Oh boy, it sure has been a while since I last did one of these posts! I couldn’t even remember what number edition I’m up to! 😂
But there’s lots to catch up on so let’s dive right in!
So, I know I’ve possibly over-shared this with you already but I made a quilt! A beautiful baby quilt for nephew no. 5 due just after Christmas! Visiting an all-time favourite pattern by Denyse Schmidt, I made this sweet Tribute Star Baby Quilt in a darling navy and turquoise blue colour-way paired with a light grey solid background. And I think it’s just perfect!
Making baby quilts for my nephews and nieces to-be have always been my most favourite to make! They’re made with pure love and excitement at the prospect of a new little life coming into our family. The thought process, the labour (pun not intended!) and then the end result is always the best. ❤️
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Polar-opposite to the start of the year, the last few months of 2017 have seen me do so much more sewing than I have in a long time! And I’m not complaining either – it’s been such a lovely respite from the hectic year I’ve had.
A part from my nephews baby quilt and my QAL quilt, another project I’ve been working on is my Pixelated Rose Quilt by Riley Blake Designs.
My, my, my, is this quilt gonna be epic!! I’m currently just over half way into piecing the quilt top together. Out of 30 blocks, I’ve just completed no. 21. It looks a bit messy here on my design wall, but once all blocks have been pieced together it’s gonna look real schmick!
I’ve found that this quilt is so big that I’ve had to piece, lay-up on my design wall and then take down the first half of the quilt top to accompany the next half on my design wall. I’m dreading the day when I have to quilt it! My ‘patience pants’ are gonna have to be on tight that day! 😂
Once this quilt is finished, I’ll hopefully do another post chatting through the process I did to successfully make it.
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November for my blog is a significant one because it’s our anniversary! Yep, six years ago on the 4th November, I wrote and published my very first blog post.
I always try and do a little hark back around this time reflecting on where I’ve started and how much everything has grown and evolved…
I’m gonna be honest with you, these past few years I’ve carried around so much guilt (completely placed on me by me and nobody else!!) that I haven’t been able to give my all and more to my blog and YouTube channel like I have in the past. I’m completely aware of how busy life is for all us and that’s just how it is. And because of that, things have had to be put into perspective of what is most important to keep my head above water… ie. heading back to work for a bit of much needed income!
Both my blog and YouTube channel are really important things for me. They’re like my little personal spot in the Quilting World where I can share my knowledge and love for quilting, sewing, craft as well as reaching out and connecting with other like-minded Quilty people all over the world.
I’m not really sure where I’m going with all of this but…
I think what I’m trying to say is that I’m actively planning on spending more time and effort on my ‘sites’ next year because it’s what I want to do. It’s what I love to do. And it’s what I want to put all my energy and passion into.
So heading into my 7th year of 3and3quarters, let’s cheers to a productive and successful year that I can look back on and be proud of!!
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Touching on YouTubes and things, are you caught up on the last few quilty videos I’ve put up?
The first being the one where I chatted though 10 of my favourite quilting tools.
I was inspired by another video I did a few years ago where I shared 5 quilting tools that I couldn’t live without. (It’s a bit of a cringe to watch – it was like the fourth video I ever filmed and uploaded on my channel!) This new one though is a bit more of an update of tools that I’ve found to be really helpful in almost any patchwork situation. I thought it was just a little bit of fun and I’ve loved that some of you have shared with me a few of your favourite quilting tools. I love how we all have our own different gadgets that we find we cannot live without when we’re sewing. It’s so fascinating!
The other tutorial is my most recent – a Hexie Flower Quilt Label!
I had quite a few request for this tutorial when I posted on my Instagram page the label for my Star Sampler Quilt (and Tribute Star Baby Quilt).
And I was more than happy to do one!
It was about time that I revisited a how-to video on making English Paper Pieced hexies and how to stitch them together. It again feels like a life time when I filmed my first Hexie How-To with my young pudgy face chatting you through the intro and ending. Another cringe watch!! 😑
But I will always love making Hexie Flowers as quilt labels. It’s a great opportunity to use up scraps and bring a bit of the front of the quilt to the back. It’s just so patchwork!
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Whether it be a curse or a blessing, my hours at work have been significantly cut. 😦 This could change from week to week, but at the moment, it is what it is. It’s business, not personal…
So!!!! Christmas tutorial planning is a go! Yay!!!
A modified Tribute Star quilt block (Christmas Edition) is in the works along with a patchwork-type Advent Calendar! (The latter is still in the very early stages of planning – measurements and other things have been sketched out, I just gotta do a trial run to iron out any wrinkles – HA! – and then I’ll be set to get filming it. It’s one that ideally should be finished before December 1st! Fingers crossed!)
I’ve also got a few other Christmassy ideas up my sleeve but I’m keeping mum on them for dramatic purposes! 😜
I’m also considering doing a thing called Vlogmas. It’s where I vlog everyday(-ish) during the month of December right up to Christmas Eve or in my case, I’ll include Christmas Day (and possibly Boxing Day too as it’s my middle brothers birthday and it’s usually a pretty busy and fun day). I thought it would be a great opportunity to show those of you in other countries how we celebrate Christmas in Australia during Summer!
No promises. But it is a possibility…
And that’s all I’ve got to share with you at the moment!
I hope you’re all finding some time to complete some of your own Christmas crafts and are gearing up for a busy holiday season ahead!
Happy Sewing, Friends!
xx
3and3quarters 