Threads of Resistance 2 (and a link party)

I completed two projects and made good progress on a third one!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - finished one bonus block with a new tool, so fun! (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - completed several "filler" blocks (see below)
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - designed a new block, ready to stitch
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - paused until May
6. En Provence QAL - no progress
7. Journaling into my Quilter's Planner - progress every day and new projects to share next month!
8. 70273 Project - blocks ready to sew, but not completed
9. Book binding - no progress
10. Twilters! Bee - paused until May
11. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)
12. Face scrubbies - so easy and so useful!! (see below)

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A while ago I made the piece below for a Project QUILTING challenge. It was not completed because the I was waiting for the right inspiration to finish the quilting and the binding...

And the right inspiration came last week!

So let me introduce the first piece I will submit to the Threads of Resistance exhibit: DRESS CODE... (read the story of the piece in this post)

 21'' x 30''

I have to write up the artist's statement, but I am really happy with the final look of this piece!!!

By quilting vertical lines over the embroidery and applique on the left I learned that quilting lines do not distort or distract from those elements! Until now, I've always avoided quilting over embroidery details because I though the stitching will compromise the readability of those quotes: with this piece I didn't really care if those quotes on the left would be less readable so I decided to give it a try and it worked just fine! Everything is readable, but the quilting added the desired texture and made that part sink to the background while the quotes on the right (unquilted) puff up and grab your attention: the perfect effect I was hoping to get!

Then I framed the right part with a nice grey binding with gold accents... and I felt that the left part didn't deserve to be framed... that's why I enclosed the edge with a rough zigzag stitch that keeps the unravelling of the fabric exposed in some spots and the batting is partially visible. 

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Thanks to my monthly goal of completing the fillers block for my version of the Splendid Sampler, I had the incentive of completing 10 blocks! They are super easy and super scrappy but they have a ton of pieces so they take some time to complete... but I am on a good track to fulfill my goal!!

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And finally a useful and easy project!
I hate using cotton makeup remover pads because they leave some lint behind and they are too tiny for the way I use them, so I need to use at least two every day... So I switched to makeup remover wipes, which are bigger, but now they are too big for me... and both of them are disposable so I contribute to create more garbage every day... why??? especially considering that with the material in my house and my skills I can create soft, right-sized, cute, cotton pads that are reusable :)
So that's what I did!!

These can be just thrown in the laundry with everything else and when they are completely used and ruined (which will take months and months) I can throw them away and make more!

There was a very difficult part of this project... and it was getting the label off the vitamin container that I use to store my face scrubbies :) so much glue on that label!! but the container is great and now it adds a touch of decor in my bathroom :)
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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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WHY? I need your help! (and a link party)

In weeks full of burocratic craziness, making things is what keeps me sane! :)

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - completed two April blocks, an one May block (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - no progress
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - shared on March 1st!!!
6. Project QUILTING - "Old times, good times" COMPLETED (see below)
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Journaling into my Quilter's Planner - no progress
9. 70273 Project - no progress
10. Book binding - two little notebook done (see below)
11. Twilters! Bee - March block done (see below)
12. MP pillow cover - done! it's my entry for Project QUILTING (see below)
13. MP hat - changed my mind... made a little pouch instead (see below)
14. 2017 Pantone Quilt Challenge: entries will be open from May 19 to May 29. My piece is ready since January :)

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When the Challenge 6 of Project QUILTING was announced I had a hard TIME finding the inspiration :). I didn't want to interpret it litterally as I imagine many would and I always want to be different :) Well, time made me think about "old times"... "old times" "fun times"... and this means Disney! :) yes, from where I was able to read to waaaay after I started college, every week, I read the Topolino (an italian comics magazine with the adventure of Donal Duck, Mickey Mouse and their friends and family). That is why I made the following piece (inspired by recent books about Art History... aren't these duck Mona Lisa and Cezanne's duck model just so cute??)

"Old times, good times"

(38'' x 23'')

Now WHYYYYY??? WHY DID THAT HAPPEN???
Of course I refer to the red bleeding :( :( :(
I know why the bleeding happened, I forgot the color catcher, that is not my question...
My question is, WHY did only ONE fabric absorbed the red loose color?
I am a scientist so I want to know...

The two applique pieces are absolutely perfect, no change in color there. This could be because they have Heat'n'Bond on the back, which may change the physical properties of those fabric pieces.
Ok.. that makes sense...
What it DOESN'T make much sense to me is why the absorption pattern is not consistent.

