Travelling and Stitching

I wasn't posting much over the last week as I was out gallivanting -- I made a flying visit to see my parents and had a very busy week! But in the midst of all the visiting and such, I also learned something new. My mom is an expert crocheter, and has tried to teach me in the past. I asked for more lessons, and this time it took. I started with the basic stitches 

Then I moved on to trying a granny square 

This was extremely basic for my Mom, but I felt very accomplished when I had finished! Now I really want to learn more about this craft. 

We also stopped in to a quilt shop when we visited Canmore, as recommended by my Mom, who is also a quilter. The Sugar Pine Company had quilting, embroidery, knitting, crochet, sewing supplies, needle felting and more. It was a fun chance to look around at such a variety of things, but knowing I had limited space to carry things home, I settled on a yard of text print fabric and a Purple Thang, which I've always wanted ;) 

Do you try to fit in craftiness when you travel? I sure do, and I'm so glad that my Mom and I can shop and learn together, too!

February Blahs and March Plans!

I didn't get a single garment sewn in February! I had great plans, patterns that were matched up with beautiful fabrics, and challenges I wanted to participate in. But somehow I fell into a sewing slump and didn't get much done at all. 

I did finish a small auction quilt for my SAQA group, and cut out a Burda top which I am about half through (beautiful fabrics). I traced off the pattern for the Nikki Blazer that I planned on making for the Black History Month Pattern Designer Challenge but didn't get any further than that -- the first time I've missed a project for this challenge in a few years. 

Even with an extra day in February, it was a slow sewing month. I lost my drive to finish stuff, spending more of time both sorting my space and reading a lot of textile magazines and websites. I needed to relax a bit, I think! But after some rest, and watching some of the fashion month shows on youtube, and feeling a bit more organized in my space, I think I've got the sewing bug back and will finish my current top project so I can start on my next few ideas. I have a dress planned as part of my Fabricville blogging routine (cute fabric!) and some ideas for a Matchy Matchy Spring outfit as part of the latest PatternReview contest. And of course just some fun ideas of my own for no other reason than just because I want to make them! 

Do you ever fall into sewing slumps? If so, how do you shake yourself out of them? 

February Sewing & Challenges!

 

It's February already, and I have lots of sewing plans for the month. There are some regular sewing challenges that I'm planning to join in on, as well as some of my own sewing plans to come. 

I always love the #BHMPatternDesigners Challenge! It's hosted mainly on IG but you can find all the details and links to many designers, and the challenge sponsors and their February discounts, on the BHMPD website now, as well. 

I've made a few different items for this challenge over the years (even won a prize one year!) but this year I think I've decided to make the Nikki Blazer by Style Sew Me which I bought in 2022. Sadly, this shop is now closed but I have the pattern so will go for it. I'm really loving fitted jackets lately. I've even put this pattern on my MakeNine for this year, for extra incentive! I have two potential fabrics in my stash that I am wavering between. Now I will have to decide... 

Another pattern that I haven't bought yet but am very tempted by is the Ada Peplum top by Duana Studio. The sleeve, with its button detail, is so cute! 

And I really love so many of the patterns found at Les Lubies de Cadia like the Girna dress or the most recent Lysiane blouse. Swoon! 

Another focus of my sewing this month is due to an unhappy anniversary coming up. February 24 will mark the second year of Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is still going on, and still as awful as ever. I don't want to lose sight of that. 

I'm planning to continue my search for the perfect base for my own Vyshyvanka by making up the Poppy Blouse by PatternScout OR New Look 6704 this month. I want to make the basic pattern up to see if I like the fit and style enough to spend some hours embroidering it. I like my recent ITS Palermo but not 100% sold on it as a Vyshyvanka base yet... 

And I also want to make another project from my MakeNine list, Burda 6354 as a colour blocked top in blue and yellow. 

I think that this will give me lots to work on this month, alongside some art projects I'm starting to get stuck into! We'll see how it goes. Although I do have an extra day this year ;) 

Happy Holidays!

 

Happy Holidays to all my regular readers and sewing compatriots! I will be taking a blog break for the holidays. Will see you back here in a couple of weeks. 

Have a great holiday season and find yourself some relaxation and me-time for sewing and whatever else you love to do! 

Roundup of Interesting Things

 I've been doing some sewing the last little while, as you might have noticed from my last post about projects underway; sadly I can't share anything I've finished this week quite yet as they are both for other things right now. 

