Link Love: Time to Mend
I’m back from having a bit of a much needed mental health break from trying to do all things for all people. Life has been full on in our house since December 2019 and March just seemed to push me over the edge. We’ve now been self isolating, with the hubby unemployed and the kid home from school, since the first week of March and it’s been an adventure. You definitely won’t be seeing any photos of amazing things I’ve baked, beautiful things I’ve created or how my business is thriving from me. We’ve just been holding on and surviving and I’m ok with that. Everyone’s different and we all process things in our own way and that’s ok.
We’re still homeschooling and looking for work so there won’t be much happening here, but things are slowly starting to find a way forward. Taking time off from my to-do list was fabulous and I won’t be rushing back into overloading myself with things again. With Australia’s curve flattening the government is slowly opening things up and I for one will not be rushing into going back to life as normal as things do open up. Our health situation hasn’t changed so we still need to be careful about who we come in contact with. We will however be looking at our options for returning our son to his school environment. It’s going to be a tricky dance given that Australia is also starting winter so we’ve got seasonal colds and flu’s to watch out for as well now.
But enough about that. What have you been up to? Are you doing well with the new normal or are you struggling too? There’s no right or wrong way to handle the changing world. I’m very thankful for all the Lord has done for us during this time and I try to spend my days being thankful and embracing the new opportunities for more cuddles, more laughs and more disasters in the kitchen. Wishing you a week filled with love, laughter and much fabric fondling!
PS. If you’re having trouble getting any of the links to work in this email you can click the button below to read this week’s Gnome Gnews online. Alternatively you can find it by clicking here. I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Battle of the Blocks 2020 is underway and today kicks off Round 3. The competition has been really fierce with some nail biting close calls and some clear crowd favourites. Have you voted yet? Click the button below (or here) to see the latest crop of contestants!
A: My friend Sam, of Hunters Design Studio, has a new pattern out and it’s the most perfect hug when you can’t give a hug. Click here to read more.
B: We’re looking for ways to make home time = fun time and these activities helped us out. Click here to read more.
C: Looking to take your personal hygiene to a new level of cool – then sew this accessory. Click here to read more.
D: Jess of Faith and Fabric is hosting a Crab-a-Long and you can find out more about it by clicking here. You can also purchase the pattern by clicking here.
E: Alison Glass has teamed up with Wonderfil for this amazing new Stitch Club. A great way to increase your skills while making some fabulous projects. Click here to read more. Don’t forget I sell the thread sets too and you can get them by clicking here.
F: I’m baking my cravings these days and I’m totally craving these cookies. Find the recipe here.
If you’ve got something you’d like to share in the feel good links section please reply to this email and let me know. We could all use some good cheer!
Quilt inspiration is everywhere, you just have to look for it. Whether it’s taking photos of potential inspiration when you’re out and about, revisiting a classic block in a modern way, sorting out your stash to make the most of what you’ve got, or simply browsing pictures of amazing quilts and learning about their makers, we’ve got quilt inspiration everywhere this issue.
We MEET the super talented Lorena Uriarte and the very clever sister duo, Missy and Kimie from On Williams Street. Jane MOTIVATES with how we found quilt inspiration on a recent MM team trip and how you can train your brain to see designs everywhere. We’re talking stash curation – which means you get to play with your fabric collection, analyse what you’ve got, and plan your shopping around the gaps. If you want to make more solid quilts, our gallery is full of inspiration. MAKE a gorgeous quilt, using popular techniques like FPP, EPP and embroidery. Be inspired by fresh new ways with log cabins.
