Where is this month going? (and a link party)

Time is flying! I have so many projects to work on and I feel so slow! Oh well, better slow and steady than doing nothing at all ;) 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - October block 1 done (cannot share) :)
2. Art with Disney QAL (2018) - finished assembling one more block, but need to quilt it!
3. Splendid Sampler - no progress
4. Charity quilts - no progress
5. SK project - third bookshelf section completed (see below)
6. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - waiting for July's block
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Journaling into my new Leuchtturm 1917 - loooove it, will share in August!
9. the 70273 Project - no progress
10. Book binding - no progress
11. Twilters! Bee - made July blocks (see below)

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I am working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt: for July One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts (#24)  I plan to have a total of 4 bookshelf setions done... this is the third

And these are 4 of the book covers I need for the forth section.

Maybe I will be able to actually complete my project in time for the finish link up!!

More close ups and patterns will be available on Fandom In Stitches in August as part of the "Long Live King, Stephen" stitch-along :)

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And last, but not least, I completed two blocks for the Twilter's block swap. Aren't these cat cute?

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

It's a slow, slow summer (and a link party)

I have been stitching, designing and planning, but I have been quite slow... oh well, let's enjoy the summer!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - July blocks will be shared tomorrow, August and September blocks are ready (cannot share). Already decided on what to do for my 2018 QAL :)
2. Art with Disney QAL (2018) - a second QAL for 2018 because why running a single event when you can run two! :) :) I assembled a block, but didn't quilt it, so I will share it probably next week!
3. Splendid Sampler - no progress
4. Charity quilts - no progress
5. SK project - one bookshelf section completed (see below)
6. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - waiting for July's block
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Journaling into my new Leuchtturm 1917 - loooove it, will share in August!
9. the 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
10. Book binding - no progress
11. Twilters! Bee - paused until July

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I am working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt: I was planning to have 2 bookshelf sections ready as my One Monthly Goal for June... well... fell short :(
I have one done, and I collected the blocks for the second one, so it's not too bad...
But for July One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts I put back again this project, and I plan to have a total of 4 bookshelf setions done: so I have 2 now, 2 to go

More close ups and patterns will be available on Fandom In Stitches in August as part of the "Long Live King, Stephen" stitch-along :)
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More blocks for the the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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And last, but not least, Jennifer sent out a call for blocks to make a quilt for a kid in need. This is my block!

Broadway Lion King, by Jennifer Ofenstein

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Worked on many projects this week (and a link party)

Finally I worked on projects I can share!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - no progress
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - 3 blocks done, two more designed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - completed June block (see below)
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Journal/Planner - working on it every day!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - paused until July
11. Zipper pouch - completed! (see below)

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Working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt: in addition to book covers and quotes I will be adding objects that are connected to SK... this week I designed a block that resembles the bats/gargoyles he has on the top of his home entrance gates :)
For "Carrie" book cover I used regular Heat'n'Bond for the Carrie's silhouette, but I used Ultra Bond for the letters. The instructions say "Do not sew" on the Ultra bond, so I will try to leave it as is (and stitch around the silhouette): let's see if I will loose those after few washes or if the letters will stay on, let's hope for the best! :)

Carrie, book cover

Buick 8, opening line

SK house gate decor

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The block for the The Honey Pot Bee (June): keeping up with the Disney/Cartoon theme, this is Alice in Wonderland, of course :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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My partner really like this fabric and I made him a credit card wallet and a GPS pouch... he just got a new phone, and the leftover fabric was EXACTLY the size I needed to make a zipper pouch for his new phone. Now everything matches! :)

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Last but not least...

I started to design (and sew) a quilt that I will be offering as a QAL in 2018 on Fandom In Stitches! 

It is inspired by a recent publication of a newspaper in Italy. This weekly newspaper came out with a series of books about art history explained through disney characters. Of course I told my mom to buy all of them because how can I miss out on that?? :) 

Since the covers of those books are absolutely amazing, I decided to turn them into patterns and make a quilt for myself with all those inspiring artists through history!!

The blocks are fusible raw edge applique blocks, and I started with these two (Leonardo and Cezanne). If you are curious to see the original publication, check it here... the site it's in italian but you can see the books :) http://inedicola.gruppoespresso.it/prodotto/scoprire-arte-disney/

I am planning to make a quilt for myself with many of these covers, but I also wanted to include contemporary artists too! So I designed a block for Kara Walker, a block for Yayoi Kusama, and here below the latest creation, inspired by the work of Adam Lister (check his creations here). 

I have been in touch with Adam because I asked his permission to reproduce one of his paintings as a mini for the AMB Tiny Quilt challenge (my quilt: Vincent) and we also exchanged art pieces when I made this mini quilt for his daughter (in exchange he sent me one of his wonderful paintings).

Given how he inspired me and given his very unique style, I wanted to include him in my art history/disney quilt: he said his favorite character is Goofy, so let me introduce you...

Goofy Lister, , 20'' x 20''

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Mostly sewing for future reveals (and a link party)

A lot of sewing for projects that will be shared later in the year, so not much to show today!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - July blocks ready, August blocks ready, started September ones :)
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - completed one block
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - paused until June
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Journal/Planner - keeping up with it!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - made 4 blocks for the June's Queen
11. Zipper pouch - picked fabric

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Working on my blocks for the Stephen King Quilt.

Lisey's Story, opening line

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Few blocks for a block exchange in the Twilters! group

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Community sewing (and a link party)

Sewing along and events that people join as a group are so fun and inspiring!  

