty at Bonjour Quilts. She has an amazing catalogue of available quilt patterns – you really should check them out. Click here to read more.

B: It was my stop on the Back to School Blog Hop at Hunter’s Design Studio last week and I shared how I achieve this seamless pattern matching fussy cut technique. Click here to read more.

C: Nadra at Ellis & Higgs has made this mammoth bundle of Halloween patterns and they’re so good! You can buy them as a bundle or individually. Click here to read more.

D: In quilts is the only way I’ll do pumpkin, so this plaid pumpkin pattern is right up my alley. Click here to read more.

E: I remember buying this album as a teenager and it’s still a song that I cherish. Click here to listen.

F: If you’ll excuse me I’m drooling on my keyboard. Chicken ranch wraps for the win! Click here to read more.

Happy 5th Birthday Make Modern! To celebrate they’re hosting a fabulous party where you can win prizes simply by making your own version of one the 200+ patterns that are available in past issues. It’s so simple and there’s so much scope for fun that I’m even going to have a crack at playing along. You can find all the details on how to participate by clicking here.

If you want to get started on picking out your pattern to make why not check out Make Modern’s all access subscription. 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!

BONUS: For the month of September all new subscribers get a free Make Modern enamel pin!

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.

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: I’m considering: I really love this colour palette. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

B: I’m digging: I love the prints and colours in this collection. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

C: I’m snipping: I think this bundle would make a great collage quilt. Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

D: I’m loving: How awesome are these pastel colours? Click here to purchase this on Etsy.

You can find the latest information about the following events by clicking the on the relevant link below:

Shari, from Doohikey Designs, has launched her exclusive Kinship inspired Binding Baby and it’s just perfection. I use and love all my Binding Babies and I can’t wait to use my Kinship Binding Baby to finish my #100Days100Blocks2019 quilt. These are such a genius idea and I love that they’re all handmade by Shari and her husband. The Kinship Binding Baby is currently on sale for a limited time and you can grab your own 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.

Nancy was kind enough to send me a copy of her finished Kinship: 100 Block Fusion Sampler quilt top. Isn’t it stunning in this controlled colour palette? Nancy had these lovely words to say: “Thank you so much for this super fun project. I really have enjoyed the group, pattern and completing the quilt. Really love the plaid layout.” Thank you Nancy!

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.

Amira, from The Little Mushroom Cap, is launching her online course for Free Motion Quilting. Amira is offering my readers a special discount of $14 off the cost of the course until 14 September. You can access the discount by clicking here. (No code required, simply click the link.)

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. Thank you, in advance for your support!