Around the (Virtual) Crafting Table

After the excitement of Around the Table, I know that a lot of New Zealand bloggers are feeling a bit flat. 

Some question whether they are writing the right content.

Others wonder whether they are reaching the right audience.

There are those who have started questioning their photography and writing style.

Some question whether they are ready to take the next step and start making money from their blog. 

...and finally there are those who are just lacking in inspiration.

I may have dabbled in some of these doubts myself, but I think I'm coming out the other side and am ready for some serious blogging and crafting. And it struck me. Why don't we inspire each other! Why don't we help each other out of our crafting and blogging funk!

We've had the IRL event, why not follow it up with an online event? Lets cement those friendships, inspire and support each other.

I was thinking that maybe we could have a one-off crafting challenge, one that you can enter no matter your skill set (or lack thereof...) A challenge that the crocheters, knitters, quilters, scrapbookers, jewellery makers, sewers (or is that sewists) can all enter 

(Did I miss anyone out?- if I did, please forgive me because all are welcome).

I was thinking that we could make the theme "Winter", which you are welcome to interpret however you like.

I'm sure that I can rustle together a few prizes if I knock on the right doors, but to be honest this isn't really about the prizes, its about rediscovering the joys of crafting and blogging. Share your inspiration for your project (is it something that you love doing in the winter; is it something that you wear in the winter; is it something you love eating in Winter, is it a representation of a winter scene?) share the process of making your item and finally share the results of your crafting. Lets get the New Zealand crafting world buzzing again!

Are you in?

If you think its a good idea let me know and I'll get started on organising the nitty gritty.
Don't worry I'll give you lots of time to come up with a plan... hence the winter theme!
Oh and you don't have to have attended Around the Table to take part!

Take Two Tumbling!

  I mentioned the other day that I had cut out the pieces for another quilt.
A tumbler quilt for Scallywag.
One that we can put on his bed when we finally are brave enough to move him into a big boy bed.

I've had the fabrics for this quilt for about a year, but couldn't quite decide what I kind of quilt I should sew to make the most of them.
Then last week when I had the Accuquilt Go Cutter home for the weekend I had a sudden impulse to cut out a quilt and these fabrics seemed like the natural choice.

I have been taking lots of photos of the process of making this quilt as somehow I was talked into teaching a tumbler quilt class at the Make Cafe.

I must admit that the first time that I chain pieced a tumbler quilt, I got a few of the pieces muddled up, so I was determined to be careful this time and make sure that everything ended up in the right spot first time round.

I am glad to report that I succeeded! No unpicking was required at all and I have documented my process well so that I can reproduce it. I'm looking forward to teaching the ladies how to make a smaller version of this quilt.

I must say that I adore how this quilt is coming together.
The top came together so quickly- got to love that!

I love the fun fabrics- a combination of Lucy's Crab Shack and Children at Play.
I love the colours.

I love the tumbler shapes and how different they look when the fabrics are organised in this pattern compared to the pattern that I used last time. (This time the pattern reminds me of a brick wall, but then prettier!)
I love that the majority of the fabrics are boyish (ok there are a few flowers in there!) without being the usual cars, pirates or dinosaurs.

I hope that Scallywag loves the quilt, although I fear that to get his attention I should have made a quilt with diggers, tractors, trains or some other kind of motor vehicle!

Hmmm... Maybe I should put those on the back!!!

Next step to choose backing and binding fabrics. I'll check my stash first, but I have actually been pretty good at using stash fabrics recently and I suspect that I'll have to buy something for the job.

Linking in with WIP Wednesday and Show and Tell

Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my wee giveaway.

The winner is Amanda from Fabric Fixation 

Congratulations Amanda, I will be in touch for your address!

Tumbling!

This week I've been playing with the Accuquilt Go Cutter. I must say that its amazing how quickly a quilt comes together when you use one! I started on Friday and finished on Tuesday, but could have got it finished a lot quicker if I'd had more time.

