A Life Update!

Hello friends!

How are you all? Jeez, it’s been a while since we last caught up! Although it may not seem it, lots and lots of things have been happening over on this side of the screen and I can’t wait to share them all with you!

But first, let’s have a bit of catch up! A detailed little life update if you may! 🙂

First off, I’m very happy to share that I’m now a qualified Florist! Yay! I finished my course a little over a week ago and passed with flying colours! Here are a few of the final designs we made in class! So many bridal bouquets!

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So now that the course is over, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do with this new set of skills… Jobs are hard to come by without ‘industry experience’! (Typical!) I’m actually very interested in studying the next course up which teaches more intricate and creative arrangements as well as how to set up, manage and run a floristry business. So hopefully confirmation of that course going ahead comes about over the next coming weeks! It won’t be as time consuming as the previous course, with class happening once a week over a year, so I’ll be able to dedicate more time to my blog and YouTube channel again!

So if you’ve been out of the loop for a while, I recently returned back to my job at Spotlight where I work in the Fabric/Haberdashery department.

My sneaky selfie in the tea room!

Four years ago I left this job after being there for six years to pursue other things and adventures. Luckily for me, a position opened up in the department and I was happily offered a casual job! It’s been about a month since I started back and I’ve been getting some pretty decent hours each week which I’ve been very happy about! It has also been great working with some wonderful colleagues again as well as catching up with all of my regular customers!
So now that I’m working again, I can’t say how much it’ll impact on having the time to get content made and uploaded onto my YouTube channel… But with a new Quilt Along in the works, don’t worry too much – lots of new and exciting things will be coming very soon!

And mentioning all things Quilt Along, let’s have a chat about where I’m up to with the planning and designing!
So I’m sure you all know by now, the Quilt Along will be a Star Block Sampler and the series will be done in a similar way to the last one. A new block will come out each week and there’ll be a pattern sheet detailing all of the measurements and cutting instructions etc.

Brainstorming a few block designs!
Brainstorming some Star block designs!

At the moment, I hope to start the series sometime in the second half of July or very early August. Each block will be 12.5″ square (subject to change) and there’ll be either nine or twelve blocks, therefore the final size of the quilt is still in the planning!
Like last time, the Quilt Along will be sponsored by Dayview Textiles and I’m hoping to use a super fun new fabric range from Cotton+Steel – not telling which one yet, it’s a surprise! 😀
So the final stages of planning and designing will be happening this week and I’ll be sure to share with you more details as they come about! Yay, I’m so excited!

Another thing I wanted to quickly share with you were a few clips I filmed from the Sydney Craft & Quilt Fair last week. The video I made is unlisted, so if you click here it’ll take you straight to it. It’s only really short, showing you a few glimpses of Sydney Harbour (we caught the free ferry service from Circular Quay to the venue at Glebe Island) along with some of the beautiful quilts that were on display in the Quilt Show. I hope it gives you some inspiration!

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Surprisingly, when it came to perusing the stalls and booths I didn’t spend up big like I have in previous years. I bought a few beautiful Tula Pink FQs (she was the special guest at the show this year, although I went on the day when she wasn’t there!) and a Drunkard Path template set that I’ve been wanting get for ages! And that’s it! I was so good and contained my inner quilter-monster who wants to buy everything at bay!

So in the meantime, while I plan my Quilt Along, there’ll be a few new tutorials going up onto my channel – penciled in is an Arrow block, a Flower Crown as well as a June Favourites video! I’ll also be going on a short break away this week up to my favourite holiday spot on the Central Coast and was thinking of either taking lots of pictures to share in a blog post or film it and make it into a little bit of a vlog for you to watch. Let me know which one you’d prefer!

So that’s it on my list of things to update you with! I do apologise for being so out of touch and away from all the social places I usually share things with you. I hope to be able to get back to a more regular schedule in the next coming weeks!

And just one last thing, a big thank you to everyone for being so excited about my Quilt Along and for letting me know how much you’ve missed me over the past few months! All of your feedback on my Facebook page and Instagram feed have been so wonderful to receive!

Enjoy the week ahead!

Happy Sewing, Friends!

xx

Bloggin’ Old School & A Fabric Haul!

For today’s post, I’m harking back to my earlier days of blog writing and am just going to write about everything that’s been happening in my little sewing world!

Sound good?

Excellent!

Right, let’s start with a WIP!

January this year, I uploaded this video. Here I chatted about my intended intentions (say that ten times fast!) of getting all of my WIPs finished this year!

I was keen and ready to jump in!

And seven months later, I’ve finally decided to begin honoring this New Year Resolution! (As you do!)

