A planner took over my week (and a link party)

I received my Quilter's Planner!! so I spent most of the week to figure out how to make it work for me :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Hello Block Swap - received Nov partner info and received Oct block (see below)
2. The SK project - one more block done (see below)
3. Secret event (January 2017) - started stitching (cannot share yet)!
4. Secret event (February 2017) - one more block ready (cannot share yet)
5. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
6. Secret event (Jan-Nov 2017)  - no progress
7. Xmas decorations - no progress
8. Crochet flowers - 5 completed (see below)
9. Bullet Journaling - working on this every day!
   migrated into my Quilter's Planner!! :)
10. Various bags and pouches - no progress
11. En Provence (Bonnie Hunter's mystery QAL) - no progress

The EverythingElse List:

1. Splendid Sampler - no progress
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
3. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. 70273 Project - no progress
6. Jane T - no progress
7. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
8. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
9. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
10. As You Wish -  no progress
11. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
12. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
13. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Let me start with the great block I received from Olivia (the second October partner I had for the Hello Block Swap.

I am not really sure if we will continue with the swap in 2017...
For me it has been pretty difficult to manage, because while many people communicate and share a lot, some people just don't seem to be too involved!

Many people dropped out too and we have less than 15 active members (from the initial 40), so it is becoming impossible to partner up everyone with new people.

For this reason I ask whoever is interested in keeping the swap alive in 2017 to submit their information in the following form.

https://goo.gl/forms/ENHIIDTFg4Tn8BA53

The basic idea for the swap is that I pair you with a different partner every month. You select the block that you want to receive and you make the block that your partner selects (following her/his color request, instructions, etc).
Easy peasy! ONE 12'' BLOCK A MONTH!
If I get more than 20 people in the swap, I will start it again on January 1st... otherwise I would have to step down :(

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Working on Xmas presents, I made these crochet flowers for my mom. She makes some compositions and she can always use some extra flowers. I am using only the cotton I have on hand, so the colors are kind of limited, but that's better than nothing!! :)

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Another book cover for my Stephen King collection is ready!

The pattern will be on Fandom in Stitches eventually... if you need it sooner, just send me an email :)

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Last, but not least, as mentioned above, I received my Quilter's Planner and I am switching to the planner for all my Bullet Journal activities.

I don't want to comment on how it is going just yet...

I found out that I really need time to figure out if I like something or not... rush judgments are almost always wrong for me :) for example when I opened the package I started "complaining" about how big the planner is (compared to the journal I was using previously)... after 30 minutes of flipping through the pages and after thinking how I can use it in my own way I start thinking how great is that it is so big :)

Sometimes we resist changes for no reason other than we don't want to change ourselves... 

and we don't want to admit that we were wrong...

So I will share a full review of my first month of experience with the Quilter's Planner on December 1st :)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Best Bag Ever (and a link party)

I have been in the mood of bag and 3D objects making... so satisfying to complete a project in few days and have it ready to use!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - completed two blocks, received one (see below) 
5. Splendid Sampler - no progress
6. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" continuing
7. Secret event (February 2017) - no progress
8. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
9. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017)  - worked more on the design!!
10. Xmas decorations - no progress
11. Bullet Journaling - working on this every day!
12. Various bags and pouches - one done! (see below)
13. Tote bag - the most amazing bag ever, done! (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Let me start with the Hello block swap blocks for this month.
Since I am the hostess and we have an odd number of participants, I tend to have 2 partners every month.

These are the blocks I made for them.

July 2012 BOM, "Pixels" block and Bento Box pattern

And this is the block Vicki made for me!

PLEASE consider joining the swap!! It is so super easy, one block a month, that's it... it allow us to get to know new people, try fun blocks that we wouldn't make for ourselves, learn new things, and so much more!!

Find all the details on the Hello Block Swap page!!
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Patty (elmstreetquilts) is hosting a fun event (Bag It) to encourage people to share any bag they make for chances to win great prizes and to inspire each other (Bag it, entry page)!!

I have few bag presents on my list for Xmas so I thought to start it early. 

This week I needed a small "bag" to put some crochet flowers I will be making for my mom. She makes compositions with these flowers, so I want to help out, but sending just the flowers in a box didn't seem good. So I built my first lined drawstring bag!!!

I loosely followed that tutorial, but what I love about this simple bag is that you can make it any size, I didn't even measure the pieces, I just cut them to the same size and then followed the tutorial!!

Another fun thing about the bag is that I used a "Free Spirit" ribbon and a ribbon of label with the writing "Hand Made" to close it up! Such a perfect way to share these messages in an useful way!! :)

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I saved the best for last...