It was my first tumbler quilt and I love the result. I take no credit for choosing the fabrics- they were given to me for the purpose, but I can maybe take a little bit of credit for having made them work (the addition of extra stripes calmed the whole thing down as it was looking a bit too busy without them!)

In fact, I was so pleased with it that I cut out a few extra tumblers to make a quilt for Scallyway when he finally moves to a big bed. I've had the fabrics for Scallywag's quilt for a while and have been looking for the right way to use them- I reckon I've found it! I'll take some photos of Scallywag's quilt soon and show you!

Sorry for the dodgy phone photos. They were snapped very quickly at work before I handed the quilt over. I'll try and get some better photos sometime in the next few days.

I'm joining in over at 3 x Sunshine today.
Edited to say:
There have been lots of comments on the fabric- its So Happy Together by Riley Blake

Double Trouble

*** GIVEAWAY CLOSED ***

Not so long ago, I returned home to find a book from the book depository on the front doorstep. There was nothing inside to say who the book was from, but I knew- it was from Deb. I had won a copy of this very same book from her a few weeks previously on instagram.

I promptly left a message for Deb on instagram thanking her.

About 10 minutes later the phone rang... it was Deb!

"We have a mystery" she announced and then proceeded to tell me that she had my copy of the book in the back of her car.

Although I am dying to know who sent the mystery copy, I am being a good girl and not contacting the Book Depository to find out. If the person wants to be a mystery donor, I will respect their wishes (even if curiosity kills me!), if it was a mistake and they want to own up, I'd love to hear from them. If they sent it and are wondering why I haven't been in touch to say thank you, its because I don't know who to thank (sorry!)

Anyway, you may be wondering why I am telling you this.

Deb and I thought that it would be nice for me to pay it forward, so I am giving away one copy of 'Hand Quilted with Love' by Sarah Fiekle to a lucky blog follower. 

To be in the draw, just leave a comment on this post by 5:00pm on Sunday 12th May. 

Sorry but this giveaway is only open to those with a NZ address.

** I will do my best to contact the winner of the giveaway, but if I have not heard back from them within a week, I will draw a new winner **

*** GIVEAWAY CLOSED *** 

'Flexing' My Creative Muscles!

Its amazing what a difference a few short days can make!

I wouldn't say that my blogging mojo is back full force yet, but I am definitely beginning to enjoy sewing again and new ideas are popping into my head all the time!

First off I've started work on a new class for the Make Cafe. I am adapting the guest tutorial that I did a while ago on Make. Life. Beautiful. 

My plan is for people in the class to have a choice between making a glasses case or a coin purse.

I am especially loving the wee coin purse, but I am slightly worried that its a bit too fiddly and complicated for the class. I'll make another one up sometime in the next few days and make a decisions. I showed the purse and the glasses case to a few people today at work and had very enthusiastic reactions, so hopefully there will be lots of interest in the class

There's plenty more to share, but I think I'll keep that for another day!

It feels great to be sewing so much again!

Slump!

Half composed blog posts swim around my head.

Half finished and half thought out sewing projects fight for attention.

I'm not sure what has happened but my blogging and sewing seem to be suffering at the moment.

Maybe the projects that are waiting to be worked on feel stale.

Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself

Maybe sewing is becoming a chore instead of a love and I need a frivolous project

Maybe I need a holiday

Maybe I'm just trying to squeeze too much into my day!

... I don't know!!!

After Around the Table, I thought I'd seize my new found free time and start on some awesome sewing, but the projects that I have done have either been less than satisfactory or not blog worthy (the days that I blog about absolutely everything that I sew are long gone!)

Its not for lack of desire, I'd dearly love to start a new awesome project but at the moment I just can't work out where to begin! 

In the meantime I'm off to proof-read my class notes for tonight's paper piecing class- maybe the ladies there will inspire me! After that I might just have to leaf through my amazing new book - there MUST be some inspiration in there! (There's a story behind this book but I'll share that another day!)

Anybody have any great ideas to kick start me out of this slump?

Sorry for whinging