Monday night I felt restless and itchy to get my mind and hands stuck into some sewing. So instead of starting something new like I always do, I reached out for one of my WIPs.

And it was this one I chose…

Paper Pieced Union Jacks
Paper Pieced Union Jacks

I only had two more paper-pieced blocks to make until I could begin piecing the quilt top together. So that’s what I set out to do.

At about 9.30pm (which is pretty late for me to be sewing), I dug out a pretty floral and some sweet pastel fabrics from The Stash and begun piecing together.

About an hour later I had made this…

UnionJack2Out of all 11 blocks I’ve made, this is my favourite! Uber chic and girly – LOVE IT!!!

This afternoon/evening, I hope to tackle the last block for this quilt. I’m still umming-and-ahhing over fabric choices but I have a fair idea what I want this block to look like.

Bring on my wild Saturday night! Whoo!!!

Speaking of fabric, I took advantage of a great End of Financial Year Sale at Kelani Fabric Obsession during the week and treated my self to some    b-e-a-utiful fabrics!

Fabric

Here’s a list of the fabrics I bought…

#one

Cherry Dot on Blossom Pink | Oh Deer! By MoMo for Moda Fabrics

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#two

Memoir in Zest | Alchemy Quilting Collection by Amy Butler for Rowan

Fabric3#three

Pineapple Slices | Acacia by Tula Pink for Free Spirit

(My first ever cut of Tula Pink fabric!)

Fabric2#four

Vivienne Stripe in Blush | By Alexander Henry

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#five

Toyland Twinkle in Orange & Blue | By Alexander Henry

Fabric7

#six

Sweet Tweet in Pastel | By Alexander Henry

Fabric6

#seven

Simpatico Minty Staws (100% Organic Cotton) | By Cloud 9 Fabrics

Fabric5

#eight

Minimalista in Confetti Turquoise | By AGF Studio

Fabric4I can’t wait to get stuck in and use these little beauties… I don’t know what for yet… But a day will come when I was glad I spent a small fortune on a lovely array of fabric!

And lastly, although it was uploaded this time last week, I wanted to share with you my latest Weekly Vlog.

This particular week I made a visit to the Sydney Craft & Quilt Show where my little Golden Trail Mini Quilt was on show.

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I didn’t get to film much of the show due to copyright etc but I did manage to capture some awesome footage of the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the city!

We also celebrated my Dad’s 68th birthday! It was wonderful!

So I think that’s about it at the moment.

A WIP is on its way to be completed (sorta) and I’ve soothed my fabric lust for just a few days!

Hopefully I’ll act get my act together and show you a finished quilt top in my next post…

HA! Don’t hold your breath!

Happy Sewing Friends!

xx

Sunshine Failure & Magazines!

So I was going to post up some photo’s today of the finished Gumnut Babies Quilt… However, I was having problems with the afternoon sunshine playing havoc on my shots. Everywhere I stood weird and unwanted shadows were being cast over the quilt and most pics were coming out over-exposed.

So I’ll have to re-do it first thing tomorrow morning, when the sun is being less inconvenient!

Today I want to share some of the magazines I’ve recently picked up at the newsagent. Magazines are a great source of inspiration and house a wonderful wealth of information on fabric stores, products, blogs, designers and projects.

Finally I’ve been able to get my hands on a much coveted Mollie Makes magazine publish in the UK and at a great price too! Everywhere on the net where it’s sold in Australia charges anywhere between $16 to $18 for a copy of this magazine PLUS postage and handling!

Today I bought it for $12.95 – a win for me! WHOO! Although, it is a few issues behind – but I don’t care!

I was also lucky enough to buy a copy of Modern Quilting magazine (also published in the UK) that features an interview and pattern from Quilting Queen Tula Pink! I adore her quilts and fabric ranges as well as her quirky and laid-back attitude.

After reading the article/interview, I sensed a form of connection with the way that she approaches her work.  We seem to have a lot in common in the way that we think and feel towards our crafty obsession and share the same views and values of working hard at something we love to do. It’s always a comfort to know that there truly are people out there in the world who share the exact same emotions as I do towards fabric and quilting – it makes me feel just that wee little bit less insane in my head!!!

Harnessing my love for modern quilts, I bought an Australian published magazine produced by Australian Quilters Companion magazine called Old Quilts Made New. I love the notion of taking traditional quilt block patterns and making them into a modern block through the use and choice of modern fabrics and modern quilting techniques. There’s some wonderful ideas in this one that I may get to explore one day!

And now, with a freshly poured green tea, I’m off to do some research waste away the afternoon reading my magazines!

Happy Sewing! xx