I saw this Cozy Nest Designs' Seat Belt Market Tote and I fell in love with the look.

Colors: Aubergine and Liliac, Size: Medium

I bought the pattern and a kit a while back but I was kind of scared about the material: I thought that seat belt webbing would be very hard to stitch... well... I think it is the easier material to sew that I have ever used!!!!! :) :) :)

It is way way way easier than the denim that I used last week for some pouches.

Plus Sarah's patterns are always so easy to follow, detailed and very very clear!! This is not the first bag I make from one of her patterns, and she includes so computer-generated line drawings that show you exactly what she means in her text. I am a quilter, so I don't have much experience (almost zero) with gusset, fully lined zipper pockets within the lining, etc... and I did a great job in my bag (I say it to myself).

Few more details: the colors are not that great in the picture because the weather is not cooperating :) however it is so luxurious and cool that my boyfriend told me that maybe I shouldn't use it every day because it may attract bad attentions because it looks super expensive and high end! :) :)

I choose purple and green as my color combination, and I added that little envelope mini pouch (bought somewhere, I don't remember where). That pouch has two purposes: 1) it is cute and it stores some contact info in case it gets lost;  2) as you can see in a picture above, I can slip it in one of the outside pocket and it keeps the ring down and prevents it from bouncing around. So cute and functional!! 

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

A curvy week (and a link party)

Grab a cup of coffee or some hot beverage... a lot to share this week :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - September board (the last one) has been released (see below)!
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - top completed!! (see below)
4. Minion QAL - no progress
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - blocks for my two partners done (see below)
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - finally able to share it (see below)!
9. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" started
10. Secret event (February 2017) - well... few blocks done, but cannot share yet :)
11. Secret event (August 2017) - button completed :) cannot share
12. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017)  - no progress
13. Teal Mini Swap - top assembled (see below)
14. Xmas decorations - mine almost completed (see below)
15. Bullet Journaling - updates on few collections (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - 2 blocks done (see below)
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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On September 13th, I was one of the participats in "The Road Home Row Along"

Hosted by Marian @ seamstobesew and Amy @ sewincrediblycrazy

You can read my full post HERE (with the pattern to download and the giveaways).

This is what my row actually looks like

Yeah, it's missing the embroidery clothline and the thread sketched shadow for the postcards...

Oh well :) eventually it will go in a quilt and I will add those!! :)

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The last board for the Play with Me QAL!

Even if this is the last board, you could still join and have the chance to win amazing prizes for the final giveaway of the QAL. If you made even a single board, you could win one of SEVEN prizes... just saying :) Just send me an email or leave a comment below if you have questions!

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I finally assembled the baby quilt from Melissa's Summer Solstice QAL.
This is where the "curvy week" started :)

I think the design is really beautiful!!

I love the effect of the circle in the middle and the curved border. I will just have to remember to use more stable fabric: I used fabric donated for charity quilts, and some of it was much thinner than others... this caused some frustration during the assembly... however I never aim at perfect points, so who cares!! :)

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Without even realizing it, I designed this mini for my Teal Swap partner... it's curved piecing again!!
Well, with all this practice I am getting better!! :)

18'' x 18''

She said she likes country colors... I thought I didn't have any "country" colors because it's not my style at all... but this is where precut bundles come very handy: I had many charm packs and layer cakes where I pulled out the colors I liked... and guess what was left behind? "country" colors!! :)

I wanted to coordinate well with the teal fabric we were given and I really like the final effect and layout. I hope my partner will like it too!!

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Ok, seriously? When I checked the blocks that one of my Hello Block Swap partners for September wanted, guess what I found... Curved piecing again!! Oh well!! :)

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Back with my embroidery quotes from Stephen King books. The pictures are not that great, but I don't have time to take better ones so for now this will have to do :)

The Dark Tower

Wolves of the Calla

I will share the pattern eventually on Fandom in Stitches... if you want them before, just send me an email or leave a comment with your contact info and I will send it your way!
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It's never too soon to start my Xmas decoration project!
I make one handmade decoration for my tree each year... using all kind of techniques and materials. This year is cross stitching!!

It is not complete yet, so next week I will have a better picture, and maybe a pattern :)

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I have been using my Bullet Journaling system pretty consistently and I found that it helps me being creative and productive!!
I will discuss the daily/weekly/monthly trackers next month, but these are just few collections that I really loved keeping up with

(Left) Zen art challenge: a little zentagle each day. Not my best work, but given the size of the notebook, I think it's pretty cool!