But I can share some of the interesting things I've been reading and watching and seeing around the online world! I have found that I've been spending a lot of time listening to podcasts while sewing, and they are 95% sewing/fashion ones -- probably the usual suspects, like Here We Sew Again, PunkFrockers, Check Your Thread, UnCut, Stitch Please, Stitchery Stories, and the Dressed Podcast, among others -- but if you haven't checked these ones out they are all a lot of fun to catch up on. I've also been listening to UkrainianSpaces, a fabulous Ukrainian based podcast (in English) in which the two hosts interview tons of people on a huge range of topics to do with Ukraine, colonialism and much more. So good. 

Talking of Ukraine, through some other podcasts I've discovered some projects people have put together to support Ukrainian refugees. One of these is a cute crochet amigurumi Bear that a Spanish couple designed, to give Ukrainian crocheters a chance to make these and sell them. You can find their info mainly on IG or FB right now, and it looks like orders are via direct message on IG or by email. Look for Amoami.Design. They are quite cute. 

Those of you who were following along with my Peace for Ukraine stitching project this fall might like to know that the designer of that project, Embroidery Art by Nat, is now a refugee herself; she and her husband and cats have left Ukraine and are currently living in Poland while they wait for applications to come to Canada to go through. She asks anyone who can help to join her Patreon, as that is their sole income right now. If you're interested, there are many cool patterns and perks in her Patreon subscription offering including the Peace for Ukraine pattern.

On a lighter note, I've also been watching some street fashion on YouTube to relax. I randomly discovered this Street Style Paris account and have really been enjoying their short videos. Always fun to see real people and daily style. 

I also just watched this London street style video that gives a tour of the wonderful Gingerbread windows at Harrods/Christian Dior. The video is 30 min. long but I just dragged it to the spot that highlights the windows ;) Pretty amazing. Can you imagine being the person to design and make these elaborate window displays happen? Watch this to kick off your holiday spirit ;)

 

Works in Progress, or #waiwot

What Am I Working On Today? Well, at least this week? A bunch of different things! 

I haven't been getting much finished on the garment making side of things. Life is busy, and in my sewing time I've been working on some small art quilts -- one just started and one an older project I've gotten back out to finish. I've just used basting spray for the first time to prep these for stitching and it is FAB! I'll never go back. Lots left to do on these, but I was missing the feeling of prepping a garment. So there's some cutting going on as well. 

What you can't see in the picture is that for the last week or so I've also been deep cleaning and reorganizing my stash. Yikes, so much to look at and it all takes SO much time. I'm nearly there now, just a few more decisions to make and a couple more bins to buy and it should all be somewhat tidier and all the fabric more accessible. That will be a huge relief, and I'm hoping it will also make it easier to grab what I need from my stash without searching for hours. All this 'getting ready' makes me feel like projects will be coming soon. That's the plan anyhow... 

Do you need a tidy space to work or do you prefer more of a creative mess? I've always been solidly on the mess side, but I'm finding that I am starting to need more organization. I guess it's a balance. And I hope I find the right ratio! 

Swaps & Plans!

I had two guild meetings this month that were the last of the season - one for my local Garment Guild and the other for the quilt club I belong to even though I don't really make traditional quilts ;)

Both meetings were swap meets. We were able to bring fabric, patterns or notions and take something new home instead. I was restraining myself - my goal lately is to reduce my stash, not add to it! Still, having taken 35 m. to give away, I felt okay about bringing home 4 m. from the first night and 5 from the next. 

At the Garment Guild swap, I only took two pieces:

First, this soft double sided knit. I'm thinking either a cardi or a dolman sleeve 80s tee. Depends on which pattern fits!

And then I claimed this stretch cotton sateen; I have nearly exactly the same print in a rayon! This might be destined for a slouchy blazer. 

The next night, at the quilt guild, I wasn't planning on taking anything. But I found this length of narrow cotton and was challenged to make a garment from it ;) I'm thinking this Simplicity 8014 shirt dress, in view C or D with minimal seamlines.

Pen for scale

Finally, I took one small piece of cotton because the print was perfect for backing a small space-themed wall quilt I'm currently working on. I'll have lots left for other quilt backs as needed, too. 

So I am pleased with what I brought home. I like all of the fabrics a lot and have plans for them. That's the kind of stash building I want to do. 