You can see above that the ombre fabric absorbed all of the red color but right against the part where there is a lot of red, the light blue fabric didn't absorbe a thing! The backing fabric also didn't absorbe anything and it is not any more pink than when it started.
The ombre fabric is designer high-quality fabric...
The light blue fabric is designer high-quality fabric...
The backing fabric is big box store fabric...

So can someone help me understand this phenomenon?

By the way, I am not too sad about the bleeding because I was planning to applique flowers around the two Lady Ducks anyway, so no problem there... plus the slight pink tone of the background now makes it more integrated with the other colors of the piece :)

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My last two Splendid Sampler blocks... my total count is 44 and I have a plan to put them in an interesting layout... more on this later next month

Block 98 and Block 91

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My block for the Twilter's Bee swap

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Two more little handmade notebook stitching the bookbinding :)

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I was planning to make my mom a little knitted hat... then I tried to knit a head band... after 1 hour of knitting I remember that I highly dislike knitting :)

Then I found this video for a cute Accordion Pouch by Shabby Fabrics: it is sooooo easy, sooo fast and sooooo cute... Another Xmas present for 2017! :)

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

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Blocks blocks blocks (and a link party)

Quite a productive week!

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Growing Up QAL - February block(s) are ready to be released on Monday (cannot share)
2. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
3. Charity quilts - no progress
4. SK project - no progress
5. Molli Sparkle's "The Honey Pot Bee" - stitched my block (March) and completed one of the February blocks (see below)
6. Project QUILTING - "Rough Texture", project done (see below)
7. En Provence QAL - no progress
8. Bullet Journaling into my Quilter's Planner - I was planning a "January" review but I didn't have time or energy to do this... so I will do it next month!
9. 70273 Project - Four blocks done (see below)
10. Book binding - no progress
11. Twilters! Bee - new swap I joined, but haven't started this month block yet

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My weekly contribution to the 70273 project.

Check this link if you want to contribute!!

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When the Challenge 3 of Project QUILTING was announced I was trying to think what to use for my inspiration... and looking around me the only thing I could see was divisiveness and fear... so the only thing that came up to my mind when I thought about "texture" was barbwire.

I know how it feels to be in fear because I am an immigrant... I have the right religion (right, for now), I have the right skin color (right, for now), I come from the right country (right, for now), I have the right gender (at least if I just talk about make up and "dress like a woman") but I couldn't express my vote in the election. I respect the system, so that's fine, but I go to work every day for the American people, to support terribly sick people and give my contribution to maybe one day discover a cure for the worst illnesses. And the American people sent me a message that I am unwelcome, useless and unwanted. It is hard to keep doing my job... but then I go to work and I see real people suffering and I don't care if they voted for him or not: I will give them my decades of education, experience and hard work until they decide I am disposable. But until then, I will keep fighting for them too, because there is hope for humanity, we have seen it happening in the worst times of history: as long as some humans maintain some of their humanity and spread love instead of hate and fear, there is hope.

So this is my piece for the challenge

Rough texture, 5''x7''

I appliqued irregular strips of red, white and blue and I overlay a dryer sheet to create the texture effect and then I thread painted the barbwire design. I also cut out pieces of the dryer sheet just to add more interest in the texture.

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After the sadness of the early days of the week, however, I decided to turn toward the positive part of humanity so I decided to focus on inspirational blocks for my Splendid Sampler (with selvages and batiks) journey!

Block 96 (which I rename "Peace in the sunshine")

Block 88... "Love is the answer"

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And last, but not least, I stitched up the block for February The Honey Pot Bee.

Quilter's Pantry box, by Adrianne

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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Started another QAL (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 ready to share (cannot share)
2. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - new top started (see 3.)
3. Summer Solstice QAL - jumped in with the HST (will donate this quilt) (see below)
4. Minion QAL - 3 more blocks quilted, 2 missing
5. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
6. Hello Block Swap - paused until next month 
7. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
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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Especially in the middle of the summer I feel usually creatively tired. The projects started early during the year look boring, no energy to dedicate to create new projects (even if there are many in my head right now), so what is the best strategy? Join one of Melissa's (HappyQuilting) QAL!