(Right) organizing my thoughts and activity for a "Lunch with Friends" I hosted last week. I am a single person, with a single kitchen and just two hands :) Having the full plan on what to cook and when (and what to clean) was essential to guarantee the success of the lunch!

"Doodle an Artist" collection! Every 15 days I will pick an artist (painter probably) and doodle elements from some of her/his pieces! First month: Salvador Dali! 

I have no art training nor background, so keeping the doodles simple, no color, little shading is helping me a lot improving my sketching skills! I am officially Stealing like an Artist (cit. A. Kleon).

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Curved piecing and Minions (and a link party)

So many projects in my mind, very few down on fabric :) 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August pattern released (see below)
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - I am catching up! (see below)
4. Minion QAL - all blocks quilted and joined (see below)
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - blocks for my August partner done (see below) 
7. Splendid Sampler - no progress
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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Seriously... last week I mentioned 5 reasons why I love Melissa's (HappyQuilting) QAL... let's add another one: it is so easy to catch up!!

With her easy and clear instructions it took me just 3 nights to make all the Flying Geese and all the Drunkard Path blocks!!
Some are perfect, like painted by Giotto... other are less perfect, like painted by Giotto's 1 year old son moderately drunk ;) but I really enjoyed the process, especially because I alternated FG and DP construction so I wouldn't get bored or frustrated. By the end of the process, I think I am a pro at curved piecing (especially considering that I am not precise cutting the pieces).

Since I caught up with all the FG, I wanted to see how all the pieces look on my design floor :)

 (mising some 3'' squares, but everything else looks great!)

Making this project I learned a fantastic lesson: when we use the "no waste or little waste" methods (for either HST, FG or DP) directional fabric and stripes are tricky because pieces will go in opposite directions. However... if you mix the stripes with gingham fabric and polka dots, the "misaligned" lines won't be so striking and they will blend right in with the rest (or at least that what my eyes thinks :) ). Also mixing the scale probably helps.

I am looking forward to the assembly direction because it was quite challenging to arrange those pieces without the clear instructions that Melissa always has!! :)

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By chance, the August board for my Play with Me QAL is also featuring curved piecing! However the pieces here are much much bigger so they are easier to stitch (and they are also fewer ;) ).

If you are interested in learning more about the QAL, you can read everything on the Play with Me QAL official page!

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I made two blocks from my August's partner for the  Hello Block Swap.

Block pattern available here

Butterfly pattern available here

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Finally I finished quilting around each character!

Now I just need to add a border and I will be done. I took the quilt to the quilt shop to pick the perfect fabric. A lady saw the quilt and said "oh, this is so cute, a little kid will be so happy to have it!" and then she corrected herself "oh, well, maybe this is for a teenager"... well... the last time I was called a "teenager" was about 20 years ago ;)
Minions are for all ages!! :)
P.S. I am finishing up the pattern for the "tower of minions" block and tonight I will submit it to Fandom in Stitches, so it will be available soon for others to enjoy!! :)
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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Back to crafting (and a linky party)

I came back home from the work trip. 

I don't have much to share but something is better than nothing!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August pattern ready to stitch
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) - dropped. Too many other things to do this month
3. Minion QAL - no progress
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - two blocks done (see below)
5. Splendid Sampler - one block done (see below)
6. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - three blocks done (see below)
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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I made two blocks from my July's partner for the  Hello Block Swap.

Blocks I made for Laura

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I also finished block 36 of the Splendid Sampler project.

While I like embroidery, I hate french knots and I don't like much the lazy daisy stitch.

However I wanted to give this block a try as close to the original as possible. 

In this block I also experimented with glow in the dark embroidery thread (works great) and with the soluble sulky embroidery stabilizer (it was ok... I was able to see the stitches traced on it and it washed away just fine. I didn't particularly enjoyed stitching on it, but probably just because I didn't stabilized properly)

Block 35

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The only other thing I made are three blocks for my Stephen King project.

I prepared 5 blocks for my trip as I thought I would have time to make them.

While I had time, I didn't seem to be in the mood. So I made half of one during the trip and completed the rest yesterday.

The Long Walk, The Stand, Gerald's Game (7.5''x5'')

Well, I hope to have a more productive week ahead!