Merry Christmas!

  

Photo by Rodion Kutsaev on Unsplash

Merry Christmas to all my readers here! 
 Enjoy your holidays reading, resting, & relaxing. 

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.”

― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada so I'm taking the long weekend off -- no review today! If you are also Canadian, then Happy Thanksgiving to you, and be sure to eat a lot and relax :) 

Projects Underway & Upcoming!

Lots in progress and about to be underway around here. I certainly didn't want to miss the chance to announce that the Literary Sewing Circle is back for our spring session! We will be launching this round next Friday, April 2 -- stay tuned for the title announcement. I'll give you a small hint. It's a genre we haven't tackled together yet...think speculative fiction...and perhaps something translated... The initial post with the title and schedule for the session will appear here in a week.

But no finished projects to share today. This week I've been working on My Body Model sketches, cutting out a couple of things, and giving a little clean up to my sewing space! 

I do have a handful of projects in the queue, and they are all bright & cheery colours just right for Spring. First up is Butterick 6655 in this floral linen blend -- it's about half done and I'm sure it'll be finished shortly. I had to make a few sizing changes on this but nothing too difficult. 

Next I'll be working on the Penrose Blouse. It's cut out and set aside as my next project to sew up. I used a lightweight cotton curtain that I thrifted since I thought it would be perfect for this summery top. 

I also just received 2 yards of this lovely viscose jersey from Sew Much Fabric -- another of my prizes from my recent #BHMPatternDesigners challenge win. I have to prewash it and then it will be made into a jersey dress. I have some pattern ideas but haven't decided on which one exactly, not yet. Suggestions welcome :)

And I'm also starting on a top-secret pattern testing project this weekend, so I'll have lots to keep me busy over the next few weeks. Although I hope you'll join me in some bookish sewing starting next Friday! 

March Miscellany: Projects, Plans, Updates

It's halfway through March and I'm just getting a handle on my sewing! Does anyone else feel like time is an amorphous thing these days? March has brought a lot of different things to my attention, from sewing challenges and sewalongs online, to plans for the next few months, to discovering what is in my stash. 

Something exciting about February was winning a prize in the #BHMPatternDesigners challenge. I've started exploring the Sew It Academy (lots to see there, from classes to patterns!) and am planning on getting my measurements into My Body Model asap so I can get my croquis going -- one of my goals for this year was to learn more about fashion drawing, so I can't imagine a better way of doing it than using a personal croquis from My Body Model. I also received my Spoonflower Makers Welcome Pack this week! It's full of great stuff, including their project book and all the fabric samples, of course. 

There are quite a few online challenges happening too, mostly over on Instagram. I have my eye on #FrugalFrocks2021, run by English sewists @theyorkshiresewgirl and @frugalisima. The goal is to choose a free dress pattern and a fabric from stash, make something up and reveal it on March 31. 

I have a lot of free dress patterns, from Mood, Peppermint Magazine, Love Sewing Magazine, and various designers. I looked through a bunch of them, pulled out about 10 and sorted through them with my stash in mind. I finally decided on my first thought, the Everyday Dress by In the Folds in collaboration with Peppermint Magazine. I already have this one traced out since I've been meaning to make it for ages. And when I looked into my deep stash, I found this stiffer cotton, almost like a curtain fabric, that I'd forgotten I had since it has been in that stash for sooooo long. I have just enough of the 45" fabric to be able to fit it in, if I shorten the sleeves (which I'll always do anyhow, thanks to my short little arms!)

I'm also looking at the sewalong for the Penrose Peasant Blouse by Sew News magazine. It's a cute summer top and I have another curtain fabric calling out for this one, lol! This time the fabric is lightweight with a cheery pineapple/palm print. You can download this free pattern until the end of April.

The @SewOver50 group also has a #So50patternmixing challenge going on for March, but despite having a lot of patterns suitable for this, I haven't come up with any exciting ideas yet. I may still try to figure this one out, but I am also trying to use stash so unless some prints in my stash jump out at me, I don't think this one is a go.... but if you look up the hashtag you can see some of the very fun projects already there!

I think that will do it for March! What about you? Do you have any plans, inspirations, challenges happening? 

Links for the Fashionable Sewist

I've been busy with some holiday sewing so no projects to share this week -- that would spoil the surprise for any of my gift recipients reading this! 