I love love love her QAL for a ton of reasons:

1. the designs are usually very simple but not boring (check out all the ones she designed over the years)
2. the time given between each step is usually about 2-3 weeks. I love this because there are QALs that ask you to make a gazillion of HST in 1 week.. and while you don't have to complete them all, I always feel behind with those timeline! More than 2 weeks for simple steps make me lose interest... so I think 2 weeks is the perfect timeframe
3. she uses very simple shapes, so that's refreshing for me since I usually make complicated paper piecing blocks
4. her tutorials are amazing! step by step pictures, with tips and great advices. Even if by now I know how to make HST, I always read everything through, because every time there is something that I may have missed before
5. she offers always many size options! many designers simply say "do you want to make it bigger? make more blocks! Do you want it smaller? make less blocks" :) ehm... ok... I have no problem with that... however usually I want to make it smaller by resizing the blocks because I want the overall design to be the same! That's where Melissa is amazing! She always have very simple tables that shows you the size of a finished block (multiple sizes) and how you many you want to have (1x1, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4). So the only thing I have to do is decide the general design I want and then find the cutting and assembly instruction for that. Easy peasy!

I jumped in the QAL a little late, but I will make the flying geese after she releases the next instructions (that's also where the 2-3 weeks time is great: to catch up!!)

This week was HST

I used fabric donated, and I will make this to a baby quilt (2x2 layout).

Colors are terrible in the picture because it was night and I didn't want to wait to take the picture :)

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The only other thing I made are two more blocks for the Splendid Sampler

Block 42

Bonus block

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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Fancy pot holders (and a linky party)

Not much to share but a couple of small finishes are better than nothing!! 

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - August completed (cannot share)
2. WGACA projects (abandoned the idea... the strategy didn't work, oh well, it was good to test it)
1. Charity Quilts for DC General Homeless Shelter project - no progress
2. Minion QAL - quilted around all characters. 6 blocks quilted, 5 missing
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - paused until next month 
5. Splendid Sampler - two blocks done (see below)
6. Road Home Row-A-Long - no progress on finishing my piece
7. Folded star pot holder - two, 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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I also finished a couple of blocks for the Splendid Sampler project.

Block 31

Block 41

Current total: 29... you can see them all on my Sampler page!

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The only other thing I made are these two fancy pot holders

10''x10''

Tutorial available on the modabakeshop

I used several pieces that I received in various Quilty Box. I tend to really like the fabric but I never used them with the project/pattern they come with :) I guess it's my rebel nature.

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

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

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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?

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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

Minion invasion (and a link party)

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

The Ongoing Project List:

1. Play with Me QAL - June ready to be shared!
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 - THREE Minions done (see below)
3. Mirror Mirror Afghan - no progress
4. Hello Block Swap - two blocks for June done! (see below)
5. American Quilt (previous known as Americana QAL) - shipped to the quilter!
6. Splendid Sampler - no progress (but I did something with a pattern from there, 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 - two more blocks done (see below)
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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You may remember from last week... I have a new obsession: hot dog pillow cases! I made 3 more!

3 new hot dog pillow cases: tutorial by Jennifer @ sewhooked

The two on the left will be sent out as a gift with the pouch below.
The one on the right is for my boyfriend because he said he loved that circuit/binary fabric... and of course I didn't have enough to complete the pillow case... and it's out of print, nowhere to be found :( :( :( oh, well... I think that the piecing worked.

Now who is the only one without a nice pillow case? Me of course!!
I need to measure my giant pillow and make one for myself!!
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I made this scrappy zipper pouch for a friend.
It is pretty big, I am not super pleased by the lining, but I think it will be loved and used! :)

Heart block and zipper pouch pattern available at www.thesplendidsampler.com

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Then I made this block from "My Favorite Things" (by Jennifer)

Fast and easy pattern to get me back into paper piecing mode...
And thanks to that I also made a couple of more XX blocks for the 70273 Project.

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Then I saw the Minion Design Invitation... so here are my blocks!

The Evil Minion was made of the wrong size... fixed in the pattern but for my block I just added a border... and some fuzzy yarn to make the hair, because it's fun!!
The Royal Minion is just simple embroidery and it was super fast to make!!

The patterns will be available at the end of June 2016 from Fandom In Stitches.

And after completing my two blocks, I went back and complete this other Minion

Egyptian Minion by Jennifer Rowles

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And the last thing I made are two blocks for one of my June partners for the Hello Block Swap.

I couldn't really decide on a color scheme and the block is so simple... so I made two :)

Patterns by sewmamasew

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How about you? What are YOU up to?

Link it here and share it with me!!

An InLinkz Link-up