Included Patterns:
- Cabin Fade Quilt by Alex Hoffmann (@hoffmamacompany)
- Vortex Quilt by Bobbie Gentili (@geekybobbin)
- Skylark Quilt by Missy Winona & Kimie Tanner (@onwilliamstreet)
- Summer Daze Quilt by Julie McCoy (@istitchmodern)
- Mod Rainbow Flower Quilt by Annalise Nawrocki (@socalsew)
- Osaka Quilt by Sue Bone (@justsewsue)
- Hashtag Angle by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel)
- EPP Bug Coasters by Aimee Davis (@daisyeyes)
- Suits Me Card Table Runner by Rachel Julia (@kohatupatterns)
- Sawtooth Stamp by Paige Anderson (@ponderosacreative)
Featured Articles:
- Smash That Stash: Curate Your Stash by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)
- Smash That Stash: 2020 Block Swap #2 by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel)
- Finding Inspiration on the Go by Jane Kelly (@janekellyquilts)
- Quilting Rockstars by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory)
- Gallery: Sew Solid by Kristy Lea (@quietplay)
- Meet the Makers: Missy Winona & Kimie Tanner (@onwilliamstreet)
- Meet the Maker: Lorena Uriarte (@lorena_in_syd)
- Tips + Techniques by Alyce Blyth (@blossomheartquilts): Thinking Thread
- The Hustle by Angie Wilson (@gnomeangel): What Are You Making Time For?
- Quilt Like a Rock Star by HollyAnne Knight (@stringandstory): Quilt Meanderings
- Fabric Love by Chelsea O’Hayre (@pinkdoorfabrics): Stash Curation
- Library: Playing with Patchwork & Sewing by Nicola Calver, and New Patchwork & Quilting Basics by Jo Avery
If you’d like a peek inside the latest issue of Make Modern click the image below (or click here)
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- 200+ modern quilt patterns,
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The 9 Patch Parade has been postponed for a little while. You can read about the decision on Marti’s blog by clicking here. Things are starting to slowly return to some sort of controlled chaos in our house and so my ability to work is slowly creeping back. I’m working on getting this restarted as a priority and I will have an update for you again in June. I apologise for any inconvenience or disappointment this has caused. While the circumstances that have lead to the event being this way have largely been out of my hands, it still hurts to not be able to deliver an event as I had planned.
A: Click here to view pattern details.
B: Click here to view pattern details.
C: Click here to view pattern details.
D: Click here to view pattern details.
E: Click here to view pattern details.
F: Click here to view pattern details.
Have you got an event, a charity drive, a pattern release, a class schedule or something else that you think our community would be interested in hearing about? Why not drop me a line and let me know. I’d love to share it! Simply reply to this email.
- Sue, at Just Sew Sue, has been hosting a Scrap Bag Sampler with 9 of her quilty friends and it looks like such a fun event. You can make one of 2 versions of each of the blocks in the sampler; either a beginner or advance. (Or you can make both!) The pattern is free and you can find all the tutorials on Sue’s blog. Click here to find out more.
- Jen, of Patterns by Jen, is hosting the third year of her Monthly Colour Challenge. This month the colour is Orange – one of my faves! It’s a great way to work with colour and win some amazing prizes. Click here to find out more.
- Vicki, from My Creative Corner, has launched her own podcast; Zen and the Art of Creating. It’s all about her creative journey, quilting and life in a Northern town. Click here to find out more.
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 are wanting.
The Farmer’s Wife 1920’s Sampler Quilt:
- 2 May – Friendship Block
- 6 May – Friendship Star
- 9 May – Fruit Basket
- 13 May – Garden Path
- 16 May – Gentleman’s Fancy
- 20 May – Grape Basket
- 23 May – Hill & Valley
- 27 May – Homemaker
- 30 May – Homeward Bound
The Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt:
- 1 May – Fanny
- 4 May – Farmer’s Wife
- 8 May – Fern
- 11 May – Flora
- 15 May – Geneva
- 18 May – Georgia
- 22 May – Golda
- 25 May – Grandma
- 29 May – Grandmother
If you would like to know more about this event click the button below. The event information includes a free 2020 calendar with a block sewing schedule for you to keep to throughout the year.
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