So I thought I'd share some fun links to interesting things I've been watching lately. 

My local Garment Guild is meeting virtually this year, and this month we were really honoured to have the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Elizabeth Dowdeswell, join us on our Zoom meeting. She's not only an amazingly accomplished woman and a government official, she loves to sew. It was great talking to her and hearing some of her stories, and seeing some of her favourite fabrics! 

There was a news spot on her a couple of years ago, and I think it shows her passion for sewing clearly. Hope you enjoy it too. 

And just this morning I saw that The Queen's Gambit is now the most watched Netflix scripted show ever. I can see why; it was so good. The storyline, characters, acting, and the set design and costuming were all excellent! Readers here will likely be as interested in the wonderful costuming as much as I was, so be sure to check out this interview with the costume designer Gabriele Binder about her inspiration and intent with the costuming.

Here are two of my favourites among the many spectacular period outfits.

Then check out this amazing virtual exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum featuring closeups of the costuming from both The Queen's Gambit and The Crown. Warning: you'll be there a while!

Hopefully I'll be back with some projects soon. If you're also busy with your holiday sewing...good luck :)

Fall Friday thoughts

This week I spent a lot of time doing sewing that doesn't make for blog posts -- finishing off a stack of masks, for one. I think I'm finally done with that, at least for a while. I have enough for myself and my husband now, so will take a break. I find mask sewing so boring! ;) 

A lot of masks!

I also went through some of my already cut projects and prepped them with the necessary interfacing and so forth. Now they are ready to tackle. And, PatternReview's Wardrobe Contest is starting next week so I took a look at the rules: 10 pieces that all go together. That's a lot, and in reality there is no way I'll do it, even in the 2 month contest period, but I couldn't help myself and went down a rabbithole of searching my fabric and pattern stash for ideas of what I would make *if* I was going to sew along. It was a fun evening but not very productive, lol!

Mostly though, I've been looking ahead at what I have coming up in September. 

The next round of the Literary Sewing Circle starts in a week, on Sept 18th! I'm excited to announce the new title next week, and think it will be a great choice to read together. I've been working on some posts and information for that, and am looking forward to another round. 

I've also finally signed up for the Burda Teaching Certification Course that I've been eyeing for a couple of years. I decided that I'm ready to give it a go this fall; it starts Sept 28 so I'll have a busy Burda autumn. Hoping that I'll enjoy the process; I do love a Burda pattern so think it will be interesting.

Other than planning, prepping and reading I haven't had time for much else. How's your sewing month going so far?

Sewcial Distancing

By this time I am sure that we are all cognizant of the spread of Covid 19. My library has closed indefinitely, and so all staff asked to stay home and self isolate as much as possible to slow down the spread. I will gladly do so if that means that the outbreak will be minimized as much as possible. And I hope you are all doing the same.

Fortunately for sewists in this situation we have a hobby that can give us weeks of occupation while staying home. I could spend a whole week just on cleaning and organizing my sewing room and varied stashes.

I've started making plans for some sewing during this time, and here's what I've come up with.

A couple of new items added to the stack.

Traced off 5 Burda patterns yesterday and am now matching them up with fabrics

A "back up" stack of potential makes ;)

Plus I have to finish a dress for a pattern test that I'm doing, so will have to share that one in future. I think that will keep me busy!

Of course, I also have tons of reading to do; my Goodreads TBR is currently sitting at 1705 titles, and I probably have 30 books I could pick up immediately on my shelves already.

If I start feeling a little too isolated, there are great challenges popping up on Instagram to keep us connected during this quarantine period. I love the idea of #SewcialDistancingChallenge. I have a vintage housedress pattern that might be perfect for this!