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Oh, I also added some side panels to this great t-shirt I got in the kids section of a shop :) I got the biggest size they had but it was still a little too tight on the belly :) I watched some youtube tutorials and then I gave it a try. Easier than I thought!! It is not perfect but I use it as a pijamas so who cares! Next time I will add less fabric (because now it's a little too big) and I will make it narrower at the top. But as a first experiment this went great!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

A lot got done (and a link party)

After a week of not sharing, I am back with several projects!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - July block will be released on Monday!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) - kind of dropped, maybe, not sure :)
3. Minion QAL - several blocks done, final layout pieced, started quilting! (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - two blocks received (planning what to do for July's partner) (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - finished, washed and in use! (see below)
6. Splendid Sampler - one more block done (see below)
7. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece
8. Pumpkin's bed - done, interesting project (see below)

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - no progress
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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--

One more block for Selvage Splendid Sampler:

Due to the tinytinytiny size of these hexies (about 3/8 of an inch) I couldn't really use selvages. So I used batiks, as they really pop against the black background!

It was fun to learn a new technique to make hexies: Hexies from a circle!, no template and this is the only way to make it work with this so tiny size for me!

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I received my blocks from my other June's partner for the  Hello Block Swap.

Blocks that I received from Jane

I love how wonky and scrappy the entire quilt will look!!! I cannot wait to have more block to arrange in a nice design!!

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I got my American quilt (renamed "Tu vuo' fa' l'americano") from the Professional Long Arm Quilter (Marcia from Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting). She did an AMAZING JOB with the quilting. I asked her an all over meander with stars, but she added some custom quilting which makes it suuuper special!!

Size: 55'' x 72''

"Tu vuo' fa' l'americano"

Center blocks from the Americana QAL, Snail trail border from the Block Swap Adventure!

Amazing quilting, from the back!

This was my first experience with a long armer... I won a coupon for a discount so I thought it was a great opportunity to try it, especially on this quilt that is a Xmas present for my dad. I am extremely happy with the experience and final result. Xmas is far away, so I started using the quilt (perfect for the 4th of July, right?) ;)

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Two projects that are kind of the "spur of the moment"

Cat bed from "See Kate Sew" 

My cat name is Pumpkin... I thought that the fabric was just too perfect not to use it for her little cat bed. I used the wrong material for the "foam filling" so the structure doesn't hold up that well... so I tried to hang it and see if Pumpkin likes it... if not I can put it on the floor. It's summer here, so I am not sure if she wants to sneak in there any time soon... but in the meantime it's nice to look at it I guess :)

A zipper pouch, GPS holder... because we got a new GPS and I wanted a cover that matches a previous credit card wallet I made for my boyfriend :)

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And last, but not least... the Minion QAL is over!

These are the last two blocks I made

And then... I assembled all the blocks in the final layout!

I am quilting the three sections separately and then joining them with a QAYG method. I will also add a special border... stay tuned to see that!

I actually already quilted 5 of the blocks (backgrounds) so I may be able to finish the quilt in a month or so (I have a trip for work, so I won't be able to quilt much in the next weeks)! I am very excited!!!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

A Splendid week (and a link party)

This was one of my most productive week ever!!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - June released!
2. WGACA projects (changed projects)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. SECRET quilt for exhibit - (FDJ) - no progress
3. Minion QAL - half block done (hope to have it done soon)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - one block received and one block done (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - shipped to the quilter!
6. Splendid Sampler - TEN blocks done (see below)
7. Challenge quilt - idea abandoned
8. Road Home Row-A-Long - sent out pattern, no progress on finishing my piece

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - one block done and several more designed!
4. the 31000 Xs project - no progress
5. Spirit cross stitch project - no progress
6. Alice in Wonderland quilt - no progress
7. As You Wish -  no progress
8. Crazy optical illusion - no progress
9. Memory quilt 2 - no progress
10. Gyleen's BCP Mystery QAL - no progress

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The new board block was released last Monday: Ludo (done with traditional piecing). So fun, fast and easy!

Find all the details at alidatweloqdesigns.blogspot.com

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This week has been a SPLENDID week: I made 10 blocks for my Selvage Splendid Sampler:

Once I get my selvages out, these blocks are so easy and fast! I am still quite behind, but I prefer to make these blocks in big batches instead of one every three days!!

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I completed the block for my second partner for June for the Hello Block Swap.

A little house in a block, white and black fabric. Busy but cute I think!

And this is the one that she made for me (she mailed it earlier, so nice of her!!)

Block that I received from Cathryn

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Finally I went back to my Stephen King project. I have been designing embroidery blocks to have them with me for a upcoming working related trip: being away from my sewing machine will be hard, but having hand sewing projects will be great!

I also completed one of the book covers. I decided to use reverse applique, and on a such a small piece it didn't turn out so wonderful. The effect is fine, but I don't think I will ever use this approach on a tiny piece like this.

7.5''x5''

The Long Walk, book cover

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up