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - Working on future blocks (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - few rows
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - one block completed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - completed (wrong but ok, see below)
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Jounral/Planner - loving the new format (more at the end of the month)!
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - waiting for June
11. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!

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More progress on my Stephen King project... I will run an event on Fandom In Stitches this summer with many of these blocks! I hope people will enjoy making them too!!

Black House - Opening line

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I completed my second piece for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop that will start ON MAY 15TH!!!

The block involved piecing, applique, quilting, embroidery and crochet!!  

Curious? Come back THIS COMING MONDAY!!!!

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I made three bags for the #BusyBagSewAlong. I saw this sewalong on Yvonne's blog and it is run as a collaboration with The Quilter’s Planner to benefit Sadie’s Dream For a Cure

The first bag was made with a kit that I ask them to send me. They sent me the kit (all cut and ready to sew) and an extra label that I attached on a second bag... and then I decided to make a third bag, because, why not! The pattern is very easy to follow and the bag doesn't take much fabric.
I used fabric that was donated to me a while ago for charity quilts. Unfortunately I am stuck with those projects because putting together a quilt seems to be a "big project" so I always postpone it... but these bags are easy and fast, so I am happy to be able to help children in need with these practical objects!

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And last, but not least... two (wrong) blocks for the The Honey Pot Bee sew along: they were supposed to be leaves... I cut them wrong, so I turned them into modern striped block and moved on! I loved the fabric I used and I didn't have enough to make more blocks so these are the blocks that I will use in my quilt! :)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fun with embroidery (and a link party)

A lot of embroidery (some shared, some secret) this week!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - May blocks shared! (see blow)
2. Splendid Sampler - no progress
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - two blocks completed (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - will work on this today
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my new Jounral/Planner - loving the new format (more at the end of the month) !
8. 70273 Project - 4 blocks done (see below)
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - completed May's blocks!! (see below)
11. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)

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More blocks for the 70273 Project. If you are curious to see some of the beautiful quilts made with all these blocks check out this Pinterest board!
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Good progress on my Stephen King project... I have almost all 50 opening lines completed! Soon I will need to put together a little recap post because I haven't seen some of those blocks in years ;)

The Cell, The Dreamcatcher - Opening lines

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I also completed one of my piece for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop that will start ON MAY 15TH!!!

The block involved piecing, applique, quilting, embroidery and crochet!!  

Curious? Come back next week!!!

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Twilters! Bee block swap... I couldn't resist, and I had to make two :) block from Missouri Star Quilt Co.

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Struggling with time (and a link party)

Where did the time go?! These past few weeks have been quite crazy!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - March block(s) ready (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - one block done (see below)
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - one block done (see below)
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - no progress
6. Project QUILTING - "We the Rainbow", project done (see below)
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Bullet Journaling into my Quilter's Planner - no progress
9. 70273 Project - no progress
10. Book binding - three small notepad done (see below)
11. Twilters! Bee - completed first block

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When the Challenge 4 of Project QUILTING was announced I immediately knew what it was going to be about for me... rainbow = colors = skin color = diversity = equality = inclusion = we the people!

So this is my piece for the challenge: it includes rainbow flags that celebrate equality and diversity and there is a gradient of many kind of skin colors, textures, tones, all walks of life... we the people!

(temporary title) We the Rainbow, 32''x21''

I have to be honest: I don't think my piece is "done".

It is complete, in the sense that it is stitched and quilted, so it qualifies for the challenge...but the piece is still talking to me... the piece wants to say more, but she needs more time to express her thoughts :)

This is where I struggle for these short timed challenges: while it's great to have the incentive of completing the piece, sometimes a piece need to percolate in your mind a little longer...

Especially a piece that I plan to submit for the Threads of Resistance exhibits... 

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One more block for my Splendid Sampler (with selvages and batiks) journey!

Block 75 - Stitch Crazy

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Anothe block for my Stephen King collection.

The Gunslinger - Book Cover - 5''x7.5''

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The block I made as part of a Bee swap

"My Birds", Pattern by Tina

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And last, but not least, I made few more stitched notebooks! I used some fancy cardstock and some graph paper and I think they turned out pretty nice!!

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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 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

One block is better than nothing (and a linky party)

Finished several things but the weather is not cooperating, so pictures next week!!!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
2. Summer Solstice QAL - no progress
3. Minion QAL - FINISHED! washing right now! more next week
4. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
5. Hello Block Swap - got partners information, will work on the blocks
6. Splendid Sampler - no progress
7. Secret event (January 2017) - "coloring" started
8. Secret event (February 2017) - few more blocks done, but cannot share yet :)
9. Secret event (August 2017) - no progress
10. Secret event (Feb-Oct 2017)  - worked more on the design!!
11. Xmas decorations - no progress
12. Bullet Journaling - working on this every day!
13. Sew Together bag - two almost ready!

The EverythingElse List:

1. 70273 Project - no progress
2. Jane T - no progress
3. The SK project - one block 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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One little block, cover of a Stephen King book!
The pattern will be shared in Fandom in Stitches eventually, but if you want it, just leave me a comment with your contact info

The Wind Through the Keyhole

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Last, but not least, this is the block I received for my second Hello Block Swap partner in September.

I have 3 blocks to choose, and people can pick they favorite colors too...

It is interesting to notice that I am getting many of these quarter flowers.

Block sent by Stephanie

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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