View this post on Instagram

With my son’s respiratory issues, we’ve been moderately social distancing ourselves for the past couple of weeks. Even with my family around, it’s a pretty lonely experience. And with my family around, it is a crazy-making experience. I have had no desire to dress up, sew (be it costumes or vintage clothing) because, well, there’s nowhere to go and it just seems so trivial.⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣I decided this morning that enough was enough and I’m going to focus on not dressing for going out, but staying in. And who else knew how to look good stuck in the home but our foremothers? So… I went into my sewing room and picked a house dress pattern and some vintage rayon that I’ve had for forever. ⁣ ⁣⁣ ⁣If you want to join in and share what you’re making for our shared confinement, join the #sewcialdistancingchallenge. Be it, a robe, nightgown, lounging clothes, or a housedress — just make something and strut it around the house!⁣ Please share this post with anyone in your life who needs a distraction right now! ⁣⁣ ⁣#vintagesewing #vintageclothing #sewing @memade #1940sstyle #1940sfashion #vintagepattern #vintagefabric #vintagestyle #sewcialistsofinstagram #sewersofinstagram #sewcialdistancing

A post shared by Mena Lazar (@makethislook) on Mar 13, 2020 at 12:28pm PDT

There is also a hashtag started by the Sewcialists, #SewStayHome, which will have ideas on how to manage your time alone, if that idea alarms you.

View this post on Instagram

Looks like a lot of us will be staying home a lot to slow the spread of COVID-19, and we here at @sewcialists are wondering how we can help during this stressful time! 🥰We know that a lot of Sewcialists are anxious and introverted, and that a lot of our community have health concerns that makes them more vulnerable. We are thinking of everyone out there who is facing financial struggles, a lack of child care, and everything else that may come our way! We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions below on how we could give everyone a nice safe spot in their day! 💡 💡 💡 whats a fun project we could start as a community? -Gillian #sewstayhome #sewcialists

A post shared by Sewcialists (@sewcialists) on Mar 12, 2020 at 3:17pm PDT

How are you doing? Do you have lots of plans to keep you busy?

I hope you are able to self isolate as much as possible and take care of yourselves and others. Let's stick together!

Halfway Done: 2019's next projects

Well, it's hard to believe but 2019 is half gone! I feel like I've stayed pretty much on track with my goals to sew mainly from stash so far this year -- I've sewn up more than I've purchased.

But that is shortly to become untrue, since we've got the bad news that our local Fabricland is closing due to rent and space issues. I've been so upset by this news, I've hardly been able to go into the store -- it makes me feel so sad! I hate to see the employees who have just found out their jobs are disappearing; I get so upset on their behalf. And on behalf of this very creative community that I live in that has so very many people who depend on this store for their own small businesses, or like me, just as the place to go when I need to feed my creative soul. I really don't know what we will do without it, since there are no garment stores anywhere else in our county, and I won't be driving the hour or more out of town to get to other stores very often at all.

But I've been writing to the company and to the city, along with many others, and we hope that something can be done. It's been very hard to deal with over the last couple of weeks, though. Very discouraging to the sewists among us. I will be buying as many standard supplies as I can in the closing sales, although I feel terrible that there has to be a closing sale at all. So, my stash will likely grow.

But in other, and much better news, I'm starting up a local Garment Guild this fall! So excited to meet other garment sewists and talk about our passion. We're working on the fall program now and it's going to be both super fun and very educational. If you're local, check us out at Stratford Garment Guild or on our FB  page or instagram feed to join the fun.

**************************

As for July's plans -- I am hoping to have some time to sew this month as I have a few days off.

I have some ideas of what I want to make, and what I need to make -- not always the same thing!

First, the needs -- I need 2 basic straight skirts, one white and one black, to wear with all of my light summer tops. Fortunately I have suitable fabrics in both colours, and need to decide which two of these four patterns I will use (the top two are in the lead right now).

Then I have a dress I've wanted to make for a while, Butterick 6185. It's now cut and prepped for sewing so I should be able to finish it this month. I even had fabric in my stash that's similar to the pattern cover image!

And then a couple of more dresses (anybody surprised?) in the stack. I really want to make a Style Arc Adeline dress. I like the shape and wonder if it would suit me. I've picked out an acidic apple green linen...actually an old tablecloth, for this make! Also, I've been reading a lot of Virginia Woolf this summer (currently on The Years, which I'm really enjoying) and I just realized that Virginia Woolf's first name was actually Adeline -- which makes me really want to make this dress even more.

Then there's another Style Arc, a pattern that I've made before -- the Lacey Dress. Last time I used a stiff cotton, so I changed the gathered skirt to a pleated one -- this time I have a striped rayon in mind so want to make it again and see the differences due to fabric choice.

In a perfect world I'd finish these so I could also squeeze in a By Hand London Anna Dress -- I have a beautiful rayon that I'd like to use for that as well.

And I have my eye one last Big Four pattern, this light summery New Look 6340. I have the perfect thrifted cotton for this one, already washed and pressed and ready to cut...if I get to it this month!

And amongst all the sewing, I really want to trace off a few PDF patterns to start working on next month! My list includes Jennifer Lauren's Quincy and Sorrell dresses; Sew Over It's Penny Shirtdress; the Himari dress from Love Sewing magazine; and the Chalk & Notch Fringe Dress.


What about you? Do you have a big summer sewing list? What's on your sewing table these days?

October Round Up!

Whew, I've been racing to the end of October -- it's been a BUSY one! I haven't got a lot of sewing done this month at all... I had great intentions to participate in Indie Sewing Month at the Monthly Stitch but October! Sheesh - so busy.

It seems that this month is always a busy one for me, despite my best efforts. It's also my birthday month, so my desire is to relax and celebrate a little, but it never seems to happen. There are a lot of good things about all this busyness, some of it quite fun, but it really does cut into the sewing time ;)

Starting with Canadian Thanksgiving, I then move into Ontario Public Library Week (always a lot to do at work) and then into the Stratford Writers Festival which I've been working alongside the last few years. It's great fun, and a wonderful weekend, but I am wiped out after 3 long days of it. So hopefully I will finish the two projects I have in the queue by at least the end of November!

During Ontario Public Library Week this year, there was a fun online contest, #OPLWBookOutfit. The idea was to match your clothing to a book cover -- this is something I've been meaning to record and post here for quite some time, so I jumped in with both feet and took photos 4 out of 5 days over the week. Here are my entries -- only the black&white wrap dress is store bought, the rest I've made: that's a McCalls 6996, a Jennifer Lauren Laneway Dress, and a New Look 6936.

Finishing up Ontario Public Library Week with a shout-out to my library, where I can read new Canadian books like Radiant Shimmering Light, then see the author in person! https://t.co/YcYqjepaiG @ONLibraryAssoc #OPLWBookOutfit #OPLW pic.twitter.com/7MudrQtBOr

— Melanie (@Melwyk) October 19, 2018

My library is a great place to find arts based programs and resources! for ex: https://t.co/ALmL5qPqUq @ONLibraryAssoc #OPLWBookOutfit #OPLW pic.twitter.com/9W0LBt3DDw

— Melanie (@Melwyk) October 17, 2018

I use my library for lifelong learning, including catching up on all those classics I've missed, like Siddartha... @ONLibraryAssoc #OPLWBookOutfit #OPLW pic.twitter.com/6KXqb6VyPI

— Melanie (@Melwyk) October 15, 2018

I love to use my library to keep up on current events @ONLibraryAssoc #OPLWBookOutfit #OPLW pic.twitter.com/1erDNdoQYD

— Melanie (@Melwyk) October 16, 2018

I also spent a lot of time working on the launch of a new project at work: a Community Art Display program that I'm excited about. We started with a Staff art display to get things going, so of course I had to hang one of my own pieces. I worked on this hand embroidered & machine quilted piece so intensively that I got blisters on my needle fingers, haha! But it was finished in time. It's No 1 in a series, and is called "Girl Gang #1: Little My (Finn Family Moomintroll)"

There are to be 3 more in this series, if I can get them done -- I am working on #2: Pippi Longstocking right now. The aim is to combine the sweet backgrounds reminiscent of baby quilts with the pugnaciousness of tough girls from children's literature. We'll have to see how it all works out.
I was also lucky enough to get to the Cherrywood Challenge travelling exhibit, which is located in the tiny town of Seaforth thanks to the Cotton Harvest quilt shop owner there, who carries Cherrywood fabrics and was able to secure this small town as a location for the exhibit - only stop in Canada, I think. The theme this year was Prince, and it was impressive. This was the second place winner in the Challenge, and the local viewer's choice as well.

And finally I finished off this busy month with a class given by my local quilt club, Scrap Magic with Deb Beirnes. It was relaxed and low-key, and we made a bunch of samples of different blocks that work well with scraps. There were 29 different options in the handouts and we were able to choose the ones we wanted to try - I really enjoyed the relaxed feel of this class and had fun with my pile of mostly blue scraps!

I've also been reading as much as usual, and have explored both some quilt related reading (Adventures in Design by Joen Wolfrom) and some online reading via SAQA, and some great escapist fiction. How about you? What have you been up to this October?